Another month passed, and there still hadn't been much word on Al's progress. It felt like Ed had less and less to report every day, and Manami still wasn't allowed to visit.

Manami had once considered finding out where Al's room was so that she could try to climb in the window at night or something... but she would then remember how her kiss very well could have doubled the time he had to spend in there... and it made her feel guilty.

She knew that she didn't need to make anything worse... but she was losing her mind. She could only find solace when she was playing the piano... but even then, that grew to be difficult, after Julia had confessed to Manami that the old couple she had met would no longer visiting.

It turned out that the old woman was very sick when she met Manami, and she was just days away from death. Manami figured that that was probably why she had her husband give her the newspaper clippings and record… because she knew she was going to die soon.

It upset Manami that she never even had a chance to ask their names before realizing she would never see them again. There was something about their company while she played the piano that made it just a little sweeter...

But, since they were gone... she had only the piano to keep her company while she played.

Until today.

"Manami!" She heard Ed call her name, and she only had a second or two to wonder why Ed was calling for her practically right after he had gone in...

As she looked up from the piano keys to ask, she saw someone approaching her. Her eyes went wide when she realized it was him...

Alphonse.

His long hair had been cut short like it used to be when they were kids, and he had a forearm crutch on one arm which he used to walk towards her, wearing a big grin on his face.

"..!" Manami quickly shot up, not moving her eyes off him as she stumbled around the piano stool. It didn't cause much delay, and she rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his neck as soon as she was close enough. She felt his free hand lift up and wrap around her, resting on her back.

"Happy to see me?" He asked, and Manami immediately noticed that his voice sounded a little deeper than she remembered.

"O-Of course I am…" Manami felt the tears welling in her eyes, causing her to sniffle. "I-I'm so sorry…"

"For what?" She could feel his head lean against hers, as he moved his hand to slowly stroke her hair.

"I-It could've been my fault that you got sick…" Manami whimpered, feeling the tears overflow when the worst case scenario of what could have happened came to mind. "I-I could've ruined everything…"

Her grip around his neck tightened, and Al could feel her start to tremble. He sighed softly, his hand returning to her back as he held her closer.

"Manami..." He murmured. "The doctors said I had such a weak immune system; I was probably catching something before I even saw you…"

"I didn't help…" Manami started to pull away so that she could wipe away her tears, but Al reached up to hold her cheek before she could. Her eyes lifted to meet his golden ones, and he smiled softly as he wiped away her tears with his thumb.

"I don't regret it at all." He said. "My only regret… is—"

"Hey, I don't mean to cut the reunion short," Ed suddenly appeared, clapping Al on the back and making him and Manami pull away from each other. "But we've got a train to catch."

"Huh?" Manami blinked, reaching to wipe her face of any stray wetness from her eyes. "A train?"

"You didn't tell Manami I was getting released today?" Al turned to look at Ed with raised eyebrows.

"No..!" Manami whined, also looking to Ed. "I didn't pack..!"

"You didn't," Ed grinned at her. "But Gracia did for you. She and Elicia are meeting us at the station with our stuff."

"Is that why you haven't been telling me anything?!" Manami barked at him.

"I didn't want you to chicken out of the train ride home." He replied, his grin only growing bigger.

Manami stared at him, mouth hung open with an expression that seemed to be a combination of offense and disbelief.

"She wouldn't chicken out..." Al sighed softly.

"I'm kidding! I didn't really think so," Ed laughed. "I just wanted it to be a surprise."

As Ed said, Gracia and Elicia were already at the train station with their belongings. Gracia went to hug Ed, then Al, and then Manami.

"You three have a safe trip." She told them, squeezing Manami tight.

"We will. Thank you for everything, Gracia." Manami hugged her back just as tightly.

"Mm," Gracia hummed, slowly going to pull away from their hug.

"I'm so proud and happy for you three…." She said. "He would've been so happy to be here today..."

"He is." Manami said to her. "Remember what I told you?"

"Yes… you're right…" Gracia went to wipe a tear.

Ed and Al exchanged glances, but neither seemed to know what they were talking about.

"Bye, Nami!" Elicia chimed in, and Manami knelt down to hug her tight.

"Come back soon, okay?" The now five-year-old asked.

"Of course." Manami pulled away to smile at her, before Elicia looked up to Ed and Al.

"Big brother," She looked to Al. "Take care of Nami!"

Al blinked, but blushed softly and chuckled as he nodded to her.

"I will, Elicia. I promise."

"Wait a minute, who do you think the big brother and little brother are now?" Ed raised a brow.

"You're the little brother!" Elicia pointed to him.

"What?!" Ed squeaked. "B-But I'm taller than Al now! And I've always been older!"

"Just leave it be." Manami chuckled weakly, her own cheeks having turned a little pink.

She preferred Al be the "big brother" Elicia asked to take care of her, anyway.

They boarded the train and waved to Elicia and Gracia Hughes as the train departed. Manami kept waving until they were out of sight, then closed the window and sat down with Al next to her.

"You have a chat with Gracia about Mr. Hughes?" Ed inquired, and Manami smiled softly.

"Yeah. I never got to tell you guys, but…" She shrugged. "I had a pretty odd experience on the Promised Day."

