Desolation

By:

GreenFlameAlchemist86

Author's Notes: This is my first attempt at writing a fan fiction. Please read and review. Any comments or constructive criticism is welcome. Other Notes: In this story, Ed and Winry are both 17 (I have no clue on the age difference between the two).

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Full Metal Alchemist. I do wish I owned Ed…

Chapter 1: Edward Returns

Edward Elric sat motionless as memories from his past flooded his mind. He remembered the night that he and his brother Alphonse had tried to resurrect their mother. He remembered seeing his brother disappear right before his eyes and the pain that shot through his body as The Gate had taken his left leg and right arm as part of the Equivalent Exchange. Yes. He remembered everything.

During the battle with the Homunculus, he had destroyed part of his metal arm, received some cuts and bruises on his face, as well as the rest of him. He looked at what was left of his metal arm as he thought about the sin he had committed: Human Alchemy. And now, he was sitting alone without his brother and only his memories to keep him company.

Ed was now on his way to his hometown, Resembool, only to find himself afraid of facing Winry and Grandma Pinako.

"Ah, when is Ed-kun coming back?" Winry said to no one in particular.

She let out a sigh as she wiped her forehead with her oil-streaked arm. The blonde-haired girl had been working on some auto-mail parts for Grandma Pinako's customers. She had been waiting for Ed to return for about a year now. She always worried for his safety. Every night she would take a lamp to the window and flash the light like his mother would when he was younger, hoping that he was near somewhere and somehow would see the light and go straight home.

This night was no different.

It was past midnight when Winry decided to call it a night. Grandma Pinako had already gone to bed, leaving Winry to clean up the tools and auto-mail parts. As she picked up the things around her, she couldn't help but wonder where Ed was at the moment.

'Was he okay? Was he alive for that matter?' Winry thought sadly while staring at a particular auto-mail arm.

'Of course he was fine. He'll be back, he always comes back…'

When Winry finished putting everything back in its place, she had gone up to the balcony to flash the lamp one more time. It couldn't hurt to keep trying, right? She flashed the light one last night before letting out a sigh. With a 'click' she turned out the lamp knowing that this night was the same as every other night; she would be going to bed disappointed.

As Ed continued to walk through the rocks on the trail to Winry's house, he caught a glimpse of a flashing light a short distance away.

'That light…could it be…?' He thought as he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. He knew that home was just a few minutes away, he couldn't stop now. He needed to get home, to get his arm fixed…to see Winry again…

"Damn it…I can't stop now…I need to keep going…just a bit further…"

When Ed finally reached the small house, he paused just outside the front door. He couldn't get himself to knock just yet, even though he couldn't wait to get inside. He looked up to where Winry's room should be, noticing that that was the only room with a light on. He let out a sigh, lifted up his left arm and hesitated for a second before rapping lightly on the door with his knuckles.

'Tap Tap Tap.' No response.

'Tap Tap Tap.' Ed knocked just a little harder. Still no response. Just as he was about to turn away, the door creaked open just enough for him to see a pair of those beautiful blue eyes he's been longing to see.

"Winry…" He said her name in a near whisper.

Her eyes opened wide as she realized who it was. She opened the door wider and stood in front of Ed. She couldn't believe it. Ed was back! Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized the state he was in.

"Ed!" She gasped out his name as she flung her arms around him. Although she hurt him with her sudden movement, he didn't care. He closed his eyes to savor the feeling of having her body pulled up against him in her tight embrace.

After what seemed like hours, he finally to whisper her name.

"Winry…can you…"

"Oh! I'm so sorry Ed! I just…oh…" She apologized as she let go abruptly. She wanted to fling her arms around him again but refrained from doing so when she noticed how tired Ed looked.

He looked at Winry for a minute before his vision began to blur. His eyes closed and he collapsed into Winry's arms. Her eyes widened at the sudden weight that fell against her.

"Ah! Ed!" She said in surprise. She looked around. No one was there to help her. She let out a sigh and decided to try to take Ed up to the spare room. She wrapped his left arm around her shoulder, holding it with her left arm while she held him from his waist with her right arm. She dragged him up the stairs. After a long moment of struggling, she managed to get him into the spare room. She lied him down carefully on the nearest bed, trying hard not to wake him. She didn't want to hurt him more than he already was. She pulled off his red coat slowly, along with his black, long-sleeved shirt, belt, and boots.

"Ed, you idiot…" She whispered as she lied down next to him, her head leaning on her elbow for support. She carefully pulled out the tie that held his braid and ran her fingers through his soft, blonde hair and softly ran her hand over his cheek. Although he looked terrible with the cuts and bruises, she couldn't help but smile. She couldn't believe it. After all that time of waiting, he was finally back.

Her Edward had finally returned.

That's my first chapter of this story. I know it's a bit short, but hey, things need to go slow! The romance can't just happen right away, now can it? Even though, I hope you liked it. The second chapter will be called Ed's Nightmares. I hope I can get that chapter finished soon so that I can post it. Please don't forget to review! Thanks a bunch. –GFA86.