Chapter 9

Two long months elapsed after their meeting with Dr. Marcoh. Al had been working so hard. Ed was proud of how religiously he stuck to his meditation schedule. Al even managed to meditate during travel assignments. Ed did his best to be supportive, he just hoped it would be enough. He couldn't stop the feeling helpless about the situation. It was probably the one time in his life that his brother had a problem that Ed couldn't help fix. And it was definitely hard sometimes. Now that he knew about Al's condition he could easily spot the times Al reacted strangely, or blushed or shook without cause. He felt terrible that Al had to go through this. When he felt this way though, he reminded himself that he was doing all he could and that this was truly a personal journal that only Al could embark on.

Fortunately, after two months of hard work Al had reported some change. He was no longer blushing upon seeing Hawkeye, and he was experiencing less compulsions. He was even able to feel physically satisfied after two portions of dinner. Al thought he still had a ways to go, but they were both buoyed by hope in the effectiveness of the meditation as treatment.

Of course during this time life still went on. Al had informed Mustang of his condition but stressed that it would not impact his work as a State Alchemist. In fact, Al wanted to remain in active duty as he thought that the normalcy and relative routine would benefit him. Mustang agreed and Ed and Al continued their work together.

They had just returned from a field mission when they were summoned unexpectedly to Mustang's office. Without much ado the brothers found themselves sitting before the newly minted Brigadier General Mustang.

"I'm sure you're wondering what this is about." Mustang was looking rather self important with a new star attached to his lapel.

Ed shrugged and looked disinterested.

Mustang became serious. "You both know that one of my new missions is to help repair the relationship between Amestris and Ishval. The Ishvalan war left behind a lot of young veterans on both sides. Many lost limbs in service to Amestris or in defense of their homeland." He paused. "The unique advantage of automail and the benefits of its use in military application has recently been brought to the attention of Fuhrer Grumman. I have been tasked with creating Amestris' first Automail Unit, a unit comprised solely of Amestris and Ishvalan veterans with automail."

A surprised silence followed.

"Huh. That's actually pretty cool. I mean….if they don't try to kill each other first." Ed smirked at Mustang.

Uniting veterans from two sides of the same war would be more than challenging. But Ed did actually like the idea. Automail had come really far in the past 10 years and a unit comprised of experienced soldiers who happened to have automail parts would be a huge advantage. And, more importantly, if the unit worked it could foster greater cooperation between the two peoples.

Mustang frowned at his comment. "Well, that aside, I need you both to deliver an offer of employment."

"A job offer? To who?" Al asked.

"Each soldier in this unit will have at least one automail limb. That's a lot of machinery. We need a good mechanic to keep them all in working order and of course, you all know the one."

Both brothers sat straight up in their chairs.

Mustang continued. "Miss Rockbell has made quite a name for herself in the automail industry and Fuhrer Grumman wishes to offer her the position of State Mechanic to the first ever Automail Unit. We're also interested in fostering Winry's talent by funding her research and development into new automail technology. We would set up a workshop for her here, in Central, and she would remain in residence or travel with the unit when the situation required. I was hoping you both could go to Resembool and ask her to join us."

"That's great! That's just great! I'm sure she'll want the job." Al grinned broadly.

"Yeah, she'll be thrilled. Definitely." Ed was happy for Winry's opportunity, but couldn't help feeling a bit subdued. It would be really hard to see her everyday after all that had happened. Still, she was his friend first, and he forced himself to shove his selfish feelings aside and just be glad.

Seeing them happy with the news Mustang almost smiled. "You two are cleared to leave at any time for Resembool. Please send word if she accepts the position so we can start to ready her space. You are dismissed."

Heading back to their apartment Al was really excited. "Just think how much fun it will be to have Winry here in Central."

"Yeah, it will be great." Ed shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and did his best to sound convincing.

Suddenly Al stopped. "You know Ed, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Yeah, what's up?" Ed stopped abruptly a couple steps in front of Al.

