Alright! Here's the next installment to the story! Marine life… its crazy and annoying at times.

::sigh:: On with the show!

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 9: FullMetal Heart

Evening, Military Hospital

Edward awoke to both Sgt. Bloch and Lt. Ross at his bedside asking him how he was, and how he felt. Of course Ed being Ed, shot up as he ignored them as his worry for his younger brother hit him. He asked about him until he saw him sitting quietly in the corner of their hospital room.

That's when he saw the beaten up armor of his younger brother, practically destroyed.

You awoke to your "mom" and Maj. Armstrong in the room.

"(_y/n_), how do you feel?" Hawkeye asked

"Heh, like Armstrong hit me." You replied as you sat up.

"Full of energy already I see. That's good." Armstrong said

"Thanks for getting us out." You told your large friend, and at that moment, your "dad" brusted into the room. Slamming the door behind him.

"What the hell was that! You could've been killed!" by now he was at the side of your bed next to Hawkeye. His rant continued for a bit before he was forced to stop by Hawkeye's hand making contact with his shoulder.

He stopped as he looked at her. Her eyes telling him to shut up or else she would put a bullet square in his eye, while also showing her concern for you.

He took a deep breath and waited for you to answer.

"Sorry Al, that's twice that you've been carved up. I'll fix you right away." Ed told his brother.

"Yeah" it came a bit harsh to Edward as he looked down at his sheet covered lap.

"Edward sir, what happened in Lab 5?" Bloch asked

"Nothing much." He replied. Surprising both him and Ross.

"Nothing much? But you're both seriously hurt."

"Come on, I had a lot worse. I was just a baby step from learning the truth." Saying a bit dejected. Just then Ross cut him off again.

"Edward sir, I apologize in advance for this." Then she slapped him hard across his left cheek. The echo resonating within the room, causing both Bloch and Al to looked on in surprise.

"You nearly died, and you put your brother at risk! You need to remember you're still a child…. And you need to start trusting adults with a little more of the work." Ed just sat there. Then Ross goes to the position of attention.

"My conduct was improper for a lower officer, sir, forgive me." She finished then Bloch stood at attention as well. He also asked for forgiveness.

"No, you've got a point. I'm sorry." He replied

Risembool

Winry has come to accept that the part that she held in her hands is part of Edward's Automail. Just then, Pinako opened the door and questioned her, but she just made up a lame excuse, the phone ringing saving her.

It was Edward.

"Winry, I got a problem. I can't move my arm anymore." She heard over the phone.

"Sounds about right"

"What do you mean?" he sounded a bit surprised.

"Nothing at all. I told you I made it lighter so it's a little more fragile. You did something reckless again didn't you." She turned her explanation into a quick accusation.

"Anyway, I can't make it out to Risembool right now." He told her

"Don't worry I'll come out to you! Just stay there and relax, and I'll jump on the train today!" she quickly replied.

"You're being unusually kind today Winry." Now realizing that she knows something that he does not.

"I'm always kind Ed."

"Well, anyways I'll see you here. Bye." He then hung up. Winry breaths a sigh of relief, but then her grandmother tells her to make sure the maintenance is done right.

Morning, HQ Hospital

Hughes arrived to speak with Edward and Alphonse. He told Bloch and Ross to get him some food because he was hungry, just so the three of them would be alone to talk.

He explained to the boys what he thought of what happened under Lab 5. The military was saying that all the damage was due to the soldiers fighting with Scar, but he told them that he knew better. Ed just looked straight ahead, not wanting to tell him the truth. The door opened…

"Homunculi." You said as you walked in. All three of them turned to look at you.

"You're kidding." Hughes replied surprised. "Artificial humans."

"Trust me, they weren't human." Ed told him

"Yeah, people don't move like that." You put in as you pulled up a chair next to the bed.

"Are they connected to the Philosophers Stone?" Hughes asked

"Yeah, they tried to convince me to use the prisoners to make them one. So they can become human." Ed replied

"That's hard to believe." Hughes said, sweating a little.

"Tell him Al."

"Yes" was the only word that came from him. They went on talking as you got up and looked out the window listening to them. After they were done talking Hughes made his way to the door. Saying his farewells for the moment.

