It was a quiet evening. A little breezy, but that was just fine. For Winry, it was the perfect night to spend sitting outside, pondering life. She loved the peacefulness of Resembool, especially after spending the last six months in Rush Valley. Finally, she was home on a well-deserved break. As much as she loved working with automail she needed time off every so often to indulge in the comforts of her childhood home.
But this time was different. Earlier that week Al had called her, asking to meet her in Resembool. He said he had something important to tell her in person. Winry didn't think much of it at the time, and figured it would be a good chance to see Granny.
It had been a good two years since she had seen either of the Elric brothers. Two years since that eventful day on the train platform, the day that she "gave" Ed a good chunk of her life. She chuckled under her breath at the thought of the memory, and wondered if Ed would come back soon. She missed him more every day, which only made her realize how deeply she had fallen in love with him over the years.
She had gotten so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice Al walking up to the house. Smiling, she got up to greet him. He looked great, much better than he did after he first got his body back. His time spent in Xing had put meat on his bones, and he had a slight tan.
"Al! I didn't know you'd be here this early. I only arrived a few hours ago. Let me tell Granny you're here and she can heat you up some soup".
"Thanks Win, it's great to be back".
A smile spread across her face. Al smiled back, but Winry noticed he didn't seem genuinely happy. His smile spread from cheek to cheek, but it was his eyes. His eyes looked defeated.
Winry ran inside.
"GRANNY! Al is home!"
A few minutes later, Pinako came down to greet Al.
"So you finally came home. Maybe Ed should take a page out of your book. Hungry?"
Al shifted uncomfortably.
"Thanks Granny, but there's actually something I need to tell you both, now preferably."
"Good news, I hope?" Pinako responded.
"Not exactly."
After moving to the kitchen and heating up some tea, Al started his story.
"I'm sure you both remember two years ago when Ed and I started traveling again to research alchemy. I went east, to Xing, while he went west. We kept in contact for the most part—phone calls whenever we could, letters if one of us was someplace remote. Everything was fine until about three months ago. We were supposed to meet up in Drachma to finish the last of our research together, and then return to Amestris. Well, he didn't show up. I had waited for a week when I ran into one of General Armstrong's men north of the Amestris border. He told me it was urgent, and that I needed to go with him to Fort Briggs. When I arrived…Oh god…"
Winry had a confused look on her face. It couldn't have been that bad. "Al? What is it? I'm sure it isn't that bad. Go on", she murmured while pouring more tea.
"They had Ed's leg. They found his automail in the snow after a storm. No one knows where he is! And it's my fault. He shouldn't have let him meet me up north. I knew his automail couldn't handle the cold. Now he's out there, somewhere, without a leg, alone. How is he supposed to survive like that?"
Al buried his face in his hands. As his shoulders began to shake, Winry forgot her initial shock and moved closer to Al. Hugging him, she whispered, "It will be ok. We'll find him. We will. I promise".
"I wouldn't worry too much", Pinako said quietly, more to herself than to the others. "Ed's as stubborn as they come. He's a survivor, that one".