It was still raining outside however it was now coming down in a light drizzle. But the cold weather remained, making Ed relieved that there were extra coats and gloves in the lobby. He was starting to feel spoiled and wondered why he didn't take advantage of all these perks before. Unlocking the driver's side door, He felt a little uncertain. Driving was not something he had done often and never in Central. Starting up the engine, the car lurched forward slowly. Luckily at this hour, there weren't many people on the road so he had less chance of hitting anyone. Maybe after he found Al and talked to him about what happened, he could also convince Winry to leave. She seemed to have a harder time saying no to him.

The entire trip over to Sciezka's was quiet and the roads were surprisingly not as slick as he thought they would be. Once he parked out front with no problems, he hurried inside unsure if anyone was watching him. Lately he was feeling paranoid from everything that happened. It didn't take Sciezka long to answer the door, with a huge grin on her face she pulled Ed into a a hug.
"I'm so happy you're okay." "Yeah..thanks...uh Sciezka?" He waited to see if she'd pull away.
"Yes?"
"Could you let me go?" She finally released him, stepping back and laughing.

He walked into the apartment looking for Alphonse. Sciezka headed into the kitchen, carrying dishes in from the living room.
"Can I get you anything? Have you eaten?" Her question reminded him that he hadn't had much to eat for awhile now.
"If it's not a problem. I don't want to inconvenience you." "It's no trouble. So is Al or Winry with you?" She already had a pot sitting out on the stove.
"Well Winry is at the dorms. We're probably gonna stay there from now on."
"Really? You're more then welcome to stay here." Ed leaned against the doorway into the kitchen, shaking his head.
"We know but you've been dragged into this whole mess enough. Thanks for all your help though."

