13-Goth-Gyrl-13: Yes. And I don't mind if you're dramatic. I expected that. I love thick plots and suspense. It makes others want to keep reading. You're patience has paid off. Here it is.

Luka'sBlade: That's all. But here's the next bit that I know you've been waiting for. Enjoy.

Cap'nHoozits: I know I'm naughty. And I left you hanging so you would all want to read this next chapter even more. And of course you would leave it up to me. It is my fanfiction.

Likexaxrose: It did take me a while to write that chapter. I believe I mentioned that. Glad you liked it though.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. Here's the moment you've been waiting for. Drama Time!

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Chapter Ten: Won't Let You Go

The first thing Scar noticed when he woke up was the unmistakable scent of rosemary. He remembered that tree. Hariph had cared for it the way a mother would care for her newborn. She had raised it from a seedling when she was just barely becoming a woman. Now it was a couple feet high and thick with that fragrance. She had taken it with her when she left, and now it had found its way back to him.

The second thing he noticed was the blanket. Scar sat up and stared at it. He remembered Winry's first night here, and knew that it must have been her doing.

Thinking of Winry, his mind flashed back to the events of the previous day. He threw the blanket off of him and started to run out. He caught the scent of rosemary again, stopped and looked around. He saw the tree on his desk, as well as the silver locket holding down a piece of paper with some writing on it. Scar walked over to the desk, picked up the note and read it, his heart beating faster with every word.

Dear Uncle,

I'm sorry my presence brought up painful memories for you. I'm sorry you found out the truth. They say that ignorance is bliss, and they're right. Please forget that I was ever here. Forget that you ever knew me. Let's just continue on with our own separate lives.

Sincerely,

Winry Hariph Rockbell.

Scar's heart stopped when he read her middle name, then his mind fully registered what the note said. He ran into Winry's room as the note fluttered to the ground. He stopped inside the doorframe and looked around. The bed was made, nice and neat. The closet was empty of all Amestrian clothes. The suitcase and duffel bag were gone. Winry was nowhere in sight.

Scar ran out of his house and towards Miles'. He reached the front door and knocked loudly.

"I'm coming," a grumpy and tired voice was heard from inside. In his panic, Scar had forgotten that Miles was not a morning person.

Miles opened the door, ready with a Briggs style lecture for whoever was waking him up this early. The sun was just barely rising. When he saw that it was Scar, and, more importantly, saw the look on his face, his anger and annoyance turned into concern. Something was wrong. Scar wasted no time.

"Winry's gone," he blurted out. "She's not here, is she?"

"Wait a minute," Miles said, "What do you mean 'she's gone?'"

"She's not at the house, all of her things are gone, and she left a note telling me to forget that we had ever met."

"What happened after I left yesterday?"

Scar quickly told him what he had heard, and Miles listened.

"Well," he began, thinking out loud after Scar was finished talking, "No cars are allowed to cross the border into Ishval, and she's too smart to try and go on foot. The trains don't run at night, but there's one leaving this morning. . ."

"When?" Scar asked impatiently. Miles looked at his watch.

"Forty-five minutes."

Scar ran off, leaving his friend standing in the doorframe of his house. Miles stared after him. He smiled after a few seconds. If Winry thought that Scar was going to forget about her, she was dead wrong.

Scar ran as fast as he could, faster than he had ever run before, never slowing down. People who started work early in the morning watched as he ran past and wondered what his hurry was.

I lost my parents, he thought as he ran, thinking back to the day he and his family were attacked by Kimbley. I lost my brother. I lost my sister. I am not going to lose my niece. I failed Hariph once when I killed her and her husband and made her daughter an orphan. I won't fail her again by letting go of Winry. Great Ishvala, don't let me be too late.

He reached the train station in thirty-five minutes. The station workers were starting to load up the supply and baggage cars. There were some people standing around waiting their turn to board. They stared at him as he ran in and skid to a stop. He looked around frantically as he gasped for breath. He stopped when his eyes caught sight of Winry in line to board the train. She too had turned when he ran in. She froze when she saw him. Den barked beside her.

"What are you doing he. . ." She was cut off when Scar hugged her and held her close.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," he whispered. Winry could tell by his voice that he was more than just scared. She pulled away from him and led him outside; people were still staring. Den followed them. Everyone else turned back to what they were doing, except for one passenger.

Winry and Scar stopped just a few yards away from the station. Winry turned to Scar.

"Why did you come find me?" she asked. "I told you to forget about me."

"Did you really think I would forget about my only niece, the only family I have left?" Scar grasped her arms as he spoke, as if he were afraid that if he let her go she would disappear. "Why do you want to me forget about you?"

"I didn't want to cause you any pain."

"Don't give me that crap." Scar held her eyes captive and refused to let go. "Why do really want me to forget about you? And don't lie. Be completely honest with me."

Winry was silent for a minute, then looked at the ground as she began to cry.

"I thought that when you looked at me, you would see your sister," she said in between sobs. "I thought that you would see the girl who pointed a gun at you. I thought you would see the girl who could never forgive you for what you did." The tears were falling faster. "I told myself that I could never and will never forgive you, but then I saw your picture in the locket. I couldn't even imagine what you would think when you found out. I came here to find my family, but I didn't think that we could ever become a family, not after all that's happened between us. I thought that this was one wound that could never fully heal. I didn't think that we could ever forget."

Scar listened to what she had to say, then hugged her close again.

"My sister rarely wrote to us," he whispered. "In the last letter we got from her, she told us that she had a daughter. She said that she would find us when the war was over and introduce us to her. Before she left home, she asked my brother and me to take care of any children she had if anything was to happen to her. We promised. My brother may be dead, but I will still keep that promise." He paused for a moment, then continued. "I can't lose you, too."

Winry was crying harder than she ever had in her entire life, harder than when Ed and Al had come home after the Promised Day. She wrapped her arms around her uncle and hugged him back.

"Boarding call! Leaving in five minutes!"

Winry and Scar looked towards the train station.

"Last chance," Scar said.

"No," Winry replied. "I'll stay. After all, someone has to keep an eye on you. I think I remember my mom saying that her youngest brother was a bit of a trouble-maker."

"And she was right." Scar laughed as he remembered the little pranks he used to play on his older sister.

Den barked loudly, reminding the two humans that he was still here. They looked down at him and scratched behind his ears.

"You're a part of this family, too," Winry said. "You're not going anywhere."

"Shall we go home?" Winry looked up at Scar.

"Yeah," she said. "Let's go home, Uncle."

"Uncle, huh?" Scar pretended to think deeply. "I suppose I could get used to that."

Winry laughed as she walked back into the train station to get her suitcase and duffel bag. Scar took the suitcase and they walked home together as uncle and niece, Den following them the whole time and making sure that they remembered to give him some attention.

Riza Hawkeye wiped a few tears from her eyes as she watched them walk away.

"Last call for passengers!"

Riza gave the couple one last look before boarding the train, smiling the whole time. I would love to see the look on Edward's face when he finds out.

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So what did you all think? Was it worth the wait? Next chapter includes Ed. Review and stay tuned.

End of Chapter Ten