I woke up with a start as I sat up on the sofa in the doctor's office, I gripped onto the back of the sofa and took a breath as I looked around. I saw Edward was sat up in bed eating, he was staring at me as I noticed his coat covering me,
"You're finally awake?" Edward smiled,
"Could say the same about you. How are you feeling?" I rubbed my eyes as Edward looked at his food,
"Great, thanks to you, I think." Edward spoke as I looked at him, "thank you. Coral and Tony said you did a pretty good job with your alchemy." Edward explained as I stood up,
"I did what I could." I put my hand to my chest as Edward frowned and looked down,
"You remember it all?" Edward asked as I nodded,
"I… I led Xerxes to ruin." I frowned as Edward looked at me, "I was being fooled by the devil. Father… he… he tricked me." I explained as best as I could, I think Edward could see the pain in my face,
"If he tricked you, there was no way you could have known." Edward spoke, "why does he look like Hohenheim though?" Edward asked, I looked down,
"I… can't say." I answered as Edward frowned,
"Your promise, huh?" Edward folded his arms as I nodded,
"I know you don't like your father but, I can't break my promise to him." I explained as he sighed and put his hand out.

I stood up and walked over to Edward, taking his hand Edward used his free one to move the tray of food to the side. Edward pulled me on the bed and wrapped his arms around me as I smiled to myself,
"I won't ask any more." Edward spoke gently as he kissed my head, I smiled and put my hands on his shoulders gently,
"Don't do too much over today and tomorrow, okay?" I asked as Edward pouted,
"I'll do what I want." Edward mumbled as he lifted my chin to look at him, I smirked and pushed his hair behind his ear,
"What do you want to do?" I asked, Edward didn't answer, he just leaned down and kissed me as his hand cupped the side of my face, his other arm was around my back and waist as he held me, Edward pulled me gently over his lap as I straddled his hips,
"What if the doctors walk in?" I pulled back and whispered, Edward looked away for a moment and glanced at the curtain,
"They went out after giving me food." Edward replied as he gently stroked my cheek with his automail hand, I held it and smiled gently as Edward's other hand moved to my leg.

I smiled as Edward moved his automail hand to hold the side of my face again and he pulled me to kiss him, I felt his other hand squeeze my leg gently. I pulled back and gently lifted Edward's head to the side and kissed his jawline as he moved his automail hand to my waist,
"Rea…" Edward mumbled,
"Relax," I spoke as I moved my kisses down his neck and then gently placed my other hand on his shoulder as I felt the muscles around his torso. I moved my lips over his collarbone and Edward groaned as I suddenly licked his neck gently,
"Ah-Rea!" Edward put his hand on my throat gently as he pushed me back, I was taken by surprise as Edward was panting,
"Did you like that?" I smirked, Edward nodded as I put my other hand on his which sat below my throat, Edward turned to look at me as he looked at my hand over his, he swallowed and looked between my eyes.

"Rea," Edward looked serious as I frowned with a smile,
"Yes, Edward?" I replied, he looked away and then back at me,
"With everything we've learnt lately, and everything you're remembering. How do you think we could make you mortal?" Edward asked, I was surprised by the question, but it made sense as I thought for a moment,
"Well… I don't know. I'm a living stone." I looked at Edward as he seemed sad, I took a sharp breath and moved from his lap, "you don't think we can do it, do you?" I asked as I looked at the ground,
"I don't know, as I don't know how you were made into one, I know lives we're sacrificed to make you the way you are, but how do you reverse that?" Edward answered honestly as I clenched my jaw, my knee started twitching as I shook it up and down.

I leaned forward and held my head in my hands, I felt Edward's eyes on me as I sat up and my leg continued to twitch. I saw him reach for me in the corner of my eye as I stood up and looked at his coat,
"I'll get you a different coloured coat for when you are better. Pull your braid out as well. It's a distinguishing feature of yours." I spoke coldly and walked to the door,
"Rea?" Edward called for me, but I heard him wince as he tried to get out of bed, the door to the practice opened and Darius and Heinkel walked in. "Rea?!" Edward called again,
"I'm going out. Make sure he stays in bed." I didn't look at Darius and Heinkel.

