Hey, all! I know it's been years since I updated this story. I apologize for that. I've kinda lost interest in FMA…and there's only so many ways you can write about a character singing. The context can be changed around, but the settings and realisms…that's a little harder. This story feels like it's turning into Glee…and I've never even watched Glee to make this claim. I will probably end up watching it someday, though.

However, I don't plan to drop this story. I hate when a story is good and it gets dropped, so, instead, I will keep writing, but it will be sporadic. When I get inspirations from the world around me. Today, that inspiration comes from my iPod. I'm trying to keep with the little sorta "mini-arc" that's been started.

Finally, I don't know if batdiva101 still reads this, but I loved her suggestion of "The Last Meeting" and have decided to use that as the very, very, very last chapter of this story. No matter how long I decide to run with this idea, the story WILL finish off with that song. That is a promise.

All other requests will be fit in when I feel it is best. Probably after this sorta "mini-arc". Without further ado, here is the next song.

Be With You-Ed's Stress Reliever

It seemed like forever since Ed had seen Amestris. He was starting to forget how it looked, all those familiar settings, even Central Headquarters where Colonel Bastard was probably still sitting and procrastinating on his paperwork. What he wouldn't give to be back there again. Heck, he wouldn't even complain about having to listen to Colonel Bastard ramble on about whatever he usually talked about (was it miniskirts? He was even starting to forget that too). However, he would still not tolerate the Colonel calling him any variation of the words "small" or "short". No matter what, that would ALWAYS be off limits.

Several weeks had passed since Heidrich had caught him singing, crying out in a vain attempt to tell Winry how much he loved her and missed her. The two had promised that night to be there for each other in their times of need. However, Edward couldn't help but feel that he was letting down his end of that bargain. He was letting his stress get to him and it was making his short (Don't even say it…) temper become even shorter (again, Not. ). He felt bad about barking at the almost carbon copy of his little brother (if Alphonse had aged), but he couldn't help himself. He didn't belong here and all the doppelgangers reminding him of his home did not help.

Edward knew that Alphons could see how stressed he was and he figured that he would be in for some lecture someday. However, no lecture or any other serious talk ever came. Maybe it was just because the other boy was not one to pry too deep into others' business?

One morning, Ed sparked up an argument about something so trivial that even Alphons knew that he could not just sit by and ignore it any longer. That method was not solving the problem.

Unsure of how to proceed, Alphons asked his roommate, "Edward, is everything okay? You seem a bit…off lately." Not exactly the best way to put it, but Ed knew what he meant.

"Yeah, I apologize for that. Really. It's just…I dunno…I've been so stressed lately. I mean…I miss my home world and it kinda hurts to know that I will never see my brother or…anyone else there again."

Alphons understood Ed's pain better than perhaps anyone else could. When he had lost his brother, he had withdrawn from the world. That was his way of dealing with the hardships in his life. In fact, it had been pure luck that he had come to know Ed. "I understand, Ed, but…there has to be a way to deal with it…" he paused for a moment, trying to figure out a solution for Edward to try. "I know, you could sing something. You are good at it."

Sighing, Edward started to turn down the idea. "I know you mean well, Alphons, but I'd rather not pick up a guitar. There's too many memories involved with singing."

"That's why you should do it. The memories, I mean. Just because you can't go back there doesn't mean you can't relive those memories, even if only for just a few minutes."

Edward knew he couldn't win this argument, so he merely nodded and went to grab the acoustic guitar that he had locked in the back of his closet. Returning to the room, he sat down and quietly strummed the instrument, tuning it up until he was satisfied with the sound and pitch. "Can't say I've written anything in a while, but I was playing around with some chords and sounds and I really liked this tropical sound so I'm gonna use that."

"Fine by me. Just let your feelings shine through your music. Pour out everything you're feeling. Trust me. You'll feel a lot better."

Ed nodded and began to strum the sounds he had come up with. It really did sound tropical and upbeat, despite how sad the coming song would be. The song began with this opening. Despite not being rehearsed, it was beautiful, as always. Then, he began to sing:

Monday night and I feel so low.
I count the hours, but they go so slow.
I know the sound of your voice can save my soul.

