Hiya! Sorry I took so long to update. I've been busy with college and Role-play and stuffs. Anyway, I wrote this chapter while I was feeling emo, so it may not be the best it could. Also, I think it feels a little rushed. Read and let me know! Hope you like.

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Someday To You

Chapter 3:

I'll Wait For You

Al stared down at the article. The seventieth article he'd read today. This one was different from the others, however. There was a grainy, black and white picture with it, it showed a great castle, built on a mountainside, surrounded by what seemed to be swirling light. The article said that three parties of mountain climbers had ventured toward the old castle, and none had come back. It was sinister, Al had to admit that. It could just be another serial killer or something. But this was the closest lead they'd found in years. Noa was in the other room writing invitations for the wedding that would be held a week from now, she looked up, smiling as he passed. He flashed the trademarked Elric grin, which basically meant, "Don't ask," and moved down the stairs.

He jumped down the stairs three at a time, ignoring Noa's warning to go slow or he'd break his neck. Grabbing his coat, he glanced worriedly at his brother's room door. Ed had become increasingly withdrawn since his birthday. He had barely come out of his room for weeks. The only times they saw him were at meals and when he went out to shower. Al knew something was terribly wrong. Ed had never been like this before. Of course, he had his occasional episodes when he was emotional, but never to this extent.

As if I need another thing to worry about. He thought irritably. Yet he knew he could do nothing else but worry until Ed was better.

Shaking his head, he opened the front door and ran out into the cold afternoon. A light snow was beginning to fall, dusting the entire town white, and icing the cake of the countryside. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful, though war had been narrowly avoided; the people of this small town were almost blissfully unaware of all outside events, content to live their lives to the fullest within this tiny county. Al smiled at the people passing as he walked briskly toward the library. They had the best selection of newspaper articles and he would need all the information he could get. He didn't want to build up Ed's hopes, only to have them smashed.

-----

Ed slowly opened his eyes. The light that shone through his window was diffused strangely. He looked outside and saw the snow covering the entire town, sighing quietly. In Amestris, the cools winds would just be beginning to blow, the leaves turning golden and falling. He and Winry, and Al and Pinako would stand outside and enjoy the breeze on their faces, Den would jump on him and he would, as usual get annoyed.

He leaned his forehead against the cold glass, closing his eyes, ignoring the cold that invaded the room despite the heater on the wall that fought bravely to keep it out. The window was beginning to frost up, the heat from his body making it fog and blurring the view of the outdoors. He didn't care, his eyes were closed, and his mind was far, far away.

He imagined Winry in her workshop, smiling at him, even as she berated him for neglecting his Automail. Pinako was behind her, talking to Al, telling him how Winry didn't really care about the Automail as long as Ed was safe. But one thing spoiled the image. He couldn't remember their faces. Except for Al, their faces were blurred and their voices soft, barely discernable. He cursed, slamming his fist against the wall.

Why can't I remember their faces… why are they disappearing when I need them most?

He moved away from the window and lay back down on his bed, curling up and staring at the far wall. He was sick of it all, sick of this life, sick of this house, sick of this world. He was sick of the ache that he carried around with him at all times. The walls were closing in around him. But they weren't the walls of concrete, but the walls of hopelessness, choking away the last vestiges of hope he had left, leaving him utterly and terribly resigned to his fate.

Despair was all that awaited him here. There was nothing more to look forward to. He would lie down quietly in this small room and wait to die. He could feel it, a creeping coldness that possessed his limbs a little more each day. There was nothing for him to live for any longer, no one to save, no one to protect, no one to love. Al had found someone to complete him here. But Ed had left that part of himself back in Amestris those three, long years ago. He smiled tiredly as he shut his eyes.

I'm ready now…I've cheated you before, but now I'm ready. Come take me…please…There was no answer to his silent prayer, except the crackling of the fire from the living room.

-----

Winry had closed the shop for a week and gotten on the train for Central. She needed to get away from that house, from the memories that plagued her everyday; she needed to get away from him. Now she was walking around the Central shopping district. Yet, even here, he followed her. That store reminded her of one she had pulled him onto. That man carrying the bags reminded her of him, the small boy who bumped her leg and smiled up with bright, brown eyes, at her reminded her of him.

This was torture; that stupid Alchemy geek had grasped her heart, and he would not let go. She lowered her head, trying to shut out the sights that reminded her so much of the one person she needed most, the one person she couldn't have. Suddenly, she walked into something warm, knocking it back and falling backward, blushing.

"Ah! I'm sorry. I didn't see you." She quickly apologised, picking up her scattered belongings.

"Winry?" She looked up into another pair of startlingly blue eyes.

"Ms. Hawkeye?" Her eyes widened as she recognised the other woman.

"Please, it's Riza. And I'm technically Mrs. Mustang now." The Lieutenant smiled.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I hadn't heard." Winry stared at the ground. Everyone else…everyone else but me… Why?

"It's alright. What are you doing in Central?"

"I just…I just came to get away from work." She smiled weakly, her eyes catching the ring on Riza's finger.

