Drums of War

Disclaimer: I do not own FMAB

So, I know I left you all with a cliffhanger. And here are the answers to your questions. It's a little short, but I hope you'll like it. Remember, double update next week.

Enjoy

The next day

It wasn't the news at work, nor the paper, but the news came through the all city radio and intercom. Creta had declared war on Amestris and all able bodied men and alchemists were drafted into the war. That included Edward and Alphonse. Winry felt numb upon receiving the news, she felt even number when the men from the office came to their home and told Ed that he would be leaving in a day for the west. She had less than twenty four hours with her husband, and already the waterworks were going. But Ed didn't tell her not to cry, he knew that would be stupid, even though he hated to see her cry because he knew he was the cause of it, he knew she needed to let it out now.

"Winry." Ed murmured as he held her close to him, her head on his chest as tears streamed down her face. Winry only cuddled closer to him at the sound of her name.

"I will come back. I'm not going to die in a war that should not have happened. I will do what I have to, to keep you safe, to keep our nation safe, but I will not die and leave you a widow." Ed said quietly. Winry only started to cry even more.

"I…don't….kn-know-ow…if…I…c-can….do-o-o….thi-is." Winry hiccupped.

"I know you can. You've always been my anchor, the one who I always looked forward to seeing even though I knew you would just hit me. Plus, Al won't let me die, he'll beat me back to life if anything." Ed said, kissing her red blotchy forehead.

"This is why I didn't want you to go back to them." Winry whimpered.

"I know. You lost your parents to the war, and I lost mother because of a sickness caused by the war." Ed said, holding her impossibly tighter. Ed had a feeling it was just as bad over with Al and May.

"I will come back, we will have a family." Ed said, nuzzling into her blonde locks. Ed knew that he could and would be rallied back into war, he knew he could die, and leave Winry a widow at the ripe age of twenty. He knew this, he'd known this, but he still wanted her in his life, if anything, just to know what it was like to be a married man to the love of his life, but he also knew that she was the drive that kept him going amongst other things, like staying alive, but she was always the thought niggling in the back of his mind that kept him going, giving him a reason to keep moving forward, if anything, just so he could listen to her nag at him because he knew she cares about him.

Winry cried impossibly harder, her body shaking from the intensity.

"You won't be alone here. Because of Riza being pregnant, she's not allowed to go into combat." Ed reassured.

"I know…" Winry whimpered.

"Win, all I can say is that I will do my very best to come back to you alive." Ed said, rubbing her shoulders in a comforting manner. Winry nodded and nuzzled into his chest even more.

"When are you leaving again?" Winry whimpered.

"Tomorrow. It'll take a day or so to get to the west." Ed replied numbly.

"Promise to call me when you get there." Winry said.

"I will. And I'll call you as much as I can during the war." Ed replied, pulling her close. Her shoulders were shaking, her lip was quivering, but this was a slightly familiar feeling, only intensified by ten.

The next day

Ed had gotten up and was dressed, a small suitcase packed with one other uniform and a few pairs of socks. Winry's throat felt like cotton had been stuffed down it, her eyes felt raw and puffy. Then the intercom blew.

"Attention citizens of Amestris, we have received news that Aerugo has declared war on us. They have allied with Creta in a joint effort to annihilate us. When you soldiers go to the train station, unless you are in the west or south, you will be assigned your station. Show these nations the power of Amestris! Show no mercy!" the intercom blipped off. Ed let out a groan.

"This will be one hell of a war." Ed growled as they left their home.

"Are we taking the car?" Winry whimpered.

"No, that would mean you would be driving back, and in your present condition, that would not be a good idea. Roy and Riza are picking us and Al and May up." Ed said, taking her hand. On cue, Roy pulled up.

"I don't care what the announcement just said, I choose where Ed and his team go, and they're more familiar with the south than anywhere else." Roy said to Riza.

"True." Riza said as Ed and Winry got in. They picked up Al and May; May didn't look much better off than Winry as the arrived at the train station they walked up to the station gate and saw other men and women with their families. There were very few women fighters, fewer because a lot of them had started families, but those who could fight would. Kran, being one of them. She walked up to Ed, gave a salute, and then gave a gentle smile to Winry, gesturing for her to come closer.

"If Al doesn't keep an eye on Ed, then I will. I'll make sure he comes back to you." Kran said. Winry nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.

