OHMYGODEVERYBODY I'M BACK.

Quick note – thank you guys, so much, for the well wishes and prayers! I was really touched by them; you're all freaking awesome. It cheered me up knowing I had so many people backing me through this.

Quick update – Mom found work! It's seasonal, and there's a big chance it'll advance into something permanent, but it brings us an income while we look for a more permanent solution.

And now with the stress of employment, Halloween, and election day behind me, I can focus on writing again! (Here's to hoping.)

The Lovely Daaaarlings!

Rei13Reaper: NinjaPanda! Thanks so much for the support, I'm glad to know you're holding on! And that is actually a very good question. What I can tell you at the moment is yes, both Rileys are going to have many similarities (even if you guys don't realize it OOH WHAT DOES THAT MEAN MWAHAHAHAHA.) But you bring up a good point I personally am curious about, and that is – who the hell are Alfonz's parents? Ed's counterpart has Hohenheim's counterpart as a father, so who the hell is Alfonz's father? And another thing I personally wonder! Why is Maes' counterpart still just watching Gracia's counterpart from afar? In Amestris, they're already married and have Elysia as a child, so where the hell is Elysia's counterpart if they haven't married yet? Plot holes, man. :I

And wow, oh my God, I want to see those pictures! Send them to me, I beg you! That's so touching!

I'm really happy you can relate to Riley. I try hard to make all my characters fleshed out and she was made such a long time ago, that I worry sometimes she isn't as good as my more recent characters in my other writings. And yet she's still my most popular, so that's awesome. Adfghjkl I love it.

Gummy'Fish'Lover: I know I've already replied to you through PM, but I'll say it again anyway – thank you so much. I really appreciate the support and the prayers. It really touches me to think there are so many people who care as much as they do about this story. I never thought it would get this far, honestly.

Siri Catriona: Hello, Siri, and welcome to the Lovely Daaaarlings section, hah. I definitely did not come out with this chapter sooner than I thought, and I'm really sorry about that. Even after three months, this site still seems kind of dead, so I hope this helps! And I will read your stories one day, I swear it. I understand how you feel looking back and being embarrassed, though. I'm the same way. Look at that as a good thing – it means you've improved since then!

Smexy pants: THANK YOU, MY LOVE. Oh, wow, really? Ahahaha, I still feel weird imagining other people thinking so highly of this pairing. Things have definitely gotten better, and thank you!

StarTrail: Thank you, for the support and the patience! I honestly think I'll be doing much better at getting this updated from this point on.

Katsekala: Really. The economy sucks as it is, and then there are douchebags out there getting people fired intentionally. I don't understand it, but what can we do? It's for the best, I think – she wasn't getting paid as much as men were and it was too late to take that to court, so it's best we just move on and find a better work environment. Ahaha, I promise I will never say I am useless again.

Inamorata Belle: Thank you! I'm glad you like it! I am definitely continuing this – there are just some road bumps along the way.

Rockerchic221: I will always know you as RockerChic. Can't help it, haha. Hah, yeah, I made sure my torso was hidden as much as possible – unfortunately, crossing my arms just… Pops them out a lot more. (Be very careful what you wish for, big boobs are quite troublesome as well!)

cocoatd: Thanks for the words of advice – I really like the sound of that, honestly. I might start using that myself. Your review made my day when I got it, just so you know. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

ELECTRA13: Thank you! I'm glad you like the story, and I think things are looking up. More time for this, now!

Want to Be a Lovely Daaaarling? Review! Bwahaha...

You know what? Just about everything in this chapter is mine. MINE, YOU HEAR ME? Okay, except for Resembool and Ed, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

Revelations

Resembool was beautiful. It wasn't something I thought much over before. It looked nice, more rural than my hometown. The sky was always clear, the grass was always healthy, and the weather was always warm.

Sitting on the Rockbell home porch, I realized just how little I realized it before. A light breeze was steady, blowing through my hair and the blades of vibrant grass. And it was peaceful. There was no yelling, or fighting, or leadership roles to be filled. The entire town of Resembool was a home, a place of comfort. Of course, though I wouldn't admit it openly, I may have taken a shining to the countryside for the sole fact that it was Ed's hometown.

