At the train station in Central

It was the middle of April and the beginning of the rainy season in most areas of Amestris but thanks to a particularly harsh and lengthy winter all the rain did was cause a ridiculous amount of greyish slush to accumulate on the roads and sidewalks.

"So much for a nice view." A young fair-skinned dark-haired woman said softly as she boarded the train with a special brown paper bag clasped in her hands.

But then again the woman thought it was fitting considering what was transpiring a half day's ride away. It made sense that the weather would be dreadful on the eve of that woman's death.

Resembool, Amestris.

It was noon on the 15th of April, a time of year when people in the town would be out and about planting their gardens after another long winter but sadly mother nature just didn't get the memo.

"Do you want me to close the windows gran?" Winry asked as she looked out the open window that was closest to her grandmother's bed.

"No, it's alright dear. The fresh air feels nice." The elderly woman said with a weak smile.

It's been a difficult year, to say the least. It's been ten months since the Rockbell-Elric family was hit with Pinako's diagnosis of terminal liver cancer. It seems as though all those years of reckless drinking finally caught up to the old matriarch but thankfully the doctors have been able to prescribe the best mix of natural pain remedies and prescription meds to combat the pain so that the woman never really suffered. But there was only so much they could do.

Thankfully Pinako had been able to hang on long enough so that the rest of the Elric family would be able to come to say their goodbyes. Al and his expectant wife May have been living in Xing these past few years and as every month passed they grew increasingly worried that they wouldn't make it in time. But thankfully they were on the way here.

"Where did Ed and Maes run off to? The house is surprisingly quiet." Pinako asked as she thought about her eldest surrogate grandson and great-grandson.

"Oh, those two went to fetch Al and May from the station. Apparently, their train came in early." Winry told her smiling. It will be so nice to finally see them again, especially since Al hasn't seen Maes since he was a few days old, and he was now approaching his terrible twos and was going to be a big brother in a few months, not to mention the fact that they haven't seen May since they found out she was pregnant.

"It'll be nice to see them. Especially, Alphonse, that boy doesn't visit enough." Pinako sighed.

"Yeah well, what can we do. It's not like the Royal Alchemist of Xing has free time to traipse off to another country very often." The young mother said smiling as she looked outside, eager to see her husband's headlights come up the hill.

"No, I guess not. I still can't believe how far that boy has come. Royal Alchemist. Wow." Pinako thought aloud as she remembered the young boy who got into so much trouble.

Unfortunately, her trip down memory lane was interrupted by a violent coughing fit.

"Guess we all have to grow up sometime," Winry told her. "Do you want me to get you some water gran?" She asked as she tried to ease her grandmother's suffering by rubbing soothing circles on her back. Pinako's cancer spread quickly through her body and soon her lungs were causing the most discomfort.

"No, it's alright dear I can wait till the boys get back. Please don't leave." She pleaded once she got her voice back.

"I won't" She smiled as she sat back down on the chair beside her bed. "Try and get some rest though."

"Mmn. Maybe a couple minutes of shut-eye will do me some good." Pinko nodded as she slipped further down in her bed so she could lie down properly. She spent the majority of her morning sitting up against the headboard and after her last bout of coughing, she was extremely worn out.

"Who knew dying would be so exhausting…" She added as she closed her eyes for some rest.

Winry sighed as she left the master bedroom.

Just as she was entering the main living room the front door opened and in came the cavalry.

"Alphonse!" She yelled in glee as she rushed over to her younger brother and jumped into his arms.

"Woah there Winry!" Al's startled voice called out. It wasn't every day that you get jumped by a seven-month pregnant lady.

Edward just chuckles as he witnesses Alphonse try to regain his footing after the tackle.

"The last time Mustang came for a visit she damn well nearly bowled him over." He told his younger brother.

When Edward called up Alphonse to let him know the time to come say goodbye was approaching Alphonse told him that he would bring May Chang with him and also decided that moment was as good as time as any to let him know that he was going to be an uncle. It was a good thing Alphonse couldn't see the reaction from his older brother when he told him the news or he would've burst out laughing. Saying Edward was shocked would be an understatement.

