I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist

Four in the morning was never a good time for Ed to wake Winry. Since it always came with a likely chance of getting a painful "good morning" with her wrench.

As the frantic knocking on her door woke her up, her gut instinct told her to grab her prized weapon as she made her way down to the front door.

Ed stood in front of the doorstep with Al, Colonel Mustang, and a strangely-shaped dog behind him. He laughed awkwardly and scratched his head with his metal arm. 'Hey, Winry. Um, can you let us in? Like, fast?'

Winry's eyes widened at Ed's automail. 'You didn't-'

'I didn't make a dent in it!' he blurted quickly. 'I swear-'

'You dented it with a hand!'

Ed's face changed from panicked at the sight of her wrench to confused but still weary of getting attacked. 'What? Where?'

'Right. There.' The deadly end of her wrench pointed at a handprint-shaped dent on the side of the metal arm.

Ed cringed at her glare before becoming serious even in the danger of her wrench. 'Listen, Winry. We have to come in-now. It's important.'

Winry narrowed her eyes at Ed's strangely stoic face and swung open the door for everyone to come in. 'This important news had better not be about my precious automail.'

Mustang and Ed seemed to both breath a sigh of relief as they entered the house. Even Al relaxed visually. Winry was worried at the sight of how the three were acting.

She knew Ed and Al well enough to read their body languages. After she locked the door behind them she walked to the kitchen and popped the kettle on.

The weird dog was between Ed and Al, sitting on the floor with a confused face, looking around the house with an almost childlike curiosity. Something about the creature sent chills down Winry's spine, it seemed too abnormal to be a dog, but what else could it be?

Ed cleared his throat. 'What are you doing?'

Winry answered casually, 'Making tea.' She rummaged through the cupboards, grabbing teabags. She paused at the questioning looks on the three males' faces. 'The lights are on. I can tell something's bothering you all, like you're being chased or something.' Four nervous pairs of eyes looked at her feet, she took it as a confirmation that she was right. 'So in case they show up at my house, I can just say the reason the lights are on at this hour is because I'm suddenly taking more of a early morning liking towards tea.'

'Oh, right. Good idea.' Ed was more quiet than usual, Winry noticed.

'Hey, so,' she called. 'Why are the three of you here? And why do you have a dog with you?'

The three winced and stiffened. Ed looked down at the dog-like creature sadly.

Winry raised an eyebrow. 'What's wrong?'

Mustang heaved a breath. 'It's a long story, Miss Rockbell. Do you mind if we take a seat?'

Winry frowned slightly at him. 'Go ahead.' She paused to prepare the tea. 'What happened?'

Ed sighed and put his head in his hands. The creature nudged his arms gently. Winry frowned deeper as it made him flinch when it licked him. 'Winry,' he said quietly. 'This is Nina Tucker. Her father is-was Shou Tucker. You know, the Sewing Life Alchemist?'

Winry nodded hesitantly. 'Yeah?'

'Her father...' Ed faltered, still not looking up at her.

'Tucker transmuted Nina and their dog Alexander to make a talking chimera,' Mustang said emotionlessly, though his face was hardened.

Winry froze. Ed and Al stiffened. The creature-Nina Tucker-began to whimper mournfully at Shou Tucker's name.

'W-What!' Winry surprised herself with the sudden breakthrough from her shock. 'He-he turned his daughter and dog into-into-'

'Big brother,' Nina called in a distorted voice, making the four jump. 'Edward...'

Ed bent down, an obviously-forced smile on his face. 'Yeah? What is it?'

'Who she? Who she?' Nina looked at Winry, sending coldness prickling their way under her skin with her strange eyes.

'That's Winry.' Ed said quietly. 'Winry Rockbell.'

Winry tried to smile warmly. 'Hey there, Nina. How are you?'

Nina smiled widely. Winry was struck with how innocent and young she looked. 'Big...sister...Winry.' Ed's breath caught, Al made a similar noise as if he still had a body. 'Big...sister...Winry.'

Winry couldn't speak. Instead she looked away and busied herself with arranging the teacups and teapot on a tray. She carried the tray to the table and poured the tea for three.

Taking a seat next to Al, she gave Ed and Mustang a steaming cup each with one for herself. None of them drank.

Mustang cupped the teacup in his hands as if warming them from the travel out in the night outside. He had removed his gloves as he thought it would be better if he wasn't armed with alchemy in Winry's presence. 'We decided to come to your and your grandmother's place to keep Nina safe. She's currently being searched for by the military and the murderer who killed Tucker.'

'We need to keep her in hiding,' Al said. 'For the time being, at least. Can she lay low here, Winry? We don't know how long until we find a proper solution.'

Winry narrowed her eyes as she thought deeply. 'Who is the murderer?'

'We don't know his identity yet,' Ed muttered. 'But he's targeting State alchemists. You and Granny were the safest option.' He paused as Nina began excitedly sniffing Winry, who hesitantly stroked her long human-like brown hair. 'We did get ambushed on the train and ran all the way here, all we know is that he wears sunglasses and a yellow coat. His right leg is injured where-um, Nina bit him earlier, and he has white hair.'

'We managed to lose him and ran all the way here,' Al added. 'We don't think we were followed. The murderer probably bought the trick we played to make him think we were on the carriage we cut off from the train.'

'You three did what?'

'The point is, Miss Rockbell,' Mustang said. 'Despite the dangers, will you help Nina?'

Winry didn't hesitate. She nodded. 'Of course. I don't think Granny will mind, either.' She petted Nina's head lovingly. 'We'll keep her here as safe as we can.'

Mustang nodded. 'Thank you.'

Winry turned to the Elrics and wielded her wrench towards them. 'Now, tell me everything that happened. Especially about everything you put my precious automail through. Or else.'

It was hours later that Pinako discovered two blonde teens, a Colonel, and a chimera asleep on the couch and a suit of armour making coffee.

Thanks for reading!