A/N: Well I'm finally back with a new chapter, very sorry for the wait everyone. I just needed a little break to get my thoughts together and after a little bout of writers block I think I'm good to continue. I've actually got the next two chapters written as well, but I'm not gonna post them all at once so I can give myself more time to continue with the story.

Disclaimer: nope, don't own it.

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Ch. 6: Familiar Faces

THRUMP THRUMP THRUMP

"Hey are you up yet?"

Golden eyes shot open and stared blearily at the ceiling. He had the feeling that something important had happened, something that balanced at the edge of his dream memory and his sleepy mind was desperately trying to grasp it back.

A transmutation circle with a fanged creature, jaws gaping, tongue lashing out…

"Hey lazy! Get up already!"

The knocking was even more persistent now, and all other thoughts fled as Edward Elric sleepily staggered out of bed.

"Cut it out already!" Ed barked as he opened the door with a hard yank.

As he peered out, the rays of light streaming in made him squint as his sensitive eyes took in the sight of the tall form of Alfons Heiderich who was smiling down at him. Ed frowned and rubbed his eyes, trying to rid himself of the last plagues of sleep.

"Rough night?" Alfons asked cheekily, causing Ed to scowl and push past him into their small kitchen where he helped himself to a cup of coffee.

"You look like a mess at any rate," Alfons said, taking a seat at the table and taking a healthy bite of toast.

Ed merely grunted and downed the coffee. "What are you so happy about this morning anyways?" Ed looked at the tall blonde suspiciously, a blonde eyebrow raised.

"No reason," Al shrugged, finishing his breakfast and cleaning up his dirty dishes, conveniently not looking Ed in the eye. "I want to head in early today, so if you could be ready soon, that'd be great."

It was Ed's turn to shrug indifferently as he padded back to his room.

"Give me 10 minutes."

Al turned and smiled, "I'm leaving in 5."

The race was on.

As Al and Ed walked side by side through the soon-to-be crowded streets, Ed was once again struck with how different this world was to his own. It was as if now he always walked through a fog. The colors were dull compared to the vibrancy of Amestris. Even food seemed to taste different; blander than what he remembered it being in his world. But no one else seemed to mind, and Ed felt a small amount of pity for them. They would never know how good it could be.

Another thing Ed had to get used to was the cold weather. He didn't care much for it, especially when it caused his joints in his prosthetic arm to squeak and protest at every movement. The arm his father had made for him was a stand able substitution, but it was nothing compared to his automail. This only seemed to prove further that Winry was in fact a genius of her trade.

Oh how her head would expand at that comment!

Ed had allowed his body to be put on autopilot while he walked the same path he took everyday to the lab he and Al worked in, letting his thoughts wonder to another life and time where a blue-eyed girl reprimanded him with a wrench while a suit of armor watched and laughed from a safe distance.

So engrossed in his own thoughts was he, that he barely registered the fact that Alfons was heading down a side street the two didn't usually take to work.

"Hey, why'd you…?" Ed began once he realized where he was and looked curiously to the taller boy.

"Just a slight detour, there's something I wanted to check out," was Al's only explanation as he pulled the shorter blonde along.

"I thought you wanted to go in early!" Ed yelled, exasperated at how strange Al was being.

"I wanted to go early so I could see this."

Al stopped and pointed to a starch white building that seemed to be under construction. There was wax paper in the windows signaling the need for paned glass, and only half the roof seemed complete. Seeing a cross perched on a pointed steeple, Ed realized that the building was a church.

From their vantage point at the top of the street, Ed could see the frame was set in an odd way. In the center of the roof a large circular opening was left, as if something was going to be inserted. A large crane lifted a disk shaped piece that seemed like it would be placed in the opening.

"See that opening in the roof?" Al asked as if reading his thoughts, and Ed nodded in reply. "Special stained glass was shipped from France to put in there. It should be really beautiful when it's done, don't you think? I haven't seen any other church to have its stained glass in the ceiling. It's very revolutionary."

