I'M BACK!!!!!! Gomen ne, my beta is a little slower than usual due to college applications(in his case...I'm already at a uni with a pile of work which I finished last Friday) so I'm currently looking for one. I think one of my uni friends said she could do it...but if she can't I'll ask one of you guys. Now, this chapter shows a little more internal fights between Ed and his feelings(which will happen for a few more chapters until they finally get along more than fight.)

Moving on to another matter, this fic still has a long way to go so, I hope you'll stick with me in the long run.

Review replies have been sent or will be in the next moments...let's see how my wireless fairs now...

Don't own FMA just Amber and ze plot.

EDIT: I'd like to thank White Alchemist Taya for pointing out something I missed. Louis is just a little under 19 years old. Continue on with the fic...sorry if you were a little confused...

Chapter Sixteen
Stolen in the Night
Ed

NO! I'll say it again, not possible! Nor will it ever be likely! I watched her sigh and start to comb her hair as she sat down on her bed. She seemed frustrated, I could see it in her eyes. I watched her struggle with a knot in her hair and I just spoke without thinking.

"Want me to help?"

"You don't have to...besides, your arm-" she replied.

"Let me do it," I insisted, speaking without thinking again. She got off her bed and sat down on mine, placing her comb in my right hand. "I'll be careful," I said while starting to comb her hair. I easily undid the knots she was having trouble with as a peaceful atmosphere came upon us. I smiled a little for some unknown reason as I kept combing her hair, trying to be as gentle as possible. "I like your hair this way..." I blurted out. Why do I keep doing that?

"Thanks," I heard Amber respond. "I like yours just the way it is too," she said out of the blue. We both laughed at the weird comments that we'd made about each other and I could tell that we were trying to think of something else to say. "The kids around here really like your brother. When I left, Chris and Maya were climbing him to get piggyback rides."

"I bet he was giving them without a problem," I said with a small laugh.

"Yeah, he had two, three to four kids on him at a time..." Amber replied. "He'll be fine though...they respect him well."

"Good to know," I said as I finished combing her hair. "Done," I said while give her comb back.

"Thanks Ed," she said, using my name for the first time in a while. "Do you want me to get Al for you?"

"No, that won't be necessary," I said softly. "I'm fine..."

"If you say so," Amber said while getting into her bed. "Good night Ed," she said, using my name again and falling asleep not long after. I don't get it...how can she be so mean to me one moment and then take care of me the next? Does she do that on purpose? Or is she doing that to mess up my mind? But then that would make her more evil than me...gah! I can't trouble myself with any of this!

I fell asleep not long after that, trying to get these nagging thoughts about Amber out of my head. I'm having no such luck either since I ended up thinking about her in my sleep as well. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can't she just leave me alone?

"Hey..." whispered a male voice inside the room, waking me up. I turned to look at Amber's bed and saw a silhouette of a guy. It resembled Louis...what's he doing here? "You look as beautiful as ever Amby..." he continued, his body leaning so he kind of hovered of Amber's. I could tell that he was looking at her closely, trying to keep something in his mind. His face lingered over hers for a while before he leaned in and kissed Amber. Now that's just wrong...

"How dare you do that?" I asked, sitting up. Lou looked at me in surprise and sighed.

"Because I could..." Lou replied as he moved some stray strands of light brown hair away from Amber's face. "And because this was the only chance that I had..."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"You wouldn't understand..." Louis said with a sigh.

"Try me," I growled, trying to get an answer. Why am I so desperate for one anyway? Am I angry that he stole a kiss from her lips?

"I'm in love with her!" he whispered loudly.

"What?" I asked, getting out of bed at the answer. That couldn't be possible! "What-but, how?"

"Love just is..." Louis started."Funny how I realize how much I care for her when she doesn't care about me in the same way anymore..."

"Amber liked you in that way?" I asked.

"Yes...we both denied it...especially her...but now, I'm the one who denies it and I couldn't any longer..."

"Why don't you just tell her?"

"She doesn't deserve to be told..."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I can't do that...I'd hurt my wife and pride. There's also the fact that for her, its better to show the emotion than telling her...she won't push you away for that."

"What do you mean by that?"

