My P.O.V.
I don't know why I'm crying. I don't understand it. I've already accepted the fact, so why am I crying now? I don't look up when the front door opens, and I only cry harder at Ed's voice.
But I don't understand it! Why would his voice make me cry?!
Al pulls me in tighter, his metal body actually quite comforting. "Brother, just go back inside. We'll be ready in a minute." Al says to Ed, and I soon hear the door shut attain.
"I get it now, Jade." Al whispers softly, his voice soothing. "Just give it some time. Everything happens for a reason."
Ed's P.O.V.
I shut the door behind me after I go back inside. A thousand thoughts are running through my mind right now. Why was Jade crying? She hasn't cried like that since the day we met her. And why did she seem to sob harder after I spoke? Is this my fault?
Winry gives me a strange look, and Granny is also staring. "Jade was crying." I say simply, and a look of guilt crosses Winry's face. "Winry, do you know something I don't?"
"N-no! Of course not!" She says quickly, putting her hands up in defense. I sigh; it's too easy to tell she's lying.
"You've never lied to me before Winry, why start now?"
She tilts her head down. "I did something awful." She whispers in shame.
"It involves Jade I'm guessing?" I ask, my voice rising in anger.
Winry nods. "I'm sorry Ed, I… I told her…" I clench my fist, preparing for anything. "I told her we were betrothed." She whispers and my jaw drops, but she continues before I can speak. "You have to understand Ed; I didn't want to lose you, and Al, to some girl!"
"She's not some girl Winry! She's my friend!" I retort.
"I'm your friend too! And you've known me longer!" She protests.
"It sounds like you're jealous, Winry." Granny adds quietly.
"Why would I be jealous of that show-off?!" Winry exclaims in anger.
"Maybe because I have feelings for her that are nonexistent for you." I say quietly, realizing what all these thoughts have been. "Yeah, I think I… I think I love Jade."
Winry gasps before running off to her room. "Go now, mend things with Jade." Granny says to me. "I'll talk to Winry."
"Thanks Granny." I smile, exiting the house once more.
My P.O.V.
I finally stop crying, and I wait with Al for Ed to come back out. When the door opens, I avert my eyes and I start down the path towards the train station. I go slowly enough so I won't leave the boys behind, but fast enough to stay away from Ed.
"Jade!" He calls out, but I ignore him.
"Jade!" I don't stop walking, and I don't turn back.
"JADE! Damn it! Quit ignoring me!" I whip around to face him, and he and Al stop dead in their tracks. I assume the look on my face is scary, but I don't care.
"I don't want to talk to you! Just leave me be with my thoughts!" I then turn around and continue down the road, not caring if they're following me anymore. I want to go back to Central.
Al's P.O.V.
I watch in shock as Jade screams at Brother, then walks away. "Damn it, she hates me now." He whispers, and I turn to him.
"What happened anyway?" I ask him. Brother sighs and starts walking again.
"Winry told her that she and I were betrothed."
I gasp aloud. "Why would she do that?!" But then it hits me.
"She was jealous of my feelings for Jade and not her." Brother voices my thoughts.
"That's still over-the-top, right?" I ask and he nods.
"I just hope I can explain things to her without her exploding again."
We continue walking, now in silence, until we reach the train station. Brother buys the tickets and we board the train. Jade sits by the window and takes out her alchemy book, ignoring glances from Brother.
"Jade…" He starts, but she holds up a hand to stop him. He looks at me, but all I can do is shrug. The whole train ride is like this, the awkward so thick you could cut it with a knife.
I start to wonder why life is so cruel. Brother finally finds someone that makes him happy, and something has to happen to teary them apart. I just hope that things will go better soon.
The train pulls up into the station and Jade shuts her gook, still ignoring Brother. He sighs and we all exit the train. "I'm going to visit Mr. Hughes and his family." Jade tells us, but she's turned to me.
"Okay, we'll tell the colonel if we run into him." I say, waving as she jogs down the street. She waves back before she disappears around a corner. "You know you'll have to break through to her eventually, right? I hate seeing her like this." I say to Brother, still staring to the last spot I saw her.
"She doesn't seem mad at you. Could you talk to her for me?" He asks quietly and his tone is sad.
"It would be better coming from you, but I'll see what I can do." And I really do pity him.
It's not fair that this happened.
My P.O.V.
I have to get away from everything. Besides, I promised Mr. Hughes that I would visit once we got back from repairing Ed's arm. I stop at a small flower shop and look at the selection. I pick three right roses and two blue roses for a bouquet, two purple lilies for Mrs. Hughes, and two pure white daisies for their daughter. I pay with the money I was able to take before I left my hometown, and continue to walk to their place.
I smile as I get farther and farther away from Central Headquarters and closer to the Hughes household.
I knock on the front door, and I hear shuffling inside. The door opens, and Mr. Hughes grins once he recognizes me. "Sorry, I should've called ahead of time." I smile apologetically.
"It's no problem; I assume you and the Elric brothers just got back then?" He asks and I nod.
"Yeah, they're checking in, or something." Mr. Hughes sees the flowers and his smile only gets bigger.
"Honey, come over here! This is the girl I was talking about, Roy's niece!" A beautiful young woman walks towards the door, a little girl trailing behind happily.
"Your family is beautiful." I whisper to Mr. Hughes before the other two are in earshot. He only grins brighter. "You must be Mrs. Hughes." I smile at the woman.
"Please, call me Gracia. You're Jade right?" I nod to her. The little girl peeks out at me from behind Gracia's leg.
"And who's this adorable little girl?" I ask, my smile growing wider. I remember her face from the pictures Mr. Hughes showed me. He scoops the little girl up in his arms.
"This is our baby girl Elicia. Isn't she just the most adorable thing ever?"
"Yes, she's gorgeous Mr. Hughes." I wave to little Elicia and she giggles, waving back.
"Call me Maes. And come on in, we're happy to have you." I smile and step in, looking at their beautiful house.
"These are for you Gracia." I say, handing her the roses and lilies.
"They're wonderful Jade." She smiles and goes into the kitchen to put them in a vase. Maes has put Elicia down now, so I crouch down to her level and smile.
"And these are for you sweetie." I hand her the daisies and her face brightens.
"Look Daddy!" She exclaims, showing off her flowers. Maes tucks one behind her ear and I can't help but "Aww" at the sight of her. She giggles again and goes to show her mother. I smile as I watch her; she's the perfect image of a perfect child.
"She's wonderful, Maes." I whisper and I feel a tear roll down my cheek. "She'll have such a good childhood, with her amazing parents." I feel his hand rest on my shoulder and I turn back to him. "And you'll be the perfect father." I smile.
Like the one I was never able to have. I add silently in my mind.
"Thanks Jade." He says softly.
Elicia comes back in and she sits on my lap as I tell her a fairytale I'm making up on the spot.