"Well, you know I've been on this kind of solitary journey to close the rift between my body and soul? I've been doing so much thinking, so much feeling really. I've realized so many things. Sometimes I even feel stupid for not realizing them earlier." Al looked at Ed earnestly. "I wanted to tell you that…..now I know I don't love Winry. That I never really did."

Ed could feel his eyes get wide and his eyebrows shoot up practically to his hairline. "You, you don't?"

Al shook his head and gave him a faint smile.

"Oh." Was all Ed managed to respond. After hearing Al question if his love for Winry was real in Dr. Marcoh's office Ed had not actually allowed himself to hope. In fact, he tried not to think about it at all. No sense in false hope. Now, hearing it out loud it was almost too amazing to be believed.

"She's one of the most important people in my life." Al continued. "I do want her to be happy, I do want to make her happy. Those facts combined with my body's signals made me think it was love. And it is love, I do love her, but not romantically. I never have and never will. But….and this is another one of my new found realizations, I think you do….love her, that is."

Ed could only stare at his brother. "What? How?"

"This is where I need to apologize to you." Al looked serious again. "I don't know how I could have missed it. It's just so apparent now. I guess getting my body back effected me more than I realized. I never even wondered how you knew what it was like to be in love. Do you remember when I asked you?"

Ed nodded, dumbly.

"I'm really sorry that I missed all the signs, Brother. But I want you to know that you and Winry together would make me happy. Very happy actually. You're the two people I love the most afterall."

Ed finally found his voice. "Al I...I can't tell you how glad I am to hear you say that." He let out a relieved sigh and looked down. "And, you don't need to apologize. I'm just so lucky to have you as my brother."

Now that the initial shock was wearing off Ed could feel joy welling up within his chest. He and Winry could be together, they could be happy. Finally. Suddenly he was hit with an idea. He leaped into action and turning around started heading back to Central Command, practically skipping. "Al, you go to Resembool and tell Winry." He shouted back. "There's something I've got to do before she gets here. Call me as soon as she's agreed to come!"

Winry sat on the train to Central feeling both excited and anxious. To say she was surprised to be offered the position of State Mechanic was a massive understatement. Three weeks ago Al had showed up at her workshop and dropped the overwhelming news right at her feet. Just thinking about an entire unit of soldiers with automail made her practically tremble with excitement. And even more incredible, the military actually wanted to invest in her research and development. She just knew that she could realize some of her more ambitious designs with such support. If they were looking to be impressed by new and innovative designs in automail then she was their girl.

Winry gazed out the window at the gently rolling hills and trees. She sighed. Like all change, there was some sadness as well. With some regret she thought about her practically brand new shop in Resembool. Well, it wasn't like she was abandoning it, right? Paninya had finally agreed to move to Resembool and would be taking it over. Also, Granny would be coming out of her semi-retirement to help more as well. Winry's customers had been exceedingly disappointed to lose her, but she had done her best to extol Paninya's virtues and thought that they would be more than satisfied with her. She would definitely miss the light and airiness of the physical shop itself, miss the view of the valley as she worked. Although part of her felt like maybe this was growing up, leaving the familiar, the comfort of the known behind. She guessed it was time.

Winry heard a gentle snore and looked over at the sleeping form of Al, napping on the seat next to her. He looked so much younger when he slept, more like the boy who had lost his body than the man he was now. Under direction from Al, Ed had called her shortly after their meeting with Dr. Marcoh to tell her about his brother's condition and what was needed to hopefully remedy the situation. After hearing Ed's explanation and details of the symptoms, many past events now clicked into place for Winry. How many times when they were home had she noticed Al overeating? Or responding to touch in a strange way? Over the past two months Ed kept her updated on Al's progress, and she was relieved to hear that he seemed to be improving.

But she was still surprised when, along with the job offer, Al brought news of a more personal nature. After giving her a brief summary of his progress so far, Al had sat her down and explained his reactions to specific women, something that Ed hadn't mentioned at all during his phone calls.

"So, your body was sending you all these signals but your mind, you heart didn't-doesn't actually feel emotionally attached to Hawkeye or to Ross?" Winry was confused.

"Well, in a way I am emotionally attached to them. They're very important to me, we've been through alot together. My body thinks-thought that I had romantic feelings for them. My mind and heart know better. It just took me a little while to realize which one to listen too."

