Chapter 6! Woot! Slowly but surely, we're getting there! This chapter is very interesting, in my opinion. There were so many different ways I could have put this chapter. I might write a one shot of one of the other ways, because I really debated on whether or not to put that one or the one I actually wrote in here. Tell me if you want to read the other way.

Anyway, Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist in any way, shape, or form.

Chapter 6

~Tara's POV~

"Wow.."

Tara gaped at the huge building that was the public library in front of her. She had never seen a library so big, so.. different. The style of the library was different, the shelves seemed different, even the books seemed different somehow. She was so fascinated by the library that Tara didn't even notice Ed and Al come up behind her. She turned around to face them and caught Ed smirking at her. Tara narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Ed grinned. "Nothing. Whats so amazing about a library? Someone might get the impression that you've never been to one before."

Tara scoffed and turned back around. "Well," she stated. "That person would be wrong, because I've been to plenty of libraries." She stared at the shelves again. "Just nothing quite like this.."

She heard Al chuckle behind her. "Just wait until we get to Central," he said. "They have an even bigger library."

Tara grinned. She couldn't take it anymore. Racing for the first shelf, she grabbed the nearest book and examined it. My greatest weakness. Books. I love me my books. Tara grinned and started to open the book, then snapped it closed. No! Bad Tara! Focus on research now, read for pleasure later! Sighing, she put the book she was holding back and made her way to the non fiction side of the library. Tara's long line of research began.

Tara heaved a tired sigh and snapped the book she was reading closed. Glancing up at the clock, she sighed again, this time out of frustration. She had been researching on how to get home for two hours, and she had gotten nowhere. Not a single lead. Nothing. Tara shook her head tiredly. Grabbing the pencil and blank sheet of paper that she was supposed to be taking notes on, she started to doodle. Before she knew it, she had a small drawing of Alphonse as a ten year old boy. Tara looked at the drawing for a minute. Something was off.. she couldn't figure it out. His hair? His eyes?

A small, echoey voice sounded behind her, "You're a good drawer.."

Tara jumped. Quickly, she grabbed a book and spun around, covering the drawing with her body and raising the book in defense. Then she saw Al, who had raised his own hands in defense, and visibly relaxed. "Alphonse, you scared me!" She gasped out, putting the book down.

Al quickly waved his hands in front of his face. "Sorry!" he cried. "I didn't mean to!"

Tara sighed. "It's alright. Sorry I almost slapped you with a book." She laughed nervously, hoping Al wouldn't ask any questions. Fortunately for her, he didn't. Instead he sat down at the table across from her.

"Had any luck with your research?" Alphonse asked curiously.

Tara shook her head. "Nope. Just a bunch of useless facts. Nothing that helps."

Al looked at her. "We could help you. What do you need to know?"

Uh oh.. Tara searched desperately for a cover story. But she couldn't think of one. And she didn't want to lie. So she simply said, "I can't tell you."

Al looked hurt. "Why not?"

Tara looked down. Crap. "I.. I can't tell you that either. I promise that if the time is right, I'll tell you, but I can't now."

They sat there in silence for a little bit. Then Tara broke it by asking a question she already knew the answer to. "What are you guys researching?"

Al looked at her. "You want me to tell you what we're researching when you wont tell us what you're researching?"

Tara looked down, a little hurt. He was right. That wasn't an Equivalent Exchange. "Sorry, you're ri-"

"Hey! Al!"

Tara spun around to see Edward running towards them, yelling quite loudly across the room to his brother. "Ed," she hissed at him. "Shut up!"

Ed glared at her. "Why don't you?"

Tara fumed. "Oh yeah?" she retorted rather louder than she meant to. "This is a library, Ed! Be quiet, we're gonna get in trouble!

Ed sneered at her. "Oh, look. Now who's yelling?"

Al nervously waved his hands back and forth. "Uh, guys, you might wanna calm down.."

Nearby, a librarian was sitting at her desk. She looked up and gave Tara and Al a glare. Ed didn't see it, he was too busy mocking Tara. She growled inwardly, turning back to him. "Ed, shut up before I make you."

Ed grinned. "Oh, I'm so scared.."

Tara opened her mouth to retort, then looked up and visibly paled. "Um. Ed, seriously, be quiet.." The librarian had gotten up from her desk and was stalking angrily over to them. Tara felt her stomach drop. Shut up, shut up, shut up please...

Ed payed no attention. He grinned openly and stared at her triumphantly.. until a hand grabbed the back of his coat and hoisted him into the air. Tara backed up and hid behind Al. The librarian stared coldly down at Ed as she held him, her glasses flashing. That shut him up, and Tara couldn't help but smirk at how openly terrified he looked. His eyes were wide open, shock flickering in them. The librarian was getting all in his face. Tara almost felt sorry for him, almost wanted to step in and help him. Almost. But she didn't. Instead, she watched as the enraged librarian got up and carried Edward to the door..then literally threw him out. He hit the ground hard, face first. Al cried, "Brother!" and ran to his side. Tara turned to the librarian, a little surprised. "Um," She hesitantly started. "You could have just asked us to leave.."

The librarian suddenly turned on her, and Tara leapt back in fright. That look! Tara cowered. She knew that look all too well. That was the look her stepmother gave her often, the merciless look. That's the look that she got when she was in big trouble, the look that came right before the beatings. Tara felt her blood freeze, and suddenly she didn't see the librarian, but her stepmother looming over her threateningly. She raised her arms over her face and closed her eyes, bracing herself for the blow..

There was a sudden cry of, "Hey!" and the sounds of struggling. Tara didn't dare open her eyes. She was so scared. She didn't even know where she was anymore. All she knew was that she was terrified, terrified of what was to come. So when someone strong picked her up, Tara flailed and screamed. "Let me go!" she cried. "Don't hurt me!"

"Tara, easy, its me!" Al's voice flooded through her thoughts. She opened her eyes slowly to see Al looking down at her, his eyes showing concern. The visions slowly ebbed away, and Tara began to regain her self control. Al put her down gently, and she sighed in relief. "Sorry, Al." Alphonse just nodded.

Ed was arguing with the librarian on the top of the steps. He looked enraged. Tara had seen him like that in the anime many times, but he looked so much more.. emotional in the real thing. She watched him in awe. After a couple minutes, Ed ran down the steps and stalked off. "Lets go," he snarled. Tara and Al quickly walked after him, the librarian yelling after them, "And don't come back!"

Ed growled, "Don't worry, we won't."

Al walked closer to him. "Brother? Is everything okay?"

Ed shook his head and kept walking. Tara walked on in silence. Those eyes.. She shuddered inwardly and pushed the thoughts away. "Guys," she whispered. "Can we stop for today?"

To her surprise, Ed nodded without arguing. "Yeah. Lets go find somewhere to stay."

Alright! So, Ed and Al have officially gotten themselves kicked out of a library. Interesting. Review please!