A.N: I know, I know, I'm sorry everyone! I was on vacation for most of winter break, and then I got bombarded with assignments, projects and now, I'm currently studying for exams. I found the time to write another chapter in between all this fiasco, so please, bear with me! I haven't forgotten about this story, and I still love all of you!

Also, I know I've made Ed and Al feel like shit for most of this story, but honestly, one of the reasons I began this story was to emphasize how badly Ed and Al treated Winry in the 2003 FMA. You guys might be surprised to know I actually HATED the first FMA for many reasons. This being one of them. But nonetheless, I liked this idea, so I'll be sticking with AIM until the end! (: Fenton loves you all!

P.S: R&R PLEASE!

"Please pardon me, Mr. Markel. I'll be going now. The lady needs some care for today!"

Kain began quickly gathering up his suitcase and plastic bags containing a variety of different breads, vegetables, and medicine. Mr. Markel tossed him his nightly issue with a smirk playing across his face. He had exchanged his usual cigarette for a burgundy coloured pipe that poked out of his chapped lips. The smell of nicotine was getting far too much for Kain's throat to handle, and his HEM!s were beginning to irritate the customers. He kindly thanked the old man, and took his cue to leave, as it was close to Mr. Markel's closing time. He also needed to get home to Noah as soon as possible. Her headaches were slowly growing intolerable. Kain could only silently thank his decision to enter the medical fields after the fiasco in Germany, and although he was still far from graduating medical school, he at least knew of the proper remedies needed to cure migraines.

As for Mr. Markel, keeping a straight face and innocent appearance all day was slowly growing more and more difficult. His hat did the favour of soaking up the beads of sweat that grew on his brow every second that he'd think about those phone calls shared with that wretched man. His wife begged him in tears every night to stop thinking about it, and he'd cry that it wasn't in his control. Then, a new bottle of absinthe would be fetched from the cellar, and Mr. Markel would drink until his cries were drowned in the depths of alcohol. But perhaps it was merely his throat that was burnt to a crisp. He felt his life slowly fall apart right before his eyes. The house he'd lived in for 25 years now was a place he couldn't bear to call home. The wood of the floors which he used to polish once every 3 months were now chipped and worn out, looking so old and tired they put poor Mr. Markel to shame. The kitchen drapes that once smelled of the cinnamon Mrs. Markel would bake her apple pie with now held the stench of week old cigarette butts. It was the house he'd grown up in, married in, made love in, bore children in.

But now, it was merely the house he'd raised that monster in.

"Horace? Horace, sweetheart, is that you?" His wife's tired voice called from within the darkness of their house. Mr. Markel couldn't muster the energy to open his mouth any longer. He merely nodded, not caring that she couldn't see. The rustling of bed sheets and the quiet pit-patter footsteps slowly drew, and his heart began thumping faster, anxiety seeping in. He didn't want to speak to anyone. He didn't want to answer any questions. He wanted a drink, and he wanted sleep. That alone would be enough.

But when his wife's small, wrinkled hand was placed on his shoulder; he wished she hadn't done it so gently, or with affection. For now, Horace Markel began his sobs, as the waterfalls in his eyes that had dried up in a drought the night before suddenly turned into oases once again. His wife winced slightly before sighing and embracing him, just as she did every other night.

"There, there, my love. It is not your fault."

"But it is!" He cried, wrapping his arms tightly around her thinned waist.

"You're wrong, Horace." She whispered into his ear, just as she'd done the night he'd fallen in love with her. "You were a wonderful father. Nature just seems to have won over nurture this time."

"He is still my son. And I still have to save him."

"We have to save him." She whispered, before her kisses enveloped the darkness of the night.

"Yes, HEM!, hello?" Kain coughed into the phone.

"Uh, hey, Kain. How's it hanging?"

"Edward!" Kain laughed. "I'm great! How're you two?"

"We're managing. How are Noah's headaches? No good, am I right?"

Kain blinked twice. "How did you know?"

"I think I might have a solution for her. Think you can put her on for a bit?"

Kain scratched the back of his head in hesitation, an odd feeling at the pit of his throat. "Er, I don't know, Edward... She's really not feeling too well at the moment, and-"

"I found Winry."

"W-What?!" Kain choked.

"Yeah, crazy, I know. That could somehow be linked to her migraines."

