Chapter Two

"Izumi, are you sure you want to go out there?" She had that resolve look on her face that she always got when he couldn't talk her out of something.

"It won't take long, I don't get why you are so against it." She answered. Clearing it was unreasonable to be against going out in the middle of the night, in the freezing rain.

"I just don't want you getting upset again. I know how you are." She stopped, clenching the handle of the umbrella. "It's because Wrath left isn't it? Ever since he left, you keep thinking something's gonna change."

It was true, Wrath left several months ago. He wanted to go out on his own for awhile but they had no idea when and if he would return. She knew he wanted them to turn around and go back to the house, but she had to go with her feeling on this.

"Just indulge me this time." She kept walking.

The wet grass had already soaked her sandals. They walked up the next hill.

Not even the thunder slowed them down as they reached the damp remains of the Elric house. The rain let up a little but it was still coming down pretty hard. The two of them looked around and separated, searching the area. Izumi headed to where the back of the house used to be.

She leaned down, trying to see in the dim light from the lantern. She let out a frustrated sigh and stood up. Maybe her feeling was wrong. She scanned the area one final time when lightning striked in the distance again. In that brief moment, she saw it. In the midst of the charred wood was something golden behind a pile of debris. It stood out in the dull surroundings.

"Hey, over here," She called to her husband and he came over to her with the light. He couldn't believe his eyes and quickly took off his jacket.

"How'd you know," he asked, handing her the coat and holding the umbrella over her head.

She brushed the long strains of blond hair away from a very familiar face. The boy didn't look as young as she remembered him but it was him.

"When it comes to your kids, you just know." She placed the coat over Ed's body. He was unconscious and barely breathing.

Izumi narrowed her eyes as she continued to pull his wet hair out of his face.

"I wonder how long he was in the gate," She said out loud, standing up and taking the umbrella. "We should get him inside." Sig nodded silently, scooping up Ed and turning towards her.

"Where's his automail?" Izumi hadn't even noticed it was missing and that he had his limbs back. It would seem that even though he was back to normal, there was something else wrong.

"We need to hurry." The temperature was pretty cold outside. Even she had to rub her arms, trying to keep warm. But Ed's clothing was ripped up badly and he wasn't even shivering. Granted, she had a pretty good idea of how long he had been out there but even still. He also didn't look to even be alive. His lack of any expression had her worried and she knew it would worry Al when he saw him. Then a scary thought entered her mind that made her even colder. She shook it off and got closer to Sig.

oOoOo

By this time, Al had decided to sit on the steps next to Winry. She let out a loud yawn and stretched her arms over her head.

"I hope they find whatever it was they were looking for. I've gotta be up early tomorrow and this lack of sleep isn't helping."

"It is very late. What are you two doing up anyway," Pinako asked from the top of the stairs. "Was it the weather?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that, but we're waiting for Izumi and her husband," Winry explained.

"Where would they go on a night like this? They'd have to be crazy." Al turned and leaned on his knee. He wasn't sure what to think at this point. And none of them would know anything until they came back. "Well if everyone is going to be up, I'd better go make some tea." Pinako got around the two on the stairs and headed for the kitchen. There was silence between them once more. The anxious feeling was thick in the air. Al finally broke the silence.

"Winry...you don't think this has anything to do with my brother, do you?" It was the unspoken theory but she didn't think he would bring it up.

"Al, I don't know what to think. He's been gone for so long, I can only hope he's okay." The answer to her concern came sooner then Al could even say, as the door opened. Izumi stepped in first, closing the umbrella and placing it down quickly. She glanced up at the two on the stairs. They both stared back at her, dumbfounded.

"You both need to move now." She moved out of the way as her husband came through the door. He had something, no...someone wrapped up in his jacket. Winry stood up, unable to move. Al came down the stairs and stopped a few feet away.

"Ed...? Is it really him?"

"We need your grandma's help." Just as she said that, Pinako came out of the kitchen. She saw what was going on and let out a sigh.

"Figures, things can't stay quiet around here for long." Izumi walked over to her.

"I'm sorry it's so late but please help." Pinako smiled back reassuringly.

"This is all too familiar anyway. I'll do what I can." Izumi nodded and Sig followed Pinako up the stairs. On the way up she turned to Winry who was still standing on the stairs.

"Winry, you should stay with Al for now." As much as she wanted to argue, the look her grandma gave her kept her quiet. She just nodded as they walked by her. She walked down the rest of the stairs and followed Izumi and Al into the kitchen. Al took a seat at the table while Izumi pulled out three cups from the cabinet. Letting out a tired sigh, she poured them some tea. There was still this unsettling feeling that wouldn't go away. Although she still wouldn't know anything until Pinako came back down. She placed a cup infront of Al and handed Winry one as well. Quietly, she took a seat and ran a hand through her hair. Between the three of them there wasn't much said although each of them had a lot on their mind.

"Teacher, where'd you find him," Al finally asked her. Winry clenched her cup tighter, waiting for an answer as well.

"He landed where your house use to be."

"Landed," Winry asked. She had never known much about Alchemy but she had a feeling that this had something to do with it.

"From the gate...but there are a lot of questions I have that are still unanswered." The two of them knew something about the gate but not a lot. Although in Izumi's mind, no one should know much about the gate. "I hope we can find out how Ed's doing soon." She changed the subject before the two of them started asking more questions. Luckily enough they both remained silent.