I'm back for another round boys and girls, Happy Late Holiday/Birthday! Sorry for the really, really, really belated chapter but, again, things have been quite hectic here with life and such. But, enough about little ole me, let's get to what you came here for. Still working out kinks but if kinks remain, its all good. Have a good one.
Chapter 25: What Is a Grandfather?
He could feel the short crossing to the other side. Not a single minute was spared to bring him back through a held breath he had been holding without acknowledgement. He didn't know why he had been holding it in nor could he pin point his location as to where he was. All he could see was an image of the back of someone's head looking away from him. He didn't recognize the person at first but when a white abyss lit up his world the anonymous person turned around, just in time to dissolve away as he hit the ground in his reality.
Suddenly he could hear his name being muffled through a small bright light coming in closer to him. It came in fast, until his name could be heard clearly through the dark abyss, "~ing! Ling! LING!" It took him a moment to focus in on the person shaking him and smacking him around, but he knew all too well on who it was and attempted to get a good look at his face, "Ed..." The blonde fell relief but still seemed stressed all the same when he smiled down at his friend. He helped the prince sit up but even so, Ling still continued to hold his head to regain composure. Unfortunately the fall hit him hard which caused him to walk unbalanced and nearly collapse, but Ed was there to hold him until he regained himself once again. "Ugh, my head. What happened?"
"Just take a second. Whew, you actually had me worried there."
"Try not to move too much." Al could see how disoriented Ling had become but unfortunately the next question was soon to have come to mind, "Where's Janelle?" Everyone stood quiet looking to one another as Ling began to look around to find no sign of her. He then looked to Edward and Alphonse only to see that his worries had been made real, "You uh...you don't remember?" The boy asked hesitantly.
"All I remember is jumping over with you and Al to stop Father from attacking her...We did...and then...We were at the store...That's it." There was a short pause while Ed began to cock a brow in confusion, "What about Greed?"
"He's..." He looked at his hand in a daze, suddenly choking back as he trailed off and stood to his feet to notice the tattoo on his hand was missing. Gone, "Greed...?" He swallowed back waiting for a reply, but there was none. Instead Ling grinded his teeth and called again, this time in a light panic, "Greed, please answer me." Still, there was nothing. The prince began to pant under his breath holding his head with opened eyes, fearing the worst, "Greed!"
"Ling don't tell me..." Al trailed off not sure if he wanted to say it.
"Ed, he's gone!"
"What?!"
"The tattoo is gone and Greed isn't answering me! He must've gotten stuck between the void!"
"Shit, it must've been because he was the one in possessing your body at the time. " Ed sounded worried. Nothing like this had ever happened before, "We need to find a way to get in through the door."
"The door?" Faces fell, some in thought, but while all the muttering of others started to come about, Hoenhiem hummed to himself sadly as he studied the device, noticing both his hands and the means to get the girl back almost looks identical when it came to the punctures. He knew this would happen of course, using his stone when he had already used it before on a larger scale had worn him down greatly, and now, he had only enough in him to give it one last go. But, the last time, would be shorter than the last, "The mechanism is ready again, but I can't guarantee the portal will stay open as long. If we do this we have to just grab the girl and Father at all cost. For Greed...he'll just have to wait until we manage to save the girl. I won't say it'll be easy, but Ling Yao, if you wish to have your wife and friend back, I suggest you ready yourself for the last hope of getting them back." Ling could hardly process the word he used to describe his lover, but as they settled, so did his resolve as he clenched his fist and narrowed his brows with a intense stare. He almost didn't seem like himself as he spoke, " Yes sir. I'll stop at nothing to get them back. They're my family." His voice shook.
"Alright then, let's get started. Ed? Al? l'm going to need your help." The boys looked to their father, wondering and hoping whatever he had plan would succeed, after all, Janelle was on her own.
All the while, Greed himself was having problems. Awoken to be in a strange void he had only seen in a glimpse of his dreams. He gasped, stepping back from the large double doors looking from it to his hands. He could see his soul, stable, and nearly black from the carbon. The other half, human, his eyes amethyst, paled skin, and bare, "What the hell is this?"
Honestly, Janelle was hardly thinking when she sent Ed and Greed back to their world. How she managed to react so quickly was beyond her. She just did it. Nerves seemed to be a nice assumption. Now, she stood in front of the monster she had been running from. Someone risking their worlds to take the life force within her.
She could've asked why it had to be her when so many others were his option before, but seeing that she could see what she possessed, or more of who, she could only glare back coldly, and put out her hands outward, extending her arms, "So, what now gramps? Are you going to shoot me? If you do that you'll end up killing me and the baby in the process! And what will that accomplish if you're stuck here?" At first he was silent, lowering the gun to his side as he looked back almost uninterested, yet humored, "That's what you want right? It's not me but the baby because of what he or she could possess! So what will you do if you're stuck in a world with no alchemy?"
"I will leave with that stone and if I have to break your legs to get it so be it."