"If you just tell her, she'll shrug it off as nothing...to her, words are just that."

"I don't think I understand..." I started as Louis held Amber's hand.

"You will in time," Lou said as he let go of Amber's hand. "Don't tell Amber what happened," he continued as he started to leave.

"Why the hell not?" I growled, trying not to wake Amber.

"I don't want her to be sad because of me..." Lou said as he left. Just what did that mean? I'm more confused...damn it!

"Why is this so complicated?" I muttered as I went to bed and fell asleep. Thankfully, this time I didn't have a hard time and secondly, I wasn't thinking about Amber...sweet dreams indeed...

"Morning Edward," was the first thing I head the next morning. I opened my eyes to see Amber, tending to my wounded arm. "How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty good," I replied with a small smile. "You?"

"Very good," Amber said with a smile of her own. "There," she said while letting go of my arm, which she had just bandaged again. "Its looking better," she added softly, looking out the window. The silence in the room became unreadable as she and I remained where we were, not moving, not saying anything. She then bit her bottom lip and sighed, as if something on her mind wouldn't leave her alone.

"Want to talk about it?" I blurted out, my tone containing clear concern...I can't believe it! I'm worried?!

"Nah..." Amber said with a small smile. "I'm fine," she said while starting to leave. "I'm going to be outside with Al and the kids, if you need anything, ask Kira..." Amber added as she started to walk away.

"Thanks," I said, causing her to stop and turn to me.

"For what?"

"Nothing..." I said. "Forget I said anything..."

"Fine..." she said softly. "Your welcome in any case," she said as she left.

Amber

Sometimes that kid worries me. Yes, I know, I said it and I won't deny it. I'm worried about the shortie...he's been acting weird lately...

"Amber?" called out a group of voices. "Are you okay?" they all asked in unison.

"Yes," I replied, smiling at them. "Let's go and climb some trees!" I said with a smile.

"Yeah!" the kids all yelled in unison once again, dashing to the woods to climb.

"They really like you," Al said as he stood next to me.

"Yeah..." I said softly, smiling. "I like it here..." I whispered, the wind blowing my hair out of its bun. "Every time I come here it's the same, having fun with everyone, smiling at the little things and just feeling...free I guess..."

"That happens when you're at a place you hold close to home," spoke Louis as he stood next to me, his one year old daughter on his shoulders.

"Guess so," I said with a smile.

"Amber!" called out Maya's voice. "Look at this!" she cried while running over to me. "Seeds!"

"I can see that Maya," I said with a smile. "What do you want to do with them?"

"Can you make one grow like magic?" she asked softly. I smiled again and took one of the seeds to give it a closer look. "Looks like an apple tree...so I need to plant this first," I said while going over to a clear path. Maya helped me dig a hole in the ground where I let her place the seed with the utmost care. "Okay..." I said softly. "Let's hope the snow hasn't killed it yet..." I added while clasping my hands together and pressing them to the covered up seed. A small tree sprouted and all the little kids around me laughed.

"It's so tiny!" squealed Chris.

"With time and care...it'll grow and become a big tree..." Al started.

"You sure know a lot mister," said Lisa, one of the younger girls that was with us.

"Well, brother and I studied a lot..." Al replied.

"They're just as smart as you Amby!" cried Maya.

"Nah..." I said while placing a hand on Al's armored shoulder. "There's still more for us to learn...we're just starting to," I added, turning to Al.

"She's right you know..." Al said while picking up Maya.

"Piggy back!" she squealed as Al placed her on his shoulder area, carrying her around. I chuckled at the kid's open hearts and only wished that mine could be the same everywhere else in the world...not just with Gracia, Elicia, Havoc and when I'm here...

"Penny for your thoughts McLain?" asked Louis from beside me. I turned to face him and noticed something odd in his eyes...he seemed to be hiding something from me...

"No," I said while looking back towards Al and the rest. "I'm fine..." I lied while joining the group for a game of hide and seek. I could feel the weight in my heart lifting but something wouldn't let it go...the harsh reality of life...

I kinda didn't like the ending of this chapter much but I had no idea of what else to say. Until next time!

Laters!

Laski