I... hate waking up no lie.

Ash woke up on the bathroom floor, not a place she favored. She would have rather liked to be in her own bed where she was comfortable and not in a compromising position but from the time she came home her body didn't give her much choice. Her body was missing something vital and her body was suffering from it she couldn't even really throw up anymore it was more like dry heaves. She pulled herself up by grabbing the sink; her reflection made her sick. For her bronze like skin tone it looked pale and dull, and her usual sharp and intense eyes looked hazy and unfocused. Her emotions were all over the place due to her trying to not complain about it. She had tried to take medicine but she only threw it up and any food at this point was pretty much useless; she was losing weight and not in the right places! She took her time and took another shower to wash off the smell and sweat. After she was done making herself look relative normal again she headed back out.

When she got to the house she was greeted by James' surprised face he was always a bit of an early bird but she was on a mission so without really acknowledging him she continued looking through the house for her target.

He was in the library sitting on the table by the window, slouched over in obvious disappointment. He reminded her so much of James as she walked toward him, she knew he knew that she was there but he choose to just ignore it. She climbed on the table as well and leaned back so their backs were touching. Neither said a thing both knowing there was no need to apologize or forgive, they had both been wrong and both been right at the same time so there was no need to speak. Instead they opted for silence and it went on for a good thirty minutes before the thought on both of their minds rose from Ash's lips,

"Human lives, huh."

Ed made what seemed like a grunt of agreement before edging back into silence,

"To think Marcoh was researching this while he was a part of the military"

She didn't see Ed's eyes widen in realization

"The truth within the truth"

They said simultaneously. Ash blinked as she finally turned to Ed whose face was beginning to glow with the sudden epiphany that he had.

"The truth within the truth!"

He said louder, the other occupants of the house shifted at his voice as they entered the room surprised that Ash was there in the first place,

"YOU'RE BRILLIANT ASH!"

He yelled as he grabbed a hold of her and kissed her boldly on the cheek

"CHRIS GET ME A MAP!"

Ash stood there in confusion

As he looked at the map and found what he was looking for lab 5. It was connecting to a prison there in that place may hold an already made philosopher stone and that's what he was hoping for and he jumped up for joy,

"That's great now we can continue the search!"

Chris said as he turned to smile at James who was also smiling at this point.

"Excuse you"

The voice and raised eyebrow cut through the celebration like a knife and everyone stopped,

"well…. We helped them research…"

"I don't think so"

Ash said as she cut James off,

"Research is one thing this is another, you are not to go to lab 5 and that's the end of story."

The two younger brothers deflated and Al couldn't help but laugh,

"Yea guys it's too dangerous for you."

The look of joy in Ed's eyes as he said the statement did little to deter them from wanting to go,

"Neither are you Elric's!"

Everyone turned to the bodyguards who for a second had slipped their minds,

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE AREN'T GOING!?"

Ed yelled in shock Ross was not pressured though as she shook her head,

"It's too dangerous Brosh and I will search Lab 5 but you two, you five! Are to stay here!"

Ed grumbled but he didn't say anything as he watched the two soldiers leave the room to make a call most likely to Mustang. James and Chris also grumbled as they went back downstairs to eat breakfast following a moaning Ed leaving Ash and Al alone in the library.

"Serious what is with-AHK!"

Ash squeaked as Al mushed her across her cheek hard enough that she almost toppled over,

"AL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

She glared angry at his sudden actions that clearly took her off guard. He turned away shyly and she could barely hear the apology,

"If you're so sorry why did you…."

She touched the cheek he had pushed and remembered that it was the same one that Ed had kissed joyfully.

Al was jealous?

It started as a giggle and slowly got louder until it came out as a hearty full blown laugh that had her clutching her stomach and laughing. She saw him peek and knew he was in a human body he would be scowling and that made her laugh harder,

"I don't see what's so funny…."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

She began walking to the door to Al's annoyance,

"It's really not that funny!"

Ash turned to him at the door her face alive and playful and no matter what caused it Al was glad he did it. He knew that lately she wasn't as healthy looking as she should be and in fact he was thinking about forcing her to the doctors if it progressed but here she was again alive and smiling coyly at him as if he was the only one who could do that; and that made him happy to the bottom of his heart. That he could make her smile, or erase the sadness from her eyes for a bit.

"I like you Al"

For second he thought he was hearing things but staring at her eyes he realized she had actually said the words,

"I like you, you're really cute"

She said practically beaming and then turned and skipped downstairs where everyone else was. He didn't how to react, his mind was reeling. If he actually thought about she had just confessed to him. Ash who was two years older than him and certainly looked like she deserved someone better,

Someone with a body.

But he was too elated to care, she liked him! She said she likes him! Maybe she was just teasing him still but it meant something to him and that was all that counts and to him that was seriously important. How many large tin men got confessed to by beautiful woman.

He really was in love with her.