Al hummed to himself as he stirred the pot of stew that he was cooking. He brought the spoon up to his mouth and tasted it before reaching for the salt and sprinkling some more in. He could hear Winry on the phone in the other room talking with someone he supposed was from Rush Valley. He had gotten a call from her this morning – she had taken a surprise visit to see him in Central.

"Yes, I'll be there. I'm excited – I can't wait to see-!"

Al grinned to himself. Winry was always so excited over automail and it made him glad to see her so happy and passionate about something. He remembered a conversation they'd had not too long ago over lunch,

"Hey Al?"

"Yes – do you need me to pass you something?"

"No – but, I was thinking, actually, I wanted your opinion on something."

"Oh? What is it?"

"I was thinking of going to study medicine like my parents. You know, just in case. Maybe one day?"

Al looked up. His brow furrowed and he replied, "What brought this on?"

"My parents helped a lot of people, and my automail does too. I just think I might enjoy going into medicine. With the automail of course."

Al's face cleared and he smiled. "I think it's a wonderful idea! Where would you like to go?"

"I was thinking somewhere in the South so that I'm still close to Rush Valley and the automail industry."

Al shook his head slightly. Winry had though this all out very well, he thought to himself. Winry was often like his brother – she ran headlong into things without thinking about the consequences.

He heard the clack as she put down the phone and came into the kitchen. She leaned against his shoulder as he continued stirring the stew.

"They said you wouldn't be able to come with me."

Al looked down at the top of her head. "Come with you -?"

"To the university – they keep us in dorms, and it's complicated. Are you sure that this is okay with you?"

"You should always go after your dreams, Winry."

She patted his arm but stayed silent. "Thanks for your support. I don't know what I'd do without you –"

Al shook his head, "You're my best friend, you're important to me so of course I care about and support you!"

There were thumping footsteps and Elysia appeared in the doorway cheerfully dragging a box of markers.

"Will you color with me Winry?"

Winry sat on the floor with Elysia who was gleefully tugging marker after marker out of the box and scribbling all over a piece of paper.

Winry took her own piece and began to sketch a new design for an automail leg. Speaking of automail legs…

"Al, do you know if Ed needs a tune-up on his leg or is it still good?"

"Uhmmm…I'm not sure. But he'll be back in a little while with Gracia, you know?"

"Why are they apartment shopping anyways? Ed's not planning on permanently living here is he?"

Al turned the stove off and turned to face her. "Even if he is I'm not going to stop him. He seems quite happy at this moment. And it's been so long since I've seen him this invigorated over something!"

"I wasn't saying it was a bad thing!" she huffed. "I was just surprised is all!"

"Brother's happiness is important to me. He did so much for me when I was still in that suit of armor so I'll do whatever I can to make his life easier."

Winry narrowed her eyes. "Even if it meant going against something he believes in, or going against something he doesn't agree with?"

"Why are you asking these questions, Winry? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"No, I just have this feeling he doesn't like me with you."

"Of course he doesn't. It's his big brother instincts taking control. I think he'd stick me in a tower and never let anyone near if he could. He's just desperate to protect me. He's terrified of losing me – of losing anyone. You have to give him some leeway."

Winry folded her hands in her lap as Elysia scribbled on. "I do give him leeway. I still feel that…"

"We've all been best friends since childhood. You've got to stop panicking over the simplest things, I'm sure Ed means nothing by it. Say, let's ask him when he gets back. Then we'll have out answer once and for all and we won't have to touch this subject again, hmm?"

Winry knew that when Al put forth such a suggestion that he expected it to be followed. She knew however Ed didn't like her no matter what Al said. Whether it had to do with her dating his treasured baby brother or not something had happened between them. And obviously Al wanted to patch it up.

Elysia picked up her picture and showed it to Winry. "Look! Look!" she chanted.

Winry looked at the picture and smiled. Here was a beautiful, innocent little girl who had gone through so much in her short lifetime but was made stronger by it. In her picture there were many people,

"That's Uncle Roy and Aunt Riza," (Winry wondered if the girl knew something they didn't.), "and those are Uncle Roy's friends. This is Mommy, and these two are Big Brother's Ed and Al, this is you and that's me." she stopped and looked a little sadly at the picture before pointing to the sky and a figure floating in it, "and this is Daddy. He watches over all of us."

Winry felt the tears prickling at her eyelids. She leaned down and hugged the young girl tightly. "Of course he is because he loves you so, so much."

"Can you pin it on the wall for me?"

Elysia pointed at a bulletin board in the room covered with her drawings.

As Winry pinned it she noted that Elysia had done her best to print the names next to each person.

Not too long after they heard the front door opening and Gracia and Ed's voices. They were back.