As I closed the door I wiped my face, I was crying… was Edward beginning to doubt that I could ever become mortal again? I needed to think things through and try to fix my own problem.

Edward looked at the two chimeras and noticed a dark look on both of their faces,
"What did you do?" Darius growled,
"She just walked out crying." Heinkel snapped as Edward suddenly looked horrified at the two towering over him,
"I didn't do anything! Just asked a question!" Edward snapped, he cringed and held his side as Darius picked the young man up and carried him to the bed,
"Stay there!" Darius snapped as Edward folded his arms and frowned. He looked at the sofa where she slept.

Edward had realised that he had grown this last year and Rea was indeed still fifteen. Edward sighed as he realised his question and words may have triggered some feelings in Rea that he didn't truly understand.
"Dammit…" Edward mumbled as Heinkel glared at him, "can you make sure Rea is okay? I said something stupid." Edward stared at his hands which were clenched on his lap,
"So, you admit you're an idiot?" Heinkel asked, Edward just groaned as he folded his arms. Heinkel glared at him with Darius as Edward glared back.

"What's got you two so riled up?" Edward grumbled,
"Reaka is too good for you." Darius spoke as Edward looked away,
"I tell myself that every day." Edward spoke as he frowned,
"I'll go find her and tell her you're a short idiot." Heinkel spoke,
"Who you call-?!" Edward started to yell but grabbed his side seconds later, Heinkel walked out, and they heard the front door close not long after as Edward noticed Darius still glaring, "seriously," Edward mumbled,
"Don't upset her." Darius warned, Edward glared at him,
"It wasn't on purpose! I just asked a question!" Edward snapped,
"What did you ask?" Darius glared,
"About whether we can make her mortal again-!" Edward answered, he stopped and looked away, it was always something she hated, so to have the idea thrown around that she'd potentially be immortal forever probably led to her concern about her not being able to have a family, which then meant Rea could have misunderstood into thinking he was worried about growing older while she stayed young.

"You outlive everyone… Everyone you meet, friend, lover, you… you outlive everyone you care about. There's nothing you can do to stop it."

Edward realised where he messed up and put his hand to his head,
"Me and my big mouth…" Edward spoke,
"She was in tears when she left." Darius explained as Edward froze,
"Dammit! I didn't mean to make her cry!" Edward grabbed his head as Darius sat on the chair next to the bed, "All I keep doing is making Rea cry…" Edward mumbled as he sighed,
"I'm surprise she sticks around if you keep doing that." Darius spoke bluntly,
"Not all the time I mean! It just feels like every time she cries it's around me." Edward frowned,
"She might not be crying because of you then. She probably feels comfortable enough to cry around you." Darius explained as he sat back,
"The first time she was in tears she did run away." Edward frowned as he remembered Nina. "The next time was when…" Edward realised it was because she was attacked and the shock caught up to her, and the other times were because of scenarios that were out of their control. Edward looked at Darius, "This is the first time I've made her cry." Edward spoke,
"You better make it up to her then." Darius folded his arms as Edward nodded.

Edward thought about something he bought for Reaka a while ago, it was on the day they went out around Central. He'd noticed she picked up a necklace and put it back, since that day he's never really had a good opportunity to give it to her.

I had bought some food for Darius, Heinkel, and Edward. I carried the bag around for a short while and then sat down on a park bench as I thought about what Edward said.

I frowned and closed my eyes as the bench creaked next to me,
"He said he's an idiot." Heinkel spoke as I opened my eyes and sighed,
"He did, did he?" I questioned as I looked away, Edward wouldn't say that,
"Whatever he said, I'm sure he didn't mean it." Heinkel added as I looked at him, I leaned back on the bench and stared at the floor. "If you come back, I'm sure he'll explain-" Heinkel started,
"He doesn't talk about things. Words and talking are not his strongest trait." I snapped,
"So, he's a man of action then?" Heinkel asked as I nodded, "how long have you two been together?" Heinkel asked,
"A little under a year." I explained as Heinkel nodded.

