Like I said, very confusing! Almost everyone told me they were confused lol, well I hope this chapter clears everything up. Thanks for all your comments.

Chapter Twenty-nine: Standing My Ground

I want truth. I want ultimate truth.

My eyes snapped back to the vicious creature in front of me, to the thing preventing me from waking from this horrifying dream.

"Truth Edward… do you see it? Stay here… do they really need you? Give your powers to me and I guarantee your brother a happy life…"

"What if I return?" I asked suddenly. The thought of giving myself up for my brother's happiness was tempting, I had caused him so much pain in his life.

"Well he shall have no guidance, no promise ofa perfect life if you return."

"You will protect him and Winry no matter what?"

"Come Edward…"

He held out his hands and I stepped forward slighty, he was the only light in this darkness surrounding me. I fell into his arms and cried."Why are you the only light…?" I asked. No Winry…

"I am the only light Edward… now come and give it too me."

"EDWARD, WHY AREN'T YOU WAKING UP! DON'T BREAK YOUR PROMISE TO ME! NOT LIKE THIS!"

Winry… My eyes widened and I took a step back from him. "No it's not like this, I don't want my brother to have a fake life, I don't want to diein order toprotect Winry." I said stepping back as the figure slowly dissolved with anger.

"You don't want to protect them?"

"I don't want to die to protect them…" I stared down at the black underneath my own feet. "I want to live to protect them." I looked up with the fire in my eyes and watched as he disappeared. A new light appearing above me.

Follow it.

I reached up… my body becoming heavy. I tried to climb to the light, weeks, days, months, who knows how time had passed. All I knew was that it felt like an eternity where my body was slowly dying with each painstaking step. But it also felt like no time had passed at all as I reached the top step. I wont give up, I will return to you Winry.

I will see you again Al, we will meet again Winry.

I took a deep breath and sat up on the bed reaching for that one last step, but all I grabbed was air. I looked around me and noticed a beautiful woman asleep on my lap. Winry. She was sitting on a chair and must have collapsed. I looked around in shock seeing the moon shine through my window.

"Hello brother… I knew you would make it." My eyes widened as I looked upon him for the first time… his own body… his own…but does that mean...?

"Al?" I asked with a smile. I felt the tears well in my eyes and held out my arms as he walked towards me. "Al!" I fell into his arms and held his head close to me. "You're here Al."

"Your warm brother…" Al said with content.

"Al…"

I could tell there was a sadness in his voice. But I couldn't question it. Before I knew it, Al was pushed from me and the woman on my lap stared at me with angry eyes. Her hand came into contact with my face solidly and I fell back onto the bed with a sharp gasp. "WINRY THAT'S THE HARDEST ANYONE HAS EVER HIT ME!" I yelled sitting back up to glance at her with anger.

"You have been asleep for over a week! I was worried! I was so worried, if you ever leave me again I will kill you!" She suddenly leaped at me. Why do woman change their mood every five seconds?

I looked ahead with pain evident on my face. "Winry… you're hurting me…." As I said this her grip only tightened around my waist, and I realised that was about to pass out in my already weak state.

"BROTHER!" Al said with worry as I fell back down onto the bed and shut my eyes. Darkness taking over.

00000000000000000000000000

I awoke with a slight headache to see Winry and Al hovering over me with worried faces. "Ah hey guys…" I smiled trying to sit up. Two sets of hands made contact with my chest and pushed me down onto the bed. I glanced up at them with confusion. "Huh?"

"You have to rest Edward, you fainted…" Winry scolded.

"That's because you were cutting the air off!" I argued.

"Don't be a baby Edward…"

"She is right brother; I think you went through something stressful you should sleep." Al encouraged.

"I have been sleeping for a week already!" I complained.

"Obviously it's not enough!" Winry said pointing her finger at me. I sighed and muttered a 'whatever'. "I'll make you something to eat." She grinned.

"Winry you don't have to do that! I can do it!" Al said getting up off his seat. "Besides brother probably wants to be with you Winry."

But Winry merely shook her head. "He wants to spend time with you Al." She winked at me and walked out of the room. There was a slight silence before Al sat on the end of my bed.

