Edward watched the steam trail into the dusky sky, painted with streaks of red and dark blue, as the train vanished into the distant shadowy mountains, their tops tainted orange by the setting sun. He turned his back and checked his briefcase, straightening his shoulders as he walked towards the exit.

"It's good to be back," he said aloud to himself, his breath clouding. His eyes scanned the snow-covered fields and rolling hills that seemed to stretch on forever. It had been a year and half since he had left Resembool for the west. He chuckled to himself as he remembered the frigid mountains and the narrow canyons; canyons so deep he could not see the bottom. He had almost broken his automail there when the rocks crumbled under his feet, threatening to pull him into the abyss. Winry would kill him if she found out. Winry. His heart skipped a beat as it always did when he thought of her. He could feel the burn of his blush.

I'll give you half of my life. Equivalent Exchange. So give me half of yours…. I'll give you all of it.

"I wonder if she remembers…" he mused to himself. He dug his hands into his pockets, checking to make sure it was there. It was. He sighed with relief.

The snow crunched under his feet as he walked on the road home. He did not notice the shadows that slowly lengthened as the night settled in quietly.

"Winry….Winry…." he muttered to himself as he fingered the cloth-wrapped package in his pocket. Despite the cold, he could feel his cheeks felt hot as he rehearsed what he should do when he sees her.

"Ahhh!" he shouted in exasperation, clutching his head and rolling in the snow, thoughts tumbling through his mind faster and faster. Even alchemy was never this hard...

"Get a grip, Edward," he finally grumbled, picking himself up and dusting the snow flurries from his long brown coat.

He blinked at the soft yellow light blanketing the ground and looked up. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he had almost made it home without him noticing. Pinako's house was settled cozily in the snow. Its porch light bathed the snow-covered pots in a golden glow and he could see the shadows of the occupants moving through the bright windows. A line of smoke wafted lazily from the chimney.

Edward walked to the door. He could hear the muted sound of chatter inside. His hand hesitated on the doorknob. Winry….his heart pounded as he pushed open the door…

….and was knocked backwards onto the porch by a heavy a blow to the head. He had been hit enough times with it to know that it was, without a doubt, Winry's wrench.

"Gah! You idiot automail geek, what was that for?!" Edward yelled, clutching his throbbing head, feeling the large bump that was starting to form. Winry stood in front of him. Her long blonde hair, tied back in a ponytail, had grown longer and she wore a red sweater with her dark skirt and woolen leggings. Her blue eyes blazed with anger.

"I told you to call before you come home! It's been one and a half years and you didn't call or write! You stupid Pipsqueak" Winry shouted back, still clutching tightly to the wrench.

"Oy oy….Who are you calling Pipsqueak?!"

"Midget!"

"I'm taller than you, idiot gearhead!…Ah.." Edward's fury died as he noticed the tears that began in the corners of Winry's eyes. It was suddenly difficult to meet her gaze.

"Winry… I'm sorry," he finally said. Edward's eyes as widened as Winry suddenly tackled him, her arms snaking around him.

"Idiot. Welcome home," she mumbled into his shoulder. Edward hesitantly returned the embrace. He could smell a lingering scent of flowers and feel her warmth. His eyes softened as he stroked her hair. How long had he longed to see her again? She had not changed at all—still the Winry that could melt his heart with a word and a touch.

"I've missed—" Edward began, but was cut off when a giant form crashed through the doorway, its large shadow towering over them.

"It's been awhile Edward Elric!" it boomed through a stream of tears.

"Ahh!" Edward yelped as he felt himself lifted in a bear hug by arms that felt like steel. Only one person could crack his ribs just through a greeting.

"Ma-major Armstrong, what are you doing here?" Edward wheezed out, flailing helplessly against his grip, his vision spinnig from the lack of oxygen.

"I'm visiting," Armstrong replied, setting Edward on the ground and flexing his muscles, "I've been promoted to Colonel."

