Yes this update confirms the fact that you guys once again won! I'm glad you are enjoying it, it's becoming slightly sad and depression for Edward. It will be hard for him. How will everything turn out? No matter what! Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-six: Conflict Between Mother and Son

"Mum?"

Her face suddenly became white with silent worry at my word and I twisted my face slightly. She isn't my mother.

"Edward?" She stammered slightly, taking a step back. "I'm so sorry! I know you don't like me here… just I never expected you to be here so early." I could almost see the sweat pouring down her beautiful face and wished that I could jsut wipe her troubles away. I could definitely see the sadness and longing in her eyes. I couldn't do anything but stare in disbelief at the woman. "It will never happen again! Please don't stay angry at me, I just brought this for Al!" She placed it down on the bench without even listening to what I had to say and ran out the door.

"Ahh wait!" I yelled out. I rose from my seat and ran as fast as I could to the door, but found her to be nowhere in site.

Are they fighting or something?

I opened the box to find it full with homemade cakes. Is Al a replacement? I frowned slightly. Feeling my breath catch in my throat. But as soon as I had started to become out of it, just as I was about to fall into a pit of darkness… her voice saved me.

I heard the screaming in the other room as Al was telling her the story. It started to reach extreme levels on Winry's behalf and I heard her pleas clearly. "WHERE THE HELL IS EDWARD? I'M GOING TO HIT HIM WITH MY FIST!" I tensed slightly and glanced around the room for any capable hiding place, before I suddenly heard the door in the room next to this one fling open. Before long Winry was standing in front of me, her fist tightly clenched.

"Tell me it's not true!" She asked quietly. Al appeared behind her looking at me apologetically. I looked away and sighed. "Last night?" She sobbed.

"I wanted to tell you, but I just couldn't." I sighed. "I tried to stop you."

"It's not that, you were so kind to me, I had high hopes for us." She looked away. "I can't believe you two, for all I know you are just two lunatics."

"Well no matter what Winry, I am going to be gone soon, it will just be you and your Edward here in Germany, you can then believe what you want too." Al said sadly.

"Why are you so kind? The Edward here isn't like that to me… I mean he is kind… but I am sick of being pushed away." She told me.

I scratched my head. "Maybe he hasn't learnt his lesson yet." I told her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well I pushed the person I loved away as well… and I finally figured out that it was hurting both of us. I guess I have finally matured a little." I threw Winry a half smile.

"You're just like Edward." She giggled wiping a tear away.

"Well I try."

"Ed want's to join the military aswell… I don't know how to let him go. Al, Edward and I have been fighting about it for a while now…" I saw Winry look down to the ground. I knew if I didn't say something quick she would cry, so I needed to.

"Ha-ha! Just punch him, hey Al!" I grinned slightly, slapping Winry on the back. Al just nodded sadly and looked away.

"I don't know how to say my goodbyes to you Winry…" Al said softly. "I really want to return to my world, thankyou for being such a great friend to me."

"Oh shut up and hug me." Winry laughed with a soft cry, pulling Al into her arms. Al hugged her back and apologized silently.

"We really should be going…" Al looked up at me and nodded.

"Edward Elric I believe?" Winry asked stepping closer to me. I nodded with shock and gasped as her face came incredibly close to mine. "May I have a kiss? From my alternate universe lover?" She asked shyly.

"That may be fine for you to say since this is actually his body, but you're not Winry." I replied firmly, she wasn't going to get a kiss from me. She giggled and stepped up on her toes to place a slight kiss on my lips.

"Friends then." She held out her hand after the kiss which I started at her blankly for.

"Friends." I took her hand in mine and shook it.

"I don't know how I am just letting you go Alphonse Elric." She sighed. "I'm hoping you two really are crazy." She exhaled. "But after that story… the emotion in Al's eyes… I know that you two have been through a lot."

After talking about Al and I for a little longer, I watched the two silently work for a while, a certain young mother on my mind. Winry had whined that Al still needed to work today since the Rocket genius Edward wasn't here. Well sorry… They looked determined when they worked, especially Winry. It made me chuckle more than once.

Whenever I would laugh at her focus she would glance up with confusion and say. "What?"

"Nothing…nothing" I would tell her with a slight chuckle. Exactly like her…

At around lunch time they began to crave some nutrition. "Edward?" Winry said sweetly looking up from her work desk. "Could you go grab us some lunch?" She gave me her sweetest smile and puppy dog eyes, and I stood there confused.

