~~Chapter Two~~
"Edward, we are here." Winry looked to me with a smile, her gaze then looking out the window. I followed her gaze, seeing the train station I knew so well. Gathered on the platform were about twenty military personnel. A smile spread over my face at that. Winry got up, looking to Al then.
"You got him alright Al?" Al nodded, Winry taking the suitcases and leaving with Mustang and Armstrong. Al got up, sticking out his hand for me. I took it, hopping up to my one good leg. Al wrapped his arm around my back, my arm wrapping around his neck. With that, we exited the train. We hopped off slowly, not wanting to be congratulated for anything. We hadn't done anything, but yet somehow everyone caught wind that we had beaten another rogue alchemist. Everyone was ready for gossip, no matter whom or what it was about. That was not to say our friends in the military were like that, most of them weren't. Al and I agreed, however, that there were some who we didn't necessarily go to first thing. We established our trust zones, not going out of either of ours.
"Ed! Al!" Our names were exclaimed as we hopped down the last step of the train. Once on the pavement, the faces of our friends swarmed us. I smiled to some, grouched at others. Al just smiled at all of them, to nice to actually discourage any of them. Looking out over the crowd, I wad beyond shocked when I saw one familiar face. He stood towards the back, his hands jammed politely in his pockets.
"Dad?" At that, the crowd silenced, turning to follow my gaze as well. Al stilled, his eyes going wide with shock. The crowd slowly parted, letting the old man through. He gave us a smile, a sad and pained one at that. Al tried to walk closer, but I held him back.
"Ed…" AL looked to me with pleading eyes.
"How do I know you're really our dad? How do I know that you're not Envy?" Al gave me another shocked look.
"Ed, in the gate… Envy was probably destroyed…" He whispered this into my ear, not wanting the rest of the crowd to hear. I sighed, whispering back.
"We don't know that. We weren't there until the end Al." Al sighed, giving me a slight nod to signal his understanding.
"You can know it's me, because I know where you truly went. I know what happened." His eyes said the rest he couldn't say out loud. He had been there, on the other side. He had been there and he knew how we got back.
"Envy was too. That doesn't prove anything."
"Erika, Alexis, May, Ed, Winry." He rambled off simple names, only two of which he would have been able to know if he was Envy. The only names he would have known would have been Winry and Erika. At that, I sighed, letting Al go to him. Someone else caught me and supported me while Al hugged our father. Soon enough he came to me, pulling me into a gently hug. I patted his back harshly.
"Good to see ya old man." He grunted against my slap. I smiled to myself, Al pulling me away to support me again.
"Who're Erika and Alexis?" Winry came up behind us, giving a wave to our father. I looked away, catching Al's eyes as I did so. He knew I couldn't answer, so he did it for me.
"Some… friends of ours that we met a while ago." Al patted my back, trying to get it so that Winry didn't notice. I gave him a thankful look.
"Hmm, they sound nice. Will I ever get to meet them?" Winry looked to Al and I happily. I sighed, shaking my head slightly.
"They kind of… met their fate." I spoke in a barely audible whisper, my eyes glazing over with what I hoped she interpreted as pain. She looked away then, not saying anything more.
"Winry, shouldn't we be getting Ed fixed?" Father spoke as if to relieve the tension in the air. Winry nodded, letting him lead her off towards the rest of the group. Al and I hobbled along as well, eagerness to walk taking over me.
An hour later, we entered the white building of Central Headquarters. Mustang went right to work, ordering around the personnel. Al, Winry and I went to some room Mustang pointed out, Winry getting right to work on my leg. Father went with Mustang after a short while, apparently to have a 'chat' as he put it.
"Gah! Winry!" I cried out in pain as she did something unexpected to my leg. She laughed, patting my leg gently.
"Sorry Ed, I tried to warn you."
"How?" I asked incredulously. She just smiled again, leaning over to get some more screws or something. Al laughed at us both, lying back against the couch with boredom. I looked to him apologetically.
"Sorry Al, don't mean to waste your time." He gave me a smile, just brushing it off.
"Brother, its fine. If anything you gave me time to think." He looked to me then, curiosity in his eyes. "What do you think dad is here for? Why do you think dad is here?" Winry silenced herself, doing whatever repairs and auto-mail leg needed. I sighed, laying my head against the wall.
"I don't know Al. I'm just glad he's the real deal, I mean… envy may still be out there. We have no idea what happened after…" I trailed off; almost forgetting Winry was there. She was looking at us both as if we were insane.
"Winry-" Al was cut off by her sharp glare.
"What didn't you guys tell us? Why do you guys always look to each other with secret… meanings? What aren't you telling me?" She sat back in he chair, stopping work on my leg. Al and I looked to each other, a look of true fear and nervousness if nothing else.
"We can't tell you Winry… you wouldn't believe us." I looked to her, meeting the wide blue eyes I loved so much.
"At this point, I am willing to believe anything! You guys are Alchemists who saw the 'truth'. I don't think there is any reason for me to not believe you!" She met my eyes with intensity, pure determination in her voice.
"Brother, maybe we should tell them…" I didn't look to him, I didn't respond.
"Fine… but it has to be all of them, not just one at a time."
"Agreed." Al looked to Winry then, saying something along the lines of "Get Mustang." And left.
I closed my eyes with pain, not ready to relive what I just told myself I would forget. I was not going to be alone though, I always had Al. But… Winry was what half of the story was about… She was the one who saved my life that first time. If not for her, Al would have never found me, and I would be dead. Also, there came the awkward part of telling her that we were married. What would happen then? I didn't think telling someone of their very possible future was right. I didn't think telling anyone their future was right, even if it never came true.
Would Winry be able to handle it? Somehow, the brave exterior she let everyone see… I didn't think that was the real her.