Okay, Chapter two!

I know I've said this before, but thanks again for staying with me! ;)

2. Nightmares

I screamed in surprise as I was flung into the air.

Ed caught me bridal style, laughing loudly.

"Oi!" I moaned, "Put me down! Put me down this instance Eddy Elric!" My tone progressed from annoyed to almost hysterical as I struggled against his superior grip while he carried me against my will back up to the house.

I was glad to see Al still standing on the porch still, waiting for us.

"Yo! Al! How you doing?" I greeted from his brothers arms.

The younger boy laughed before replying,

"I'm very well thank you Kat. Sorry for the trouble we caused you, we really did want you to come with us. Honest."

I replied with a sigh and they walked into the house.

Eddy dropped me on the sofa in the front room, laughing at my stunned reaction.

I stood up and brushed myself off,

"Geez Eddy. Can't you be more careful?"

Someone coughed and I looked up to see a man I knew quite well.

We stood to attention, saluting each other before greeting with a handshake and a smile,

"I was wondering where you'd got to Armstrong. Mustang only told me Eddy and Al had left." I smiled at my fellow Lieutenant.

"Yes, well these two seem to be a magnet for trouble, and Edward has only had his new arm a few hours." He told me with his usual smile.

"Um, you two know each other?" Winry asked dumbly.

"Well yeah." I turned to her, "I've been stationed at Central for quite a while now. I think I've had long enough to get to know nearly everyone there." I looked around to see that Auntie wasn't in the room.

"She's finishing dinner." Ed told me before I could ask.

"She has finished cooking dinner, so come on you lot, let's get something down you before you tell us about your travels." Auntie smiled at us all from the doorway before turning around and leading the way into the kitchen, where there were six places set out at the table.

"That's one of things I miss about you Auntie, you're the best cook I know." I grinned as I took up the seat next to Winry, opposite Armstrong.

"Here, here!" Al grinned too, eagerly sitting down on the other side of Winry, opposite his brother.

After dinner we talked long into the night about what we'd all been up to since the last time any of us saw each other, though I could tell Ed and Al weren't telling us everything, especially since I wasn't either. I was surprised, though, to hear the amount of trouble my old friends had gotten into the last four years.

I sighed,

"You two never cease to amaze me." I smiled thinly, knowing it didn't reach my eyes "Even though you've still got one of your arms, Ed, you still end up worse off than I've ever been." I stared at my hands as I spoke.

"A… About that, Kat-" but I cut Ed off by standing up and grabbing my bag.

"Well." I announced, "I've had a long day and I'd like to get some sleep. I'll see you all in the morning." After flashing another smile round the room without making eye contact with any of them, I strode out of the room and upstairs.

"I don't know why he bothers!" I threw my bag down onto the floor next to one of the beds and took out my Pj's.

Getting dressed in mere seconds, I climbed into bed and lay my head on the pillow.

I soon heard voices drifting up the stairs, fast approaching, so I turned on my side, facing away from the door, and closed my eyes.

"Brother, think about it, what was the only thing that made her stay earlier?" I heard Al say,

"I know, I know, but not now…" Ed whispered back as he opened the door, stopping in the doorway.

He muttered something to his little brother, and the two of them entered quietly, one stopping to sit on a nearby bed, the other coming all the way to sit on the edge of my own.

Ed sighed,

"I'm sorry Katlin…" I felt him brush the hair out of my face, and he sighed again.

"Why don't you just ask her?" Al asked.

"I can't. I don't know what it is that's stopping me, but I can't right now." Ed muttered.

I sighed heavily, turning onto my front and put my hand on top of Ed's. It had been next to my face, I realized, close enough for me to make it look like I was just turning over in my sleep.

Ed stiffened at my sudden movement.

"I think we'd better be quiet now. I really don't want to wake her up." Ed whispered lightly.

Ed didn't move until after I'd started to relax and had turned over again, which was when he stood up slowly and walked off to a bed across the room. Only then did I allow myself to sleep.

I didn't, however, sleep soundly.

I had the same dream that I always had.

Flashes of the past flickered through my mind over and over.

Lights of the brightest blue, gold, red and white…

Ed and Al…

Screaming, shouting.

Me…

Screaming, shouting.

Total darkness and even more screaming.

Two, piercing lights.

Two eyes reflecting the fading light of a transmutation.

Two eyes reflecting the fading light of a failed transmutation.

The darkness gave way to light and I saw nothing but a white mist.

A white mist slowly lifting to show the holder of these eyes that wouldn't stop staring at me.

A white mist slowly lifting to reveal a failed, human, transmutation.

Screams pierced the cold night air and my eyes opened wide. Tears were streaming down my face, and I was being held down by someone as my screams faded into sobs.

Once I'd reverted to simply crying, Eddy relaxed his grip on my shoulders, though I found myself gripping him even closer. I pulled myself up into a sitting position and sobbed quietly into his chest, unable to get that last image out of my head.

When I finally calmed down, I looked up at Ed, who was watching me, and sniffed, letting him know I'd done crying. I glanced around to see everyone gathered round, and sitting on, the end of my bed.

"Are you alright now, Kat." Al asked carefully.

I nodded, "Sorry for the trouble guys, it was just a nightmare…" I muttered.

Pictures of Al being dragged away, little black hands winding round my arms, and the failed transmutation flashed through my mind again, and I stiffened as a cold draft caught me off guard.

"You sure? You're a lot paler than normal." Winry pointed out.

"Yeah." My voice almost broke, and I noticed that I was shaking, though it was only the after shock of the nightmare catching up with me.

"Go back to bed everyone, me and Al will take care of her." Ed said, and by the tone of his voice and the look on Al's face, I knew they knew what I'd been dreaming.

"Just be careful," Auntie said, nodding, "You know she's never been as strong as you two."

She followed Winry and Armstrong out of the room, closing the door securely behind her as se left.

Ed sighed and put his arms back round me, seeing as I hadn't loosened my grip on him in the slightest.

"Guys… I'm scared." I whispered, leaning my head back on Ed chest as Al sat down on the edge of the bed, next to his brother.

"Of what?" Ed looked at me as tears sprung to my eyes again.

"Those eyes Eddy. Those eyes I saw eight years ago. They've never left me alone. Every time, after a hard day, I have the same dream, just to wake up screaming every single time. I just can't take it any more. It's starting to show in my work… I knew there was another reason why Mustang sent me on an early leave this year…" I buried my face in Ed's top as the tears started again.

The next morning I got dressed and walked downstairs to find Auntie and Armstrong sat in the kitchen talking quietly.

"Morning." I yawned as I poured myself a cup of tea. Leaning back on the counter as I drank it.

"Good morning Lieutenant" Armstrong smiled, going to salute.

"No, no, not here Armstrong, please." I yawned again before carrying on, "here I'm just a normal kid that knows Alchemy."

"Ah, of course. Should've known you'd say that." He smiled again.

I nodded sleepily, drinking my tea in silence as I heard footsteps on the stairs, and Al and Winry joined us in the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later, Ed walked into the room, still half asleep, though the rest of us were wide awake by now..

"Morning everyone." He droned, almost falling into the seat next to me.

"Good Afternoon Eddy!" I smiled sarcastically.

"Har. Har." He yawned, "Just because I stayed up with you all last night doesn't give you a license to make fun of me."

"Yes it does." I pouted.

He laughed lightly and lent his head on my shoulder, closing his eyes.

"Oi! Don't fall asleep on me!" I snapped, poking him until he slapped my hand away and sat up properly again, glaring daggers at me.

I grinned back and everyone else sweat dropped.

Chapter three should be up by the end of the week, so don't forget to review please!!