Disclaimer:… Already stated in the first chapter…

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update… I wanted to change a few things before I updated the story any further and I was busy planning and celebrating my little brother's tenth birthday! X3 I love him to pieces and I was thinking about writing a short story dedicated to him based on Ed and Al's sibling devotion. I dunno… a full plan for the base work of a story like that hasn't come to full view yet and I'm kinda waiting on inspiration. Personal note: See, my brother and I fight just like any other sibling pair do, just like Ed and Al, but we are five years apart, making understanding each other rather difficult. But I have to say, no matter how… weird it may sound, the series really has put forth the realization that if, and heaven forbid, something ever did happen to our parents, we are the only one's we have left, and we have to be there for each other and help each other… I know that may sound like a 'shouldn't you know this even before the show because it's intuition' kind of thing, and I did, but it just kinda put the prospect in a whole new ray of light (hope you understand what I mean --).

I got all philosophical on you guys, didn't I? ;3

Chapter Four: Everything

Ed lay on the sheets in the spare room at the Rockbell house, left arm folded beneath his head and his metal shin resting on his other knee that bent at a incline. His eyes were focused unwaveringly upward, at the ceiling, on a certain spot that he really hadn't been staring at, at all. He was thinking… just like he always did when he was alone, if he wasn't sleeping. That disheveled thinking that made him black out of the surrounding world and caused his senses to almost fail to react to it as well.

He couldn't remember in full detail how he had ended up in Resembul and wondered, for a fleeting moment, if he had even left at all. But he had. He knew there was no doubt about it. He had left this world and entered into a world he couldn't explain and wasn't adapt to still. In that world, there was war, just like here, but there was still a sense of compassion for human life here that didn't exist there. Here, even if a soldier killed someone, they still had a ill conscience about the death of another at their doing, but there, soldiers bragged at how many they had killed and how maliciously they did it. Like a sickening and twisted sport that they enjoyed; extinguishing the life of someone or peoples they believed didn't deserve to live. People there tried to rationalize the point in killing off a certain group, as if they murdering someone made life easier and happier for them and everyone in some way… It became clear, after a year's time, why alchemy never existed on the other side of the Gate; the world those people and the society surrounding them created would make it so easy to create a Philosopher's Stone and ultimately kill each other off.

Memories just came in slight waves periodically on his journey back to this world and what had happened after he had returned. These memories were movies played in his mind's eye and stayed in mute, like someone was watching a movie without any sound.

He had been staring so sternly at that one spot on the ceiling so fixedly that the room seemed to get darker in a pulsating rhythm and he closed his eyes as they began to water from his momentary cease of instinct to blink.

Although he forgot portions of his resent events, he could never forget what he had given up to get back to where he was now…

"Ed," Winry's voice made him take in a sharp breath through his nose before he realized who it was, "Are you dressed yet?" Her voice was muffled by his closed door and tilted his head slightly to see around his inclined legs to stare at the door. He had taken a shower to rid himself of the gritty feeling in his hair and scalp from the mud that was there almost two nights ago; and Winry's constant complaining. He cleared his throat before answering,

"Yeah." His mild hypothermia was almost no issue anymore, but Winry still felt she had to tend to him in any way possible. She had started fixing his auto-mail but still needed to take measurements for he had, to Winry's slight amusement, gotten taller. He was still only about a few inches taller than her, which really didn't say anything for she, herself was of average height for a girl.

Winry opened the door slowly, as if still doubting if he was clothed or not and finally butted the door with her hip before walking in. Her arms were laden with a tray that cradled a bowl of steaming… chicken broth most likely and he wrinkled his nose slightly.

"I can chew now, you know?" Ed commented as she set the tray on the table next to his bed and she gave him a side ways glance before looking at him properly.

"I know that." she said before placing a tray over his legs and then the bowl atop of it. It wasn't chicken broth, but stew and he mentally kicked himself for not noticing the different smell that it emitted.

"Thanks," was all he could really say for he didn't realize how rude he had seemed before now to make such a accusation so quickly. He gave her a furtive glance in almost a apologetic manner as she handed him a spoon and sat in a chair that she had brought into his room shortly after her and Pinako had moved him in there. She placed a hand above her knee after she sat and scratched there momentarily distractively while giving Ed disgruntled furtive glances.

Winry wasn't pleased at all by the fact that Ed seemed to be so submissive lately, like nothing had any merit. She hated when she tried to get some retort from him by antagonizing him, he gave it a mental shrug and continued to contemplate- probably- the factors of life and alchemy. He had lost that flame in his eyes and she noticed, no matter how much he stared away from her. But she didn't dare mention it, incase his determination and usual impulsiveness decided to make a turn in routine. But… if that's what it took to get a rise from him… It didn't matter, he wouldn't tell her anyway, he usually never did.

She blinked from the sudden slurp Ed emitted as he finished and her brow twitched as she folded her arms disapprovingly. Ed, after giving one last disturbing suction of his lips within the bowl, lowered it from it's tilt in his flesh hand and looked at Winry's stern gaze.

