A/N: I don't really know where this is going but we'll see eventually. Until then, I hope you enjoy it ^^

A Home to Return To

Chapter 1: Return

He was weary. His body ached as he dragged his feet on the dirt road and he couldn't wait to find a comfortable sit and simply relax. Not that long ago the expression relax wasn't part of his dictionary. Back then he was never tired and even if he was he'd keep it to himself (at least that never changed). He didn't remember being this sore in his trips, he never had a problem sleeping during his long train rides in the hard sits provided. Now he wasn't even able to have a light slumber and discomfort was his new travel companion.

A yawn escaped as he remembered about his little brother and the wonders he had found. Almost every week there was a new letter with the marvels of the distant land of Xing. Even with his brother's temptation, the thought of the trip instantly took away most of his desire to visit him. He knew how hard it was to cross half the desert with automail, he couldn't imagine how it was to cross the whole thing. Crossing the desert didn't thrill him at all, but crossing a whole country now felt like a blessing to him. His destination wasn't the luxurious Xing but a place filled with beautiful plain green fields that somehow they always smelled like spring. He felt relieved as he stepped closer to his home. Every time he thought of it a warm feeling tended to rest in his heart and he knew every time he walked inside the big yellow house, no matter how many times he walked through to face the same greeting, it would always be a new adventure.

He climbed up the porch and took a deep breath inhaling the soft scent that surrounded him. Just like before, he hardly gave a warning to the family living inside that house so he knew what to expect and like in every time he opened the door of that house, the first thing he would notice was the melody of hammers, saws and steel. Leaving his suitcase by the door he entered the living room to find granny Pinako sitting on her armchair, smoking her pipe with content smile. He would never understand why mechanics found the sound of molding metal as the most relaxing sounds to listen. Her heavy eyelids opened and her eyes landed on his figure making her grin wider.

"Already home?" She asked trying to mock the young man. "They must feed you terribly at the West."

"I can't complain." He said sitting down on the couch next to her. "But when you're hungry it's all quite edible." The old Pinako let out a soft chuckle making him smile. "How have you been?"

"You've come on a bad time, her schedule is full." Her eyebrow rose with her question, analyzing his reaction.

"Well, that's not a surprise these days..." He replied with an hint of disappointment.

"If you called before you came, maybe it wouldn't be so surprising." The annoyance on her granddaughter's voice was clear but she would always know that kind of hint on her voice was only reserved to the person that just arrived. "You're early, what are you doing here?" He sighed as he stood up to face her.

"Well, hello to you too."

"I'm going to take care of dinner." Pinako quickly dismissed herself from the living room trying to avoid the explosion that was about to happen between the youngsters. She knew it would be a carnage once the girl heard him walking inside the house.

"Hello. What are you doing here?" She quickly answered him while she cleaned the drops of sweat in her forehead with her sleeve.

"You're in a good mood." He said with a smile as he neared her, trying not to press her buttons even more than they already were.

"How many times have I told yo-"

"To call before you show up! I know, I get it and again, I'm sorry." He said finally stopping in front of her.

"It's hopeless." She said turning her back at him ready to walk out of the living room but he took the opportunity to grab her and hold her close against him. She sighed never knowing how to fight back against his touch and the only way she could, was by keeping up the questionnaire. "You're early. What happened?" He rolled his eyes knowing that he was fighting against a tide until he stiffened with her last question. "You're automail. You've busted it, haven't you?"

"Uuh..." He knew for so long that he always gave the wrong answer when she asked about her precious automail. She turned around to face him with her fiery eyes and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"You can't even walk straight, can you?" He stepped back raising his hands in defense knowing right in the next second that that step was the worst choice he made. Her eyes suddenly went to his left foot and quickly rose up with even more fire in them. Her finger pocked hard against his chest with every word she spoke. "You can't even move you foot! What the heck have you been up too?" When no response came from him she sent a glare that he was too familiar with and one that no one wanted to see. Her finger suddenly pointed to the door that lead to the basement.

"I'm tired, can't we do th-"

"Now!" Her voice was life threatening and he couldn't help but obey. By now he was in trouble and there was nothing else he could do to avoid her explosion, except maybe, having some fun with it. "I don't even want to see what's under those pants!" She said as they went downstairs.

"You've never complai-"

"Edward!" The warning in her voice was enough to shut him up but his smirk remained.

A/N: Review Please! Thanks for reading ^^