I long to go home Chap.7
Edward sat in the seat and Winry sat in the one behind him. Armstrong took the seat across from him. Edward stared out the window as everyone continued their silence. Winry wanted to say something but she thought it best to not to say anything.
Armstrong looked at Edward, but Edward was focused on gazing out the window so he just sat back. As the train rolled down the tracks Edwards eyes began to droop and he fell asleep. Winry was starring out the window with a million things going through her head.
It was about an hour later when she heard "Winry" Edward said softly.
She looked up to see him standing in the aisle "Can I sit down?"
"Yeah sure" she said as he sat across from her.
Edward felt the need to explain to her what happened at Hawkeye's that night "Look Winry about what happened at the Lieutenant's place" He leaned forward "Nothing happened she was seriously drunk and I think I made the right decision by calling Mustang. What Havoc told you was bullshit I didn't enjoy it as a matter of fact it scared the shit out of me." He paused "Now can I ask you a question?"
"I know what your going to ask Edward so I'll tell you now." Winry dropped her head "I met Robert two months ago and we enjoyed each others company. I've been alone for so long it was nice to have someone to talk to." She looked up at him "But I told him I was still in love with you and he understood that. Then when you came back all those feelings came rushing in." Tears weld in her eyes " Then you proposed and I didn't want to lose you again Edward. I waited ten years and eight months with the hope you would some how come back." tears were flowing down her cheeks "I was tired of being alone.
Edward sighed and smiled a soft smile as he moved over beside her and put his arm around her "Winry please don't cry…I'm sorry." Edward knew what she was talking about because he had felt those same feelings on the other side. He knew the feeling of being alone all to well and he didn't want that for Winry. He was sorry that she had to feel any of those feelings.
"What are we going to do?" she said looking up at him.
"Well you did agree to marry me while somewhat dating someone else." He cracked a sideways grin " So this is fixable since you've only been dating him for two months." He held her tightly as she stopped crying.
"I tell you what you keep the ring and figure out what you want to do." then he kissed her forehead.
This was Winry's chance to tell him her fears " Edward I want to be truthful with you."
She paused for a minute "I'm scared to be with you because I know you've never been one to stay at home. I couldn't take getting you back and having you take off fighting again. I can't go through that again the worrying everyday all day wondering if your coming home or not and now I have Crystal to think about." she looked in his eyes "I won't have her going through what I did. I don't know if Jade is used to it but she also needs a family." Her head dropped again "She needs a mother and some stability.' She was rambling on so Edward put his finger to her lips and looked in her eyes with a look she had never seen in him.
"Winry let's just start over, forget the past, forget the ten years I was gone. Let's start now and you can have all the time you want to figure it out. Because I'm telling you now I'm not going anywhere." he pulled her head to his shoulder and leaned his cheek against it "I've missed so much time with Crystal and your right Jade needs stability. But I think your going to be surprised at how I've changed. I'm willing to prove it to you. I never want to hurt you again but, if we do this." he chuckled "You have to tell this Robert guy."
She laughed a little because it lightened the mood "Don't worry I'm going to tell him as soon as we get back. I would have told him before I came but he went out of town to his mother's because she was sick."
Edward laughed because she was worried about him taking off but Robert was out of town " So he's out of town?" then he thought about it "Well I guess visiting your mother doesn't involve someone worrying about you I mean it's not like fighting homunculus or-"
She put her fingers to his lips "Shut up Edward."
Just then Armstrong's head popped over the seat with tears flowing "THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOUR BOTH WORKING THIS OUT EDWARD ELRIC!" then he blew his nose on a hankie " I always knew you two belonged together."
"Thanks" Edward said giving him a cheesy smile and hoping he wouldn't rip the dress off to hug them.
Winry had fallen asleep on Edward's shoulder as he stared out the window at the country side going by and as he did he realized that he was truly done it was time to put the Fullmetal alchemist away.
The train came to a stop at the station and Edward leaned down "Winry were home wake up" he whispered softly in her ear as her eyes opened slowly.
