Much to Ed's relief, patching things up with Al was hardly a painful process. After years of running to every corner of Amestris, a year back in Resembool truly felt like an eternity, despite Al's time now being punctuated by irregular bouts of fitful sleep. The flaxen light of dawn barely kissed the roof of Resembool courier office before Al was waiting at its glass-fronted doors with a telegram to dictate to Mei.

"This is to who, now?" mumbled the groggy office attendant.

"To Princess Mei Chang, of Xing," Al repeated.

"A princess, eh?" he asked with a grin, "Is she a real one, or is that just what you call her?"

Al's breath caught in his throat as he felt his cheeks go crimson.

'For her?'

His thoughts felt oddly wobbly as they unfolded in his mind.

"Yes," he replied firmly after he gathered himself, "She is a real princess, and I'd really like to get this message to her as soon as possible."

Recognizing his intentions, the attendant straighten up and nodded to Al to begin his dictation.

"Dear Princess Mei, stop," he began.

A steady tapping filled in the tiny office.

"I accept your offer to study in Xing, stop," he continued, "Please confirm passage across the desert, stop."

The tapping paused as Al sorted through the odd tangle of conclusions in his head.

"All my best, stop. Alphonse Elric, stop."

"Is that all?" the attendant asked.

"Yes, thank you," he replied, and slipped out the door into already sweltering summer morning.

In the following weeks, a visit to the courier's office neatly wove itself into Al's morning routine. Wake up, take Emi outside, have a coffee, and head into town to reply to Mei's latest message. It never failed to make Al smile as he read her clipped statements practically bubbling over with excitement. It surprised him how quickly it became his favorite part of the entire day.

Winry, with her knowing azure gaze, would jab Ed in the ribs as they watched him practically skip out the door at precisely 8 o'clock every morning.

"Mei must certainly have a way with words," she'd say with a smirk.

Ed would roll his eyes, down the last of his coffee, and scour the house for Emi. Despite being Winry's dog, the Elric brothers fought over her like children and doted on her like a couple of grandmothers.

Despite the complicated web of details involved, the reality of Al's voyage manifested as quickly as Ed feared. The morning of his train ride to the border, Ed leaned lazily against the door frame of Al's room as his younger brother chased a few last-minute belongings into the beaten traveling truck thrown open at the foot of his bed.

"Are you almost ready?"

"Nearly," replied Al as he wrestled a blue sweater into the trunk.

"A sweater?" asked Ed with a smirk, "It's the middle of summer, Al!"

"One can never be too prepared," he responded as he gripped the bed frame to help himself to his feet, "And besides, I don't know how long I'm going to stay."

The smirk quickly withered from Ed's face. Al sighed as he closed the trunk's lid with a heavy thump.

"Winry told me about your conversation in the kitchen," he admitted.

A crease quickly formed between Ed's brows.

"Can't she keep anything to herself?"

"She means well."

"I know…"

"Listen," said Al, "I think she's right. I'm surprised you haven't run off somewhere myself."

Ed nodded, but said nothing.

"We've dedicated ourselves to alchemy, haven't we?"

Ed frowned.

"What's the use of continuing my studies if I can't even perform it anymore?" he asked more bitterly that he intended, "At least you still can."

"Did I ever tell you I heard what you said to Truth?" Al asked suddenly.

Ed's head shot up to meet his younger brother's gaze.

"Tell me what?!"

"That I heard you say you didn't need alchemy, if you had us," he explained.

Ed said nothing, his frown growing deeper.

"Well, you do have us," he said, "And I know none of our friends and I would ever want you to give up something you're passionate about. You know how many different forms of alchemy there are! Maybe there's still a way!"

Ed shook his head, "My gate was destroyed, Al. You know that."

"Last time I checked, when it comes to alchemy, no one has all the answers," Al said.

"Of course not!" Ed retorted.

"That's our job, brother!" he replied with a grin.

Ed let a smile curl across his lips.

"You're right!"

"Off to the station then!" cheered Al.

The notoriously long trek to the station was drastically cut short due to a hired car. While Al protested with every fiber of his being that he was fit enough to walk, he didn't shut down Winry's decision. It was usually best not to.

"Well," Al began, as he stuck his head out the window of the train car, "I guess this is goodbye, for now."

"Oh, don't be silly!" Winry replied cheerily, "We'll come and visit!"

Ed smiled and shook his head.

"I don't know about that—"

"Of course we will!" she insisted.

Al laughed.

"Whatever works for the two of you!"

"The two of us?" Ed asked, his cheeks growing pink.

"Of course!" replied Winry, "I'll miss you! Say hi to everyone for me!"

Suddenly, Winry leapt onto the running board and pressed her lips against Al's cheek. The fluttering in his stomach nearly made him topple over, while Ed's cheeks transitioned from pink to crimson.

"What was that?!" he demanded.

Winry turned to him and smiled.

"Just a little goodbye kiss on the cheek, Edward. What's the matter?"

"Well… I..."

"Way to be subtle, Ed!" chimed Al with a smirk.

"Shut up!"

The crimson stain on Ed's cheeks deepened as he noticed it infect Winry's as well.

"Ed?"

"It's… It's nothing, Win! I swear!" mumbled Ed.

Winry blushed harder and said nothing.

The sudden blast of the train's horn brought them all to attention.

"Well, here's to the next adventure!" grinned Al as the train lurched forward.

Winry's right hand waved lazily through the hot summer morning as she threaded her left around Ed's. He gave Al a thumbs up.

"Ready! Steady! Go!"