We sat there for a few moments,
"What do you like-?" Heinkel started,
"Love…" I interrupted, "let's not sugar coat it like I'm five." I smirked and felt my cheeks heat up as Heinkel smirked, "He's stubborn, but he cares, a lot, about the people around him. He's honest, yes, he's got a bit of a temper but he's intelligent and quick thinking when he needs to think on his feet." I explained,
"He's lucky to have you. Punching above his weight if you ask me." Heinkel muttered as I looked at him and chuckled,
"Why do you think that?" I chuckled,
"Aren't you supposed to be a princess? Or did I mishear Kimblee?" Heinkel asked as I looked away,
"Yeah. But what's that got to do with anything?" I asked,
"I don't know if it's the lion in me, but you have a strong sense of leadership. You're also quite beautiful if you don't mind me saying." Heinkel spoke as I grabbed the bag and stood up with him,
"Let's go back." I smiled as Heinkel nodded and put his hands in his pockets, I suddenly hugged Heinkel and smiled, "thank you." I spoke as I felt him freeze up,
"Er, it's no worries." Heinkel spoke, I stepped back, and we walked together.

"I need to get some plain coloured cloth so I can make a coat for Edward and myself." I explained as Heinkel nodded,
"Sure." Heinkel followed me in a tailor, and I picked out a beige material, I bought enough to make two coats.

We slowly made our way back to the clinic on the edge of Mebbo,
"Talk to him when you get back." Heinkel spoke as I frowned,
"Sure." I nodded and sighed, it could have been a misunderstanding, I could have misunderstood what he was trying to say.

As we walked in the apartment building, we walked down to the doctor's office and Tony opened the door,
"Here you are! They said you went out." Tony spoke as I nodded,
"Heinkel, want to take these back upstairs?" I gave him the food,
"Sure." Heinkel nodded as I kept the cloth on me.
"I'm assuming he's still in bed?" I asked Tony as he nodded,
"Not leaving that bed. The other guys been talking to him. About you, by the sounds of it." Tony whispered the last part as I looked away, "all good!" Tony quickly spoke as I nodded.

I stopped by the curtain as I could hear Darius and Edward, I was by the wall, out of sight from the bottom of the curtain. But I heard Darius move and I could see his feet under the curtain,
"If she were here right now, what would you say?" Darius asked,
"What kind of question is that?" Edward spoke,
"Sometimes, with women, you need to explain yourself. Talk." Darius snapped as I covered my mouth,
"I-I don't know!" Edward groaned,
"Pretend I'm Reaka! What would you say?" Darius snapped,
"Reaka wouldn't stink like a garbage dump and look like a gorilla!" Edward yelled and then cringed,
"Stop moaning and talk!" Darius snapped back,
"Fine!" Edward yelled, I stopped and held onto the cloth as I waited to listen.

"Rea, I'm sorry. I do believe we can make you mortal again; I really do. Every step we take together I'm sure it leads us to the truth." Edward spoke as I smiled,
"Go on?" Darius growled as Edward paused,
"I'm an idiot for how I asked you that question earlier. I know you've told me before how being immortal has affected you and I'm sorry for bringing that wound to the surface again." Edward sighed, "I-I don't want to lose you. You've shown me and taught me a lot, we are a team, as you once said." Edward added as I smiled to myself and felt my eyes well up, "I…" Edward stopped as Darius tapped his foot,
"You, what?" Darius asked,
"I want to make an equivalent exchange with her!" Edward yelled as I froze,
"Huh?! Isn't that alchemy related?" Darius smacked his forehead as Edward stuttered,
"Well-! That's how it works right? I'll give her half my life and she'll give me half of hers?!" Edward asked, Darius sighed as he tapped his foot on the floor,
"You've got absolutely no clue about women." Darius spoke as I walked around the corner and in the room.