"Mind explaining this a little more in depth, Edward? I'm afraid I don't quite understand. I-I mean, Winry, and Noah, and migraines? I'm very confused." Kain fumbled with the collar of his shirt in anxiety.

Edward chuckled on the other end of the phone. "Sure, Kain. I'd hate to keep you in the dark. I remember Noah telling me something about having similar migraines about a year before she met me, which was around the same time I entered your world," He explained. "And she had those migraines again when Al came to this world."

"So what you're telling me is that you think her migraines are caused by Winry's appearance? A transition from your world to ours?"

"Exactly!"

"I understand, Edward," Kain scratched the back of his head again. "But how can you be sure that this is really Winry? I mean, you said you knew a girl similar to Noah back in Anestis-"

"Amestris."

"...Amestris, right? How do you know she isn't merely a doppelganger?"

The was a short pause before Edward continued. "I... I just know. The look in her eyes, and... and she also has these really odd tattoos across her chest and stomach! It has to be her!"

Kain coughed awkwardly, a smug smirk playing across his face. "Er, how do you know that? Did you lift her shirt up or-"

"GAH, KAIN, THAT ISN'T WHAT I MEANT! I-I'll explain everything later! I didn't actually see them, I just-! Argh, give Noah the phone!" Edward blabbed, flustered.

Kain snorted in amusement. "Sure thing, Elric."

Kain gently placed the telephone on the table, quietly making his way to the bedroom, chuckling as he heard Edward's faint voice mumble "bastard" from the receiver. He slowly opened the door to his and Noah's bedroom, guilt pricking at his chest as he watched the light flood over Noah's face, causing the beautiful woman to wince in fatigue. Her chocolate skin had turned a slight pale beige colour, and the bags under her eyes were dark. But she looked beautiful to him nonetheless. Kain sat down next to her on the bed, picking up the receiver that sat on their bedside table.

"Kain? What is it?" Noah mumbled groggily.

"It's Edward. You should probably talk to him, love." He said with his usual European accent that brought butterflies to Noah's stomach. "He has some fascinating news to share."

"It's really cold."

"Well, no duh. I was just outside!"

Bunny watched the two blondes in amusement. Winry was examining Edward's automail arm, in an attempt to summon her previous memories. She'd had a special glint in her eyes when he first rolled his sleeves up, but she still had a ways to go. It had been just yesterday that the two of them had reunited with one another, and Edward had barely left her side. He and Bunny had stayed overnight with Winry (much to her delight) in an attempt to help her overcome her amnesia. Edward had said several terms that he was familiar with her using back in – what was it called? – Amestris. Automail, wrench, metal, Rockbell. She sounded like some sort of mineral. It was rather hilarious for the young doctor.

And as funny as it was, Bunny also found it extremely endearing. Edward would be deep in conversation, explaining to her the things she'd do for him, how she did it, and what she'd use. Then he'd add in the way she'd beat him with her wrench whenever he got too reckless (which always earned a giggle from Winry, and a light blush from Edward). Then, it was Winry's turn, to ask questions, to tell him whether or not she believe any, little or all of it. While she spoke, Edward's eyes, Bunny noticed, had a hard time staying still. They'd explore her face, every inch of it, taking in every detail, every lash, every pore on her rosy cheeks. Then her sunshine hair, her toned arms, her porcelain collarbones (and when they'd go lower than that, his cheeks would tint darker, and his eyes would snap back up to her face). But throughout his process of 'Winry exploration', Bunny would notice the growing twinkle in his eyes, the straighter back, the relaxed shoulders. And the stretch of his lips could not go unnoticed either. Bunny smiled to herself, and them. Though it had been only a day that they'd reunited, they talked to one another as if they'd known each other all their lives. But Bunny decided not to get too ahead of herself – Winry had yet to fully remember who she was, let alone who he was.

Edward stretched his arms out with a yawn, groaning as the trio heard a slight crack from his back.

"Ah, I'm exhausted. Think we can call it a day, Bunny?" Edward mumbled with fatigue. Bunny nodded, but didn't miss the look of fear that passed across Winry's face for a split second.

"Ah, yeah sure, Ed. I'm feeling pretty tired too. Plus, Winry's dinner will be here soon, and thats the end of our shifts. We've even worked overtime!"

Edward chuckled, but as he was getting up from the bed, he felt a slight tug on the back of his shirt. He slowly turned his head to meet the shy face of Winry, clutching his shirt tightly and biting her lower lip. Edward felt his cheeks flush once again before swallowing a nervous knot at the pit of his throat.

