GOOD NEWS!
I made a picture of Aria! And it's super cute! XD Go to my deviant art page and you'll see her. And if you don't feel like doing that, just type in Aria Hall in the search bar, she's the first pic that comes up. Yea!

Anyway, anothe chapter done! I wish this one was more exciting and a little longer...but just so you know, a big plot point's get mentioned in this one. And don't worry, it's not quite what you think it is...hehe...

Anyway, tell me what you think, as usual. :) And I would once again love to thank all my reviewers last chapter! I'm so happy you guys are alive a kicking! Thanks for the encouragment!

Enjoy!

Chapter 32 - Truth

Ed's eyes flickered open and he was greeted with the most pleasent of sights one could be greeted by in the morning. He smiled as he peeked over Winry's shoulder at her cute sleepy face. He looked at the clock and it read nine-thirty. "Winry..."

She stirred and rolled over, still laying on his left arm. "Morning." She said through a yawn. "What time is it?" Ed grabbed the battery powered clock off her dresser that was behind him and held it out for her too see. "Already? We should get up before anyone get's home."

Ed replaced the clock. "Yeah. I need to get a shower anyway." She sat up in bed, her hair dangeling in front of her bare chest. Ed had never really noticed it before, but her hair was getting really long.

She thought for a moment. "Me too..." They looked at one another. They smiled.

Aria folded up her blankets and placed them in the center of the cot and then, withthe pull of a lever underneath, the bed folded in two, trapping her blankets in between. "There we go."

Al smiled. "I think the staff would have done that."

She shrugged. "It's no problem, from the sounds of it, it looks like they need help." For the past ten minutes there had been a ruckas out in the hall. Not wanting to get in the way, Al and Aria stayed quiet in his room. Apparently, the one making the noise was some escape mental patient.

Al's leg tapped against his sheets. Noticing he was fidigity, Aria placed a hand on his quivering foot. "You nervous or something?"

He shook his head. "No...I just need to go...and there's no nurse to help me walk to the bathroom."

Aria smiled. "I don't mind helping you there." It seemed as though she made him blush. "They said you could start walking today, so I imagine you could at least stand up."

Al was hesitant. "I guess...but I have to drag this thing with me though...I should just wait." Al tugged at the tube that led to the needle tipped end which disappeared into his hand. He had the IV since the night before, but until that point he hadn't been bothered by it.

"It's on wheels." Aria noted.

He leaned over the edge of the bed and noticed that it, in fact, was on wheels. "...Mmm...I guess then..."

"Here's an idea." She pressed the latch on the side of Al's bed to make the protective railing come down and tugged his blankets off. "If it hurts too much to stand up, then we'll wait for a nurse."

Thinking about it for a minute, he nodded. "Alright." Very slowly, Al moved his body into a sitting position, and then, with great caution, and a little help from Aria, he slung his legs over the side of the bed.

"You ok?" She asked, holding on tightly to his arm.

He nodded. "So far...now, just to get to the floor is the tricky part." Indeed it was. Hospital beds were always high off the ground to avoid the patients coming in contact with any dirt that might have been on the floor, not that there looked like there was any. Safety always came first. Al slid down from the bed as carefully as he could, and then, with a soft 'pat' sound, his bare feet connected to with the floor. "Ow." He keeled over in pain. He was still a little tender from the operation.

"Careful." She held on to him tightly. "Just little baby steps, here." She linked her arm with his to give him support. Taking the IV in her free hand, she wheeled it along beside them.

"..." He stepped carefully in the direction of the bathroom. Quite successfully, he made it half way there when the ruckas in the hall too a turn for the worst.

"GET HIM!" They heard in the hall.

"What in the world is going on out there?" Aria tilted her head to try and see out the door. Upon doing so, a tall lanky figure, wearing a hospital gown, ran in front of the door.

"Aria!" He said her name. Aria stepped in front of Al in defence, still giving him support though. It seemed he had given the nurses the slip for a few short seconds. "You can't be seen! You're the key to summoning that demon! You can't be here!" Just then, two dark skinned men in white hospital scrubs came up as if from no where and took his arms. Though they were in work attire, their presence was quite ominous.

"Come on. Back to your cell." He looked into the room. "Terribly sorry."

Aria nodded her head as the two men began to drag the crazy man back to his cell. He kicked as screamed. "NO! Aria! You can't be found! Run! RUN!" Afterwards, he just screamed incohearently until they had taken him right out the side door. Even still, the man's voice rang in her ears and resonated throughout the hall ways.

"Who was that?" She asked herself quietly, not really directing the question at anyone. "How did he know me?" Aria was quite puzzeled by the whole thing.

"Uh...I'm not sure. There's a ward for the insane around here somewhere. He probably snuck out when everyone was let outside for some air." He nudged her forward. "I hope I'm not sounding selfish or anything...but I really need to go."

Aria snapped out of her daze. "Oh! Sorry Al, let's move." With that, they continued the walk to the small, private room that was connected to Al's room.

He grabbed onto the frame of the door with one hand and the IV with the other and turned his head toward Aria. "I think I can get it from here. There's safety rails all along the walls." He held onto one and closed the door.

