(DISCONTINUED) The Flames of Envy (Envy x OC)

Chapter 2

"Alexis? Alexis, are you up, yet? Alex--" Riza opened the door, but saw that Alexis wasn't in her room. She shrugged and went back downstairs. She noticed Roy was sitting at the table, drinking his morning cup of coffee and rereading Alexis' report.

"Ah, Roy, have you seen Alexis?" He nodded and said, "Hughes came to pick her up earlier while you were in the shower. He said Fullmetal and his brother are going to Dublith by way of Rush Valley and they wanted her to go with them. They're going to meet the boys' teacher from years ago." Riza sighed, "Oh. I hope she'll be alright." Roy smiled at her. "You'd think she was your own daughter with the way you act with her." Riza said, "Sorry, Sir, but she has been living with us and training with us for so many years, now, that it only feels natural." Roy chuckled and said, "I know what you mean. She'll be fine, Lieutenant."

Meanwhile, at the train station, Alphonse and Winry were waiting at a booth on the train for Ed and Alexis to show up. Alexis had suggested that they go and get coffee since she "didn't get any at the crack of dawn", but their barista was a little slow to get their order.

"Come on, Alexis! We'll miss the train!" Ed called back, running ahead of her to get to the platform on time. Alexis yelled, wheezing and panting, "I know! I know! I'm coming, Ed!" Ed leaped into the doorway and held out his hand to help Alexis onto the train just as it began to pull away from the station. They walked back and instantly collapsed into the booth, Alexis leaning on Ed's shoulder. Winry gave her a small death glare, but Alexis was oblivious, sipping her coffee and catching her breath. Ed looked at Alexis and smiled, his cheeks turning a light pink.

The whole train ride to Rush Valley, Ed slept, leaning on the window. Alexis, on the other hand, just sat next to him, looking out the window. After an hour, Winry and Al got up to walk around for a bit. Alexis switched seats to sit across from Ed and gazed at his sleeping face. "He looks so peaceful," she thought. She noticed a strand of hair from his bangs had fallen into his face. Smiling, she brushed it back into its rightful place and felt her cheeks flush a little. He shifted a little, causing her to jump out of her trance and look outside, still blushing. He stayed asleep, though, and Alexis just smiled at him before returning her gaze outside.

When the four reached Rush Valley, Winry was absolutely beside herself with excitement and the first to practically run off the train. Alexis sighed and said, "I wonder if they have a coffee shop?" Al said, "Of course you would ask that, Alexis." Ed laughed and said, "There's one! Let's go, Alexis!" Alexis grinned and said, pretty much dragging Ed, "Yeah! Winry and Al can deal with their own stuff! We need coffee right now! Gotta charge up for the rest of the day! See you later, Al! See ya, Winry!"

At the cafe, Alexis and Ed got their coffee and sat at a table waiting for the sandwiches they ordered.

"Hey, Ed?" Alexis said quietly as she sipped her coffee, "I...I think someone has been watching me, Roy, and Riza." Ed stopped mid-sip. "What do you mean? You saw someone?" She gave him a look and said, "Yes. Last night. Someone ducked into the woods as if they were trying to hide." Ed put his hand under his chin and said, "That's not good. I hope the Colonel and the Lieutenant will be alright. Did you tell them?" "I told Roy. He said he would have a team investigate while I'm gone." Ed sighed and took a sip of his coffee.

Outside, Winry was running excitedly from one automail shop to the next with Alphonse, who was barely keeping up with her. Ed and Alexis soon rejoined them, having eaten their sandwiches. Ed brought Winry one. She smiled and accepted it cheerfully, still talking about tech and automail. Soon, a passerby noticed Alphonse and mistook him for the Fullmetal Alchemist. Al was quick to correct them and direct them to Ed. A crowd quickly formed around Ed, Alexis, and Winry.

"Are you his automail mechanic?" "Wow! What craftsmanship!" "A strong build for such a little guy!"

"HEY!! WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE!?!" Edward shouted. Alexis laughed a little as the crowd picked up Edward, but she sighed and walked off.