"Er, what's up Winry?"

"I-I was just, um. I was starting to remember, we shouldn't stop now..." She mumbled quietly as she stared down at the bland bed sheets.

"Uh, well, I'll be back tomorrow." Edward chuckled, standing up straight. "Don't worry, Win! I won't give up until you're fully recove-!"

"No! Please, don't leave me!" Winry cried, throwing her arms around his waist. Edward's jaw dropped down to his chest as his face turned the colour of fresh beets. Bunny looked away in embarrassment and amusement, covering her mouth in an attempt to hold back her laughter.

"W-W-Winry?" Edward mumbled nervously. Winry tightened her hold on him and tilted her head upwards to look Edward in the eyes. Edward immediately felt his heart sink at the sight of tears lingering in her eyes. With a slight sigh, he placed a hand on her hair, gently smoothing it out. Winry closed her eyes and brought her head back down, gently pressing her cheeks to Edward's lower stomach. It hadn't dawned on Edward how comfortable it was to have Winry embrace him like this. He remembered the last time they'd shared a hug was as children, when Winry had just found out her parents had been killed in the Ishvalan civil war. Even then he didn't know the worth of Winry's touch.

"I'm afraid he'll come again."

Edward froze suddenly. Bunny, too, whipped her head back to the couple in shock.

"Who?" Edward asked, his brows furrowing. "Who's 'he'?" His voice turned harsher and angrier with every word. Bunny had somehow appeared next to them, with a similar expression on her face.

"I don't know..." Winry mumbled into his shirt. "I don't know who he is. I'm always too tired to open my eyes. But he likes my body."

Edward felt his entire body engulfed with flames upon her remark. He tightened his grip on her arms in frustration, ready to explode in anger that a man dared touch Winry's body in such a way. But before he could say anything, Bunny interrupted abruptly.

"Too tired? I knew it!" She snapped, looking almost as frustrated as Edward. "Someone's been giving you sleeping pills! No wonder you've been puking your guts out!"

"That fucker!" Edward growled. "Bunny, it's unsafe for her to be here! I'll kill whoever touched Winry!"

Winry was looking at Edward once again, her facial expression evolved into shock this time. "He... doesn't touch me. Well, not really, anyway..." Her grip loosened slightly, until her arms flopped to her sides. "He likes these." Slowly, she lifted her oversized baggy t-shirt up to reveal her small waist that was embellished with the alchemical runes. Bunny frowned.

"What could someone possibly want with those things? I thought you said only the Thule Society knew of alchemy and Anestis-"

"Amestris." coughed Edward, looking away.

"...whatever. Did they have backup, maybe?"

"Not exactly." Edward said. "That group of amateurs kept to themselves a lot – there could have been one or two that still know of their secrets."

"Such as who?" Bunny asked.

"Spies. Allies. Who knows?"

"Well, regardless of who it may be, I refuse to let Winry stay here tonight!" Bunny pouted. "But where can she go? Should we switch her room for a while? Or, could you maybe take her home with you? I'm sure Alphonse would be-!"

"I don't think Al should know about this just yet." Edward interrupted, his eyes downcast. Bunny raised an eyebrow.

"Alphonse? That's your brother, isn't it?" Winry asked softly. Edward looked at her in awe, before nodding his head.

"Yeah. You were really important to him. To both of us." He whispered. Edward suddenly felt an overwhelming sadness at the memories of how the two of them, especially himself, had treated Winry. It really is true when they say you don't know what you have until it's gone.

"But, Ed," Bunny said, interrupting his thoughts. "Why don't you want Alphonse to find out?"

There was a brief silence before Edward could bring himself to answer. "He can't handle all of this right now. The guilt, the frustration, it's all still in him. I wouldn't make my brother look her in the face after-"

Edward stopped midsentence as his eyes fell on Winry once again. She blinked patiently, as if urging him to continue his sentence. The former alchemist looked away in shame.

"That isn't important right now... What's important is that we have to find a place for Winry to stay."

Bunny nodded understandingly. "And we have to find out who did this to her."

Outside of the patient bedroom, a man clenched his teeth together in anger, his knuckles growing white as he tightened his grip on the tray of food. He swiftly turned around, hurrying his way down the hall and dumping the tray in a nearby garbage can.

Winry... You WILL be mine!