Child's Fantasy is partially inspired by the song Please Don't Go by Krista. The lyrics in which that were the inspiration to this chapter are: (3rd verse) "In the back of my head, there lies a picture of what could of been the perfect family/ But that's just some other child's fantasy/ I want you/ Cuz you're the only one who meant the world to me/ And you're the only one who ever'd protected me/ We're broken but we're still a family."

Please Don't Go is a song written by and is featured on Krista's debut album "Taking Back Brooklyn." All rights reserved to the respected parties involved. Artist/Songs/Album/Labels (Vel and RCA records)

This chapter was also partially inspired by a Disney short called "The Little Match Girl." I cry every time I watch it over and over again. It's a beautifully drawn and animated short. So have your tissues ready!

Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 39 - Child's Fantasy

Making it to Resembool, both brothers visit Trisha and Hohenheim graves. Al sits on the grass while Ed stays standing. Ed is the first to talk after a moment of silence. "It's been almost 3 years since..."

Al - "...yeah." The both of them sigh. Al then asks. "Where do you think we would be at if he stayed and never left?"

Ed - "Dead."

Al looks at Ed with a ' Are you serious?' expression and rolls his eyes, replying "That's not what I meant brother." Ed starts laughing. Al joins him a few minutes later.

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Walking up the porch steps and unlocking the door, Pinako turns her`attention to the door once she hears it open. "Hello boys, I-" She pauses when she sees Ed in uniform. "Well, I had a feeling. It was a matter of time. It's only for a week, correct?" Ed uncomfortably nods his head.

Sitting at the dining room table, Pinako asks. "So when exactly do you two have to head up North, Edward?" "By tomorrow afternoon. So leaving here in the morning would be our best bet to make it up there in time." Ed replies.

Al - "But first brother needs his northern automail to deal with the weather up there. We don't want a repeat of last time, right Ed?" Ed glares at Al.

The turning knob on the front door several minutes later cuts them out of their squabble.

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Exiting the flower shop after her mother closes it for the day, Elicia stops walking and turns, looking through the fence as they're walking by a cemetery. "Elicia honey. What's the matter?"

Sighing, she looks up at her mom and says. "I miss daddy." Gracia looks at her daughter sadly. "Sweetie. Daddy's watching over us. From up above."

Elicia - "But I want him back down here." She replies quickly, breaking her mother's heart even more. Sadly sighing, she tells her daughter. "You know that's not possible Elicia." Elicia looks down sadly.

Sitting on her knees, Gracia tells her. "I know how you feel sweetie, I do. I'm sure that everyone who knew your father feels the same as well." She pulls Elysia into a hug as their emotions get the better of them.

A few minutes later as they are passing HQ. AJ who is with Roy and a few others spot them. She runs over to them. "Hey, Gracia. Hey Elicia." "Hey there, Janine."

AJ then notices Elicia behavior. Bending down to her level, she asks the seven-year-old. "What's the matter, Elicia?"

Elicia sighs sadly. "I miss daddy." AJ sighs sadly as well. "I know. And the rest of us do as well. But Elicia, can I tell you something?" Elicia nods her head. "Whenever you feel sad or lonely, you are not alone. And it's ok to feel that way sometimes. But there will always be someone here you can turn too, alright." Elicia nods her head. "And besides, wouldn't you rather be laughing then crying." She says as she starts tickling Elicia, who starts giggling and laughing uncontrollably.

Once she settles down, Elicia pulls AJ into a hug. "Thank you, Auntie Ari." "You're welcome, Elicia."

Elicia then lets go of AJ and turns her mother. "Mommy, can Auntie spend the night?" Gracia then looks at Janine. AJ nods her head yes. "Well if AJ is alright with it." Elicia then turns back and looks at AJ with the saddest expression. AJ smiles and says. "Definitely."

Elicia squeals as she hugs AJ again, happily.

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That night as she's sleeping, AJ remembers when she was taken away from her father when she was younger.