She told them the story of her encounter with Shiori and her parents, along with Maes... when she was at the apparent "threshold" of life and death.

"You think it was real?" Ed asked quietly, his arms crossed.

"At the time, I wasn't so sure…" Manami shrugged.

"But… now I do think it was real. If I imagined it… you'd think Shiori would have been as I remembered her as a little girl…" She gave him a sad smile. "But, she wasn't a little girl… she was grown up…"

And then she turned her head to give Al the same smile.

"She was beautiful."

Manami then felt a lump form in her throat and she looked down to her lap, hiding the small tears that had formed in her eyes. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, and looked over to see Al giving her a sympathetic smile.

She forced a smile back to him and lifted her hand to rest on top of his.

"I'm okay…" She assured him.

"Still, it's not easy." Al said to her. "I'm glad… you chose to come back with us."

"..." Manami chuckled softly.

"It wasn't that hard of a decision to make…" She said, as Al let go of her and she looked out the window once more.

"I already made a promise to go home… and that's what I want to do."

The trio got off the train at Resembool station, and Manami looked up at the sky to see nothing but blue.

It was the perfect day to come home.

"You ready?" Al asked, coming up behind her.

"Yep." Manami nodded. "You?"

"Of course." Al smiled at her.

"Come on!" Ed excitedly waved Al and Manami over, and they began their trek back home.

Luckily there was a little stone wall that lined the dirt road to Winry's house, because Al had sit on it to take occasional breaks along the way. They were on his third break when Manami went to sit down next to him.

"You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah," Al answered her with a smile. "My muscles had really atrophied so much on the other side, I guess."

"Just don't push yourself…' Manami reminded him.

"Do you want me to carry you the rest of the way?" Ed offered.

"No, thank you. I can do it." Al said to his brother. "Though, I can just go at my own pace, and you two can go ahead if you want."

"Absolutely not." Manami shook her head.

"That's a no for me too." Ed put a hand on his hip. "We left home together, and we're gonna come home together."

"Mm…" Al hummed and went to stand up, Manami joining him.

"Then let's get moving." He said.

The trio set off to walk once more. They were quiet for a while, but Al broke the silence.

"How's your leg, brother?"

"Oh…" Ed chuckled nervously. "It's pretty stiff. That's what happens when you don't have maintenance done for a while, I guess."

"Should probably have Winry check it out as soon as we get there." Manami mentioned.

"... thank you, brother." Al said quietly.

"Huh?" Ed looked back at him. "For what?"

"Oh… uh…" Al chuckled nervously. "Nevermind."

But Manami smiled over at him. She knew what he meant with that "thank you."

It had been decided that Ed wouldn't try to get his original leg back. He was content with having gotten back his arm and Al's body, to where he figured keeping his automail leg would be okay. He figured that Winry would have something to work on… and it would serve as almost a memento for their journey, the people they met, and how far they had come.

"I wonder how Ling and the others are doing." Al changed the subject.

"They're probably back in Xing by now." Manami hummed.

"I don't think I mentioned it…" Ed perked up. "Ling told me we're invited to his palace if we wanted to take any vacations— or honeymoons." He turned his head so that he could sneer at the two of them.

"?!" Manami and Al blinked, met each other's glance, and then quickly turned their heads.

But then they slowly came to a stop as they saw the familiar yellow house that belonged to the Rockbells, just up ahead. They stared at it for a moment, before Ed spoke up.

"Alright… home stretch."

"Yeah…" Al hummed. "I can make it."

"Let's do it, then." Manami nodded.

They went to walk once again. It was when they reached the front yard that Winry's black and white dog, Den, woke up from his nap and perked up at the sight of the three of them. He watched them carefully, especially Al. It was like he didn't recognize him...

"Den!" Al called him. "We're home!"

"!" The dog quickly got to his feet and began barking as he ran to the trio excitedly, his tail wagging harshly as Al bent down to pet him. Den then got on his hind legs and jumped up on Al, making him fall on his butt on the grass.

"?!" Manami and Ed got scared for a moment, but then sighed in relief when Al began to laugh.

Good, he didn't hurt himself...

"Den, stop! That tickles!" Al tried pushing the dog away as he licked his face.

But then the front door swung open, revealing Winry. Her eyes were on Al first, but then moved up to see Ed and Manami standing behind him. As Al went to stand up, they could see Winry's eyes well up with tears.

With a small sob, she ran forward, down the front porch steps. She then jumped at them, arms outstretched.

"?!" The trio's eyes widened in surprise but they caught Winry as they all fell back onto the ground. Winry's arms wrapped around them tightly as she sobbed, but then lifted her head to look down at the three of them.

"You dummies…" She sniffled. "Welcome home!"

"Thanks!" Ed grinned.

"Good to be back." Al added.

"Sorry…" Manami chuckled weakly. "They wanted it to be a surprise…"

"Of course they did!" Winry let out another sob as she went to hug them again.

They did it… they were home. Manami couldn't help but feel her own eyes tear up as she hugged Winry back tightly.

"You have that apple pie ready for us?" Ed grinned.

"No… but that's because you didn't call." Winry laughed and then sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I'll make one to have after dinner tonight."