My only wish

EdWin. Post FMA - CoS!

It had been three years since Ed went back to Germany. Three years since he last saw home. He had been very surprised to find his younger brother, in that suit of armor, back then. He was a little irritated, but also very happy. He had his brother by his site now and together they would try to close the gate on their site, which they, after these three years, haven't found possible yet.

Ed was sitting in his own thoughts. Today was a special day. It was the birthday of his oldest childhood friend. Winry. He always felt depressed on her birthday – knowing he won't be able to see her. To hold her. But this year, he seemed more depressed than usual. It was like he missed everyone more and more for every year. Missed her. The two brothers were at the dinner table and Al had noticed that Ed's thoughts were in whole other place.

He was tired of seeing Ed this way.

"Brother?" No response. "Brother!" he said a little louder. Ed blinked a few time before his attention were fully on Al.

"Huh? What is it Al?" He asked. Al then shook his head.

"You spaced out again, brother. This is the fourth time today. What is wrong?" Maybe this was a stupid question. Al knew very well what was on Ed's mind these days. He knew it was Winry's birthday today and he knew how much Ed missed her, but he just needed to ask him. He needed to know his brothers thoughts.

"It's… it's nothing, Al." Ed looked at the floor.

"Come on, Ed. I've known you all my life. I'm pretty sure I can tell when you're lying." Silence. "It's Winry, isn't it?" Al asked him. More silence. "I know you miss her, brother. Everyone in Amestris. I miss them too, you know. I'm not stupid, I know it's Winry's birthday, but right now there is nothing we can do to come back home." He paused. "Nothing but use the gate…" Ed now stood up.

"Al, we… Just… Don't." He sighed. "I'm going to my room. I think I need some sleep. Goodnight." With that, Ed went to his room, knowing that his little brother was watching him.

"Brother. It makes me sad to see you like this. I promise I will do my best to get us home again."

Ed sat at his desk with some paper and a pen. He was going to write a letter to Winry. He knew very well she would never get to read it, but this was something he had done every year, on her birthday, since he came to Germany. It took him a while before he began to write something down.

Dear Winry.

As you can see this is another year where I'm not able to come home,

to celebrate you. To wish you a happy birthday. I'm so sorry.

21, huh? We really are growing up, aren't we?

I find it hard to believe it's three years since I last saw you.

I hope you are all right and got a lot of work to do. How is granny? And Den?

I guess I'll never find out. Anyway, I hope you have a great birthday.

Wish I could be there. I miss you, Win. A lot!

Edward.

It was hard for him, not to get tears in his eyes, when he wrote this. He missed her so much. Her sense, her touch and her beautiful eyes. He never got the chance to tell her. He couldn't back then. And even if this was just a letter, he knew she would NEVER read, he didn't have the guts to write his feeling down. He sighed and lay down on his bed. He really needed some sleep. His eyes closed.

Winry just finished baking a cake, when Pinako came into the kitchen.

"Mmm, smells good, Winry" she then said. Winry smiled at her.

"Thank you, Granny." She took the cake out of the oven. "I hope it tastes as good as it looks." They both sat down at the table. It was just the two of them. Winry wasn't in the mood for birthday guests. She just wanted to celebrate the day with her grandma. The truth is, after Alphonse went to the other site of the gate, with Ed, she had felt lonelier than ever. Her grandma ate a piece of the cake and told her, it was delicious. Winry smiled at the compliment and said thanks. She wasn't sure if it was a real smile or just a fake one she did. Either way, she just wanted her grandma to be happy on this day and not worry about her or anything else.

When they both finished eating, Pinako helped Winry with the dishes. She looked at the clock. "Well, it's getting late. I'm off to bed now, Winry dear." Winry nodded. "And once again, happy birthday. Promise me you'll go to bed soon." they hugged before Pinako turned to her room.

"I promise, grandma. Goodnight"

Winry went to her own bedroom a few moments later. She sat by her window and looked at the sky. "Ed. Al. Please come back to me. I miss you." She shook her head and her lips turned into a little smile. "You probably think it's crazy, but the only wish I have had, for the past years, on my birthday, is for you guys to come home." With teary eyes, she lay down on her bed. "Edward…"

Ed woke up the next day and went to the kitchen, to get something to eat. Al sat at the table. Lost in his own thoughts. The older Elric was curious what might run through his little brothers head. He took a chair, sat in front of Al and starred at him for what felt like minutes. Al didn't noticed. They just sat there, until Ed cleared his throat. Al looked at him. Confused.

"So, Al" Ed began. "You look like someone who's been thinking all morning. What's on your mind?"

"It's nothing, brother." He sighed. "I just thought about yesterday."

Ed took a sip of his coffee. "What about it?"

"It's just… Well, actually it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately." He paused. Ed gave him a look, which showed Al, he wanted him to go on. He didn't know how to say it. He knew very well, that Ed might get mad. "I thought about home." Silence. "I thought about how we can come back to everyone. I mean, we haven't been able to close the portal, the gate, yet. Maybe there's a deeper meaning. Maybe it's faith."

"Al..." Ed took a deep breath. "There's no such thing as faith. Okay? If we were supposed to live with our friends and be happy, we wouldn't be here!"

Al shook his head. "No Ed." He simply said. "We have the right to be happy as much as everyone else. Don't you miss Winry, brother? Don't you? Why can't you, just once, be a little selfish and do what's best for you?"

"Selfish…? You, of all people, should know what my selfishness did, Al. I ruined our lives. YOUR life!"

Al knew this was a very sensitive subject to his brother. He could see his brothers eyes were filled with tears. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all…"

Ed sighed. "Look Al… I'm sorry." Pause. "It's just... I'm scared."

"Scared?"

"Yea, I'm scared of what might happen if we do try to go back to Amestris. I'm scared to see everyone again. What if they don't think about us as much as we think about them? What if she…" He stopped.

"Winry? Oh brother, don't you worry. I know she thinks about you as much as you think about her." Al put a smile on his lips. "You love her, don't you?" Ed blushed. "So, you don't want to try?" Al could see that his older brother was thinking like crazy. It took him a while before he answered.

"Okay Al. Let do it!"

It took the two brothers days to get ready for their new journey. They had to discuss all details. The plan was that they would use a small plane to fly through the portal, just like Ed had done three years ago. It was a simple plan, but they rally hoped it would work.

It was now the day. They were both very excited, also very scared. They put their thing onto the plane, before they got onboard. They looked at each other and smiled.

"It's now or never. Ready Al?"

Al nodded. "Mhm, I'm ready, brother!"

Before they knew it, they were flying through the portal. "Goodbye for now, Germany" Ed thought for the last time before everything went dark. None of them knew where they were or what would happen, until they saw a bright light. "Could… Could this be…?" It was Al.

Ed couldn't stop looking at the light. "I think it is, Al!" But suddenly Ed felt that there was something wrong with their plane. "Oh shit! Al!"

"What it this?" Al got all nervous. "Wh- what's wrong with the plane?"

"I… I don't know. Just hold on, okay?"

"Eeeddd…"

"Al? AAALLLLLLLL – Arrrrhhhhh!"

Crash. The plane bumped to the ground. The two brothers just laid there. Ed opened his eyes. "A... Al?" This was the last thing Ed could say before it all darkened.