A/N- I wrote this a very long time ago, basically when I started writing Second Chances. Bascially it's Winry's thoughts after the events of the movie.

Disclaimer- Fullmetal Alchemist? Yeah…no. Not mine.

Those left behind

"Pay attention kid, or you'll torch the whole desk!"

Winry snapped to attention and turned off the blow torch before the flame could burn a hole through the metal mold she was working on, and set the desk on fire.

"Sorry, Grandma. I'll be more careful."

"You'd better be for our sakes." Pinako crossed the room and then stopped at the door taking a long drag of her pipe. "Then again you're not usually so clumsy. Something's bothering you isn't it?"

Winry turned her eyes downward and pretended to examine the desk for scorch marks. Instead she found a loose screw in the bottom of the table. "Nothing, Grandma. Really."

"Those boys aren't coming back are they?"

Obviously, she thought bitterly as she cleared the table of all her tools and metal scraps. And she had expected it from Ed but wasn't prepared when Mustang told her Al had gone too. Without even a goodbye they had left on that rocket powered airship into who knows where. She'd given up on the thought of their return days ago.

"No they aren't."

"Are you sure you're alright? I know it must feel like they abandoned you, they aren't the type to sit in one place."

"No they aren't," she repeated. "And this time I'm done with waiting. I can't do anything except go on with my life. Besides," she picked up a screw driver and started fiddling with the screws under the right side of the table. "I should have known he wasn't staying for long. He never does."

"Are you angry with him?"

Now that was an interesting question. One she couldn't answer without knowing the reason that the blond blockhead had decided that coming home was unnecessary. It obviously had to do with him having some other mission that involved something dangerous because that was what it usually had to do with. Edward was always doing something that involved him risking his life, and frankly she was tired of worrying about him.

"No. For whatever reason he had to go back to wherever world he was and if was enough to make Al leave as well…I'm sure it was a good reason." She wanted to believe it so much, that they had had no other choice but to leave. That it was something that they were forced to do and not just something that had been an easy choice to make. That they didn't want to not come home. She wanted to believe it so much.

"I'm fine; of course I'll miss them but no use in worrying about it now," she said forcing a smile.

"Alright as long as you're okay...Finish up here. I'll be downstairs starting dinner."

Winry nodded and finished fixing the table. Once she heard the door slam and her grandmother's shoes descend the stairs she threw her herself on the desk and let all the tears she had been holding stream down the polished wood.

Whatever reason they had she could no longer deny it. As much as she didn't want to think about it that way each passing day the pain grew more as the realization became more vivid in her mind. They had left her behind.

Again.

For the last time.