9 days into the honeymoon
Edward and Winry had spent the last 8 days playing on the beaches of Aerugo's seaside. Winry had convinced Edward to get into the sea if only to his waist so that he could enjoy the water. She made sure to clean his leg and oil it afterwards. Winry wasn't as careful as she should have been in the sun and was mildly sun burned. Ed found some lotion that the locals said helped cool the skin. He rubbed it on her naked back in the hotel room. "It's not fair. You tan so well, and I burn so quickly," Winry complained as he rubbed her back.
"It's my Xerxes skin. They lived in the desert, so their skin had to be more resilient to the sun," Ed explained.
Winry sighed. "Well I need to stay out of the sun so no beach today. Can we go look for something to do that is indoors?" Edward agreed. He didn't want her sunburn to get any worse.
They explored the town and found a place to eat lunch. They ate some local seafood and listened to the radio that was playing. Just then an announcer came on the radio. "This just in. Cretean soldiers have crossed the Amestrian border and are advancing onto West City. West City is under orders to evacuate." Edward and Winry looked at each other in panic. The war was coming into their country, and now it seemed more real.
Edward and Winry paid for their meal and went back to their room. After the radio announcement, they did not feel like doing anything fun. They were both worried about their friends and family back home. They sat on the bed next to each other thinking silently until Winry broke the silence. "Ed, what should we do? What if Aerugo decides to join Creta? What if the border closes and we're stuck here?" Winry was starting to panic.
Edward took her hands. "Do you want to head back to Amestris?" She nodded. "Let's head back tomorrow but can I ask a favor?" Winry looked up at him. "Can we stop in Dublith and see my teacher before we head home?" Winry nodded. They packed their belongings that night and went to the bar one last time to have a few drinks with some of the locals they had met.
They arrived in Dublith two days later and went to Izumi and Sig's home. Winry had urged Ed to call before showing up so they would at least have some notice. They arrived to the shop just in time for dinner. All four of them sat at the table and tried to enjoy dinner. Edward asked, "How is West City?".
Izumi answered, "It's been occupied but they did evacuate everyone." Edward grumbled. He didn't like hearing this. Everyone felt the same. Izumi redirected the conversation "But let's talk about something else. How was your trip? I see Winry, you got some sun?"
"Yeah, the sun and I are not friends right now. I was pretty red a few days ago." Winry winced as she told Izumi. She still remembered the pain of laying on the sunburn while trying to sleep at night let alone more intimate activities.
"Well at least it turned into a nice tan," Izumi replied. They talked of lighter conversation. Izumi saw Winry brightening the mood with her upbeat attitude. She saw that this girl was great for Ed's sour mood. She saw Ed slowly cheer up as Winry spoke of all the fun they had. He needed that happiness. 'These two balance each other,' she thought.
Edward and Winry ended up spending the night at the Curtis' home after Izumi and Sig insisted that they stay. They all spent the next day together enjoying card games, and Winry got to witness Izumi kick Ed's ass in a sparring match. Winry laughed as she helped Ed up off the ground. "I can see how you and Al learned to fight. She is great. Looks like you still have a lot to learn."
"Ugh.. It's not that easy. Teacher's a beast! She took down a bear near North City all by herself!" Edward rubbed his face where he got punched.
Izumi gave him an ice pack and a lecture. "Just because you got married doesn't mean you should get soft. You have to stay strong for her." Edward put the ice pack up to his cheek. He winced at the coldness.
"Fine but just so you know Winry can take care of herself. She can throw a wrench with deadly accuracy." Edward shuddered at the memories of Winry's wrench hitting him. He barely held onto his soul.
"Oh I'd like to see that." Izumi said. She rubbed her chin with a malicious look in her eyes. Ed panicked. He did not feel like being Winry's example.
"Oh Edward relax. I won't throw it at you….. today." Winry teased Edward. Izumi brought out a target for her to hit. Winry threw her spanner and hit the mark. Izumi was impressed, and proud that Ed had chosen a strong wife.
The next day, Edward and Winry headed home to Risembool. 'I need to call Mustang and see what he wants me to do. I hope he wasn't shipped out yet.' Edward thought. They arrived home, and instead of the happy reunion they were expecting, they were greeted by a sad Alphonse and Mei.
Al handed Edward a piece of mail that had arrived for him. Edward opened it and started reading it. "What the hell?" Edward said angrily. Winry watched him with concern and tried to look at the letter.
"What is it?" Winry asked. Edward sat down on the couch and handed it to her. She read it and sat next to him in disbelief.
"This is bull shit!" Edward yelled. He roughed his bangs with his hands in frustration. The news was sinking in.
Al replied "I know." He put his hands in his pockets with his head down. Mei was standing next to him and put her arm through his.
"Wait, how did you know what this said?" Ed asked. Did Al open it? But the letter was sealed. "Because I got one too. We have to report in 6 weeks." Al informed them. Edward and Winry looked at Al in even more disbelief. Edward got up and ran outside and screamed out of frustration. Winry just sat in shock, and then the tears came. Her new husband was drafted into the military and would be leaving soon to go to war along with her brother-in-law.
Author's note: I do read the reviews, and I tried restructuring the paragraphs. I hope this helps to make it read easier. I apologize. I am new to this, and I typically wrote science research papers so this is a new style for me.
Also, finally we have reached this part of the story. It took longer than I thought to get here but we made it.