"So do it. Break my legs, tear me asunder if you want, but I promise you, I will fight you! You and I have no alchemy here! I will bite, gouge and bash you until my last breath before you ever take it!" He chuckled, "I won't mind a few scars once we're through the other side..." Just as he was about to shoot she slid down onto the floor to the next aisle to avoid the shot. She able to maneuver off her belly in a hurry and sprint down the long stretch until she came to the sport and hunting aisle, again avoiding another shot by mere meters to her back. She screamed involuntarily and going deaf from the sound of the pistol. "Cut her off at the front! Now!" Pride did as he was told as sharpened his gaze to the toy section and ran through it to jump over to the furniture section, clothes. All the while Janelle was grabbing a cross bow and tearing open packages to get to the arrows, frantically looking back and forth to make sure she had a second to lock it. She didn't have time to read instructions but luckily for her she was able to set in the arrow and pull back the cord to send it flying into Father's right shoulder, "Ah! You little wench!" While stunned by her strike, Janelle quickly ran for the exit. She made a straight shot for it, nearly being cut off by the small creature as he grabbed onto her neck and bit into her ear, "Ugh! Ah!" At the pain she cried out but she was quick to stick him in the eye with a spare arrow feeling the monster release her. She ran for it. She ran for the nearest car, breaking it window with the back of her bow. It took a good four times, and her yelling to break it, but when she did she was able to unlock it. She was thankful to have found an older working car, if it had been electric, her life would've had a different out come, instead she was able to rig it and pressed so hard on the pedal she was afraid she may have broken it.
The tires screeched loud enough for Father to pin point her and the car, again letting bullets fly when he aimed for the tires. He hit one, causing Janelle to swerve, but she did not crash as he had intended. She escaped, bloody, sniffling back unwanted tears, sweat covering her from head to toe. She could barely keep herself straight let alone turn when she went up the nearest ramp to her home. People honked and cursed, but she attempted to make sure she didn't hit anyone. It was stupid but she was running out of time, and she only carried two discs with her when she couldn't bring the rest. Janelle was at the point of falling into a hysterical fit but she held tightly to the wheel making a clear way home when she came down the street. When she approached her driveway, Janelle abandoned the car, and continued into the condos on foot, crossbow and all. She couldn't take any chances unarmed. She would've been a fool to, and jogged up her steps, only to stop when she heard a honk of a car behind her. She aimed the bow not even sure on who it was, until she pulled it down quickly and gave an uneasy sigh, "What the hell...?" She began to panic now, how could she be home at all times? "Janelle, what in the world?!"
"Mom get out of here!" She cautioned.
"Oh my god your ear!" Janelle didn't have time to explain instead she grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her up the stairs to lock the door, "Shit!"
"Janelle!"
"Why are you home?!"
"I live here? I also wanted to make sure you weren't still here goofing off!"
"Well I'm not!" She realized arguing at a time like this was not a good idea and hurried her mother towards the only window available to them, "Come on, go out through the window." As she attempted to open the latch her mother stopped in front of the television set, "You go first, I'm calling the police!"
"There's no time for that!" She yelled frustrated with her, but just as a loud bang pierced their ears, they both screamed in fear, "Greed won't be able to save you now girl! Nobody will!"
"God almighty-!," Her mother was trying hard to call the police while opening the back window. It was a bit of a drop but they had no choice, "Yes I need an officer set to 1412 Lago Dr. #7! Please hurry!" They were both starting to panic, Janelle could see from their spot around the corner that the handle was close to being cleared from the door. She wanted to scream, paling at the meer sight of the shadow coming in from the first blow, "The disc!" Was all she could yell before turning on the player and television, "Please, guys..." The second shot came causing the girls to shriek as the door swayed open.
The world began to fall into slow motion it seemed, when Janelle turned her head to see a figure walking through the cloud of dust, step by step, "Jen!" Her mother attempted to grab for her but just as she made a run for it, Father had already raised his cocked gun to the older woman, shooting her once. And then twice. At that point, the world had stopped all together as Janelle watched her fall to the floor, "Mom!" She didn't know what to think, her mind had fallen blank as she tried to rationalize with her reality, "Mom?!" When her mother could only gasp holding her wounded shoulder, Janelle's eyes were quick to gloss over with tears, her heart clenched so tight in her chest she could barely breath. She wanted to call her again, but instead she held her mother tightly and began to pull her towards the television, "I got you! It's going to be okay!" Why? Why her? How could this have happened over a television show? Was this a dream? A cruel joke? She began to reminsce on how much she use to loathe this woman at one point, and now, how much it took to work up to this point of trust and respect after all her mistakes and shanigans Janelle herself had pulled. In the end, she felt like she had caused this. This was partially due to her. Instead of worrying about getting to the guys, why didn't she listen to her mother and get to safety first? "Was that someone dear to you? How dreadful. Even mommy dearest couldn't save you." Hearing this, it only caused the grief to turn into rage has she glared through tear stained eyes, "You...You! YOU! I should've had you killed from the beginning!" She screamed only to have the gun raised at her knee. He shot her left causing her to scream out and grab onto her leg, near falling top of her mother in process, "AH!"
