Author's note-Please don't hate me those who have been reading, I am getting married in two weeks! But that is not reason to not update so I am finish the story by giving you the final two chapters. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter Nine

Most of the day went by and Winry stayed away, finding things to do around the house like she always did. She knew at some point Al went to check on Ed but she wasn't sure if they talked. Alphonse seemed pretty quiet for the rest of the day. It was now dinner and Winry couldn't eat. She was still upset about what had she said. She had to apologize. Although she wasn't sure how she would do it but she knew it had to be done. After dinner, Sig excused himself and went upstairs. Winry brought the dishes into the kitchen to be washed. She finished quickly and headed upstairs as well. As she got closer to the bedroom, the door opened and Sig walked out. She stopped short as he looked down at her.

"I'm leaving," he explained and ended it with that.

"Oh okay. Um, have a safe trip," she said back, moving past him.

oOoOo

About five minutes earlier Ed looked up as Sig entered the room. He wasn't expecting to see him. His guilt of what had happened came to mind and he dropped his gaze quickly. In the back of his mind, he wondered if Sig would blame him for what happened.

"You're not here to hit me for teacher, are you," He asked, half joking. Sig got over to the bed and handed him a note.

"She told me to give this to you. Before she left, she knew you'd need it," Ed unfolded the note and started reading.

- If I find out that you do any more human transmutations, I will come back to haunt you! I had to make sure you knew that first and foremost. But I also am glad you are safe and made it home. I'm sure you are still upset with me about doing what I did, but you need to get over it. It was my choice and that's final. You already know about the equivalent trade. You knew something would have to be sacrificed. This way it's even and nothing is owed.

There was more to the letter but he couldn't bring himself to read it. The words had started to blur together, and it was getting too difficult to finish. There was a light knock at the door that caused him to glance up. Winry stepped in quietly and closed the door behind her.

"Ed, can I come in." She didn't see the look on his face as he lowered his head causing his hair to fall over his eyes.

"It's your house, you can do what you want." His tone came out low. She took a seat, keeping her head down. She noticed the letter in his hand but wasn't sure what it was.

"I need to apologize. What I said earlier...I.." Ed interrupted her by leaning back on his pillow and turning his back to her again.

"There's nothing to talk about. It's fine," he stated coldly, closing his eyes. Winry inhaled sharply, trying not to cry. He wasn't even giving her a chance to say she was sorry. She clenched her fists around the front of her skirt.

"Still I don't think it's right to leave it like this," she added in a somewhat shaky voice.

"Don't worry about it." She couldn't hold it back any longer. The tears came by themselves. She let out a small gasp and tried to cover her mouth so he couldn't hear her. "I don't get what you're so upset about."

"Don't you ever know when to shut up." She finally got his attention. He glanced over his shoulder. "I feel bad about what I said. It doesn't matter if you don't want me to worry about it."

"I said not to worry about it because I'm over it already. I've got too many other things on my mind. You're making such a big deal out of nothing." By now he had turned around more then half way. She glanced up at him about to say something else when she caught the look on his face. Even after all that sleep, he still looked tired to her. And now he seemed a little sad as well.

"What's wrong," she asked, leaning in.

"I already told you, nothing." He looked down, concealing his face again.

"You might feel better if you actually tell someone. I know that you haven't ever really told me anything but still." She had managed to recover from her tears some. He didn't say anything back, just continued to hang his head. Winry took that as her cue to leave and stood up. As she turned to leave she heard him say something in a hushed voice.
"It's teacher...she's dead." Winry's head turned when he said that. "There was nothing I could do." Now his voice came out in almost a whisper. Winry didn't know what to say to him. Just as the silence became awkward again, Al rushed in, also holding a note. He didn't have to say anything, the look on his face was enough. Winry turned back to Ed with a small smile.

"I'll get you guys something to drink," she offered and walked past Al. He waited for her to shut the door before he turned to Ed.

"Why didn't you stop her, Brother." He actually sounded angry. Ed dropped his head down even lower.

"I'm sorry, Al. I don't know what else to say. Sh...she wouldn't let me do anything." Al stomped over to the bed causing Ed to flinch with every step.

"Why'd she have to do it this way though." There was still anger in his voice but it had faded some into sadness.

"It was an exchange. You know how it works. Otherwise I wouldn't be here. I can't bring teacher back, Al." Alphonse shook his head and dropped down next to the bed, crying. He knew Ed was right but it didn't make it any easier. He leaned his head down, next to Ed, sobbing harder. Edward brought his hand over and placed it on his head. Al settled down some when he did. He let out a low sigh and lifted his head up to face his older brother.

"I'm glad you came back, Brother. Don't think I'm not, I just didn't...," he paused, trying to figure out how to say it.

