Sorry I am taking so long to update...well anything but finding the time is difficult. Mostly I do a chapter all at once or I lose my thoughts. I hope this will tide you over for a while as I'll have to think about updating my other fic. Thank you all, Chi. FMA isn't mine.


The journey home passed them by without fault and Winry seemed to forget she was aboard a train within an hour. While Al and Ed talked she started blankly out of the window and watched the world speed by. Although they did not look at each other she kept a tight hold of Al's hand. They suspected it was her secret security blanket; that she feared if she turned away they would no longer be there. Edward saved one eye to glance at the door now and then for strangers would pass by and glare in at them. Since he had Winry back safely he noticed how many people look at the three of them and smiled. He was warmed by this and yet feared it at the same time. With Dante still at large everyone was a suspect but as far as he knew their home back in Rizembol was safe.

After another few peaceful hours, after speeding by the very spot she was taken, Winry gladly grabbed both their arms and dragged them off the train with haste. In doing so she forgot about how delicate her feet were and crumpled as she tried to walk. They had both been warned this might happen and so Ed once again scooped her up and carried her all the way back home.

As they approached the familiar house they could see the gentle rise of smoke from Pinako's pipe as she stood at the door looking out for them. She did not run to her grand-daughter nor did she say how happy she was to have her back, she merely smiled and said, 'You have much work to catch up on.' It would be seen as unaffectionate to a stranger but the all of them it was the norm. It was Pinako's way of saying she couldn't be happier everything was returning to normal. She ushered them all inside for dinner which they were just in time for.

'Oh Winry you are safe!' Rose cried as she wrapped her arms around Winry tightly. Winry seemed to seize up at first but soon relaxed into the embrace. Jack decided he would join himself in and hooked his arm around her leg. Rose laughed and gently guided him over to the table. Winry, still tender on her feet, followed suit and sat herself in between Ed and Al. somehow she looked out of place among them but it was not surprising. She had been away for quite some time, not just from Ed but from all of them.

Apparently not in the mood to talk it was Rose who led the conversation that meal. She did not have much to tell but did not enjoy the quiet that was when she wasn't making conversation. She couldn't understand why they were not happier at being re-united again. They should have been deep in conversation with each other, especially Ed and Winry. Yet she was still unaccustomed to this family and kept her feelings to herself. She was quite happy when Winry finally spoke up.

'Your arm and leg,' she mumbled taking a hold of Ed's right hand, 'Are these what I made you?'

'They were found on the train. They fit perfectly,' he smiled, also clearly aware it was the first time she had spoken up.

'Did I fix them onto you?'

'I did Winry. Edward needed a good arm and leg to come and save you,' Pinako answered for him. It did not seem to ease whatever was on her mind and Winry pouted as she played with her work. For a time Edward sat there and let her play with his hand until eventually he lost his patience and pulled it away. Only after he had done it did he realise it was a big mistake. Winry, who was still not herself, whimpered lightly and buried her face into her hands. He could see her shoulders begin to shake although she did a good job of hiding her sobs.

'Winry, what's wrong?' Al asked whilst frowning at his uncouth brother. Ed just shrugged his shoulders and looked confused.

'I took so long making that arm and leg,' she choked, 'and I couldn't be the one to give them to you.'

'But they will always be attached to me Winry and I will always know that you made them for me. You even got them to fit perfectly even though you only guessed how much I had grown.'

He had comforted her with similar words in the past and it seemed to do the trick just as well as it had always done. She took her hands away from her red face and smiled at him. Although her eyes were puffed up he could not deny she did look strangely cute. Perhaps because crying meant she was not yelling.

That little moment set off a spark and Ed told them of some of his adventures. They had been on the train for quite a time and Al retired about an hour after darkness had fallen. Jack was going through a bout of nights he would refuse to go to bed but Rose finally managed to persuade him to at least stay in his room. Pinako took her leave after that leaving Winry sprawled out on the sofa with Ed and Rose on chairs near to her.

He finished the tale he was telling and silence fell between the three of them. The only light in the room came from the fire they had set ablaze once the natural light had failed. Rose tried to keep her eyes away from Winry but she was so curious to know what had happened to the frail blonde. Each time she looked over toward Winry, she got a stare back until she eventually looked away. It scared her a little but then she told herself that Winry had been through a lot.

