Return

Chapter One

A/N/ Hey guys! Welcome to my very /first/ Fullmetal Alchemist fanfiction!

Alphonse: -runs in- You…started…without me…

Phoenix: --' No I didn't, you're just late. –grins- Anyways, helping me out with this little fic is Alphonse Elric, who was supposed to be here five minutes ago.

Alphonse: Xx B-b-but you said to be here around 9:30! Whatever happened to making sure I understood clearly!

Phoenix: Eheh…On with the story! XP

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Disclaimer: Hiromu Arakawa owns everything that has to do with Fullmetal Alchemist. I don't.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

"I-I don't want to hear any more…just…please…don't call me again."

"Winry wai-"

With trembling hands, Winry Rockbell hung up the receiver, sniffling quietly as she glared at the phone before her. To be honest, she'd give anything to hear his voice again, even though she had dared to hang up on him before he had gotten the chance to finish.

"Stupid jerk." She hissed, blue eyes brimming with tears that were begging to fall. She knew this was going to happen sooner or later, yet -like any girl- she had hoped that it would never happen to her.

Every single person she had cared about was gone. Well, except for Den of course.

Pinako had passed on less than a year ago, and Al had left with Izumi to resume his training. Now Kurt was gone, having just broke off with her less than five minutes ago. He had told her that he had found someone new, and didn't want to hurt her feelings by cheating. Yeah right, if anything hurt more right now, it would have to be the fact that he was gone from her life for good.

And then there was Edward.

She didn't even want to start on that little jerk. Sure she missed him and all, but she couldn't help but get angry at him for not being there for his own brother. He wasn't even there to make some snide remark that would somehow cheer her up during a time like this. Sighing to herself, she turned on her heel and made her way towards the kitchen. What a perfect time to dig into those fattening foods…

Ed had been gone five years since yesterday, and it was because of that that his Military superiors deemed him to be dead. Of course Al refused to believe that, for he was sure that his brother was somewhere out there. Winry, however, didn't believe it anymore. How could Ed be alive if he had completely vanished from their world?

Once she had gathered a small pile of 'necessary' things, Winry sat down and dug in. She really hadn't changed much during the years. She still had the same long, blonde hair; only now she had pulled it back into a tight bun. She even wore the same style clothes that she had always worn before.

Unfortunately, she had only grown two inches in the past five years, and was now stuck in this height for the rest of her life. She smiled to herself, knowing that if Ed was alive, he would probably be taller than her. That is if he started drinking milk wherever he was.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Thunder rumbled overhead, raging war against the lightning that flashed high in the heavens. Rain pelted down upon the small town of Risembool, forming puddles along the dirt pathways. A lone figure could be seen, stumbling down the path towards the big, yellow house. A brown trench coat covered his soaked body, weighing him down as he forced himself to keep walking.

"She's…still…there…" He croaked, a soft wheezing sound emitting from his throat each time he inhaled and exhaled sharply. Crap. He didn't need another attack right now. Not while he was still out here in the storm.

The minute he took another step, his knees gave way and he was sent crashing to the ground. With a small growl, he pushed himself up into a kneeling position. He then hunched over, his body violently convulsing as he began to cough. Almost immediately after, he placed his gloved hand over his mouth to catch the precious red liquid that was spilling from his insides.

Removing his hand, he scowled lightly at the blood that stained the white fabric. Dizziness swept over him, while his vision began to get blurry and dark.

"W-Winry…" He muttered, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as his vision blackened even further. Before he could do anything more, he lost consciousness and slumped over in the mud.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Winry jumped as a flash of lightning pierced the dark sky, her blue eyes flicking towards the window. A boom of thunder rang in her ears, and Winry shuddered slightly. She had always hated storms.

A sharp bark forced her to turn her attention away from the heavens, and onto her beloved dog. Den was racing through the rain as if he was no longer that lazy, old dog that he had become over the past few years. Winry frowned, a slight scowl plastering itself upon her face. Something had to be up if Den was acting like this.

Cursing, Winry stood up and proceeded to grab her rain coat. Den was still barking outside, occasionally lowering his head to sniff a rather large lump on the ground. Winry's first impression was to think that Den had found another rabbit hole, but of course, she was wrong.

"Den! Come inside right this instant!" She called, running outside and pulling the hood of her raincoat over her head. Den looked up when he heard her voice, whimpering pitifully as he pawed at the lump on the ground.

It was then that Winry realized that the lump was a person. Her eyes grew wide with fright for a split second, before she rushed forward to grab the poor guy.

"Are you alright!" She asked, shaking the strange young man lightly. There was something about him, something familiar that she couldn't tell what it was exactly.

Earning no response from him, Winry proceeded to try and get him inside. To her, this task wouldn't be as easy as it looked. Deciding that it was worth a try, she slowly lifted him up into her arms. He was…light. Too light to be precise.

"C'mon Den!" She called to her beloved dog, standing up and beginning to run towards the house. Den obediently followed her, whimpering quietly as he kept pace with his mistress. Occasionally, he would look up at the man Winry carried, as if he had known the man his whole life. That puzzled Winry to no end, making her wonder why her dog was giving this stranger such a look.

Once inside, Winry shut the door and rushed to place the man on the couch. Once she knew that he wouldn't roll off the couch or something, she ran to get towels and blankets, as well as a large bucket of hot water. She then proceeded to remove his soaked garments, hesitating for a mere second before a determined expression plastered itself on her face.

'C'mon Winry, forget about your damn modesty.' She thought, unbuttoning the trench coat and carefully pulling it off.

She then moved to his shirt, making sure to peel it from his skin slowly as not to hurt any wounds. When she revealed his bare chest, she gasped in surprise, backing away and staring wide-eyed at the man before her.

Bruises and cuts covered his torso, coating his pale flesh with new and old blood. His ribs jutted out from his skin, rising and falling with each shallow breath. But what really made Winry's skin crawl, was the crude automail arm attached to his right shoulder. Jagged scars ran out from underneath his replacement arm, the scars she knew like the back of her hand.

A soft noise brought her attention on the man's face, tears forming when her blue eyes met piercing golden ones. A soft smile played across his lips, a smile that rarely ever came from him, or much less to her from him anyway. She had seen it only a few times, yet she remembered it like it was yesterday.

"Hey Win." He said softly, causing more tears to fall down her cheeks as her nickname was mentioned.

Lying on her couch, all bruised and bleeding, was the man she both hated and loved for the same reason. The man she had missed above all others. There on her couch was Edward Elric, The Fullmetal Alchemist.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Phoenix: So…what do ya think so far! Pretty good ain't it! XD I'd knew you'd say that.

Alphonse: They didn't say anything! And 'ain't' isn't a word!

Phoenix: Quiet you! XD Review please!