A month passed quickly by. My writings seemed to have grown wings and were souring to new heights. Whenever Al would read them he would only nod his head. He knew he was the hero in my fictional world, and I was sure blushed under that helmet at times.

Ed on the other hand would read with great intensity. He didn’t show emotion until after finishing a piece. Then he would look up and say with a smile, “Wonderful!” or “That’s just the way Al is.” He loved the fact that his younger brother was earning a new standing in the community.

It was as though Alphonse had become somewhat of a living ledged. People would come to him who had little, asking for help with repairs, and odd jobs. Always when they would offer to pay he would shake his head. “No.” He’d say, “It just needed doing.”

That is of course when it wasn’t someone who had plenty. Then he would graciously accept and turn around to spend the money on food for the children.

I was falling fast. There was no stopping me, no going back now. I was falling in love with my masked hero. He had walked out of the storybooks into real life. Now he stood here before me, kind and loving. I couldn’t help but fall for him. Besides, I didn’t want to try to stop myself.

Winry would read my works and smile. She always gave me a knowing look. Only the two of us seemed to know what I was feeling.

She herself was getting in more business than she ever had. Once word got out that she was a wonderful mechanic she was, she found herself doing work for all sorts of wealthy people. Still if someone came who couldn’t pay, she’d do it for free. “It’s worth it,” she told me, “for the smiles.”

So then after the news spread about what a great guy Alphonse was he could go to town without feeling uncomfortable. Instead of stares he’d have to put up with, “Hey Al!” and “Great job Al!”

Unfortunately his new fame also brought forth a set of people I didn’t care for. Young girls, far better looking than I, wanted to date Al. He was popular and rumored to be a handsome prince under that helmet. To my relief he would shake his head telling them, “No thank you; some other time perhaps.”

There was another side to my wring. Poetry and pros, which were never meant to be published or read by anyone other than myself. Late at night, after long days of working on things for others, I would write what I saw in Alphonse. Those things that stayed bottled up inside me.

At the end of one particularly long day I sat down to try and relax. For me that meant writing things out.

My love I’ve never seen your face.

You never opened up to me.

But in your way of loving grace,

You have set my soul free.

‘Naw that’s all wrong…’ Maybe tonight wasn’t a night for poetry.

You are my knight in shining armor. My hero hidden by the mask. Though I have never seen your face, I have felt your gracious smile. It warms me as though it were a hidden flame. I love you though I do not know you and I fear within my deepest soul that you do not trust me. For why else hide the face that I love?

Doth thy helmet knight that I may see the eyes which look upon me. For so intensely do they burn into my soul that I cannot turn away. Let me see the face of my beloved. Hide not from me, for were you wretched in the eyes of others, you would be beauteous in mine. For were you the beast and I the beauty, I would love you as in the story. Or were you are handsome beyond compare I would love you none the more. So doth thy helmet fair knight, that I may see the owner of my heart.

‘That’s better, not perfect but better.’ I gave it the once over but decided it would never see the ink of a printers press. I could have enhanced it for the papers, but I didn’t want Al to see it.

‘Lorna’ I signed it quickly then put it in the back folder of one of the drawers. I walked over and laid down on the to bed. ‘No, I’m not ready for confession time.’

Before long I began to get bored with what few books Ed’s library consisted of that weren’t about alchemy.

“Lorna, if you’re so bored why don’t you check the attic?” Al queried, coming in to find me frowning at the bookshelves.

I turned to look at him with a heave of exasperation, “Now ya think of the attic?” I placed my hands on my hips and shook my head. He only laughed.

“This way.” He said, leading me to Ed’s study. In the corner of the ceiling was a small door, just large enough for me to get through. “I’ll boost you up.” Al offered, lowering his hands to lift me.

“Just don’t look up my skirt!” I teased.

He laughed again then hoisted me up and I opened the door. As he raised me on into the attic I looked around. It was dark, dusty, and creepy.

‘Perfect place for ghosts.’ I thought, lifting myself into a standing position.

“Well?” Al called, looking up.

“Well it’s dark!” I answered calling back down. Then I saw the pull string. “Hold on a sec.” I pulled the cord and immediately the bulb blew! “Ah!” I yelled, jumping a little.

“Lorna!”

“I’m okay Al, but the light just burnt out.” I knelt back down to the hole. “I need a flashlight. Can ya find one?”

