Oh god I might have to rewrite the next chapter, I don't like how its turning out. P.S guys I was accepted into my first choice college!

Anywho, Please Review! IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY, SAY NOTHING AT ALL.

I DO NOT OWN FMA

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

Al exited Mr. Knox's house, pausing to stare up at the sky above him. He sighed. It was late and the stars above the sky winked down at him. Al walked along, letting his feet take him to that shabby little house that Maggie called home. A few of the lights were on inside the house and yet again, the door was left unlocked.

"Maggie?" he called out as he entered the house. He was afraid that he would find her like he had the last time. The pitiful way she was curled up on the floor, her cheeks pale and body still.

This time, her soft voice answered him. "Alphonse?"

While he shut the front door behind him, Maggie emerged from the kitchen brandishing a spatula. At the sight of the armored boy, her eyes began to water and she gave him a gentle smile. Al wanted to pick her up in his arms and swing her around and just hold her close to him, but he stopped himself. He'd probably hurt her if he'd done that.

"I thought I had angered you." She laughed, wiping away a stray tear. "I thought I was on my own for good now."

"I'm not mad." Al said gently, walking towards her. He hated how he towered over her like a giant. "And I promise I'll never leave you."

Maggie held out her pinky. "Promise?"

He hesitated, his pinky was so much larger than hers, and he didn't want to break it. Instead, he held out his finger and watched as she attempted to wrap her pinky around it. She smiled.

"That's a promise." She said as she turned, retreating back into the kitchen.

Al followed her and carefully sat on one of the kitchen chairs, observing her as she cooked what appeared to be an egg-fried toast. A smile was still ghosted over her lips and she hummed a little. Al had never hated his stupid metal body more. He wanted to be flesh and blood. He wanted to remember what it was like to feel his cheeks heat up and feel his heart pound. He wished he could have his body back just so he could steal his first kiss from her.

But his body was locked away at the gate.

It was then that he understood why elephants were afraid of mice. It wasn't that they were afraid of the little creature. They were afraid of hurting the tiny creature. Al was the elephant, constantly afraid of Maggie, the mouse, who was much, much smaller than he.

He sighed.

Maggie set her plate down at the table across him and daintily ate her food.

"Did Winry go back to Rush Valley?" she asked, reaching for her cup of tea.

Al nodded. "She left a few days ago. When are you going back to Granny?"

Maggie paused and cast her eyes away from his. "I'm not going back."

"Why not? I thought-"

She stabbed a square piece of her bread. "I've already called to inform her and I've sent her a sum of money as payment. I can't go back."

"But-" Al stopped himself. He didn't want to argue with her. "Okay, if that's what you want."

She set her cup down and sighed. "Tell me about what you and Ed have been doing."

Al proceeded to tell her everything that had been happening. He told her about Father and the Homunculi and how Ed had gotten swallowed by Gluttony. After a while she had pushed her plate to the side, and propped her head up with her tiny palms, her elbows on the table. From time to time, she would ask questions or add something about Alchemy and he could suddenly remember that she was an Alchemist as well. It was strange how comforting it was just talking to her.

Soon the clock in the living room chimed the first hour and by that time Maggie had shamefully fallen asleep during the tale of Ling Yao's arrival. Al stopped his hushed talking and stood, carefully picking her up. He tucked her in and tenderly pulled the quilt up to her chin. She mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over, her back now facing him.

Al had to leave, Ed would be waiting for him at the hotel and he didn't want his brother asking questions and teasing him. He thought about leaving a note, but decided against it. A kitten trotted into her room and rubbed itself against his leg before jumping onto the bed and curling up beside its master.

He hated leaving her alone, but the front door clicked shut behind him and he decided that one day he'd make sure that she'd never have to be alone again.