July 26th 1924

Cruise ship

"WINRY!! I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU!!! HOW'D YOU GET HERE? HOW LONG YOU STAYING? OH I'VE MISSED YOU!!!"

"Woah! Al, calm down. I'm glad to see you to!" She told me as she moved her hands in a similar manner. The hand sign to "settle down" As she did this she glanced at her left hand. Something glinted in the light of the room, and she was curious as to what it was.

I quickly grabbed her left hand before she saw what it was.

"Al? What was-?"

"Adelaide? Were going to be late what are –Al? What are you doing here?"

"Noa! Good! I need to talk to you!" So long as it wasn't Ed. Not yet anyway.

"Al, what's going on? Why does she look exactly like Rose?"

"I'll explain."

"Who's Rose?"

"She's from Amestris"

"Adelaide sounds different…"

"WHO'S ADELAIDE?!!"

Another door creaked open. "What's going on? Geez you guys are noisy"

Ed. oh fu-

"Edward! Aren't you supposed to be at the bar by now?"

"Al has the keys."

"Oh, sorry Ed. Here. Now if you don't mind please leave don't forget you're in the girl's room."

"Oh sorry. Hey, wait a minute, Al's in there-" (slam)

"Oh right! Al you can't be in here."

"But she's-"

"It's fine"

"No it's not. She's not-"

"I'll take care of it."

With that I was promptly shoved out the door, where Ed was standing.

"Um, hi?"

"What's going on? Why are you acting so suspicious?"

"We're going to be late, brother."

"Explain!"

"On the way!"

Both of us bolted for it.

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Noa and Winry came in appearing no less rushed then us. Winry carried herself like any new employee. Nervous. Despite this, she did fine. Surprisingly enough, she seemed able to fake the accent quite well. Still, she was going to want an explanation after this was over.

That night, when the Bar and restaurant was closed, I grabbed Winry's left hand again and pulled her into the kitchen. I figured the inquisition could take place there and not be interrupted.

"Alright Al what is going on! Who is this Adelaide person? Why do you keep hiding Ed from me? Why do I have to talk so weird?"

The whirlwind of demanding questions came faster than I could ever imagine.

"Your alternate. My own Safety. Adelaide is from France, therefore a French accent"

"Alternate? Al, you're the last person I'd expect to hide form Ed. Alternate? That would explain why that girl looked like Rose."

"Yes, that's Noa. She's been traveling with us for a year now. Adelaide, a couple of months.

She seemed to be thinking, and trying to take it all in.

"One last question, what's with the ring?" she asked pointing to the ring on her left ring finger. That was one question I didn't have the heart to answer.

"Al?" I bit my lower lip then told her I couldn't answer that, but Ed could.

Almost as if on cue, Ed came in telling me that it was time to close up.

Winry, despite her frustrations, resumed speaking in the French accent; asking Ed if he would mind joining her on the upper deck. Seconds after they left, I ran up after them, Noa, followed after me. The scene seemed to follow the same script as last night Up to one certain point. The talked about where they wanted to go next.

"The ship lands in Barcelona in two days. After that… I'm not sure."

Winry looked back at the ring on her finger for a moment, and then:

"You're not doing anything dangerous are you? "

Ed's eyes went wide. There was no false accent this time. It was all Winry.

"Winry?!!"