"I don't see why you needed a spoon if you're face can stuff itself." Winry said and almost grinned at the sudden look that crossed Ed's face. At least it was some reaction. His eyes narrowed slightly, brows knitted and a snarling pout upon his mouth, he placed the bowl on the tray in front of him. She looked at him falsely puzzled and grinned almost maliciously, causing Ed's pout to shift into a cautious arch of his brow. "If you can chew, obviously you can clean after yourself?" Winry asked playfully moving to get up from the wooden chair.

"Gah- Winry!" Ed slammed his palm onto the mattress demandingly; trying to get her to stop. Winry turned to him with a turn on her heels and smirked.

"So there is life…" she muttered just loud enough for him to hear.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed asked irritably; not really in the mood to clash heads with her. She clasped her hands together behind her back and gave a slanted smile,

"Nothing…" she said venomously sweet and Ed eyed her oddly for her sudden peculiar behavior.

"…Okay…" Ed said slowly then pushing the tray carefully before staring back at her as if expecting her to pounce on him. Truthfully, he wouldn't put it passed her… Winry stuffed her hand into her large pocket in her pants and Ed blanched before she pulled out a measurement tape bundle. She stared at him for his reaction and he loosened as soon as he realized she hadn't equipped herself with her wrench.

"I have to take measurements, can you stand?" Winry had suddenly taken off that mischievous grin and had a genuine look of concern made it's manifestation on her face. Ed looked down at his legs and wondered why he wouldn't be able to, until he actually tried and realized that his legs felt like tight rubber. "You haven't been moving around, you're legs may be a bit numb." she commented at his sudden inability to do what he had been asked. He gave a nervous laugh,

"Yeah." he could still move his auto-mail toes but not his flesh ones and he gave a nonchalant stare at his legs as he swung them over the side of the bed. It took a few moments time for Ed to get his blood flowing through the whole of his flesh leg and what remained of his auto-mail leg. He, after standing shakily, outstretched his left arm for Winry to measure and as she did so, wrote down the measurements on a small notepad before moving down to his legs while he let his arm fall numbly to his side again.

This only took not even a full three minutes and after taking all the necessary measurements, Winry stood up again and frowned at how Ed looked down at her slightly. He's still short. She thought savagely defensive and stuffed the measurement tape back into her pants' pocket.

"At least you've grown some… almost four inches. I'm impressed that your leg still functions properly." she looked down at his auto-mail leg and grinned proudly. True, if he had grown, usually the leg would be shorter and cause him to limp, but she hadn't really seen him walk yet…with a limp. But he did notice he stood slightly tilted and he wondered if Winry even noticed. "Grandma and I will start working tonight." she stated in a matter-a-fact manner and she took the tray from it's place on his bed.

He watched, unable to really find anything to say or do and Winry noticed this. She hoped he wouldn't say 'sorry' or anything apologetic in any form like he had since he had spoken first. It was almost like he was sorry for something else, or apologizing for something bigger than a accusation or stepping on her feet.

"Well, if you need anything, I'll either be in the kitchen or with grandma working." she said as she left with the tray.

Ed looked off to the side and through the glass of the only window in his room with half-opened eyes as the sun cast a washed-out orange shadow to the floor and opposite walls. The sun was just diffused enough to look at, but Ed still had a hard time keeping focused on the point where the sun hung behind the golden clouds. He let out a sigh and turned back to the door before taking the first steps in a while toward the kitchen and noticing he did have a limp from the give of his auto-mail leg.

Winry turned off the faucet and started to dry the wet bowl in her hands that moments ago, Ed had slurped clean. She couldn't help but let a smile tug at the corners of her mouth as she placed the now dry bowl into it's proper cabinet. She dried her hands and started to wipe away the water that had pooled in beads around the sink from her washing when she heard a sudden clunk and then another softer thud behind her. She turned just to see Ed let himself drop into a couch that Den had rested himself in. She lay the damp towel upon the wooden countertop and watched as Ed began to scratch Den behind his ears idly. Den whined from the sudden affection, and Winry found herself smiling at the sight as Den rolled over to his back for a belly rub. Winry noticed that Ed, too, was actually smiling as he continued to show Den the affection he had wanted when Winry had found Ed.

The moment would have lasted longer if Den hadn't decided to sneeze abhorrently on Ed's flesh arm and face. Ed's brow twitched and he stared down at Den disgustedly as he flipped over and nuzzled his sneeze covered hand demandingly. Winry laughed at the situation and the look plastered on Ed's face that shimmered slightly from what came from Den's snout.

"Here, come and wash that off." Winry giggled as she stepped aside from the sink for Ed to wash his face and hands. He got up and stifled the urge to limp so as Winry wouldn't notice, but she did, but decided not to mention it as he turned on the tap and cupped some water and splashed it on his face. He stopped a moment as he realized he couldn't wash his hand for he didn't have his auto-mail arm still and Winry took the hint. She took his arm in her hands and washed it herself beneath the flow of water. Ed frowned at the position he was in; he couldn't even wash his own hands without her help.

"Sorry…" Winry stopped and looked at him disapprovingly and turned the water off sternly while Ed stiffened at her sudden brusqueness.