"You okay brother?" He asked with concern.

"Al, I talked to mum."

"You saw her past the gate?" He asked with amazement. "Is she in a special paradise? Is she happy?"

"No, in Germany." I sighed.

"Brother, that wasn't our mother."

"I know, but when I hugger her it felt the same, it felt like I was hugging my mother." I looked away and placed my hands on the auto-mail. So you're back hey?

"It's been hard for me, with Ed, and Winry and Trisha… I was living in a dream." I look away from Al when he said that, I had no clue, I didn't know how hard it would have been for him. "Let's drop this for now… you sure you're feeling okay?"

"Yeah I really feel fine." I sat up and leaned on my knees. "So you have been here with Winry for a week?" I asked.

"Yeah brother, I told her everything about Germany and our journey… and the Winry back there, she just laughed when I said she was all over you." Al grinned.

"That's a relief." I sighed wiping my head and removing whatever sweat lingered there. "So there is no news left for me too tell her?" I asked faking a disappointed face.

"S-sorry."

"Hahaha that's good I don't have to talk to her then!" I said extra loudly, making sure Winry would hear it from the kitchen.

"Hahahaha you must mean sensei right?" Winry yelled back sarcastically.

I turned my head to Al and watched as he also screwed his face up with fear. "Wh-wat?"

"She is coming in a few days brother…" Al sighed. "She will kill us over this for sure…"

"I wanted to live a little longer Al…"

"Hai!" Before I knew it Winry had shoved a bowl of warm soup in front of me. I glanced up at her with a sheepish smile on my face and accepted the food gratefully.

"When are you going to let me get up Winry?" I asked turning my head to the woman who had her back against Al's… oi… slightly jealous here. She completely ignored my questioned and turned her head to stare at Al with amazement.

"Wow you really have gotten so tall Al! You make a great man! Can't wait till you find your lucky lady." Winry nudged him. Al instantly blushed and thanked her politely. She has been here with him for a week, yet she just has to say it in front of me?

"Winry!" I yelled.

"Wow you're so handsome! Germany really did you good!"

I sighed lightly and shoved some more soup in my mouth. So this is how it was going to be? I guess I'll get used to it

"Done Ed?" She asked after praising Al some more. I stuck my nose up and handed her the bowl.

"Here" I told her. She giggled and walked out of the room to take it back to the kitchen. "Honestly going all dreamy over you while I am in the room, what type of friend is she? Seriously." I muttered under my breath. Winry walked back in with a smile.

"Jealous are we?" Winry grinned patting my head, the dog trick!

"Oi don't do that!" I cursed brushing her hand away. She then dug her hands into my neck and attempted to tickle me. "Stop treating me like a dog! Winry don't touch me!" I huffed pushing her away. Winry didn't seem the slightest bit phased over my mood and only smiled at me.

"You'll be fine if you can talk back like that."

"Winry…" Al muttered, obviously feeling pity for me. I think I was feeling pity for me as well right at this moment. "I think I am going to go for a walk… to clear my mind…" Al said suddenly. Winry nodded sadly.

"Wait, Al!" I protested noticing the hurt in his voice. I suddenly felt extremely bad; I knew he was going to have a hard time adjusting after four years. Winry hushed my attempts to scream out for him, and after a moment she sighed.

"Al… is…" I looked down.

"He is hurting Ed… he can't use alchemy."

"So he really did take it away…" I laughed slightly from disbelief and depression. "He shouldn't worry, he didn't use it in Germany, and he doesn't need to use it here." I can't imagine a life without it!

"Edward!" Winry screamed hitting me across the head.

"What the hell was that for?"

"You're so clueless it's frustrating." She tensed. "Look you worked so hard to get his body back, to get him back, and you finally did… Member Al promised he would get your arm and leg back for you?" Winry asked. I nodded slightly, looking down at my automail. "He feels useless now, how can he possibly keep his promise if he can't use alchemy…?" Winry told me jumping onto the bed. I backed against the wall slightly, afraid she would leap at me again, but sighed with relief when she just sat near me.

"But I don't think I want normal limbs anymore…"

"Huh?" Winry cocked her head to the side and clutched her hand slightly.

