A/N: I love putting up this story all at once. It's better that way. Alright then, now for the meet up and all that jazz. Of course first a final thought from each then onto story mode. No more POV's. ;; So sad, I liked them too. I might bring them back next chapter, seeing as how I can't write.
Chapter Three : Back Home
He's coming home. I have to hurry. Quickly I make my way over to the desk, working on a completely new automail. I've been so lazy lately, and busy with other customer's, that I've not had time to make anything new for Ed. I better start now. I'll make something new. Something just so perfect, he'll even be amazed.
-x-
Finally I'm going home. I wonder if Winry will be as mad as I'm imagining. All I know is I'm getting a damn cuncussion when I get there. I should seriously think about getting some kind of helmet or install a flippin' metal plate in my head. Heh, oh well. I'm just happy to be going. Finally, a nice break. The one I want.
Edward and Alphonse made their way off of the train after a couple hours of riding it non-stop. Edward grabbed the suitcase; his books still comfortably tucked underneath his left arm. Alphonse seemed to always remain the same each ride. Completely quiet. "Ah finally. It felt like we were going to be on that train forever." Edward streatched out a bit, making sure to not drop his books or the suitcase, still walking straight forward seeming very excited to get back to the Rockbell's house. Al tagged along behind him as usual, still quiet.
Winry was ready. Everything had been fixed to perfection for their arrival. The house was tended to and Ed's newly designed automail had been finished. It was only a matter of time until they would be there. She knew that Ed had only said about two or three days, but it was two days after he had called and she just had a feeling. Call it her intuition. She dusted off her jumpsuit and unzipped it, tying the sleeves around her waist. She glanced over on her bed where her wrench had been sitting there, grabbing it and slipping it into the pocket down by her leg. He was going to get it and he was going to get it good. She smiled softly heading out onto the balcony, waiting for them.
Waiting for him.
The two brothers made their way up the hill along the dirt road. There it was, it was visable now. The Rockbell house. Ed smiled softly; swinging his lightly packed suitcase over his left shoulder after giving his younger brother his books due to his non-working arm. He was walking faster now, kicking some small rocks along the way. Al watched Ed carefully and noticed Ed's mood change. Even though you couldn't see it, Al was happy for his older brother. He knew how much Ed loved to go back to Resembool. They seemed to be getting closer, Ed now looking around for a certain blonde mechanic. She was going to strike… He knew it. Ed chuckled softly, looking around a bit again then turning to his brother, the biggest grin forming across his lips. "Hah, no wrench to my head today! Guess that automail fre-OUCH HELL!" Ed flew forward right flat on his face as his brother laughed softly. There she was, her hands placed snug ontop of her hips, trying so very hard not to laugh. Ed quickly rose to his feet, stomping around as he growled as loud as he could. "Dammit Winry! What THE hell is your problem! Everytime I seem to come here you're always stealty and then you flippin' hit me in the head with your damn metal tools!" Winry proped her elbow on the railing and waved. "Welcome back you two." Al gave a slight wave and watched his brother storm off up to the house. He followed his older brother quickly, Winry doing the same as she ran inside, making her way down the stairs. She quickly grabbed another wrench off of the dresser by her bed, a much smaller one this time, and slipped it into the other leg pocket. If he pulled anything… She was ready.
The three of them sat down in the family room, Ed making himself completely comfortable by spreading out along the couch. Winry sat down in the space that was left, by his feet. Alphonse sat down in the much larger chair directly to the side of the couch, next to Winry. Ed yawned, moving around, trying to stop the ache in his back that seemed to be occuring. Sitting for a long time and then walking can do that sometimes. Winry sent a smile twords Al, then she slowly glanced over to Ed, that smile quickly changed. "So. What did you do?" Ed shrugged slightly, his eyelides slowly closing. Of course he was tired. That's all he seemed to do when he came home. He slept. Why he didn't sleep on the train was beyond her, so she gave up asking him for that time. Edward drifted off to sleep, Winry shaking her head at how quickly he could just doze off. Al stood up and decided to excuse himself from sitting with them, wanting to go see how auntie Pinako was doing. She slowly glanced over, then back away. It was just the two of them now, but of course he was sleeping. They never got time like this, but he wasn't awake. She frowned slightly and slumped forward. Winry sighed softly, placing her chin into her palms. A small soft smile formed across her lips as she glanced over at him once again. His hair seemed to be a bit ratty, pieces falling out of the hold from within the braid. Small strands falling across his nose and into his eyes. He looked so peaceful. His face was so relaxed along with his breathing. He was home.
He was finally home.