"Yeah, I guess it is," Ed replied with a yawn. As interesting as it was to Alfons, he really didn't see what the big deal was.

Sensing his disinterest, Al's mood soured.

"Aren't you ever moved by anything but science!" Al exclaimed, his blue eyes flashing.

Ed started at this statement, angering at first before his features saddened as that far-off look he sometimes got fell upon him. This caused Alfons to immediately wish his words back. He couldn't stand when Ed got like that, it was just so depressing.

Ed turned away to continue watching the construction, seeing how bits of light caught the picture etched in the glass and caused it to sparkle. But Ed wasn't really paying attention, his thoughts running away into his memories. Memories of three little children playing in the rolling hills of the country, of sparring with a large, creaking suit of armor, of watching the soft glow of a setting sun fall across a blonde, blue-eyed mechanic as she tinkered with his automail.

Al's face softened as he watched Ed, and he had opened his mouth to apologize when Ed answered him.

"Not anymore," was the man's soft reply, but after a moment he went on. "We should get going or we'll be late to work."

Al nodded and followed quietly behind, hoping beyond hope Ed would be in a better mood when they reached the lab.

Luckily for Al, the day continued on normally as they boys kept busy with their rocket research. Al was the hands on technician, while Ed worked out all the formulas and both boys did research.

The work was interesting to Ed, and he held a glimmer of hope that a rocket could be made that could possibly send him home. If it were up to him, he'd work well into the night on these projects and the whistle signaling days end came all too soon.

Pausing in the middle of one rather large equation, Ed looked up to see Al telling him to pack up. With a sigh, the blonde put away his papers in an accordion folder and set them away until another time.

Ed put on his coat, careful of his fake arm, and then joined Al at the door. Their stomachs growled fiercely as the two made their way to the usual pub they ate at after work. Neither Al nor Ed could cook, so most of their meals had to be taken outside of their home, and this pub had the best food for the best price.

As the boys neared the pub, a man was coming out, and looking up the lamplights glowed against the visage of the officer who looked like Maes Hughes.

Ed flinched reflexively at seeing a dead man alive, but then kicked himself for thinking that. He had to constantly remind himself that this was not the Hughes he had known in his world. This Hughes was more serious than the other Hughes, and definitely not one to throw pictures of his daughter in a persons face.

"Evening boys," the officer greeted with a tip of his hat. "Heading in? There are some good specials today and Burkes is training a new waitress. Poor girl…be sure to be nice to her. I'm sure she's having a hard enough time." With a final wave the man was on his way and Ed and Al entered the crowded tavern.

Barks of laughter reached their ears and the boys jostled their way to the crowd to get at their usual table, throwing a greeting to the pubs owner, Burkes, as they went. Being frequent customers had guaranteed a friendship with the portly man.

After sitting down, Al picked up a menu and scrutinized it with narrowed eyes.

"Why don't you just get your usual?" Ed asked with exasperation but Al shook his head.

"I want to try something new. You know, mix it up. We can't all be as fearful of change as you."

Ed scowled at this remark turn his attention elsewhere as he surveyed the crowd of people eating, drinking, and laughing.

"Evening gentlemen. Are you boys ready to order or should I give you a minute?" a sweet voice called from beside the table grabbing Ed's attention. Slowly he looked up into vibrant blue eyes.

Those eyes...

The girl had a sweet face and long platinum blonde hair that was pulled into a bun. Her pale complexion caused her bright blue eyes to stand out beautifully, even against the drab colored dress and apron she wore.

Ed was speechless.

He couldn't move or even breathe as the girl smiled captivatingly at him. His heart pounded terribly against his chest as his mind tried desperately to start up again, but no matter how hard he tried only one word appeared which he uttered in a rasping whisper.