"What are you sorry for?" Winry demanded, "Why are you all of a sudden so remorseful?" Ed, in defense, narrowed his gaze and furrowed his brows. He was always like that; when someone questioned him or his motives, he put on a false brutal manner and denied any accusation.

"I'm not!" he yanked his arm away, "Why does it matter if I was?"

"It's not like you! Why'd you say it in the first place if you're not sorry?" their voices became more stern and higher in volume as they tried to speak over each other.

"Because maybe I don't like to be looked after as if I'm crippled." That came as a slap in the face and Winry's fists curled.

"You never had a problem with it before when we offered you a place to sleep! Or when I fixed your auto-mail!" Winry put extra emphasis on auto-mail and pointed a accusing finger at the place a arm should be. Ed's face was twisted in anger and something in his eyes told her that he wasn't really mad at her… But possibly himself… For he wasn't really looking at her, but at a point behind her left ear. She loosened somewhat and huffed through her nose before looking at him sensitively.

"What are you really 'sorry' for?" At this, Ed's brows drooped and his eyes actually shifted to look directly at her this time before he looked away disconsolately. His shoulders sagged and his eyes darted and shifted around the room as if looking for a place to escape in his mind. A part of her wanted to take back what she had asked and she could tell he really didn't want to answer her and hadn't meant to react to her words like he did as he gave her a furtive glance before taking a step toward the front door.

Winry opened her mouth to interject his movements but she realized there could be thousands of things he was "sorry" for… Maybe it had finally got to him; everything that had happened in his and Al's life and what had occurred that she didn't yet know about, but would soon regret knowing when he finally told her.

She stood numbly and as if he had been waiting for her to dawn on this prospect, he stopped and, opening the front door, said without turning to look at her,

"Everything." he said barely above a whisper and she even had to stop breathing to hear his monotonous words properly. She bit on her bottom lip and let her head hang, just as Ed did before shutting the door behind him with a soft click. She heard his footsteps step across the wooden porch, then down the steps, then they fell silent as he stepped away from the porches hollow echo of his movements.

Den jumped from the couch and pranced over to Winry, nuzzling her hand as it hung loosely next to her side as she fell silent. Den whined at her lack of response to his affection toward her and finally raised a auto-mail paw to pat at her leg. She toggled her gaze over to Den beneath her shadowing bangs and finally knelt to her knees where Den began licking away helpless tears at the corner of her eyes.

She hadn't meant to bring about regretful memories or anything, she just wanted to know. Maybe she was selfish, but she shed unselfish tears for him, for he wouldn't on his own.

A/N: I know, I know, 'what the hell took me so long?' Well, I wanted so badly to go back and fix a few things before I went ahead and updated and well, I hope you guys like it! I think it's the longest one I have at the moment… Anyway, I'm working on a very dramatic and angst one-shot/ songfic so look for it in the next three to four days if you're interested!

Hiei44: Yeah, I was relieved too when I finally came up with a way for Ed to remain in character, be sick and injured and still fall into plot like I wanted… It's difficult sometimes, but I guess the positive feedback is worth all that frustration. ;3

Nyago: Sorry for the stall in chapter updates! bangs head into keyboard I will tell you though, that the next chapter will hopefully not take as long to post… Haha, I, myself try to be a perfectionist, but, I'm lazy like crazy so it's hard to complete something when I want it to be perfect!

Tiger of the Wind1: Yeah, I'd like to believe that Den is a smart lil' devil! I hope for it always to remain promising until it's all posted…

Blue Raindrop: I agree when you say that about OOC situations. I try, I really do, and when other authors don't, I can understand possibly why it may sound… unbelievable, but sometimes they get carried away. Ed, in himself, is a very big personality! But, I understand where the frustration of his height comes from (I'm sooo short to be fifteen!) And, I have a hotheaded cousin and little brother like him, so I sometimes experiment. I once had a instance when I wanted to see how a person like Ed would deal with not being able to use the bathroom until I was done and I kinda sat behind the door with a pencil and clipboard taking notes as he banged and shouted on the other end. Needless to say, I have guinea pigs… ;3 This story… eh- I think it should be about ten chapters? I may be wrong, but I think that's about it. claps hands together I have several recommendations… Some of them are long: 'He Who Searches For Himself' by Yuuki Hikari (still a work in progress, but still good); "Winter in Germany" by Tiger of the Wind1(speaking of which, when are you going to update that, Tiger?); "Desolation" by GreenFlameAlchemist86; "Stand Up And Walk Forward", "Someone Who Cares For Me", "EdxWinry 100 Themes" , and "His Gift to Her" by SaturnStars... I think that's it for now… Hope you like my suggestions!

Vash: Thanks for the review! Always R&R… ;3

C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: Haha… Yeah, I guess I could add just a bit more of those categories. Who knows? ;3

Zirra Nova: Sorry for the delay and I hope you like this chapter, for it took longer than I though it would to update…

K i w i Foot: thanks for the review!

Hungry: I know, I know… Wait, has it really been that late? I'm sooo sorry! Really I am!

Chipper Fan: thanks for the review! ;3

Meo: Glad ya liked it! And, I hope this chapter is as vivid as always! n.n