Holy bejeebus, it's another chapter! Thank you to all who reviewed on my last chapter, it truly means a lot to me :) And I'm extremely sorry for the long, long wait, way too much has been going on with me lately and I haven't had much time to try to write. I'm officially graduated, I have a job, I'm moved out and extremely busy unfortunately. However, although I have been working on this chapter continuously over the past months, I finally finished it completely on this sleep deprived night haha
I do plan on finishing this story still, and I do plan on a sequel as well, which I recently got all new inspiration for. Hopefully it keeps up because it helped me get this chapter out. Anyways, I'm rambling, you know, sleep deprivation.
Onto the chapter! Hope you guys enjoy it! :)
Laughter fills the kitchen as jokes and silly stories are passed around between Edward, Alphonse and I at the dinner table. Our plates had been scraped clean long ago and lay abandoned in front us, forgotten as we lose ourselves in our conversation.
Tonight is our celebratory dinner. Only a couple days from now is when we've decided to open the gate and cross through to the other side. Within a week is the day that the brothers will be returning to Amestris, and I'll be going with them. So, tonight is the night I had actually gone all out when making dinner and we actually sat down together to enjoy each others company. The lighting outside had dimmed considerably darker compared to when we had began eating but none of us seem to notice or even care. The outside may be dark but inside we're filled with warmth, a sense of comfort that lays over us. My cheeks ache from smiling and my stomach hurts from laughing, but I couldn't care less. This moment is perfect and I wouldn't change it for the world.
After a while longer, our conversation reaches a pause as we begin to settle down our laughter and take a sip of what's left in our glasses, giving our voice boxes a deserved break. Still, even as a silence looms over us, I couldn't take the smile off of my face. The past few months play back in my mind, starting at the very beginning and playing until this very moment. I just couldn't believe everything that has occurred – is occurring. It's just so...crazy.
"And what are you smiling about?" Ed teases, leaning back in his chair comfortably.
"Ooh, nothing, m'dear," I smile, scooping together our forgotten plates. Before I can take the stack into my hands, Al moves in and scoops them up, turning toward the sink. Laughing a little, I insist, "Al, I got it. Don't worry about it."
He stubbornly shakes his head, placing the dirty dishes in the sink as he turns on the tap, "You made that delicious dinner for us, Kat. The least I can do is the dishes."
"It wasn't that good," I say as a tinge of pink colors my cheek, deciding on playing with a strand of hair.
Al smiles at me. Ed raises himself from his seat, coming around to where I'm sitting to place his hands on my shoulders and lean down to look at me, "Yes, it was. Now, us men have clean up duty, and you, my lady, can do whatever you desire."
Smirking, I pat him on the cheek, "Alright then, Romeo. I'm going to go take a bath. Don't break anything while I'm gone."
"I'm insulted," He smirks back. He kisses my forehead before retracting his arms and turning toward his brother. "Hey, Al, lets play catch with the dishes."
"And then Katrina would proceed to rip your head off," Al laughs.
I laugh too as I head toward the bathroom, "See? At least one of you is smart."
"Oh ha, you're hilarious," Ed rolls his eyes, but the edges of his mouth couldn't resist tilting upwards, thwarting his offended act.
Still smiling, I enter the bathroom, shutting and leaning against the closed door. Running my fingers across my lips, I sigh. My cheeks are in for some serious aching because I'm sure my smile is going to refuse to leave anytime soon.
After my bath, I sit in the bedroom I have been sleeping in since the brothers have joined me, combing through my short locks. My eyes examine the walls of my parents bedroom, mentally saving and storing the images of it in my brain. Ever since I made the decision to join Ed and Al, this has become a normal occurrence. Everything – from my house, to the school, from people I pass in the halls, and to shows I watch on TV – my mind has been taking mental pictures of it all. I'm sure I want to go to Amestris, but I will miss all of this. I know it.
Sighing, I place my comb on the bedside table. Beside it, I lift a framed picture of myself and my family when we had gone to the beach years ago. I was only ten in the picture with a wide grin stretched across my face while I sat beside a failure of a sandcastle. My sister sat on the other side of it, glowering down at the sand that refused to mold into what she wanted. My mom and dad were behind us, relaxing on the beach blanket that we had laid out, my mother smiling warmly at us while my father laughed. It was such a happy time, such a good memory. It brings a teary smile to my face as I stare down at it, running my fingers across the glass surface to trace my family members' faces.
A knock startles me out of my thoughts and I jerk my head up to look at the source of the sound. Edward stands in the doorway, watching me carefully. Upon noticing that it's him, I wipe at my eyes and return the picture to it's proper place.
"You okay?" He asks, watching me, waiting for a grant to enter.
I nod at him and he takes that as his "come in". Shutting the door behind him, he takes a seat next to me on the bed, gazing at the picture that I had just been holding.
