Chapter 2: Back To The Real World

Edward bolted up out of bed as he breathed heavily. What was that? A dream? He rubbed his head with his metal arm. He had no idea. What the hell happened? But for once in his life, he couldn't help her. He punched his covers with his fist and sighed.

" What is it, brother?" Al asked. Edward laid back down with his arms, behind his head and said, "Nothing to worry about. Just a nightmare. Now I can't fall back asleep." He needed to think of something else. Something to get his mind off of her. I wonder how she's doing…? He thought.

She was probably sleeping at this time of the night. He missed her. He'd never admit it to anyone, but he though of her all the time. " Brother, are you thinking of Auntie and Winry?" Al asked.

Edward scoffed. ' Of course. I always think of Auntie. You?" Al sighed. ' I think of Granny but also Winry. I bet she misses us." Al said. Ed blushed.

Winry…you haunt my every thought.

That was true. She never left his thoughts. " Probably does. She always cries a river when we leave. It's so childish." Edward said.

" Brother. You are cruel. She cries because she misses us. You know that." Al said, taking Winry's side.

" Yeah, Yeah. Well, what do you want me to do?" Edward asked. He couldn't let anyone, not even his brother, know about his feelings. He remember when Winry decided that auto mail was more important than him and he had made fun of her. She had gotten so mad at him. When he was just a kid, his interest was only in alchemy.

" Ed! Look at what I made!" Winry said, smiling.

" What the heck is that?" Ed asked.

" It's auto mail! It's so cool!"

Ed scoffed and transmuted the auto mail arm into a metal picture frame. " Alchemy is so much easier and better. Auto mail is a piece of crap!" Ed yelled.

Winry busted into tears and yelled," I'm telling. You're so mean!"

Ed brushed it off. What did girls know anyways…

Ed smirked. Yeah, that was him alright. He just wasn't interested in that crap like Winry had been. But if it hadn't been for the auto mail, then he wouldn't be a state alchemist. ' are you think of Winry, since you weren't before?" Al asked.

" I hardly think of Winry. She can take care of herself, Al. I mean, she uses her tools for other stuff than fixing auto mail." Edward said.

" I guess, brother. I still miss them. Remember when we fought over who would marry Winry?" Al asked.

Edward turned red. Are you trying to torment me , Al? " Yeah. Usually it would turn into a fist fight and Winry would always say, " STOP FIGHTING! I'LL MARRY BOTH OF YOU!" and then the fight would start all over again." Edward said, remembering.

It had seemed so long ago. That had been about five or six years ago. He smiled. ' Brother?" Al asked.

Ed closed his eyes and answered, " Yeah?"

Al sighed and replied," Can we go see Winry and Auntie? It would be good to see them again " Edward's eyes snapped open. " Are you serious?" Alphonse nodded.

Edward was surprised by Alphonse but smiled. " All right. It's good to take a vacation every once in awhile…Besides, I need to get a check up on my auto mail anyways."

Alphonse sighed in relief. They were final going home. ' Let's leave right now."

Edward's mouth dropped open. " N-Now?" He stuttered. Al nodded.

Okay…Al is sure acting weird…They both then paid the hotel they had been staying in, and walked down the road to catch a train to Resembool.

" You think Winry has a boyfriend?" Al asked. Edward jerked his head, to face his brother and said, " Who'd want her?"

" You."

Edward turned crimson and yelled, " WINRY AND ME ARE ONLY FRIENDS! WHY IS EVERYONE THINKING I WANT HER?!"

Whatever…That's what people say when they are in love…you're in denial brother… Al thought.

" Look, Al. You, Winry and I have been best friends since we all can remember. Also, she's my mechanic! Why do you think I would want Winry, when there are tons of girls out somewhere else?" Ed asked.

" Because, you turn red whenever I bring her up, you get jealous a lot and I hear you say, " Winry" in your sleep. That's reason enough to know that you are in love with Winry…" Al said.

Edward's moth dropped open,' WHAT? I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH WINRY! WHAT? YOU BEEN SPYING ON ME OR SOMETHING? SHUT UP!" He yelled as he faced the window to look outside on the train.

He felt hot and knew Alphonse knew his little secret. Damn it.

Edward sighed as he stepped off the train and smiled at the sunset. It was beautiful. " It feels good to finally be home, doesn't it brother…?" Alphonse asked. Edward nodded. " Yeah. It's been too long."

They walked along the path to Winry's house. " Winry's gonna wonder what you did to your arm this time…" Al said. If armor could smirk, Alphonse was doing it. " Yeah, yeah. I just need a check-up. That's all. Nothing to get mad over. Damn. She'll still have something to say. She always does." Ed complained.

Alphonse sighed. ' Well, that's not her fault. You're the one that's so reckless. Every time we come by home, it's only to get fixed. Then we leave the next day. Wonder how that feels?"