"Laugh it up Edward," Winry said with a laugh. "I am just so happy for you guys." She added as she let the younger man go and went over to greet May with a hug of her own, but considering the fact that both women were fairly pregnant it wasn't all that easy.

"Thanks, Winry." Alphonse and May said smiling.

"As much as I'd love to catch up I really want to see granny," Alphonse told them once all the pleasantries were through.

"Of course. She might still be sleeping though." Winry told him as she went into the kitchen to grab Pinako some water.

"Here take this and I'll help May get set up in the guest room we have for you guys." She said as she handed him the glass of water.

"Thanks." He smiled.

After having been given the water Alphonse went down the hallway that lead to the master bedroom. On his way, he couldn't help but stop and look at all the framed memories dotting the wall. Some brought on happy memories others more painful ones.

The one that really caught his attention was the one of the boys and their mother shortly before she passed away. Moments like these are hardest to deal with, sure Pinako Rockbell lived a very long and fulfilled life but it doesn't make the passing any easier.

"I always thought she'd outlive us." Edward said as he joined his brother in the hallway, his hands in his pocket.

"Yeah." Alphonse agreed as he debated knocking on the door.

"You idiots know I can hear you right?" A raspy voice called out from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, yeah we're coming," Ed said as he pushed the door open and allowed Alphonse to walk in.

"Ah if it isn't my favorite grandson coming to mingle with the commoners." Pinako joked as she reached for Al's hand and brought him to sit beside her on the bed. "It's so good to see you kid." She smiled.

"Not as good as it is to see you, granny." Al said with a small smile of his own. Pinako may still have a sense of humor about her but that didn't fool the young man who had never seen the elderly woman looking so pale and thin. Pinako was dying and there was no deceiving anyone.

"I'm sure you say that to all the women on their death bed." She chuckled.

Al, not knowing how to take her dark sense of humor looked over at his elder brother who just shrugged as he sat down on the chair beside him.

"Now be a dear and help me sit up so I can drink will you." She asked Alphonse as he placed the glass of water down on the bedside table.

"Sure." He told her as he helped the woman sit into a more comfortable position.

"Thanks." She said as she took the glass of water. "That hits the spot. Winry won't let me drink even though at this point it couldn't hurt." She sighed as she drank.

"Yeah well, if only your weren't so damn stubborn and refused anything other than the rarest liquor to find as your last request." Edward sighed with a shake of his head.

"Meh, I have developed a refined taste so sue me. Not just any alcohol will do for my final hours." She scoffed at the boy.

"Granny you aren't dying just yet." Ed added as he helped Pinako lie back down after her water break.

"Yeah, yeah whatever." She said as she closed her eyes again.

The rest of the afternoon went on pretty much the same way it had before, lots of catching up, spending time with Pinako when she was awake and able, and eating and drinking.

At around eight May decided to call it a night. She had a long trip and the distance was taking a toll on her pregnant body.

"Goodnight Ms. Rockbell," May said with a bow as she got ready to leave the bedroom.

"Please call me granny, everyone else does," Pinako said with a soft, tired smile.

May nodded and said goodnight properly, giving Al a chaste kiss and waving goodnight to the others.

"Such a sweet girl." Pinako said quietly "Too bad she has to put with your crazy antics." She smiled at Alphonse.

"Wha-" Al was about to complain when Edward came to his defense.

"Trust us gran out of the two of them she gets into more trouble." He smiled.

"Mhmm," Pinako said with a yawn.

Before anyone could suggest going to bed the doorbell rang signaling a visitor.

"I'll go see who it is," Winry told them as she got up from her seat and walked out the door.

A few minutes of idle chit-chat later, Winry came in with a surprise guest.

"It's been a while hasn't it Pinako…" A soft voice came from the entryway of the master bedroom.

At having heard the newcomer Ed and Al both turned their heads.

