Be warned: this chapter takes place in the mind of Kimbley. It might be unsettling…even for me the one who wrote it; not sure if that counts as anything but…proceed with caution!

"My Bomber; My Peacemaker"

"He went back to the Countryside."-Roy Mustang

The young outsider ran a slender finger through her stray hairs.

"They've been so kind. They're funny too-"

Glancing off to the side, yet slowly glancing up every now and then. How maddening that she couldn't look straight at him. And when she did glance for more than a second…The way she looked at him; how pathetic. Was she so desperate to cling to him so? Her eyes glistening with each bland reaction he gave. Hanging on every last word he said.

She continued speaking as he drifted in and out, too busy thinking of what to do when they were alone.

"-I even got involved in a gang." She said, then waved both hands in the air, "O-of course I didn't really know-"

"Silly woman. I'd destroy you."

"-Blue lights flashing everywhere-"

"Leave you splattered on the pavement."

"-much more exciting than waiting on people hand and foot-"

"You'd make such a wonderful noise…"

"-are you ok? You seem…"

He slowly lifted his hands…watching her lips move open and shut, as if he were in a trance, he placed his hand around her tiny face, his thumb rubbing the bottom of her eye.

"If only I could jab my thumb into your eye socket and squeeze it out…let the blood rush down my arms…I've missed that warmth…that jelly like texture, oozing around my thumb."

"What's wrong?"

"You could help me achieve it."

He leaned in closer, attempting to touch her more, he could feel her reactions through his hands, the thought of doing unspeakable, horrid things to her sent a smile screeching across his face. Maybe even boiling her alive just to watch her face as she screamed for help would satisfy his sudden urge.

"Human warmth."

The guards aren't paying attention. They should be, she thought over and over again, he was inches away from her face and yet, he did nothing but stare and smile. As if he hadn't seen the face of another human being so close before. He just stared and stared intently.

The desert. 1908. Sunny, as always.

The man in charge of watching this strangely clothed outsider was apparently sick of it by now. He was short and round, always had a cigar in his mouth- how unhealthy. He was dragging her outside by the arm- her new '1900 era' clothing was sure to NOT draw attention- a white, long sleeve tunic over a nice white, eyelet hobble skirt.

"So. Why don't you watch these Ishbalan children for a while." he pointed at them like they were animals. Five of them stood around, comforting one another, in a circle. She skipped to them- earlier she was so frightened of their adult forms, yet now the children Ishbalans didn't seem so dangerous. They introduced themselves: Toby, the oldest, 9 years old. He lost his left eye in the years before when the rebellion started. Selena, 8 years old, Toby's sister. Danny 7, recalls nothing of his parents. Mura, 7 and Mira 7. They had strayed from their home to rescue a doll they dropped. When they looked back at their mother- she wasn't there…but her shoes were.

The general- whose name she hadn't bother to learn- called out behind her. "Red Lotus! Keep an eye on her."

Christina turned around- She knew him from his face: Pale and slender, his long black hair tied behind his head- the same man who had saved her from being killed only hours before. He smiled curiously at her, his eyes were halfway closed.

They walked closer to one another, the man just carried a look of extreme boredom on his face.

"You'd much rather be on the field, wouldn't you?" she confessed.

"It's been a day and you know me already."

She smiled and pulled her hair up with her hands; if the Ishbalans and the soldiers didn't kill her the sun sure would.

"Haha…I don't mind being here alone but…"

"Orders are orders. I'll keep my eyes on you until he tells me to stop." he said, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Your very loyal aren't you?"

"I am a state alchemist. I was sent here to do a job…yet they stuck me here with guard duty. For now I suppose." his voice sounded a little irritated.

"I'm sorry you have to look at me all day."

He looked shocked for a moment, "I didn't mean to insult you."

"It's okay! I was kidding!" she turned around waved her hands…then faced him, tilted her head and asked, "So…why did you become an alchemist?"

"Why do you ask?" he said, mimicking her head tilt.

"No simple reason, I just was just curious.-"

"-Let's play! Come on!" the little boy with the eye patch over his eye said, practically pulling her pants down as he dragged her off to the other children.