"You all look happy," He states.
I sniffle a little, smiling, "Yeah. I can't say we're a perfect family, but we've been happy with how we are."
Ed fidgets, "Kat, you know-"
"No, Ed. I want to come. I'm 110% certain," I say, turning so that my eyes meet his. "I've never been so sure on something in my whole life."
"Okay, okay," Ed holds up his hands in defeat, "If you're sure."
"I am," I smile, leaning my head to rest on his shoulder. His hands lower, his automail coming to rest on top of mine on the bed. My eyes slide shut as I ask, "What's Al up to?"
Ed shrugs his free shoulder, "Went to bed, I think. He seemed pretty tired."
I think back on tonight and recall that he did seem to be distant at times. Eyes would stare down at the table top or stare off into space, as if his mind was caught in some thoughtful snare that he couldn't get out of. There were times that he just couldn't even look me in the eye either. It was odd, to say the least, and left a slightly uneasy feeling in my gut. Ever since Izumi's warning, I have been watching. I've been observing. There was still a place in my mind, however, where I continued to think up excuses for them, refusing to believe the worst.
Even now, I shrug, murmuring, "I guess he did seem tired."
Ed fidgets a little, head turning so he can look down at the top of my head. For a moment he remains silent and I feel his golden gaze burning into me, examining me.
"Are you ready?"
I lift my head, gold meeting green.
"You can still back out, you know. You don't have to do this."
I raise my eyebrow, giving Ed a look. He sighs, understanding that I'm not going to back out of this, no matter how many times that he brings up the option. This really isn't the first time that he's brought it up, instead this is like the millionth time that he's brought it up. I understand that he wants me to be safe and wants to make sure that I know what I want, but really, the constant pestering on this is starting to get on my nerves.
"You're so stubborn," Ed gives me an exasperated smile, before pulling me into his arms.
"But you still love me," I smile up at him.
He nods, his smile tinged with sadness. To hide the solemn look he's adopted, he pulls me closer so my head rests against his chest, and his head rests atop mine. Worry floods through me. I had only seen the look for just seconds but it was enough to set off another warning bell inside my head.
What is going on with the two brothers?
Avoiding eye contact, suddenly quieter, solemn for god knows why, and just overall acting strange is a simple way to sum up their behaviour. Maybe Izumi is right. She usually is, so why would she be wrong now? Something is clearly up with them, no matter what my doubt filled mind and rose colored glasses might tell me.
Lifting my head, I examine Ed's expression. He's already hidden the solemn one he had before and instead stares at me with curious eyes. I sigh, stroking his cheek as my mind races to try and figure out what is wrong with the bigger picture. There are so many possibilities and scenarios that run through my mind that eventually they all blur together, making my brain muddled and useless. Furrowing my brow, I try to sort through the mess of my thoughts, but clarity continues to evade me causing me to sigh.
Edward senses my inner dilemma and worry and pokes me in the side, snapping me back into reality. I stare at him, examining his face for any kind of a clue to help me sort through this puzzle, but nothing appears. He just stares back at me in slight worry, watching the way that my eyes scan over him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He questions, raising a brow.
"Something seems off.." I admit, my eyes finishing their scan and coming to meet his eyes.
There. His eyes. The golden orbs widen slightly with an undertone of alarm and then return to confusion once more.
"What are you talking about?" He asks, leaning back so that he can look at me better.
Is he uncomfortable?
"Something just seems off about you and Al... But I can't figure out what it is," I answer with a frustrated sigh.
He echoes my sigh and places his forehead against mine, "You're overthinking things Kat."
I part my lips to respond but instead it gets caught in my throat when Edwards lips cover mine. At first, I want to pull back and interrogate him on Al's and his suspicious behaviour but it doesn't take long for that urge to disappear. As I lean into the kiss, my head gets swiped clean of all my suspicions, of all my worry and confusion, and I immediately forget about the pressing matter which had my guts twisting with anxiety not too long ago. I'm left floating in a blank space, only focusing on the way his lips move against mine and the way his differing hands find the back of my head and waist.
Our breaths release quick and heavy whenever they sense there is an escape, warm as they wash over our cheeks before our lips crash together once more with a strong sense of desire. As his hands pull at me in an attempt to get closer, I instinctively place each leg on either side of his waist, taming his tugging hands. They slide down my sides and come to rest at my hips while mine decide to reside on either side of his neck, fingers tightening in delight as the passion rises between us.
Cold fingers of flesh and metal nip at the pale skin that peeks out between the end of my shirt and beginning of my pants, sliding upwards to explore the hidden skin of my abdomen. This creates shivers of anticipation down my spine and my heart pounds faster and faster with each inch of flesh he discovers. The butterflies within my stomach explode from the nervous feeling that had been hidden amongst the feelings of love and desire, creating a whirlwind of emotion within my entire being. Euphoria overtakes my brain as distress unsettles my stomach. It's as if I'm flying and falling at the same time.