Edward felt his smile leave and knew Al was right. But he only visited to get fixed, so their enemies wouldn't know where his true weakness laid. " Lets stay for a few days…for old times." Edward suggested.

Alphonse's eyes brightened. " Really? Brother! Thanks. Winry will be so happy." Ed scoffed and put a hand on his hip.

" Whatever."

Al walked ahead and Edward felt himself smile once more.

" Winry! Auntie! We're home!" Al yelled as Edward knocked on the door. " you think, they're still asleep?" Al asked. Edward though for a minute.

…Winry would be awake. She always gets up in the morning to work on auto mail…

Edward turned the doorknob and the door opened a little. " Hey, it's unlocked!" Edward said. " Now, wait brother! This isn't our house! We can' just barge in!" Al said. Edward, ignoring his brother, walked into the dark house.

" Brother, stop! You might scare Winry or Aunt Pinako!" Alphonse hissed. HE walked across the living room and sighed. Brother never was the listener.

Edward took a deep breath. Where's our welcome party?

Then all of a sudden, a metal pipe came out of nowhere striking Edward in the side of the head. Edward howled in pain as he flew across the room into the wall.

" Brother!" Al yelled, but sensed a weapon coming his way. He ducked and the pipe went over his head and went into the ceiling.

" Who's there bastard? State your business!" Edward yelled as he held his head in his hands.

" Edward…?"

Al and Ed both looked up as the light switch was turned on. It was Pinako.

" Auntie?" Al asked, surprised. Pinako sighed in relief, " Oh, boys. I see you've returned home. I hope you weren't too hurt…too bad."

Edward gritted his teeth and yelled," THANKS, OLD HAG! YOU COULD'VE GAVE ME A CONCUSSION! THAT AIN'T SOMETHING AUTOMAIL CAN FIX!"

Pinako smiled, smugly, " Not my fault. I thought the military taught you to never let your guard down."

Edward was held back by his brother.

" Look, old woman! I didn't come to hear your stupid lectures. Where's Winry? I need a check up!" Ed said, hands on his hips.

Pinako sighed. ' I see. Well, come on and I'll check you out."

Edward raised an eyebrow and asked," Uh, where exactly is Winry?" P

Pinako rolled up her sleeves and replied," She went to town to pick up some parts. She'll be back late tonight." Edward sighed sadly. Winry…why can't you do the check up? You're a lot more gentler that old grandma here…

Later that night, Edward was sitting on the grass by Alphonse. " I wonder how Winry has been doing." Al said. Edward shrugged and replied," We'll find out soon enough. Al you know we can leave anytime. We don't have to stay."

Al glanced at him.

" I know, Brother. But that would break Winry's heart, and you know that. I know you miss her so why do you act like you don't?" Edward fell back on the grass and said " Look. We got a lot of people that hate us. They might use Winry against us. They might try to hurt her or kill her to get to us. I don't want her in danger, at all."

Alphonse did agree on that with his brother.

" I know. Let's just stay a few days and then we'll go." Edward nodded. " All right."

He jumped up and threw a punch at Al which he blocked. Then they started to spar.

Winry yawned and put the box that had all the parts in, on the porch. Wonder what Al and Ed are up to right now. Probably in a argument with Mustang, fighting those weird creatures or Edward being called short.

She giggled at the last one. He hated being called short. Thinking of them, made her smile, sadly.

" YOU'VE GOTTEN WEAKER, AL!"

What? Winry thought. She turned around to see the. Her two best friends in the whole wide world. Edward and Alphonse Elric.

" Ed! Al!" She yelled running up to them. Edward turned around to wave and she put her arms around his neck. She then hugged Al's rough armor but she didn't care.

" It's so good to see you two again…!" She said, happily. Edward was red, looking down at the ground. What was that? She just hugged me. The last time she hugged me was when my mom died…

We're happy to see you too, Winry. You been doing good, so far?" Al asked. Winry smiled. Al was always the sweeter one of the two.

" You know me! So why are you two here? You two seem to be fine. Do you have a disease that you can't get rid of or something? So you've come to say good-bye, huh?" She asked, crossing her arms.

" WHAT? I DON'T GOT SOME DISEASE! SHUT UP, WINRY!" Ed yelled.

Winry laughed.

" BESIDES, WE DON"T JUST SHOW UP TO GET FIXED EITHER!"

Winry smiled and replied," Hey, did you shrink?"

" WINRY! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! SHORT! SHORT MY ASS! JUST WAIT…."

Winry started to laugh so hard she started to cry and Ed gave up. He stomped into the house with a scowl on his face.

" Still sensitive about his height, huh? You think you can help me with this box, I'm really tired of carrying it." Winry said.

Al nodded, picking it up, " Sure thing, Winry."

" What are you looking at?" Edward asked.

" Brother, you know Winry was just playing. You're so sensitive." Al said. Ed grunted and rolled his eyes, " Whatever. I'm still growing. So leave me alone." Al sighed. Here we go, again…