"Woah! Okay okay! Lead the way Toby! We'll talk later?"

He thought about what she said for a second…"Sure. Why not?"

"After work of course. Bye! Come on Toby-"

"-Can we go see our parents now?"

"Not yet Toby…Maybe tomorrow, okay?" she lied, who knew where their parents were…for that matter. Who knew where SHE was…

The talk seemed too short have lasted two hours. Taking into account the walk there and the paperwork and the searching of her pockets that needed to be done after she left the room; by the time she was done with her visit completely the sky had turned dark blue outside.

It felt safe to leave him. But, yet, the cold, piercing feeling in her heart wouldn't waver. It beckoned her back into the building to see him just once more.

Once more.

She looked back with that feeling in her poor heart and turned around and walked away. Clutching the end of her turtleneck above her lip and nose, she let a small tear stop at her glasses.

'why does it seem like I can never reach him…?

This is ridiculous. Why should I be like this over him?

Why can't I stop?'

It's evening. It came almost as soon as she closed her eyes and opened them again while laying on the soft, green couch. A very loud clunking sound echoed throughout the entire floor of the hotel. It was scary how 'findable' Alphonse was; he couldn't make a single step at night for fear of waking everyone up. She could hear a young girls voice, Winry, from the doorway.

Groggily getting up, she stepped out of the threshold behind Winry, confused and worried as to why Edward and Alphonse were running off in such a hurry. They said 'bye' quickly and left rushing down the narrow hallway.

"Winry? Where are they going?" she asked lightly stepping down the hall.

"I…Don't know."

"You wanna get some sleep?" Christina asked nicely. It'd been a very, very long day. Sleep would be nice.

Winry turned to her, a sly look on her face, "I want to know…"

"Eh?" oh god, nothing good will come of this.

"Who was the letter for?" she said bluntly, hands on her hips.

She couldn't hide it anymore- so the two of them decided to talk about it while in their room. Winry organized the things in her giant metal bag and Christina doodled on a napkin by the desk lamp.

"Why do you want to know?" she blurted out. For that matter, why do you care?

"Well I haven't been in touch with some girls my own age and such…" Ouch. That must hurt for someone almost ten years younger than you. Part of her felt honored to be considered a fifteen year old…the other part of her wanted to cry in a corner…"And we haven't been properly introduced, have we?"

She gave a tiny, pathetic laugh…"Christina Madeline." Hurray for meeting new people…

"Winry Rockbell." she said proudly. Firmly shaking Christina's hand. "So what do you do for a living?" she asked while un-tucking her bed.

"Oh. I run, well, manage a shop in Central."

"Oooh what kind?"

"A sandwich shop. I'm taking over for…a friend. I'd much rather work with children though…but I don't have the funds for teaching school."

"I help run an automail shop with my grandma in Resembool."

"Ah!" she realized, "You must be the one who made Edwards automail!"

"Well, you know, made, designed, built…hehe." her face glowed when she spoke about automail. Just like his does when he looks at that red stone…

"So when's the last time you saw them?"

"Oh it's been a few months, actually. Before he would just visit when he had to." she said, straining the word 'had' as hard as she could.

"At least he comes to you and nobody else…"

"Hm?"

Time to return the favor, Winry! "I can just tell how close you guys are!" she said teasingly.

"H-Hey!" she blushed a little, dropping her over fluffed pillow.

"It's okay Winry! I won't tell!"

"Soooooooo who's the person you gave that love letter to?"

"I guess I could tell you…but you have to promise you won't-!"

"Promise!"

They were at a standstill. She didn't have a choice now, she HAD to tell Winry or she would just keep pushing the subject…tell her as little as possible and you can make it, Christina told herself.

"His name is Solf…"

"That it?"

"No…his last name is Kimbley." You may as well…why not? What's the harm in it?

"And…? What's he look like?"

What does he look like? Is there any mortal word to describe how amazing and sexy and…"He's pretty average…"

"Oh come on!" she yelled.

