Title: Welcome home, once again

Summary: Al has his original body still, Trisha is alive, and Hohenheim is home again after a while. What will he come home to?

Yet another english fan fic of mine. Reviews are greatly appreciated.

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They had last seen their father one year ago, when Al was 13 and Ed 14. He occasionally went on journeys for a while. Now that summer was about to end and school came closer it was exactly a year since they had last seen their father's face.

"When do you think will he return?" Al asked while putting his green shirt on. Carefully he brushed over it trying to hide the fact it had a few creases.

They shared a room since ever they were young. On the left was Alphonse's bed on the right was Edward's. Behind each bed was a desk.

Tomorrow school was supposed to begin again. None of them really looked forward to that.

"I bet Mum will be happy though once we are back in schoo." Ed commented.

"Why do you think so brother?" the younger brother asked in an inncoent tone.

"Hah. Don't be a fool." He chuckeled. "Obviously Mum would finally have some freedom again once she has the house to herself."

"Hm." Al wasn't sure as to wheter he should believe his brother or not. He decided not to worry about it.

"Alphonse! Edward!" Their mother's voice sounded up the staircase. "Father is going to arrive at the railway station in half an hour. Go get ready!"

"Father is going to come today already!" Edward jumped off his bed and nearly dripped over his jeans he had not yet buttoned up. "Shit!" he yelped crashing to the floor.

"Brother!" Al said in a demanding voice. "Don't swear like that."

"Oh let me be." Ed grunted frustratingly. He got back up from the floor, buttoned up his pants and made his way downstairs along with Al.

So it was time for their Dad to arrive back home. Alphonse was always so happy about that. Ed, on the contrary, could never really share this joy. He had been ok with his dad not being around always. He knew he was busy doing research about whatever stuff it was, but lately it did start to bug him to see an empty chair where his father used to sit. He wasn not a child anymore after all, now simple words like "Daddy is goingto be home soon." and a smile wouldn't fix things anymore this easy. He wasn't satisfied with a single "I'll be home soon." and a pat on his shoulder when his dad once again left their home.

The train station was near. "Dad's train might have arrived already. Let's hurry up." Trisha said and grabbed Alphone's hand. "Oh Al. You aren't a kid anymore." Ed snorted and decided it was best to walk a few meters behind them.

And indeed Hohenheim's train had arrived already. As soon as his figure got visible between all those people roaming around to get to their loved ones and to their cars, Trisha ran up to her beloved husband and hugged him tight.

"Oh see! Don't they look wonderful together like that?" Alphone's asked his eyes sparkling.

"Yeah, whatever." He snorted again and crossed his arms in front of him. He felt embarrassed.

"At least they stopped making out in public." Ed kicked a stone away with his right foot and left the train station.

He sat down on the porch in front on the main entrance. "Now if that isn't my oh-so-grown-up man Edward." His father had approached him from behind and patted his shoulder. "Come on." He said tilting his head to his right. "Let's go home. I brought a few books with me again."

Yeah, the books. He liked reading those. They were about machines and various stuff. The only thing to look forward to other than seeing Mum a lot happier.

"Yeah." He said monotonous and got up.

The door fell shut. Hohenheim brushed off his heavy boots and hung his jacket onto coat stand. Gentleman-like he helped Trisha out of her jacket. She blushed a little even as he did so.

Thouroughly Hohenheim tucked away the books. He intended to hand them over to the kids once they were having dinner.

"You can go stay upstairs for a while. I'll call for you when dinner is ready." Trisha said warmly.

Once they had run upstairs Honheim approached his wife from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist as she stood in front of the stove.

Gently he brushed a few hair stands out of her face and placed a few kisses on her neck. "They have gotten so tall." He said still holding her.

"Yeah. A year can change much, especially now."

Hohenheim just nodded. "And how are they doing? Tormenting your nerves already?" he chuckeled.

"Oh. Well…Not that I noticed." She stuttered.

"You are just ignoring the fact they are growing up. See some evil in them, they wont stay your angels forever." He caressed her cheek while talking.

"Hm. Well, I did see a change in Edward's behaviour. But school is getting stressful lately. He must have been worn out." There wasn't much self-confidence behind her words as Hohenheim noticed.

"I am here now. I will help you deal with the brats." He spun her around and kissed her like in old times.

"Say brother. Why were you so cold today?" Al nagged cleaning his desk.

"What are you cleaning your desk for? Afraid Dad might scold you?" Ed was lying on the bed, hands crossed behind his head.

"No I'm not. And you didn't answer my question."

"I'm not acting any colder than usual Alphonse. You are getting paranoid." Ed retorted.

"If you say so." The younger brother mumbeled.

"Dinner's ready!" their mother's voice called upstairs.

The two boys ran downstairs taking their usual seats. It was weird to Edward seeing the usually so emtpy chair occupied by the man that hadn't been around for a year.

This time their father served the food. Everyone tucked in and soon the plates were as emtpy as they hadn't been in a while.

"Oh my." Hohenheim laughed. "Not only your bodies grew, your hunger did too." He smile dwarmly at them. Alphone's smiled back, Ed though, just focused his plate. The left over broccoli was much more interesting to him.

"Still don't like broccoli any more, hm?" his father asked as he picked up his plate.

"Nope." He retorted shortly and got up from his chair.

"Hey Edward. Stay for some longer. Remember, I got books with me again." Hohenheim smiled over his back. A red cloth hanging over his shoulder.

"Yeah alright." Ed went back to take a seat again and waited patiently.

Trisha got up to clean the dishes but her husband called her back. "Oh darling. Stay here. I will clean the dishes afterwards. Come and stay with us." He leant over the chair's arm and peaked into the kitchen.

"Yeah ok ok." She came back into the kitchen drying her hands with a cloth.

"So what have you got for us this time?" Al jumped up and down in joy.

"I've found some rare books. An old man gave them to me as a gift. I told him about my lovely two sons waiting at home for me. He said that if they were as knowledge-seeking as I am, they would sure be happy to get their hands on those books." He smiled.

"So what are they about?" Ed asked. Now even he grew curious. "I've been doing research on alchemy as you might know. So that's what those books are about. Simple, easy alchemy so far. Of course there is more to it than you can ever read in a book. But I hope you will like them."

And indeed their necks grew larger as their father stirred in a bag for 4 books.

He handed them over to the boys sitting on the opposite side of the table.

"Have fun reading." He cheered.

"We will. Thanks Dad!" Al ran around the table to give his dad a warm hug. Edward, though, remained quietly on his chair.

Trisha looked a little sad seeing that Edward wouldn't hug his father. Hohenheim noticed her look and gently wrapped his arm around her and gestured her to forget about it.

They stood up from the table and made their way upstairs again. Just as Edward turned round the corner his dad called for him. "Edward."

"Yes?" he turned round in his heels to face his father.

"May I talk with you for a moment?"