"A-Alexis...?" Al said as he put his hand on Alexis' shoulder, "Are you okay? You seem kind of sad lately." Alexis smiled and said, "Y-yeah, I--" She stopped, then said, "I-I'm just...tired lately. Haven't been sleeping well, you know?" Al looked at her, then said, "Have you told the Colonel or the Lieutenant?" Alexis shook her head, tossing her short, red hair. "They would worry about me. They...they treat me as if I'm their own daughter." Al chuckled and said, "Well, if you ever...uh...want to talk, I'll listen." Alexis smiled at Al and said, blushing a little, "Thanks, Alphonse. I really appreciate it."

"HEY!!! STOP HER!!!" The two heard Ed's voice over the hum of the crowd. Alexis shouted, seeing a dark-skinned girl running away, closely followed by Edward and Winry. Alexis and Al caught up and Al asked, "What happened?" Ed shouted angrily, "She pick-pocketed me, damn it!! She's got my pocket watch!!" Alexis yelled at the girl, snapping her fingers and creating a wall of flames, "STOP OR ELSE YOU BURN!!!" The girl skidded to a halt and turned around defensively. "Now that I have your attention," Alexis said, "Please give my friend his--" "WATCH IT, ALEXIS!!" The girl had shot something from her knee, barely missing Alexis as Ed grabbed her hand and yanked her out of the way. "You've got an automail leg with a built-in cannon!!!" Winry had run over and started fawning over the craftsmanship. Then they heard the voice of a man from the doorway of the house they were in front of, "Paninya, is that you? Oh!"

The five looked at the young man in the doorway and he said, smiling, "Friends of yours?" The girl, Paninya, started to protest, but the man invited everyone inside, seeing rain clouds outside.

"So the three of you are from Resenbool and you are from Central City? Wow! Very interesting! We rarely ever get strangers out this far!" Alexis said, looking over to where Winry was studying Paninya's automail legs, "Well, Sir, you see, we're actually on our way to Dublith to see their former teacher, but our automail mechanic wanted to stop here on the way." Ed said, "Yeah. She can get a little bit enthusiastic, as you can tell." Ridel laughed.

Edward was sitting on a crate when a rather angry-looking old man came in and started looking over Winry's automail job. "It's a bit heavy. Maybe explains why your growth was stunted." Ed started to get angry, but Winry rushed over and asked, "M-Mr. Dominic? Could you please make me your apprentice?" Dominic immediately shot her down, however, and left the room. Ridel apologized and said, "Sorry about that, Miss. He can be a little stubborn." Al decided to take Ed for a walk and Alexis said, deciding at the last minute to go with them, "W-wait for me, Alphonse!"

Alphonse walked Ed into a room that seemed empty, but upon walking in, he and Alexis saw Ridel's wife, Satella, sitting in a chair, rubbing her belly. Alphonse walked up, dragging Ed still, and Alexis stayed behind in the doorway. Alphonse said gently, "E-excuse me...? Are you having a baby...?" Satella answered sweetly, "Why, yes I am." Al said, "Do you think...? Er...would it be okay if I felt your tummy...?" She nodded and Al put his hand delicately on her belly as she reached out, taking Ed's hand and placing it on her belly alongside Al's. Alexis walked out, smiling, but on the verge of tears.

"I can never experience the feeling of...of creating something," she thought, "I will never feel the same joy that she feels. I...can't have a...family."

Ed pondered out loud, "It's like there's a miracle growing inside you." Al said, "Yeah. We were in mom's tummy like that once too." Satella smiled, then looking around, said, "Hm? Where did your friend go?" Ed explained, a little confused and concerned, "She...um...I guess she had something to do...?" Alphonse looked back at the doorway, thinking, "I wonder what's been bothering her so much...?" "I see-- Oh!" Ed asked as she winced, "A-are you okay?" She nodded, putting on a smile.

Alexis went to the window at the end of the hallway, looking out at the rain as it fell. Winry took Alexis' wrist and said, "What's up? You've been looking down lately." Alexis sighed and said, "For the last time, I'm okay! I'm just tired! I...haven't been sleeping well lately." Winry said, looking at her, upset, "Again...? How many times have you--" "I heard Roy and Riza last night worrying about me, Hughes was worried about me this morning, Alphonse was concerned earlier, now you! Why can't everyone--" Ed came running over, stammering and trying to tell the girls something. "B-b-ba...the b...th-the ba...!" Alexis snapped at him, "Spit it out, Ed!" Edward shouted at them, "Th-th-THE BABY'S COMING!!!"