"Fine fine fine! He's tall. Handsome. Long, thin, black hair…these piercing yellow eyes,"

"The most sinister smile…The most apathetic attitude...always right about everything."

It was nice to talk nicely about him without being judged by those who knew him on the battlefield. 'crazy love-struck fool' she was labeled. But she was a fool to begin with…

"Ah but he's no good…he's too focused on his work…" I'd better leave the 'crazy' part out.

"Sounds familiar."

"Tell me about it." It was strange talking to this young girl about personal problems. However, it was nice to talk to someone who was genuinely interested. Or at least seemed interested. No…Winry was being sincere. It'd be nice if more people like her existed in this world.

"The truth is Winry, I'm not so sure he feels the same as I do." she said, twiddling her fingers like a teenager. How embarrassing.

Winry gave an obvious answer. "Why don't you ask?"

"It's not that simple." Jail. Prison. Penitentiary. Incarcerated. Couldn't tell this 15 year old the reasons why…

"Why not?" she pleaded with her eyes. Then it seemed like she pieced the reason together. "Is he a bad man?"

"Don't worry Winry…"

"He is isn't he?"

She looked Winry in the deep, blue eyes…

"Why can't I lie to kids?"

"Why are you seeing someone who's so bad? What did he do? Did he…?"

"He was a state alchemist in Ishbal…" There. I said it. Question me some more Winry…I'm ready.

"I see. Don't say anymore…" she trailed off.

What? Well…all right then.

"I can't believe someone my age knew a state alchemist in Ishbal…"

"Winry I'm 24."

"Really!"

"Oh, and Winry…Don't tell Ed and Al ok?" she pleaded.

"About the age thing? If I tell Ed it might make him happy! I mean…you're slightly shorter than him."

"No way! I am millions of inches taller than that bean!"

Winry made it impossible for the two of them to get a good nights sleep; impossible because, they hadn't come back yet. As always, Winry tossed and turned. Mumbling something incoherent, sighing loudly, abrasively. Christina could tell right away that they wouldn't fall asleep soundly until Edward and Alphonse were back in the room next to them. She knew it, and Winry knew it as well. Almost on cue, Winry got up and stormed to the door of the hotel room.

Winry walked angrily into their room. Upset they had left without saying where they were going. Not only that! They left their room a complete mess as well! She sure as hell wasn't about to pick anything up for them! Ungrateful boys! Why are they always like-

"Central Times"

"2nd Lt. Ross

Convicted as the murderer of Brigadier General Maes Hughes."

By this time, Christina felt defeated. It had been a very long day and she could sure use the rest. Straining to keep her eyes open she shuffled to the next room to see what Winry was doing.

"Are they in there Winry?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. She waited a few seconds for a reply…none.

"Winry?" she repeated.

There she was. Staring blankly at a grey newspaper.

Central times, of course. How many years had it been since I read a paper? For that matter, did I ever pick one up? The news was always filled with bad things…something about a rape, someone stole something, or somebody died…big deal, people die all the time-

"Mister Hughes…" she chocked out.

What? What about him?

"Winry? What about-?"

She turned to her quickly, spreading the paper before her eyes…'murder'.

Another murder? Somebody died? Hughes? It was like only yesterday he was nagging me to find a good husband. Shoving pictures of his gorgeous wife and adorable daughter in my face…god he was so annoying. So annoying…why? Why him? He was so kind. Too kind…what kind of monster could kill him?

Maria? No….not her…anyone but her.

Thoughts were broken up by the horrid sound of a child crying. Poor Winry. She stumbled a bit as her head fell into Christinas' arms, newspaper crumpled in her hands- getting soaking wet with tears.

sorry the chapter is like...months late XD the turkey...and ham...and family visiting put me WAY behind on all my stuff. but i'm back now, expect once a week chapters, or at least i'll try XD the new dub for FMA B has gotten my spirits up...debating whether or not to pull a time skip...but then again writing is fun : D once again, please review, be nice, tell me if the characters are in character. point out mistakes...yada yada. hope some of you missed me ;) cause i know i missed you!