Edward's face suddenly turned red as he looked at me,
"R-Rea! How long were you there for?" Edward asked, I smiled and put the cloth down on the floor as I walked to the side of the bed and sat down,
"I heard it all." I smiled as I grabbed Edward's hand, "I'll give you all my life." I added as Edward looked over my face, "Half, just won't do it for me." I chuckled as I looked over his face, Edward looked over my face,
"You… all of it?" Edward looked at me as I nodded,
"Yeah." I smiled as Darius huffed,
"You two clearly deserve each other." Darius complained as he walked out the room. I moved close to Edward and kissed his cheek gently as he was still in shock,
"I think Darius set you up then." I smirked as Edward chuckled as he snapped back to reality,
"Looks that way." Edward smiled as he held my hands, "all of it…" Edward mumbled again as I guess he couldn't comprehend the idea of someone giving their all to something.

I moved from the bed and grabbed the cloth,
"I've got some for making us new coats," I explained as Edward nodded, I picked up one of the bits of cloth and as I held it, I used my alchemy to turn it into a coat for Edward, I repeated the process with the other piece of cloth and put them over the sofa I had originally slept on.

I moved back to Edward and saw his hair was still in a ponytail as I grabbed the tie,
"I'll have that." I smile as Edward tried to grab my hand to stop me, "they'll recognise you." I explained and watched his hair fall around his shoulders as I smiled at him. I ran my fingers through it gently as I stood at his bedside.

Edward gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on the bed as his other hand moved to my face to pull me to kiss him. Our lips connected gently as I felt his hand move around the back of my head. He pulled me down on the bed as I smiled and pulled back,
"I love you, Rea." Edward spoke gently as I smiled,
"I love you too," I spoke, and Edward leaned up and kissed my forehead gently.

"He'll be able to rest upstairs tonight, if he wants, though he'll have to keep coming down every day so we can check him for the next couple of days." Coral spoke as we both looked around at her,
"Okay, thank you for everything, Coral." I nodded,
"We will sort out payment in a few days. I'll drop the details at your apartment tomorrow so you can get payment from the bank the next day." Coral explained as Edward nodded,
"Sure thing." Edward spoke,
"Would be a good idea to send Darius or Heinkel. They may recognise me at the bank." I explained as Edward nodded.

I gave Edward his coat as he wrapped up and I grabbed the rest of his belongings, we made our way out and up the stairs as I kept an eye on Edward as he climbed the stairs.

Edward seemed a lot better than I imagined, we'd probably be able to get on the move again in two days' time, which was great news.

As we made it upstairs, I opened the door and Darius and Heinkel looked up,
"He's okay to move around?" Darius asked,
"Can't keep me down." Edward smirked as I pointed to the bedroom,
"Bed, now." I spoke as Darius and Heinkel chuckled as Edward pouted and walked to the bedroom, "he still needs to rest, but it's better he's in a good bed, rather than that horrible thing downstairs." I explained as they both nodded,
"Do you need the other bedroom back?" Darius asked,
"Why?" I asked, just before Edward entered the room, he looked at the two men and they looked at him with dark faces, but Edward looked smug as he glared at them.

"Am I missing something?" I mumbled and frowned, "Bed, Edward." I spoke as he looked at me,
"Okay, fine." Edward nodded as I looked at the two men,
"Want help with dinner?" I asked,
"We've got it." Heinkel folded his arms as I nodded,
"Thanks." I spoke as he looked past me at my bedroom door.

"What's so wrong with me and Edward in the same bed?" I asked bluntly, Darius and Heinkel looked at me suddenly,
"Nothing wrong!" They both spoke,
"Are you sure?" I asked,
"Well… we don't want him taking advantage of you." Darius spoke as I flushed,
"He shouldn't be in the position of being able to make any action." Heinkel added as I started to laugh, they both looked at me,
"I trust Edward with my life. He wouldn't do anything like that." I grinned. It was mainly me making the advances with Edward, though, he was growing more confident with me.

Later that night I walked into my bedroom after the food and plates were tidied up, Darius and Heinkel were going to take it in turns in the other bedroom while the other slept on the sofa.

I got changed into a long sleeve short dress to wear to bed and noticed Edward was already asleep. I smiled as I climbed into bed and gently pulled my part of the blanket over to me.

I could hear Edward breathing heavy as I smiled to myself and closed my eyes. I relaxed my body and tried to fall asleep quickly.