"How do you feel (_y/n_)?" Edward asked turning to you.

"Good. All healed up." You replied with a smile. He turned his head away with a tint of a blush on his face.

"What about you guys?" you asked as you looked at them.

"Better, I suppose. Al?" Ed replied

"Fine." It was his only reply. You could feel the emotions coming from the younger brother.

"What?" you asked. Ed was staring at you intently.

"Why do you have bandages on?" he asked

"Oh?" you smirked, "Do you want to see me without them?"

"Yes. NO! You said that you were healed!" Ed quickly responded as he was facing the door, his face completely red. You giggled a bit before replying.

"I gatta keep up the appearance. Although, I think my hand's a bit loose." You answered as you flexed your left hand a bit. You didn't want to tell them that you felt a bit weird.

"Well, maybe Winry could take a look at it." Ed put in as he looked to your direction again. The blush now fading.

"She's coming here?" you asked

"Yeah." he replied as you turned around and put your weight on your right leg, crossing your arms, and moved your pointer finger to the three of you.

"You do realize she's ganna kill us, right?" you said as realization hit him.

"Ah, crap." He replied as he face palmed. This resulted in him being in more pain, as you just laughed a little at him.

"Hi!" you said from your seat as Winry came in with Armstrong behind her.

Winry had just arrived and dropped her tool box on the floor. To say that she was more then a little surprised to see you all in the hospital, was an understatement.

"Edward! You didn't tell me that you guys were in the hospital!"

"Well, one thing lead to another…" you let off with a fake laughter

"It's nothing to laugh about." Winry said as she started to sound depressed.

"What's wrong?" he asked concerned

"I didn't do the maintenance right, and now, this is all my fault." She replied looking at the ground.

"Whoa! There are a lot of things that could have happened, right Al?" he asked his younger brother

"Yeah." He replied a bit darkly

"See and Al doesn't lie."

"Yeah, but…" she started but was cut off.

"Ed's reckless, Winry. Not once has he complained about your automail. He's always swinging his arm and being rough with it." You said as you put a hand on her shoulder. 'Could he actually not have realized that I forgot to us that screw?' she thought

"Your right, (_y/n_)! Ed's rough and a reckless klutz." She said smiling, as she starts to laugh.

"Come on Winry, let's go. I'm hungry." You said as you dragged her away.

"W-where are you going?" Ed asked as you, Winry and Armstrong turned to leave.

"To get some food, duh!" You said as Armstrong closed the door behind him.

"Hey Armstrong, can you make sure that Ed gets some food please?" you asked him. Of course, he then saluted and walked off.

That Evening

You and Winry walked back in to the Elric's room. Both of you making your way to the bed.

"How you doing, oh, look's like you're done with your dinner." Then, Winry notices the milk, which was left untouched.

"You didn't drink your milk." Her voice was accusing. It made you shiver a bit, like it did to him.

"Edward." She said as she looked at him, and he looked out the window.

"You drink it. I hate milk. It's like drinking vomit." She then had a frightening aura around her and you backed away from her.

Then, she snapped. They went back-and-forth on why he should drink it and that it was healthy for him, as well as this-and-that. This of course, resulted in her calling him a bean.

"Right Al?' she asked him with a smile

"Just do want she says, and drink the stupid milk, Ed." He turned slightly to look at him

"That's easy for you, you didn't have to drink anything to get that big." Ed replied back

"Shut up." Al responded back

"Sorry." Ed apologized to him

"Hey, what's wrong with you guys? Are you fighting?" Winry asked as she stood there looking at the two. Even you were a bit confused.

"Why is that I've known you my whole life and you don't tell me anything. I'm standing right here worrying about you guys, and yet you don't have the decency to tell me why you're fighting, or how you… got hurt or anything important! It's always secrets with you." She told them

"Winry…" You were about to say something when she interrupted you.

"Don't make excuses for them (_y/n_)! I don't care anymore!" she exclaimed right before running out the room.

Outside the room is where she met Hughes. Right before he took out a picture of his daughter, and showed it to her. Catching her completely off guard. The next thing she knew, she was in front of the door with Hughes telling everyone in the room he was taking her to Elicia's birthday party. That's when he saw you. He reached in and grabbed you by the arm.