"All of you are nothing but mere fools." He looked so confident. So sure of himself, but just as she was about to answer, his thumb pulled back the hammer to shoot her other knee cap, but before the bullet could leave the barrel, a burst of light had blinded the two. It was hard to see where it was coming from but when Janelle heard the sound of familiar voice, her heart felt that it had skipped a beat, "There she is!"
"Jenny!"
"Grab her damn it!" Suddenly she felt a pair arms lift her up from around her shoulders and pull her back at into the tear at the light speed. She felt her head spin at the fluctuation between worlds, and even more so as she looked back at her mothers body still lying on the floor, "No wait!" Unfortunately, it was too late, she had already passed her entire form through and with little to spare. Even Father had a few moments to grab onto her wounded leg, and hold so tightly it made Jan yelp out in pain. He was only half way through when the portal began to close, "You will NOT leave me! GIVE ME THE STONE DAMN YOU!" Janelle continued to scream in pain and terror as he dug into her legs with his nails, causing the others to panic, "Should we shoot, sir!"
"No you'll hit the girl!"
"Let go of her you bastard!" Ling eyes narrowed dangerously to the man latching on, thinking of a way to slice him off if possible without hurting his lover. When he thought of Lan Fan's daggers he yelled out to her for one. She nodded throwing one to the prince just in time to slice the dwarfs hands from his wrist.
Just then from Janelle's front door a figure began to run through the rubble towards the chaos, but when they all realized it was Pride coming up right behind Father to his rescue, Ed began to shout out over the loud sparks of electricity surrounding the entrance of their realm, "Close the portal! Close it now!" Janelle was holding her breath and her mother as she watched the old man fall into white void below, "YOU'LL NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT!" He screamed stretching his arm out as his stone began to deteriorate. His face began to deform and fall black like his original form. Pride was no better he was passing over and attempting to use his shadows, but for some reason his shadows were taking their time to form. They both seemed to panic.
This was it, Janelle needed to take this chance to destroy their stones, but the question was did she have enough to stop them both. If not, this would surely be her end, "Then...Try this one on for size!" Knowing now that he was certainly at his limit in this world Janelle let out an angry cry after what he had done prior to their departure. It had almost slipped her mind that she could use alchemy again, and with a surge of that energy she remembered sensing on this side, Janelle let out a new colored bolt of energy that wrapped around her leg and began to eat away at the homunculus's atoms. She couldn't have been more satisfied of the results. Father yelped out and released his tenacle arm from her limb letting her go as he fell into the void of truth. Between the tear the two homunculi had fallen to what they thought was there end, but just as Alphonse was about to pull Janelle and her mother up before the portal closed, but a quick whip of a black shadow from Pride had strapped itself to her leg again, and ripped her from Ling's grasps, "Ah!"
"NO!" She tried to grab for a hand of his, but when she had grabbed the space between the arm of Al's armor, she accidentally pulled him to the point of causing Al to lose his balance and pull the others in with him, "EDWARD!"
"MY LORD!" The group were gone, swallowed by the light before the portal spun into a star and burst into gust of a powerful wind. The others tried to cover their face, in awe of what they had just witnessed. On the other side, Janelle found herself staring at the door of truth, whipping around to see that not only was healed but Truth had been grinning at her, as usual, "I see you've been busy."
"The others, where are they?" She demanded, not giving into the games he liked to play. "Here. With us." He chuckled enlightened, "Where are they!"
"Alright, Alright, sheesh women..." He frowned, reluctantly opening the door behind her. At least that's what she thought he did before suddenly hearing her name, "Jenny." From behind her. Her heart fluttered when she heard it, and whipped her head around to see none other than Greed in his true form. A mist of his soul, yet it was slightly in human shape. Her eyes began to water at his weakened state, and held back the sob daring to escape her throat, "Greed." She began to walk up to him almost at a snail's pace before her strength caught up with her. When jogged up to him and attempted to jump into his arms, she merely fell through him, as if he were made of ash, "No...No..."
"Sorry, he's not exactly dead, but he did sacrifice himself for his friend."
"What do you mean?" Greed glared at the silhouette of the unknown being until his eyes turned to Janelle's paled expression, "I'm sorry Jen. I had no choice. When we passed through the portal, it wasn't a straight shot like before. We ended up here, and I got stranded. One of us had to go back for you." It hurt to hear it, she didn't want to believe it, but she knew it was real. He was stuck here without a body. She kept her composure, shaking her head of the tears swelling in the corner of her eyes, "No! There's got to be a way to fix this! I know there is!"
"Jenny it's okay." He tried to grab her but it was a failed attempt. They both saddened more but when silence began to fall the both of them, Janelle thought of the others suddenly, "Where is my mother?"
"Your mother is in a place far from this conversation. Because now that this homunculus father has broken a small tear through three different dimensions it may be difficult to repair this little screw up."
"I can fix it." She replied desperate, but Greed growled in protest, "Jenny, no baby!"
"I want my family Greed!" She cupped his face and placed his forehead to hers. She really wish she could physically do so, but the action was enough to calm him, "I want you. Me be damned, my needs are far less important right now. I want our worlds right again." With silence as her answer and his relaxed features, she smiled with a tear stained face, "You're going to live this time whether you say so or not. Call me stubborn."
