Sorry that this was kind of a slow update, I knew what I was going to write earlier but when I went down to write it out later I had forgotten all of it. X.x
P.S. that's why it's A LOT shorter than I intended! I'll make up for it later..
Hope you enjoy!
-Al-
Al leaned his head against the window, not registering the blur of motion as the train sped towards Risembool. His head was still full of what the Colonel had told him. Four years. That's how much time he was missing; he couldn't wrap his head around it.
Gazing out the window he wondered idly how many train rides Ed and he went on together during those years.
What did we do? Where we're we headed? Did we get excited? Did we talk? If we did what did we talk about? Questions flowed through his brain like flash flood.
The Colonel hadn't been very detailed about everything…he basically just sketched out the four years, including a lot of fighting.
Al half-smiled at that, Of course…Ed always gets himself into trouble.
Rose cradled her baby in her arms next to him, and gently touched his shoulder, "Alphonse? Are you alright?"
Al started; the smile fading as he looked into her purple eyes which we're dark with worry. He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, "I just…don't know what to think anymore."
That at least was a solid fact; he was….lost…to say the least without his brother.
Rose nodded, "Don't worry, the Colonel said that you have friends in Risembool that'll help, right?"
Al glanced away. Yes, Winry and Granny were at home, where they always had been. He had mixed feelings about returning home…but then again he did want to take another look at brother's transmutation circle…
"I guess."
-Winry-
All throughout dinner, Winry Rockbell couldn't help but steal disbelieving glances at Al.
When he'd showed up on their doorstep this afternoon with a girl named Rose, and a baby; her first thought was, 'Where's Ed?'.
She soon found out, Al hurried to reassure her that he was still alive…Winry shook her head. Not the time to dwell on these thoughts.
Al seemed…withdrawn, but he at least ate all of his dinner.
Afterwards he sat in the living room reading Alchemy books. Winry peeked at him and then looked back at Granny Pinako, "It's almost like nothing ever happened…"
Granny looked up at her, glasses flashing gravely, "I only wish that was true."
At that she looked over at the corkboard full of photos her gaze lingering on the most recent photo of Ed and Al.
Winry closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry. Oh, Edward…what did you do? Unbidden memories flashed through her head like a wildfire.
Ed, drawing a transmutation circle to make her birthday present…
Ed, smiling at her his golden eyes aglow…
Ed, sitting patiently as she repaired his automail…
Winry backed out of the kitchen and flopped down on her bed, burying her face in the pillows.
It's hard to be happy when not all of your family is there.
Everyone you…love…