Edward turned to Armstrong "Uh Major I think you can go back we'll be okay from here. Tell everyone were fine."
Armstrong reluctantly answered "If you say so Edward Elric I will deliver your message. Now you two be have from here alright." he winked at both of them then sat back down.
"Come on Winry we have a nice walk ahead of us." he said escorting her off the train.
When they walked off the train Edward stretched his arms over his head "Well let's go I want to see my kids."
Winry nodded and smiled as they began the long walk to the Rockbell house. Then Edward said something really off the wall to her.
"Winry about that day in the underground city. I always had the feeling that you had gotten pregnant. I mean it was like I knew I don't know how to explain it." He stopped then looked at her " From that day after we consummated our relationship I have considered you my wife." He turned and started to walk again "That was part of the reason why I went back." the house had come in to view.
"Wait Edward what are you saying?" she tried to get him to talk more but he had spotted Jade, Crystal and Albert playing in the yard.
"Now that's a site." he smiled and continued walking.
Jade looked up "DAD!" she began to run towards them.
"MOM!" Crystal yelled running after Jade.
Jade jumped towards Edward and her arms caught around his neck "Hey my Jade I missed you."
Crystal grabbed onto Winry's waist "Mom I was worried you didn't call."
Winry bent down to hug her "I'm sorry" she gave Edward a look that said 'please don't tell them' "But I got distracted with your dad." She didn't want the kids to know what happened.
Edward put Jade down and looked at Crystal and smiled as he bent down eye level with her "Wow you are such a pretty girl Crystal."
Winry smiled at Crystal "This is your dad Edward."
She looked at Edward "Thank you for saying I'm pretty. Mom always told me I looked like you. So I guess that means your pretty Edward." she giggled.
Edward laughed " I guess your right." he put his arms out "Can I have a hug because dad's love hugs."
"Sure" Crystal shrugged her shoulders and walked into his arms. He felt a sense of belonging and he didn't want to let go but he did.
Jade smiled because she had never seen he dad more happy then he was right now. She reached out and took both their hands "Come on" she looked at Crystal "You know dad loves to play ball." She looked at Edward "Right dad.'
" Sure thing I'll play a few rounds but that's all I can do till this heals up." He lifted his shirt to show where he was shot.
Crystal stared for a minute "What happened?"
"Well' he said as him and the girls walked off "A bad man shot me."
Winry was happy that he was home and she just smiled as she walked by them playing ball in the yard and went in the house.
Al looked up "Winry your home! What happened? How come you didn't call?"
"It's a long story Al I'm sure Edward will fill you in later." She got a glass of water.
"Ed? Why is he going to call?" Al moved the phone closer.
Winry smiled a bright smile as Pinako walked in the kitchen "No silly he's outside."
"He is?" Al jumped up and ran to the door "BROTHER! Your home."
"Ed's here?" Pinako said puffing on her pipe.
Winry gave here a please don't start anything look "Yes granny."
Edward walked through the door "Hey Al I missed you."
" Me too brother glad your home." Al smiled at Edward then rolled his eyes towards the kitchen.
Edward knew Pinako was probably pissed at the situation he had left behind. He knew he was probably in for an ass chewing. When he walked through the kitchen door Pinako looked at him and her heart jumped. She knew she couldn't stay mad at him.
He started coughing and she noticed he sounded terrible. Winry turned around "Edward where's your medicine?"
He patted himself up and down "DAMN! I left it at the lieutenant's"
'You better call her and tell her to send it to you." she said washing her glass.
"He smiled "Alright Winry" then he turned to Pinako "Hi granny."
"Hello Ed" she pulled her pipe from her mouth "I see you grew a couple of inches or did you shrink some?"
Edward snapped "WHA'D YOU SAY? ARE YOU CALLING ME A RUNT AGAIN YOU PIPE PUFFING HOT AIR BAG?"
She puffed her pipe " Same old Ed." she walked by him "Glad your alive and welcome home.'
He stared at the older woman "Thanks granny."
She turned around "Oh and don't worry with Crystal around it was like you never left and after meeting Jade it's like having two of you around mouth and all." She looked at Winry " Feed him something dear he looks starved."