He nodded then walked out of the study. I looked about and wrapped my arms around me. ‘I hate vampire stories.’

I remembered one movie I’d seen a years ago. While the memory had been dormant it now surfaced in vivid color. “Hurry!” I called down through the hole.

‘I hate vampire stories. I hate ghost stories. What am I thinking? I write ghost stories!’

Soon Al came back flashlight in hand. “Here, be careful, Ed and Winry just left and I can’t get up there.”

“Oh thanks.” I rolled my eyes sarcastically, taking the flashlight. He looked down at the floor as if hurt.

I felt bad so I added in mock seriousness, “If I see a ghost you better be ready to catch me cuz I’ll jump!” He laughed. “Yeah you think I’m joking.” I added, rolling my eyes again.

I looked in the first box which was wooden rather than cardboard. I found stacks of old clothes. ‘Nothing useful.’ I thought, moving to the next box.

Seeing it was wooden too I moved the flashlight around the attic noting they were all wooden. Then I caught sight of a built-in bookshelf. I made my way over to it minding the boxes and cobwebs as I went.

“Find anything?” I almost jumped out of my skin.

“Alphonse Elric! Don’t you dare scare me like that!” I screamed. “Yeah there’s some books up here. Hold on, I’m gonna check ‘em out.”

I walked over and dusted them off. They were old, and some of them weren’t in English. I couldn’t even tell what language they were written in. I moved on down to the next shelf. It consisted of long novels, not something I had the patience for.

But the level below that held books with short stories. I dusted them off, taking a closer look. Seeing an empty box, out of the corner of my eye, I pulled it over to the bookshelf and began stacking them in. The next shelf held poetry. ‘My favorite type of books!’ I exclaimed to myself, piling them in on top of the others.

While dragging the box toward the hole I noticed a carton of other, older books. They were leather bound so I stopped to check them out. They were hand written. At first I thought they were old diaries but soon realized I was wrong. They were work journals. I then saw a word I recognized, ‘Alchemy’. So with great effort I started to push both boxes toward the opening.

“Al I got two boxes of books.” I said, peering over the side, down at him.

“Two boxes!” He seemed overwhelmed.

I smiled and nodded, “Yep and I didn’t even finish checking out what all’s up here. But some are… well let’s just get ‘em down.” He nodded and I pushed the first box into his hands. “Watch out it’s heavy.”

“I got it.” He told me taking it as though it didn’t weigh any more than a loaf of bread. Next I lowered the box of alchemy books. He took it and set them aside then I let myself down and he caught me. I then managed to close the door.

But then somehow, to my horror, on the way down my skirt got stuck on his helmet! “Oh!” I screeched trying to get it loose. Meanwhile he stood there trying hard not to drop me. Of course just at that moment who should come through the door but Edward!

“Al!” He screamed hurrying to help hold me while I got my skirt loose. Luckily nothing could be seen from the back. Winry came in just as they were setting me down.

“Lorna!” She shrieked coming over to pull me away from Al. “What on earth happened?”

“I was coming outta the attic.” I explained exasperated. I was hoping Al had kept his eyes shut. At that moment he had a hand over them. Inside I’m sure he was red as a beet.

Ed however had turned his attention to the second box of books. “Where did these come from?” He took one out and opened it.

“The attic.” I explained, rolling my eyes and straightening my skirt. ‘Where’d he think they came from?’ I was trying desperately not to say that last part aloud.

“These are work journals, on the philosopher’s stone.” He was still deep in thought looking through the book.

“What’s that?” I inquired glancing up at Al who was now looking over Ed’s shoulder.

“Something from our world. It’s not suppose to exist here.” He was now as deeply engrossed as his brother.

I decided to use the diversion as a getaway. I turned and with Winry helping me we were able to drag the other box to the library.

“So what’s the big deal about the stone?” I wondered aloud, as we drug the books along.

“It is an alchemy thing that rules out equivalent trade. With it Ed could get his arm and leg back, and Al could…” She trailed off looking at the ground and releasing the box as we entered the library.

“He got hurt too, didn’t he?” I pursued, letting go of my side of the box and standing up straight.

“Yes, he was.” She nodded looking at me.

“Don’t worry I don’t have to know.” I smiled and picked up one of the poetry books. Winry smiled gratefully back at me.

“I’m gonna be in the living room if ya need me.” I told her. “I’ll start a fire, it’s getting cool outside.”