"Huh? I don't know a god damn thing about this place and you want me to go buy food?" I asked.

Al turned to give me a serious look. "Really brother, you're not working and we are, there is a take out place just next door." Al told me. "Stop being a baby"

"Al… that lady dropped something off for you." I pointed sadly towards the box of delicious home made treats and watched Al walk over to take a look.

"Trisha?" Al asked to himself, as soon as he opened the box. He immediately glanced at me.

"I wont to go see her Al, where do you live?"

"No brother that's not a good idea!" I shook my head at him and stuck up my nose.

"Where!"

"Brother, Edward and Trisha here never talk to each other. A long time ago she chose father over him." Al sighed.

"What? You mean that bastard is here as well!" I fumed; turning around to meet Winry's confused eyes. "I want to know what went on!"

"Okay brother, but if I go you have to promise not to go see her. You don't know how much it hurts me now that I see Trisha as my own mother, I don't want this to stop you going home." I gasped at his comment and looked away with shame. I really am that easily deceived. Al finally opened his mouth when he believed that I was ready and started the story. "Edward was born by another man here, it was the alternate father of ours. But he died in war… Edward found it so hard to recover, and as a result he has been searching for his own answers, he wants to avenge his father. He wants to join the military. However our father is also living in this world… he tried to hide himself from the Trisha of this world, but it didn't work, one day she discovered him here working with us."

I tensed my fists slightly. "Father has been working with you all this time!" I bashed my hand down on the table. "I bet he is going after the Trisha here that player!" I yelled with frustration.

"Ed just let Al finish the story…" Winry said, placing a gentle hand on mine. I glanced up at her with surprise and finally nodded in agreement.

"She told Edward that she had fallen in love with our father brother… and Edward already hated his guts for looking so uncannily close to his father. It finally came the time where Ed told his mother that she couldn't love his father's reflection, that our father was nothing compared to what his was. But Trisha was lonely and she confessed her love to father while Edward was watching. He told her to choose, she didn't want to, she said that she should be able to love whomever she pleased. Ever since then Ed doesn't want her around him."

I sighed slightly and looked away with shame. "So what is that bastard of a father doing about all this?" I asked.

"Natrually he is staying away, but Edward still felt betrayed by his mother. He is very stubbourn just like you brother." Al laughed slightly. But I refused to believe that I was ever that childish. "That's why you can't go over there brother, it will make it harder on Trisha, we have already told Winry the situation that's enough."

I watched as Winry's eyes became distant and glanced upon her with confusion. "Ed?" She suddenly said, breaking the new silence.

"Unn?"

"I don't really eat cakes… I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going down to get me some lunch…" She fiddled with her fingers slightly and looked terribly suspicious.

"But!"

"Just do it brother! We are working here!" Al chuckled and turned back around to continue putting the parts together.

"Pleassseeeeee" Winry added in.

"Fine I'll do it for Winry, since Al was being a jerk about it!" I said with emphasis, I could almost see him roll his eyes. She thanked me and turned back to her work sadly. I didn't understand anything they were doing… but I guessed it was machinery… that would have been obvious to anyone though. How did Al become such an expert on this? Maybe he has been spending too much time around Winry.

I exited the building with much trouble; (since I had forgotten the many turns to exit the building) the return journey had already started to worry me. I travelled to the take-out shop leisurely and grabbed anything I thought they would enjoy. Sure I know what Al used to like, but this wasn't exactly a Japanese food shop. Sure I know what Winry at home likes… but once again this wasn't exactly a Japanese food store.

I exhaled with relief as I returned to the room, with the random meal noticing instantly that Winry's eyes were red and Al looking ashamed. They were both working hard and stubbornly and there was a tense atmosphere in the room, or should I say between those two. Somehow I felt like I was distracted by them when I was told to order food. I placed it next to Winry who looked up with a sniff and thanked me. Al didn't even look in my direction and I was starting to become worried. After the three of us began eating in silence Al sighed miserably.

"Brother if were going to leave… I think the sooner the better."

Winry tensed at this comment and clenched her hands together. "JUST GO YOU JERK! NOT LIKE EDWARD WILL GIVE A SHIT!" She suddenly yelled violently.

"Winry…" I trailed off, realising now the conflict that was between them. This issue really hadn't been resolved.

