Oh my god, it's a chapter! :O It's a miracle!

Well, guys, I'm so sorry that I didn't update sooner. Things have been...interesting... My dad had to be flown to a hospital in a bigger city that's about four hours away for emergency surgery on his head. He had some hemorrhaging in his brain, but he's alright now C: He got home about two weeks ago after being in the hospital since June. Things just got pretty hectic, which is why I hadn't been able to update.

I'm still really sorry that it took so long to update xD

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter :D I tried, so hopefully it came out okay.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or it's characters, all I own are my OC's and the plot.

The cool spring wind blows past me, blowing my bangs into my face, and sending goosebumps down my arms. The sun above tries to combat the coolness with it's warmth, and I smile up at it, happy that it has come out from it's hiding place it had taken to over the winter. The grass feels nice against my bare feet, relaxing me as I walk across it in the seemingly endless field that stretches before me. With the sky a brilliant blue, and trees regaining their leaves, I realize why this place is nearly perfect.

Two hands fall onto my shoulders, one warm and one cold. My smile grows as I reach up to place my hand over Ed's flesh one, gently squeezing it. His breath brushes against my neck, and he leans forward to place a soft kiss against my fingers. The moment seems almost as perfect as the scenery, until he raises his head up to my ear, and murmurs, "Goodbye, Kat."

Freezing, I try to process what he had just said in my mind. The tone he had spoken in wasn't that of a carefree "I'll see you later", but a solemn, long lasting goodbye. His hands disappear from my shoulders, and it takes a moment before the whole situation really hits me. His touch even seemed to match the tone of voice he had used, leaving a heavy weight on my shoulders and in my gut. Swerving around, my throat tightens and my eyes widen at the sight before me. A large stone door stands before me, slowing creaking open. The front of it holds designs and words that are far beyond my knowledge, and frightening at the same time. Eyes slowly begin to open as the large doors open by themselves, staring out into a world that they would never be able to live in. It doesn't take long for me to realize that it's the Gate that I'm staring into, and is staring right back.

Black, tendril like hands begin to slither their way out through the now wide open doors. A strangled gasp leaves my throat when I see that they're making their way towards Ed, and that he simply walks toward them, closing the distance faster. The hands reach him, clawing at his arms, legs, everything, grabbing him and pulling him toward the abyss that awaited inside the Gate. Stumbling forward, I raise my hand as if to grab him, but I know that it's pointless.

"Ed!"

He turns his head to look back at me, his golden eyes calm. He was accepting what was happening to him, whatever it was and for whatever reason, and the look on his face is enough to stop me in my tracks.

"I'm going home, Kat.. I'm going home."

The smile that crosses his face freezes my heart in it's beats, and I'm sure that I can hear it cracking. No regret, no guilt, nothing is seen on his face. Only relief, happiness even to leave this world behind, to leave me behind. It's almost like he can't even see my grief, see the tears that have begun to pour down my cheeks, or the hand that still reaches toward him even though he's already too far. Why can't he see that I need him?

The image of him carves itself into my brain, scarring it. I can't even breathe anymore. Ed faces forward once more, staring into the darkness he enters and disappears into before the large doors slam shut after him. My knees buckle, and I fall to the ground, clutching dirt and grass in my fingers. Tears drip off of my cheeks, creating spots in the fabric on my legs. The wind blows past once more, carrying along the sound of my sobs with it as it flows across the once perfect setting.

"Katrina?"

Lifting my head, I see Alphonse at the entrance to the 'brother's' room. He rubs at one tired eye while the other stares at me curiously, his hair messy from being in bed. I give a lazy wave from where I'm sitting, and he takes that as a gesture to join me. He takes a seat at the table beside me, and for what feels like forever, we're left in silence, where not even the sound of a clock could be heard.

Finally, as his mouth is beginning to open, probably to ask why I'm up this late, I interrupt him, "Want some tea?"

Pausing, he just stares at me for a moment, before slowly nodding. I get up from my seat, and walk over to turn on the kettle as well as to grab some mugs. I don't even need to ask as I pick out a type of tea for him, because I already know which one he chooses every time. It's the only type of tea that I have that he will even touch, whether it may be that he's picky about that sort of thing, or he just likes it so much that he's not willing to try any of the others I have stored up in my cupboard.

I prepare our tea before bringing it back over to the table and setting the mugs down. Alphonse murmurs a quiet thank-you, before starting on his sugar and milk. I watch as he does it, noting how I already know exactly what he's going to do. It's strange that I've already come to know him so well, and that soon, everything I have come to known will be leaving me.

"What are you doing up this late, Kat?" Al asks, staring at me curiously.

I shrug, staring into my cup as I stir the liquid inside, "Couldn't sleep."

Now that was an understatement. I was tossing and turning ever since I had laid down to go to sleep, and every time that the wistful darkness took me over, nightmares were always laying in wait in my subconscious. Each one was always about the brothers – especially a short tempered blondie -, and how they intended on leaving me behind as soon as they got the chance. Not only that, but the thought of the deal made between Mel, Nicoule and I was still stuck in the back of my mind, and it was really starting to wear down on me. I hated hiding it from the brothers, but I still felt that it was too soon to tell them about it; or more like, I'm just being too cowardly and trying to avoid a very pissed of Edward for as long as possible.