Edward slowly opened his eyes, awakening from his short nap. Winry was still sitting next to him, slumped over and staring at her sandles and wiggling toes. Al and Pinako seemed to have run to town to go to the market, picking up a few things for dinner that night. Edward let out a loud yawn, stretching out his legs and left arm. Winry snapped out of her stare and glanced over tword him, smiling softly. "Well good morning." She giggled softly as he sat up, running his hand up into his messy bangs. There was a short moment of silence before it was broke by the sound of a small whisper. "I… missed you." Winry had glanced down completely, her hair covering her face and a small soft blush. Ed stared at her for a long moment, his eyes widening ever so slowly as he glanced away. He didn't expect that. He wanted to say it back but all that came out of his mouth was a soft "Sorry". He mentally scolded himself for not saying it back. Sorry? That's it? He just wanted to come right out and say that he missed her so much it killed him and just wanted to hold her right then and there. But both of them stayed at a distance at opposite ends of the couch. They were quiet again. Both of them seemed to look up at eachother the same exact time, eyes locking with the others. Winry had the saddest frown ever while Ed just stared. He tried to smile a bit hoping that he could at least get her to smile some. He failed. She bit her bottom lip. He scanned her face. She glanced away. He stayed staring. Tears filled her eyes. He frowned. She whiped at the tears in her eyes. He moved closer. She looked directly at him. He wrapped his arm around her. She instantly wrapped her arms around him in turn, holding him as tight as she could. So tight that he could't even move. He wasn't going anywhere. "I missed you too, Win. I really did." He mumbled with a frown. It almost seemed like he didn't mean it, but she knew he did. That caused her lips to curl up in a small smile as she pulled him in closer. There embrace was soon over, Ed moving away some to look her directly in the eyes again. "I'll be home soon okay? I just… There are just some things that I need to do before I can be back permanantly." He was serious and she knew it. But how long would it be until he would be back permanantly? A couple months? A year? Two Years? Three? Four? She figured she should be grateful for the short visits that he makes. It was better then not seeing him at all. As bad as it would sound she hoped that he would bust up her automail just so that he could come back. Speaking of busting up her automail she had completely forgotten!
"Ed… Can I ask you something?" She stood up for a moment making her way over to stand right in front of him, her hands placed on her hips, lips pouting. "Uh, yeah sure." "What in god's name have you done to my automail!" Of course he didn't really notice that he was 'missinig' his arm throughout all of this. He contemplated wheither or not to tell her the truth or make up a lie. After all, this time it was his fault. "Uhm well… you see… I…" He stopped as he felt Winry lean over and grab the broken piece of metal, inspecting it carefully. "You what?" Ed glanced away gritting his teeth. "You see… A screw came out… and well I tried to put it back in? And when I did… Uhm, sparks started shooting out of it and…" "SPARKS?" Winry was furious, her eyes seemed to be shooting red lasers at him. All he could do was laugh nervously. At least he tried to fix it right? Winry shook her head, grabbing him by his flesh arm and pulled him outside. They were directly headed to the small shack where she did her work.
She closed the door behind them and pointed to the small crate that sat right next to a table. "Sit!" she demanded as he shuffled his feet walking over and ploping down on the wooden box. He didn't say a word. He figured it was best that he kept his mouth shut at this point. Edward could help but watch the pissed off mechanic get a rather long looking toolbox. Oh god. Please… don't let it be a big wrench he thought to himself. She unclasped it and looked inside, her eyes lighting up as she did so. She looked over at Ed and then back inside of the box. Oh god, he was going to get it. She pulled out the newly designed automail arm that she had been working on for the small time that she had. He was lucky that he didn't need a leg or it wouldn't have been finished. Ed sighed with relief and lost thought of a wrench striking him in the skull. "See? I made you a new one. It's much better this time. I used a different type of metal so that it would be a lot lighter and easier to move around. Also, it is rust free so you won't have any problems if you get it wet. It's a lot more scratch resistant and you'll have a much harder time banging the crap out of it!" Winry smiled as she walked over to him so he could get a closer look. Ed smiled softly. He was grateful, be he wasn't about to admit that. He did appreciate all of the work that she did for him. She was always trying her hardest to make everything easier for him. And she always had. "I know I'm going to do this without granny but we've done it so many times I don't think I need her help." She set the new automail down onto the table beside them and walked over to the right side of him. She took in a deep breath as she detached the broken arm. Dammit the part was coming up. Ed knew it and he already had begun to clench his teeth. Winry picked up the arm and walked back over, frowning slightly. She hated it when Ed was in pain. She hated it even more when she was the one causing it. "You ready?" She asked, not even bothering to look at him. He gave a slight nod and she placed the arm near his socket. She closed her eyes as she connected it. He gasped sharply, flying back againt the wall, groaning loudly. God he hated that. No matter how many times he's gone through it, it still hurt like hell. He layed there limply, panting heavily. Winry fell on her knees down to the floor next to him. "I'm sorry." She whispered. Sorry? Why the hell was she sorry he thought? "Why?" He moaned. She shoke her head and stayed silent for a moment. "It's just that I hate causing you pain." Ed looked over to her, his eyes widening. "Pain? You never cause me any pain. It's not your fault that I have to go through this. It's mine. So stop being sorry." She sniffled. She was going to cry again. She tried to hold it back as best she could. He sighed through his nose, standing up onto his feet and walking over to where she was, kneeling down beside her. "Hey, come on now. Don't cry." She glanced up to him, her voice shaky. "I-I'm not… crying." He reached over with his flesh hands and swiped away a tear that seemed to have found it's way down her skin. He cupped his hand around her cheek now, his thumb running along to her lips. He gave her a warm smile leaning in a bit closer. "Thank you." He said softly as he leaned in a bit more and before she could say anything, his lips had caught onto hers. Her eyes slowly closed as she relaxed into the kiss. The kiss was soon broken as Ed pulled back a bit, not sure why he had kissed her in the first place. It felt right though. A little too right. "Sorry!" He squeeked, quickly glacing away, letting his attention find itself elsewhere. A dark blush had spread across their face. Even though they wouldn't… they wanted to do that again. Winry stood up, still a little shocked from the lip-lock, her body trembling slightly. "We better get back. I'm sure Al and Granny are back from the market…" Ed agreed and stood up, walking just a few feet behind her.
They acted like nothing had happened.
A/N: Yes. This seems to be going NO WHERE. Writer's block. Massive writer's blockage! Okay well next scene... I'm going to try and bring back the POV's. I like those. So next is Ed's then the last chapter after this one shall be Winry's! Just because now I have an idea. Please work! –crosses fingers.-
