Ok, two reasons to be sorry really.

1, I have taken so long to update and

2. Most of you prefer my other fic at the moment.

Still this is a big chapter and we have more focus on what is happening to Winry

. Thanks for sticking with me (those who do) and I will update Illegitimate soon...big Roy/Riza goings on.


'I think you've studied it for long enough Mustang!' Edward yelled as he snatched the photo away from him.

'Calm down Fullmetal. I was trying to remember if I had seen that setting before,' was the reply to this.

'I'm sure you have seen a good few beds in your time but that's not…'

'Ahem.'

Both of them snapped their attention to Hawkeye who was standing in the doorway of the office. She had her suspicions something had happened when Ed and his brother had stormed in a day early and demanded some explanation. She had been sent to retrieve an expert in the field of ransom notes and pictures. The only trouble was there were no demands that they knew of; the sender believed themselves to be giving Edward something he wanted.

'I hear you were in need of my assistance,' said the elderly man as he entered. He seemed old to the point of frail but also held an air of importance about him. Edward didn't feel in much favour of anyone seeing the photo of his dear friend but it seemed it had to be done so. Biting his lip he calmly handed the old man the picture with the note on the back. Much like Mustang the old man seemed to study it a few seconds too long for it to be comfortable so Edward cleared his throat. He had left Al sat outside and refused for him to see the picture. It was only distress him more then he already was. Pinako had seen it and sent Edward back to Central that very second.

'This girl…are the two of you dreadfully close?' the expert inquired.

'She's been my best friend since we were babies; she's more of a big sister to Al. That's why I couldn't let him see this.'

'Perhaps I should word myself a little better,' said the man rubbing his chin, 'have you ever slept together?'

Edward almost reeled in shock as his face began to glow red with a mix of anger and humiliation 'Why would you ask that?'

'Have you?'

'No!'

Ignoring the rising tone in Ed's voice he carried on the questions. 'Have you ever expressed the wish to? Ever suggested it to anyone?'

'No!'

'Have you ever seen her naked in the past few years?'

'Accidentally when we were about sixteen…'

'Yea an accident. Sure about that fullmetal?'

'Shut up Mustang,' Edward growled.

'Did you ever tell anyone you had seen her unclothed? Tell them you liked it?'

'NO. Why are you asking me this because if you don't stop…!'

The elderly man put his hands up in defence and stopped his barrage of uncomfortable questions. He was heading somewhere with this but avoided saying what it was so he got honest answers. The blush glowing from the young mans face told him all he needed to know. Perhaps he did indeed secretly desire this girl but it was not something he advertised for all to know. The person who sent this knew Edward more then they all realised.

'They are trying to tempt you Mr Elric, the person who sent you this. They believe they are doing you a favour by putting this girl into a compromising position for you.'

So perhaps he was being a bit thick but not once had Edward thought about it that way. He truly believed they were doing this just to make him angry and hurt Winry. It explained why she was half naked but appeared to be unhurt but why would somebody think that he would like to see her like that? He didn't after all…he really didn't.

'They're wrong. They must be going on a presumption that they took from the papers. There was a paper at the crime scene wasn't there? It claimed I and Winry were together and so many papers have or so I've heard,' he was aware of his voice growing panicky, 'they have it all based on lies!'

They all winced as he slammed the door behind him leaving the photo behind. Mustang sighed and rubbed his temple. Whoever had kidnapped Winry had already enraged fullmetal as well as make clear what he secret weakness was. Edward didn't realise just how much he enjoyed looking at the photo he had been provided with.


Even though the food placed in front of her looked delicious Winry found she simply had no appetite. She hadn't eaten properly for a couple of days and her stomach ached with hunger but she could not face putting food in her mouth.

'You saw all the pretty clothes didn't you dear? You won't be able to fit into any of them unless you begin to eat. A girl should never be so slim you can see her bones.'

Winry concluded that Isabelle patronised her far too much. She had lost the want to argue back now and just ignored whatever she said to her. The monster wasn't around but her weakness stopped her from pushing the old lady over and making a run for it. Then again this old lady was in no way frail and she may end up in more trouble then she already was. Although she remained still most of the time Winry's mind was racing at top speed.

'You're upset aren't you?'

Yet another stupid question coming from the evil old witch. She hadn't answered any question correctly and she really wasn't in the mood to start. She had been kidnapped by a psychopath with a monster that eats people but is thick as two short planks; of course she was likely to be upset.

'You think that Edward isn't coming for you? I assure he will be my dear. And this time he will get what he wants.'

Winry ignored the twitch developing in her eye. There was no chance she would cave in and ask what Isabelle what she meant but it did take a lot of will power. Winry knew Ed would be looking for her and that was all that mattered. Her belly rumbled again giving away just how weak she really was.

'I think Edward deserves to get what he wants. He has been waiting for long enough but you have been holding out. Please eat up now…'

'What does he deserve?'

Perhaps that rumble in her belly had not been hunger but agitation building up. To speak up was not the intention but she acted as if she had planned it in a cool manner. If she was estimating correctly then Isabelle had no idea about her relationship with Ed. Never in a million years would they…do such things. Was she so twisted that her whole intention was to see them together? No, although Isabelle was messed up Winry believed she wouldn't put effort into something she would get nothing out of.

'Such a handsome young man, must be very virile. A shame to let it go to waste don't you think. If my body wasn't so old I would quite happily give him all he ever wanted.'

Up until that point very little had ever made Winry physically gag. She felt her nose turn up at the thoughts this woman was having about her dear friend. In fact she almost began to laugh at the very idea of it all. To think how Ed would react to an old woman perving on him was quite amusing even in her predicament. Then she felt a pang of something she couldn't quite identify and the smile that had begun to spread across her face died suddenly. She resorted back to her ever faithful frown and fell silent again.