As expected, Armstrong had taken off his shirt at some point to expose the grandeur of his body. Edward felt his brows twitch and he bit back a groan.

"Heh heh, I forgot to tell you, we have visitors," Winry added, giving him an innocent smile as she held the door open for him.

Edward stumbled into the house, his bones protesting from their most recent assault and stopped dead in his tracks. His jaws dropped.

"What-what are all of you doing here?" he shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Mustang. One leg over the other, he sat on the couch with Hawkeye, a teacup in hand. He had relinquished his military uniform for a white shirt tucked neatly into a black tuxedo and dark pants. Hawkeye smiled at Edward, her purple suit and skirt arranged neatly.

"It's nice to see you Edward," Hawkeye said.

"Yo Fullmetal, it's been a while," Mustang greeted him, "Rude as usual, I see."

"It's nice to see you too Lieutenant Hawkeye and…err…General Mustang….Wait! That's not the problem! Answer the question!" Edward squeaked, gawking at scene in front of him. Not only were Roy, Armstrong and Hawkeye there, but so were Major General Olivier Armstrong, who was still in her uniforms and resting on the chair next them, Ling, with his goldenrod shirt and loose white trousers sitting cross-legged next to the blazing fire place with May, her braids tied back and in a purple qipao trimmed with white, and Xiao Mei.

"Armstrong wanted to visit, so I followed him," Mustang replied, "and it's Major Hawkeye."

"I'm here, because Mustang is," Olivier commented, jerking a thumb toward the General and giving him a tight-lipped grin that Mustang returned. The tension crackling between them could have lit the house on fire.

"Alphonse-sama invited us," May said brightly and Xiao Mei nodded in agreement.

"Al?" Edward looked around the living room, "where is he?"

"Brother!" Edward heard a muffled voice shout from above and then footsteps quickly thumping down the stairs. Then Alphonse appeared with Zampano and Jerso following close behind, in comfortable winter sweaters.

"Sorry Brother! I didn't know you were back. We were discussing research upstairs," Alphonse said breathlessly. Edward grinned at the sight of his little brother. Alphonse had grown taller and more muscular, his pale shirt hanging open, exposing the black shirt beneath. There was still something else different about his brother. Edward realized that he could see the gleam of experience and wisdom behind his brother's golden eyes.

"It's nice to see you Al. I have to share you with everything I learned in the West as well," Edward told him with a grin.

Al laughed and embraced him tightly, "Welcome home brother!"

"It's been awhile," Jerso and Zampano greeted him, "Seems like you're grown taller."

"Heh, of course," Edward boasted.

"Hey Ed," Ling said with a grin, "It's nice to see you again."

"Mhm Ling," Edward agreed, "but aren't you supposed to be ruling a country?"

"Well, Alphonse also invited me to dinner. I couldn't possibly turn down a chance to see an old friend," Ling said.

"More like you can't help but follow your stomach," Edward mumbled, glaring accusingly at Alphonse who grinned back with embarrassment.

"What did you just say about the young master?" a voice growled near his ear. Edward jumped back and spun around. It was Lan Fan. Although she had taken off her mask, she was still in her dark gears and fully weaponized. She reached into her pocket.

"Nothing at all," Edward corrected himself, holding up his hands laughing nervously, "It's nice to see you, Lan Fan."

"Geez, you're late," Pinako sighed from the kitchen doorway, crossing her arms in front of her small frame, "At least you're on time for dinner. It's almost ready."

Watching his old friends chatter and bicker among themselves, he felt the pang of sadness at the death of Nina, Hughes, and Greed. It seemed like a lifetime since they had defeated the Homunculus "Father".

"Let's settle in the kitchen while we wait for dinner," Winry said. Edward blinked and a small smile touched his lips as he looked around at his friends and family. Despite all the tragedies that had occurred, they were moving forward and becoming ever closer to each other.

"Yea," Edward agreed, "I have a lot to tell you about my trip."