I am still here! Ok so I'm very sorry about the incredible delay I won't bore you with the long list of excuses, lets just say real life got in the way along with a rather large dose of writers block.

I lost track of this story and I'm still not happy with it. This chapter is rather short but it was that or wait who knows how much longer. It also has very little editing so please excuse mistakes.

And last but not least, thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Five: In the Woods

Outside of South City were some woods. A river had carved a gulley through the woods on its journey to the sea. On top of one of the cliffs was a hidden clearing, a small cabin stood to one side of the clearing.

There was a tradition that a few weekends a year Roy Mustang and his friends would go up to the cabin and campout there. For the last few times Roy had managed to bring Ed and his friends.

After all the drama Roy decided a trip to the cabin was need and it was also time to properly induct Alphonse in the tradition. So that was how the weekend after it was finally confirmed that Edward was in fact Trisha's son the friends found themselves sitting around the campfire in the clearing being told the startling news.

"So you and Al are actually long lost brothers?" Jean asked, one eyebrow raised, a cigarette hanging lopsidedly out of his mouth.

"Yes, for the millionth time, dumb ass," Ed replied grumpily.

"That seems... convenient, you know that Al just happened to transfer to our school," Havoc commented.

"No Jean, it's lucky," Riza answered.

"I think it's great," Winry said, hugging Ed's arm.

"Yeah, it is," he said with a small smile.

"So are you moving out of Izumi's?" Hughes asked.

"Not yet, I'm just going to visit and maybe stay the night occasionally until we all get used it. My name is changing though. I'm not Edward Curtis anymore, I'm Edward Elric."

"Actually sounds better," Ling said with a grin. Ed rolled his eyes at him. The group descended into silence as the news sunk in.

After a while Roy spoke. "Well I for one think this place is too quiet. This is a party guys lets have some noise." He turned the volume dial up on the ipod that was playing out some new dance tune.

The noise levels slowly rose, and everyone was distracted by Havoc trying to learn to dance from Ling. With everyone distracted Winry gently pulled Ed away from the group. They walked a little way into the woods.

Once they were far enough away to not be seen or heard, although the glow of the fire was still flickering softly around them, they stopped.

"Why did you drag me all the way out here?" Ed asked.

"Because I wanted to make sure you were ok with everything and you'd have blown it off in front of those guys."

"I am fine, really I am. I mean I wasn't for a bit and yeah it's sad that I'll have to leave Teacher's place eventually but it's not like I'll never see her or Sig again. I have a mother and a brother I never knew I had. I always assumed I was abandoned, we all did, to find out I have a mother who loves me and wants me is pretty great."

"You know I think that's the most I've ever heard you say in one go."

"What are you talking about, I'm hardly quiet."

"Yeah I wasn't counting the times you were yelling though."

"Whatever," Ed said pulling Winry towards him and kissing her.

"As sweet as all that was, I'm going to have to break up this little party." Neither recognised the voice. They froze as a figure stepped closer to them. There was just enough light to show the man hold up a gun and point it at Winry.

"Leave her alone," Ed hissed.

"You've been watching too many movies kid. Don't try anything heroic because you can't knock this gun out of my hand before I can shoot her."

"What do you want?" Ed asked.

"Two things. One, you and the other? Well, this little miss here is going to go get that for me."

"Or what?" Winry asked.

"Or I go introduce myself to your friends over there. It could get messy."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Simple, I want you to go get a boy called Roy Mustang. I want you to quietly get him to come out here and make sure no one follows ok?"

Winry looked at Ed who nodded slowly. Wheeling round Winry ran back to the others.

"Who are you?" Ed asked the stranger.

"Shut up," was the only answer he got.

As she neared the others Winry slowed her run, having tripped over in the dark once already. She paused, took a deep breath, then walked as calmly as she could towards the group. Luckily for her Roy was sitting at the edge of the group, like a sentry keeping watch.

She walked quietly up to him a whispered in his ear.

"Come with me and don't ask questions." Confused and curious Roy followed her retreating figure. Winry was trying very hard to keep from crying, the guilt for what she was leading Roy into was almost overwhelming.

Catching site of the two figures retreating into the forest, Maes couldn't help his natural curiosity so he crept unseen behind the pair.

As soon as Winry spotted Ed and the stranger, she turned to Roy.

"I'm really sorry," she whispered.

"For what, and who are you?" Roy said, addressing the last part to the shadowed figure standing next to Ed.

"I'm hurt Roy, it hasn't been that long." The voice made Roy freeze. He hadn't felt this fear in a long time.

"It hasn't been long enough," he answered back, after taking a breath and calling back his courage.

"I thought taught you not to answer back boy."

"You taught me a lot of things but I'm not scared of you anymore."

"Is he's your Father?" Ed asked.

"Biologically speaking yes," Roy answered.

"Shut up, both of you," John Mustang snapped.

In the silence that followed a twig snapped loudly nearby, before he even really knew what was happening John had pointed the gun in the direction of the noise and fired. A cry was heard that sent the three teens blood running cold.

"Maes!" Roy cried and tried to run to his best friend but John caught his arm.

"Don't you dare!" he hissed, then turned to Winry. "I thought I told you to not be followed."

Winry was frozen in place tears running down her cheeks. John let go of Roy and grabbed her, holding the gun to her head.

"Ok, you two in front, head down the hill and don't make a noise or try anything funny ok," he demanded. With glances behind them Roy and Ed walked away from their injured friend, both knowing Hughes would never forgive them for endangering Winry to save him.

At the bottom of a steep hill which they had stumbled down was the end of a dirt track. A car sat there, idling. It was a large car with blacked out windows. The passenger door opened and a woman flew out, running forwards and throwing her arms around Roy. He pushed her off quickly, stepping back and closer to Edward.

"Your Mom?" Edward asked,

"Yes."

"Mine's better."

Roy shoved Ed slightly. "Hardly the time to be comparing," he muttered to Ed before turning to the people who should have been protecting him. "Exactly what are you hoping to achieve here?"

"We just want to be a family again, Roy. We want you to come home away from those people who want to keep you from us," his mother said

"Firstly that doesn't explain why you're dragging him into this," Roy indicated Ed. "Secondly what makes you think I was being kept from you. I was given the choice of seeing you but I chose not to. I took years of abuse from my so called father and rather than protect me like a proper mother you decided to drink yourself in to stupor every night. I had to clear up after you then see to my wounds. We were never a family, just a drunk, an abusive man and his punching bag."

"Shut up. Less of your lip, get in the car." He waved the gun, indicating to the car, before putting the gun back to Winry who was still caught in his grip and staring wide-eyed at Ed. Too scared to try anything while Winry was held hostage, Ed walked slowly to the car and got in, Roy followed.

Leaning back from the front passenger seat Roy's mum quickly tied their hands together with cables ties and stuck strips of tape over their mouths.

Winry pushed away from John's weakened grip. She stumbled and fell backwards, hitting her head hard on a tree and slumping to the ground. Walking over to inspect her John nudged her with the toe of his boot before shrugging; he climbed into the car and started the engine.

Review please.

Can't promise when the next chapter will be out but I will warn you now I have a busy couple of weeks, I'll try my hardest though.