Afterlife

Disclaimer I do not own FMAB or the Avenged Sevenfold song for which this chapter was based on.

I was listening to my iPod when I finished the last chapter, because I knew I had to write a good battle or on the battlefield chapter and this song came up in the shuffle and well...this is the result. I blame my boyfriend for getting me into this music. Anyway, it took me forever and a half to get the lyrics right and coordinate the scene with it, so I'm pleased with how long it is.

Remember, this is a double update day.

Hope you like it, even if you don't like the song, the lyrics go with this chapter.

Enjoy.

3 months later, South Amestris

The battle was intense. Bombs were going off everywhere; silhouettes of soldiers could be seen in the blinding lights of the bombs explosions. The smell of sulfur, ammonium nitrate, and death hung in the air, smoke choked the land, and battle cries, cries of pain, and gurgled cries of death rang in the air.

"If this is hell, then I swear I will become a religious man." Ed murmured from behind the blockade. Al was sitting next to him, calming down and catching his breath from the mad dash over. Gun fire could be heard, along with zapping of alchemical reactions whistled in the air. After they caught their breath, Ed signaled to his troops, which he was surprised he got a whole battalion of, to head out. They charged into the melee firing their guns at their enemies while Ed and Al charged out and used their alchemy to take down their enemies. In those moments, where they killed, they looked their enemy in the eye, just as Roy and Riza had told them those years ago.

They never wanted to kill, but dammit they would to protect the only home they had left. Ed couldn't deny that there had been a few close calls, hell, he was glad he was alive. The dust settled from the fighting and only a few of his troops had been slain while they had successfully eliminated the rest. Just as Ed started to jog to another area that was in need, he noticed there was someone, a soldier of Aerugo, still alive, barely, but nonetheless. The thing that disturbed him was that the man was smiling. Ed got another foot closer and the man revealed a grenade. Ed's heart pounded as the man pulled the trip of the grenade and threw it at the ground causing it to go off. The force alone was enough to throw Ed back against the only solid wall there, but he knew it didn't kill him. His head hit the wall and at the same moment, he felt a sharp pain pierce through his abdomen and arm. Next thing he knew, the world was black.

Al looked over his shoulder at the sound of an explosion and called Makuto over, telling the others to go on and that they would catch up.

"Your brother was still back there." Makuto said in a panic. They ran back and through the dust could see Ed, slumped against the wall, a deformed man with his arm outstretched towards Ed.

"Grenade." Al murmured as they walked over. They see Ed was still breathing, but his hair was soaking red, and he had been impaled by several medium sized metal rods, and to just add to the shit storm, the grenade had been a shrapnel grenade and pieces of metal were embedded into the open wounds. Using the metal brace on his arm, Al made a knife and cut the rods from the wall and then he and Makuto carefully carried Ed to the med ward.

2 hours later

The doctor came out of the room. Makuto had gone back to battle, but Al refused.

"I'm not going to ask the idiotic question of 'how is he', I found him, I know how not ok he is." Al said.

"We removed the rods and he was lucky that they missed his organs, maybe grazed, but from what I could see after the incision, they did not puncture any of his organs, the one that was in his arm didn't even graze the bone." The doctor said.

"What about his head?" Al asked.

"He's suffered severe head trauma and we managed to remove the shrapnel from his torso and wounds. He's in and out of consciousness, but it's getting longer…" the doctor said just as the nurse rushed out.

"Sir, he's gone into a coma. I tried smelling salts, and gentle waking methods." The nurse said.

"That's not good." The doctor said.

"What does this mean?" Al asked.

"Unless he wakes up soon, he may never wake from this coma, considering the head trauma." The doctor said solemnly. Al was knocked for a loop. He stood and walked into the room to see his brother, bandaged up and breathing so lightly one had to double check to make sure he was breathing.

"Now you listen to me brother, you can't die, I won't let you, I couldn't bear it if I saw Winry cry. You have to fight whatever this is and wake up. We promised we would go back to them, and dammit, I'm not gonna let you break this promise to Winry." Al said through a strained voice. Then it hit him.

"That's it!" Al said, striding out of the room to the phones and dialing his brother's home number.

"Elric residence this is Winry." Winry said over the phone. Al felt numb, but brushed it off.

"Hey Win, it's Al…uh…I have some…news for you, but you need to come here. I'll send an officer to get you." Al said. It was silent for a moment.

"Al…please tell me he's not…" Winry said as calmly as she could.

"We need your help…heneeds your help." Al said.

"Ok." Winry said before the line went dead. Al sent one of his men to retrieve Winry and hoped to whatever mighty force there was that this would work.

Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've seen.

"Where am I?" Ed muttered as he sat up to an all-white area. He recognized this place, but the only thing throwing him off was that there were two doors, and neither was his portal of truth.

So unsure but it seems, 'cause we've been waiting for you.

"Hello there young alchemist." An eerie and familiar voice called out.

"Oh great, not you again." Ed groaned.

"Edward dear." Another familiar voice called out.

"My son." Yet another called. Ed looked in the direction of the voices and saw none other than his parents. His jaw dropped a little. They were walking out of the door that was concrete gray with skulls down the middle.

Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste.

Of your afterlife here to stay, you'll be back here soon anyway

"Where the hell am I?" Ed yelled.

"Why, isn't it obvious young alchemist? That hit you took from the bomb, the impalement, the head trauma that cracked your skull sightly. You're in limbo, afterlife, crossroads, many other names for it, but all the same." Truth said. It sunk in, the two doors, his dead parents, Truth; he was almost dead.

"Not quite, see, you've been in a coma for about three or so days, and the doctors say if you don't wake up soon, then you're a goner." Truth said. Ed looked down at his feet.

I see a distant light, but girl this can't be right.

Such a surreal place to see so how did this come to be,

Arrived too early.

"Ed, my son, look at me." Trisha said kindly. Ed looked up at his mother.

"It's too early Ed. You're not supposed to be here. You have such a long life ahead." Trisha said.

"Your mother is right son." Van said.

"But your body is tired and wants rest, permanent rest. The doors are simple. The one behind your parents with the skulls on them represents death, and the one behind you with a giant tree and moon and sun on it represent life. And time for you, Edward Elric, is running out for you to make up your mind.

And when I think of all the places I just don't belong,

I've come to grips with life and this is going too far.

I don't belong here, we gotta move on dear, escape from this afterlife.

'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here.

Ed stood there within the confines of his mind looking to both doors. He could feel his soul pulling towards the gate of life, but his body was slipping towards the gate of death.

"Winry, you made it." Al's voice called form the other side. Ed looked up in the empty white abyss.

"Of course I did." Winry's wonderful voice called out.

"Why are you holding your stomach?" Al asked. It was silent but before Ed knew it, he could feel a warm pressure on his hand.

"He's so cold…wait is he…" Winry started before he could feel her hand fly to under his nose and heard the sigh of relief.

"My first reaction too." Al said.

"Al, could you go please?" Winry asked. Ed swallowed hard, he knew she wanted to talk to him and he was practically begging to wake up.

"You said you'd come back." Winry said.

A place of hope and no pain, perfect skies with no rain.

Can leave this place but refrain, 'cause we've been waiting for you.

Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste.

Of your afterlife here to stay, you'll be back here soon anyway.

"You really want to go back? Back to the war where you could just get blown to smithereens and die anyway. Your body wants rest. And you want it too." Truth said. Ed slowly started towards his parents.

"Ed, no." Both Trisha and Winry said in unison. Could she tell he was starting to give up?

"Dammit Ed, I won't let you die on me." Winry whimpered. He could tell she was holding back tears; he didn't have to see her to know that.

"You'll end up here eventually, so why not make it easy on yourself and come now?" Truth asked. Ed stood there again, deliberating.

This piece of earth's not right (with my back against the wall).

No pain or sign of time (I'm much too young to fall).

So out of place don't wanna stay, I feel wrong and that's my sign.

I've made up my mind.

With confidence Ed turned the other way towards the other door.

"Have you thought this over carefully?" Truth asked.

"Yes, I have." Ed said.

"You really want to go back to that? What if your brother dies? What would you give up to bring back his soul…again?" Truth asked. Ed stopped mid-step.

"He took the risk just as I did, he knows we could die, but we're hard fuckers to kill." Ed said.

"Edward." Trisha said.

"Sorry mom." Ed said with a smile, turning back around to look at them again. Trisha smiled at him, walking over to him, as did Van, and took his hand. Ed felt a pressure on his hand and knew that in the real world, Winry was holding his hand.

Gave me your hand but realize I just wanna say goodbye.

Please understand I have to leave and carry on my own life.

I don't belong here, I gotta move on dear, escape from this afterlife.

'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here.

Got nothing against you and surely I'll miss you.

This place full of peace and light, and I'd hoped you might,

Take me back inside, when the time is right.

"Stay with me Ed…please." Winry whispered from the other side.

"I have to go mom…dad. Please don't take this the wrong way." Ed said.

"No, we understand." Both Van and Trisha said. Just as Ed turned towards the door, which looked farther than it probably was.