"Winry…"

By now, Al was watching the exchange with interest while looking from Ed to the blonde waitress. While the girl looked generally startled, Ed seemed ready to pass out.

"Hey, have we met? How did you know my name?"

The girl was looking at Ed with clear confusion and Ed didn't seem capable of speech so Al decided to interject for his friend.

"So your name's Winry? That's a pretty name… I think we'll need a few more minutes to decide if we could."

The waitress looked at Alfons and nodded, giving a fleeting glace to Ed before leaving the table.

Once Al was sure the girl was gone, he leaned over to whisper fervently to Ed.

"Hey! What's wrong with you!"

Pushing back his menu Ed abruptly stood, almost knocking his chair over in the process and mumbled something about needing air before stalking out.

Feeling the cool night air hit his burning cheeks, Ed's mind began to process normally once more. Now that the initial shock of seeing a Winry look-alike had worn off, new emotions began to fill him, anger being the prominent one.

Why did I have to get so worked up over seeing her? It was just Winry…a Winry look-alike.

Ed shook his head in annoyance, and then he heard Al approach from behind.

"You alright?"

Ed nodded dully while staring at the pavement below.

"I'm not going back in there."

The finality in Ed's voice shocked Al, and he knew not to argue. It wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Did you know her from somewhere?"

Al hoped he wasn't crossing the line; he knew he was balancing dangerously close given Ed's current state, but he felt it was worth a try to pry some information out of the stubborn blonde.

"Yes and no…" Ed answered cryptically, finally daring to look up at Al's confused, yet worried, face.

"How so?" Al coaxed, stepping next to his friend.

Ed hesitated a second and rubbed his chin absentmindedly but then relented.

"I've told you about my world, and how you look like my brother."

Al nodded while mentally sighing, Not another story…

"Well, I knew a girl that looked just like that waitress. She was a good friend to me and my brother. We grew up together. Her name was Winry…"

Al paused a moment while he absorbed this information.

"Her name was Winry too. Maybe it's her?"

"No," Ed began, shaking his head. "My Winry couldn't be in this world. Besides, there are some differences between that girl and the Winry I knew. My Winry's hair was a little darker blonde and she wasn't that pale. Oh, and her eyes were a brighter blue…"

Al chuckled softly causing Ed to make a face at him.

"That girl was pretty cute, but by the sound of it your Winry is even better looking?" Al teased, grinning broadly.

"How should I know! Besides, I bet that girl is a lot nicer than the Winry I knew. The Winry I knew was evil and liked to throw things at my head, force me to buy her things, and make fun of my height. Not to mention she was a stupid automail junkie!" Ed replied heatedly, crossing his arms.

"Wow," Al said with awe lacing his voice, "I'd like to meet this girl."

"Forget it!" Ed spat angrily while clenching his fists.

Suddenly, is face saddened and his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"You can't. She's still back in my world. I won't ever see her again, or my brother…"

After being around Ed for a few years, Al had gotten somewhat used to Ed's little bouts of depression when he thought of his previous home. While Alfons wasn't sure if he could buy this 'other world' story, he did realize Ed must have had a very scarred life. Al had hoped that one day he would unlock the mystery that was Edward's life, but he knew doing something like that would take a lot of time and patience. There were some things that Ed was just not ready to talk about and he respected that.

"Come on Ed, just have a little faith and believe in the impossible."

Seeing Ed's skeptical look, Al slung an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, I think we can find something to eat at home."

Once again Ed allowed himself to be propelled forward by Al.

But no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to shake the apprehensive feeling that had settled over him.

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A/N: So how was it? Hopefully not too boring. I think I'll continue switching off between Ed and Winry, though not necessarily every chapter. Oh, and I want to thank everyone who reviewed! Your encouragement helped pull me out of my block!

Next Chapter: Surprise, Surprise: Winry begins studying for the state exams and a familiar boy makes his appearance. Meanwhile, strange visitors arrive at Central. What could they want?

--Miss Soupy