FMA Alternate ending for series 1

Pairing: Ed/Winry

Chapter 1-HOME (Winry P.O.V.)

Gazing out at the road, I felt like I was ten years old again and Ed and Al were coming over to play. I sighed. Things were simpler back then. Before everything changed. Before Ed and Al's mum died. Before their failed human transmutation. Before Al turned up on our doorstep in a suit of armour with an unconscious and badly injured Ed in his arms.

Suits of armour can't cry, but I could hear the pain and pleading in Al's voice.

I'll never forget that.

I've never been so scared in my life. I chased the thought away and looked out at Ed and Al smiling. Just like old times. Al had his body back. He had that familiar grin on his face. I never forgot his face. I always hoped that someday Ed would succeed. That their bodies would be restored.

They looked just the same as they did when we were kids.

Ed still wasn't any taller.

I laughed to myself. Best not tell him that.

I ran down the stairs and onto the road. Al looked up and-if it was possible-his grin grew even wider.

"Winry!" He cried happily. As he ran toward me, it was strange not to hear those heavy metallic steps I'd grown so accustomed to.

"Al, it's so good to see you," I whispered as I wrapped my arms around him.

Behind Al, Ed stood with an identical grin plastered on his face. I released Al and approached Ed. He looked tired, but happier than I'd seen him in a long time.

"You did it, Ed."

I wrapped my arms around him, surprised to feel the automail beneath his sleeve. So he'd restored Al, but not himself. My heart sank. He'd been so set on restoring his and Al's bodies. Or rather he'd been set on restoring Al's.

I couldn't help but feel disappointed. For Ed-not for myself. After all, if he was disappointed he wouldn't show it. As if he was reading my mind, Ed pulled back, smiling. "I did what I set out to do. I got Al's body back. That's what matters."

Although I doubted he was being completely honest, I didn't say anything.

"Come on, the pie is fresh out of the oven and the milk is on the table," I said grinning.

Ed glared at me. He's so cute when he's angry. I ran back up the road, up the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Guess who's back, Granny!" I hollered.

"Sit down, boys!" Granny called back. Al's mouth began to water when he saw the pie cooling in the middle of the table. I couldn't help but smile.

"I've never been so hungry in my life!"

Ed, Al and I sat at the table and Al reached instinctively for the pie.

I swear that Granny has a sixth sense or something because she called out from the other room.

"Don't you dare, Alphonse Elric!"

Ed laughed.

"That goes for you, too, Edward!" She called. Ed hung his head. I chuckled.

Yep. Just like old times.

An hour later, Al yawned. It's amazing how the smallest actions can bring a smile to your face.

"I'm going to bed. Are you coming, brother?"

"Not just yet. I think I might stay up for a while. But you go ahead."

Ed looked like he needed to catch some serious Z's.

Al nodded. "G'night, Ed. G'night, Winry."

"Night, Al."

"Sweet dreams."

Ed smiled fondly after his younger brother.

"I'm proud of you, Ed. You've come a long way."

Ed turned to me, looking confused.

I smiled. "Al is lucky to have you for an older brother."

Ed smiled. "If it wasn't for Al, I might not be here. I owe him my life. But I could only give him his body back."

"And that means the world to him. And so do you."

"So why am I disappointed?"

My heart lurched.

"I should be happy."

"You've been through a lot, Ed. You and Al both. You need to give yourself some time to heal."

His face was full of so many conflicting emotions, it was hard to pinpoint which one was dominant. He looked happy, sad,scared, relieved and tired all at the same time. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, then shut it again and stood up.

"Ed?"

"I'm going for a walk. I won't be long."

'Not long' turned into one hour. Two hours. Three hours. After four and a half I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to find him.

I looked everywhere. The cemetery. The old tree we used to play under. I even went to the remains of Ed and Al's old house. No Ed.

What if he was hurt? What if he was dead? My heart skipped a beat at the thought. I couldn't lose Ed. Not when I just got him back.

Sighing in defeat, I turned and headed home.

"Please, God, let him be okay."

When I got home I went to check on Al. This was the first night in 3 years he actually slept. If you're a soul in a suit of armour, you don't tend to get tired. Relief flooded through me when I saw Ed sound asleep in the other bed. He was fully clothed, but he looked so sweet I didn't have the heart to wake him.

I frowned when I noticed his tear-stained face. So that's what he'd been doing when he went for a "walk."

"Why didn't you just come to me, Ed?"

I closed the door softly and crept to my room. I sighed. Ed was hurting. I suspected they both were. But they were home. Maybe they could begin to heal.