Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.
The sun shined its brilliant rays on the small group as they made their way through the solemn gray columns. They stopped before three graves. Winry held her daughters hand as she placed flowers on her grandmother's grave stone. Ed and Al repeated the action as they placed tulips from the remains of their old home on their parent's graves. Their mother's bouquet was contained within the vase that they had repaired those many years ago. Al opened his mouth and began to speak, addressing the grave of his mother.
"We found the letters you wrote," he began. "You don't need to apologize for anything. We both know you would have stayed with us if you had the chance. You're right, you know, about everything. I met a beautiful girl, who I'm proud to call my wife. We recently discovered that we're expecting our first child."
This was met with surprised expressions from Ed and Winry. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?" asked Ed.
"It didn't seem appropriate," replied Al with a sad smile. Both Ed and Winry offered their congratulations while the children looked at each other with curious glances.
"Where's the baby," asked Maes looking around. "Baby?" inquired Nina, following her brother's lead. She started examining the area surrounding the graves, picking up rocks to look underneath for the baby in question.
"It's in my belly," explained Mei with a smile, pointing at her slightly swollen abdomen.
"How did it get in there?" demanded Maes, who went to scrutinize Mei's belly.
"Uh… well you see," stuttered Ed with a flush.
"We'll tell you later," explained Winry with a grin at her husband's embarrassment. He gave her a look of gratitude before nodding his golden head. "Exactly, we'll tell you when you're older."
"Tomorrow?" Asked Maes excitedly.
"When you're a bit older than that," replied Winry. Maes didn't seem too happy with this but he accepted the compromise. After all, he did have ways to get his parents to talk. Nina continued her search until she was picked up by Winry. "I think we should probably head back, do you want to stay longer?" She asked her husband.
He gave a solemn nod. "I'll stay with him," added Al. Winry nodded with a small smile.
"I'll go with you," said Mei as she held Maes hand. They walked out of the cemetery together, chattering about the things Mei would need before the baby came.
"I can't believe you're going to be a dad," exclaimed Ed, clasping his brother's shoulder in congratulations.
"I know, I can't believe it either," replied Al with a proud gleam in his eyes. "Before we go was there anything you wanted to say?" Asked Al softly, bringing them back to the reality of the situation.
Ed's eyes grew somber as he looked down at his parent's graves. "Mom, I agree with everything Al said, and just like you predicted I married Winry. We have two kids, Maes and Nina. I wish you could meet them, they're pretty amazing." He turned his head slightly to address his father's grave. "I know why you left us and I want you to know that I can finally forgive you." He said simply.
Moving his gaze to Granny Pinako's grave he began to speak once more. "Thank you for taking care of us, I don't think I've ever thanked you properly before. And thank you for keeping the letters. It seems like Hohenheim had the chance to read them before he died."
Al gave his own thanks to Hohenheim and Pinako before the two left the cemetery together. Their hearts felt lighter than they had in years as they discussed Al's future child and what he had to prepare for.
Little did they know that three figures had appeared in front of their respective graves as the two departed. They each wore serene expressions as they watched the boys leave the cemetery. The figures vanished, as quickly as they had appeared, into the heavens above. With the discovery of the letters they were finally able to rest in peace.