Disclaimer: I own: Ash, Arkilus, Colt, Travis, Trey and Donna. That's it!
Author's Note: I just realized how many characters I added to this story. Lol, anyway, thank you all who have been reviewing. Still don't know how many chapters this story will have, but probably not more than about 18. Anyway, thanks for everything! REVIEW!
Also, I was reading through the terms and conditions thing and I noticed how fanfiction doesn't allow stories in second person (you) format. So sorry to say I have to redo my chapters and use Ash and she. Sorry for this! Hope I don't lose readers!
Lessons in Alchemy
Chapter 13: The Surprise
"What do you mean? Won't be able to get my body back? Why not?" Al asked, looking from Ash to Ed and back to Ash. She looked down at her feet, then back to Al.
Ed put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We can't get your body back Al, we just can't…"
"Why not brother?" Al asked, taking a step towards his older brother.
Ash stared at her feet, "Because of me!"
Everyone turned towards her and she felt her heart start to break. "I…I have the Philosopher's Stone."
Al smiled, "That's great! Wait-then why are you so sad?" He walked over to Ash and put a hand on her other shoulder.
She couldn't say anything; she had to sit down. She sat down on the unoccupied bed and put her head in the palm of her hands and her elbows on her knees. "I'm… sorry Al. Really I am."
Al looked to his brother for an explanation, and Ed dragged him away. "Listen…I'll explain later. The topic is still hurtful to Ash." Al nodded and joined up with the group again.
X
That night Ash slept on the couch in the boys' room. Travis had awoken right before everyone had gone to bed, and suddenly just disappeared. It was really weird. But she didn't worry about it anymore; she was sound asleep on the comfy couch.
Ed slept in his bed, Al in his, and Winry slept on a pull out bed ordered for the room. Yes four people bunking in one room was crowded, but it didn't matter.
Ash woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, and almost screamed, but covered her mouth in time. She waited a second before trying to breathe. Finally when her breath came back, it was irregular. She subsided her heavy breathing and laid back down, but jumped up again when she saw a shadow in front of her. She was about to scream but his hand covered her mouth.
"It's okay Ash, it's me: Ed." Said the shadowy figure, and he released Ash's mouth. She sat up, her eyes now accustomed to the dark and smiled.
"What's up Ed?" She asked, in a whisper, so she didn't wake the others.
Ed smiled at her, or at least it appeared that way, unless it was just the shadows playing with her. "Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?" he asked, also in a whisper.
The teenage girl nodded, "I'm okay, it wasn't anything bad. Go back to sleep k?" She said, then lied back down, hoping this would make the alchemist go back to bed.
But he just stood there, watching her as she lied down. "What?" she asked, and he sat down on the couch beside her, not even caring that he was in nothing but his boxers.
Ash sat back up and looked at him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, "I just wanna make sure that you can get back to sleep…"
"So you're gonna watch me all night?"
He smiled, "If that is what it takes."
Ash sighed and lied back down, scooting over to one side of the couch (A/N: it was a pull out couch, a twin sized.) "Wanna lay down?"
Ed looked at the girl with big eyes. "What?" he asked, but she had sat back up and put one finger over his lips. "Wanna lay down? If you're gonna watch me all night, you should at least be comfortable. Right?"
He nodded slightly and got under the blanket next to Ash.
"Goodnight."
X
Ed awoke the next morning and looked around, then couldn't breathe for a moment when he saw himself laying next to Ash. He looked around the room. "Thank God everyone is still asleep, I'd never live that one down…" he thought to himself.
He stood up and stretched, before recovering the girl on the couch, and went back to his own bed. It was probably seven thirty.
But he couldn't go back to sleep so he let his mind wander. "Wait-today is June 26. Colt said something yesterday after Ash was knocked out about today…"
"Do you recall what tomorrow is, Full Metal?" asked Colt, staring at the blonde boy in front of her.
He shook his head. "Should I?"
She smirked. "Tomorrow is-"
"I can't believe I almost forgot!" He thought angrily to himself.
X
Ash awoke at nine thirty and looked around. Ed, Al, and Winry were all already up, and watching an anime on television.
She stretched. "Good morning guys. What's up?"
"Nothing," Ed replied, looking over at her and smiling for a moment. "Just watching anime," the younger brother added.
She smiled and got up to get some cereal. "Anyone hungry?" she asked, but everyone shook their heads.
"Whatever…I'm gonna go take a shower."
X
"Everyone understand the plan?" whispered Ed, and Al and Winry nodded.
"So what time do you want to me leave with her?" Winry asked, still a little mad at this whole plan. Ed was being too nice to Ash.
Ed looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was almost ten. "At about eleven. Take her to lunch first since Al and I will be shopping. Then just kinda take her shopping and stuff until I call you. Ok?"
Winry nodded. This seemed like a good way to meet Ash, since Winry had never really liked her.
"Thanks Winry!"
X
Ash walked out of the bathroom, her hair dripping slightly and saw that everyone else was dressed. "Hey guys, ya'll got any plans?"
Ed and Al shook their heads but Winry hurried over to Ash. "Hey Ash, how about we go eat lunch and go shop? I mean, we got off on the wrong foot and all before and I want us to hang out before I have to go home…"
She put on sad eyes and Ash just nodded. "Wonder why she's suddenly being so nice…I thought she hated me…" she thought.
Ash smiled and nodded. "Sure, it'll be fun."
The two girls finished getting ready and bid farewell to the brothers, hurrying towards Cattle Baron…
(A/N: I don't know if they have Cattle Baron's there but they do now!)
They sat down at their tables a few moments later, but both decided to order the salad bar. (A/N: I love Cattle Baron, because they have my two favorite foods-fruit salad and chocolate moose.)
X
An hour later they left the busy restaurant and decided to head to the mall. The first shop they went into was Walden Books.
About thirty minutes later Winry got a call on her cell and saw her I.M. It said. "Winry, everything is ready. Bring Ash back."
Winry grabbed Ash's hand and dragged her away from the shop. "Come on; we have to get back to the hotel, it's an emergency!"
X
They walked into the hotel room and Ash gasped. The whole room was decorated with blue and red streamers and a big banner that was hand painted, obviously by Ed because he had paint on his cheek, that said "Happy Birthday Ash!" in big silver letters.
"Wow, I…I don't know what to say…" Ash said, covering her mouth with her hand.
"How'd you know it was my birthday?" She asked finally, and Ed smiled.
He walked over to her, "You don't think I'd forget my friend's birthday did you?"
Al smiled and walked over to the radio and turned it to the nearest station. It was a dance/hip hop/ rap/rock station, so everyone just decided to leave it there. (A/N: can you imagine that station? I can't…)
Al and Winry started dancing so Ed grabbed Ash and took her to the middle of the room where they started dancing around each other.
A little while later, Al decided to go to 7-11 and get some drinks, and Winry went with him.
"Ed…why did you do all this for me?" Ash asked, and Ed sat down on the bed beside her.
He smiled, "You should know why. Because I love you."
Ash blushed; he had told her that only once, during the game of truth. She smiled at him. "Thank you," she whispered.
He nodded and softly kissed her, but the kiss only lasted for a few seconds. "I love you too."
X
Kinda corny chapter I know, but it added fluff. Don't hate me too much for the delay between chapter 12 and 13, I had to repost every other chapter and it took awhile. I'm sorry for this bad chapter it sucked, but please review anyway!
Fox Kitsune
P.S. Also, this chapter sux cuz it's like 2 in the morning here and I'm still working on it. I know it sux but please bear with me!