"True enough, but if you don't hurry, it won't last long." Truth said.

"I can walk there." Ed said.

"Ed, I have something important to tell you. I was waiting until the next call…but…maybe this might help wake you." Winry started to sniffle, he could feel a tear hit his hand.

Loved ones back home all crying 'cause they're already missing me.

I pray by the grace of God that there's somebody listening.

Give me a chance to be that person I wanna be.

(I am unbroken, I'm choking on this ecstasy)

Oh Lord I'll try so hard but you gotta let go of me.

(Unbreak me, unchain me, I need another chance to live)

Ed started towards the door, he could hear Winry's sniffling and little hiccups when she cried, he could feel the tears landing on him.

"Ed…please wake up…you're going to be a father…" Winry whispered through her tears. Ed stopped and gained his balance. He heard a small hiccupped snicker from her.

"I knew you'd react to that. I'm three and half months along, so that lines it up with our honeymoon or the week after." Winry said, squeezing his hand in response to his squeeze. His eyelids, which had remained motionless were flicking.

"Please wake up." Winry begged. Ed's mind was reeling. He ran to the door, faster than he ever thought he could run, his hand gripped the door and pulled it open.

I don't belong here, I gotta move on dear, escape from this afterlife.

'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here.

Got nothing against you and surely I'll miss you.

This place full of peace and light, and I'd hoped you might,

Take me back inside, when the time is right.

"See you later, and by later, I mean sixty some odd years from now." Ed said as he walked through the door that shone with light.

"See you then son! Say hi to Al for us!" Was all Ed heard from his parents.

Winry watched as his eyebrows twitched and that one piece of hair that stuck out like an antenna twitched. He scowled and then blinked awake and Winry almost leaped on him in relief.

"I heard you." Ed rasped.

"Don't talk. Al, get some water." Winry called. When she looked at him, his eyes were fixated on her very slightly bulged stomach, an almost unnoticeable bulge.

"You really did hear me?" Winry asked as Al brought in the water. Ed smiled at his brother who looked somewhere between worried as hell, pissed off, and happy.

"Don't ever fucking do that again brother!" Al said.

"Nice to see you too Al." Ed chuckled as he took the water gratefully.

"What did you say to him to wake him up?" Al asked Winry. Winry and Ed exchanged a glance before Winry smiled.

"Al, you're going to be an uncle." Winry said. Al was thankful he was leaning against the wall, otherwise, he may have fallen over.

"You're pregnant. Yeah, I'd wake from a coma if May told me that." Al chuckled.

"Hmm…May needs to call you soon." Winry giggled. Al paled for a second before leaving the room.

"You're evil." Ed chuckled before Winry kissed him intensely. Ed held her warm face in his palms, his thumbs brushed away her tears.

"I'm sorry." Ed whispered as they pulled apart.

"You're forgiven." Winry replied.

"I love you." Ed said, kissing her sweetly, while his hand went to her slightly bulged stomach.

"I love you too." Winry said between each kiss, her hand resting on his. She may not be able to fight his battles, she may not be able to fight in the war, but she could light a fire under his ass to make sure he did not come this close to death again, with the simple yet wonderful fact that she was carrying his child. I have two good reasons to live, and dammit, I'm going to make it through this war. Ed thought once they broke off the kiss and she rested her head on his bed, her hand holding his. She looked exhausted from worry, and he wondered if it was just from this event or if it had been ongoing. She had never mentioned anything in their calls, but maybe that was to reassure him that she was ok, that she did miss him dearly, but would wait for him with open arms, knowing he would come back to her. She didn't want to make him lose focus on his task worrying about her worries.

"Hey Win." Ed whispered.

"Hmm…" She said, her eyes opening.

"You know you can tell me anything, and that anything you tell me will only encourage me more to fight harder to come back to you, right?" Ed asked. A small smile graced her perfect lips.

"I know, that's why in the next call I was going to tell you about the baby." Winry said.

"I'm talking about at home, but yeah, that's a major motivation." Ed chuckled.

"I know Ed. I just don't want to sound like I'm whining. I naturally worry about you, I'm grateful when I hear your voice over the phone, or when I receive your letters, I'm your wife and baring your child, why wouldn't I worry?" Winry asked. Ed smiled.

"You're incredible, you know that right?" Ed chuckled.

"Thank you. You're wonderful." Winry said with a sleepy smile before closing her eyes again. With his determination at full, all Ed had to do was heal and then get the hell out of here and show those Aerugo bastards the meaning of his state name.

Hope you liked it, and I'll get the second chapter up ASAP. Stay tuned and please R&R.