Here is Chapter 2 just for the hell of it

I held my head in my hands, fingers pressed to my eyelids, as I remembered.

There was a jolt as the train returning us to Amestris ground to a halt at the station. I heard the people; the returning soldiers begin to file from the train and begin their search for their loved ones, calling out for them.

I did not move from my seat, I could not, could not face all of those happy faces. Glad to be home, glad to see their loved ones again… glad to be going back to normal.

I grimaced. Back to normal how could they go back to normal, after what we had done, the blood we had spilled?

I could never go back to… normal.

I heard footsteps getting nearer to my cabin. I heard the sliding door open. I raised my head and came face to face with Maes Hughes.

He walked into the cabin and sat down across from me.

"Hughes what are you doing here? Isn't Gracia waiting for you?"

"Yes she is."

"Then why don't you go to her. I am sure she will be getting worried."

"Roy. I will not leave you here, not in this state."

I turned my gaze down to my shoes.

"I am fine."

"Roy I know you, and you are not fine."

"I am fine. Go to Gracia."

He hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I said, looking up with a false grin pulled over my face to mask my true feelings.

I could not be sure if Hughes saw through me or not, but in any case he grinned back and stood up.

He held his hand down to me, "Come on Roy."

I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet.

As we stepped off the train we both heard a yell.

"Maes!"

We both turned.

"Gracia!" Hughes shouted as Gracia flung herself pell-mell into his arms.

As he grinned back into her smiling face I was reminded of something Hughes had said to me, back in that tent in Ishval.

"I will take in what I have done here alone, and smile when I am in front of my Gracia again."

"Hughes you are strong." I muttered under my breathe… I looked down at my hands and clenched my fist, "But I do not have your strength."