Chapter Three: Rose

I will never forget the day Edward came out of his room. The look in his eyes was unbearable, for it seemed that he was looking past me.

It started out as any normal day would.Winry had asked me to come to Rizenbull to help her take care of Nina. But that was a week ago.

Edward only came out of his room to eat and spend time with his daughter. At night he would take Nina to his room, were she slept in her crib that Ed had transmuted together. All of this transpired without words. Winry would try to ask question and when she did, he never respond.

Once when I was walking past his room, I heard him talking either to himself or Nina.

"I'm sorry," he said sadly. There was so much sorrow and regret in his once cheerful voice. His smile was gone along with all his funny remarks about being short just because he did not drink milk.

I had yet to see Ed myself and I was somewhat relieved. From what I've heard from Winry, it has painful to see him this way. I did not want to believe until now.

Winry had gone to Central to find Al and Mustang and tell them that Ed was back. So I was left to look after Nina, cleaning, and cooking.

I was sitting with Nina feeding her, when Ed came out and stopped short in his tracks when he saw me. His eyes were wide; staring right passed me it seemed. I felt as if he wasn't looking at me but at someone else. My thoughts were confirmed when I heard him speak.

"Noah."

"Ed are you all right?" I asked as I moved closer to him, Nina now asleep in my arms. 'Please dear God! Let him speak to me.'

"Yeah I'm fine, Rose,"he responded. His eyes were now closed and his face held a small smile.

"You called me Noah. Who is she?" I questioned, handing Nina to him. Ed was now taller than both Winry and I.

"Noah is Nina's mother and my…" he paused, his eyes had lost the small gleam of happiness that was there no more than a minute ago. "Noah was my wife. She died giving birth to Nina."

"I'm sorry. Did she ever see her? Nina I mean. Did she ever see Nina?" I asked softly.

"Yeah she did. I will never forget her smile when she first saw Nina, it was so full of life, you wouldn't know she was dieing. But I like to believe she felt no pain when she smiled at us. I miss her so much."

"I'm really sorry Ed. I know how it feels to lose someone you love so much, but in time, in the pain will be less."

"I can sometimes smell her perfume. You know, you reminder of her."

"I do?"

"When I came out and saw you feeding Nina by the window, I didn't see you but I saw her feeding Nina."

"I see….do you have a picture of her?"

"No."

It's been a week since we talked and Edward came out of his room more often to speak to me and help with Nina during the day.

Winry was still in Central but had called to see how we were doing. She was pretty surprised (more shocked than surprised really) when I told her about my conversation with Ed.

"He has a wife?!" she asked-yelled-into the phone.

"He had a wife. She died soon after giving birth to Nina," I responded softly. Ed had taken Nina out for a walk early that day. "Now we know why he came back."

"Yeah but it's kind of disappointing to know that he fell in love and married someone else. Not to mention had a child… I always believed that Ed and I were meant to be together…" she cried, "what was her name?"

"Noah."

"Noah," she repeated.

"He really loved her Winry. Now the only thing Ed has left to remember her by is Nina and his memory," I explained softly. I cared for Ed and at some point I fell in love with him, just like Winry. But I knew that his heart was hers and that they would eventually be together. "Have you told Al and Mustang?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Yeah, they're on their way there as we speak. I decided to stay a little while and visit some people."

"Alright. I'll tell Ed when he comes back."

"Thanks Rose."

"Your welcome, Winry."

That night I told Ed that Al and Mustang were on their way here to see him.

"I see," he said as he feed Nina.

"Are you angry?" I asked.

"Not really," he replied. The room fell silent. I was debating with myself whether or not I should tell Ed about the whole conversation with Winry.

"I told Winry about Noah," I guilty confessed. I couldn't bring myself to look into his eyes and see the anger there.

"I see,"was all he said,as he took Nina in his arms and began walking towards his room.

"I'm sorry if I made you angry.I should of asked first if it was alright to tell her anything."

"Yes you should have," and with that,he opened the door and walked in slamming it shout.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to the door,silent tears falling from my eyes and on to the table.