The only sound for a long while after that was the ticking of the giant clock and an old house full of thousands of memories. Something was eerily familiar about this place but discovering why was the last thing on her mind. No matter how much she looked out of any window she could not hazard a guess as to where they were. Her old fashioned clothes that had been provided for her restricted much movement but something within her heart began to push her forward. The way Isabelle sat and supped her soup as if they were close. As if this was just another normal tea between granddaughter and her grandmother. Her stomach growled again and she came to the conclusion she had best have something to eat. If she was ever going to make a run for it she would need the energy to get passed the front door.


He lay in bed more alert then ever while his brother snoozed in the room next door. He couldn't possibly contemplate sleep when so much was hanging over him. He had felt guilt before for letting this happen to Winry, but now he felt even worse. He was sure that Winry was in such a predicament because he had let something slip sometime. He could not remember directly saying he would like to….well be with Winry; but someone must have read between the lines. So yes perhaps Edward had recalled seeing Winry stepping out of the shower and yes perhaps he had smiled whilst doing it, but who was to know what his smirk meant. Sadly from now on if he was ever caught with that smirk Mustang would know exactly what it meant.

Turning over he caught the photo out the corner of his eye shining on the bedside table. He clenched his eyes shut but the damage had been done. He could see the image of her on the bed, determined not to cry and yet vulnerable to her kidnapper. How he hoped beyond hope she wasn't being harmed. How on earth could that psycho think he was doing Ed a favour by torturing Winry that way?

With much tossing and turning he finally found sleep and dreamed many things that he would not admit to anyone.


Across the miles none of them would have been surprised to find Winry was also unable to sleep. She had quenched her thirst and satisfied her hunger but she was not able to find any peace to be spoken of. Gluttony sat outside her door humming to itself and its stomach growling every so often. She pulled the covers tight around her but they provided no security.

All the time she was plotting her escape Isabelle appeared to change her routine. Winry believed she would be able to calculate a time when Gluttony wasn't around and Isabelle was distracted but so far the chance hadn't come up. If she was being held by a frail old lady all may have been well but she knew all to well what Isabelle was capable of. Alchemy had taken many things away from her which now included her freedom.

Silently as she could she made her way to the window to once again look for hope. She knew they would be looking for her and no matter how much Isabelle bullied her she would believe nothing else. She looked toward the stars and took a deep breath in. The memories of the conversation she and Isabelle had shared today threatened to come back so she fought to think upon something else.

'Dammit,' she murmured under her breath as she recalled how cool Isabelle had been. How admitting she was attracted to Edward in that way was just a part of her everyday life. Winry felt her nose turn up again and she shivered. Not even she had thought about Ed in that way let alone that old hag.

Well perhaps she had thought about him that way a little but she brushed it off as nonsense. The only reason such thoughts cropped up were because newspaper reporters asked her if she had slept with him. At first she adamantly said no but as the months had gone by she had resorted to keeping quiet and letting them get on with it. She fully expected Mustang to tell the papers a whole bunch of lies for the fun of it but it appeared Riza was keeping him in check.

Her forehead hit the glass and she looked toward the ground. Freedom was on the other side of a piece of glass but it was also several metres down. She would only end up hurt if she tried to jump and the windows on the lower floors were barricaded with alchemy.

Then something caught her interest she had noticed before. The side of the building was covered in vines all the way up to her window. They were thick and full of life thanks to the recent weather.

Her heart began to pump like a steam train as she devised a quick plan of action. If she could open the window she could easily clamber to the ground by using the vines as a rope. After that she could run and run until she found out where she was. She could run all the way home if she wanted straight into the safe arms of those she loved. How could she not have noticed before? Then again she had been unconscious from the time they caught her on the train until she eventually woke up on the bed behind her.

She examined the frame around the window. Years of being an auto-mail mechanic meant she knew metal well. Perhaps not the components like Ed and Al would but she knew which would easily bend or which could snap. These were made of steel and so would be hard to bend enough her to get out of the window.

From the looks of it she would not be able to make the silent escape she wished for after all. The only part of the window that would give in would be the glass but it would make an almighty noise which would have Gluttony bursting in and doing who knows what to her. Her plans of escape were disappearing right before her eyes and her shoulders began to slump in defeat.

But then perhaps she was overcomplicating things. If she made it so they couldn't get through the door very quickly she might just have enough time to run into the surrounding woods and hide. Alchemy would be useless in that situation and it would reduce Isabelle to being the old lady that she was. She began to tremble with excitement and recklessness again as she searched for something to barricade the door. The chair would be no good as she would need that to smash the window. Nothing else would be heavy enough.


After finally managing to get to sleep Ed was none to impressed by being woken by Al. He grumbled at his brother to go away but all was shaking him quite violently.

'Wha…what is it Al? It's…3am!'

'I know brother and I'm sorry, but Rose is on the phone and she really needs to talk to you.'

He rolled his eyes but then began to worry something had happened to Pinako. Throwing on a vest he ran into the corridor and headed toward the room with the light on. In there he found Hawkeye with the phone in hand. As he took it from her she took her leave just as how she had learned to.

'Rose, is everything okay? Has something happened to Pinako?'

'No,' was the whispered response, 'she doesn't know I'm calling you.'

He breathed a sigh of relief, 'Okay, then what has happened because if this is a casual chat you're going to have to sing me to sleep.'

But she didn't laugh, 'The perfume Ed, the one that was on the letter, the one I couldn't remember…'

'You know who it is?'

'Edward, you know who it is too, you hate that perfume.'

'It's not Hohenheim though, is it Rose, you must have got it wrong. The only other person I ever smelled it on was…'

Rose winced as she heard the phone crash to the ground.