"Edward, we're ba-" she stopped, nearly dropping her arm full of groceries.
"Winry." Ed stood from his seat, only staring in surprise as his mouth fell open. What did he say at a time like this?
"I can explain-" Edward started to say, but Alphonse broke in mid-sentence.
"Lust! You-your-you're back! But-but how?" If he hadn't been a suit of armor, not only his voice but his face would also have expressed his surprise and confusion.
Lust smiled. The excitement the boy expressed at the sight of seeing her was a feeling Lust did not think she would ever experience, and it was something she found she had no words for.
It was a peaceful, yet accelerating feeling to be wanted: to be missed. Lust had never been, or at least not that she remembered since becoming a Homunculi, missed or truley wanted.
"I can explain everything Alphonse. Though, you may want to sit down for it. This could take awhile," Lust said, her grin only growing larger as she watched Alphonse pull up a chair to the table eagerly.
Winry still stood where she was. She still stared. Edward had sometime ago stopped listening to Al's and Lust's exchange and could only watch Winry.
He left the table to make his way to where Winry stood, but she suddenly turned to leave back through the open door, but not before saying:
"I need some fresh air." And she was gone. Edward was after her in seconds. Alphonse was not worried, for he knew where his brother was going.
"Should we go after those two?" Lust asked, now turned around and looking after Ed's fleeing figure in concern.
"There's nothing to worry about, dear. Those two can take care of themselfs," Pinako spoke, almost forgotten in all the commotion.
"Oh, we haven't been formally introduced. I'm-" but Lust did not need to finish her thought. The old women smiled her knowing grin, her pipe in the corner of her mouth.
"I know very well who you are. Now, for your story. I'd like to hear it as well if you don't mind an old women like myself nosing her way in."
"Of course not. So, where to start?" Lust pondered out loud.
(Line*break)
"Winry! Wait up!"
She soon came to a stop. And her choice of location was an interesting one: the pond she and Edward had taken a swim in not so long ago.
"I don't understand any of this! I leave the house for an hour and I come home to-to-" Winry's voice flattered in strength.
"Please, Ed. Help me make sense of all this." Winry sat by the waters edge now, watching the water ripple as it's inhabitants went about their everyday life. Edward came to sit beside the girl.
"I was the same, you know. The moment I saw Lust, alive, my heart stopped. I was confused. All I could think was, 'The dead don't come back...they can't.'We had ready tried it once, me and Al, so why now?" Edward said, letting his gaze become lost on the water.
"How did she do it? How did Lust...how did she do it?" Winry's voice caught as she spoke Lust's name. Ed noticed this, but let it go unadressed.
"The gate let her go." Winry was lost for words, she did not quite understand everything about the gate, but she knew enough.
"The gate, huh?" Winry said quietly. In reality, she muttered more than spoke.
"What did she give the gate?" Her voice shook a little now, almost nervous, anticipating the worst possible response from Ed. Edward saw this, and hesitated at first, but answered Winry's question:
"Her old memories, before Lust died and became a Homunculi."
Winry pondered this. Her thoughts strayed however to another thought:
"What does she plan to do from here? I mean Lust," Winry purposed, turning her gaze to Edward.
"Honestly, the thought hadn't crossed my mind," Edward realized. What was she plannimg to do from here on out?
"I suppose Lust will need a place to stay. But, the question still remains: where? And she dosen't exactly have the necessary day-to-day knowledge about being human. What if she-no. Nevermind."
"Tell me," Winry encouraged, moving closer to Ed, and her smile filled her lips.
"It's-it's nothing. Besides, it would never-you guys would never approve-"
"Let's do it," Winry interjected. Edward attention was recaptured in seconds.
"How do you even know what I was going to say? For all you know, I was going to purpose something completly rash and ridiculous."
Winry laughed.
"What is so funny about this? Or anything I just said?" Edward said, trying to conceal his rising irritation.
"Oh, come on, Ed! You're always rash and ridiculous! Considering your unbeatable hospital attendance, I'd say I'm spot on. But," Winry stopped, took a deep breathe, and continued:
"I also think your heart is in the right place. I agree, I think Lust should stay with us. Untill she gets back on her feet, anyhow."
"Do you honestly think that, Winry? Because, if you're just saying it, please don't," Edward spoke, looking his childhood friend and dream in the face.
"I mean it Ed. I realy mean it. She means a lot to you, I see that. I want her to make it in this world, and she'll need some guidance, at least in the beginning, right? So, yes, I too want Lust to stay with us in the mean time."
"Thank you, Winry." Edward leaned in towards her, letting his head fall into hers.
"Thank you." Winry relaxed her body, falling into Edward's frame, her head meeting Ed's.
"I wish we had more days like this one, Edward. No stress, no military," Winry whispered under her breath, just loud enough so Ed could hear.
"Well, how about another swim?" Edward replied with a question, his grin wider than his face.
"It's back," Winry muttered to himself.
"It's back. I knew if I was patient, I would see it again."
"What are you talking about?" Edward asked, thoroughly confused as to what Winry was referring too.
"Your large, goofy, idiot grin. It's a part of you I've missed. Oh, and Ed?"
"Yes?" Edward answered. They both now gazed over the water, and the reflection of the sun upon the water.
"I think I love you, Edward. I really do."
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