Hey people! Laski here with yet another update for Steel and Ice, this chapter finally gets the trio moving but I won't say where...anywho, hope you enjoy and lastly, I don't own FMA(which sadly, last episode of the Dub anime airs tonight...) oh well...at least I have the fic until the movie comes out...just Amber and the plot are mine...everything else belongs to someone else.

Enjoy!

Chapter Five
Faded

Everything in East HQ seemed to be going well but it was obvious that some of the personnel were preoccupied. For example, Col. Mustang wasn't complaining about the much work he needs to do as he usually does, instead, he was looking a picture he'd dug out from one of the messy drawers in his desk. The usual stern look remained in his eyes as he scanned the people in the picture, a younger Amber and Roy, smiling after they found out that she passed her Alchemy exam. He still couldn't believe that the same girl that was in the picture, was in his office a little over five days ago, her attitude as cold as ever. She's changed too much...her warm personality seemed to have faded away...he just hoped that he'd done the right thing in partnering her up with Ed. They seemed to have a rough start, he could only hope that things would change soon.

"Sir?" called out Riza's voice in the nearly empty office.

"Yes Lt.?" Roy replied, quickly putting the picture away.

"Do you think those two will ever get along?" she asked, referring to Amber and Edward.

"According to Hughes, they're supposed to fall in love..." Roy answered, deciding to get to work.

"I don't know how he could see that..." Riza commented.

"He said it often before he died..." Roy recalled, remembering that Hughes mentioned that to Roy at least once a week. Roy shook his head as he glanced at the massive piles of paper before him and proceeded to work on them, wondering if Ed and Amber would be quiet enough to ever see how well they suited each other as friends, he just couldn't see them falling in love.

Back with the others...

"Why didn't you say anything about your father?" Al asked as they left Izumi's house. They had a very filling dinner and all Ed could think of was getting to bed. Winry was worried about Amber since she knew how said girl hated being asked about her family, that and the fact that she was quiet the remainder of the visit. Amber just wanted to get to the house so she could climb up the nearest tree and stargaze.

"Didn't think it was worth mentioning," Amber replied coldly as Winry's and Pinako's house came into view. She ran towards the nearest tree, completely avoiding the others and their likely questions. She quickly climbed up to the branch that gave out the clearest view to the sky and sat down with tears in the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away and stared at the sky, looking for an answer that she knew she wouldn't find there.

"You hate your father too?" she heard Ed ask from underneath her.

"I don't hate him..." she replied. "I just don't like to talk about him..."

"Seems to me like it's the same thing," he snapped back.

"If you don't have anything nice to add," Amber said softly while standing up on the branch. "Don't say anything at all..."

Ed

"If you don't have anything nice to add," I heard Amber say in a soft tone. I looked up to see her standing on the branch she was in. "Don't say anything at all..." she finished saying as she disappeared through the leaves.

"Fine," I muttered while going back to the house. "So much for trying to help out..." I finished murmuring as I stepped inside, my eyes meeting Winry's.

"Well?" she asked, wondering how my talk with Amber went.

"She snapped at me," I lied while heading upstairs. I dunno if Winry could tell but frankly, it didn't matter in the slightest to me. I reached the guest room and quickly changed into my pj's before jumping onto the bed, ready to fall asleep, but something wouldn't let me. I sat up and decided to look out the window for a while, trying to think of a way to get to sleep. In the distance I could see a silhouette on top of a tree, it didn't take me long to remember that Amber was outside. For just moments, I saw her sit there, quiet presumably since her lips weren't moving. She then jumped off and disappeared within the darkness. I wasn't going after her...I'm not going to save her ass if she gets in trouble...it's all her own fault. I suddenly heard footsteps drawing closer and I quickly lay down in my bed, trying to act like I was asleep. The door opened as someone stepped inside and closed the door after him/herself. I heard a deep breath being released and somehow...I could tell that it was Amber who had come in. I then heard a creaking noise come from the bed next to mine and I knew that Amber has just gotten into bed.

"Night runt," she muttered as her breathing turned heavy and even, meaning that she fell asleep. I wanted to yell at her for calling me small but in the end, I'd wake up everyone in the house...I'll let it slip...just this once anyway...

The next morning, when I woke up, Amber's bed was empty and her bed was made. How much does she sleep? I've barely seen her and...why do I even bother to care? I dressed and headed downstairs to see her leaving the table with an empty plate while Winry was just sitting down.

"I'm gonna take a walk," was all Amber said as she walked out the front door. I sat down to eat and finished before Win. I put my dish in the sink and dragged Al outside to fight me since I had nothing else to do.

Amber

I walked back into the house after my private swim at a nearby lake to hear Winry tinkering away with new automail prototypes and the phone ringing off the hook.

"Amber," Winry's voice called from a nearby workroom. "Could you get that for me?"