"That's good. Could you spare some time for an old friend?" She looked down at the younger girl, noticing her posture. "Is something wrong, Winry?"

"N-no! Nothing." She forced a laugh. "It was nice seeing you, Riza. Say hello to Roy for me." She gave the older woman a flimsy hug and rushed off before the tears in her eyes could be noticed. Riza watched her leave shaking her head slowly. Fullmetal had better get back soon.

Winry ran to a quiet area of the park, setting her things on the bench next to her and sitting down heavily. She pulled a folded piece of paper from her wallet and read it through, the tears beginning to overflow. Ed's letter, all she had left of him, so painful, yet comforting at the same time.

The wind blew a shower of golden leaves down, and one, half green still, landed in her lap. She stared at it for a long while, memories of younger times flashing back through her mind's eye. When they were seven, playing together, at thirteen, one of Ed's visits home, they'd had a party with all the village friends, at sixteen, when Ed had left. She had loved him then, she knew that now. She had always loved him, for as long as she could remember. It was ironic, she thought, how you never saw what you wanted, until it was beyond your reach. With a quiet little half laugh, she got up, folding the note again, and slipping it into her pocket.

I'll wait for you, Edward. As long as it takes, even if you never come back, I'll wait for you. Because I love you, and no amount of space can ever change that.

She smiled softly, offering up a small prayer for his protection, before moving off. The burden was lighter now. The wound was finally healing.

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Noa knocked quietly on Ed's door, the day had ended, and the house was pitch black, yet Al still wasn't home. But she knew better than to worry. Al could take care of himself, and Ed was the more worrisome of the two now. She knocked again, when there was no answer, and then tried to knob. It swung open silently. The room was just as dark as the house, but the moon shone through the window, casting a dim glow on the bed. By that light, she could barely make out a figure curled up in a tight ball on the bed.

Stepping softly closer, she looked down sadly at the young man who lay there. She never understood why he slept shirtless, even in Winter. But then, it was hard to understand anything the Elrics did, sometimes. Numerous scars littered his body, as well as the Automail that was fitted to his shoulder. His expression was peaceful, yet everything about him attested to the harsh life he had led since even before he had met her.

She sat on the floor next to the bed, leaning on it and brushing his bangs out of his eyes. She smiled softly, examining his feature in the moonlight. He was so much like Al, yet, nothing like him, at the same time. Ed's face showed the hardships he had faced, careworn and hard. Al's was sweet, and almost babyish. She shook her head.

"You always reached for things so far away, when I was always right here, Ed." She whispered. "Winry is lucky to have your heart."

He never showed any indication that he heard, sleeping on, oblivious to the woman in front of him. Slowly, Noa reached out a hand, laying it tenderly along his cheek and closing her eyes. The images flashed, disjointed, messy, but clear. Each individual memory, striking her with all the force of a sledgehammer. His emotions invaded her very soul, the heart-wrenching pain he bore every second, and it was all she could do to keep from crying out. Finally, she pulled her hand away, breathing heavily.

Her eyes were filled with a great understanding; and a great pity when she next opened them to look at the young Alchemist.

"Such pain… Edward…" She blinked back tears, standing and moving silently from the room. Her head was spinning from all the emotions, and she stumbled once, catching herself against the wall before moving back to her room to lie down.

"I never knew…" She whispered to the darkness. "That one man… could be so strong…"

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Al had been searching for hours, and he had to admit, he had made progress. He had found out that the builder of the castle was a long dead man named Baron von Stutz. He had died a century earlier, yet throughout his lifetime, he was known as a queer man, some even said he was a magician. Al had almost jumped out of his seat when he read that. They were finally getting close. Also, the rumour that there had been no survivors was wrong. Three men from a party of mountain climbers had turned back when one of their members had hurt his leg on the way up.

He was halfway through the article, when he stopped to read it again. There was no mistaking it; the article clearly stated that the mountaineers had found something. But what was it? He read on, his interest reaching a fever pitch. And then the words were there. A camera. With one negative inside it. The picture developed from the negative was on the next page, the article proudly proclaimed.

Holding his breath, he turned the page. He stared, and stared, and continued to stare at the old, grainy photo in the paper, until his mind finally registered what it said. The picture, showed an old, weatherworn and water streaked wall, with an inscription carved into it, the workmanship was shoddy, but it was readable.

"Whosoever opens the door, and enters my castle,

Will find his way to a world where all is possible,

A world where he has but to think, and his wildest desires come true,

A world, ruled by magic, a world with no limits or boundaries,

Come traveller, and try if you dare,

Open my doors, but better beware,

For the Gate does not accept all,

Be unworthy of the light, and you will fall."

Inscribed by Baron von Stutz, on this 4th day of November, 1832.

All stared hard at the picture. The message was cryptic, but it could not be simply a coincidence, could it? He could not be sure, but he would do anything to find out. He would see Ed smile again no matter what it took. Quickly transcribing the writing, he dashed from the library, bidding the night clerk goodnight and running full tilt for home.

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Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Will try to post more soon. :) R&R please CC is much appreciated.