"We have talked about this Winry…" Al said with an upset face. "I want to go home, I need too…"

"And I suppose we don't mean anything?" She yelled in return.

"You do… and if I could I would visit you sometimes… but it's a little more complicated Winry." Al's eyes began to water… he was such a softie. I stared between the two of them feeling nothing but guilt. Winry's eyes also welled with tears once again and she slammed down her wrench and stormed out of the building. Al sighed heavily and looked away.

"Maybe you should talk to…"

"It's useless… she has gone home… stupid girl, she wont even say goodbye to me." Al cried. "It reminds me of you! You always left Winry without even saying goodbye…"

"It helped my pain… maybe it's the same for her."

"Goddamnit! What about my pain? She won't even say goodbye to me!" Al looked away and removed his gloves. "And she is right! Ed is going to be devastated…"

I remained silent before I gathered the courage to say it to him. "You don't have to come home…" With that I walked out of the room and occupied one of the guest rooms.

I fell onto the bed after locking the door. Something inside me wanted to scream, something wanted to die. I laid on the bed and watched the sun set. Al hadn't stopped hinting towards me that he didn't want to come home. It's like he has already accepted this life… I smiled lightly… all this time I have been trying to return to him, and he has slowly been loosing faith. I really couldn't blame him, he was in a foreign country… what would I do? Probably cling to Winry like some lost child.

I couldn't help but feel upset… had I lost my brother? Had I been replaced by Edward and Winry here? No matter what, I couldn't change Al's feelings… and I was going to be a man about this. I wasn't going to force Al to come back and possibly loose him forever… Then what was this all for? Why am I making Winry cry at home?

The sun finally set and the stars came out. I found it surprising that I was not more upset about this situation… but I really couldn't blame Al… he didn't want to leave these people… But how could I not be… he wants to leave me? Let me go? Is that what he is saying?

I heard a knock at my door and jumped slightly… I hadn't even realised the time that had passed and was somehow lost in my world. There was barley any light in the room, apart from the light the stars were providing and I stretched before getting up to unlock the door.

It was Al…

He smiled at me sheepishly and asked if he could come in. What the hell of course he can!

"Look Brother… I really want to go home, and I will… It's just really hard to say goodbye… I mean what if you had to stay in this world for good to be with me… then you would have to leave Auntie Pinako… and Winry and your alchemy behind…" Al told me.

"It's a little different Al…" I reminded him, raising my eyebrows.

"I know, I know… it's just Winry is my friend… so is Ed… I like working on rockets with them and I have had a really fun time, also there is the risk that if I am pulled back through the gate I will return to armour."

"You wont, I made a deal." I told Al sternly.

"But it's just hard to say goodbye brother… I will do it, I'm having trouble with Winry mad at me… and Ed isn't really here so I will be leaving without any warning…" Al told me with sadness… he looked away and fidgeted. "Didn't you say you could get the doors to turn into the gate down at that old wear house near Hughes?" Al asked. I nodded curiously as he gave me one of his puppy looks… oh great. "Well we can meet there tomorrow…" Al grinned.

"Huh? Why can't we just walk there together now?" I asked.

"Because your going to go to Winry's tonight and get her to understand… bring her to the place so we can have a proper goodbye!" Al yelled grabbing my arm and pulling me up.

"Bu- what gah! Al why me?" I yelled as I was almost dragged out of the room.

"She will listen to you!"

"Al I can't talk to women, not if my life depended on it! I will probably mess it all up." I complained. "You're the sensitive one… you have always been able to talk to them! Why don't you apologise."

"Because she is mad at me, and head over heels with you." Al said seriously bringing his face close to mine with an evil glare. I Backed against the wall and raised my hands in defence.

"Okay, okay I'll do it! But I'm not her real boyfriend or whatever they were." I rolled my eyes side stepping slightly. "So I really don't think it's a good idea."

"So? Use your persuasive skills brother!" He cried, pushing me out the front door into the cold city, thank god I had this heavy coat on. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"That didn't sound good…" I whispered. "What type of brother are you making me walk all alone at night in a place I am not familiar with?" I yelled back after Al rolled his eyes.

"A brother who wants to return home with his brother…" With that he shut the front door and I was left out in the streets of Germany turning around to get a better view of the area. There were still many people bustling about as it was only about eight at night.

Ahhhh which way to Winry's again?

Saturn Stars