What's up, peoples? Not reading anymore? Please! I've gotten no reviews. At. All. So am I just reading to make myself happy? Please. Read. Look, I've had a tough time with people looking into only themselves. Did I say people? I mean eveybody. My family(not you, yuki-neechan), friends, teachers, classmates, everybody. Literally. If my dog doesn't start acting good(as in stop biting and growling at us), we'll have to get rid of him. And right now, he's the only friend I have that I can hug. So when I spend my time writing and thinking of plots and other stuffs, then nobody even reads, well... It makes my sun a little damper, okay? Please read. Please tell you friends about it. From one person who's just looking for a happy holiday to another. Your kindness will be greatly apreiciated. And, hey, colorfulquirkcuteanimefan, where'd you go?

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA, and never will, at least until they think of selling the entire company to a kid. And even then, I don't think I'll own it. So..........

"Consult with Alphonse?" Roy raised an eye-brow skepticly, sitting down again.

Ed narrowed his eyes and plastered a frown on his face. "Oh, come on, Colonel. You know as well as I do that what I said was only a diversion to get Winry out of the room."

"Last time I checked," Roy shifted slowly in his seat. "I was the one to get Ms. Rockbell out of the room."

Ed shook his head. "What does it matter? I don't care how big of a bonus you give me."

Roy's expression faded to confusion. "I thought you were quite happy with my offer."

"Winry hates it when I argue with you. And I didn't feel like arguing with both of you. So I lied. I could care less about what you do." Ed spat.

"Come on, Fullmetal. Be rational about this, will you?" Roy folded his arms.

"I am. And I quit." Ed threw his statement out as if it were something that would effect the Colonel.

"I don't think you heard me last time when I said that you can't." Roy closed his eyes, somewhat pleased with his answer.

"And why not? It's not like you need a kid in the millitary!" Ed exclaimed.

"I don't mean us, Fullmetal." Roy's tone was serious, unlike before. "The millitary isn't just here to prevent wars breaking out. We're here for the people. And the people are the reason why we use alchemy, not for combat. But we minupulated it, and we shouldn't have. We demonstrate the proper way to use the gift nature gave us and the way nature intended. We founded the laws of alchemy based on the people. Quitting the millitary doesn't mean that if your secret got out you'd be safe, Edward. You and Alphonse would still be exicuted. We're here to make sure nobody abstracts those laws, reguardless if they're children or adults."

Ed's eyes widened in fear. "Why, you..."

"Actually," Roy went on. "I've kept you here because I didn't want the Furher to murder two children for breaking those laws. But if I let you out on the streets, chances are you'd be forced, either by the homunculi or others, into breaking another law. And this time-- People would know. If you choose to leave the millitary now, Fullmetal, I'd spill the dirt I have on you to protcect the citizens of Central and keep the homunculi from getting an extra boost that they certianly do not need. Now do you get it? Stay on your chain and you live. But stray and the pound will come. After all- Dogs only have so long to live in there before being put down."

Ed couldn't help it. His hands started to shake and sweat, his eyes wide and full of fear. "Blackmail..." He mumered.

"Try and aprehend me to the Furher and he'll know something's up. He knows me as a loyal officer. Nothing I've done has ever led him to believe that I've done otherwise. Keep your mouth shut and pretend we never had this little talk, okay?" Roy stood again and left the room. He wanted Ed to soak up the rules he had just applied.

Ed couldn't help it. He coughed into his hand, tears starting to spill down his cheeks. He knew that if he stay chained to the millitary that he couldn't fill his promise. He couldn't help Al.

Al felt the soothing hot water stream down his back. He sighed and rested in Winry's arms, who lathered his mane and washed the dirt from it. Al was always her little brother, too. Even if they wern't really related. He was just so loveable. She didn't mind helping him when he needed it. After all, she used to spend all her time on Ed's auto-mail, and Al would always have to come. She was okay with helping the younger.

Winry smiled as Al looked up at her.

"Thanks." He said, closing his eyes.

Winry petted his head as she washed his back. "I'm just doing what you can't. No need for it."

"I'm saying thanks for both of us. Thanks for taking care of Big Brother's auto-mail for so long. Thanks for helping us so much and just being there, Winry. You're a great friend to have. I couldn't ask for more than you and Brother." Al purred.

Winry glowed. "Aww, you're welcome, Al." She hugged the chimera. You're the dreamer. Winry thought. You aught to think like this. I just hope you never catch up in real time, like your Brother.

Al jerked back. "Winry, is there something you've been holding back from me?"

Winry's gaze fell soft.

.:Flashback:.

"Winry?"

"Yes?" Winry looked at Ed.

"If I tell you this, will you promise me you won't tell Al?" Ed asked, staring out a window.

"Yeah, of course."

"Promise me, Winry." Ed said more firmly.


Winry nodded. "I promise I won't tell Al. Now, what is it?"

"Al has the body of a chimera. He was taken out of his old one. I was reaserching, and..."

"And what?" Winry's voice was scared.

"His body has died. It can no longer bear the power of a spirit and a soul. Only one or the other. A body needs to hold a soul to give it life, and a spirit to keep it there. If it cannot, well..." Ed looked down.

"What are you saying, Ed?" Winry jerked his shoulder.

"I can't bring Al back to his old body. Until the chimera body rejects his soul, he'll have to live in this body. When this body rejects his soul, he's dead, Winry." Ed broke down in tears.

.:End Flashback:.

"No." Winry whispered, drawing close to Al, savoring his voice. "I would never."

Al looked her in the eyes, searching for a source to make him feel like she wasn't lying. But that source wasn't there, and his gut simply would not execpt that she was telling the truth. "Winry, if there was ever, ever a reason not to tell me something, it's because Brother told you not to."

Winry bit her lip. The innocence in his eyes made her confidence shatter. She could only hope that she was doing a good job of convincing Al that all was okay. Even though it wasn't.

"I promise you, Al. Everything's fine. And Ed would never make me hold something back. You should know that." She cuffed him in the ear.

"That's a promise." Al weakly smiled, finding something to cling on in her eyes. "I'm trusting you, Winry."

Winry felt her heart sink. Guilt ate her inside out. Oh, Dear Lord, She wrapped her arms around him again, quietly sobbing into his mane. It was so hushed that even he didn't hear it. I never wanted to lie to you, Al. But I can't tell you the truth. I don't want you to die.

The next few days were slow and dark. Ed kept away from Al. If he didn't, he'd spill it about Al. Ed was never very good at keeping things to himself.

They had to even seidate Al because he demanded to get in Ed's room so bad.

Ed couldn't run from the truth.

He wasn't scared of it.

He wasn't running from it.

He was worried for the dreamer.

Scared for the boy who never saw anything coming.

It was then it hit.

And nobody.

Nobody.

Saw.

It.

Coming.