Truth, I addressed the grinning white figure that stood before me.
"You're finally back for your voice," It said, and I nodded.

And, I smiled sheepishly, If you could erase the human transmutation circles on my hands and the little problem with my shoulder before Ed sees them, that would be nice.

"Now that you're not paying the price, you're spending lavishly," It grinned widely, and I sighed.

Isn't it better to take the wishes of the deceased and use it to help those still living? I replied, It's a worthy investment.

"That's cold," Truth said, and I stared it down.

Life has been hell for me for five years, I said, I'm completely fed up with suffering in silence.

"You only survived because of us." Truth said, "Every time you tried to kill yourself, you lived because I knew you would come back." My eyes hardened.

Then why didn't you reply? I yelled in my head, hurt. You could've told me something that would've made all that time bearable so I wouldn't have tried to die!

It sighed. "Equivalent exchange," It said, "I made you suffer to insure your happiness later." I hissed.

Why is life so damn complicated, I thought sourly, pursing my lips.

"Well, you have some due good in your life," Truth said, but after, smiled mysteriously. "You better enjoy it while you still can."

And before I could ask it what it meant, I was grabbed by the little black hands from behind and was forced to bid Truth goodbye for what I hoped to be the last time.

I groaned, rolling over.

"Lynette," A voice said, nudging me. "Lynette!" I cracked an eye open to see a gorgeous blonde-haired boy leaning over me, shaking me worriedly.

I scrunched my nose up at him.

"Did it work?" He asked, watching me expectantly. I hummed in reply, too tired to make out words.

"I think," I murmured, my pronunciation slightly off. I frowned, rubbing my jaw. I'm gonna have to get used to talking again...

But Ed was too excited to notice. He lifted me off the ground, holding me bridal-style and grinning enthusiastically at me. "It worked!" He cheered, and I gave him a startled smile, gripping him tightly in fear of suddenly being dropped.

"Meh," I made a face, "My words sound weird." He shook his head violently.

"No," He said, "Your voice sounds more beautiful than I remember." I blushed, and averted my gaze. Ed, in attempt to get my attention again, kissed my cheek, and I turned back, opening my mouth to say something. The words died in my throat when Ed's lips captured mine in a passionate kiss. He pulled away, leaving me breathless and blushing vigorously. I took a deep breath before looking him in the eyes and bringing up a hand to caress his cheek.

"I love you," I said, and he smiled.

"I love you too," He replied, hugging me tightly to his chest. I laughed happily, and it sounded so much brighter, so much more full of life than it had in a long time. Ed twirled me around, and I hugged his neck, giggling.

"Ed!" I said, joy laced in my voice, "Come on! Put me down!" He paused, and looked over at me with a wide grin.

"No way," He said, and bumped me up to adjust his grip. I squealed, and hit his shoulder.

"Ed~!" I drawled, attempting to be cute. "Let me down and let's go buy some pocky!" I kissed his cheek and gave him the best puppy eyes I could, and he chuckled.

"Are you trying to coerce me?" He asked, and I smirked.

"What if I am?" I trailed a finger across his jaw, and he blushed.

"You'll have to do better than that!" He exclaimed, dropping me down on the couch.

"HEY!" I said, thumping down on the cushions, "I'm gonna get you!" I jumped off the couch, and Ed taunted me from the other side of the coffee table.

"Huh?" He grinned, and I snorted.

"You're still short even after all these years, huh?" I teased, testing to see if he was still vulnerable to that approach.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A RUNT SO TINY HE COULD ONLY BE SEEN WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS?!" He roared, and moved to one side of the table to try and get me. I cackled evilly as I circled around the other way, effectively putting the table between the two of us.

"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!" I called, running from the table and toward the door. But before I could grab the handle, two arms locked around my waist and lifted me up.

"I got you," He whispered, his breath ghosting over the back of my ear. I gasped.

"Damn, you did!" I turned around in his grip, catching his collar. "I guess I have to pay some bail." I tugged on his collar and kissed him. His face was a lovely shade of red when I pulled away, his grip loosening. I took that advantage and slipped out of his arms, scampering over to the other side of the room.

"Hey!" He said, flustered. He came after me again, but I dodged, and before he knew it, he was on the ground with me straddling him.

"I win," I said, leaning over him with a smug expression. He rolled his eyes.