"You wanted to find a way that wouldn't cost anyone their life." Ed understood exactly how he felt. "I'm worried about something else though." Al tilted his head, waiting for him to continue. "I managed to get back okay, but what if any thing could get through."

"What do you mean, any thing? Isn't the gate sealed."

"I thought it was but every theory about it has been wrong." Edward moved his hand off Al's head and reached for his crutch, next to the bed. "I have to go downstairs," he decided, pulling it to his side. Al got to his feet and wiped the tears off his face.

"Brother, where are you going," he asked, helping him up.

"Do you still have any books on Alchemy," he inquired as they went.

"Yeah, in the living room." They went down the stairs slowly, taking one at a time. Winry came into view at the bottom, holding a tray of drinks.

"Oh, I thought you were staying up there." It was obvious she was hoping for too much. She knew Edward was going to push himself too far as always.

"No, we've got some reading to do." He was barely able to get down the stairs at all. It was a good thing Al was there to help. They were almost to the bottom of the stairs when Ed lost his footing and fell forward. Winry placed the drinks down quickly, on the nearby table and put her arms out to stop him. Al grabbed onto him from behind but went tumbling down as well. Winry shook her head and opened her eyes to find both of them on top of her. She had managed to keep Ed from getting injured too much and Al had his arms around his brother's waist.

"Ed, are you okay," She asked, trying to sound concerned but in reality she just wanted Al and him off. They were crushing her. He started laughing quietly to himself. It was the first time she had heard him laugh or seen him smile since he was back. "And this is funny because...?" She gave him a look.

"Ouch..." Ed wince as he tried to get up. Al made no effort, he seemed to be dazed by the whole thing. "Because we're so clutzy. I mean at least I have an excuse but for all three of us to go down, that's pretty bad." He laughed even more.

"Well I'm glad I could entertain you for a couple of minutes, now get off! You're not as light as you used to be," she grumbled, pushing the two of them away.

"Al, move." Ed tried to push him off with one hand. Alphonse managed to get back on his feet and helped Ed up and then Winry. Edward held onto the railing and tried to get his crutch up from the floor but he needed help with even that. They finally made it over to the couch and Alphonse brought over his large pile of books. Ed quickly started reading through them, looking for the right information. So far he hadn't found anything. He handed the one book to Al and went to the next one.

"See if you can find anything in that one." He figured it was going to be a late night as this book didn't have what he wanted either. When it came down to it, the gate was even more of a taboo then the philosopher's stone. And even though he had been in the gate for quite awhile and knew more then a lot of Alchemists did, he still didn't know enough. At least not what he wanted to know. The chance of any of these books having any information on the topic was slim to none. But nevertheless they continued to go through each one. Eventually Winry fell asleep on her end of the couch. Al was starting to loose his focus as he went through the fourth book. He looked up from his seat on the floor.

"Brother, I don't think we're going to find anything in these books. Maybe if we went to Central's library." Ed let out a low sigh as he placed his book down. "Maybe you're right. This is getting us nowhere." he leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

"Why are you so worried about this anyway? It's not like this was ever a problem before." Ed closed his eyes and let out another long sigh.

"There's just a lot that doesn't make sense. I learned so much about the gate when I was there. Actually I learned a lot about everything. Some of it I still don't understand. If I was able to get out as easy as I did, what's keeping anything else in."

"But doesn't that mean that teacher could still be alive and can come back?" Alphonse sat up. Edward shook his head.

"No, I don't want to believe that. There's no point getting our hopes up again," he decided, ending the conversation. He glanced over at Winry. She was sound asleep, mumbling every now and then in her dreams. "She's not going to be happy when she hears we're leaving," he mentioned. She turned some on the couch, causing the blanket fall off her shoulders. Ed leaned over to pull it back up.

"Edward, you jerk!," she yelled in her sleep and kicked him in the face. Her other foot almost hit him in the side but she missed.

"Sheesh, she's violent in her sleep. Fine, go ahead and freeze. See if I care," he hissed, holding his throbbing cheek. Al was trying not to laugh but couldn't contain it. Edward just shook his head in disbelief.

"What do I do in her dreams that deserves that?"

"It's better then what she use to...oh never mind." Alphonse caught himself a little too late.

"What are you talking about"

"It's really nothing important. I don't know why I even said anything." He was too afraid of what Winry would do to him otherwise.

"Okay, if you say so." Ed leaned on the arm rest. He was more tired then he realized. But the thought of going all the way back upstairs seemed like too much. Plus Al seemed to be tired as well. He kept looking through the books, but eventually he would fall asleep too. Ed got too comfortable and could feel his eyes closing. He could hear Al saying something about the book he was reading but didn't know what he said. He just nodded and mumbled something back before his head tilted to the side. Al glanced up to see Ed glazing over. He stood up and went over to the chair by the light. He figured he'd keep reading until he fell asleep as well.