Alphonse stared at Riza in disbelief. "But, that's impossible… my transmutation-- it failed. Nothing happened; I know that for a fact." Riza looked at Al helplessly, but the younger Elric wouldn't allow himself to be so easily convinced. "Miss Riza, I was just attacked by someone who looks exactly like me. Wouldn't it be reasonable to believe that this shape shifter could make himself look like Edward to get to me? I won't allow myself to get my hopes up again. I'm sorry, but I'll have to decide if he's my brother with my own two eyes," Al explained softly. Riza was dismayed, but didn't attempt to sway him differently. His logic was sound and he had been through too much. They would know soon enough if Edward Elric was alive and well.

***

Mustang and Edward sat in the back of the car in silence as a soldier took them to Central's hospital. When they exited, the guard saluted and explained that he would be waiting for them to return. Roy muttered his thanks and led the way inside. Edward ground his teeth together as Roy spoke with familiarity to the nurses before making his way up the stairs and down the hall to Alphonse's room. Outside his door, they both paused. "Riza should be with him now. I'll wait out here so you two can have some privacy," Mustang explained. Edward stared at the door with an impending sense of doom. What if Al didn't believe it was really him? Envy, the homunculus that they had fought in the past, could easily change his shape to look like anyone he wanted. How could he prove that he wasn't an imposter? Mustang leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms impatiently. "Well, don't just stand there. Go in." Taking a deep breath, Edward took hold of the handle and turned the knob. When he stepped into the room, his eyes immediately flew to the hospital bed. Riza Hawkeye looked to him with warmth, while the boy next to her studied him with a guarded expression. Rising gracefully, Riza saluted almost playfully before exiting the room. On her way out, she patted Edward gently on the shoulder.

When she closed the door, awkwardness filled the air. Edward forced a laugh and scratched his head. "Wow, Al, you sure have grown while I was away. I expected as much. I guess I was expecting too much when I thought you would stay away from the military though," Edward said calmly. Al's eyes squinted together as if he were trying to take in every detail. Edward knew that he was looking for mistakes, some sort of sign to show he wasn't real. The older Elric walked to his brother's bedside and sat down, showing him the palms of his hands. "I have my body back, Al. You did a good job. It seems that you followed my directions perfectly," Edward said thoughtfully.

"Directions?" Al inquired quizzically.

"Oh, that's right, you don't know about that. I have so much that I need to tell you," Edward went on. "That transmutation circle you drew to open the gate and get me out—I sent that to you in a dream. Hoenheim explained everything to me."

"Dad? You saw dad?" A string of questions formulated in Al's mind. Ed shook his head apologetically.

"I don't understand it all myself, but…" Edward took out a sheet of paper and a pencil from his pocket and began to draw carefully. When he finished, he handed the picture to Al. "That's the transmutation circle, isn't it?" Alphonse gaped at the piece of paper. It was an exact replica of the one he had used in Resembol. He hadn't shared it with anyone, which meant that…!

Al's eyes instantly began to water. Crumpling up the piece of paper, he brought his hands up to cover his face. "Woah! What's the matter?" Edward asked with concern. Gently, he put his hand on his brother's back as Al began to sob.

"I didn't fail! It really is you!" Alphonse realized.

"Of course it is you dummy! Don't cry!" Edward pleaded. This only made the younger Elric cry harder. Clinging to the front of his brother's shirt, he sobbed uncontrollably. Unsure of what to do, Ed wrapped his arms around him. It had been seven years since he had been able to do so. Realizing this, Edward began to cry too.

"No one knew how lonely it was, brother. I missed you so much," Al blurted out. Ed gently rubbed his back, tears falling from his amber eyes.

"I know, Al, but it's okay. We're together and nothing is going to tear us apart ever again. Not anymore," Edward promised with conviction. Alphonse raised his head to offer a weak smile as he wiped his eyes. Ed laughed and wiped his face as well.

The two talked for what seemed like hours. Alphonse explained everything that had happened in the last three years. Edward was most surprised to hear of Riza and Mustang's marriage, but agreed that it was bound to happen at some point. When Alphonse told his brother what had occurred most recently in the Armstrong household, a frown of worry creased Ed's face. Edward then told Alphonse about his return from the gate, the meeting with their father, and the information they collected on the monsters that were currently after them. Al listened intently, his thoughts racing to come up with solutions. Edward assumed that the attack on Al had something to do with the gate still being opened.

"I can't believe all the trouble I caused," Alphonse said in horror. Edward tried to reassure hm.

"It's okay, there's no way either of us could have known, but now we have a problem on our hands. We need to close that gate for good." The brothers sat in silent agreement, unsure of what their next step would be. While in the middle of their musing, they heard some muffled voices arguing in the hallway. The brothers picked out Roy and Riza's concerned tones, but there was also a third, familiar voice that seemed to be angry about something. Ed and Al exchanged glances just as the door was thrown open and Winry Rockbell came thundering into the room.

"EDWARD ELRIC!" She yelled. Eyes growing wide, Ed managed to barely dodge a wrench as it came flying towards his head. "HOW DARE YOU!" The girl continued to scream. Alphonse looked back and forth between them in confusion.

"Wait, Winry, let me explain!" Edward begged as he put some distance between them. Winry would not hear any excuses, however, and stomped towards him. Once Edward had been backed into a corner, Winry stood so that there was only about a foot between them. Her face was flushed and strangely beautiful despite her anger and her eyes had only recently filled with tears. Edward braced himself for a lecture or a beating, he wasn't sure which. Curiously, Riza and Roy poked their heads into the room, which is when Winry surprised them all. Without any sort of warning, she leaned into Edward and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

When she pulled away, everyone's mouths were left hanging open in shock. Both she and Edward turned a bright cherry red. The elder Elric moved his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. Shyly, Winry then averted her eyes to the floor. "Why couldn't you have given me the letter in person?" Winry wondered. A long pause followed her question. When Winry finally lifted her eyes to Edward's, he was smiling.

"Because… well, I knew you wouldn't let me go, and like I said, I had to find Alphonse and make things right," Edward explained. The two teens locked eyes and were about to lean in for another kiss when the sound of clapping brought them back into the real world.

"Bravo, Fullmetal, it seems you finally found yourself a girlfriend. I'm glad to see that your stunted growth does not also apply to your social life," Roy laughed. A vein bulged in Ed's forehead.

"What was that you pompous flaming bastard?!" Edward yelled as he made a lunge for the fuhrer. Both Al and Winry grabbed one of his arms to hold him back. "I'll have you know that I've grown almost a full foot since I last say you!" He growled. Mustang continued to laugh while Riza just shook her head.

"Now, now children, let's calm down, shall we? It's getting late. Let's check Alphonse out of the hospital and go eat dinner," Riza offered. Edward suddenly turned serious at her suggestion.

"Thank you former lieutenant, but Al and I have a lot of work to get done. If we don't make things right soon, a lot of bad things could happen." Mustang grew serious as well and said,

"Than it's a good thing that you have the military backing you. Come with us and we'll find a way to defeat this enemy together. I won't let you refuse my help anymore. That's an order," Mustang exclaimed.

"Tch. I told you, I'm not part of the military anymore," Edward retorted. Despite what he said though, he and Al got up to follow them. Winry quickly gathered her things and did the same. As they went to check out of the hospital, she gently grabbed Ed's hand. With a squeeze, he laced their fingers and flashed her one of his bright smiles. When the five finally piled into the military car, they almost looked like a family.