"As hell." He said it so softly to get a smile to grace her lips. When she had turned back to the mischievous figure watching them, she frowned as she came up with an idea that she hoped would work, "Could I fix it by giving up my use of Alchemy? I don't care how you do it,but I'm willing to make that trade." Truth itched his chin humming, "I suppose, but it would only cover the cost of your lover. Not your home." There was a loud thump against her heart, and she paled a bit, only to fall into deep thinking, "How about..." Her eyes then looked to the door, and before she could stop herself she spoke, "The grandfather?"
"What?" Greed was surprised at the offer, but truth seemed to like the answer she gave, "Hmm...Interesting. Are you sure?"
"Why not the bastard wants eternal life right, this will be as eternal as it gets for him." There was a darkness in the woman's eyes, one unlike Greed had ever seen on her, but during the exchange the homunculus remained silent as he looked to truth, "Hee, you got it, but once it's done, it can not be undone."
"I accept. Return my world to the way it was, with my mother, and I'll give you my trade." The mist cackled with the biggest smile he could've made and clapped his hands, "It is done!" The next thing they heard was the sound of the large door behind them, and to see Father in his dwarfed form. He's shocked and in disbelief, "How could you? How could this have happened?"
"You have no one to blame but yourself. For a homunculus who wanted nothing more than to be human, you learned nothing. You think it's power that holds humans together or that our sins is what makes us imperfect and worthless. But it's not. It's not that at all. In order to learn, you must have flaws. Our sins, our imperfections IS what makes us human. It's the good in us that has to live on, it about learning about others, do we understand our universe. In all those years, even with hoenhiem, had you learn none of that? You are no grandfather in my eyes, dwarf, you could never understand what it means to be one, because you've never learned love, compassion, and empathy. Your sons were all that you were. And now look at you. You will never change. And that's why, I, Janelle Rosily, trade my 'gift' of alchemy for my world's return. And you, for Greed's."
"Wh-what?" Just as he attempted to process what Janelle had done, the large doors creaked loudly behind him opening wide enough to swallow them all whole. The stretch of dark hands ascending towards him, causing the dwarf to back away from the pit, before the hands wrapped around. Of course his slow attempted escape was futile, "No. NO!" The two had taken a few steps away from the long lengthy shadows coiling around the dwarf's little body, watching as it continued to pull him in to the darkness, "I just wanted to know this world's knowledge! What could I have done differently! Tell me!" He yelled at them teary eyed and afraid of the void beyond the gate, "GREED! PLEASE! H-HELP ME!" For the first time Janelle could see the ache in his eyes. It was his father after all. What son wouldn't feel some kind of remorse, but he knew who his father really was. He would come after the woman he loved and the child he loved, and he would refuse to let him have the satisfaction of pity he did not deserve. He said nothing as the doors finally closed. It was the silence after his father's screams that became a relief for him, but he couldn't stop the somewhat distress that pained him. He did pity him, and although their was no love for his monster of creator, he couldn't help but ask, "What is a grandfather anyway?"
"Greed?" Her voice traveled making him turn towards her, yet looking at the floor as if confused, "For awhile now we have been referring him as father, pops, and now...A grandfather? He didn't deserve those titles. And yet...I still feel, I don't know. Pity?" Jan could tell the end of his father meant apart of him had died as well. After all, him and the other sins were created for the soul purpose to reject them. To become perfect, without them. It was a touchy subject for Greed, and she could see that. In return Janelle grabbed his gaze when shee leaned towards him, and smiled, "I know what you mean. It's okay to feel that way. You're not heartless Greed." That made him frown more, "Some would beg to differ."
"You're free, do you realize that? You're finally free." She wanted to hold him, she kept forgetting she couldn't do that, but none the less she put her hand to his, dwindling her fingers against his translucent ones, "I am." He said back almost on the brink of loosing his composure, "And you're here."
"I really am, doll." Before she realized it, her eyes began to water, but no tears had fallen, for the bold eccentric door began to burst open, startling the two out of their moment. Even more so when they heard the sound of a person yelling out as they were thrown out of the darkness and straight at the Janelle's feet.
It was Ling, and Janelle's unconscious mother, "Ling! Oh Mom..." She collapsed in front of both of them, aiding Ling up as he rose to his feet, then she attended to her mother to lay her face up. She had already noticed the wounds seemed to be gone, but her mother was still in a comatose state, "Mama?" There was no answer from her, but from what she could hear she was still breathing. It was a relief to hear it, but her once calm expression turned sour to the white being slightly laughing at the reaction of them all, "What the hell is the matter with you!"
"Relax they're fine. I just couldn't stand all that love in the air. Ugh."
"So you throw my unconscious mother through a portal?!" She nearly hiss through her teeth before Ling spoke up, "Janelle relax. No need to rile yourself up." He had a point but a part of her wished to rip truth a new one. But, she diagressed.
