Chapter 4

Edward gazed lovingly into his new wife's eyes. Winry Elric. He truly could not have put into words how lucky he was. The smartest, most attractive woman he'd ever know wanted to spend her life with him of all people. He wasn't worth such affection. He was just a scared, dumb soldier. The only heroism he'd displayed had been motivated by selfishness. He wanted his body restored, and the body of his brother. He wanted to survive, he had acted on those motivations and the nation had called him a hero. Not all the nation he reminded himself, getting out of the chaos of central was another reason why he and his wife were standing on the platform, waiting for a train to Resembool. A hand landed on his shoulder, and he turned wondering who it was. The train station was crowded, and he had said his goodbyes an hour earlier at his retirement party. He was done with the military, and they could hardly make him stay if he didn't want to. His service to the state was too great, and everybody knew it. It was General Mustang, dressed in a simple civilian suit, he looked like any midlevel office worker with a medium apartment and a cheating wife. Ed had been shocked by how much worse the lives of people in cities were than back home in the country. Urbanization seemed to him a lodestone for misery. "Major Elric…" Mustang's voice was stiff, as he reached out a hand for Edward to shake. Taking the preferred appendage Ed shook saying. "General Mustang."

There was little love if any in Ed's voice his mind still filled with their last meeting.

When Edward had announced his intention to retire, Mustang had objected, wanting Elric for his own advisory staff. And the disagreement had turned into a bitter shouting match ending with Ed forbidding mustang from attending the wedding. He would later retract his statement, on the orders of Winry who didn't want to see the two friends fight but things were not easy between them. The silence dragged on finally breaking when Winry spoke asking if Mustang needed anything. Clearing his thought the older man spoke "Uh, yeah. Riza said I should give you two a bottle of wine, as… As a parting gift. I don't drink the stuff, and wouldn't know what was good so I get you this." His speech finished he thrust out a hand, in which was clasped a small bottle of fine amber liquid. "It's a good age, from my own collection…" Edward took the bottle and the two men stared at each other for a few seconds before Mustang saluted and turned on his heels. "Wait, Gen- Roy!" At Ed's voice, mustang stopped but did not turn. "If you are ever in Resembool, my house is open." Mustang turned a small smile on his lips, and nodding said "I might just take you up on that, Major." And with another salute, this one returned by Edward he vanished into the crowds on the station platform. As Mustang walked away Ed followed him with his eyes, until being distracted by the sight of a man dressed in a shabby soldier's uniform, with the worst thousand-yard stare Edward had ever seen. Probably a deserter he thought. After the coup, many soldiers had simply walked away from their posts and gone home. With nothing to keep them there anymore, and the country rapidly collapsing Ed didn't blame them. He had faith that the junta would be able to restore order, but Central was one step away from anarchy, and Ed understood why most wanted to return to their homes. After all, that's what he was doing...

Several hours Ed, and Winry sat in their private room on the first-class car of the train. The sun was hanging low in the western sky casting a fiery orange light across the landscape. A soft sigh escaped from Winry's mouth as she rested her head on Ed's shoulder. This was paradise Ed felt calmer than he'd ever been before in his life. And was immensely at peace for perhaps the first time ever.

The sound of heavy metal breaks could be heard as the train screeched into a small country station somewhere along the line. Ed wasn't quite sure where he was but figured it was along the border of Ishval. A chill went down his spine as he thought about what the Lehish, and other Ishvalen radical groups had vowed to do to any captured state alchemists, and unconsciously his hand felt for his pocket watch. It was still there, though he called it retirement, and would have liked for it to be so. The government had allowed demanded that he keep his rank, making him an Officer Emeritus of the Armed Forces. Or as he thought of it, a waste of the government's money. He didn't need the money they insisted on paying him every month. He was sure that the farm would turn a profit. And if not Winry had her garage, he knew they'd get by.

An old quote about a General returning to his farm ran through his mind, and he smiled.

Just then a knock came at the door, and standing Edward opened the door to find himself looking down at a train steward dressed in deep blue livery, almost like a military uniform. The steward couldn't be more than a boy, as Ed who though he'd never admit it knew he was short. And still, he had to look down at him. With golden curly hair, and icy blue eyes he looked more like a choirboy, and a rail steward. "What is it?" Ed's voice was kind, but really he'd rather have avoided the distraction from the beauty of nature and the even greater beauty of his wife. "Sorry, to disturb ya' sir, but would you and your wife follow me?" Winry stood looking worried. "What's the matter?" The boy looked uncomfortable "Urgent call came for ya' an hour ago ma'am." Ed was suddenly suspicious "What kind of call?" asked Ed.

"Death in the family, sir."

Both Ed and Winry raced out of the train and onto the platform. Absently Ed noticed the same deserting soldier he'd seen earlier getting off of the train a few cars back. A death in the family! The only person it could have been was Granny Pinako but neither wanted to admit that. The boy leading them took them to a phone booth by the side of the tracks.

Seeing the booth Ed's footsteps faltered momentarily his mind flooding with memories of Maes Hughes leaving him a few steps behind the others when the blast came.

Edward was thrown back almost onto the tracks as the phone booth erupted outwards. Grenade the soldiers part of his mind told him. As the sound washed over him

His head hurt, and his arm didn't seem to be working right when he stood and tried to figure out what had happened. Who was the target? And where was Winry? "Winry!" He shouted as his mind began to work again realizing that his wife had been caught in the blast. He rushed over to the wreckage of the phonebooth scanning the ground for any trace of the woman he loved. Hoping against hope she would be okay.

She was laying in a heap a little ways away from what had been the booth. Her body a mangled mess of blood and bone. He never remembered how he got there. But the next thing he knew he was on his knees cradling Winry's perfect head in his arm. Just then he felt an impact against his back as if he'd been punched, and then another, and another all in rapid succession, and the world went black. The last thing he heard was the staccato bark of a submachine gun and spinning around from the force of the impact with his last conscious moment he saw the face of his attacker, it was the same shabby soldier, he could now see the mans face. The final thought in his mind was a single word Ishvalen…

Okay guys, I a bit nervous about posting this one, in case people get mad at me for what happens in it. But it is part of the story, so it needs to happen.

God bless yinz, and have a great life!