'I'm going to bed, are you two coming?' Winry asked in a groggy voice.

'No I'm going to stay up a little while longer,' Rose sighed.

'Yeah me too,' Edward added.

Winry seemed to hesitate at the bottom of the stairs but then slowly ascended, keeping her eyes focused on the steps below her feet. They watched her go before Rose caved in and asked Edward her burning question.

'What happened to her?'

'I don't know Rose. She says she doesn't remember anything but I wonder if she stays quiet out of fear. You already know the state she was in when we found her.'

'Yes Pinako told me. Oh the poor girl I wish I knew how to comfort her.'

'Hmm well just act as if nothing has happened to her. I think the least she is reminded she was ever away the better. Hopefully, in time, she will remember something or at least tell us what she knows.'

Rose opened her mouth to say something else when they heard a thump from upstairs. With all the agility and speed of a cat Edward dashed up the stairs and toward Winrys room. Without even the thought to knock he burst in to find her in a heap on the floor. Den stood beside her whimpering and barked when he saw Ed come into the room.

'What happened?' he asked as he moved to her side to help her up.

She groaned, 'I was taking my skirt off when I came over light headed and I fell.'

It was then he noticed that bottom half she was only in her underwear. It was not the time for him to give in to male hormones and he shook itoff. He eased her to her feet and gently placed her on her bed. After mumbling a good night he shot from the scene and straight to his own room. He didn't mean to think such thoughts when she was so fragile and had been through so much. But ever since he had recalled accidentally seeing her nude a few years ago he hadn't been able to eradicate the image from his head. He would need to find himself a girl and fast. But then he chuckled. When had he ever made time for someone of the opposite sex?


A few days went by and although Winry remained quiet she seemed to settle into routine a little better. Her legs stopped giving way underneath her as she was even able to go for walks as long as she was accompanied. She even got back into making auto-mail as long as it wasn't heavy duty. Ed tried to keep his distance but living with someone generally meant you were in close quarters. At that point in his life he didn't know what to do after so much journeying. He knew his top priority was Dante but all the same he could not risk growing a closer attachment to Winry. He had left her many times before and there was nothing to say he wouldn't do it again.

It was Al who seemed to be happiest. Out of all of them it was he who had always treasured family above all else and to have everyone he was close to with him was purest joy. Rose seemed to close her self off a little but it was no surprise to anyone. Seeing Winry in such a state only led to remind her she too had fallen victim to the evil jezebel. Pinako acted just as Ed believed they all should and that was to act as if nothing had happened. There was nothing obviously wrong with Winry after all it was just that she was a little quiet. The worst affected appeared to be Den who in his old age was easily confused. Unable to bound as he once would he tottered around after Winry looking as melancholy as a dog could.

Ed looked back and gave Winry and Jack another quick wave. He, Al and Rose were heading into the market to pick up some food while Pinako was out to visit a patient who had broken his auto-mail. Winry had offered to look after Jack to give Rose some free time. They guessed that translated as it'll keep her mind on something.

Once they reached the market they all perked up a little. Although it was crowded it was sometimes nice to have lots of people round for a change. Al bought some cherries before he did anything else. They were to be a treat for Winry as she had had to stay at home rather then come with them. Ed thought it was best he bought something too just to try and get some weight on her. Winrys time away had dropped a lot of weight off her and she still hadn't fully put it back on. When he had helped her up the other night he had been able to feel her rigs a bit too well for comfort. Problem was if he had held her any higher she might have buried a wrench in his skull.

'Ah, look over there!' Rose suddenly chirped. A stall close to them was selling roses of all colours and of course Rose was drawn to them. She was drawn to any flower in fact but she appeared to fall week at the knees at this specific store. She dashed over to see them closer leaving the two Elric brothers behind. After both sighing deeply they slowly began to walk over to where she stood, cooing over the range of colours.

It was a woman in the crowd who was the first to notice. She screamed and pointed skyward toward the building Rose was standing beneath. Some of the wall had crumbled away and was about to fall directly on top of the stall and would in no doubt take Rose with it.