It turns out; I didn't see Ed back at the fort. We ended heading to a town called Liore, because Al wanted to. He and Ed have visited it in the past, they met a girl named Rose there, and Al wanted to see how she was doing. While we were there, we saw Ed and Al's father and I got to meet Rose. She said that Ed and Al helped her and all of Liore. Once again, I felt proud of the brothers.
Now, I am finally home. The Briggs soldiers that we ended up travelling with escorted me home. I leave them downstairs and go up to my room. I get a fresh set of clothes out and place them on my bed. "It's gotten so dusty in here." I say out loud. I slip off one of my tops. I start to raise my undershirt over my body, but stop and look to my left. I see Ed staring at me. I scream.
The Briggs soldiers come running to my room. "Hey what's the matter here?" One of them asks. I notice that they have their guns out. Ed makes noises, he sounds kind of scared. "When did Edward Elric get here?" One of them says. "Drop your guns." Someone orders them. I hear Den coming up the stairs, barking at the strangers. Ling appears suddenly. "What the hell is going on here?" He says. He sounds different. "Ling?" I say. "You guys are Kimblee's men aren't you?" One of Briggs soldiers asks the men that I don't know. "Hey, I know you guys, you're from Briggs." One of the men replies. "You two have been following us this whole time?" One of the Briggs soldiers asks. "Everyone calm down." One of the men says.
I slowly walk over to Ed. "Okay, Ed do you want to tell me what's going on here?" I say. "Looks like a cautionary tale about guns." Ed replies. Doesn't he know that I was being serious? I point at Ed and say, "Don't be a smart ass, tell me why you're in my room!" I shout. I swear that I see Ed's face turn red. Why would he be blushing? "I just wanted someplace private to eat my sandwich." Ed says.
The men argue, and Den is still barking even though Ling is holding him. "Get out of my room!" I shout. I pull my wrench out and get everyone out. Once they are out, I turn to Ed. "I was worried about you." I tell him, in a calm voice. But I really was worried that something had happened to him. Ed makes a strange noise. "I was worried about you too. I thought Al was with you?" Ed replies. I gasp, reminded that Ed and Al have not seen each other for a while. I walk over to Ed. "He's at the train station right now. He's with Miles." I tell Ed. Ed gasps and I continue talking. "The train's going to leave soon..." Ed gets up and starts walking towards the door. "You might be able to make it if you hurry." I finish.
Ed slows down and then stops walking. What is he doing? I thought he would want to see Al. "Hey, what's wrong? Don't you want to see him?" I ask. "Well technically, I'm a fugitive right now. I can't risk anyone seeing me." Ed says. "But still…" I say, trying to think of what to say to him. Silence fills the room. "Winry?" I hear Granny say. I see her and she smiles at me. "Welcome home." She greets me. "Hey, Granny I hope you weren't worried. I missed you. I say.
Later, after we have gone downstairs, Granny asks who the Briggs soldiers are. They introduce themselves, telling her that they are my bodyguards. I walk up to Ling. "Hey Ling, you remember me?" I ask. "What? Oh right, I guess you know this guy." He says and points to himself. What does he mean? "The name's Greed. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ling says. "Huh" I say, I'm really confused.
At dinner, I ask Ed and the men who came with him why they came here. Ling… Greed says Ed's automail needs maintenance. I look at Ed. "Give him a look-see after dinner. It is your fine craftsmanship after all. I'm not comfortable tinkering with it."Granny says to me. I nod "Yeah of course."
Down in the basement, after I have finished tuning up Ed's automail, I tell him about our visit to Liore. "You don't say, Liore's getting up and running again. Good to hear. I was nervous they might not. So, why is Al travelling with Major Miles anyway?" Ed says. "I'm not sure on all the details, but the northern troops are hatching some plan in the east. Al figured he could help out. So he volunteered to tag along." I reply. "I see." Ed says.
"We ran into your father in Liore. He should be on his way to Central now. I think he's headed for some slum named Kanama. You ought to go and get the full story from him." I tell him. Ed doesn't reply. I feel upset. "You know, it's almost the promised day." I say. "Ling and Greed told me all about it. It could give us a chance to get our bodies back. But it's most likely going to result in catastrophe for Amestrians." I'm confused; I thought Ed would want to fight for the country.
"Listen." Ed says, in a serious tone. I turn around to face him. "What is it?" I say. "I want you to take Granny and Den. Leave the country for a while." What? Is he actually saying that he can't save us? I grunt and pull my wrench out and whack Ed with it. "I'm not running away, you can't just send us off like that!" I know you want to protect us, but you need to try to save everyone!" I yell at him. "I'm going to do everything I can to stop it, but there's a chance it might not work!" Ed yells back at me. "I don't want to hear any doubts from you! Please Ed, you can't let them go through with this. Just tell me you're going to stop them and save the country! I want to hear you say that you're going to protect the country then get your bodies back, do whatever it takes to make that happen!" I say to him, meaning every word.
I stare at him. I notice that he has grown taller than me. I'm kind of shocked, for as long as I can remember I have been taller than him. Ed looks away and says, "Winry, you make it sound like it's easy." "This isn't the time to start doubting yourself, Ed." I tell him. He starts walking away. "Listen to me!" I call out to him. "Ugh, Winry you just don't know when to shut up do you?" Ed says. "Edward..." I say after he has left. I only said those things to him because I love him and I care for him.
About an hour later, Ed is leaving. "You're leaving in the middle of the night?" I ask him. "We were actually planning on leaving earlier today, and then we ran onto you. It was good to see you." He smiles. "And thanks for the tune up." He replies. Then he turns around and starts walking away. Granny tells Ed to give his father a message if he sees him. I think about Ed and for some reason I decide to tell him how I feel. I don't know when I'll see him again. I start going after him. "Ed, I need to…" I say, but Ed interrupts. "Lay low until the promised day passes." He turns to face me. "We're going to stop them, Winry. Al and I will be home before you know it. He smiles. "Have an apple pie waiting for us, okay?" He says. I gasp, but then I smile back at him and nod. After Ed is long gone, I tell myself that maybe it was a good thing I didn't tell him that I love him. I wouldn't know how he would have replied. Does he love me too?