Chapter 37: Welcome Home

Al watched as his brother's expressions changed from calm to confused to completely outraged during the course of the phone call he was currently making to Rizenbol. It was two days since they had arrived North and they were all finally heading home. They had finished with whatever they had to deal with involving some proposition that Mustang had to make with Armstrong and then they had to wait out a long and brutal snow storm, so Al was more than grateful at the idea of actually heading back to Central. Havoc was even more excited because he was granted the chance to go back to Southern to continue the rest of his vacation, even if he only had four days left of it. Ed walked away from the phone, his expression saying it all. He was irritable.

"Is Winry upset with you?" The phone call was meant to tell their childhood friend to start heading to Central since they were heading home, but apparently that wasn't the way the conversation went.

"She's not in Rizenbol. She left." Ed answered and punched the wall. "What the hell is she thinking! It's too dangerous for her to just be moving around the country without any of us knowing!" he growled.

"Brother, relax. I'm sure she's fine." Al offered but Ed just shook his head and grabbed his coat and bag. "We've got a long trip ahead of us so let's get out of here." Waiting at the main entrance was the rest of their group saying their thanks and goodbyes.

"You're always welcome back at Briggs. The extra hands are always needed." Informed Buccaneer and Ed huffed. The grizzly like man had been teasing him for the past couple days and stating how his automail was far more advanced and worth than Edward's and the young alchemist was not at all entertained.

"We'll make sure to keep that in mind." Chimed Hughes. He, of course, had the best mood of all despite the weary looks that were exchanged by a few of the other Briggs men who had clearly thought back to how the man had paraded around the fortress, when Armstrong wasn't around of course, flashing pictures of his wonderful family.

"And Fullmetal! Make sure to get that automail checked out when you get back. I'm sure your mechanic can make some adjustments for you." Ed just grunted and gave a wave over his shoulder. They all piled into a large metal vehicle that took them to the end of the mountain where they hopped into the cares that took them to the station.

"Why couldn't it have been that easy the first time around?" Asked Fuery wearily as he dropped into his seat a row away from where Ed and Al had plopped down.

"Mustang here actually made plans for us this time." Havoc answered. Mustang shrugged a shoulder.

"I just want to get home to the comfort of my own bed. We've been on the move for over a week now. It's high time we were home."

"You could say that again." Everyone easily settled into their seats, more than ready to be on the road back home. During the course of the ride, the sun began to set and passengers had settled into their spots. Breda, Fuery, Havoc, and Hughes were gathered and well into a poker game that Fuery was clearly losing. There was a chess set laid out on the seat across from Mustang as he sat next to Riza, his head resting on her shoulder as he snoozed and she read a novel. He had played a few rounds with Alphonse before the meal cart had come around.

Al was now sleeping with his head resting on the train window. Ed watched him silently before glancing out of the window himself. Things had changed so much since he had been put in this situation. They were just barely teens when they were traveling across the country by train. In fact, at one point, Mustang would have been sitting across from Riza, best known as Hawkeye back then, and acting nonchalant while she cleaned her guy. Rarely were there instances where Ed and Al even traveled with this team. He only assumed the actions of Hughes and the others were expected.

"Hey, Edward," Snapping out of his thoughts, he glanced over at the group of soldiers who were looking in his direction. "Why don't you join us for a hand." Hughes suggested brightly, patting the space next to him.

"Nah, I'm kinda tired." He declined and went back to staring blankly out of the window. He felt a presence next to him and tried to ignore the annoyance building when he looked slightly to the side to see Hughes grinning back at him.

"Thinking about a certain little lady?" Despite the innocent grin on the grown man's face, it was enough to want anyone to swing a fist. It was the prying, 'I know what you're thinking and I'm going to tease you now' look. If there was anyone who knew that look better than Ed it had to have been Mustang himself.

"Go away." Hughes laughed and shook his head.

"Right, right." The man chuckled as he got up and went back to his game. The fact that he wasn't poking was scary but Ed didn't say anything. He figured all Hughes was waiting for was a sign of irritation or general interest before he would pounce. The entire ride Ed avoided eye contact with the man. Their arrival in arrival in Central couldn't have come sooner. They had all stumbled groggily off of the train into the evening breeze.

"2am." Murmured Havoc groggily as he looked at the station clock. "I've got an early day ahead of me. I'll see you guy." He said with a wave over his shoulder.

"Hold on Havoc! I live your way." Called Breda. He gave a quick salute before running after his best friend. Fuery was half sleep and had a delayed reaction when he realized that he lived in the same building as the pair that were vanishing down the dark street.

"Well it was fun friends, but I have a wife and daughter waiting at home for me." Chimed Hughes giving a sloppy salute. Roy, feel free to stop by tomorrow for little flame. Gracia told me he was spending the night."

"Thanks. Be safe, Hughes." They watched the main vanish down the street humming a tune to himself.

"Well, you boys be safe." Said Riza as she turned in the direction she and Roy lived in. "Make sure to tell Winry we said thank you and if anything is wrong don't hesitate to call us."

"Thank you Colonel," Al answered and received a smile from the clearly tired woman.

"Good night, boys." Mustang exchanged brief salutes with the pair before walking off with his wife. Letting out a sigh, Ed led the quiet walk to their apartment. When they arrived, it was pitch dark, but the faint smell of food and the randomly discarded fuzzy slippers were a clear sign that Winry was home.

"See, Brother. I told you she would be alright." Said Al with a tired smile before making his way back to their bedroom. Ed nodded silently as he dropped his bags and kicked off his shoes. Al appeared again and walked into the bathroom, more than likely to brush his teeth. Ed took that moment to verify how Winry was actually doing. He made his way to her room and slowly opened the door. There laid his girlfriend, curled up under her blankets, her loose blonde hair spread across the pillows beneath her. He let out a relieved sigh and inched his way into the room and to her bedside.

"Hey, Winry…" he whispered cautiously, hoping upon hope she didn't sleep with a wrench or something deadlier under her pillow. She stirred only slightly. He wasn't sure when she had become such a heavy sleeper so he shook her slightly. "Hey." A disgruntled sound before swatting at him. It must have taken her a moment to realize that she had gone to sleep with no one else in the apartment because, as Ed feared, her eyes flew open, she let out a screeched and pulled a wrench out.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Winry!" Al came rushing into the room, toothbrush in hand as he flipped on the light. Ed was holding his arms up in defense from where he fell back on the floor while Winry stood on her bed in her large night shirt and wrench held high. She blinked a few times taking in who had entered her room and the tool fell from her hands.

"Al… Ed…" The brothers let out relieved sighs when she began to calm.

"Welcome back indeed." Ed muttered and stood up. "Geez woman. Do you always sleep with weapons under your pillow?!" he yelled. She stared at him blankly for a while causing him to frown slightly. "Are you-"

"Ed!" He stumbled back when she jumped at him, arms circling around him in a tight hug. "I missed you two so much." She cried into his shoulder as she held on to him tightly. Ed noticed the smile on his younger brother's face due to the shock of Winry's embrace. He sighed and allowed himself to hold back a deep blush and hug her back.

"Missed you too."