Hello people! Laski here with another update for Steel and Ice, sorry about the delay but I'll be honest and say that this chapter has me kinda nervous since here's where the Ed/Amber relationship starts to change. Anyway, moving on, thanks for all the reviews! I really apreciate them and made last week a little easier to deal with(grad and senior prom) and now I'm back for the summer! Review replies have been sent with the exception of the one's I'm replying here:

earth Alchemist: You'll finally find out what he's going to say and thank you for the review! xD

Lauren: I just happened to check the reviews just now and saw yours! Thank you very much for your kind words and here's the update!

Standard disclaimers apply...I only own Amber and the plot...on with the chapter!

Chapter Thirteen
Held Nightmares

"You're tired Amber..." Al started as he watched Amber's eyes try to close for the third time in two minutes.

"I don't want to sleep..." Amber whispered. She then looked at the Elrics and decided to just ask for what she wanted...she just hoped they wouldn't laugh. "Ed," she started.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"Could you watch me while I sleep?" she asked softly. She really wanted to be held, but she wasn't going to asked that from the steel hearted alchemist.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"If I'm having a nightmare, just hold my hand and remind me that it's all in my head..." Amber answered. Al looked at Amber in surprise but seemed to understand where this was coming from.

"Uh...sure..." Ed answered.

"Thanks," Amber said softly as she finally let her eyes close as she slipped off into dream land.

"That's childish..." Ed started.

"No, it's not..." Al replied, watching Amber sleep. "It's just her way of dealing with what happened..."

"Crying alone is not good for anyone!" Edward half-yelled. He couldn't believe what he was saying...did it mean that he cared about her just slightly? "I-I'm just saying," he said while sitting down next to Amber again.

"Brother, I think it'd be best if you lay down with her..." Al suggested. "That way, she'll be comfortable and you can sleep a little."

"Fine," Ed growled as he stood and gently lay Amber down. After that was done, he lay down beside her, draping an arm around her waist. "You had a point...it is more comfortable this way..." Ed said as he fell into a deep slumber as well.

Al watched as his brother and Amber slept, their faces peaceful for the most part. He was surprised at how they seemed to get along when one was sleeping. 'Probably because they know how useless it is to try to fight with a sleeping person...' Al thought as he noticed Amber's face tighten. Amber quickly turned to face Edward and buried her face in his chest, seeking some reassurance. Al watched in surprise as his brother's face also tensed and held on tightly to Amber, as if seeking comfort like her. Amber's hands held on tightly to Edward's shirt as Ed's other arm found its way around Amber and pulled her close to him, holding on to her like a lifeline. 'Now this is weird...' Al thought as he watched them hold on to each other.

"Daddy..." Amber whimpered as her face loosened up. Al then noticed that Ed's had done the same and watched them with even more confusion.

'I don't get it...how can they hold on to each other like that when they hate the other's existence?' Al questioned himself as he watched them sleep.

The train jerked into a stop once it reached the Central station, throwing Amber and Edward off their seat and landing on the floor. The movement made them shift in their sleep, their lips making contact for a moment. At the feeling of the "stranger's" lips, Ed and Amber woke up, their eyes meeting.

"Why the hell were you kissing me for?" Amber yelled as Ed got off her. "I only asked you to hold my hand! You just had to blow things out of proportion, didn't you?"

"I wasn't kissing you!" Ed cried in defense. "Your lips were on mine!"

"How can that be when I was on the floor! Underneath you!" cried Amber in response.

"Well you must've done-"

"Amber!" called out Havoc's voice, cutting Ed off. At the sound of her name and the one who said it, Amber ran out of the train and ran for Havoc, embracing him as soon as she reached him.

"She's nice to him," Ed said while pulling out their stuff from the train.

"The chief's waiting for you," Havoc said as he led them to the car that would take them to Central Headquarters. Amber quickly took the front seat to avoid any further conflicts with Ed. Ed and Al sat at the back, watching Amber silently as Havoc drove. "Once we get there," Havoc started. "Do you want to see Mustang?" he asked.

"No," Ed replied.

"Sorry kid," Havoc replied. "I was talking to Amber, Roy told me to take you to his office as soon as we get there."

'Great, Mustang's playing favorites now...' Ed thought as he glanced out the window. 'Why would he ask Amber if she wants to see him? Is there something that I don't know?' he asked himself as his gaze fell on the back of Amber's head.

"Is Riza still at HQ?" Amber asked, breaking the silence.

"She should be arriving in a few hours," Havoc replied as he pulled the car over at the front gates of Central HQ "Come on kids," Havoc said as he got out of the car. The trio soon followed and they proceeded to walk around HQ, until they stopped at Roy's door. "You two step inside, I'm going to take Amber to the cafeteria."

