She was aware of Den barking and the shock on the faces of the two boys-no, men-that she'd just crash-tackled to the ground. She couldn't stop the tears even if she'd wanted to. They were home, both of them, in the flesh.
"Dummies. Welcome home." She managed to get out, although her voice sounded softer and hoarser.
"Thanks," Ed grinned at her.
"Good to be back," Al said, smiling. How long had it been since she'd seen Al smile?
Then she noticed a cane near Al. Was that his? She sat back on her knees, and both Ed and Al sat up. Den immediately raced over and began licking Ed, much to his consternation.
"Al? Is this yours?" Winry pointed at the cane.
Al nodded. "My muscles aren't what they used to be."
"Sorry for knocking you over," Winry apologized. "But, oh my God...Al…" she hesitated. Al inclined his head towards her. Her hand covered her mouth, and the tears continued.
"It's really you." She embraced him again, and was rewarded by hearing his laughter. She felt his arms wrap around her.
"Yep, it's really me." Al said. He was still amazed at how warm human bodies really were.
"Get this dog off me!" Ed's voice cut through their happy reunion. Den had Ed somehow pinned to the ground by lying across Ed's back. Winry and Al couldn't hold back their laughter.
"You'll probably need to look at Ed's leg. He said it was stiff," Al said to Winry as they made their way to the Rockbell house.
"What are you talking about?"
"Ed's leg." Al indicated Ed's left leg, where Winry had built her first automail limb years ago.
"I don't understand," Winry said, looking at both of them. "Al's back. You're back. How do you still have an automail limb?"
Ed stopped and looked at his personal mechanic and closest friend. And possibly more, if he could ever find the right words. "I didn't trade my leg for Al's soul. I traded something else." His eyes lowered.
"What? What did you trade?" Winry asked.
"My ability to perform alchemy." Ed said softly.
Al and Winry both stared at him. Al knew of this, having discussed it in depth at the hospital in Central. But Winry was stunned; alchemy had been as much a part of Ed's childhood as she and Pinako had been. Alchemy was to Edward like food was to a chef. What purpose does a chef serve if there's no food to prepare?
"Brother…" Al began, but Ed cut him off, and wrapped his arm around Al's shoulder.
"It was worth it," Ed said, tousling Al's short hair. Al ducked.
"Ed? Are you okay with this?" Winry knew full well of Ed's passion for alchemy. Adjusting to life where clapping your hands together and transmuting objects didn't work anymore would be a challenge.
Ed looked from his brother's face to Winry's.
"Absolutely." The smug grin that Winry was used to seeing crossed Ed's face. She smiled at them, at her boys, and together they went into the house.
"Den, stop it," Winry commanded and Den happily went to his owner, wagging his tail. Ed sat up, grumbling under his breath about a mangy mutt. Ed helped Al stand up, and Winry handed him his cane.