Well hello to everyone on this fine Friday night! I decided to post another chapter tonight (on top of the ones I will post this weekend) to kind of move things along. I appreciate the reviews from everyone, and I won't keep you reading my author's notes when you could be reading the story!

Enjoy!

Oh, and P.S. to Indome…I chuckled when I read your last post and actually went back to the first chappie to check and make sure I mentioned it. It's kind of small but when Winry gets back to the house and looks at the arm Pinako had made for her, she asked the elder woman if she packed the two limbs she had set out ("Who knows when he will need another one"). She figured since she was taking the test to be an alchemist, she'd better prepare ahead and get some spare limbs for Edward since he gets himself into trouble quite a bit. The limbs in the box left for him were the spare ones she held onto in case he ever needed them. It's such a small comment, which is why I had to go back and double check it!

Crap…I made you guys read through an authors note anyway…Gomen!

Chapter Fifteen

"Edward, I don't believe the Colonel authorized a stop in Rizenbul on the way back to Central…" piped Major Armstrong, as the three stepped off the train in the remote area. The teenager turned around and grinned at the older alchemist, "Yeah, well, he doesn't have to know about it. He's still in Heissgart with Lieutenant Hawkeye finishing the report involving Brigadier Nemda. That buys us a few days before he returns to Central, and by that time we'll be back!"

Edward looked to see Alphonse and the Major shake their heads in frustration, "You don't ever learn, do you Brother?" questioned Al. Edward shrugged his shoulders and began walking towards the road that would lead to the Rockbell residence. The other two quickly caught up to him, and they walked in silence most of the way. An hour had passed before Edward was able to make out Winry's house on the hill. Without warning, he began to run towards the house, leaving his brother and Armstrong behind him.

As the teenager came closer to the house, he was able to see Auntie Pinako sweeping the front porch off, while Den sprawled out in the front yard. He watched as she saw him, and stopped sweeping to lean on her broom. He ran straight up to the porch past Den, paused to catch his breath, and heard Al and the Major finally catch up behind him.

"Well, if it isn't Edward and Alphonse. Hello, Major Armstrong," she nodded her head to his direction, causing the man to stand up straight and salute. "There's no need for that here, Major. You all can relax. What brings you here, boys?"

"We came to visit Winry, and see how she's doing," replied Edward as he walked up the steps, "Is she in her room, or is she stubborn and in her workshop already?"

He saw Auntie Pinako's eyes drop to the ground for a moment, and felt a slight fear slowly fill him. Was she all right?

"Well, I'm afraid you're too late boys. She left just a day or so ago to start another mission; word was sent out here for her, and she was finally able to leave…"
"Huh? She's not here?" said Edward quietly as he plopped down onto a bench. "But how? Not with how her arm was, she would have to heal for at least another week or two."

"Well, you know how she is, Edward. I can never talk any sense into her."

The older woman watched as sadness slowly filled the teen's features. She walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at her, "Don't worry, though. She'll be fine soon enough." Pinako saw him nod slightly, and she turned to lean her broom against the house. "Well, since you three are here, you might as well stay for a late lunch, and then dinner. It won't take long for me to whip something up. Edward, you and Alphonse know your way around the house. Why don't you three make yourselves comfortable, and show the Major here where he can sleep tonight."

Edward reluctantly stood up and walked into the house behind the older woman, followed by Al and Major Armstrong. Alphonse had the Major follow him to show him where he would be staying, while Ed plopped down on the couch, and Pinako walked into the kitchen to prepare their meal. Den slowly walked over to the couch and laid his head on Edward's lap, wanting him to scratch his head.

Edward instinctively reached down and scratched the canine's head while he let his mind wander. He was so excited at the chance of seeing Winry, that the thought never crossed his mind that she may not be here. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard the phone ring from the kitchen. He vaguely heard Pinako talking to someone, and finally decided to go see if she needed any help. He had to get his mind off of his friend.

"Yes, dear. They're here. Don't you worry, just take care of yourself and please be careful. You know you need to let that arm heal some more before doing anything strenuous," Pinako lectured before noticing Edward walking towards the kitchen from the corner of her eye. "Well, I need to be getting off of here, I'm in the middle of cooking. Take care, dear." The elder woman hung up the phone before acknowledging the teen's presence.

"Who was that?" Edward asked as he sat down on a stool next to the counter.

"When did you become so nosy, Edward?" Pinako laughed as she continued to mix the contents in the bowl in front of her.