"I'll also be keeping Al under watch to assure May he'll come back." Kran said.

"Thank you." Winry whispered as they walked back over.

"Well what do you know, we're going south." Al said.

"Yup. My whole team is. Fair warning to all of you who haven't been there, this time of year, it's like an oven." Ed said. Makuto groaned.

"I will be in the west." Roy said.

"Good luck to ya Flame Alchemist." Ed replied.

"As to you Fullmetal and Soulseal. Defend our nation with pride and honor, and most importantly…don't die, that's an order." Roy said. Ed and Al nodded and saluted before Roy turned back to Riza, who was swollen five months pregnant, and James, who held his mother's hand tightly. He was almost three by now.

"James, my son, I have to go and I don't know how long I will be gone. Take care of your mom while I'm gone. You're the man of the home until I get back, got it?" Roy said as he got down to his sons height. James nodded in understanding before wrapping his little arms around Roy's neck in a hug.

"Come home alive." Riza said.

"It'll be weird not having you there to watch my back, but I'll manage." Roy said smiling up at her. Riza was good at keeping her emotions in check and hard to read, but Roy knew better. Once James let go, Roy stood upright again and pulled Riza into an embrace, just as many other men did with their wives or girlfriends.

"I will come back." Roy said.

"I know." Riza said with a small smile before he let go and went off into the crowd for the trains heading west. She looked over and saw Winry holding herself together as Ed walked off with Al and his team flanking in, heading for the trains that went south.

"Let's go." Riza said. Winry and May nodded numbly as they walked back to the car. Riza drove them to their respective homes. Winry walked into their home, which now seemed much too big, and went to their room. Opening the closet she saw the bright red coat on the hanger and in the hood she saw a small piece of paper sticking out. Grabbing the coat and the note she held it close to her and carefully unfolded the note.

Winry~

Somehow, I knew you'd go to my coat for comfort. Try not to worry so much, even though telling you not is a moot point, still worth the effort. I've been through hell before, I've nearly died before, but I always remembered you in those moments and kept myself moving forward. I refuse to let you cry over me being stupid and possibly dying, so I in turn refuse to die until I am too old to fight it and look like a raisin. I will come back. I promise.

~Your loving husband, Edward Elric.

Winry felt what little control she had over her emotions vanish as she started a whole new round of tears. A knock sounded on her door. She quickly composed herself, though the red rimming around her eyes would be a dead giveaway. She went to the door and opened it to Riza and May.

"Come in." Winry whispered. They walked in, James holding onto his mother's hand as they entered the living room and took a seat.

"Winry, May, I know this is hard for you. It's hard for me too. But just know, it's tearing them apart knowing that you're here crying. There's a reason many people respect the wives of soldiers, especially the young wives, like you. It's a lot to ask of us, to simply wait at home for them to come home in one piece or in a casket. But it's all we can do, and the men want to do their damndest to get the job done right and to get it done fast. That's why we're drawing from the east to fight in this war. That why we've been constantly enlisting since the promised day was done. We've been building up our battle forces and home forces for four years. But you two know as well as I do, those men, our men, aren't the type to go and die on us. When Ed was badly beaten years ago, he didn't stop, even though his automail was nearly busted into thousands of pieces, he kept going. Al was the same way in the fight with Pride. They don't quit until they are permanently down, and that's a hard task for anyone to accomplish." Riza said. Winry and May nodded, knowing she was right and they calmed down.

"They will come back, all you can do is wait for their calls or letters and hold on to every word or moment you have, and just go day by day until they come back. You have jobs to keep you busy, so focus your energy on that, the good work you do and the lives you give others. They need you to not mope, they need to know you believe in them, even if they believe in themselves already, having the reinforcement makes a world of difference." Riza said.

"Thank you Riza." May and Winry said, their voices calm and their shoulders straightened. They needed to be strong for their husbands, even if deep down, they wanted to cry their hearts out, they knew crying would not make the war go any faster. After an hour long visit May and Riza and James left. Winry made herself dinner and then ate in the living room, the sound of radio her only comfort in the deafening silence of her home.

I will get used to this. May will be here. Natalie will be here in the morning. Ed will come back. Those thoughts comforted her into a dreamless, blissful, sleep.

Hope you liked it. Again, I will be posting 2 chapters next week because I will not be near a computer from the 8th to the 16th. Until then, please, R&R.