Authors Note: Ha ha ha, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter! Of course, who wouldn't have a lot of fun when writing about Ed and another character arguing? :) Yep, this was one of those chapters where you try, and you try, and you try to write it, and then it magically forms itself on the page! Magic Chapter! Anyways, been busy with school and dissecting cats.

Al: C...cats?

Me: Oh no, looks like I broke Al. Whoops. (Shoves toward Ed) FIX HIM NOW! I need him for my fanfic!

Lol, done with that. I would appreciate reviews, and I would like to thank Left-to-die, Dick Thomas, SpenstarianCreed1, rosiemontgomery1 and thechaosalchemist for all following and/or reviewing my story! It means the world to me. And you guys are like, shut up hapi3rachel. So, here's the story!

Mothers clutched their children as another fight broke out in the next aisle over again. People scuttled out as quickly as they could whilst they could still escape the bickering. The vendor more than considered throwing them out of his store, if he wasn't about to kill the two bickering customers himself.

"RED streamers are AWESOME!" A familiar blond argued, his golden eyes sparking in irritation.

"It's a GIRL'S birthday party, EDWARD!" Winifred snapped, snatching the purple streamers from their stand. "Girls like PURPLE!" She was trembling in anger and about to snap. Her blue eyes were colder than ice as she glared at Edward, but he seemed indifferent to her irritation.

"I thought you weren't SEXIST!" Ed argued, whirling around so his back was to Winifred and crossing his arms over his chest. "What if RED is her FAVORITE color?"

Winifred growled. "And what if PURPLE was her FAVORITE color? WHAT then?"

Both hot-tempered blonds whirled around at the same time and shouted "ALPHONSE!"

Alphonse had luckily managed to stay out of the conversation until this point of time, placidly picking through plates and trying to ignore the shouts that erupted from both Edward and Winifred. But it seemed like his luck had run out, and he was forced to either choose Edward or Winifred. He jumped at the sound of their voices, but they didn't even bother to repeat the question. Even deaf people could hear their shouting. "Um…" he stalled for a moment, turning his head to see the streamers. "How about blue?"

Both Ed and Winifred seemed awestruck at even the possibility of a compromise. "Ha!" They grinned triumphantly, so sure were they that Al was going to choose their idea. And then they reran what he suggested in their heads. "Wait, what?"

Al rolled his eyes. "Why not choose blue? Blue is a nice color, and earlier Grace told me she actually liked the color."

Winifred heaved a deep sigh and Ed muttered something under his breath. "Fine," Winifred growled, while Ed said "whatever." The hostility was beginning to die down, but even the smallest catalyst could be enough to spark a wildfire.

They managed to make it to the cashier and offer up their goods in one piece, and the cashier was quick in ushering them out of the store. On his face was a forced grin and the relief could not be kept from his voice. "Thanks for shopping!" He yelled after them. Al gave him a soft wave while Ed and Winifred stomped out. "Never come here again," the vendor muttered under his breath.

-Wibbly-Wobbly-Timey-Wimey-

30 minutes earlier

Winifred stared around the unusually busy hotel. Mothers were scolding mischievous children while a group of muscular men had set up an arm wrestling competition on a table. A few people clustered around the arm wrestling match and were chanting for random victims. This chaos formed her home, and she could not imagine living anywhere else. Well, except Lisemburg, but that was pretty much behind her now. She wanted to go out and chant, or to at least study and lose herself. But instead she had to check with Granny that it was alright for Edward and Alphonse to stay the night for free.

Granny thought for a moment, her eyes fixated on Ed and Al. Alphonse had already grown acquainted with a little girl who Winifred knew was Grace, and Edward was ranting about something that wasn't quite carried over all the conversations, although she was sure she could already pick out his voice from the others. It seemed like he was shouting about something…

"They look a lot like Edmund and Alfons."

Winifred shot up at Granny's voice, trying her hardest to not look like she was eavesdropping on Edward's voice. Not only that, but that was a touchy subject. Still, she shoved it down and nodded, gulping slightly. "Yeah, I know. But…it's not." That voice, those eyes, even the hair was proof enough, for both of them.

