Disclaimer: Don't own it. These get irritating to write.

A/N: Revamp!

Chapter 6: Eavesdropping

"You keep looking at me strangely," Isabel said. Her words seemed to bring Ed out of his thoughts.

"Sorry," he mumbled and looked away somewhere else.

"It's fine." She smiled at him and continued with her thoughts.

She'd been sitting on the porch for about an hour after Ed brought her leftover stew. He'd left shortly after their conversation, but Isabel had been arranging some thoughts. It felt strange to be home again after so long. Even though things hadn't really changed, everything felt so different. The people didn't remember her very well and the surrounding area felt so unfamiliar to her. She wasn't sure she would become accustomed to it all, or if she'd even be here long enough to adjust. She didn't even know if she wanted to.

Suddenly, Ed put his metal hand on the porch. The noise was enough to bring her to the present. "It's just…you've been gone so long," he began. "I don't really remember you that much. It's a little…weird, I guess." Ed shrugged.

Isabel smirked at him. "What a thing to tell you older sister, you don't remember her," she chuckled.

"Well it's true," he retorted. "And if it hurts, then that means it's a good truth." He looked at her defiantly, daring her to argue.

"I never said it hurt to consider it, I just said it was an audacious thing to tell me. Who knows how I would respond," she said easily. "But anyway, I remember you and Al. You probably don't remember me because I was always caught up in a book or telling you what to do. No one really wants to remember a bossy older sister." She winked at him.

Ed rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm going to go shower. I feel dirty still from training earlier. Grassy and sweaty," he told her and stood up.

"All right. We don't want a stinky Ed." She smiled up at him and stood as well. "I think I'm going to talk to Al." They both headed inside. Isabel found Al in the living room, studying some book. She smiled and walked over to him. "Hey, little brother," she said and sat down on the couch.

He looked up at her and probably would have smiled if he were capable. "Hello, Sister," he replied and set his book down.

"How are you?" she asked.

Al paused a moment. That's right; he didn't really feel so that question didn't really apply, even though it was polite. She was about to disregard it when he replied. "I'm okay," he said, albeit hesitantly.

"Good." That had been embarrassing. "What were you reading?"

He lifted the book up to her. "Just a little bit of geography," he told her.

"That's right; since you and Ed are normally out somewhere, you guys never really finished school, huh?" she said. "Just learning things when you can."

"Right. And I probably couldn't in this body," Al said and looked down at his armor.

Isabel cleared her throat a little. Okay, maybe talking to Al wasn't as easy as she thought it would be.

"Did you finish school?" he asked her.

She smiled again. "Yes, I did. Under the military's instruction, though, so it's a little biased in comparison to something here in Rizenbul."

"How is it biased?" Al wanted to know.

"Um…well, I just learned a lot of different things that you would have learned here. In Rizenbul, I probably wouldn't have gotten a very good education since it's country out here, and women are normally sewing or those 'feminine' things. But, in Central, I learned the same stuff a boy would have learned so I could have an equal advantage as men. So, I guess you could put it I have more of a masculine education in contrast to how Rizenbul would have had me learn."

He nodded. "I see."

"I bet you and Ed are geniuses when it comes to science and chemistry," Isabel said, grinning. "What with your alchemy studies and all." Al nodded. "Who taught you guys alchemy so well?"

Al paused and probably would have paled if he could have. "Uh…she is a…wonderful, young woman who is very strict and very influential," he said hesitantly.

Isabel smirked. "In other words, she's scary as anything and very violent?" She laughed.

"You shouldn't say things like that about Sensei," Al said quickly.

"She's not here, Alphonse. Don't worry. And Ed told me earlier that if the truth hurts, it's probably a good truth." She chuckled a little. "So, what's her name?"

"Izumi Curtis. She lives in Dublith," Al said.

Isabel nodded and leaned her head back on the couch. Winry walked in and was about to sit next to Isabel when she spotted the shining object not too far from the eldest Elric. The younger girl's eyes widened considerably and sparkles could be seen in her blue orbs. Her hands were quick as lightening as she snatched up Ed's pocket watch. She began rattling off about the custom craftsmanship when Isabel looked at the spot Al had previously been in. But obviously, the boy had retreated long before Winry's monologue.

"Um, is that such a good idea?" Isabel asked, but Winry was oblivious.

The girl looked over her shoulder and with narrowed eyes. "Ed," she cooed.

Isabel sighed and stood up. "All right, but he probably won't be happy. I'm going to find Al." And she did just that, fearing the moment when she would hear Ed screaming at Winry for dismantling his pocket watch. Although it was a sign of his being a dog of the military, it did hold certain advantages, such as getting into the Central Library. But other than that, it was extra weight in his pocket, literally. Still, the State Alchemists that Isabel knew treasured their watches and wouldn't give them up after having them for over a week.

Maybe it was the shininess of the watch?

Isabel shrugged and found Al sitting in the library. He was enamored in another book. She figured she wouldn't bother him since he seemed to be enjoying himself. Instead, she would go outside and find Ed to tell him what Winry was up to. Maybe that would spare a little shouting. She hoped. If not, then it would fuel the flame, which that was something Isabel didn't want.

When she went outside, it was too late. Winry had just turned the corner to where the shower was. She looked like an ashamed child that had found out something she didn't want to. But maybe that was the truth from what Isabel heard.

"I saw inside it," Winry was saying and held out the pocket watch. What was in the watch?

Ed's reaction could only be described as shock mixed with surprise. He took in a deep breath. "There are things…" He unconsciously checked himself for his watch, even though he knew it wasn't there.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." Winry's voice quivered as she apologized. Isabel could tell she was genuinely sorry and not just saying it to escape Ed's wrath.

He glared ahead, but he seemed to be feeling something other than anger. "I haven't even shown it to Al," he said softly and looked away. Isabel could tell he was thinking from his expression. It was a little distant, and his eyes were absent.

"I'm sorry," Winry said again.

Ed sighed and his shoulders drooped more. "It's unmanly of me to carry something to warn me and show my determination," he mumbled. He looked elsewhere again, finding his previous place of gazing to be unsatisfactory. Or maybe he saw something that reminded him of his past.

"Ed," Winry began. She didn't want to hear any of this; it was obvious in her voice. But there was no stopping Ed when it came to his explaining something.

"But still," Ed carried on, "we have no parents or a home to go back to. We have to keep moving forward." Why did that sound familiar to Isabel? Hadn't she heard that before, somewhere? Those words of wisdom seemed like something and adult would say rather than a stubborn fifteen-year-old boy.

But Winry didn't appear moved by his speech. She snapped. "Why! Why? You do have a home! You have Auntie…and me!" she shouted and tensed up. Her hands clenched at her sides.

Ed was unaffected by the sudden outburst. Isabel was still leaning back a little from the blast. "Stupid." He looked away again. "Why do you have to cry?" Isabel could tell that, if he had allowed himself, Ed would have gone to comfort her. But that wasn't something he seemed capable of.

Winry looked to the side. "Since you brothers won't cry, I'm crying in your place." The two stood in silence, Winry with tears in her eyes and streaming down her cheeks, and Ed just standing where he was. Isabel slowly stepped back from the scene so it wouldn't be obvious she had eavesdropped.