Chapter 4:

6 Months later

Ed POV;

Ed winced as he tired looking daughter began to cry.

"What is it honey?" Ed asked wrapping his arms round Willow.

"I couldn't save him." She whispered through sobs.

Willow was no idiot she knew when she could and when she couldn't save someone without killing herself and even though there weren't many who she had to watch die somehow that made it worse for her.

Ed was not good as this type of thing and had no words to comfort her so he just held her while she cried.

Later that night Ed drove to the Mustangs at a request from Mustang himself, Max had asked to come with him.

Max was a lot like him his blonde hair was long and his warm hazel eyes were at this moment cold and hard as if he was deep in thought. They walked to Mustang office who sat there with his oldest daughter by his side.

Maria was a lot like Riza blonde but with her father's dark eyes, that were always filled with humour and life, when her mother took time off work Maria took after her mother's job at central.

"Hey Ed, Hey Max." Maria said smiling brightly.

Mustang nodded in agreement looking down some documents frowning.

"To much for your little brain, Mustang?" Ed asked laughing lightly.

"Shut it fullmetal." Mustang replied annoyance filling his voice.

"What is it you need?" Ed asked trying to stop himself from annoying Mustang further.

"I need someone to go to the front line to help the auto mail mechanic, I thought of asking Winry but I know how much she means to you for you to let her put herself at risk." Mustang said finally looking up.

Ed noticed his tired worried lines, Jayson had been gone from central around 6 months and Mustang was worried.

"I'll go." Max said from beside him.

Everyone looked round at him.

"What?" Ed asked.

Max had shown no interest in the military what so ever.

"You can barely take care of your own auto mail and mums not going, so I'll go." Max replied shrugging.

"Max its mental out there and dangerous." Mustang said attempting to talk Max out of it.

"I no, don't worry sir I have no delusion about life on the front line I have seen what it did to my sister. Plus it will help me kill two birds with one stone." Max informed them.

Maria laughed surprising both the confused Mustang and Ed.

"You want to bring him back here don't you?" Maria asked.

"I'm fed up of watching my sister walk around like a ghost and it's his mess so your brother can come back here and clean it up himself." Max said fury filling his voice.

Ed faces frowned as he understood what Max wanted.

"Max. Jayson is busy on the front line just because you want him to come back doesn't mean he can." Ed said.

"You don't get it do you dad?" Max asked not waiting for a reply he continued,

"Willow has always been quite, me and the boys were loud enough for you she didn't want to make it harder on you. But when Jayson was around her brought out the lively side of her, the light that helped her cope with the bad thing. With Jayson she's,quiet and afraid. And the longer he stays away the more afraid she gets."

"I have requested him to come back but he doesn't." Mustang informed them.

"Daddy, look at me." Maria requested and Mustang replied.

"Stop being a blind idiot." She told him.

"Jayson's afraid of how she will react when he does come back that's why he keeps ignoring your request. But if he knew it was hurting her he would come right back." Maria explained to her father.

Jayson POV:

Two weeks later;

Jayson welcomed Max with a warm smile regardless of how tired he was, he would show a friend the frontline camp himself before he caught up on much needed sleep. After the tour of the camp Jayson invited Max back to his tent for a coffee. There was so much Jayson wanted to know and Max was just the person to tell him.

"Your family are doing good, they miss you though." Max said as Jayson handed him a coffee.

"I miss them too." Jayson replied.

"Then go home." Max replied, Jayson opened his mouth to reply but Max continued,

"It's not like you can't the war is dying down now, most of you soldiers are returning home now there is no need for you to be here and you no it."

"Max I will go home when everyone else does." Jayson said.

Max laughed.

"What?" Jayson asked.

"Maria right, damn it." Max replied laughing still lightly.

"Maria's right about what?" Jayson repeated.

Max stop laughing and looked at Jayson.

"She said your afraid of how Willow will react so your ignoring your father requests to transfer back home." Max said.

Damn Maria she knew him to well. Jayson had expected to hear from Willow at least threatening letters calling him and idiot but he heard nothing and it was killing him.

"How is Willow?" Jayson asked.

Pain filled Max's eyes.

"Agree to go home an fix her and I'll tell you." Max replied.

"What do you mean fix her?" Jayson asked irritated.

"Agree to go home and I'll tell you." Max repeated.

Jayson wanted to protest but he new Max getting involved in coming to the front line should have said something.

Willow's POV;

1 week later;

Willow was heading towards fuhrer Mustangs office to meet her family for lunch. It wasn't that she hated the Mustangs that she dragged her feet it was just every time she was with them all she could think about was Jayson an it was killing her not knowing how he was.

Willow entered fuhrer Mustangs office and forced a smile on her face.

"Hey loser." A voice said from behind her.

Willow looked over and came face to face with Jayson.

This was the first time she had seen him in almost eight months and there was nothing she wanted more then to ran over to him and hug his tired looking body, but she made herself a promise. To protect herself from hurt that he made her fill the day he left without her, she would treat him as a friend no longer.

Jayson's POV:

His heart was hammering in his chest as he waited for Willow to register his return. Willow looked healthier then when he last saw her, but she was by no means happier and his heart broke.

Willow walked over to him.

"Are you injured?" she asked softly.

He knew she was mad he could feel it when she approached him but for some reason she was choosing to ignore her anger and that worried him.

"No, I'm fine." He replied looking down at her.

Jayson looked into her eyes and could no longer read them. Willow looked away first and turned and walked to the door.

"Welcome back, Sir." Willow said before she left the room.

Jayson shock his head. This was not going to be good.