I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist

Pinako raised an eyebrow at Mustang, who was sprawled out and snoring on one of the couches. On the other, Winry and Ed were sleeping with a creature between them.

'What on earth are you all doing here?' Pinako hissed at Al.

'Uh, hi Granny,' Al awkwardly said. The smell of coffee seemed to wake up the three sleeping people.

Mustang jerked up, looking around at his surroundings wildly before remembering what had happened just hours before. Ed and Winry blinked and saw Pinako staring at them.

'We can explain,' Ed blurted.

Pinako frowned at the creature curiously. 'You'd better.'

Once they'd finished the entire recount on why they were here with Nina as a chimera, the Rockbells decided to keep Nina in a spare bedroom that no one ever used. Inside, things that would keep a young girl and dog busy were draped around. Nina liked it instantly when she saw it and bounded inside, tugging at a fabric doll like a dog.

Downstairs, Mustang and Pinako were in deep conversation regarding the situation. Ed, Al and Winry were in Nina's makeshift bedroom, watching her play around like an excited puppy.

'We'll have to let her out a lot,' Winry said, observing her chewing sadly. 'Hunted or not, she still needs to live a life like a normal girl her age.'

The boys knew she was thinking about, well, everything. Their own childhoods, how the war had stolen Winry's parents from her at such a young age, how their own father had left them and their mother died, and how they'd tried to bring her back, only to suffer worse than ever before.

The three teenagers knew none of them wanted another childhood to be stolen away.

Ed nodded in agreement. 'She hardly realizes what's going on, just that she's scared,' he muttered low enough for only Al and Winry to hear.

'So, there's no one else we know who can help her,' Al piped in. 'Is there?'

Winry shook her head. 'No. You were right in bringing her here. But you were almost killed on the train by that man.' She turned to the brothers, sadness in her eyes.

'Uh-hey, Winry! It's okay!' Ed stammered. 'We're not going to die, okay?'

'Y-yeah!' Al agreed. 'He probably doesn't even think we're alive. We're totally fine!'

'And,' Ed said, 'Your automail protects me just fine. Without you, I would've died!'

Winry's eyes gleamed, but not with tears. She suddenly held up her wrench. 'That reminds me, I still need to kick your butt for damaging my automail with a hand out of all things.'

Ed took a step back. 'On second thoughts, I think I'm going to die now,' he whispered.

Before Winry could hit Ed with her wrench, she felt a tug on her shoes.

Nina's mouth released her ankle and she looked up at her excitedly. 'What...that?' Her gaze fixed on the wrench.

Winry glanced at the tool and tried to smile. 'This is my-er-wrench. I build automail with it and also hit idiots who destroy them over the head. Isn't that right, Ed?'

'Yep! Uh huh! She does that a lot!'

'You got that right, brother.'

Nina cocked her head. 'Idi...idiot?'

Winry covered her mouth. 'Maybe I shouldn't have said that,' she muttered.

After Winry had fixed the dent in Ed's automail arm-thank goodness none of the wires were damaged-it was well past noon and Mustang had to leave with the Elrics.

Nina barked goodbye from the house's front porch as Pinako and Winry silently watched them leave for Central, familiar sullen weights in their hearts.

Winry turned to Nina. 'Well, then. What are we going to do with you?'

Thanks for reading!