And the relationship between Roy and Taylor thickens. Teehee! Onward to Kenzi and Edward, on their way to Fort Briggs.

Songs: Never Gonna Be Alone by Nickelback. I don't know, for some reason, this song came to my head while I wrote a part in this chapter.

The town we got off the train at was freezing. I hated the fucking cold. I could never really warm up as soon as I got cold. I woke up when Edward moved. I jolted awake and stretched, looking to him. He looked like he'd just woke up himself.

"Good sleep?"

"Yeah, I was warmer." I felt the rising heat in my face. I don't know what possessed me to sit next to him, but I was so fucking glad I did.

He looked to me. "We'll have one more train after this. But, in the meantime, we're getting supplies. It's a long trek to Briggs from the town and, frankly, neither of us are prepared for it."

I put my leather jacket on, then his red coat over it. "No shit," I said, my muscles starting to twitch from the cold.

He chuckled. "Are you still cold?"

I nodded, teeth starting to chatter. "Yeah."

He smiled and went into his bag, rummaging through it for a minute before pulling out a white formal shirt. He handed it to me. "Put this on. I know it's not much but every little bit helps."

I nodded, quickly taking off my jackets and exposing my once warm skin to the cooling air around us. I shivered a little, unaware of what Ed was doing. I put on his shirt, it was a little big on me, and buttoned it. After, I replaced my coats, knowing there was no way in hell I'd get warm for a long time unless the next train was heated.

I turned to Ed when I finished. He was facing the door. "A-Are you ready?"

I nodded, wondering why he was stuttering. "Yes."

We walked out of the booth, into the rest of the car, and eventually exited the train car with our things. I tightened his old red coat around me when I felt the chill of the evening air. It was freezing. I suppressed the shiver. Ed smiled to me as we walked to the store near the train station. When we got to the door of the train station that lead to the rest of the town, he looked to me. His gaze was on my hair and his smile faded a little.

"Put the hood up," he said. I gave him a confused look. "We can't have your hair giving us away. For all people know with your hood up is that I'm my brother, Al, and you're me. It's the safest way."

I lowered my head, but complied to putting up the hood. If it wasn't to hide me, it was to keep my head warm.

"It could be the other way, Ed," I said as I got closer to him.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Al's still taller than me. Even without the armor." After, he muttered something to himself. I couldn't catch it.

I closed my eyes, bowing my head more, and shaking my head with a slightly amused smile. We left the train station and headed toward the store. I nearly ran inside, leaving Ed in the cold. I walked into the store, feeling the rush of pale heat as I walked in. I started to peel back my hood, letting the warm air sink into my hair.

As soon as I had it peeled back, someone put it up behind me. I looked toward the offending person who wouldn't allow me to have my hood back. As soon as I saw him, I looked to him with a slight glare.

"Remember, hood up until I say," he whispered close to my ear.

I suppressed the shiver as my skin raised and surfed down my spine. I nodded to him as we walked further in. As we got toward the storekeeper, he stepped a little closer to me, letting his hand press to the small of my back. My heart skipped the beat when I felt his hand and I bit my lip.

"Go get a coat for the both of us and some boots for you. You can't be walking through the snow in those." He shifted his eyes to my favorite buckled boots. "I'll be getting the rest. Hollar if you need anything, okay?"

I nodded, a little uneasy about it. Ed must've noticed.

"Don't worry, Kenzi, I'll be close by the entire time. I promise I will be."

I nodded again, heading toward the coats and boots. I was sure he'd keep his promise. I went through the coats, trying on a couple all black ones and finding the one for me before heading toward the boots. After trying on boot after boot, I settled on a pair of combat looking boots that I had to pull on. There was a silver buckle that clasped at the ankle and it was all black. The soles were maroon. With my items in hand, I started to look for a coat for Ed. I had no idea what his style was like, or what kind of coat he'd like. Not to mention I was flat-lining when it came to what size coat he'd wear.