Edward looked at Winry with these goo goo eyes and drooled "Do you have pie?" then he walked over to her "I've sure missed your pie Winry." His hand went up and caressed her cheek.
She blushed as the kids ran through the kitchen and out the back door "Sit down Edward and I'll get you a piece." she placed a plate in front of him and began to cut the pie then his hand moved over hers.
"Listen Winry I know I used to be the most arrogant, self-centered, ego-manic that didn't care about anything but getting his brothers body back. But I see now my actions had consequences and I'm sorry." She placed the pie on the plate.
"Edward I thought we already discussed this on the train. You don't have to keep apologizing." She turned and his arm caught her around the waist.
"I plan on apologizing for the rest of my life." Al came through the door and Winry slipped out of his grasp.
"Oh boy pie! Can I have a piece Winry?" Then he realized he had interrupted something "Uh I can come back."
Edward sat down "No Al it's okay have some pie." He took bite and it was just as delicious as he remembered it.
Pinako had been sitting outside and heard everything They had said. She wondered how long it would take him to leave after he healed up 'Damn it Ed you better not hurt her again or I'll slug you.'
When they finished their pie Edward and Al took a walk. "So Edward are you planning on going back to work for the military?"
Edward stopped and looked out over " No Al I'm done the Fullmetal alchemist is gone. According to the my military records I'm dead." Edward cracked a smile "So I guess my life is here with my family now."
Al looked at Edward "Brother, I'm thinking about taking the state alchemist exam."
Edward was surprised but he knew his brother could pass it "Well little brother if that's what you want to do don't let anyone hold you back and I'll help you anyway I can."
"Thanks Ed I was hoping you'd say that." Al looked at the house "Come on let's get back it's getting late."
Edward remembered his medication "Yeah I have to call mama Riza to send my medication."
Al got a funny look on his face "Mama Riza?"
Edward smiled "Yeah she was kind of like a mother to us while we were in the military. Just like teacher was when we lived with her."
Al smiled "I never thought about that Ed but your right we've had a lot of parental guidance through our life by some wonderful people." Both turned and walked to the house.
Winry was getting the girls ready for bed. Albert had fallen asleep on the couch so Al picked him up and carried him to bed.
Edward sat on the couch and Winry came in carrying a blanket and pillow. "Here Edward you'll need these."
He took them from her and laid them on the couch "Thanks Winry." He kissed her cheek "Goodnight."
"Good night Edward I'll see you in the morning." She turned to walk away then stopped "Jade and Albert start school tomorrow. I already registered her when Al registered Albert."
"Thanks again Winry" Edward sat on the couch and remembered he forgot to call Riza. He walked over and dialed the phone as Winry watched him.
"Hello" Her voice was a soothing familiar one.
"Hey mama Riza" he said playfully "I forgot my medication can you send it to me before I get an infection and something falls off."
Hawkeye giggled "Why yes Edward I'll get it to you soon" there was a pause "and Edward I seriously doubt anything's going to fall off you."
"Yeah Thanks" he sounded a little down.
"Is everything ok Edward? Are you and Winry ok?" Then her voice changed "She didn't punch you again did she?"
"No she didn't just some things to work out." Edward wanted to tell her that he had felt really bad for what had happened the last ten years but with Winry right there it wasn't a good time to break down.
"It's going to take some time so be patient. Have a goodnight Edward." Hawkeye knew Edward was having a hard time she remembered the nightmares he was having at her apartment but she knew Winry could help him.
He hung the phone up and turned around and was face to face with Winry "Edward I know something's bothering you I wish you would tell me ." She looked so good standing there in her thin nightgown he really didn't know how much longer he could contain himself before he pushed her into the wall and ravished her.
"Winry I think it would be a good idea for you to go to bed now." She noticed him looking her up and down.
She looked down and noticed her nightgown "Uh oh" jumping behind the chair "I'll see you tomorrow Ed." Then she turned and ran upstairs.
Edward chuckled to himself "Man a cold shower would be good right now."