"These arms are a part of me. They remind me of everything I have done… it would be selfish to want my arm and leg back after everything I have done." I said softly. "Besides…" I looked up at her with a smile. "Winry made these for me and well…" I was having trouble telling her how grateful I was, so I just sighed. "Well so I like them." Great dumb choice of words, I think I have been degraded from genius to babbling lovesick idiot.

Winry leaned back slightly with a smile on her face. "That's…"

I looked away with a blush. "Not that…" I trailed off when her hand came into contact with my leg.

"Really nice Edward…" She grinned moving closer.

"I, um… well… no problem."

"I missed you." She grinned hopping into my lap. I flinched from the sudden jump but soon sighed as she rested her head against my chest. She brought my hands to her waist and I wrapped them around her fondly.

"I missed you too."

"Well you had a replica of me trying to get into bed with you!" Winry taunted. I blushed instantly.

"Guess she is no different from some-one I know." I laughed, watching as she turned her face to glare at me.

"I do not!" She yelled.

"Oh you do." I replied calmly… no point in arguing about this, she knows. "You definitely can't resist me."

"Ed! You think your some hotshot don't you? You short arse!" Winry pouted crossing her arms over her chest. I only laughed at this comment and rested my head against the wall, her body warming mine. "It's not my fault you don't try."

"Maybe I don't want to! Can the Winrys just back off?" I chuckled. I then felt her hand come into contact with my arm in a bad attempt of a slap, probably because she was trying not to laugh over the matter. Well it's true, I have discovered that the Winrys in both worlds are very straightforward.

"Fine I will back off you jerk!" She yelled jumping off the bed, before I knew it she had left the room slamming the door behind her. Moody…

"She'll be back." I giggled to myself. I looked around the lonely room and cringed at the thought of sitting in here all day. There is no way I am going to stay in bed all day. I spotted my clothes sticking out of the closet and grinned. If I faint then I guess they were right, but if I don't I prove them wrong. It was Winry that made me faint! I dressed quickly and stepped outside. Winry was sitting at the table sulking which made me sigh heavily.

"I was only joking Winry, I'm gunna go get Al." I told her hearing her gasp slightly.

"Wait right there Mr." She grabbed my arm, and I naturally groaned with annoyance.

"What now?"

"I haven't seen you for along time… I was all alone… can't you even say something like…" Women…

"What do you want me to say? That makes the situation easier."

"Edward you really can be a jerk." Winry let my arm go and turned to leave.

"But Winry…" I yelled after her. But it didn't seem to do much since she just slammed her bedroom door and completely ignored me. I inhaled sharply and stepped outside. Why do we always fight? Can we seriously last more thanone minute without jumping down each others throats?

It wasn't hard to find Al. He was sitting at the old river, the place he used to sulk every time we got into a fight. The sun was starting to set and I sat down next to him. "Nice hey Al?" I asked turning my head.

"Brother…" Al looked up and beamed. "You really shouldn't neglect Winry so much."

"I don't it's only because she pissed me off before, acting all flirty with you, I'm paying her back." I smirked evilly.

"But brother… that's not really mature… she told me that you are always so cold to her, even after all the conversations you have had."

"Can we just forget about Winry for a moment and talk about you?" I asked. "You know you're just trying to avoid it."

"And you're trying to avoid Winry." Al muttered.

"I said we will work it out when we get back home." I smiled with exhaustion. "Winry told me how you feel Al… The son of a bitch took you're alchemy."

Al was just silent as we watched the gentle trickle of the river. "Al… you don't have to worry about my limbs… I decided long ago that I was going to keep them." I frowned slightly at the memory.

"Brother you're just saying that, you know you want your arm and leg back. What am I supposed to do in this state? I feel so useless." Al told me truthfully. I however shook my head.

"No, Winry makes auto-mail for me… I don't want them back Al. I have you now, do you understand?" Al turned to face me with a slight blush. "I don't want to fiddle around anymore Al, we have made enough mistakes, we are finally together… that's enough. I am not going to risk another stuff up." I smiled slightly and patted his shoulder. "I guess this shows my maturity, as Winry would say."

