A/N

Just a little note that there are mentions of past physical and emotional abuse in this chapter. If you are sensitive to the topic of abuse, skip this chapter. Thanks for reading.

…

Edward had just gotten done putting Zachery to bed while Winry fed Erika. Once the two children were fast asleep, Edward went to meet his wife in the room they shared. Edward looked behind him as he made the trek to their room which was a habit gained over 10 years ago. Back when he was trying to get his certification. Back when he was still living with Tucker…

The former alchemist could still remember being forced to do research for Tucker who claimed it was for both of them. Tucker would get more information for his research, and Edward would be able to study for his exam. But if he didn't go fast enough, Tucker would punch him, kick him, whip him, yank him by the hair, and even starved him a few times to get him to comply. The worst part was that Tucker would only hit spots that were covered by clothing. To people like Al, Nina, Winry, and the military, Edward looked fine when he was actually being beaten every day.

The worst part was he never got to know if Nina suffered the same abuse. Tucker kept trying to make Edward stay at the estate even though the elder Elric knew he couldn't. It was only a few days before he was supposed to leave when Tucker decided to enact a horrific plan. It would help Tucker not only pass the assessment, but also keep his victim in line. That plan was using Nina and Alexander to transmute a talking chimera. Edward desperately wanted to ask Nina why her father hurt her. He wished he could've run away with and Al sooner. He couldn't even protect that innocent little girl who didn't do anything to deserve such an awful fate.

Thinking of the incident in that light made him thankful that Scar killed her before she could suffer any more. Edward tried to take solace in the fact that Nina's soul was safe, away from her horrible excuse of a father. Edward still felt sick thinking about Nina getting beaten in the same way he was. Whether she was abused or not was a question he didn't believe would ever get answered.

Edward couldn't help but think about what would've happened if Tucker had never committed the crime that ended up undoing him. Would he ever have escaped? Would the rest of his journey even have happened? Would Nina be alive? The only person he had gathered the courage to tell in 10 years was Alphonse. Even then, it took Edward until age 18 to be able to tell his brother, and the abuse ended when he was 12. Neither his wife nor his children knew about how much he had suffered at the hands of this monster.

"You wouldn't want your brother to get hurt over something so silly, would you?"

Those words made the former soldier's face contort with disgust. He was only a child back then. That evil man knew how much Edward loved Alphonse and milked it for all it was worth.

"If you would only stop screaming and trying to escape, you wouldn't have to be tied to a chair and gagged."

He remembered as he was being burned as punishment for trying to call the military. Needless to say, he never did it again and would regret not trying again. Edward still had the burn scar on the right side of his chest. When Winry questioned it after seeing it, he told her it was from a battle. Edward despised lying to her, but he didn't want her to know about this. Despite Tucker being dead, Edward was still afraid of him. He never saw Tucker's body, but only told he was dead. What if Tucker was actually alive somewhere and hunting his loved ones like prey?

Edward was snapped out of his fear induced trance when he found his way to the bedroom. The bedroom he and Winry shared one of the only places he felt safe. It was a place where he knew that no one would hurt him. Winry smiled gently when she saw who entered the room. That damn smile always made him let his guard down. Could he tell her? Could he tell her the truth? Would it be safe to do so?

"Ed, you're spacing out again. Are you okay?" Winry asked with that smile turning to a concerned frown.

Maybe…he truly did want her to know. Even if Tucker was somehow alive and found out, he'd have a difficult time trying to reach them without getting caught and arrested by patrolling military personnel. It was about time he stopped pretending it didn't happen. Besides, Pinako was already suspicious of his aversion to heated metal. It was only a matter of time before somebody finally decided not to let him off the hook. But that didn't mean it wasn't scary as hell. What if they didn't believe him?

"Who would believe you? Alphonse, Nina, and the whole military see me as a completely innocent man. Why would they believe a boy with nobody else to support him?"

But it wasn't like that now. Tucker was now seen as a child murdering monster by the public. Surely Winry of all people would believe him, right?