The swinging of the front door reached my ears, but I didn't look back. Who else could it have been? Footsteps creaked and thudded along the porch until it reached my side, and a small sigh escaped me. From my place on the steps, I could see the ends of a trench-coat swaying back and forth from the corner of my eye. I could even feel the air shift around his presence. Still though, I couldn't bring myself to look up. It would mean acknowledging him being there, and a part of me was hoping I was just reliving a memory.

"Guess we're here again…" There was a small chuckle at the end of his words, nervous and perhaps a bit bitter.

So he was there after all. This was no memory. Resting my elbows on my knees, I kept my eyes on the scenery before me. If I did that, maybe I could get through this. "I think this is real," I murmured, my brows furrowing as I tried to think of the direction I was taking this. I knew his eyes were turned on me, but I still didn't look up. "I can feel it. Not physically… Just a feeling."

Finally, I looked toward him.

He looked down at me with a small frown and narrow eyes. Unlike the last 'meeting', his hair was undone and resting around his shoulders. He looked tired, as if he had gone through trials and obstacles to get there. When I turned my attention to it, I think I felt as tired as he appeared. We were an elderly duo, if I hadn't known any better.

It was his turn to sigh, and his shoulders dropped as he did so. He lowered himself toward the porch and sat down on the steps next to me. He tried to chuckle again, but it once again came out as nothing more than weak and bitter. "I guess I should take that as a good thing," He commented, glancing around at the scenery.

I shook my head. Clasping my hands together in front of me, I turned my attention onto the wriggling of my interlocked fingers. "I take it as more of a scary thing, myself," I admitted, my voice low.

"That would be a first." I glanced toward him to see a subtle smirk. For a moment, I forgot where we were and what had happened. What had separated us. In that quick second, it was as though we'd reverted back to fifteen year old kids hitching a ride to his next clue for the Philosopher's Stone.

There was a small pause, before I rolled my eyes and looked away. "I'd hit you right now if I could. Very hard," I muttered. The chuckle that left him this time was actually genuine.

After a moment, Ed's sight drifted toward the road. He was quiet for a while, looking to debate over what to say – or how to say it. "You know, I… I've been pretty busy on this side of the gate," He started, resting his elbows on his knees as well. Another breeze flew through the air, cooling my face to a dramatic degree. I quirked a brow in his direction, a part of me trying to think up what he was about to say. It seemed bad. "I… Met your parents."

My eyes widened as what breath I had left me. "What?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his brows furrowing in thought. "Everyone on our-… On, your, side of the gate has a counterpart on this side. When people pass away on your side, they… Cross over, for lack of a better word," He paused in his explanation before glancing away from me. As I tried to catch sight of him, he added nervously, "I… I was looking for your counterpart when I met your parents."

I watched him at first, trying to proccess the new information. For all I knew, this could still have been just a dream, just my own way to cope, even if I felt otherwise. But… If it were real, if he was on the other side of the Gate… He was looking for me. A version of me, at least. Maybe it meant he still held on to the hope of seeing each other again.

This only brightened my mood for so long, before I thought back to my parents. How long had it been since I last saw them? Eight years? Maybe a decade? I cleared my throat of its tightening lump, unsure of where to begin. "And they're… How are they?" I asked him, looking away.

He watched me with intense eyes as he answered. "They're fine, I think. Your dad insulted me and I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him after that," He explained, trailing off with a weak smile. Resting his elbows on his knees, he looked out into the distance of Resembool. "Your mom's pretty."

I smiled a little at his words. That was definitely them. Two things I remembered, clear as day, were my father's exterior and my mother's beauty. She was a pretty woman, but her personality was what really shown through. Despite the situation, I couldn't resist a part of the chuckle that escaped me. "I never thought I would hear you call someone pretty," I remarked.

As though realizing what he had said, he grew embarrassed. Ed blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, leaning away from me as he shook his head. "What? Don't make stuff up, I – I had to have said it before…," He groaned out.

I shook my head, my eyes still locked on the horizon. "Never."

He glanced my way before lowering his arm. Turning toward me, he frowned and I noticed a spark of worry in his features. "Really? Aw, man, first time I tell you someone's pretty and it was your mom – W-Wait, how bad is that? Is that bad, would that upset girls?"