"Brother…"

"Besides let's go back already… Winry will have made some dinner for us…"

"Really?" Al's face lit up as I stood up and offered him my hand. Before leaving we stared out over the peaceful scenery. "It hasn't changed at all since I was here." Al grinned.

"I don't think it ever will…"

That night we ate our dinner mostly in silence. I talked to Al once in a while about some alchemy I had discovered why he was in Germany. But Winry stayed quiet mostly. I was upset about the fact she wasn't talking to me, but I really couldn't help the situation, we were stubborn that way. No-one was going to give in and say sorry..

"Explain to me this rocketry." I grinned sitting down in the room with Al.

"Brother it's late, I'm tired." Al sighed. "We have been reading all night."

"Just like old times huh?"

"Well Winry made me up my own room." Al replied standing up from his chair and stretching.

"I need my own room as well." I cringed. "Not like Winry wants to sleep with me." I sighed, stretching also. Al side glanced me and smirked evilly.

"Just like I thought! You are thinking about her.!"

"What? I am not! Besides I said that she wasn't aloud to sleep with me." But I guess that's kind of not valid since I have made love to her, which would be her argument anyway. The memory of that night made me blush, and I looked away from Al, letting the book drop down onto the chair.

"Night brother." Al said tiredly. "Good luck!" With that he had walked out of the room leaving me there with confusion.

"Good luck for what?" As soon as I took a step out into the lounge room, I knew what Al had wished me luck for. Winry was sitting on the couch twirling her wrench around in her fingers with an angry expression. God no, she is going to bash me up! I instantly ran back into the room crashing into a chair in the meantime. This caused me to fall onto the bed and let out a loud cry of pain. Great I bet she heard everything, 3, 2…

"Edward? What the hell is going on in here?" 1…

I was making too much noise!

"What the hell is going on?"

"I um… just fell over." Well obviously you idiot. I cursed as the pain in my foot increased and smiled at Winry sweetly. "Well umm, night!" I said quickly, jumping off the bed. I turned to walk past her when she grabbed my shoulders. I turned my head to look at her with a slightly dazed expression.

"Where are you going?" Winry asked sadly. "Are you going to sleep with Al?" She questioned.

"No, I am going to go sleep in my own room."

"Why…?" Winry sulked, sitting down on the bed. I blushed as she removed her jacket and looked away.

"Uh cause it's time to god to bed, I am tired." I told her with a genuinely.

"Ed…" She looked down and her face suddenly grew with pain as I glanced at her with hurt.

"Winry?"

"I haven't seen you for god knows… I missed you." She cried softly. Her voice was barely audible. My mind ultimately fought a battle of it's own as she looked down at her knees. "Why wont you…"

"Why wont I?" I shut the door quietly behind me with a sigh and walked over to the bed to sit next to her. "What do you want Winry…?"

She turned her head angrily with a slight sound of protest. "Just go." The comment startled me a bit, but if she wanted me to go… I found it hard to stand up but found the courage to do it somewhere and walked forward. "Wait don't go, why do you make everything so complicated?" She looked up at me and tensed her fists.

"You're the one making it complicated!" I argued. "Go, stay!" I imitated her voice and watched her start to cry. Maybe I had gone too far. "Winry…"

"What are you supposed to do now?" She asked. "Are you going back to central with your Brother? Is that why you're ignoring me?" The anger on her face reached its peak and I just smiled with relief, so it's over my obligations.

"No of course not, I won't leave you Winry… I mean I am in the military so I might go away sometimes… but I will always return to you." I placed a hand on her shoulder and brushed the hair from her face.

"Then why? Why are you distancing yourself… why don't you just touch me?" She asked looking up into my eyes.

"I… feel nervous around you… and I have a fight to win"

This instantly made her laugh and she leapt at me and pulled me down onto the bed with her. "You're nervous around me?"

"Well no! But you were flirting with Al before! I'm supposed to be angry." But with her arms around me I was slowly forgetting.

"You are!" She giggled, digging into my shoulder. I sighed with regret. "Well, we will have to change that wont we?"

Saturn Stars