"You alright buddy?" Ling who seemed completely disoriented by the fall only muttered, "Yeah...I think so." He rubbed the back of his head with one of his light hearted smiles. The few turned to truth leaving Janelle to speak for them once again, "Where are the brothers?"
"Busy. They have a debt of their own to finish. I'm sure you know what it is." She nodded sighing a little in relief before looking down at her mother to removed strains from her face, "My mother...can I...can I send her back?"
"Only if you wish woman. You have already given me one payment, but know this, once you send her back you can never return." There was a sudden silence between them. All the men could do was stare at her watching as her chest moved in a unsteady pace, "Will she forget me?" She asked with a strained voice, balling her fist as she stared to the ground, "I can't answer that. She may or may not."
"Right." She was conflicted, she loved her mother despite their differences, and in the end, Janelle made her decision. It may have not been the right one, maybe she was being selfish, but after being with Ling, Greed, and even the baby. She couldnt just leave them either. So with a heavy heart, she cuppes one of her mother's hands and held it tight in both of hers, "Mom. I know you can't hear me, or even respond to what I'm about to do, but I want you to know that I love you. Even if I never say it, I do." Janelle's hands began to shake and her heart pounded loud in her ears before she suddenly felt an urge to cry, but she resisted. She knew she would forbaid this, but with the baby and Ling and Greed now apart of her world, it was even harder to leave. She wanted a new life. A different life she could choose. And as selfish as that may have been, she wanted this, and that's what was to be. "I wish I could say let the boys know I will be okay, but...I know it's not possible. I will miss them. But I think Kota will be a little happy to know he can have my room." As she laughed, Janelle was quick to find herself sobbing and hanging her face in a hand, "I wish there was something easier but it never is. Ah heck ma, I'm sorry I was such a jerk. A real jerk." She wasn't sure who was the first to squeeze her from around the shoulders, but none the less she was grateful to the person by holding them back and resting the back of her head on their chest. When she lifted her head up to look back at them, she sadly smiled at him, "I don't want to do this, but I know there's no other way...right?" The prince kissed her forehead tenderly for a short moment before he held her tigher, "I wish there was my love. But this is it. We either go together..or.."
"I won't do that to you and the baby. I can't. Either way it's cruel." With that her eyes closed as she wiped her tears placing the mermaid necklace around her mothers neck and kissed her cheek with such a love only a daughter could show to a mother, "I love you mama." She cupped her hands once last time before letting Ling lift her off the floor. Her mother began to levitate and fade away leaving an ache in Janelle's chest. She tightened her fist as little droplets of light swarm her mother's body until she had disappeared into a million stars.
The double doors opened on que, swallowing the stars into the darkness. Janelle couldnt help the few steps she took towards the doors as they closed in front of her, and when they had shut completely, the young woman placed a hand on the cold stone, and pressed her head against it. "Now then, what's next? I guess that's it huh? A happy ending for everybody and the girl gets to stay with the prince and the beast. Bravo girl, you've done what no one else has." Janelle stared at the door a moment longer sliding her fingers over the words to remember them fondly. "Do you remember the first time you brought me through this door?" Truth nodded chuckling as he always did, "I do. You were a child then. But now..."
"Are you happy?"
"Huh?"
Janelle turned around with strong confident stance, slowly walking towards Truth while he sat on the ground confused, "Are you happy? With your experiment. You took a girl from her own world to see the outcome of what it would do. What I don't understand though, is why? Why me? Why, in general. This whole plot was just cruel."
"The storm is the reason you are here and because of it our world's were able to meet. It took you, and only you because the lightening landed where it did. Call it a happy accident."
"A happy accident my foot." After everything she had gone through and the people she had met through this entire journey, she started to realize he was right, and for that she began to laugh a soft titter as she looked to Greed and Ling who were standing side by side to one another. She couldn't help but smile the biggest smile she could, feeling a burst of warm sensation flow through her heart, "But now that you mention it, Is a happy accident really so bad?" The boys looked to eachother puzzled, before they suddenly found janelle hands and arms around them. Her arm embraced the moronic prince from around his neck, while a hand found a way to the avarice's cheek, "Because I don't want to ever feel like it's a bad thing." Ling returns her embrace with a tight hug of his own, while Greed could only attempt to hold her hand that was holding his cheek with his translucent one, "Let's go home?" She asked questioning her own words before Ling responded with an ecstatic smile, "Yes..."
"Can't wait." Greed replied back smirking to the both of them. Just as all seemed peaceful the double doors opened to them, but instead of darkness, there was a bright light illuminating from the outside. The three looked to the light and carefully stepped through the threshold all at once. The light was so unbearable, but just as Janelle covered her face she felt as if she was being place down gently by some unknown force.
When her eyes shot opened the brunette found herself laying on the ground staring up at a bright bluesky. The clouds and the mid day sun painted a beautiful picture, but what really made her smile was the sound of Ed, Al, and Hoenhiem, speaking to one another. That was, until she lifted head from the grass, looking to the boys to see that they had returned to their original bodies, as they had promised themselves. "Janelle! You're alive!" Ed exclaimed happily as he ran over.