"I'm sorry, it just sounded like you were talking to Winry for a second there. But then again, you fix many peoples' arms, so it could be any one of your clients…"
"True, it could. Well, then. Are you just going to sit there, or are you going to let an old woman slave over your meal all by herself?" she said, smiling slightly at her joke. Edward smiled back as he took the bowl from her and began mixing, while she lit her pipe.

The redheaded teenager hung up the phone before facing her friend, "Yeah, it seems the boys are there, just like you said. Oh yeah, and your grandmother said, and I quote, 'Don't you worry, just take care of yourself and please be careful. You know you need to let that arm heal some more before doing anything strenuous'…"

Winry laughed slightly at her friend's imitation of her grandmother. "I know, I know…I gotta take it easy for another few weeks. I'm just glad I came over here when I did, Regan. Thanks for all your help…"

"No problem. I didn't believe you when you said Edward and Alphonse would come back, but hey…you were right."

"What can I say? I lived next to them for how many years?"

The redhead laughed as she sat down on the bed her friend laid in, "Yeah, what can I say. I'm just the friend who lived at the end of the street that no one would come play with that often—"
"That's not true! You and I play quite a lot together, thank you very much! And you don't live that far from my house!" Winry exclaimed, causing Regan to smile.

"I know, I'm just picking on you…" she said, causing Winry to nod. "So, how much longer do you think it's going to take before you can go bashing peoples' heads again?" Regan asked sarcastically.

"Well," Winry said, painfully stretching out her left arm, "Grams had to do another surgery to fix some of the connections, which I might say WAS not pleasant, but um…I should be able to train again in about two more weeks. I'll have to take it slow at first, but it should be fine after that. "

"Ugh, does that mean those two guys you came with have to stay here too? Father isn't happy about it, especially since that blond one keeps looking at me…"

The comment caused the blond girl to laugh to herself, "He's harmless, and anyways we're only going to be here for a night or two…Just until the boys leave, and then we'll head back home for the rest of the time…"

Silence surrounded the two teenage girls for a few minutes before Regan spoke, "Why exactly are you hiding from Edward anyway? I know how close you two were when we were younger, so why are you making him worry like this?" She noticed Winry's face drop slightly, and feared she may have asked an inappropriate question. Winry finally lifted her head and looked her friend in the eyes, "I'm just a barrier between him and a promise he had already made. I refuse to be the reason that promise is not fulfilled. So, until then, I'm going to avoid him at all costs," she said as she turned her head towards the window.

"I hate knowing that I'm causing him pain, but he'll get over me soon and continue what he set out to do. I guess after everything is said and over with, and if he doesn't hate me by then, then I'll see him again."

"You know he can never stay mad at you for long. Even when we were kids, when you two would fight, he would have made up with you by the end of the day. He's always had a soft spot for you, Winry," Regan pointed out.

"Yeah, that soft spot is the reason why all of this is happening," replied Winry. Her eyes opened wide as a thought popped into her head, "Oh, Regan! Were you able to get those flowers from the market I asked for earlier? Mom's birthday is coming up in a day or so, and I wanted to place the new ones on her grave…"

"I wasn't able to go because I was helping to get your two friends settled for the night," the red-head replied, seeing the smile disappear from Winry's face, "Buuuuutttt…Mom went out and got them for me instead! They're in the fridge to help keep them fresh for a few days, so don't worry. And yes, I also had mom pick up some for Ed and Al's mom too. I know how you put flowers on hers almost as much as your own parent's…" Regan reached over to hug her friend, "You didn't think I'd let you down like that, did you?"

Winry shook her head at her friend's question. "Thank you so much. I had placed some on Mrs. Elric's grave when I got home, but I'll add those to it when I visit mom. Her birthday was just a month or so ago, but I wasn't here then."

"Edward," Alphonse said as the two sat on the upstairs porch after lunch, "Mom's birthday wasn't too long ago. Maybe we should go see her before we have to leave tomorrow."

Birds flew around outside as the sun shined brightly overhead. Edward leaned back against the house and watched the relaxing scenery before him. "Yeah, I guess we can do that."

"And since we'll be around the cemetery, we should drop by and say hello to Regan as well," Al continued, "We haven't seen her in a long time, and I'm sure she'd appreciate a visit every once in awhile…"

Al heard Edward snicker from the side, and turned his head to see his brother smiling, "What, do you have a crush on her or something, Al?"

