~The Lovely Bones~

Barry watched through the window of the kitchen as a blond haired beauty and a raven haired man exited Central Head Quarters and made a B line for their ride.

"Hey Chef, who's that leaving right now?" he asked the man writing up the next order for him.

"That's Lieutenant Colonel Mustang."

Not what he meant.

"… I see…" he replied tucking some of the strands of his brunette wig behind his ear, "and who's that woman with him?"

"That's Lieutenant Hawkeye, Mustangs right hand man, uh woman."

Chef saw how closely Barry was watching the pair and felt a pit of jealousy in his stomach.

"Don't tell me you have an eye for the Colonel, Adara?"

Barry turned and smiled at the unknowing man, "Oh no, of course not."

Barry had eye an eye for someone else entirely.

I could feel myself shaking. If only I had a way to warn her.

At the Hughes house Gracia was making up a bed for Alphonse. Maes Hughes may have acted clueless giving the excuse that Gracia needed company because he worked so much she had been lonely since she had to tend to the baby all the time, but truly he was looking out for him. In reality he knew that Alphonse had to be extremely shaken in light of recent events. He wanted Gracia to keep an eye on him in case he tried to do something reckless.

Al stood in the washroom with the door locked. He stared at his reflection in the mirror pondering life. He thought of his mother of Edward and Winry, and the old house up on the hill… the old house burning in red hot flames, just like his life was. His life was burning and burning everything away until nothing was left, nothing but himself. He wondered what his life had become as he looked down at his hands. What had he become? He grasped his fist together. What was the point with Edward gone? What was he fighting for but the happiness of his brother? He realized there was no point.

Slowly he removed his head and looked at the reflection of the blood seal in the mirror. Just as slowly he reached his thumb towards it. He was in a trance. Unsure of what the outcome of his actions would be.

I screamed for him to hold on. That he has to try because Ed is still alive. That he couldn't give up because they still had to get their bodies back. That they needed to live long and happy lives and forget all the cruelty that the world had thrown at them. That he just had to hold on. Just hold on!

The windows in the washroom smashed open from the gusting wind of an approaching storm, breaking Al from his trance. Soon after he heard the baby's cries and the light returned to his eyes.

He opened the door and watched as Gracia cooed at baby Elicia in the room across the hall. He realized the he couldn't do it there. Not in front of Gracia and the baby. Not where the people who had been kind to him would have to clean up the mess. He just couldn't do it.

Gracia finally noticed Al and looked up at him alarmed, "Al?"

"I'm sorry but I have to go!" he apologized before running out the door.

"Al wait!" Gracia called after him but he was already gone.

I hadn't realized that the last time I updated this was in 2010. I wonder if the people who had been following it still remember that it even exists? I guess we'll see. I think the problem was that I was trying to follow the book too much and I was getting writers block. I've decided to grow my roots a little bit and see what happens. I'll still put in references to the book every once in a while to keep with the lovely bones feel. I've decided to end this differently than either of the animes so even though I've based this on the platform of the first anime I'm going to start throwing brotherhood references in as well.

Reviews appreciated! Might update faster if I get some critiques as well! I've got the next chapter partially planned out so hopefully it won't take too long if I'm inspired enough to actually write it.