"Listen, Winry…"

Oh crap, was he really gonna take that plunge?

"There's something I've really wanted to talk to you about, but could never find the courage to do so…"

Might as well considering there was no way out. Winry let out a soft chuckle not knowing how dark the topic was going to get.

"Edward, you know you can tell me anything."

Anything, huh? Could he really?

"It's about…Tucker…"

Winry was told about Tucker murdering Nina a while ago. She looked at him with eyes letting him know he had her full attention. Winry helped him truly recover from Nina's death for the most part. But she didn't know about the torture that happened before…until now.

"Tucker…it…it wasn't just Nina he tortured…he abused someone else." Edward shakily began.

Winry quietly listened, but she looked like she had an idea what he was going to say. Edward decided to begin with a question about it.

"Did you ever look at Tucker's research notes?"

Winry pondered for a moment, but then answered,

"No, I only saw a few files related to the Nina case."

Edward went into one of his drawers and said,

"I kept some of his research notes as a reminder to never forget why you're doing this whole journey. Never forget those who love you."

He then handed the notes to Winry and asked her,

"Do you notice anything about those notes?"

Winry was confused at first. Why would Tucker's research notes prove that he had a second victim. She carefully read Tucker's old notes which of course were rather outdated considering they were written about ten years ago. She noticed certain alchemy notes Tucker had. Wait a second, there was a note Tucker had written that had a very similar metaphor to Edward's travelogue. Edward had what seemed like a travelogue that he showed her a few times. Although she knew they were actually alchemy notes, she couldn't decipher it. Winry even asked Alphonse and he said he couldn't decipher it either. Some of the other notes had these same similarities. Combined with the burn mark in the past…Oh no…

"Ed…these…were in your travelogue too…Don't tell me…" Winry gasped, coming to terms with the harsh reality that her husband had been abused by this monster.

Edward somberly nodded, "I…I feel awful about hiding it but…it had been so long ago that I didn't see the point…"

Edward felt Winry put her hand on his. It wasn't that terrifying grip that made him fear for his life, but rather a gentle hold telling him it would be okay.

"The reason he killed Nina was part for his assessment, but also to make me stay," Edward continued, "I felt so guilty back then…I never wanted to see that house again because it always reminded me that I couldn't protect her even though I had seen his true nature."

"Does Al know?" Winry asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't tell him until I was about 18 years old." Edward answered.

Edward soon grabbed Winry's hands but couldn't even find the courage to look her in the eyes.

"Winry, the reason why I told you this is because I trust you like I trust Al. It took me years to find the courage to tell people how much I truly suffered while I was there." Edward told her in a soft tone that only she and Alphonse have ever heard.

"Even if me and Al are the only ones to know for the rest of your days, I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." Winry smiled.

Edward returned the smile and said with a giggle, "You can tell Granny if you want, just don't tell the kids."

Winry started chuckling too and said, "Of course not, Erika's only a baby and Zachery just hit 3 years old."

"Someday, but not yet." Edward added.

Winry nodded before saying, "Goodnight, Ed."

Edward kissed her forehead before saying, "See you tomorrow, Winry."

Edward felt at peace about the Tucker situation for the first time since he spoke with Al about it. He smiled knowing that Tucker never won. Tucker not only lost his daughter, but he lost his wife and the people he cared about all for science. Edward believed that Scar killing Tucker was one of the few times his so-called judgement was righteous. Tucker paid for the lives he stole with his own. Edward felt like something within himself died too because of Tucker. Edward, although he had suffered greatly for it, had a beautiful life that he would never give up for anything. Now being a father himself, Edward couldn't understand how Tucker could throw something so beautiful away like it was disposable material. Parents were supposed to be there and love their children, not use them the way Tucker did.

Edward decided there was no point in dwelling on a question that would never be answered. Pulling his sleeping wife close, Edward let himself slowly sink into a deep sleep. After all, Al was coming over tomorrow and Ed needed to rest up lest he be grouchy the next day. Although his journey came with much pain and suffering, the former alchemist was rewarded for it with peace and a loving family to return to.