Epilogue: Carry Yourself Back to Me

One year later

"Alice, what does this little squiggle thing mean?"

"Hm?" Alice mumbled, turning to look at the paper Emily was holding, "That...is...a four. Or a nine. Probably a four."

"Seriously, Allie, work on your handwriting," Emily grumbled, writing something down beside the so-called scribble, "How do you expect to get a good grade if the professor can't read your work? This isn't high school anymore."

"Yeah, yeah, I know..." Alice replied, resting her head on her desk. By some twist of fate, she and Emily had ended up in the same Math and English classes at the local college. In another year they would both be heading off to different colleges, but for now they were still together. Emily always said it was a good thing, even if she did complain about it once and a while.

Alice's return the year before had been fairly anticlimactic, especially since her family and friends didn't seem to realize she had ever gone missing. The same had happened for Emily when she had returned and the two had decided that it was Truth's doing. Not that they minded. It made things quite a bit easier.

But neither of them were really the same, especially Alice. They never really hung out with their friends anymore and they often feel into strange silences when certain topics were brought up. And Alice couldn't seem to get over Ed.

When Emily had discovered what had happened after she had left, she tried to help her friend but Alice just couldn't let go. And it seemed to be getting worse.

"Have you even done your History essay?" Emily asked, setting her notebook down.

"...No."

"Alice, you have to stop this. You're...not going to see him again, alright? You have to focus on this world now. If you flunk out of college, you'll never get a good job!"

"You don't know that!" Alice cried, sitting up. A few people glanced at them but a quick glare from Emily made them turn back.

"Quiet down, you'll get us in trouble!" Emily hissed.

"No! Ed...I'm not giving up on Ed! I love him, alright?! I refuse to give up." Alice said, slamming her palms on her desk.

"Alice..."

"I'm...I don't feel good. I'm going home," Alice muttered, standing up.

Emily watched quietly as her friend spoke with the professor quietly then left the room. She let out a sigh as the door fell shut, glancing down to find that Alice had left her notebook. Again.

Maybe she should Alice buy one of those self-help books for her birthday...

~X~

Alice strode across the campus, her bag bouncing against her hip. She was angry but she didn't know why. Emily was right, of course. It had been a year since Alice had returned from Amestris and she knew there was no way she could get back.

Edward, the man she loved, was forever out of her reach.

And whoever had said "it was better to have loved and lost" needed to be shoved down a hole.

She let out a sigh, reaching up to push her newly cut brown hair out of her face. The campus was fairly empty considering that everyone who wasn't in a class was either at home or in the cafeteria. Alice frowned, wondering exactly what it was she was doing.

Emily was right, again. She needed to focus on school, on her life, not the time she had spent in Amestris. Continually thinking about Ed, and Al, wasn't helping things.

Alice finally reached her car, unlocking the door and throwing her bag inside. But she didn't follow her bag in. Instead she stood there quietly, suddenly sure she was being watched. A quickly glance around told her that she was alone, but she couldn't shake the feeling. Suddenly a bit paranoid, she slid inside and slammed the door shut, letting out a sigh as she started the car.

She was just imagining things again, that was all.

Alice let out a high pitched shriek as something collided with her window and she turned to find a very familiar blond standing outside her window.

She threw the door open, almost knocking the man over.

"E-Edward? Ed, is that you?!"

"Yes," the man replied, grinning, "Did you really have to try and hit me, Allie?"

Alice stood frozen, staring at the blonde in shock. He looked older than she had last seen him, of course, and his hair seemed longer. He had it tied back in a ponytail instead of a braid. He was also wearing modern clothes, as if he had been there a while. He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side.

"If you're mad at me, it's not my fault. I should be the one mad at you, considering you broke our promise." Ed said, crossing his arms.

"I-I..." Alice grasped vainly at the words, too shocked to form a coherent sentence. How on Earth was Ed here?!

"How?" She finally managed to get out.

"Ah...well..." Ed started to explain, blushing a bit as he scratched his head, "The homunculi...we finally defeated them. I was attempting to get Al's body back when Truth told me that the only way to get it was if I gave up my world and came here. Al refused to be separated from me and transmuted himself here afterwards. I was...kinda surprised, considering Al seemed to have a thing for Winry..."

"You...gave up Amestris? Both of you?"

"Yeah. I had to. Al's body was finally in my grasp, I couldn't give up."

"I..." Alice choked a little, realizing with embarrassment that she was crying. She quickly buried her face in her hands and hoped Ed hadn't noticed.

"Allie? Allie, what's wrong?" Ed asked, his hand resting on her shoulder.

It only took a second for Alice to wrap her arms around Edward and it only took half a second for him to return the embrace. Ed rested his chin on Alice's head, rubbing her back as her shoulder's shook with sobs.

"I'm...I'm so sorry, " Alice gasped, "I'm so sorry I broke my promise, Ed!"

Ed stopped rubbing her back and tightened his hold on her.

"It's not your fault, Allie. I'm not mad. I'm just glad I have you back," he whispered, his voice husky.

Alice gave a shaky nod, gripping the back of Ed's shirt in a kind of desperation.

"I love you, Ed," she gasped.

"I love you too, Allie."

"Wherever we journey,
Wherever we call home
One thing is always true.
You are a part of me
And I am a part of you."

Fin.