Welcome back to the story of Johanna and Edward! As promised this story will feature a series of one shots that look into Johanna and Edward's life AFTER the door. This story will feature shorter chapters, as it's a oneshot compilation! there will be time skips and major cannon plot points that are my own fannon.
PLEASE READ READY, STEADY, GO! FIRST, IT IS THE PREDECESSOR FOR THIS STORY. THIS STORY CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS FOR READY, STEADY, GO!
It had been nearly a week since Johanna had returned to Amestris from beyond the door. It had been decided that she would be living with
Edward in the house he had built on the same plot as his childhood home. Johanna was happy that she had been able to make it for Alphonse's wedding, that she'd been able to see him for a few days before he and Mae Chang left for Xing. The blushing bride was just as excited to see Johanna as Alphonse was and was more than happy to postpone their honeymoon.
During this time, Johanna also got to spend time with Winry and her Fiancé, Paninya, who Johanna was told had met Winry during her trip to Rush Valley. It was Paninya's boss whose baby Edward and Winry had helped birth. The baby, who was 5 now, only served as a bittersweet reminder of Maes Hughes, so besides formal introductions, the Blonde woman barely spoke about it. Instead, today Winry and Paninya we're helping Johanna unpack Alphonse's room, to make space for Johanna to live.
"You know, you really shouldn't be carrying that box. Edward will kill you." Winry said quietly from the bedroom door. Johanna groaned, turning where she stood.
"It's just a box of books." She sighed, placing them on her bed. She tried her best not to show it, but her arms were throbbing from the atrophy they faced on the other side. "Besides, Doctor Knox says that whatever I'm up for I'm okay to do, as long as I don't over exert myself. I'm still capable of doing things."
"I know, Jo, but I think Edward just wants you to rest. You've had a tough week and that's why we stayed a few extra days." Winry gave Johanna a small smile, crossing the room to her. Silently, she picked up one of the volumes, an old alchemy text of Hohenheim's that Alphonse used during his studies. "You know what?" Johanna looked at her expectantly. "You can take this one box while Paninya and I get us something to drink. But then you have to rest." Winry leveled a finger at Johanna, one that nearly touched her nose.
"I promise." Johanna grinned, hiking the box into her arms. Winry shook her head, leading Johanna to the attic steps.
"Take the box up then meet us in the kitchen. We'll make lunch as well. Edward should be home in a little while from dropping Al and Mae off at the train station." Winry waved her off, heading down the basement steps . She stopped mid way down, making sure that Johanna was okay on the stairs before heading off to the kitchen, leaving Johanna to her own devices.
The climb up the stairs wasn't incredibly hard, but it was long. The box of books was much heavier than when she started and Johanna stumbled across the floor towards the back of the attic, where they were storing Al's old stuff. With a sigh, she heaved the box onto the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust in it's wake. After her coughing fit subsided, Johanna stared at the volumes in the box, running her finger over the back of one.
"You boys and your alchemy." Johanna said, grabbing the book. With a sigh, Johanna ran her fingers down the front cover, flipping it open to the first page. There, above the title, was signed Hoenhiem's name. Seeing it made her tummy ache and she frowned, closing the book and bending over to return it to the box. As she bent down, beneath the dust, Johanna saw a faintly drawn, chalk, and without thinking she dropped to her knees, gently blowing away the dust.
It had been nearly a half hour since Winry came to the kitchen with Paninya. They pair started on lunch and before long Edward had returned home.
"Hey, how'd today go?" He asked, placing his hat and tie on the kitchen table.
"It went well, we got most of the room cleaned out. It's ready to fill with her things." Winry told him briefly looking up from the pot.
"When she gets them." Edward told her, a bit more harsh than was necessary. Winry froze, frowning up at him quietly.
"Right, of course." She said, returning to the pot she was working on. Edward stopped, looking around the kitchen quietly.
"Where is Jo?" He asked, crossing to the doorway that led to the living room and stairs. He knew he didn't pass her on his way in.
"She's in the attic. She wanted to take a box up there." Winry shrugged.
"What?! Why are you letting her carry things up the steps? The doctor said she should take it easy!" Edward scolded her.
"Doctor Knox said that she shouldn't over exert herself, but whatever she was up for would be good for her muscles." Winry turned from the stew accusatory, regurgitating Johanna's words. "She isn't a baby Edward!" Edward said nothing, instead turning furiously from the kitchen door. Winry followed him, giving Paninya and short glare as she did.
"Lifting heavy things is not good for her body. She needs to work up to lifting!"
"It was a box of books, Edward! It wasn't anything crazy!" Winry shouted, following him up the stairs.
"Jo?" Edward asked as he enter Alphonse's room. To both their surprise, it was empty. Edward turned to look at Winry.
"She must still be in the attic." Winry said, her bravado fading. The pair exchanged worried glances and Edward was the first to the attic ladder, scaling it easily.
"Johanna?" He called as he got to the top. Narrowing his eyes, Edward searched the attic for her, only able to see so far in front of his face. "Jo?" He called again as he pulled himself up. In the far corner he could see several boxes labelled "Alphonse" and as his eyes adjusted, another figure came into view, the figure of an unconscious Johanna. "shit!" He shouted, running across the room.
"Jo!" Winry shouted as she too saw her unconscious form. As the pair joined Johanna at her side, Edward could see that she'd managed to find the transmutation circle he'd wrote out to bring her back. It was unused, Alphonse wouldn't allow it, which is what started the fight between them all those years ago. Edward had felt spurned. "Edward, what is this?" Winry asked him, but Edward was not here to answer her questions.
"Get out." He told her quietly, kneeling beside Johanna. The girl was reeling, spasming and twitching on the floor. Her eyes were open, but they couldn't see anything as they were rolled back into her head, and he jaw hung slack.
"Put her on her side Edward-" Winry tried to instruct him.
"I said get out!" He repeated. Winry glared at the boy but she did not move.
"No. I'm here to help you!" Winry told him stubbornly.
"You've helped enough!"
"I'm sorry I left her alone, Edward. I'm sorry." Winry told him, watching as he pulled Johanna into his arms. Winry frowned, placing a hand on his arm. "but let me be here for you." She pleaded with him. With a nod, Edward finally did as he was told by Winry, placing her on her side
"Jo, it's okay, I'm here." He cried kissing her temple. Beside him, Winry shifted closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulder and placing her head against his. In that moment Edward felt his facade soften as his eyes began to sting. "I'm sorry I left you, I won't do it okay!" He practically begged.
They sat like that for good only knows how long before Johanna's shuddering began to slow, finally ceasing. It was oddly silent in that attic, unnervingly so, as the pair held their friend in their arms. All Edward wanted was to see her eyes again and all he could do was hope until they opened.