A/N: This takes place after the Promised Day. Ed still has his automail arm. He used his father's philosopher stone body to get Al his body back. Ed didn't get his body back because there wasn't much left of the stone that was in Hohenheim's body and he didn't want to be the one to use the rest of his father's life.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.
Return to Me
Chapter 1
"Did you hear?"
"Fuhrer Grumman is going to retire after only a few months of being Fuhrer."
"I heard that General Mustang or General Armstrong is going take over as Fuhrer."
"Roy Mustang?"
"He's a great leader. He really cares for all those below him."
Just four months after General Grumman became Fuhrer he retired and declared General Roy Mustang as the new Fuhrer. General Armstrong told Grumman that she didn't want the position and would be loyal to Mustang as the Fuhrer. She didn't want to leave Briggs again. Drachma soldiers were becoming more aggressive. They wanted passed Briggs and in Amestris now. Armstrong couldn't leave Briggs now.
Grumman admitted that he only took the position as Fuhrer because he wanted to let everything calm down and begin to fix the country before letting someone younger take over. He wanted to make it easier for the new Fuhrer to begin to change this country. As the new Fuhrer, Mustang had a lot of work to do. Grumman had started to repair the county after the Promised Day but didn't finish as he retired so now the job goes to Mustang to finish fixing the country with the help of his Generals and Captain Hawkeye. Before Grumman retired he started to try to make peace treaties with Aerugo and Creta to end the wars that Bradley intentionally started with them. Negotiations were taking a while though.
But there wasn't time to fix the country completely.
Drachma, the country to the north of Amestris, had invaded Amestris just seven months after the Promised Day. The state wasn't at full power yet from the Promised Day. Father and the Homunculi had really messed up the state. The Drachma soldiers managed to destroy Briggs wall. They attacked in the middle of the night and weren't seen setting up the attack with their black uniforms. The Brigg soldiers reacted to the explosions immediately, but were driven back by the forces. They managed to hold the Drachma soldiers back and contact Central Headquarters to warn them of the invasion. Fuhrer Mustang reacted instantly, declaring war and sending troops up north to assist the Briggs soldiers. The soldiers were spread out along the northern area of Amestris waiting for attacks. General Armstrong and her Brigg soldiers were escorted to North City by some enlisted troops when Central troops arrived to take their place in holding off the Drachma soldiers so they could recover from the attack.
*Return to Me*
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
A young man of about seventeen grinned at his family. Despite being so young he was quite stunning. His gold-blond hair was recently cut short with his bangs still long and framing his face. He had a muscular build from all his training. All the baby fat was gone from his face. His face was more pronounced with sharp cheekbones. Above his right eye was a scar from his many fights. It formed as a scar since it was cut open so many times. And his gold eyes were sharp and showed so much wisdom and pain for one so young, but they still had a kind feeling in them. But because of everything he's been through in the five years he's grown stronger mentally and physically.
"Thanks guys." Edward replied with a smile.
Winry smiled as she finished lighting the candles on Edward's cake. "It's no problem, Ed. Now make a wish."
Edward rolled his eyes. He didn't believe in such superstitions, but decided to humor Winry and Al. His eyes shut gently and he leaned forward towards the cake, thinking of a wish to make. Winry, Al, and Granny Pinako flashed behind his closed eyes followed by the pictures of blood, guns, and falling bodies. I wish my family will be safe through this war. He blew all his candles out in one go and sat back to open his eyes, to find his brother directly in his face.
Al's gold-blond hair was cut short with his bangs going to the left. He still looked weak from being a soul trapped to a suit of armor. He was getting stronger each day, though Winry still said he was too bony. His cheeks were still a bit sunken in from not being nourished for five years. Only gentleness and love could be seen in his big gold eyes. Unlike his brother, Al had a childish feature still in his face, which was rounder than his brother's, and attitude.
With his brother so close to him Edward could clearly see the bony checks of Al's face. "You need to fatten up, Al." Edward said.
"I'm trying brother. It's going to take more food." Al replied.
"And lots of rest." Winry added as she cut the cake.
Al groaned. "I don't want to rest. I need to train. All that time in the Gate has made my body weak."
A wrench appeared like magic in Winry's hand. "Oh, no you won't. You are just as bad as your brother. If you don't rest then you will make your body worse."
Ring!
The sound of the phone ringing saved Al from Winry.
Ring!
Al got out of the room as fast as he could to answer the phone, anything to be away from the scary wrench.