"Don't blow your temper kid..." Amber started as she began to walk away. "You wouldn't want to destroy the place...shortie..." Amber finished saying as she disappeared from sight.

"Amber!" Ed cried as Al dragged his brother into Mustang's office.

"I suggest you settle down Fullmetal," Mustang started after Al closed the door behind them "I have a matter I'd like to discuss with you."

"Would that be, 'I'm the mighty Mustang and I favor young females?'" Ed replied with sarcasm.

"No," he replied flatly. "It concerns Amber."

"Hm...would that one be, 'I'm sorry shortie but she was the best I could find'?" Ed replied with more sarcasm.

"Brother!" cried Al. "You should respect her more! She's older!"

"And she acts like a kid!" Ed countered.

"So do you," Mustang snapped. "Moving on, I believe it's time I told you how Amber became this way..."

"There's a reason?" Ed cried.

"Yes. You didn't expect that now, did you?" Roy began as he signaled them to sit down. Ed slowly nodded as he sat down and waited for him to keep going. "I guess I'm the one at fault for all of this but I believe it would've been harder on you."

"Why do you say that?" Al asked.

"It was supposed to be a simple investigation mission that would have her back in a week," Roy began.

"How long ago was that?" asked Al.

"Two years ago," Roy answered. "Now, as luck would have it, there was an accident at the station so Amber couldn't get here on the day I had asked her for. She opted to walk back to East but I refused and had her stay until the repairs were made."

"What happened?" Ed asked.

"During the night the town was attacked and Amber was forced to retaliate, sucking people dry of their bodily water, killing them," Roy answered.

"She does that?" Ed cried, shocked.

"Yes," Roy answered. "Don't ask me if she know or found out that she could use that Alchemy there...I don't know..."

"Are you afraid that she might use that alchemy on you?" Al asked.

"At one point yes but I've noticed that she's somewhat afraid of using it...back to what I was saying, in defense of that town, she killed many men, trying to protect the people. It in the end, most the villagers died and Amber felt guilty since she was close to some people but the worst of it all..."

Flashback

Amber looked around the semi-charred village, looking for any sign of like until a cry reached her ears. She looked around for its source and found a dead mother holding a bundle in her lifeless arms. Amber walked over and took the fussy bundle in her arms, tears ready to fall from her brown eyes.

"Sh..." she said while trying to calm down the infant. "Please calm down," she begged. "I feel so helpless..." she whispered, breaking into sobs...

End Flashback

"What does that have to do with anything?" Ed asked.

"Everything Brother!" Al cried. "What happened after that?"

"Amber opted to walk back to East, taking care of the child as much as she could but, it died shortly before she arrived there..." Roy said, a sad look clouding his eyes.

"How does that help in making the cold Amber?" asked Ed, trying to put the pieces together.

"She got too close to the infant before it died. It affected her so much, it changed her."

"What do you mean?"

"She believes that if she's cold hearted, distant and pushes people away, no one will care about her or bother to get close to her and if they die...she won't feel the heartache and pain all over again. She hasn't let anyone care about her since then but, there always seems to be someone who can melt just some of that ice away..."

"Who would that be?"

"That'd be me," Havoc said as he made his appearance. "Flute Chief," he said to Roy.

"Right," Roy said as he gave his subordinate the instrument. "Bring it back once she's done..."

"Will do," Havoc said as he left.

About a few hours later...

Ed

I was walking around Central HQ trying to find Amber. I wanted to formally apologize to Amber for calling her cold hearted, everyone says I went too far with that one because I didn't know her hardships like she knew mine. I walked outside, under the slight rain and gazed at the empty fields. A soft, sad tune caught my ear. I looked around for it and in the far distance saw Amber playing the flute Havoc had gotten from Roy's office. I stood there, watching her play, pure emotion being put into the song. I walked over to her, not sure of what I was going to do.

"You're going to catch a cold..." I said as she stopped playing.

"So?" she snapped. "It'll go better with my "cold heart", right?" she said with a huff as she got up and walked away, playing a sad song.

"That's not what I wanted to say..." I said, clenching my fists. That's not what I wanted to say at all...

"If you don't move, you're going to rust..." Amber said after she stopped playing again. I didn't know what to say and I just stood there, listening to the pain of her heart that only escaped in music...

"Amber!" I cried, turning around to see nobody there. "I'm sorry..." I whispered as I walked back to Central HQ.

Yeah I know...I'm very mean to do that once again...but there's always a reason for that type of situation...(can't say it yet...)

Until next chapter!

Laski