IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM BACK! Not for long...I leave for Italy on Monday at FIVE in the friggin morning...(sigh) and yesterday I celebrated meh 18th birthday! woot! All right, onto buisness...I wasn't going to update before I left but something in the back of my mind told me to just do it...so I did. This chapter shows a less harsher side to Amber and shows what a softie she is when it comes to people she really cares for. My beta pushed me to put this up so I thank him for that too...anyways here we go! Review replies have been sent, except the ones I reply here:

Earth Alchemist: It is not a bad comparison! I wuv chocolate! I'm so happy you find it that addictive!

Lauren: I already sent you an email...did you get it?

Standard disclaimers apply. Amber and anything else that's not in the original FMA is mine.

Chapter Fourteen
The Town With a Hero
Ed

Al and I had decided to stay in the HQ dorms until Amber decided that it was time to keep moving. I wasn't going to pressure her since Mustang would knock me senseless if I cause her any harm. To which, I still don't understand why he's so protective of her...

"We're leaving tomorrow..." Amber said as I let her into my temporary dorm.

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking into her eyes, trying to not argue. I swear I could've seen the ghost of a pure smile on her face when she opened up to talk.

"Santorini..." she whispered. "We leave early so get packing."

"Eh...where's that?" I asked.

"Hill top...I assume it's a little colder than usual due to the rains so, try to find the warmest jacket you can," Amber said as she headed for the door.

"Are we ever getting to Ishbal?"

"Roy wants us to come back here after leaving Santorini..." Amber replied, not moving from her spot.

"Why does he do that to us?"

"If I knew why...I would've told you a long time ago kid..." Amber said softly as she left, the 'click' of the closing door assured me that she left.

"Stop calling me that!" I cried. I ran out of the room, trying to follow her but bumped right into Mustang...great, more trouble.

"Hello Fullmetal Shrimp," he started. "You're leaving for Santorini tomorrow...right?"

"How do you know?" I asked, tossing the shrimp comment aside.

"Havoc must've told her that they've been writing to her, requesting that she visit them for a few days," he answered.

"Why?"

"There was where Amber had one of her first victories...everyone there treats her with such care and appreciation, that she always manages to lower her icy walls nearly in their entirety..."

"So, Amber is just herself?" asked Al as he came with some food for me.

"Indeed," Roy answered. "If you'll excuse me, I need to make a few arrangements for a few days after your return..." he said while walking away.

"What was that about?" Amber asked as she came out of her dorm, flute box in one hand.

"He said something about arrangements," Al answered.

"Hm..." Amber replied while trailing off into thought. I could see that her hand was still bandaged, but the red streak that used to color it was gone.

"Your hand's looking better," I said.

"Eh?" she replied, snapping out of her trance. "What?"

"Your hand," I answered. "It looks better."

"It is..." Amber said softly, smiling just a little.

"How did you cut it in the first place?" Al asked, trying to sound gentle.

"I broke a bottle at the bar," Amber answered. "I'm going outside to play a little, later you two," she finished saying as she walked away. I'm not even going to mention anything about her calling me short because I won't like hearing it.

"Brother?" Al started. "Did you-?"

"Don't even mention it Al," I said while taking the food and going back into the room. Did we just get through a talk without fighting?

"Brother, I'll pack for you," Al interrupted as he did just that.

"Sure," I said in between mouthfuls and looking out the window. Apparently word had gotten around that Amber was in town since I could see Mrs. Hughes and Elicia outside with her. Amber had stopped playing her flute and was running around the front grounds, chasing the three year old toddler until she finally wore down. Amber scooped her up into her arms as she started to rock her like a baby and set her down after a while...she seems...normal, just like back in Rohdas but...it doesn't look fake anymore...

Amber

"Come here!" I yelled, chasing Elicia around the Central front grounds. She squealed and laughed as she ran ahead of me, trying to escape me. "I'm going to get you!" I said with an evil grin.

"No you won't!" cried Elicia as she kept running. "Mama! Amber's chasing me! Please help!"

