Disclaimer: I don't own FMA or anything related to it. I do love Winry though...

The group went to work right away. Fredric was making plans with the clans elders, so they could rejoin at a later time with the group. A few of the elders were unhappy yet took the news all the same. Only a few things could cause a clans leader to leave the group, and many suspected that it was the clan's safety that was the cause now. There were only a few kinks to work out really, due to the fact that many problems couldn't be solved till the group knew a little more about what they were about to attempt. Then there was Ed, his mind already at work calculating the circle required to take them home again. It's what he excelled at; he'd find a way home. It was noontime before the groups were ready to go their separate ways, but after eating lunch the small group started their long walk back to Munich.


The next day in the world called Amertris…

The locomotive moved down the tracks taking the only route to Rush Valley. She sat alone in the small compartment watching the hills go by. Her blond hair whipped across her face, propelled by the wind coming in through the window. Her thoughts were not on the trip but a trip made by two brothers she knew. How many hours had they sat on trains searching for the one thing to make themselves whole again?

The stories she knew came from the many people who lives they had touched and it seemed that almost anyone had a story to tell about them. All of the stories pointed to one fact, that once something was promised by one of them nothing in the world could hope to stop them from achieve. It was this fact that gave her hope. Hope that the brothers would one day be with her again. Edward, I wish you were still here.

She sighed, releasing the breath that she had kept held inside her lungs for a short time. Anytime she though of Edward her body would react like he was near, it was slightly annoying but her heart was the culprit. Her thoughts wondered back to the task at hand. Grandma Pinako had extended the list at the last moment. There were some specialized parts that would take a couple days to make on the list now. She wondered who they were for.


Back in our world…

The buildings of Munich sat on the skyline now the group had made good time considering the distance they had traveled in the truck a few days before. Edwards's right foot was sore from all the walking they had done, while the gypsies had taken it all in stride, even Alphonse was walking fine. Maybe I didn't walk enough, heck Alphonse was on a journey before we came back here. I'm out of shape. He snorted at that last thought, but in its own way it was true. He wasn't used to walking like he used to be. There was one saving grace; his left foot didn't hurt at all. Thank god for automail, though Winry will never hear me utter those words.

It was near noon, two days after they had left the gypsy camp when they finally reached Munich. Edward led the way to the house that he and Alfons Heiderich had shared for close to two years. The house now belonged to Edward since Alfons had died but he couldn't really keep living there. It was one of the reasons he had wanted to leave. However, he would use it to make their lives a little easier while they hunted down Arnold Mustif. Gracia was tending to her shop; she waved when she noticed the boys. A nervous looking Officer Hughes stood just around the corner, gave the boys a small smile when he saw them also. He raised an eye brow at Fredric and Nadja but it seemed that he prejudices against the gypsies had slipped far after that night in the Mansion.

On an impulse he shouted, "Hey, Hughes stop looking so nervous and ask Gracia out on a date!"

Gracia heard these words and blushed a slight pink; however, Hughes wasn't so lucky. His face flushed a scarlet red before he yelled at Ed in reply. "EDWARD! You should respect your elders." Alphonse grinned at this; it was exactly the thing Mäes Hughes would have said. Well, what would have happened if he had not been married to Gracia when they first meet him. Edward opened the door when they arrived; the place was exactly the way they had left it when they left a few days ago.

"Well first thing first, food!" his stomach growled as if to punctuate his point. Fredric opened his mouth to say protest before the boy could grab something to cook, but his own stomach growled in turn. "Maybe we should grab something to eat before we do anymore." Nadja just raised her eyebrow at the comment.

The group argued about who was going to do what the next day. Edward was fighting to keep everyone but himself in the house, and was almost succeeding on all fronts. The prejudice against gypsies kept Nadja, Fredric, and Noah from leaving so close after Hitler's failed rebellion mostly of out of the fear of something happing to them. Plus, very few gypsies ended up on a wondered around a town during the day for no good reason in most people's eyes. Edwards's reasons why Alphonse couldn't also left very little room to argue. The fact that he looked like a 13, and had been in this world for barely 2 weeks didn't really help. He was still learning about German, and it wouldn't be very good if he misspoke at the wrong moment. Which left Edward; no one was thrilled with the idea that Edward would be the only one searching during the day. However Fredric and Nadja could search at night, after all being a gypsy has its advantages. Noah would continue to teach Al what she could as she had been for the last several days. As night came they all feel asleep.

Ed was awake before even the gypsies the following morning. His mind was in overdrive looking for answers for the several questions bouncing around in his head. The foremost was where to start looking for Arnold Mustif. The university might be a good place to start, Ed thought, after all he only left the Thule Society not the University. Everyone was still sound asleep when he shut the door behind him and started toward the University.

He arrived mid-morning at the campus; classes had just started leaving only the few stragglers who had arrived late to get to class. He was quite familiar with the campus due to the fact that he had spent several days talking to teachers and learning from some of them. His father had taught here for a short time before things had changed, he never probably would never knew certain things about his father but it didn't bother him as much anymore. The main office of the campus proved to be useful, but only to a point. The professor had indeed left both, much to Edward's surprise. The office, however, pointed him to a Doctor Thanis who might be able to help him, but that reminded to be seen.

Doctor Thanis was a middle-age man, who held himself proudly even with his height. He was just short of the height that Edward had been when he was 15 years old. In fact he was proud of his shortness, something Ed had never been able to do. He stood with his back turned across the small office from Edward. He sighed showing a small trust to the young man."You look much like your father, Mr. Elric, and it is because of him that I will do what you ask. Yes I know where Arnold is but I won't tell you. Be at the Midnight Bar on Second Street at 8pm tonight, I'll tell him who to look for, but for the safety of my friend. Stay on campus till later today, spend sometime with the professors. I know some of them miss your father, and wish to talk to you." All Ed could do was nod, this was a lucky break. He wouldn't go against the wishes of this guy if it meant he could know the things he needed all that much sooner.

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(a/n)- just a quick one. Computer trouble... you got to love them or hate them. Dont know which right now. Anyway I going to cut part of the story I was going to write, but I might put it in if I ever find the time to write it.