A/N: This is a sort of spur-of-the-moment fic so I hope it turns out well. : )
so I thought that I might to another alternate ending for FMA, I did one with Winry finding Ed in Germany. (See; Joining You) And so I thought I'd explore the other option of Ed returning home: O

Instead of doing homework, I'll begin this chapter. : )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. (This will be my ONLY disclaimer)

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A load clicked echoed through the small shop as the blond unlocked it for business. She gazed out her door seeing the sun just barely in the sky. She smiled softly before returning inside. The woman walked over to a small desk a few feet away. Her hair swayed with her motion. Before she read the list of customers sitting on the desk, she quickly pulled her hair into a clip which still left most of it sticking out the top of the clip. If anything it did make her look more mature.

She lifted the paper has she read the few names on it. "Hmm" She hummed for a second. "I guess it'll be a slow day, today." She finished her thought aloud. She had been extremely busy these past weeks, and thankfully Winry was glad to have a day where she wasn't accidentally rushing through appointments.

It had been two years after Ed's return and departure once more. (She's 20) In those two years Winry had realized her need for change. Once she told her grandmother about her plans, she left to set up shop in Rush Valley. She had learned all she could from her grandmother and finally decided to make her own living. It had been fairly easy to find a shop because recent stores had gone out of business. Although even though she was new many people had heard about Ed's automail and of Rockbell automail, so she had a fair amount of customers a day.

Winry's shop was a two-story building that was a sort of pale blue color. (Paninya had helped with that) A sign that looked a lot like the one in Resembool read 'Rockbell Automail' just outside her shop. Although her shop was downstairs, her apartment was upstairs. Oddly enough both floors were spacious. In the shop downstairs she was able to have a front desk with some chairs near it. Also just a bit back was her work station that was adjustable for whatever part she had to work on at the time. She even had enough space for a storage room near the back door of the building. The stairs in the storage room lead to her apartment upstairs.

Up there she had a small kitchen which was adjacent to her four-chair dinner table, even if she ate alone most days. A slightly big living room and two bedrooms with one bathroom, even with the furniture that pinako gave her she still didn't fill all the space.

Winry was glad that she had made the move to Rush Valley. She did miss the comfort of her hometown, but she was glad to help more people in Rush Valley. She was able to meet more people in Rush Valley. Winry fiddled with parts in her backroom as she roamed around for a certain part she needed for a new limb she was working on. The only downside to this whole thing was that her occupation constantly reminded her of Edward. Whenever she worked on customers it brought back memories of when she helped Ed during his journey.

"Silly girl" Winry said out loud lightly hitting her head with her own fist. She had been trying to dispel thoughts of Edward ever since he left. Which didn't seem to be working that much anymore, she knew she had feelings for him…but she also knew that it was meaningless to continue on feelings that will never be returned. "He isn't coming back. You need to remember that" She told herself as she felt saddened by this news even if it wasn't so 'new'. Graciously enough a loud ringing of bell sounded and the closing of a door came afterwards.

"Welcome!" Winry shouted into the other room. "I'll be with you in a minute!" She called out again. She rummaged through her parts quickly once more finding the piece and walking into the next room to greet whoever came into the shop. A little girl in her preteens was standing close to the front desk near the door. Brown hair framed her face making her look slightly more innocent. Big blue eyes looked up Winry with a smile. Winry smiled back at her.

"Hello Hannah, are you here to make an appointment for your father?" Winry asked her. Hannah nodded quickly.

"Mom sent me because she was busy with Andre this morning." Hannah said with pride. Her mother had her younger brother Andre just a few months ago, so Hannah was willing to help in anyway she could. Even making errands for her mom, Winry was happy for the older sister.

"When does your mom want the appointment?" Winry asked with a smile has she got her customer list out along with a pen.

"Either tomorrow afternoon, or sometime the day after that," Hannah said in a rehearsed manner. Winry laughed.

"Okay, I have an opening at 4:30 tomorrow. That should be good right?" Winry asked turning towards Hannah. She nodded once again. "Okay good." Winry quickly wrote the time and date on a small piece of paper before writing in her book. She handed the paper to Hannah. "Give this to your mom so she'll know when the appointment is."

"Thanks Miss Winry!" Hannah said cheerfully before leaving the shop.