"Your coercing skills need work." He stated bluntly, and I looked down at him.

"Oh, is that a challenge?" My eyes twinkled with mischief, and I leaned closer to him. "Well," I said, tracing little circles over his collar bone. I moved a little closer, "If you really feel that way," I was so close that my lips skimmed his as I spoke, "Then you wouldn't mind me," I lightly trailed a finger down his arm, "Stopping here." I abruptly stood up, turning away and settling down on the couch. I watched Ed in amusement as he sat up, coughing and clearing his throat. His face was painted scarlet, and he adjusted the collar of his white shirt, clearly shaken up from my actions.

"Ahem," He stood up, brushing himself off. "Pocky... Doesn't sound too bad." A smile spread across my face and I got up, going over to Ed and giving him a light kiss on the lips, linking arms with him.

"Alrighty then," I said cheerfully, "I'm broke so you're buying."

"Of course I am," He sighed good-naturedly as I dragged him out the door.

"So," I said, munching on my pocky. "I need your opinion on some things."

Ed and I were currently seated at a table right outside of my favorite bakery, and probably the most expensive one in town at that. He had bought me a huge container of pocky that we were both sharing, with my share being the bigger of the two halves.

"Like what?" Ed asked, having a staring competition with a random stick of pocky.

"What am I going to do?" I mumbled, and he looked up from the stick of pocky.

"What do you mean?" His eyebrows furrowed, and I ran a hand through my hair.

"I have the rest of my life in my own hands right now," I replied, serious. I sighed, almost as if I were tired. "I have to chose between worlds, where I want to stay and how to sort things out," I pursed my lips.

"Well, what are your options?" Ed asked, looking at me in surprise.

"Mustang offered me a position in the military," I said, resting my chin on my palm. "And you're here... With everyone else... But then again, in my world, I have my family, friends, and things I've spent the majority of my life with. What am I going to do?"

"Stay," Ed said impulsively, and I sighed again.

"If I'm going to stay," I said, "I'm going to need to make some arrangements and say some goodbyes." Ed's eyes widened.

"You don't mean..."

"I do." I said, staring back at him firmly. "I have a week. Mustang will probably be expecting my reply by then, so I have to settle things with my family."

"You're... Going back?" He asked, and I nodded grimly.

"Truth told me that the philosopher stone I posses is enough to pay the toll of the Gate quite a few more times," I said, "Even though I feel horrid about it, I have to."

Ed searched my eyes for reassurance, and I gave him a small smile.

"Then... I guess I'm coming with you." He said, and my eyebrows went up.

"You..." I trailed off, speechless. "You... want to meet my family?" He nodded, slightly confused.

"Why? What's wrong?" He asked, and my face met the wood of the table with a loud thump.

"Shit," I muttered, my voice muffled by the table. "My family has problems." I looked up only to see Ed give me a bitingly sarcastic look, and I winced. "Oh, sorry..."

"They can't be that bad," Ed said, shrugging. I shook my head.

"Oh no, they're pretty bad," I said, and he chuckled.

"Does your dad have a gun?"

"No."

"Then what's there to be afraid of?"

"My mom has the gun."

"... Oh."

"Besides," I averted my gaze, "We don't exactly have the best relationship." Ed looked at me quietly, not knowing how to comfort me.

"Don't worry," He said, slipping his hand over mine, "I'm going to be there."

"You... Is it really okay?" Ed nodded.

"Of course." He assured me, "I'm sure we can explain everything to them together." My shoulders relaxed, and I took another pocky stick.

"Thank you, Edward."

HI GUYS!

Haha, he's meeting her parents! OOH that's gonna be fun. Bad relationship with family, huh? You guys never heard that much about her family, did you? WELP I GUESS YOU'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH NOW WON'T YOU.

DAMN HOW MUCH FLUFF AM I GOING TO FIT IN THIS THING HUH? Wow I was actually so surprised I could write like that... It's so new to me *shudders* and again its atrocious fluff.

Oh yeah, and Lynette got her voice back. OH CHEESEBALLS ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?

Oh, and I'm just gonna explain something that a few of you guys asked about. Yes, Ed doesn't have his Gate anymore, and everything happened like it did in the actual plotline.

I'll try to update soon!

My lovely readers, please review~!

Thanks!