As I was looking at another all black coat, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped, almost yelping, at the touch and turned to him. Ed smiled.

"Startled?"

"Yes." Considering why I had to keep my fucking hood up, there is a very good reason why I was startled.

"Sorry," he said. He looked to the coat. "Yours?"

"I already picked mine out," I said as I shook my head.

"You did? Damn, you work fast."

I shrugged. "I am more of a get in, get out person."

"A girl who hates shopping. And here I thought I'd seen it all." He chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head, under his ponytail.

I giggled. "Pick one out and I'll be ready. I've no idea what you like or what size you wear."

He chuckled again and looked at the coat I had out. "That'll fit. Let's go. We can't stay in one place for too long until we're at Briggs."

I bowed my head a little as I followed him to the shopkeeper. I pulled my hood further down my forehead as we approached her. She was a cute little brunette about the same age as Ed. Or at least a closer age to Ed's than I was. For some reason, I already hated her and I had no idea why.

"Is this all, Colonel?"

"Yes," he said. "Could you send the list of these supplies to the military? A Brigadier General Mera, she gave me orders."

"Of course, sir," she said. She wrote all we bought as Ed took out his pocket watch.

"Can't afford it?" I asked.

"No, it's for military use and we need all the help we can get. Besides, sending the receipt to her would make her more at ease about this. She knows how long it could take to get to where we're going."

"Alright, Colonel, all set." She eyed him down, eye-raping him as she told him the price. He promptly paid and showed her the watch as proof he was in the military and wasn't posing as some Colonel. She looked to me, then back to him. "I have a question, Colonel."

"Yes?"

"Are you single?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbing a backback he had packed full of supplies and walked out before Ed could answer. I didn't want to be there when he gave her his answer. As far as I knew, he was. I just didn't want to be around when he started flirting. I took in as deepest as a breath as I cold before the fridgid air near about froze my lungs.

I sighed and heard Ed walk out. "Aren't you cold?"

I nodded. That was one question he didn't have to ask me. I was always going to be cold. My muscles started to twitch with cold.

"Come on, the train is coming soon. Let's go wait for it." His hand pressed to the small of my back, urging me to walk with him. I felt the butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

I didn't bother asking him what he told that girl in the store. Part of me may have wanted to know but the rest of me didn't. It would only depress me more. I sat silently as we waited for the last train to take us as far north as we could before having to get off.

I kept my gaze on my boots as I heard Ed speak. "We'll stay in a hotel when we reach the last town. From there, we're walking."

I nodded, silent. My thoughts were starting to trail toward what Taylor must be doing. Surely she didn't tell General about what happened, leaving him in the dark like when I was bed ridden with a very high fever for three days on end or if I did something completely stupid and she took care of it before General got wind of it. Since the fever, my tolerance for the cold deminished greatly.

The train came as we boarded. I was still silent. I felt for Ed. He's the one who looked forced into silence because of me. I looked to him for reassurance when we boarded. He leaned to me.

"Same kind of booth as last time. I made sure there would be one open," he whispered as his hand pressed to my back and guided me toward another car where the booths were.

I tried not to arch my back at the sensation. Instead I walked with him, my backpack in my hand. When we reached a booth, he opened the door, letting me get in first. He set his stuff on the ground just before the door. I sat down, huddling close to wherever the heat was eminating from. He chuckled.

"Stay here, I need to do something really quick. I swear, you'll see me just outside the window." He pointed to the window, which showed a payphone.

"Who are you going to call?"

He looked to me, his smile still there. "I'm just going to check in. By now, Brigadier General Mera might be having an anxiety attack."

I flinched when I heard him mention what Taylor might be doing. I felt tears almost immediately. "T-T-That or drinking, she never drinks."

He sighed deeply. "Yeah. I'm calling Mustang's house." I looked to him weird. "She'll be there more than likely. I doubt she likes being around General Lockert."

I nodded, looking to the ground. Next I heard Ed's voice say, "I'll be right back."