"(_y/n_) is coming too." He said as he somehow managed to close the door behind you three.

"You can let me go." You said as you were walking behind him. He ignored you and Winry as he kept walking until he was practically dragging the both of you. You gave a sigh as Winry had a stunned look on her face.

The next morning

You and Winry were at the Hughes' House standing around the crowed as Elicia blew out the candles. She and you were just talking as Elicia came up to the both of you.

"Short Stuff, happy birthday." You kneeled down to hug her.

"Thank you." She said before she turned to Winry.

"Your pretty." She said. Winry smiled at her before she kneeled down too.

"Hey there Elicia, can you tell me how old you are today?" she asked her

"1, 2, …, I'm 4!" she said, using her fingers to count.

"You're so adorable." Winry told her as she hugged her.

"My, my, If I didn't know any better I'd say you're related." Meas said as he sat down. You three turned to look at him as you stood up.

"You think so? I always wanted a little sister. I'm an only child." Winry said as she put her hand on Elicia's head.

"I'll be right back." You said as you went to go talk to Gracia.

"You have two brothers and a sister." He said

"Sister, yes, but real brothers would let me into their lives and tell me things. Those two keep me at arms length." Elicia just looked between the two.

"Sorry can't help with that. Guys like them speak more with their actions then words. They want people to be happy, they do dangerous work, and don't want to burden anyone else with their problems. Or make them worry about them, so they keep quiet. Despite that, when the pressure is finally too much, you'll be the one they go to." Winry just listened. She didn't know what to say.

"But for brothers to count on their older sister, she's ganna have to be there, and be strong." He continued

"That makes sense." She said. That's when you and Mrs. Hughes showed up.

"Thank you for waiting. It's Edward's birthday cake fresh from the oven. Hope he likes it." She told her as you lifted the box a bit to show.

"I'll make sure he gets it." You said with a smile.

"Oh, Mr. Hughes, don't you have a gift for him?" Winry asked as he picked up Elicia.

"What's the point? There's not a gift I can give that wouldn't dull in comparison to your smiling faces." Winry blushed and smiled, while you blushed and looked a bit confused.

HQ Hospital

Edward was staring out the window when you and Winry walked in.

"Yo, happy birthday Edward!" You said walking up to the bed.

"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, Ed! Know why? Cause the more people tell you on your birthday, the more good things will happen." She said with a small smile and a blush. He just looked confused until you gave him the box.

"It's from Gracia." You told him before he took it.

"Thanks." He said as he started to open the box.

"I copied the recipe, so when you get your body back Al I'll make one for you too." Winry said as she turned to Al, who was still in the corner.

"Whatever." Was his only reply. You guys started talking about your past birthdays, well, more like theirs when Al interrupted.

"That happened to me?'

"Yeah, you and the dog were both pretty little then, why? You don't remember?" Ed told him. Al just looked away as he responded with a no.

"Is something wrong Al?" you asked.

"I'll be outside on the roof until your done repairing him." was his answer, you three felt like you've done or said something wrong to anger him. Bloch came in after you called him and took Al outside.

You took a seat by the window as Winry got all her stuff ready. As she began she started to question him about what happened between the two brothers.

"I… I did something awful to him." she stopped to listen, and you also listened. "I had the chance to do it. To change him back to normal. I hesitated."

"How come?" she asked.

"Because in order for it to have worked, I had to sacrifice other people." He said. Winry gasped and you looked surprised.

"It all would have been for Al. Compared to him those other people should have meant nothing to me. But I, I just couldn't do it. Not with him watching me, my conscious got in the way." He said, gripping his pillow.

"It's a good thing it did. After all Al is a selfless person he wouldn't have been happy in that body. Even if it's what he wants most, how can he take that burden, remembering the ones who died every time he looked at his skin." She told him

"I promised." He said

"Think about, maybe there's another reason. Maybe he's upset because he saw the brother he idolizes even consider taking someone else's life." This got him thinking.

"Don't beat yourself up, Winry's right. Every time I look at myself I see the pet wolf pup that I use to have. All the pain from my past comes rushing back. It… it's not a pretty feeling." You told him. His eyes were soft as he looked at your form starring out the window. The sun seemed to make you glow.