"Don't lock the door, if you fall, I won't be able to help you." She tapped a finger on the door.

"Right." He said from the otehr side.

Not wanting to be rude, she moved away from the door and over to Al's bed. The room was quite big, and judging from the hook-up's on the walls, another three beds could be fit into the room at one time. She was happy Al had gotten his own room, privace was a good thing. She took hold of his blankets and flipped them up and then right back down. Repeating the same actions a few times, she straightened up Al's bed and flipped the blankets down to make a dog ear in the fabric, enough so that Al could easily hop right bakc in bed.

"Are you two ok...where's Alphonse?" A nurse came into the room.

Aria turned around. "He's in the bathroom."

The nurse looked at the door and back to Aria, a smile on her face. "Good, you got him walking." She approaced Aria. "That man who came in here, he didn't hurt either of you, did he?"

Aria shook her head. "No, he was just talking, he didnt' do anything."

The nurse looked side to side. "Did he know your name?"

Aria then became a little frightened. "...no..."

The nurse nodded. "Good." She laid a hand on her shoulder then turned to exit the room. "Let me know if Alphons needs anything."

"Wait..." Aria spoke. The nurse gave Aria her attention. "What was his name?"

The nurse thought about it for a moment. "Michel A'Endemrots. Why, your're not going to press charges are you?"

Aria shook her head. "No...no reason...just curious." With that said, the nurse left. Slowly the bathroom door opened. Aria turned her head towards the opening door.

"What was that about?" He asked, clinging onto the door frame and the little wheely pole.

"It was just a nurse asking if that crazy guy hurt us." Aria took his arm again and began to lead him back to his bed.

"How come you didn't tell her that he knew your name?" Al was confused.

Aria thought for a moment. "I don't know...I just have a strange feeling about it, I want to find out some stuff on my own first."

Al smiled. "I never took you to be the adventerous type."

Aria smirked. "I'm just full of surprises I guess."

Hohenheime stepped out of the car and stretched. "Please, no more driving today." He yawned.

Pinako let the dog out of the back seat, his paws hit the ground and he was off. A four hour car drive left him warm and thirsty. "Fine, we have enough food to last till tomorrow. I'll spare you till then."

"Good." He closed the car door. "I'm taking a nap. The five a.m. funeral, then the dog choier and then the four hour car ride home, I need a nap."

Pinako snickered. "Getting worn out in your old age?" She said in a very snide tone.

He rolled his eyes. "I don't think so." Hohenheim opened the door, paused, then turned around. "At least...I hope not." Having said that, he enterd the house. Making a b-line for his room, he headed right up the stairs. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, the bathroom door opened wide, revealing Ed and Winry, both of which were now wearing clothes, with soaking wet hair. Which, in Hohenheim's mind, added up to one thing.

Ed, for the third time in two days, panicked. This time, only for a moment. He looked at Winry who stood sheepishly behind him and then back to his father who was trying to utter even one word but failing.

He inhaled deeply, pointed a finger at his dad and spoke. "It's exactly what it looks like."

Hohenheime shook his head, a slight proud smile on hsi face. "I'm going to lay down. One of you...dry your hair." With that said, he disappeared into his room.

Ed smiled and looked back at Winry who was confused as ever. "I didn't think that would work."

Winry placed her hands on her hips. "What? Telling the truth?"

Ed nodded. "It's never worked that well in the past." Triumphantly, he marched right into Winry's room, with Winry following closly behind.

"She knows." The old man said to Raul.

"What? How does she know?" He said, slightly angered.

"He told her."

"You mean...damn." He turned back to Felix who was strapped to the chair in the middle of the dark room.

The old shorter man rubbed his knuckels. "When will he cease his meddeling...don't worry...I know it's not too late...she won't figure it out in time...will she?"

Raul smiled and looked down to his shorter friend. "Not if I have my way about it." He cocked his head and cracked his neck. "He'll more than likely be ready to go in less time than I thought." He placed his large hand around Felix's jaw and tilted his heaed toward his own. "One's with a lot to lose are easier to break." He allowed his head to fall back in place. "Don't worry, we'll get 'em."

The old man nodded, he scraggly, wavy hair draped in his face. "Excelent...carry on. I must see what actions we should take next. Please do not disturbe my meditation."

Raul nodded. "Not a problem sir." He watched the older man walk out of the room. Felix stirred and tried to lift his head.

"Will you take me to her?" He spoke in a voice that shounded much like a whisper.

The tall black man smiled and then kneeled down. "Of course...you just have to fufill our needs as well."

"Can I get her back." He asked, sounding quite weak.

"All in good time..." Raul reached for the needle beneath his chair that sat right in front of Felix. "All in good time..."

As for that bit with the crazy guy and Aria, let me assure you, it's NOT quite what you think. I'm not going to give Aria some "super alchemic powers" so that she can summon stuff...no...nothing like that at all. Just wait, it'll all work out in the end.

Predictions are welcomed...if you can muster any. ;)

OH! Quick funny story. Someone on Neopets looked at my pic that I have on my homepage...and they said I looked 13...(Dies of laughter) Sorry...I just thoguht it was amusing.

Review please! XD (Youknowyouwana)