Winry smiled at the small girls actions before reading her list once more realizing that she didn't have an appointment for another hour. She sighed loudly walking into the other room. Maybe a slow day isn't what she needs. "I have been pretty busy these past couple weeks." She thought. Then began to slowly debate whether the reason is that it's best for her career or she has been trying to keep her mind off other things. "Maybe it's both" Winry thought. Although she had plenty of customers she rarely had enough money for splurging. She mostly paid the bills for the shop and paid for parts for the customers. It seems like a never ending cycle of give and take.

Nevertheless Winry really did love her profession. She loved being able to help people in some sort of way. She smiled at this thought as she continued to attempt to organize her storage room. She didn't have enough time previously to organize it, and it still had things scattered in the wrong places. The blond sat around placing different pieces in different areas to better help her workstation. Time seems to fly when you're wrapped up in your work.

A bell sounded along with the door's opening and closing. Winry quickly glanced at the clock realizing that it was most likely her customer. She hastily wiped her hands on her tan Capri's and quickly walked into the main room. She was met with a boy just a few inches taller than her. He had dirty blond hair that seemed to lie in all directions on his head. His eyes were green, but almost seemed to brown colored at time. He stood there almost bored with his hands in his pockets so you could barely see his left automail arm.

"Hello Joel. Here for your maintenance check, right?" Winry said nicely. Joel only nodded in response. Then they both walked over to the adjustable work station. Joel then only took off his top shirt stilling wearing a normal t-shirt underneath. He didn't need to take that off because his automail ended just above elbow. Winry began taking off the outer metal and looking at everything making sure it was all working. "Any problems with it lately?" She asked like any medical professional would.

"No not really." Joel replied looking off at the far wall. He was fourteen when he lost his arm in an accident that also lost his family their previous home. A year later he got automail from Winry when she had just setup her shop. He was currently sixteen and her longest customer in Rush Valley. Longest customer…Winry tired not to drift off to thinking about the Elric brothers again. Winry focused again on Joel's arm. She looked around for five more minutes before putting the outer plates back on the arm.

"Well" The blonde started. "I think the one of the nerve connection wires is wearing out, it'll need to be repaired in the near future." Winry said making a few notes on a piece of paper. Joel got his outer shirt on as Winry walked over to her front desk. He followed her and they discussed the best time that he could come in later to get the connection wire fixed. Once they were done, Joel said his farewells and left through the front door triggering the bells above it. Immediately after Joel was out of view another familiar face came into it.

Winry sighed loudly at the person's image crossing the street in front of shop. Finally the person entered her shop. "Hey there Winry," He said. The man was around Winry's age and also a bit taller than her. He had light crimson hair with hazel eyes that complemented his fair skin. He smiled at Winry.

"Hello Marcel, anything I can help you with today?" Winry said in her normal tone.

"Just your company," He gave her a smirk. Winry was used to this. Marcel usually came in every other day just to flirt with her. He wasn't the only one that hit on her in the past. A couple people had asked her out in the past, but she had rejected them both. Marcel was different in that she had rejected him once before, but now he continually kept flirting with her. It almost seemed like he was trying to change her mind.

"You busy next week?" He asked bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Actually, I am." Winry replied a little too hastily.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Marcel asked.

"Because I'm not interested in you," Winry replied quickly.

"And why not?" He said with a smirk. Winry rolled her eyes and he saw this. "Then, who are you interested in?" Marcel asked quickly. Winry paused a moment, stopping her actions. It took her a moment to reply.

"It's none your business." Winry said quietly in reply. Marcel looked directly into her eyes then spoke again.

"Whoever you're waiting for isn't going to come. So why not take a chance?" Marcel said with slight concern. Winry eyes widened at his first comment.

"Marcel…I'm kind of busy right now. I'll speak to you later." She trailed off leaving the room. She heard the bells ring signaling Marcel's exit.

The rest of the day was a sort of daze. Winry treated to the rest of her patients'. She retreated to apartment upstairs still lost in thought. She didn't even try to make dinner; she just went straight to her bed in her room. She flopped onto her bed and stared at the blank ceiling above her thinking about Marcel's comment. She thought about a lot things. About how obvious it was that she was waiting for someone. About how she should try to move on, and how she won't. But most of all she thought about how Edward wasn't coming back.

"I know he isn't coming back." Winry thought. "But why does it hurt hearing it from someone else?"

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A/N: If you didn't already notice. I'm trying not to refer to the manga. So Winry went to Rush Valley on her own accord, but doesn't work for Garfiel. I don't know how long this story will be. I plan updating soon. Although I do have events coming up, So who knows how soon.

Reviews will be Appreciated.