{Flashback Begins}

1907, Cornwall Ridge, Creta

Walking out of the family court in Market Square in Cornwall Ridge, Ari is escorted out of the building by a newly appointed caseworker of the system to her first foster home. Her father Medesto is running out of the building shortly thereafter, trying to catch up to them.

"Marisol! MARISOL!" He yells as he is running down the steps. Marisol stops and turns to face him.

Just as he gets near them, a few security guards catch up to him and stop him, grabbing him by his arms, keeping him in place.

The caseworker then pats her on her back, breaking her out of her concentrated fix on her father. The woman then places her arm around Ari's shoulder and escorts her away to a car nearby.

{Flashback Ends}

Waking up, her tears are already falling. She wraps her arms around her legs as she sits up.

A minute later, Elicia who is sleeping next to her, wakes up and asks. "Auntie, are you ok?" AJ lifts her head up. "Yeah." She whispers. "I- I just miss my dad too, Elicia."

Elicia then sits up and they give each other a hug. Laying back down, Elicia lays her head on AJ's arm and the both of them eventually fall back asleep.

{Elicia's Dream Begins}

Opening her eyes, Elicia hears something faintly and turns around. She immediately recognizes the person. He smiles at her. Trembling as she puts her hands over her mouth, crying happily at the sight of her father.

"Elicia," Maes says quietly as his own tears are falling down his face.

She closes her eyes, dropping to her knees but he catches her just before she hits the ground.

Slowly she wraps her arms around his waist as one of his arms is wrapped around her back and the other is holding her head against his chest. "My sweetheart, Elicia."

As she starts to open her eyes, she smiles as she looks up. Scrunching her eyebrows confusedly, she tries to make out her's father's face.

She gasps as she pushes the figure away, who is looking back at her with no eyes or nose, smiling at the feel of her fear.

{Elicia's Dream Ends}

Elicia shoots up, sweating, whimpering and panting heavily. AJ sits up as well, pulling her into a hug. "It's ok, Elicia. It's ok." As the seven-year-old is trembling, shaken to her core. "It was just a bad dream. I'm here. Don't worry."

Once she gets Elicia to calm down, the both of them lay down again and slowly start to drift back to sleep.

{Janine's Dream Flashback Begins}

In her third foster home, Borgan tells her in an impudent voice.

"Do You Want To Ever See You Father Again, Marisol?"

Ari nods her head yes.

"Then Behave And Do As I Say. Are We Clear?" She tells her. Ari nods her head and answers her with a yes.

While she is walking out of the courtroom, Marisol turns to her left and sees her father leaving the courtroom as well from the other set of doors. He looks over and sees her as well. Without saying a word, he walks away in the other direction.

"I'm sorry, daddy." She whispers as she covers her mouth, sobbing. Crying from the regretful words that spilled from her mouth just moments before from inside of the courtroom.

As he turns the corner at the end of the hall, that's the last time she ever sees of him.

{Janine's Dream Flashback Ends}

'I wish that didn't happen. I can't believe I did that' She says to herself as she opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling.

She rolls over and pulls Elicia into a hug.

Both of them hold on to each other as they start crying in their sleep.

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The next morning as she is walking up the steps to the Fuhrer's office. She stops and rests on the banister just before the hallway. Sighing exhaustedly since neither she nor Elicia got much sleep last night, she sits right next to the top step. Her elbows are on her knees, as her hands are covering her face.

A few minutes go by and Jean, Fuery, and Ross, who are walking up the steps as well, notice her. Maria shakes AJ shoulder, asking. "Janine. Is everything alright?"

AJ looks up and then leans against the side railing of the stairs, falling back asleep. Jean then feels her head. "She's not warm so I don't think it's a fever." "She probably didn't get enough sleep last night," Fuery adds.

Jean then carries her to Roy's office and lays her on the sofa, covering her with Roy's jacket that was hanging on the General's seat.