"She can't help you now..." I started, growling. Children always make me go soft...but I could care less right now, these types of memories last a lifetime. "I will get you!" I said while turning around to chase her the other way. She caught on and ran the opposite way until I finally managed to wear her down. "Haha!" I cried as I scooped her up in my arms. "I got you now!"

"Hehe," the toddler giggled. "Mama! Amber caught me!"

"I can see that," Gracia said with a smile. After rocking her for a while, I set her down on her feet and she hugged me.

"I'm very happy you're okay big sis," she said softly.

"What happened to your hand?" Gracia asked.

"I broke a bottle after Ed called me cold hearted," I answered honestly. "I was so angry that I threw the closest item I had against the ground," I explained. "The other's just gravity," I said as I straightened up and stroked Elicia's hair.

"I don't see where he got that from..." Gracia started.

"Well," I began, picking Elicia up again. "I guess it has to do with the fact that I barely show emotion around him and other military personnel."

"If you do that, then why are you smiling like that around me and mom?" Elicia asked, causing me to look at her in the eyes.

"Smiling like what?" I asked.

"She means that you're showing emotion now..." Gracia explained.

"Oh well, that's easy," I started. "It's because I know you won't mind seeing my true colors. That and because kids like you always make me loose the ice around the edges," I explained while setting her down again.

"Oh," Elicia said softly. "Is that good?"

"People find it to be very good," I said while smiling at the tot. I then felt eyes on me and got the impression that they have been for quite sometime. I looked up and saw Edward standing nearby the window to his temporary room, looking at us. I don't know what compelled me to do it but I smiled and waved before returning my gaze to the mother and daughter I was spending time with. I turned to Gracia and she was smiling widely about something. "Penny for your thoughts?" I asked, causing her to look at me.

"Nothing Amber," she replied. "Come Elicia, it's time to go home..."

"Awww!" whined the young girl. "I wanna play some more!"

"Maybe some other time," I offered, smiling.

"Okay!" she said happily while running off with her mother.

"Hehe," I chuckled.

"Children always seem to bring the soft side of you..." Roy said as he stood beside me.

"What can I say?" I said with a smile. "Deep down, I've always been a softie."

"You're coming back after you leave Santorini, right?"

"Yeah...you ordered me to...why?"

"You forgot again..." he said softly. What did I forget?

"What do you mean?" I asked, turning to him.

"Your birthday..."

"Oh my God...how could I forget that again?" I said sadly. This was the third year in a row...but then again, this birthday would probably pass the same way as the last. Nothing to do but just smiling and looking pretty...again...

"Would you like the shrimp to be there?"

"I don't mind...as long as he behaves of course..."

"I'll make sure of that."

"I know...that's precisely why I said it in the first place..."

The next day...

Ed

"Morning," I told Amber as we made our way to the station. We'd barely spoken to each other at Central and I decided that it would be nice to stir up a little trouble...this silence is killing me. Then again, a talk would be nice...did I just think that?

"Morning," Amber replied, handing me two tickets. "It takes five hours to stop at the nearest station then about two hours to climb the hill to get there."

"Why do they think of you as a hero?" I asked as we climbed onto the wagon and claimed three seats.

"Well..." Amber started. "I helped them out when nobody else wanted to...I helped rebuild after a devastating flood and when they had a problem with the neighboring town, who likes to shake things up, I formed an alliance with them and Santorini that still stands strong while benefitting both towns."

"Was it hard?" Al asked.

"No," Amber replied. "I just had to be really patient and understanding..." Amber answered with a small smile.

"Tell us more about the place," Al asked.

"Nah...it's better if you see for yourselves," was Amber's reply.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"I dunno..." Amber said softly. "I guess I just don't want to ruin the place for you guys...it's quiet, like Resembool so it'll feel like home a little..."

"That's interesting..." I said while meeting her gaze.

"I can't wait!" squeaked Al's voice.

"Me either..." I heard Amber say softly as she smiled fully. It seemed to be the most real I've seen and it shows that its pure of heart...

And so ends chapter fourteen...

Until the 18th!(which is when I get back...)

Laski!