"No…" Pinako's voice trembled. "You?"

Pinako couldn't help but look in awe at the young woman who appeared as if by magic. She was so shocked by the fact that she was here that she thought her dying brain conjured up the image. After all, it's been 16 years since she saw the woman last. She was only a girl then.

"Alex?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, it's me." She answered with a smile as she approached the bed and held the dying woman's hand.

When Alexandra heard the news that Pinako was nearing the end of her life she felt conflicted. She knew all she wanted to do was say goodbye one last time before she slipped through her fingers and the last remaining person who knew of her true identity passed on but she wasn't sure it was smart. She didn't want to risk it.

But after having a chat with her former guardian about the risk vs reward she felt comfortable with taking the trip. Besides she had one last gift to give her.

"Word on the grapevine was that you were looking for this." She said as she passed the brown paper bag she brought with her to the elderly woman.

It took a moment for Pinako to recover but once she did she looked inside and was once again met with a pleasant surprise.

"How-" She started but was cut off when Alex held her hand up.

"Don't ask." She said with a smirk.

Pinako just nodded. She realized pretty quickly that she really didn't want to know. The woman in front of her was a master of mischief just like the two grown men in front of her.

"Uh hi?" Edward greeted as he cleared his throat. There was something about this woman who didn't seem much older than him that had his brain buzzing. He felt as if he knew her from somewhere but couldn't quite place it.

"Oh hi." She nodded. "Sorry I'm so late but I was held up and I could only get away this afternoon."

"I didn't mean to intrude."

"No we're glad you could make it," Al said as he held his hand out for her to shake.

It took a moment before the woman accepted it but thankfully nothing happened and inwardly Alex heaved a relieved sigh.

"Have we met before?" Ed asked wanting to know what this odd feeling was.

"I am actually a distant relative on your mom's side," Alex answered. The truth was close enough that she wouldn't be flat out lying and it would explain why she looked so much like Trisha Elric. "I was there when she died."

"Ah, that explains it," Ed said accepting the lie for now.

"I can't believe how much you've grown…" Pinako muttered aloud more to herself than for anyone else's benefit.

"Well, that's what happens. People grow up." The woman told her as she bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry I have to run…" Alex started. "But I can't stay," she said as she looked Pinako in the eyes.

"I understand…" The old woman told her. It was a miracle that she was even here in the first place.

"Well, it was nice seeing you all again." She bowed and started to walk out of the room.

"Wait! I'll walk you out." Winry said with a smile.

After they reached the living room Winry handed her an umbrella.

"Here please take this I can see your clothes are soaking wet." She told her, her tone leaving no room to refuse.

Alex looked at the umbrella in her hands and smiled. It wasn't a thankful smile of sorts but a wistful one. This scene reminded her so much of that night so many years ago when she was forced to leave her life and her family behind.

"Thanks, I appreciate this. In my hurry to catch my train on time I forgot my umbrella at home." She chuckled.

"Trust me I do it all the time," Winry told her smiling.

"Can I have your number? So I can let you know when…" She started but trailed off when her voice started to betray the heavy emotion she was feeling.

Alex looked at her and thought for a moment. She already had someone that will notify her when the old woman was gone so she didn't need to give the blonde her number but at the same time it felt nice to know that she had that one line of communication open to them.

"Sure." She said smiling as she jotted down her number.

"Thank's again Ms…" Winry trailed off when she realized she didn't know her name.

Alex was just about through the front door when she looked back with a smile and called out.

"It's just Alex."

At that moment a flash of lightning lit up the night sky behind the woman and for a split second, a younger version of her appeared to Winry. She knew it was just a trick of the light but it unsettled her as she watched the woman walk into the night's storm.

It wasn't long after Alexandra left that Pinako's heart stopped. It was as if she was waiting to see her one last time before she rejoined her son. The last thought on her mind was that she could die knowing that all 'four' of her grandchildren would be alright. She could tell Trisha and Hohenheim that their children were going to be ok.