Just then Ling sat up next to her causing Janelle to lose her breath when she looked to him. She was relieved and looked over to the other side of him to see, "Greed..." She could hardly speak when she saw him. She cupped a hand over her mouth to see Ling's exact twin sitting right next to him stark naked. It was as if she was seeing double, except Greed still had his violet eyes and sharper features like before. When he realized where he was he looked down at himself and then over to Ling with flat expression on his face. He seemed shocked or surprised. In one swoop Janelle leaped over the two and wrapped her arms around them to send them flying back to the grass again, "Ha ha ha."
"Easy kiddo." They didn't notice it at first, but when they did their faces changed to the sight of her tears. Happy tears, to a brilliant smile. Just then she started to giggle, and the bursted into a fit of laughter. The boys seemed confused by it, but then she softly brought their foreheads together, "I could just kiss you both." She giggled again, "In fact!" In an instant she pressed her lips between the corners of their cheeks and holding them to her, almost to the point it hurt. Of course, the men could careless and with it they kissed her back with arms wrapping around her, "Janelle."
"Jenny." They both started at once making the two chuckle. Janelle again burst into tears, all with mixed feelings. Greed was alive and well, her mother was no longer in her life along with the rest her family, but in return she gained much. With or without alchemy she would not let herself become what she was before: Broken, bitter, and in her mind, weak. She would make something of herself in this world, like she should've been doing from the start.
It was when they had finished their reunion that everyone began to tend to the wounded, Ed and Al included. Al was very malnourished from his time in the white abyss while Ed seemed to have a simular ordeal with his arm and leg. None the less the two were definitely more than happy to see themselves back to some normality. That's all that mattered to them. They almost seemed in denial about it as they joked back and forth, all the while Janelle was being helped by Ling and Greed (who was able to borrow a jacket from one of the Briggs men) to stand on her wobbling legs, "Sir the woman, isn't she carrying a child?"
"Yes?"
"Shouldn't we assist her to the hospital as well?" Hearing this perked the ears of Lieutenant Falman, who had seemed to remember the incident with her back to speak up,"That's right! You hurt your back when we were up against Bradley?" The memory seemed to ring a bell to Janelle, but she merely gave a sour face, "Yeah...I did."
"You were also shot at. You may not have the wounds to show for it but it's still alot of stress on your body. We should get you checked out just to be safe." Ling ushered rubbing her lower back, "I'm fine, I promise."
"Yeah well after all that doll you should have the doc take a look at ya." Greed seemed to agree with Ling which meant, two against one. "Please." She looked back and forth between the two men who insisted on this, giving her concerned and dearing faces that were just too hard to say no to. She smiled and chuckled as she gave in. They were right after all. Her back was killing her and she hardly noticed due to all the excitement, "Well, I guess I could use a small check up."
"Good. Now, let me carry you." In a gentle swoop Greed picked her up in his arms, staring at her surprised expression, "Greed!" She couldn't stop the giggle that seep out, "You two go on ahead, I've got some unfinished business out here." Janelle extended her hand out to the prince, and entertwined their fingers, "Don't keep us waiting."
"Never for long, my love." He then kissed the top of her hand before letting her go. "Don't worry I'll keep an eye on her." Greed gave a little wink to Janelle before relaying a tooth grin at Ling, "I wouldn't recommend any rough play if I were you." His joked caused the avarice to laugh out loud following the men leading Al to the hospital. While there might have been a long line leaving the pile of rubble called HQ, Janelle never took her eyes off of Ling until he had turned himself towards Ed who had also stayed behind to talk for a moment. It was then, the brunette started to feel a wave of anxieties take her, "Don't worry doll, he'll keep his word." She turned her gaze to the homunculus holding her. His lips were curved into a confident smirk, and with those same familiar purple hue he looked down at her with a very gentle gaze. Then, she found herself in a moment of realization.
He was here.
Really here, holding her, talking to her, "Yes. He will." She then leaned her head into his chest, and held him from around his neck so she could nuzzle the side of her face against his chest. He didn't mind it, and held her even closer, looking towards the sun that was slowly starting to come to a late afternoon. "I'm so happy you're here." At first Greed thought he had imagined her saying that, but it had been her murmuring into a sudden wave of exhaustion. He could not only hear it, but see her eyes had grown heavy from it. He then placed a soft kiss onto the crown of her head, and continued to carry her with such gentleness. "I'm happy you're here too." After all that excitement, who wouldn't want to just fall asleep? She had been shot at, nearly sliced in half and driven through a few portals to last anyone a life time, and now the day was coming to an end. But the story was far from over. After all, she knew soon after this little hospital trip, Ling, Greed, Lan Fan, the deceased Fu and Janelle would all be heading to Xing. Sleep was not going to be an option for awhile. And, being a mother to be now, all her energy was going to go straight to the little one. She hoped these deserts between Amestris and Xing would be kind to them all.
Before long Janelle had awaken, finding herself laying in the hospital as they had previously discussed, yet, the only person whom seemed to be there was Greed staring at himself in the mirror with a grim look. He was running his fingers through his hair, groaning, "Man I need a cut." Janelle couldn't help the small smile on her face, slowly turning on her side to watch him from the bedside. When he had finally stopped gawking at his new features it was then he had noticed Jan and her mischievous eyes watching him. "Heh, were you just going to sit there queitly till I noticed?"