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Opening the door, Winry sighs exhaustedly. She closes the door behind herself from working at the shop since daybreak. Ed stares with worry at her. She then looks up and sees Ed, who is still in uniform. The both of them just stare at each other.

Pinako tells Alphonse. "Let's give them some time to themselves." Al nods and follows Pinako out the room. Once the door to the back closes, Ed starts walking towards her.

Winry - "Stop." Ed stops right where he's at. Winry slowly walks up to him. She gently places her hand on the jacket of his uniform.

As she's feeling the texture of the material of the uniform, Ed tells her. "It's only for the week, Winry. After that then I'm officially done."

Winry lets out a light chuckle. "It's funny, you said that when you retired a few years ago but no matter how hard you tried, they still dragged you back."

Ed - "Win-" She cuts him off and continues. "I knew that eventually, they would make you wear the uniform, but I should of known that it would have been this soon. I mean it makes sense to have you it for whatever they order you do. For the last time."

"Winry, I-." She cuts him off again and sighs sadly. "So what are you ordered to do, then?" Ed sighs as well. "Olivier ordered me up north. So I'm gonna need the northern automail. That's why I came here. Al's coming with me as well."

Winry looks at him confused at first then rolls her eyes. "Of course Al gets to go." She folds her arms and turns away from him, pissed off. He then wraps his arms around her waist, whispering flirtatiously in her ear. "I want you to go as well, Mrs. Elric."

Winry's face flares up at his words. Spinning around, she grabs his cheeks and kisses passionately.

When they separate, Ed tells her. "After all, didn't I promise to take you where ever I go, babe." Blushing, she kisses him again. He smiles into the kiss.

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In his shorts, Ed lays on the bed as Winry finishes turning the last of the screws for his northern automail. He looks up a little, moving the nub a little of his left leg.

Ed then sits up and tells her. "Al asked me earlier. What if our father had never left mom and us?"

Winry stops and turns to look at him. Ed continues and tells her his reply to Al. She laughs, earning a chuckle out of him.

Sighing a few minutes later, she says. "I wonder about that as well." Ed looks at her with a raised eyebrow. "What if my parents never left and went to Ishbal? What did they think about as they were walking onto their final train? What would they think of me now?" Ed looks at her with concern. She pauses. "Would they be proud of me?"

Ed immediately replies. "Of course!" Ed shouts. He then tries to stand to rush over to her but falls on the floor.

Winry chuckles at Ed's embarrassed/ flustered face. She then helps him up back on the bed. Ed let's out an exhausted sigh. "Honey." She says in a loving matter. He looks up at her. "Stay here. Let me grab your leg for you."

Ed raises an eyebrow. "It's finished?" He asks. She nods her head.

She stands back up and walks back to her desk, picking it up and walking back to him. She smiles as Ed says. "Here comes the fun part."

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While in the elevator on the way to his office, he remembers when he was called to a scene. A homeless child had died and was found by Janine as she was walking up a flight of steps to cross the bridge that the little girl was under.

{Roy's Flashback Begins}

Looking at her as she is sitting on the steps, covering her face with her knees, he glances over in the direction of the covered body that is currently being moved into a vehicle.

Sighing, he then looks back at her and walks over to sit down next to her. Patting her back gently he tells her. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent such a tragedy. According to the locals, she became homeless after a woman who was taking care of her, died unexpectedly a few months ago, Janine."

He continues. "Even if we would have found her a new home, it was already too late." Lifting herself up, she wipes her eyes and stands. He stands as well. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he whispers in her ear. "Once they're gone, they're gone and there's nothing we can do but move forward. Let's get going. I wanna tell you about a little girl named Nina."

She nods her head. They start walking away.

Behind them on the snowy ground is a box that has a few unused matches still inside of it.

{Roys Flashback Ends}

Sighing, the door to the elevator opens up and he walks out, heading straight for his office.

End of Chapter 39

Comment if you have any questions. I'll be happy to answer all. Constructive criticism is welcomed!