Laughter almost burst from me, and I had to clap a hand over my mouth to stop it. I knew Ed was a more nervous boy, but I hadn't realized how bad it was before. He loosened his postured as he watched me, though the concern was still there. Shaking my head once more, I calmed myself before I told him, "It's fine. My mom was very pretty. Still is, I guess."

We fell into a bit of a tense silence for a while as he repositioned himself on the steps. The sun look to be eternally bright out, not having moved since I'd arrived. As I noticed this, I heard more shifting from Ed. "You're… You're pretty, too, you know." I looked toward him with a small jump, but I wasn't surprised until I saw the frown on his face. He looked guilty. Before I could reassure him it really wasn't a big deal, he continued. "I'm sorry I wasn't around to say it when I should have."

It was then that I wanted to kick myself. Maybe him, too. It wasn't just my imagination – Ed felt guilty. Whatever he thought I went through, whatever he may have thought about Al, he blamed himself for all of it, didn't he? Even in the sacrifice of his life, he still burdened himself with more than he should have.

There was only one way I knew how to respond. "…You're so cheesy," I muttered, bringing my knees closer to my chest. He jerked his sight toward me as I dug my face into my lap. "Is this where I'm supposed to swoon over how handsome I think you are and profess undying love?" I asked.

I didn't look up from my burrowing, but I could almost feel his mood lift, and a smirk reach his features. "Well it would probably make me feel better," He mused.

Looking up, I rested my chin on my arms and shot him a dull look. "Try my mother, then, if you think she's so pretty."

His eyes widened, and I could have sworn he almost fell over. "Y-You said you weren't upset about that!" He exclaimed. He was about to continue, but I finally let out a loud laugh. He watched me in confusion, his shoulders beginning to droop as he realized what I was playing at. After a few more moments, he huffed. "Jeez, you haven't changed, Riley."

I glanced back to Resembool as his words hit me, and my smile faded. I don't think I'd really laughed so hard in a long time. Since Ed had left, I remembered feeling pain and the occasional numbness. Maybe everything was coming back together like I hoped it would. "No, I guess I really haven't," I murmured, moreso to myself than to anything.

After a moment of silent contemplation, I sat up and turned. "Say, how…," I trailed off with widened eyes. Ed was gone. "Ed?" I whispered, looking around as I stood from the steps. Before panic could set in, I eased up when I realized what had to have been happening. This didn't lessen the disappointment any, though.

I was waking up.

Slowly but surely, my senses began to kick in. I could feel the bed underneath me and see the light in the room bouncing off my eyelids. And I could hear what sounded like some of the most annoying ruckus I'd ever heard. Jonah and Shiori were bickering like children to my right. I couldn't understand their words, but I could feel the tension all the same.

Groaning as I winced, I turned my head away from the source of the light. "Settle down before I put your noses to the wall," I grumbled.

From my left, Daisuke chuckled. It was faint, and led me to believe he was in the other section of the hotel room. "You heard her, you two. Noses to the wall," He warned, his amused voice betraying the actual warning. Just to spite him, I threw a spare pillow in his direction.

"Tell him that, he stole my coin pouch!" Shiori exclaimed. I felt a small breeze from what I assumed was her flailing about.

I let out another groan as I rolled over and dug my face into my pillow, muttering about dream world taking me back. The older brat's scoff was almost loud enough to echo. Or I was just irritated enough to feel it was that way. "Why the hell would I want your coin pouch, kid?! If I was going to steal from you people, it'd be from her," He spat out in contempt. I returned the gesture with a middle finger thrown into the air.

Shiori huffed. "I'm not a kid, and I know you stole my pouch! Give it back!"

"This is profiling!" He yelled in return.

Once and for all, I let out a loud yell of exhaustion as I sat up from the bed. The two fell quiet and turned to face me. Shaking my head, I stood from bed and snatched my bag off the floor, marching toward the kitchen. "I'm putting you all in cargo if you don't shut the hell up!" I screamed just before I slammed the sliding divider behind me.

It wasn't long after that the two started to argue again, and Daisuke shook his head. "They've been at it all morning. I think it's worse than you and Shiori even," He commented as he sipped his tea.