A few minutes later Winry was done with Ed's repairs.

"All done." She said

"Can you look at my hand?" you asked

"Sure. What's wrong with it?" She replied as you took a seat on the bed.

"It feels a bit loose." You told her as she took your hand and looked it over.

"Once we're done, we'll take you so you can fix Al." you said as you turned to look at Ed.

"I have no idea what to say to him." He replied

"Just say sorry you goof. A simple apology, it isn't hard to do." Winry told him.

"Yeah, you talk for hours and you can't say two words." You put in, as he gave you two an uncertain smile but agreed.

"There." Winry said as she tightened a bolt just inside of your wrist.

"Thanks." you said as you rotated your wrist.

"Let's go." Winry said as she put her tools away.

HQ Hospital Roof

You opened the door and Ed and Winry followed you out to the sunlight. There Al was against the wall.

"Listen, I'm sorry and I'm ganna fix you right now." Ed told his little brother. He then placed a sack on the ground in front of Al.

"I brought these parts from home, they should be enough." Winry said as Ed was fixing the parts.

"Trust me; I'm not ganna give up on this, Al. We're ganna do this, but we'll do this the right way. You'll be normal again, I'm sure." Ed told him

"Maybe you can go back, but I'm not sure if I ever can." Al responded, Ed looked surprised for a second but replied back.

"What are you talking about, of course you can." Ed then stood up and put his hands together. Then he placed them on Al.

Al began to glow as he was being repaired. His arms were the first to show up, and then his legs appeared. The glowing stopped and Al stood there good as new.

"How's that?" Ed asked as he looked up at his brother. Al just clenched his right hand.

"That's how you made me this way. When you attached my soul to this armor in the first place, isn't it?" Al asked

"That's right." Ed answered

"Along with my memories." Al accused. "After all, memories are just information you reference like a cabinet of files. As skilled as an alchemist you are, you could have created any memories you wanted me to have."

"Fake memories?" Ed asked. You all looked at Al worried and confused.

"Don't tell me that's what you're upset about?" Ed asked

"Why shouldn't it be? Awhile back in Resembool, there was something that you wanted to tell me, but couldn't. You said that you were afraid of how I would react. You remember that, don't you!" Al continued.

"I can't remember parts of my past, because they never happened. My memories and my soul are fake! Something you created! Isn't that what you wanted to say!" he yelled

"No, what Ed wanted to tell you was that-"

"Stop lying to me!" Al cut Winry off "I know what the truth is, the person named Alphonse Elric never existed at all!" He continued

"Al! That makes no sense. Winry's known you all her life and so has Grandma Pinako. I'm here, we're here. We're your friends, you can trust us." You told him.

"Can I, really?" he asked you. "How can I believe anyone when there's no proof! When I'm just a hollow shell. All of you can be in on it together!" his voice was dark

"So, you've been sitting on these thoughts all this time? Is there anything else you want to say?" Ed asked

"What about you my so called brother? Answer my question! Why wont you say anything! Unless it's true!" he went to walk away but Ed stopped him.

Both got into a struggle until Al hit Ed in the face. He fell to the ground from the impact.

"Edward." Winry moved to see if he was okay. He sat up and looked at Al.

"Alphonse." Ed was bleeding slightly at the mouth.

"Stay back." He said as he took a step back. Fear now in his voice.

"Hold on." Ed spoke weakly

"Stay back… stay back! Keep away from me" Al yelled as he turned to run.

"Al!" you yelled, but it was too late. He jumped over the rail and ran off. Ed got up and ran to the railing. You took off as well

"Al, hold on!" he yelled as he tried to go over the rail. You got behind and wrapped your arms around his torso, as he started to struggle.

"Al. Al. Alll!" he yelled still struggling against you.

"Ed, calm down. We'll go look for him, but you need to get dressed first." Winry said as she came beside you two. He stopped struggling and just held the rail, and let you hold him up. Your arms loosened their hold but kept around his form.

"Edward, come on." You said as you pulled him away from the rail. His hand going for yours.

Ah, how was that? Im sorry for the wait. The Marine Corps. is hectic at times. Well review and take care, peace!

Key :
Lt. - Lieutenant

Maj. - Major

Sgt. - Sergeant