A/N: Per request by review, I will be making longer chapters. Thanks Pojo-San for being the first reviewer! This means that I may not be updating as often as I had originally projected, but I'll have a lot more story for you guys when I do

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Ed had convinced Al to go get some rest. Winry had an apartment in Central, but still traveled frequently back and forth to Risembul. She had given Al they keys before she left. There had been a lot of complaining by both parties, but in the end, Ed got his way. Even though he was exhausted by the events of the day, Ed fell into a very restless sleep, waking often in a cold sweat. After daybreak came, he was able to sleep for a few hours, only to be awakened by someone touching him. Poking him.

Ed cracked one eye open groggily and groaned. He saw Winry, tools in one hand, digging through her toolbox with her free hand. She muttered to herself, tossing bolts and small parts haphazardly onto the small table. Well, she's not poking me. Ed craned his neck and saw his arm laying against his automail shoulder, the hand splayed out on the bed and lightly touching his side. Winry spun around with a triumphant smile, throwing one hand up in the air.

"Yes! I knew I had it in there somewhere." Ed pushed himself up with his left arm and smiled at her craziness. Upon seeing Ed awake, Winry's victorious smile faded. She moved his arm to the table so she could sit down next to him. She let the parts she was holding fall onto the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. She laid her head on his shoulder and squeezed tight; Ed knew she wasn't going to let go anytime soon.

"I'm really glad you two came back."

Then she started crying. It wasn't very obvious, but Ed could feel her sobbing against him. He wrapped his left arm around her waist, doing the best he could to comfort her. After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked at him. Ed let his arm fall away, slightly uncomfortable with the situation.

"I'm glad, too. Still not quite sure what happened, but we're both back." He quickly changed the subject. "So, Al said you're living in Central now?" She gave him a small smile and gathered up the tools that had fallen onto the bed.

"Yeah, you wouldn't believe how many people in the city need quality automail work. Granny still runs the shop in Risembul, I just do work for people who can't travel that far."

"What's been going on these past couple of years?" Winry described her life and events of the past two years while she worked diligently on the no-longer smashed limb. Still working on the automail, Winry inquired about life in Germany. Ed told her about everything after Al came back. All the projects and traveling. He found it easy to talk to her, now more-so than before. Now he didn't have to worry about endangering her by telling her where he had been and what he had been doing. It was a nice feeling to be able to just talk to someone and not worry about them being put at risk.

"So, did you have a girlfriend?" Ed was caught off-guard and didn't know how to respond. There had been Noa, but she had turned out to be a completely different person that he had thought. There had been one person he was interested in, but they were separated by the Gate.

"Uh, no, I guess not." Then he fell quiet. She had never asked him about his personal life before. They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence until the door opened, breaking the heavy silence. Mustang walked in, dressed in blue military uniform pants and a white button up shirt. He saw the two sitting on the bed. A thousand thoughts ran through Ed's mind, most of which focused on Winry's hated for the man and wondering how badly she would injure him in a hospital. To his surprise, they spoke civilly to each other, almost friendly.

"Ms. Rockbell," Mustang nodded in her direction.

"General." She finished tightening the last bolt into place and looked up.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He lingered near the door, waiting for a response.

"No, I'm almost finished Then I'm going to pick Al up. If that's ok?" She looked to Ed, who nodded.

"Yeah, I was wondering why he hadn't been by. Do you live that far away?"

"Not too far, but I told him I would pick him up when I was done. Are you ready?" Winry held Ed's arm, prepared to reconnect it. Ed shook his head. He knew as soon as the metal hit his nerves, he would probably be out for a little while. It was always painful enough to make him pass out. He looked over Winry's shoulder to the General standing near the door.

"Was there something you needed to tell me?"

"Yes. It appears that you're healing fine. Must faster than expected. The doctors agreed to let you out later today as long as you're very careful. I've assured them that you will be and I've arranged for you and your brother to stay in Central. I will return when you're released." He said a quick good-bye to Winry and left. Winry looked to Ed again. He nodded and gritted his teeth. Winry pushed the arm into place and locked it. Ed saw bright pinpricks of light that quickly faded into darkness and encompassed his vision. He was out before he hit the pillow.

x x x x x

From the hospital room to his car, the General saw the two blondes sitting together. He sighed heavily, asking himself again why he had decided to show up. Why he couldn't stay away, even after he found out Edward was going to be fine. Why he wanted so much for the conversation he had a few days prior to be a dream. When it came to the Elrics, especially Ed, he had always gone to the Rockbell girl. She knew them better than anyone else and would be the one to know what was going on. He was glad that she talked to him and had seemed to accept his sincere, heartfelt apology about her parents until about four days ago. When Edward Elric was in the military and searching for the Philosopher's Stone, he was very young and had a huge goal to accomplish. He never felt right about his care and emotion for him. He hadn't allowed himself to think that way until he saw Ed, back from the Gate with a war on his tail. He had grown up considerably, but was undoubtedly the same person. He was glad the boy hadn't ended up dead. More than happy. He had come to terms with what he felt, but became very depressed upon realizing the person he cared for was a world out of reach. He hadn't dated anyone. He quit the military. He lived in solitude until Ed came back. After that short time, he felt revitalized. He knew that they were okay and that made him feel at peace.

They came back a second time. This time, with both the boys pretty much intact, he wasn't going to wait around for them to leave again. He was going to tell Ed. Even if it meant rejection, which he hated. He was older and they were in a different position. He had gone to the hospital, waiting to see if Ed would wake up. Alphonse had called Winry, who had rushed over and stood waiting in the room when he arrived. They ended up talking, mostly about Ed. He never let on why he was there and instead listened what Ed had been like before the military. Then she told him. She loved Ed. Always had. Ed had never wanted to have a relationship because of the dangerous work he sometimes did, but she knew that with him being back for good, it could work out. She had had boyfriends and was seeing someone, but was preparing to break it off. Because she knew that she was meant to be with Ed. He came back, didn't he? He felt like someone had hit in the stomach. Of course Ed liked his childhood friend that he grew up with, trusted, and who was a girl. It seemed completely hopeless, but something kept drawing him back. Maybe it was his own desperation for a meaningful relationship. Or closure for something that had bothered him for years. Or maybe it was his love, needing to be recognized or rejected so he could move on.

Whatever it was, it kept him showing up, half of him hoping that maybe it would fall through, and the other half wishing to see him happy. It drove him to this street, to this hospital, to the same room, just to see him again. He sighed again and started his car. As amazing as Edward was, it was possible that he was out of his reach.