Sciezka's gaze dropped to the floor as though she was sad at the idea of them not staying there. As much as she didn't always like the danger, it was kind of exciting.
"Have you found anything out?"
"Not really, although I was hoping my brother would be here." Sciezka pulled a bowl out and poured the contents from a pot into it. "Sorry I haven't seen him all day. I hope you like stew. Winry showed me how to make it." She handed him the bowl. After smelling it, he couldn't help but smile.

~~~~ Alphonse walked down the sidewalk, feeling somewhat drained. He felt like he had wasted the whole day, although he didn't have much to go by when it came to finding his brother. Eventually he decided to call it a day as he was beginning to feel tired. Sleep had become quite an inconvenience to someone who use to not ever need it or anything else for that matter. He pulled his collar up on his coat, hoping to keep some of the cold wind off his neck. Turning the corner, he could see Sciezka's apartment in the distance. Even though he was a couple blocks away, he could make out a car sitting outside and someone placing something in the back.

Unsure of what was going on, he picked up his pace. From where he was it looked like someone from the military. The person moved under one of the street lights and he got a better look at them. Hurrying in their direction as fast as he could go, he had to watch out for a patch of ice on the way.
"Brother," he called, hoping it didn't bother any of the neighbors who might be trying to sleep. Edward glanced up from the car, as he placed Winry's suitcase in the back.
"Al? Where have you been?" Before Alphonse could answer him, he had to stop to catch his breath. He could feel his heart beat in his ears as he leaned forward.
"Me, what about you? I've been worried sick about you. How'd you get away?"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you on the way to the dorms." Ed scratched the back of his head.
"The dorms? We're going there this late?"
"Yeah, I've got a room there. Come on."

Al got in the passenger side of the car only to realize he was being too trusting. Edward jumped in the driver's seat and started the car up.
"So when are you going to visit Winry's mom?" Al glanced over at his brother, hoping he answer the question right and that he hadn't gotten his hopes up for nothing.
"Yeah yeah, Sarah. I guess you're right to be suspicious. I found out all about that earlier."
"All about what?" They pulled out of the parking spot.
"Our question. Apparently Envy pretended to be me with Winry."
"Yeah she told me about it, it's a good thing we thought about it."
"Did she tell you he kissed her?" Al stared back in shock.
"I'm surprised he'd do something like that, I mean he's made it pretty clear that he doesn't like humans. So why would he bother kissing her?" Edward gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
"Because he wanted to make me mad, that's why."

Al leaned back in his seat, thinking about the situation a little bit more, realizing it did make sense to him now. There were only so many things that drove his brother crazy.
"Yeah, that would make you pretty mad. Especially when it comes to Winry."
"Now what's that suppose to mean? I'm more worried he's gonna hurt her if nothing else."
"Well why does this bother you so much? He didn't hurt her like you said, so what's the big deal." Ed couldn't understand why it didn't bother Al that Envy had been so forward with their mechanic friend.
"Because, no one should do that to her. It's giving her all sorts of ideas and I just don't like it."
"And you're jealous."
"I am not."

Ed let out a huff, trying not to get too drawn into the argument as he was trying to drive.
"Anyway it does make sense now, why you were acting like such a jerk before. It wasn't really you. So did Winry find you then?"
"Yeah, Wrath brought her to where they were keeping me. And then that loser Greed was acting all like he was trying to help us out. I'm starting to wonder if Dante did something else to him cause I don't think he's so much like me." Other then punching Greed in the face, Al didn't really know much about the homunculus either. There was a couple a minutes of silence before Alphonse spoke up.
"Hey, you're driving. When did you learn to do that?"
"Why do you sound so surprised? I can be responsible when I need to be. Dad taught me when I was on the other side of the gate."

Al nodded quietly back. He wished he had gotten to spend more time with their dad. Shifting some in his seat, he leaned his forehead against the window. Before long they were in front of the dorms again.
"Hey Al, I need you to do something." Edward turned off the engine and pulled the keys out, holding them in his gloved hand. "You have to tell Winry she needs to go home. I can't have her here where she could get in trouble."
"Why don't you tell her?"
"I did, she doesn't listen to me. Before we had a stupid fight about what happened with Envy and she got all mad at me. Apparently I'm don't have the right to be upset about it. So now she's just mad at me."

His tone dropped as though for the first time their fighting bothered him. He never liked it when they fought before but this time he really wasn't trying to fight with her. "Why does this have to be so complicated? Why can't she just listen to me?"
"I'm sure she has her reasons, just like you have yours. You really worried that something else might happen. It's not like this has been the easiest trip for us. Who knows what else could happen. I'll talk to her but I don't know if it'll do any good." Ed smiled wryly as they exited the car and grabbed the bags in the back.

After returning the keys for the car, they headed up the stairs to their room. As they walked in, Ed realized that the sleeping arrangement might not work out, as they found Winry already sleeping in the one bed. "That spoiled brat, we've been sleeping on the floor the past several nights, the least she could have done was taken the couch." Alphonse placed their suicase on top of the dresser and let out a sigh.
"Brother keep your voice down, you'll wake her up. Besides maybe the couch opens up." With that suggestion, he moved over and pulled up one of the cushions to reveal another bed.

As Al worked at pulling it out, Ed tried to get Winry to move over so he could sit down to take his shoes off. She was such a deep sleeper.
"What a bed hog." Luckily she was unable to hear his grumbling. "Maybe I should have gotten two rooms instead."
"It'll be okay." Al got the other bed pulled out only to realize it was only a full size which was kind of small for him and Ed. "Um, well we've had worse." Ed slouched forward, wanting nothing more then to pick Winry up and make her take the smaller bed. But she was already mad with him and he really didn't want to push his luck. "Fine, whatever. Just don't kick me." He headed for the closet to get some extra blankets.
"And you don't snore, Brother." Al went over to help him make the bed.

~~~~ The next morning came sooner then Edward wanted. His night was full of tossing and turning and as much as he wanted to blame it on the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, he couldn't. Too many things were on his mind these days, which made the much needed sleep impossible to get. As the morning light came into the room, he found himself on the edge, giving most of the bed to his younger brother.

Finally deciding to get up, he headed into the bathroom for a shower. Afterward he would go see Mustang to give him an update and then get breakfast for the three of them. As the hot water hit his shoulders, he let out a tired yawn. As much thinking as he had been doing the night before, he still didn't have a solution to their current problem. There was one way to get rid of the homunculi but he really wanted to avoid opening the gate again. It was too unstable to mess around with.

He moved his hair out of his face and leaned forward, placing his hand on the cold tile wall. The problem with the homunculus wasn't the only thing bothering him. His friendship with Winry came to mind and he wondered what would happen to it after everything else was resolved. It would be so much easier if she would just leave and he could put his personal life aside. Once he was done in Central, he could head home with Al and take care of whatever was bothering her then. His thoughts went back to Resembol and the idea of going back to a quiet life there brought a slight grin to his face.

Alphonse and he had worked and fought so hard to have a normal life again. As much as he had wanted to get away from that little dust ball of a town, right now the idea of things being simpler sounded really nice. Just thinking about it eased his mind some, making him realized he had to get through the rest of their time here no matter what it took. With a new determination, he turned off the water and reached out for a towel. Pulling the curtain open he stepped out, drying off. Just as he started drying his hair with the towel, he heard the door open and turned to see Winry standing there.