Chapter Three
It was three days before her parents let her out of their sight.
In that time, she'd had time to adjust to the disorientation that had befallen her upon waking in the past, as well as think analytically about her situation and she came to one major conclusion.
She was going to kill Ed.
All of this had something to do with his sacrifice to the Gate of that she was sure, but she had no idea why he'd be willing to go through everything all over again. Since her parents' deaths and the death of Trisha Elric they'd faced nothing but pain and more pain, Ed more than anyone. If she didn't know him as well as she did she would wonder what Truth had offered to convince him this was a clever idea but she already knew.
Al.
Everything Ed had done since that fateful day had been done to get Alphonse's body back from the Gate. If Truth had offered him that, she knew he would agree to anything it wanted.
Didn't mean she wasn't going to kick his ass, though.
Smirking, the little blond ran in the direction of the Elric home, her mother following leisurely behind her, wearing a warm smile.
As they approached, Winry slowed, her eyes widening as she took in the tall blonde man nearing the Elric's home.
Hoenhiem.
In their original timeline, the man hadn't returned until well into Ed's military career, which only stood to mean that he'd been sent back in time as well. Her mother was stunned as well, blue eyes widening.
"Van?"
He turned, startled, then smiled at them. "Sarah? How have you been?" He glanced down at her. "And Winry, as well?"
Winry pursed her lips, glaring up at him.
Al may have forgiven him, and Ed may be well on his way to it, but she refused to forgive him for abandoning Trisha the first time around. The woman was kind, and she hadn't deserved that kind of treatment.
"I've been fine." Sarah responded, sending her daughter a glance. "Winry has been ill recently, but she hasn't been over to play recently. I think she misses the boys."
He nodded, leading up the path, then knocking on the door.
For a moment, no one answered, then it opened and Winry's breath caught.
Trisha Elric stood in the doorway with a warm smile, her eyes widening as they moved from the Rockbells to meet the amber gaze of her husband.
"V-Van?" She whispered, smile falling and both time-travelers felt their heart stutter at the pain and hope in her voice.
Hoenhiem sent her a sad smile and pulled her into his arms, reveling in being able to hold her again.
"I shouldn't have left." He rumbled, stroking her hair as he felt her tremble minutely. Warmth spread across his shoulder from where her face was buried, and his heart broke at the soft sobs that left her.
"I missed you." She replied, voice muffled by his jacket.
Tiny footsteps sounded behind her and the couple broke away so that they could see who was approaching.
Al!
Pale flesh took the place of cold steel, bronze eyes widening under a short mess of dark blonde hair...Ed had done it.
Al had his body back.
"AL!" Winry cried, overjoyed at the discovery as she tackled her crush into a warm hug, marveling at the feel of flesh beneath her fingertips. He hugged back just as fiercely, awe in his gaze as he took in the feel of warmth, still marveling at the ability to feel sensations again.
When they pulled apart, the adults were watching them amused, both Trisha and Sarah's eyes gleaming as they looked at them.
"Where's Ed?" Winry asked and Al sighed.
"Where else?"
She groaned. "Library?"
"Library."
They turned and headed back into the house, shaking their heads, the laughter of their parents following them.
As they thought, they found the elder Elric brother in the Library, sitting in the middle of the floor. One book sat open in his lap along with a black, leather-bound notebook, while others lay scattered around him.
"Think he knows we're here?" Winry whispered and Al snorted.
"Nope. Watch. Hey Ed," He called. His brother didn't even look up.
"Hm?"
"Winry's here."
The older blonde hummed.
"She brought Dad."
"Okay."
"He made mom cry."
"That's nice."
Winry snickered.
"Wow, how does Mustang do it?"
Al shrugged. "I have no idea." His face scrunched up. "And I really don't wanna know."
Winry broke into peals of laughter at that, startling Ed, who blinked up at them owlishly.
"When did you guys get there?"
Al stared at him, then joined Winry in her laughter.
Ed watched them confused, then smiled.
It was nice to see Al smile again.
Ishval was every bit the hell he remembered it being.
The scent of blood and ash clung to his skin and he could feel the familiar tendrils of self-disgust welling in the pit of his stomach.
Beside him, he could see the same in the eyes of Riza and Hughes and he yearned to make it better but he couldn't. All he could do was shove it all down and bury it as deep in his psyche as possible and hope his husband would be able to forgive him for a second time.
He shot another wave of flames into the approaching masses and his onyx black eyes watered as the screams of the dying reached his ears, but he refused to let his tears fall. Not until he was alone in his bunk that night, with a bottle of whiskey in his hands and Riza's arms around him.
Only then would he be able to break.
"I'm sorry, Ed. I'm so sorry."
It hurt.
It hurt so much.
They'd failed, and he could hear Al screaming in the distance and all he could feel was guilt.
How could he be so stupid?! So arrogant?!
How could he drag Alphonse into the darkness with him?
His golden gaze found the deformed monstrosity that their failure had created and he let out a broken sob.
Then Alphonse's screams fell silent and he jerked his head in his brother's direction just in time to see the gate swallow the last of the younger boy.
"No!" He cried. "Give him back! Give him back!"
His hand slammed down on the still bloody transmutation circle and he screamed as the gate reappeared.
A warm light appeared and moving nearly on instinct, he drew a nearly forbidden array on the suit of armor lying on the floor beside him, ignoring the agony coursing through him as one of his arms was taken. Forcing the light into the array he collapsed to the floor, sobbing even as darkness encroached on him.
"I'm sorry, Al. I'm so sorry."
Amber eyes flew open, staring blankly at the ceiling above them as a crimson tear left them.
"I'm sorry." He mouthed, and another tear followed, paying no heed to the glowing scarlet markings slowly appearing on his lightly tanned skin.
"I'm so sorry."
TBC…