"Yes." Was all she said giggling as she placed a hand behind her ear, "You're just so handsome I couldn't bare the thought of ruining the moment."
"Heh, well then, can't blame you can I?" He walked up to the girl's bedside with one hand placed behind her while the other cupped her cheek, "Would you like me to cut your hair?"
"Huh? Oh, that. Don't worry about it doll, just relax."
"I've rest for over a few hours now and I'm not even close to having a bump yet so..." Suddenly Janelle sat up and fiddled with the avarice's hair herself making him groan, "Really, it's fine babe. Let me deal with it."
"Why do you want to cut it? It looks sexy on you."
"Yeah well... How will you be able to tell me and the kid apart huh? Before long you'll be bound to mix us up." A light chuckle passed her lips before she was persisting him to turn around, "Oh come on Greed. I promise I'll cut it just the way you like it."
"Oh yeah? You know the kind of hairstyle I like?" He seemed unsure but while Janelle was spreading out his strands she smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair, "Short, spiked. Just enough to ruffle the top."
"Heh. I guess you do know." She giggled to his response and quickly sat up from the bed, "Come on! Let's do it!" Greed cocked up a brow in return watching the girl look around for a pair of scissors, "Wait, here? Now?"
"Yeah why not. Ling and the others aren't back yet, let's take advantage of the moment shall we?"
"Uh-,um. Are sure you know what you're doing?" She had found a pair of scissors luckily, and began to slip the handle between her fingers, snipping it in the air with confidence, "Yeah! Trust me I've done this before!"
"Okay, wait, hold on one second. You little missy, need to sit down and let the Doc take a look at you first. I dont want you to accidentally hurting yourself with scissors...or me." He may have mumbled the last part but Janelle had heard it enough to roll her eyes at him, "Oh come on, I'm fine!" She was oddly full of energy and ready to go. But, with Greed's firm and caring stare she could tell he would persist otherwise, "Ugh alright, call the doctor. Then will you relax?"
"Not by much pretty lady but yeah. I'll ease up on ya." He then craddled her into his arms unexpectedly and spun her around to get a high pitched giggle out of her before he placed her back into the bed with a quick kiss to her hand, "I'll go tell'em your awake." She cupped the back of his hand to pull him into a liplock. She nodded as he crashed into her lips, but as he attempted to pull away she took her other hand to hold him to her. A chuckle rumbled through his throat as he pressed into her more, holding her just as close when he could feel the need for his embrace. When they pulled away, a smile had spread across both of their faces, "I love you." She whispered softly. He said it even softer against her lips stealing one last kiss before heading out the door. She felt a giddiness inside her she hadn't felt in years, and even more so when she realized how much she missed him and Ling both even though they weren't so far away. She laid back against the pillow and closed her eyes while she awaited someone's return. Anyone.
Suddenly, Janelle began to drift into thought. Now that everything had calm down for a bit on her end, she began to wonder of their journey home. How excited she was to go somewhere new, something she never thought of doing in all her life! To be in a foriegn country and to meet new people was scary and exhilarating. She began to bite her lip and twiddle her fingers with butterflies immediately erupting within her. Not to mention, she was going to meet Ling's family and friends. That's when everything really settled in. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as her mind began to swarm with paranoia, Oh Jeez I actually have to meet his parents! How exactly am I going to explain that I'm carrying the next heir that's also half humonculus! By the way, I just realized I'm in a polyamory relationship with the next Emperor...How in the-,...When the thoughts of all three of them began to take hold Janelle's cheeks immediately went red, "God it's hot in here." Her voice shook with her heart a flutter.
"YO!"
"Ah!" And now, her heart stopped in the middle of her chest as her bottom rocketed off the mat, "ED!" She was winded by the sudden outburst that when she picked her heart off the floor she turned to the brat laughing his ass off, "Ha ha ha ha! Boy I got you good! I didn't think you'd leap that high! I'm sorry." In response she threw the pillow at him, missing when he ducked and caused Jan to hit Ling in the process, who had stepped into the doorway with Greed. Ling had made a soft muffled sound and caught the pillow in his hands ignoring the sound of Greed's muffled laughter, "Pfft! Ha! Nice shot babe!" Janelle's mouth slipped a gasp only to have her hand smack over it and muffle an unwanted titter, "I'm so sorry baby! I didn't see you!" At first, he might've seemed annoyed, but with a shrug of his shoulder Ling chuckled and began to make his way to her, "I'm just glad to see you're doing well love." He then took the pillow and threw it ever so gently to the side of both their faces, away from prying eyes to capture her lips in a soft kiss. He then pulled away placing the pillow to her crossed legs. Her hair was ruffled by the outcome but she hardly cared, smiling endearingly at the prince which he too returned with just as much love and contentment. She could also tell he was ready to go home by how fidgety he seemed, "Do you feel as if you'll be up for another adventure?"
