Alright! The next chapter!!! ^.^ Sorry, it is kind of taking me a while, but…Oh! And for those of you who are reading my other FullMetal Alchemist fan fiction, I will try to post the next chapter! The same goes for the rest of my fan fictions! I'm trying here, people!!

I'd like to thank Very Swampeh, Orange Singer, baconinthesoap64, and Pink Pagoda! Thanks for the support, guys!

And for the record, this chapter contains a small Roy spoiler. I warned you, so don't get angry at me.

Ed: ….

Me: Oh quit sulking!

Ed: ….

Me: What?! Winry hits you upside the head all the time, yet you talk to her!!

Ed:!! But that's different.

Me: How so?

Al: *Sigh* FullMetal-edwardelric-fangirl doesn't own or take ownership of FullMetal Alchemist.

Chapter Three: Good News of Despair

A house came into view. From the distance they were at, no one could make out the young, blonde girl sitting on the porch. A black dog with a metal, prosthetic front limb was sitting beside her, enjoying the feeling of her hand scratching behind his ears.

Ed looked hard as the continued walking, but then he thought of something that made his gaze change directions.

"Crap…"

Al looked at him.

Ed let out a sigh. "I forgot to call. Again…"

Al laughed, "They'll be fine."

No. Winry's probably worried sick because I promised I'd call her when I got back! But it isn't my fault! Hell, I don't even remember when we got back!

The girl seemed to be staring out into space, as if in a trance. Her azure eyes were planted on the single cloud that was drifting through the slightly chilled air. A small sigh escaped her lips. Ed said he'd call when he got back…Did something happen?...Is he hurt?...Is he…The though pierced her as if a blade had just been shoved through her chest. But…No! He's fine! I just know it!!

She shook her head rapidly, her blonde hair flailing around her. The thought of him being hurt—or worse—wouldn't leave her mind. She tried to let her mind wander again, and for her to be peaceful once more.

She had a feeling that all peacefulness had flushed out of her, and gone numb with the rest of her body.

Somehow, her gaze cast over to the dirt path that led from her grandma's stairs and down a long hill. Her small pupils suddenly grew larger and began to glisten. A small, blond male was walking up the path, his crimson cloak flowing out behind him. A suit of armor, who was walking beside him, was carrying a chocolate suitcase. A large man was behind the two. His blonde curl stuck up from his bald head, and the collar of his white shirt slightly gripped his neck.

Her lip trembled slightly.

"Ed…?" Her voice was quiet.

"Edward! Alphonse!"

Her voice was loud and carried over the grassy hill, reaching the short male. His amber eyes that had been planted on the ground shot up and he set his gaze upon the female.

When Ed arrived at the porch, a grin was on his face. Winry was also smiling. She was glad he had made it back in one piece. The smile was wiped off when she noticed the limp sleeve of his coat.

"Ed…"

She could spit out another word. There was no "how could you have broken the best automail I've ever made?!" or "You've been doing something reckless again, haven't you?"

That would have been a stupid question, anyway. She knew how he could have broken it. But a few things did go through her mind that made her feel kind of uneasy. When she noticed the bandage plastered on the side of his face, she let out a sigh. She'd only feel guilt if she fussed at him right now. This was different from before. He hadn't just been doing his job, or searching for the Philosopher's Stone, or both. He had gone and fought in war…It didn't seem fair, to her, at least. They stuck a sixteen –year-old into some big war so they could win. When you put it that way, it sounds a little selfish and cruel, doesn't it?

She sucked in some air and blinked a few times. She held back the urge to jump up and throw herself around him. Not to mention crying. She was always there for him, and now he comes back from war and she can only say his name?

She didn't have time to say anything, anyway.

The door behind Winry opened, and an older, short lady walked out. She looked up at him with a grin. "Welcome back, Shorty."

"Like you've got room to talk you half pint hag!"

Al walked up to Winry, and then greeted her. He said he was going to bring Ed's bag inside, so Winry accompanied him.

Al walked up the stairs with ka-clunks. He opened the bedroom door, Winry close behind him. He set the suitcase down beside Edward's bed.

"He Al?"

He turned around to face Winry. "Yes?"

"Is Ed…" She sat down on Al's bed. "…Different?"

"What do you mean?"

" I mean…Has he been acting strange or anything? Like maybe from the…." She cut short her statement with a sigh.

"Like maybe from the war? Maybe a little bit, Winry. He's expectedly tired a lot lately. But he's fine, trust me. I'm pretty sure he wasn't ordered to…" He stopped, and then picked up another subject. "He handled it well, Winry. I'm sure of it."

He mentally kicked himself for almost saying 'I'm pretty sure he wasn't ordered to kill people.' He almost brought up her parents being killed by Roy in the Rebellion.

~*~*~

Glancing over the boy's automail port, Pinako's eyes narrowed. "Ed…Has your shoulder been in any pain?"

"Huh?" The question caught him off guard.

In response, the old woman pressed her small hand onto his automail port.

"GAH!" A pain rang through his shoulder, and stayed there. He had noticed some stinging in his shoulder, but nothing that severe.

Pinako scowled. Winry looked puzzled, so she looked over her grandmother and examined the problem. She stepped back some, and then looked right at Ed, who looked just as confused as he had when this started.

"Ed… There is a serious problem."

I'm sorry it is taking me so long! Really, I am! For that matter, I have the next two chapters written…Just not typed…-.-" Anyway, just please be patient and loyal and don't decide to leave me behind 'cause I'm taking so long!

Reviews are appreciated!