Shaking my head, I return the question, "What about you? Couldn't sleep either?"

Al shrugs as well, "Sort of. I just have too much on my mind right now, I guess."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," I agree quietly.

Another silence.

It's odd.. Al and I used to sit together and talk about just about anything for as long as possible, or at least until Ed told us to shut up. It's partially my own fault, I guess, since I really haven't token the time to speak with him, or even Ed, after they had told me about the sudden discovery on the way to get to their home world. As much as I want to spend as much time as I can with the brothers, the fear of telling them the plan between Nicoule, Melina and I is making me put distance between me and them. To put it simply, I'm not spending as much time as I used to with them. It's not quite avoiding, in my opinion, it's just that I'm subconsciously distracting myself with other things. I can't help it though, since the mere thought of Edward becoming incredibly angry at us, completely disapproving, is uncomfortable and nerve wracking.

I don't doubt that the brothers have noticed my detached personality, but thus far they have not questioned me about it. Instead, we all just act as normally as we can. I admit, that is quite a hard task, seeing as how I'm not the only one acting a bit strange in this house. Al is still the cute, lovable boy as always, and he's attempting to help out around the house more than he usually does. No matter what it is, he always offers to help with it, and when I refuse, he continues to insist. It's sweet of him to do this, though I now usually refuse his help when he offers to help with laundry or something else along the lines of that. If he feels that he still has to repay me for whatever reason, then he shouldn't, because I've already received everything I could have asked for.

Cheesy, yes, but moving on...

Edward, on the other hand, might be going through something similar to me. Who wouldn't, though? The moments we spend together aren't so casual anymore, not so calming. It's as if we just threw ourselves back in time, right back into the awkward stage. It's not that he's afraid to touch me, though he is more hesitant than he usually is. Some days it seems like he wants nothing to do with me, and tries to avoid contact with me as much as possible. Other days, it seems like he's so desperate to spend as much time as he can with me. His touches aren't soft and comforting. Now their desperate, and reluctant. It's like he's split into two different directions, and that he can't decide how he should leave this world.

The spoon clinks against the table as Al lays it down, and the sudden sound in the silence makes me jump. Raising my eyes to meet his, I'm shocked to see how broken he looks. He looks away suddenly, staring down at the table. He closes his eyes, thinking about something in this silence, before hanging his head in defeat.

"I'm sorry Kat... I really am sorry."

His voice made him sound so small as he spoke, and the words were so quiet but they couldn't have been any louder in this near-deafening silence. They hung in the air for a few moments as I stare in confusion at the young boy.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I know how much this is hurting you, even if you try not to show it too much. It's hurting us too, though, Kat.. Brother.. Brother didn't even want to tell you that we were going to be leaving at first.." He stops, taking in a deep breath. I stare at him in disbelief, my eyes scanning over him to try and find some proof that he was lying, that he was making it up. But he wasn't. "I told him that we had to. I told him that if we left you in the dark, then it would hurt us all far more in the long run than if we did tell you. He just... He didn't want to see you sad... He didn't want to see you hurt, because of us.. I'm so sorry Kat.."

"Al.." I place my hand on top of his, gaining his attention. He looks up at me, his lips pulled down in a pout and his eyes glazed over with held back tears. He really was still just a child. I smile sadly, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, "It's okay. I know how much you two want to go home. I just.. I guess I got closer to you two more than I should have.. I knew you two were going to jump on the opportunity to go home as soon as it surfaced, but I guess I must have been in denial or something, or my heart was just too stupid, and I got attached.. I'm sorry too. I've been far more distant than I should be, and I'm probably making this whole situation harder than it needs to be."

"You don't need to apologize about that Kat. I'd probably be doing the same thing if I was in your position. I know how much you love brother."

I chuckle wryly, closing my eyes when I feel a familiar sting as the tears start to appear, "Yeah, more than I like to admit.."

"I think..no, I know that he loves you too, Kat. He really does, and this is hurting him just as much as it's hurting you."

Then why is he trying to leave me behind..?

Biting my lip, I bow my head as trying to hold back tears becomes nearly unbearable. They were threatening to spill out of my eyes at any moment, and merely clenching my eyes shut wasn't quite helping to keep them at bay anymore.

"Al.." My voice breaks as I say his name. I release a shuddering breath before continuing, "I'm coming with you.."

There's a long pause before Al finally finds his voice, "What..?"

"I'm coming with you. I-I've thought about this a lot, and I don't care what you say, I'm coming with you and your brother."

I lift my head to see his reaction, and my breath catches in my throat. It wasn't Al's reaction that caught me off guard because I expected that he would be disapproving, and possibly even angry with me. I still told him though, because I knew that I would be able to actually speak about it instead of just having him yelling at me for my stupidity. With him, I'd be able to explain my reasons, and negotiate with him to actually allow me to go. But now, I regret ever opening my mouth. I suddenly want to just reverse time, and make it so those words never even left my mouth.

"What?" Edward snaps, staring down at me with his disapproving golden eyes.

All I want now is to just disappear.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'll try and get the next one out sooner, I swear!

By the way, I really love you guys for taking the time to read/review/favorite. Honestly, I love you guys so much! I never expected to get as many favs/alerts/reviews as I have gotten C: So thank-you!

-CelestraMoon