Winry's wrench disappeared into her pocket. She looked at Edward with a gentle smile. Her long blonde hair flowed freely down to her shoulders with her bangs flowing from right to left across her forehead. Her bright crystal blue eyes sparkled with happiness. Over the years her body has grown into a slender, healthy curvaceous build. Hoop earrings were on her ears with two cuff studs worn vertically on her right ear. "Ed, I-"
"Brother, the phone is for you!" Al's voice rang through the house.
A confused Edward came out of the kitchen. "Thanks Al." Edward grabbed the phone out of his brother's hand.
"Did I interrupt something in there?" Al asked, motioning to the kitchen.
Edward glanced at the kitchen entrance and shrugged. "I don't know." Edward put the phone to his ear and said hello.
Al shifted on his feet nervously as his brother listened. It was Fuhrer Mustang on the phone. He didn't understand why he would be calling his brother. His brother gave up the military life after the Promised Day.
"Y-yes. I understand, Mustang." Ed glanced at his brother sadly. "I'll be there soon."
The younger brother looked at his older brother in shock and worry. Golden eyes shined with hesitance as he looked at his brother. "Brother, are you still in the military?" He asked slowly.
Edward looked away from his brother. "I've been on leave for the past few months."
"Brother!" Al cried, grabbing Edward's arm. "You said you quit the military. You said you were only there until I got my body back."
"I meant to quit but I forgot. By the time I realized that I still had my watch we were already here." Edward shrugged, resting a hand on his brother's shoulder. Al was about four inches taller than him which irked him to no end.
"No, you didn't!" Al cried, hitting his brother's chest. "You didn't quit on purpose."
"I don't know what you….."
"Don't lie to me." Al said angrily. "You get some sort of satisfaction out of being in the military now. You enjoy helping people and…..and…"
Sighing, Edward pulled his brother into a hug. "You're right. Being in the military is just natural to me now that I've been in it for four years. I don't know anything else now. I don't know what to do now that you've got your body back. For four years we searched for a way to get your body back. We were being selfish, just searching for us. I want to help others now. I want to help fix this country. Those corrupt bastards in the military were trying to make an immortal army by using the souls of humans to power them. I….I want…"
"Don't brother. I understand. You want to stay in the military to make sure nothing like the Promised Day happens again." Al said.
"Yes."
"Please don't Ed." Winry said, tears filling up in her eyes, as she came out of the kitchen. "Why do you always have to be the hero? Can't you just be content staying with me here in Resembool or maybe Rush Valley, I'm thinking about moving there. It's better for business. Come with me, Ed, please. Let someone else be the hero this time."
No matter how hard he tried Edward couldn't get over how much he hated to see girls cry, especially when it was his girlfriend. "Winry."
"Please Ed. I don't want to lose you again." Winry pleaded, grabbing Edward's hands, one flesh and one cold metal, in her hands.
Edward looked at her sadly. "I've been called back to Central by Mustang. He says it's time to decide whether to resign or stay in the military and go to war."
"NO!" Al and Winry shouted. Neither could bear the thought of Edward going to war. It was dangerous and he could get killed out there. They didn't want to lose him, not now, not now that everything is alright for them again.
"Please brother, don't go. I don't want you to. Haven't we had enough of the military? I can't stand it anymore, what with all the threats and missions." Al said pleadingly.
"Ed, resign please. I don't want to lose you. I love you. Please don't even consider this." Winry pleaded at the same that Al spoke.
"Enough you two. It is Ed's choice of what he does." Pinako said, speaking up for the first time.
"But Granny…."
Pinako shook her head. "It's for Ed to decide. You are all becoming adults. It's time you made decisions for yourself."
"Brother…"
Edward shook his head. "Winry, I love you too, more than anything." He kissed her gently on the cheek before turning to his brother. "Al, I love you. You were my life. But you are fifteen and I'm seventeen. I'm still your guardin. I want you to stay here, kay? You and Winry can come with me to Central, but after I'm done there, you are coming back here. If I do choose to stay in the military, you aren't coming with me. You aren't strong enough, and if you were, I wouldn't let you come anyway. I'm not letting your get hurt again. Winry, I'll take you back to Rush Valley to continue your work there when I'm done in Central. As for me, I don't know what I'm going to do yet. Is it a plan?"
Winry nodded her head, hugging Edward around the neck. Al slid down to the floor and stared at his feet. He didn't want to be separated from his brother so soon after he got his body back. It wasn't fair. Couldn't they just live peacefully like they were supposed to?
A/N: Please Review!