Edward's hands shake and he ceases the upward trek that his hands had been on, tracing the bottom edge of my bra before trailing down my back and back to my hips. He pulls away slowly and we take a moment to breathe. As air puffs out of our lungs, I feel his hands shake once more, betraying his own nerves. Relief spreads through me. I realize that I'm not the only one that feels wary about the growing heat between us and I'm thankful for that.
Once more, our foreheads meet as he breathes out shakily, "Soo..."
"That was hot," I state, attempting to add humour so that we can forget the nervous and uncomfortable feeling that we're both experiencing.
Ed blinks at my bluntness, his surprise turning into a laugh moments later, "Damn straight it was, it was with me." He winks and I roll my eyes.
"Even if it was with you, I could have been thinking about someone else.." I tease. He pouts at my comment. "..Such as someone taller.."
His expression immediately changes into a glare and I grin back at him. This only furthers his anger and his left eyes twitches slightly as he tightens the grip on my hips, lifting me up enough to toss me towards the pillows on the bed. I laugh at his frustration, laying back into the pillows victoriously. The short boy flops on top of me, crushing the air out of my lungs in a loud puff and bringing my humour to a screeching halt. It's his turn to laugh as I groan in discomfort, attempting to wiggle out from underneath him to no avail.
"I'm tired now, I think I'm just gonna sleep here," His head hits the mattress with a quiet thud and exaggerated snores can be heard, occasionally cracking from the laughter he's holding back.
I start hitting and shoving at his shoulder as well as I can and hope that I have enough strength to get him off of me, or at least cause some pain. However, I only come to realize how weak I am even more, considering how the blonde doesn't seem fazed at all from my abuse and only laughs. My flopping beneath him intensifies, sort of resembling restricted flailing. I will either become ridiculously strong in the next few minutes and push him off, or he'll become annoyed enough by my fish out of water flopping to get off of me. I guess the latter succeeds since he decides that I can remain how I am instead of becoming a pancake and he rolls off of me.
Pulling me into his arms, he buries his face into my shoulder to try to muffle the sound of his laughter. I glare at him with as much hate as I can muster because damn him for crushing me under his fatness. However, the sound of his laugh becomes infectious and my completely (non-)threatening glare fades off as I begin giggling along with him. The sound of our laughter merges and rings throughout the room, slowly puttering off until the only sound that filled the room was that of us breathing.
We remain laying there, finding comfort with each other amongst our tangled limbs. His thumb rubs lazy circles on my back and I listen to the sound of his heart beating on the other side of the chest I have my head resting against. This moment is perfect, along with every other single perfect moment that I've had the luck to be able to experience. What can I say? I still can't believe I'm experiencing these moments or the fact that this perfect Amestrian has chosen to spend these moments with me. It's completely baffling.
"I love you," Ed breathes out, sleep coating his words and causing them to slur.
At the sound of those words, all of my thoughts crash and burn, and I feel my heart leap into my throat. Another smile lights up my face as every single worry I have hidden in the back of my mind disappears. Those three words have the power to completely calm me as well as make me the happiest person that ever was. No matter what mood I'm in or what kind of day I'm having, those words from this boy can instantly brighten my entire world.
My eyes flutter shut, starting to feel sleepy myself, but before both of us can fall into oblivion, I murmur, "I love you too."
The last thing that I hear is him releasing a happy sigh, arms tightening around my small form and I feel every muscle in his body relaxing beside mine. With a small smile on my face, I slip into a comfortable slumber, every suspicion I once had forgotten.
The first thing I notice as I start emerging from my personal darkness is the light from the window hitting my eyelids. I moan quietly and roll away from it, wanting to remain asleep for just a little while longer. The next thing I notice is the lack of heat and I shiver from the chills that are entering my uncovered body. Still, I persistently try to sleep, trying to ignore both the annoying light and uncomfortable cold. However, the lack of warmth and the frustrating sunlight shining into the room tell me otherwise, and I sigh tiredly.
As my eyes begin to open, I begin to realize that something seems off about the once warm bed I lie in. My sleep induced brain finally registers that there used to be another form laying here with me and I sit up quickly to examine the bed. What I see brings all of my worry and suspicion flooding back to me. My stomach drops and my hands shake, yet I still try to believe in him. I try to believe that this is not what I know deep down really is.
Edward is gone and all that remains in his spot is a note, addressed to me.
Thank-you for reading :) I apologize for any mistake or anything of the sort, it's been a while since I've written and I'm trying to get back into my flow. I hope you enjoyed and I'll try to get the next chapter out sooner than this one but I can't guarantee anything.
Thanks again :)