Sitting down at the table across from him, I scowled. "How annoying," I grumbled, resting my chin on my palm.

Daisuke glanced down at his tea before looking up at me. Leaning back in his chair, he murmured, "I've been talking to him, Jonah. He says he lives here in Tesser Hills. He decided to go to Rush Valley to study engineering, but his father wouldn't support it so he ran away."

I snorted as I lowered my arms onto the table, "Great, so he's a stray and a thief."

"A lot of the students at the dojo are runaways, Riley… Some people even consider you to be one," He replied cautiously, furrowing his brows as he waited for my reaction.

There was little of one. "I guess I was, but I didn't resort to stealing afterward. And neither did Gregory's students," I explained in a matter-of-fact sort of tone. Sighing, I stood from the table and headed for the bathroom. "Might-as-well get ready before we have to leave."

. . .

I left the bathroom, rubbing a towel through my damp hair as I kicked the door closed. After that dream… Meeting with Ed, and that morning, a calming shower was something I needed. I tossed my dirty clothes into a side pouch in my bag before I realized that something was off in the hotel room.

No one was there.

Dropping my towel onto the bed, I began to look around. I was headed for the kitchen when I heard a thud followed by scraping against a wall. I turned toward the sound, and was faced with an open window. A rope was flowing out of it, one end tied to the bedpost. Walking over to the window, I peered outside.

Jonah was scaling down the wall.

My brow twitched at the stupidity of it all. Reaching for my bag, I slipped out my pocket knife and looked back out the window. I reached down and with a loud snap, I cut the rope. Jonah screamed as he fell through the air. I climbed out the window, transmuting part of the wall into a staircase before making my way to the ground. Jonah was sitting up and rubbing his new forming bruises just as I arrived, and he looked up to glare at me. "You crazy bitch, you could have killed me!"

I shrugged. "Better men have died for less," I replied simply as I knelt down in front of him. It was then I noticed the bag at his side. It was a bag he had guarded since we met him. Nodding toward it and him, I spoke again. "Any reason you're sneaking out like the hotel's a prison?"

He snatched the bag, hiding it behind his torso before resting an elbow on one of his knees. "I don't need sympathy from you people-"

"What sympathy?" I interrupted, scowling as I stood up, "We're preventing you from stealing, there's a difference." For a moment, he just glared at me. There was a certain look in his eye that I couldn't place. Brows furrowing, I crossed my arms over my chest as I scrutinized him. "What's the real reason you're running off?"

Scrambling to his feet, he tried to tower over me. "I don't know what you're talking about," He snapped, "That guy told you already, I'm going to Rush Valley to be an engineer."

I leaned forward, unfazed by his intimidation tricks. "Why now? You don't strike me as stupid, so why are you running off when you don't have the money to?" He paused at my question, and I knew I had him. There was more to this story than what Daisuke believed. There had to be.

"That's none of your business," He growled, pushing the strap of his bag further up his shoulder.

Shaking my head, I still watched him. He was shifty, growing nervous. "What are you really going to Rush Valley for? You need money to study engineering, which is, again, something you don't have right now."

With a scoff, he stepped around me, yelling, "Y'know what, piss off!"

As he stepped past me, I reached for his bag. I gripped it, pulling it backward. He did not fall, but he stumbled to a rough stop and turned to glare at me further. I returned it with my own. "Daisuke is going out of his way to help your ass, and I'm not going to let that go to waste because you're being childish, so tell me – what the hell are you going to Rush Valley for?"

"Let go," He hissed in response. My grip tightened as I glanced down to his bag. With one burst of energy, I yanked it from his shoulder and out of his hands. He yelled in protest, but I ignored it as I opened the bag.

Inside were several mechanisms – some toys, a few odd looking inventions, but especially auto-mail. They were new, they had been polished, and something about them looked to be done by a very meticulous hand. Looking up toward Jonah, who was even more antsy than before, I lowered the bag and turned so that I stood in between it and him. "I want answers. Now."

Finally, he let it out. In a huff of anger, he yelled, "I'm going to sell that stuff, okay?! I need a ticket out of Amestris, and the only way I could afford it would be to sell my work!"