City lights and streets of gold.
Look out my window to the world below.
Moves so fast and it feels so cold
and I'm all alone…

Alphons, enjoying the upbeat song thus far, echoed Ed's last words "I'm all alone". He wasn't sure if Ed would like that, but the other boy hadn't stopped to glare at him, so Alphons must done okay. He was glad that Ed was taking his advice. It was clear that these truly were Ed's inner thoughts. The native German had no idea that Ed felt so harshly toward Deutschland. Maybe someday he'll feel better, but Alphons knew that the void created from being ripped away from his loved ones would never completely disappear.

Don't let me die.
I'm losing my mind
Baby just give me a sign!

Now that was really harsh. Alphons was speechless. He was not sure whether to feel glad that he was finally hearing Ed's inner thoughts or if he should feel depressed that he could not help him with his feelings toward this girl that he would never see again.

And now that you're gone,
I just wanna be with you!
And I can't go on.
I wanna be with you.
Wanna be with you.

His voice became stronger. Edward couldn't believe he was pouring his deepest feelings out to Heidrich whom he barely knew. Smiling slightly, Ed imagined Winry echoing his "be with you"s like a whisper in the wind. How he missed her voice and wished that she was here to sing parts in the background like she had done for him in past songs. As he remained lost in his thoughts for a little longer, he strummed the beautiful background notes and chords that fit perfectly with the song. It took him a minute to gather his thoughts, but he quickly knew what he wanted to sing next:

I can't sleep and I'm up all night.
Through these tears, I try to smile.
I know the touch of your hand can save my life.

Heidrich could now tell that this song was 100% true, right from the bottom of Ed's heart. Oftentimes, Alphons had heard him in his room late at night. He didn't always know what Edward was doing, but when he looked, the light would always be on. Then, to admit that his smiles were indeed fake, as Alphons had once predicted, but, tears? Edward never cried, did he? The only time Alphons had seen him cry was last time Ed had sung. Were those the only times he let people close to him? After what he had gone through, Alphons wouldn't have been surprised to find that true. Listening again, he heard those familiar notes and chords. They really were perfect for this song, accenting it well.

Don't let me down.
Come to me now.
I got to be with you somehow!

Both young men knew this was impossible. He would never see this girl again. However, one could dream, right?

And now that you're gone,
I just wanna be with you!
And I can't go on.
I wanna be with you.
Wanna be with you.

Again, Ed imagined Winry singing back up with him, adding her lovely feminine voice to his song. He cringed, unnoticed by Alphons, as he voice changed slightly and briefly toward the end of that chorus. Where had that quick moment of longing come from? Was he really pouring that much emotion into his words? He quickly allowed himself to forget that, hoping that Alphons wouldn't tease him about it later as he again strummed out those familiar notes and chords. He was doing it by memory, but he made a note to write them down later because they really did sound cool. As he continued to strum them out, he softly sang some words, important words that he held very close to his heart:

Don't let me down.
Come to me now.

Ending his progression of familiar notes and quotes, he sang louder the words that weighed heavily on his heart, mind, and soul:

I got to be with you somehow!

There, he had said it. This is the very reason why he felt dissatisfied here in Germany with Heidrich. Because it was and would never be home; she was not there with him.

And now that you're gone,
who am I without you now?
I can't go on.
I just wanna be with you!

He had found his voice, singing out loud the very words he had spoken every hour of every day since he had woken up to find himself here, alone in this unfamiliar world. Again, he wanted to imagine Winry echoing his words, reassuring him that she felt the same way by his mysterious disappearance from Amestris.

And now that you're gone,
I just wanna be with you!
And I can't go on.
I wanna be with you.
Wanna be with you.

Though he was sure that he words had made their point known, Ed sang the chorus one more time. However, his voice was no longer strong. He had cracked and could not hide the emotion from his voice. The longing to see her and be with her again. The sorrow that he could not. It was all there, entirely exposed for Heidrich to hear and pick up on.

Satisfied, Ed finished and placed the guitar gently onto the floor. The room was silent, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Heidrich broke the silence with a question. "So, do you feel better now, Edward?"

There you have it, folks. I decided to add thoughts between the stanzas because, looking back through the chapters, I noticed how clumped the song lyrics seem. Besides, I feel that this is a song where the inner thoughts must be given a chance to shine though.

Anyway, I'm thinking I might do one more song as part of this sorta "mini-series/arc/whatever". Requests for songs after that are welcomed. Once this part is done, I will try to skip around more, but I don't know. Maybe I'll keep it this way and use the songs like flashbacks. I'll think on it. Hope this wasn't too…weird. I dunno a word. Anyway, I shall talk with you all again next time. Thanks for the support.