Chapter 8

I looked away from him as he bent down to my eyelevel and held the umbrella he had over us. I fingered the hem of his coat, which he had draped around my shoulders, and said, "Edward, why did you spend all of that money on a necklace for a person like me?"

     "What do you mean?" he asked, sitting on his knees. "You're my friend, and it was your birthday."

     "There has to be more to it than that," I said, staring at, but not seeing, the ground in front of me. "A necklace may be too friendly."

     "If you felt uncomfortable or unhappy by it, I'm sorry," Edward said, sounding like he meant it. "I just....didn't think you'd react like that. I... I'm sorry."

     "You've been so good to me these last few years," I said, starting to shake. "I...I don't understand it..."

     "You know what?" Edward said with a laugh. "Neither do I." I looked at him, and he was smiling. I looked away and just stared at Serah's headstone.

     "This is my sister, Edward," I said without thinking. "This is Serah...."

     "I know," he said. "I knew Serah once, remember?"

     "That time capsule you got the picture from," I said. "Where was Serah during that?"

     "I don't really remember," he said. "but I know it was something that you and I wanted to do. So my mom took that picture and gave us a shoebox. We filled it with lots of things, and I think you threw a doll and half of a sandwich in there."

     I felt tears roll down my cheeks again, and I smiled. "Why the hell would I throw half of a sandwich in a time capsule?"

     "Beats me," Edward said with a laugh. "and if I remember right, it was peanut butter and jelly, your favorite."

     "And now I can't stand peanut butter." I started laughing, my depression quickly fading away. Edward seemed to know how to cheer me up, even when my depression was at it's highest point.

     "Tomorrow, we can dig it up again and look through everything, if it's not raining," Edward. "I don't know why, but I re-buried it after I got the picture out of it."

     We stood up, and I almost fell; I had been sitting on my knees for two long, and once again, I had the weak legs.

     "I kind of miss having strong legs, like I did in Munich," I said as Edward helped me stay balanced. Then I remembered when I was at his and Alfons's house, and I collapsed. Edward caught me, and it was awkward the way he did. I remember he blushed madly.

     A fit of giggles escaped my mouth.

     "You're not drunk again, are you?" Edward asked, a laugh in his voice as well.

     "Of course not," I said, sobering up.

     "Then you have the most severe mood swings ever. C'mon, let's get home, the wind's picking up."

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The rain hadn't stopped by the time we got home. And when we got inside, we saw that a window was left open.

     Ten minutes later, after the water was cleaned up, I picked up the locket box and opened it, looking at it again.

     I announced I was going to bed when Edward started cleaning the dishes like he promised he would.

     "Night, Edward," I said, looking at the locket again.

     "Yeah, g'night," he replied, not looking up from the dishes. I felt bad. I made him worry like that, me just taking off after I opened a necklace that he sacrificed so much for. He didn't have a lot of money as it was. Neither of us did.

     So, I went up behing him, and unthinkingly hugged him, saying, "Thanks for the necklace, Ed. I appreciate it."

     He froze as soon as my arms went around his torso, and he stuttered, "Ah, uh, y-yeah, no problem, Lucille--ah, Lucy."

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The next morning when I got dressed, I made sure to wear the locket and bracelet. It didn't quite match my jeans, black T-shirt, and sweatshirt, but I didn't want Edward and Alphonse to think I didn't like thier gifts.

     When I emerged down the stairs, Edward wasn't there. I saw a note on the table that said: Went out for a bit. I'll be back by dinner.

     I sighed and slapped the note back on the table, saying, "So much for digging up the time capsule." Then, the phone rang.

     "Yeah?" I said when I answered it.

     "Lucy, it's me," came the colonel's voice in it's usual monotone.

"Colonel Mustang," I said, not expecting him to call. "What is it?"

     "First of all, happy birthday," he said. "Second, I'm sorry, I know you're retired, but the military needs our best assassin right now. What works for you, is that he's home now in Resembool."

     "No!" I shouted "I-I don't want to! I can't!"

     "Lucy, we have no other options," he said, sounding very convincing. "You have to be the one do kill him."

     "Who do I have to kill?" I asked. "Why is is SO IMPORTANT that I kill this guy?"

     "Because," the colonel said. "He's your father, you take care of him."

Author's Note

Stupid Colonel Sarcasm! DX

Reviews

[BeetleBug]

Another AWSOME Chapter!

[Anonymous]

YAY! THE RETURN OF CONFLICT! KILL THE BAD MAN, LUCY! KILL HIIIIIIIIIIIMMMM!!!!

[Emunah June.]

OH SHOOT!!!! LUCY ACTION YESS!!!

And yet another kiss-less chapter....siiiigggghhhh