"You made these?" I questioned, my curiosity about the handiwork overpowering the rest of the situation. He frowned at me, and I shook my head, looking back into the bag. "Alright, why are you trying to leave Amestris? If you're so talented, why not study in Rush Valley like you told Daisuke?"

Rolling his eyes, he began to pace. His escape seemed to have faded from his mind and now, all that was there was irritation. "You're just like my dad! Oh, the boy's good at something, let's send him off and put him to work!" He shouted, throwing his hands into the air before turning to face me once more, "Does it not occur to anybody that that's not what I want to do? I don't want to make auto-mail for people!"

I rose a brow. "Why not? If you're good and you like it-"

"Because that's not all it takes!" He interrupted, his tone almost on the verge of cracking. He looked desperate – like he needed me to understand, before he actually had to say it outright. My eyes narrowed as I watched him. He would have to say whatever his problem was, whether he wanted to or not. We stared each other down for a moment, when he gave in.

With a long, exhausted sigh, he ran a hand through his hair as he looked around. "I don't want that on my head, alright? If you screw up auto-mail, you could screw up someone's limbs. Why the hell would I want that hanging over me every day, the risk that I could mess someone up?! And my dad – he doesn't care about what I want, all he sees is that I'm technically good enough to help people!" Panting from his rant, he shook his head as he muttered, "But that's not all it takes…"

Damn it. After a few seconds of quiet, I sighed. I had thought he stole the auto-mail, I had hoped he was just a brat wanting to leave Amestris to get away from his parents. How could I tell him off when he was doing the same thing I was? Resisting a groan at this thought, I closed the bag and tossed it to him. He caught it with ease, eyeing me. "Do whatever you want, I don't care," I muttered as I walked by him, "But you're not stealing from these people to do it. Daisuke said we'd take you to Rush Valley, so we will. No complaining."

He watched me walk by before looking back to his bag. I didn't look back as I headed for the front door to the hotel, but after a moment or two, I heard his footsteps join in with mine.

This was going to be a long trip.

. . .

"So where are we headed, anyway?"

Daisuke looked back to Shiori before sending a glance my way. We were in the back of a carriage, deciding to hitch a ride with some farmers instead of walking to our next destination. "We're going to visit Hannah," He replied, "Then we'll head to Resembool."

Nodding, Shiori sat back and relaxed against the wooden frame of the carriage, watching the scenery go by. "Great! I haven't talked to Hannah in a while," She commented, smirking.

I scoffed at her. "Don't think I don't know what you two talk about when I'm not around," I told her, glancing at her from over my shoulder. My legs dangled off the edge, the wind blowing against them.

Shiori giggled as she crossed her legs over one another. "Who knew you had so many embarrassing stories," She taunted, sticking her tongue out at me.

"I'd be careful if I were you, she's already stuffed you in cargo once before for making smart comments," Daisuke remarked, raising a brow in Shiori's direction as he chuckled in amusement. I grinned, watching as the color left both Jonah and Shiori's face.

Daisuke and Shiori fell into a subtle conversation with the horse and carriage's owner, and I glanced toward Jonah. He sat next to me, on the other side of the carriage, his back pressed against the wooden frame and his bag secured in his lap. With an arm propped atop the frame, he was watching the grass and trees fly by us.

Much to Jonah's surprise, I didn't tell Daisuke the truth about his leaving home when we got back inside the hotel. It wasn't my place. Looking back to the ground below my feet, I gripped the edge at my sides so that I would not fall. I didn't know if we were doing the right thing by helping him leave, but I knew I had no power over it. I was running from the responsibility people placed on me just as much as he was.

Sighing, I glanced back toward him to see his eyes on me, frowning all the while. Upon eye contact, he nodded my way before looking toward Daisuke and Shiori, engaging his attention onto their conversation. I followed suit, turning toward them as well. They were laughing about something, Shiori munching on a an apple Daisuke had bought in Tesser Hills.

They weren't as good a group as Ed and the others, but maybe they would get there in time.

"Oi, Shiori, what the hell?!"

"It slipped out of my hands, honest!" Rubbing the side of my head, I turned away, grumbling.

Nevermind.

Be Responsible. Don't Flame and Drive! Rawr.

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