"No problem Winry!" I called back as I picked it up. "Rockbell residence, how my I help you?" I said to the person on the other line.

"Glad I caught you Amber," I heard a distinctly familiar voice say on the other line.

"Roy," I began. "What do you want?"

"I just caught wind of some information and I want you and the Fullmetal shortie to check them out for me," he said with a bragging tone in his voice. "Do you have paper and a pen?"

"Nope," I said coldly. "I do have a photographic memory..." I said with sarcasm.

"Be a good girl and jot this down anywhere you can."

"Geez, you're in a bad mood today, has Riza given you a nice shoulder rub?"

"Amber..."

"Fine Sir, I'll get the pen and paper...sheesh..." I said rudely. With a snap of my fingers, pen and paper blew my way.

"You used Alchemy when you could've gotten it yourself," Roy scolded me.

"It got the job done," I snapped. "Just gimme the names," I said with a sigh.

"Fine," Roy said with what seemed to me, a hopeless sigh. "First stop, Jaen, where things have been mysteriously going missing. Second stop, Aleli to ensure that the troops that were sent to the area aren't causing any trouble and lastly, Rohdas. At the last one, Havoc should meet you at the inn once you get there."

"What for?" I asked, curious about this new development in the "plans" I'd set up with Ed and Al.

"Special assignment I have for you," was all he said in response. "Good luck Amber."

"Sure Roy," I said while sighing and looking out the window. "I'll tell Ed to pack up now so we can get a jump start on our trip to Jaen...which I think isn't that far from here..."

"I believe you're right," Roy agreed as some background yells were trying to be muffled. I could tell that Riza was scolding him for taking too long on the phone. "Bye Amber."

"Adios Roy," I said while hanging up. I folded the paper and tucked it in my skirt pocket before heading outside. I sat down on the front steps and looked around me for a while, taking in the sites of the peaceful town. I saw Ed and Al in the distance fighting, Ed doing pretty good. I got up and walked over to them, ready to break the news that we had to leave.

"Hi Amber!" called Al happily.

"Hey," I said while forcing a little smile. "Roy just called, he needs us to check out a few towns on our way to Ishbal. He wants us to leave ASAP so I suggest packing your bags, we're leaving before nightfall..."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Ed whined.

"For that," I said with a threatening tone. "If you're not packed by that time...I'm going without you..."

"We're partners damnnit!" he yelled at me.

"I think that's the first time you actually referred to me as that..." I said rudely. "Look, to avoid any further trouble, I suggest you pack your bags now...I barely unpack mine for the sole purpose to move on faster."

"Fine!" Ed yelled as he stormed back to the house and slammed the door after him.

"Weren't you a little harsh on him?" Al asked sitting down on the grass for a moment.

"He's worse to me...at least, that's how I see it..." I said while turning back to the house to check that everything in my bag was packed. I arrived at the room to see Ed throwing things into his suitcase with clear frustration. I made a detour and dashed downstairs to talk to Winry. "We're leaving before sundown..." I said to her as she took a sip a water, a break from all the work. I looked around for a map and found one. I quickly scanned it and put it back in its place, before sighing. This stay in Resembool has been nice...guess I shouldn't have complained so much before we got here.

"So soon?" she asked weakly.

"Roy called and he wants us to move our asses..." I said flatly.

"Think you can handle Ed?" she asked me while wiping some sweat off her forehead.

"I can take him..." I said nonchalantly. "Our spar ended in a draw so...I can say that if we're that even...we'll be fine."

"I didn't mean it that way..."

"Look, I just have to work with him...doesn't mean I have to befriend him."

"It would be easier."

"True..."

"Amber I'm done!" yelled Ed's voice from upstairs. "You better finish your bag before I hurt you for making me pack and not leave when you said!"

"Coming Fullmetal Shortie," I yelled as I excused myself and left the room.

"Don't call me small damnnit!" Ed yelled as I passed by him, making my way upstairs.

"Just shut up, be a good boy and wait outside," I said while going to the room and finishing up with my stuff. As soon as I was done, I lugged my suitcase downstairs and stood near the door. "Bye Win," I said while giving my new friend a quick hug. "I'll come back some other time...I'd like to meet your grandma."

"See ya," Winry said as I turned to the door and saw the Elrics outside.

"All right boys!" I yelled as I picked up my bag and walked over to them. "We're heading east, Jaen is about a half day walk so we'll likely reach it by sunrise...unless you want to set up camp on the way..." I said, lowering my voice as I got closer to them.

"No way!" Ed cried. "I'm no wimp!" My gaze rose slightly to look at Al and he was shaking his helmet. I stifled a giggle and began to lead the way, I just hope we don't stumble upon bandits on the way...

Another chapter done...hope you liked and if you could, leave a review! I love the support.

Until next chapter people!

Laski