"Mm-hmm," Granny said, her glasses glinting. She was so much shorter than Winifred, but Winifred was at her beck and call. She was so unfamiliar, and yet Winifred's only family. She could be sweet and funny but at other times she could be stern and mean. Her ever-changing moods left Winifred guessing, and yet it seemed like she could read Winifred's thoughts. It didn't seem fair that Winifred was the open book. "And we aren't keeping them here because they look like Edmund and Alfons?"

Winifred gulped. Yes, that was most of the reason she wanted to keep them here. She thought for a moment though. If someone she hadn't known at all had saved her from getting hit, would she invite them to spend the night? She was going to go with yes. "Of course," she lied through her teeth.

Granny found the answer appeasing enough. "Alright, but they can only spend one night free."

"Of course!" Winifred grinned. "Thanks."

Granny grinned. "No problem! Now a matter on the groceries you don't seem to have."

Winifred's arms dropped limp. "Yeah…about that. I kind of made somebody a little mad, and now we don't have groceries. I'm sure we could find another stall to buy at though!" she added enthusiastically.

Granny chuckled and Winifred was left guessing whether that was a good sign or a bad sign. She mentally prepared herself for the worst.

"You remind me of your parents growing up. They were good people."

Winifred had not expected that wound to open up, but there it was. Why not? She already had Edmund and Alfons. "So I'm told," she said. Everything she did was for them, even though they now faded into soft memories that left her cold and empty on the inside. Eventually their memory would fade into oblivion, along with Edmund's and Alfons' and her memory would follow soon after until not a single person had ever heard of Winifred. She would be the backdrop in a picture. She would be a nobody.

Everybody faded into nothing at the end.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Granny piped up. "It's Grace's birthday, and I was planning on throwing a birthday party for her."

Winifred loved planning birthday parties for children who just happened to be on the move when their birthday hit. Often the family had plans on moving to America, a country on the other side of the world. Their money was plentiful and women were gaining more rights. Musical movements such as Jazz filled the country with an awe-inspiring reputation, and it moved over here slowly but surely. Unfortunately, after the Treaty of Versailles, money here was tighter than ever, and so very few families with these aspiring dreams actually made it over. Thus, they started throwing birthday parties.

"Ooh, we're going to need a few more groceries. All right, I'll go get them," she said determinedly.

Granny and Winifred made their way to the entrance where Granny met Ed and Al. Winifred gave a quick smile and a wave before hurrying out to go get supplies.

She was halfway down the few steps in front of the hotel when she heard her name.

She whirled around to a dumbstruck Al. Both stared at each other, and Winifred lost herself in his odd, mesmerizing golden eyes. It didn't have quite the effect as his brother's, but Al could be quite charming. Meanwhile, Al was growing red with embarrassment as he tried to find the words to explain why he was here now. "Um…I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise! I just heard your grandmother tell you to go do something, and I thought, you don't have to, but maybe you'd need help! I would have to ask brother, and I understand-"

"It's alright," Winifred cut through the bumbling words and the lost conversation. She gave him a soft smile. "You can come with me, and your brother can come too, I don't mind."

"Oh, great!" Al sighed in relief and a loopy grin flitted across his face.

Winifred felt at ease with Al, and not the tension that spread whenever she stole a glance towards Edward. Al seemed a lot more easy-going, and not quite so intense with his emotions, or with her emotions. It made things that much simpler.

"It's Grace's birthday, and we're throwing her a little party. Nothing too big."

Ed had somehow managed to sneak out during their conversation. "Whose Grace?"

Winifred jumped and looked up nervously at his slumped up form leaning against the railing. "Oh, um, Grace is the little girl you guys were talking to." Both boys stiffened when they realized who the little girl was, but Winifred was too caught up in not trying to sneak a glance at Edward to notice. "Anyways, I would really like it if you guys went shopping for Grace, and I'm sure she would like it too. You don't have to if you don't want to." Her face flushed red and she realized what an idiot she must seem like. Thankfully, both Ed and Al seemed a little lost in thought to notice.

"So we can help throw a party for Grace?"

Winifred was surprised that it was Ed who said that, and his eyes lit up, as though he was determined to give her the best birthday party already. "Um…sure!"

"Great."