"Mm-hm. Once the doctor says I'm good to go, I'm ready when you are." He nodded his head in understanding and kissed her hand before entertwining his fingers with hers, "Alright you two love birds I didn't come here to watch you guys get married did I?"
"Well hello Dr. Knox, long time no see." He merely grumbled and 'nice to see you too' and begun his exam on her. Once he was finished he removed his gloves, "Well I don't see anything unusual, you look perfectly healthy to me. And you already told me that you haven't had any contractions or bleeding. So. You're free young lady."
"Thank you again, sir."
"No need to thank me, just drink lots of water on your trip, don't do anything stupid, and...stay safe." The last comment only made Jan smile more, giggle even as she nodded to his advice, "I will. I hope we will see you again in the near future."
"Here's to hoping. Good luck with the new addition." He left the room soon after, leaving now Edward, Ling, and Greed to their little circle, "How's Al doing?"
"Well, he'll be out once he's had some time to recooperate. He can't very much walk home so we'll be staying a few more weeks before heading to Resembol. Winry's going to lose it when she sees him." There was a heavy pause before Janelle replied, "She'll cry tears of joy." It seemed those words threw him off because when he looked back Ed seemed surprised, but none the less chuckled with the most sincere tone, "Thank you Jan" She grinned a cheeky smile. It seemed to be the only thing she could do at a time like this, was to do nothing but simply smile, and she loved the feel of it. It suited her, or so she thought. The boys seemed to agree, all of them smiling with the girl as they sat there enjoying eachothers company for a bit longer. Damn, the smiles were contagious.
Hours had passed, and the group had prepared their bags for the ride home. Fortunately, Roy had a few soldiers under him to escort all four of the gang to the train station. Janelle knew she had to pack light and when someone from Briggs was able to find some of her old belongings, she took what she needed, and left the rest for the Military to "study." Yes, study, being that Janelle really had no use for her technology she handed it to one of the men. She had to admit she was going to miss that old flip phone, but she was more than happy that it was going to a good cause, "Hey." She heard Ling whisper close to her ear, taking his fingers in his when he saw the plain look on her face, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah! More than alright. I'm just nervous. A long ride, and new people. I get to meet your family." She perked up smiling excitedly causing Ling to smile back and chuckle, "I can see you're a little nervous. Don't worry. My parents are going to love you. And my brothers and sisters. Especially my sisters." She could help but giggle at him, kissing his cheek, "I hope so."
"Alright everyone, end of the line." One of the men in front called out before exiting the van to let the others out of the back. Everyone said their thank yous and headed towards the ticket both. When they were finished both of the boys were pinky to pinky with their said woman, and just as they were about to get to boarding, they all suddenly stopped at the sight of Roy Mustang, Riza, Edward, Alphonse, May, and the chimeras all standing before them, "Wh-what's all this?"
"Well, since you'll be leaving for awhile we all thought it would be best to say our goodbyes together. After all, we didn't get a chance to say it back at the hospital."
"Awe, you guuuuys!" Janelle was not only surprised but felt an immense amount of love. She even got a little teary eyed before she gave them all their own special hugs, "I'm going to miss you all so much. But I promise to be back once thw baby is here."
"I'm going to hold you to that. Winry will be pissed if you don't."
"Oh I know she will. Tell her to have you guys keep in touch." When he realized what she meant by that Ed could only blushed, embarrassed before he began to have a laughing fit. "And you take care of yourself Alphonse."
"I will. Thank you Janelle. For everything."
"And you both for saving me more than once. For being there." Once all the farewells were giving, it was then Jan had found her self side by side with her boys waving out the window at all the friends she, Ling, and Greed had made along the way, "Don't be too hard on Greed now you know he'll be a fragile type when it comes to babies!" Ed called out over the sound of the engine, but it never stopped Greed from retorting, "Bite me Ed! Give your girl a kiss for me!" Janelle smacked his arm but it did very little since Greed only seemed to laugh louder and kissed the girl back, "Not on my watch." She muffled through his lips to only give a quick release. He had seemingly enjoyed it and grinned at Janelle when he placed a hand on her hip, "Yes ma'am~." Suddenly she felt another hand grab her other side. When she looked to see it was Ling he kissed her forehead and held her closely to him. Greed seemed to do the same leaving Janelle feeling flushed and giddy. Her two boys were with her now and as they sat in their seats, again the nerves of the unknown were hard to bare.
Everyone outside the train was waving and howling, smiling and crying (Armstrong). Once the train began to take off Jan waved back as well. She continued to wave until everyone was out of sight and no longer visible, leaving her silent happy tears to be swept up by the wind. "I will return. I will..." The story was far from over for Janelle. She knew that wherr this train stopped she would go the distance to see Xing. And with her, Ling, Greed, Lan Fan, Fu. It would be amazing to finally see what everyone will think when Ling returns home with a stone. "Uh, hey Jenny? Anyway we can still...you know, cut my hair once we get a minute."
"Sure. I'd love to."
"You're going to cut your hair?" -_-
Next - Chapter 26: Welcome Home, Ling Yao