"What! It's not like that! You know we've been friends with her since we were little, and –" Al stopped talking when he saw Edward stand up and walk towards the door, "Brother?"

"You know I was just picking on you," laughed Edward as he opened the door, "C'mon Al, let's go visit mom…"

Edward and Alphonse walked into the small cemetery shortly after leaving the Rockbell residence. Pinako seemed hesitant to let them leave since she thought they would be late for dinner, but they assured her they would be back within plenty of time to eat. They passed Winry's parent's gravesites and paused in respect before continuing to their mother's spot.

"Brother, look!" Edward heard Al speak, as they got closer to their mother's grave. The two walked up to see a bundle of flowers in a wooden cup filled with water next to her headstone. Edward smiled as he realized the flowers were the same as he held in his hands; the same flowers he picked from behind Winry's house.

"Who would have left flowers for mom?" Al asked inquisitively. Edward smiled as he handed his small bundle to Al. Walking over to a nearby tree, Edward noticed a branch had been broken off. Taking another small branch from the tree, Edward transmuted it into a similar cup and filled it with water from the fountain at the front of the cemetery. Edward brought back the cup and placed his flowers in them, then set them on the other side of his mother's headstone.

"There," the elder brother said, clapping his hands to remove any dirt, "Now it matches." The boys stood for a few minutes looking at their mother's grave, their minds lost in their own thoughts. A thought crossed Edward's mind, and Al watched as his brother reached down and removed two flowers from the bundle in the cup. He returned to the tree and took yet another branch, and broke it in half. He transmuted each piece into a tiny vase, only big enough to hold a couple flowers. He put water in each container, and put one next to each of the Rockbell's headstones.

"Brother, what are you doing? You've never put flowers on the Mr. and Mrs. Rockbell's graves before," Al asked, as he walked up to his brother.

"I guess you can say I'm returning the favor," Edward spoke as he paid his respects again and began to walk out of the cemetery.

"I think it's nice that you put flowers on Mrs. Elric's grave. And I think she'll understand if you missed her birthday because you were out playing a game of state alchemy with her sons," Regan laughed as she spoke to Winry. "And I never got to say this to you, because I haven't seen you in awhile, but I'm proud Winry, for you making State Alchemist. Who would have known two of my childhood friends would have become state alchemists? Much less one being the youngest ever to pass the test, and you being the first female to as well; it kind of makes me feel inadequate…" the girl joked while scratching the back of her head.

"Regan!" came her father's voice from downstairs, "You've got visitors!"

The red-headed girl looked to Winry in confusion, "Who would be visiting me? Usually father just sends them up. Hang on a second, Winry, I'll be right back," Regan said as she stood up.

"Don't worry about me, if you've got company, spend some time with them…" Winry replied, causing Regan to nod.

Regan walked out of the room, closed the door quietly behind her, and walked up to the railing on the second floor. "Father, who's here for me?" She looked down to see Edward and Alphonse walking into the foyer, with her father closing the door behind them. "Regan, honey. Edward and Alphonse have come to see you! It's been awhile hasn't it? We've been getting a lot of people latel—"

"Edward! Alphonse! How good it is to see you!" she shouted loud enough for her friend to hear on the other side of the door. "It has been awhile since we've seen each other. Father! Could you possibly take them to the back patio so we can sit and have a drink, that way we don't bother our other guests, please?" Regan saw her father nod in response, and continued, "Don't worry, boys! I'll be out in just a moment. I just need to freshen up a tad!" She saw the brothers looking slightly confused, but at least they followed her father outside.

As soon as they were out of sight, Regan burst back through the door to Winry's room and slammed the door shut behind her. She glanced around the room looking for her friend, but didn't see her anywhere. "Winry? It's just me, it's safe to come out now." A moment later, Regan saw the bed ruffle move slightly and Winry's head poke out from underneath it. "I guess you heard me, huh?" Regan laughed as she walked over to help her friend out from under her bed. Winry yelped in pain as she accidentally tried to prop herself up with her left arm, but had help from Regan to prevent herself from falling.

"What am I supposed to do Regan? I don't think they'll come up here, but what if they find Havoc and Fury? Edward will know I'm here!"

"Don't worry, Winry," the teenager said to calm her friend, "I'm going to find them first and tell them to stay put while the boys are here. Sheesh, of all the days to want to pay a visit, they would have to pick this one!"