"Ah, I see." And Winry thought that she did. She was sure that getting your body back after 10 years must be a complicated process.

Al had looked at her with bright, earnest eyes. "Now Winry, I want to tell you something and I want you to know that I mean it in the best possible way. The way I responded, reacted to Sheska, Ross, and Hawkeye, it's the same way I reacted to you. I don't love you. And I'm pretty sure you're ok with that, right?"

Winry had never received a declaration of 'not love' before but was ecstatic to hear it. "Really?! It's true? It was just your body reacting the whole time?"

Al nodded and smiled. "And I know there's someone eagerly awaiting your presence in Central City."

She looked at him in wonder. Of course he had already told Ed. They could finally be together! And Al was okay with it! She could barely believe how it had all turned out.

"Also Winry," Al interrupted her thoughts, "I thought you should know that I've been looking at you all morning and I haven't blushed or stuttered once. Do you know what that means? Progress."

The arrived in Central City midmorning and Al escorted Winry to her temporary lodgings in the barracks.

"We can all go and start looking at apartments with you tomorrow if you'd like."

"Yeah, that would be great." Winry couldn't help looking around and wondering where Ed was.

"Until then, let me show your workspace. I think Mustang had someone arrange everything to your specifications."

Her workspace. Winry couldn't help but feel a little disappointed knowing that no matter what it wouldn't measure up to her shop in Resembool. But this was a new start, she reminded herself, and change was good.

Al led her about a block away from Central Command and stopped in front of a small blue house with white trim.

Winry's breath caught in her throat. "What?! How?!"

The exterior of the house was identical to her Resembool shop down to every detail! The two windows in the front framing the extra wide door, the delicately slanting roof rising slightly more than a story off the ground, the small uncovered porch, all of it was exactly the same.

"Why don't you take a look inside?" Al smiled at her coyly. "I'll wait out here."

In shock Winry mounted the porch steps and slowly entered the building. Inside was identical as well. No, actually that wasn't true. It was slightly bigger and better stocked than her shop in Resembool. More cabinets lined the walls, four of the dentist-type chairs were lined up in a neat row, a giant pegboard hung full of tools was mounted on one wall, and the loft was stocked with more spare parts than she'd ever seen outside of Rush Valley. She didn't even realize that her hands were clapped over her mouth in shock. It was beautiful, it was perfect.

"You like it?"

Winry spun around to find Ed leaning against the wall near the door with his arms crossed. She was so taken with the space that she hadn't even seen him when she entered. Likely his plan the whole time.

"Like it? Ed, I can't…I don't even know what to say. It's perfect! More than perfect. You did all this?"

Ed nodded with a faint smile. She thought she detected a slight blush.

"It's amazing! It really is!" She spun around trying to survey it all again and all at once. "Thank you! Thank you so much! I can't believe you did all this." She stopped turning and approached him slowly.

He looked away from her as his classic 'Ed-ness' seemed to overcome him, "Eh, it's no big deal. Didn't take me long at all."

She was about two feet away from him now and felt heat rise up in her face. "I talked to Al, you know. He told me everything."

"He did, huh." He was still looking away. She thought he must be holding back a sarcastic remark, his usual defense in tense situations.

He might try to deny his nature, but Winry wouldn't deny her nature to tease. She worked at making her voice light and casual. "Well, if you no longer feel the same way about me I completely understand."

"Feel the same way?! Winry! Why the hell do you think I did all this?" Ed clenched his fists. "I love you just as much as I did two months ago, as I have for years!"

Winry smiled, revealing her subterfuge. "And I love you, Edward Elric." Moving slightly onto her tiptoes she kissed him gently. He responded by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.

She had no idea how long they kissed for, it could have been three minutes or three years. Her heart felt so full, her soul never before so content.

Ed pulled away gently and looked into her eyes as if trying to discern something important. "Are you going to cry?" He asked, concerned.

She smiled up into those beautiful, golden eyes. "No, I don't think I'll cry over the Elric Brothers ever again."

The End.