Chapter Eight ~ A Call Away

Alphonse placed the shovel against the tree. He wiped his forehead and sighed. "There we are," he whispered to the grave. "You're finally at peace, Dad."

Winry walked to him and cried on his shoulder. Her grief was overwhelming. "Why are you crying so much, Winry?"

She choked on her sobs. "Because you won't cry!" She let herself break down on his shoulder before choking out another answer. "I... I need to cry...for you too."

Al just hugged her. "I can't cry if my Dad has achieved peace at last."

Winry just kept crying. "Don't worry," Al comforted her. "Let's call Ed and tell him. Then we can all come here and mourn properly."

"O...Okay," Winry muttered between softening sobs. The two walked over to the house. Al picked up the phone.

"Wait, do we even know where Ed is now?"

"No, I don't think we do," Winry murmured as tears slowed down on her face.

"Do you think he passed the exam?"

Winry didn't know if Al wanted how she really thought or the answer he wanted to hear. "I'm not sure. He has some motivation, but he's so depressed that he doesn't think. Let's try Central anyways."

"Good idea." Alphonse dialed in the military. It only took a few seconds before someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Yes, I'd like to talk to Edward Elric."

"Um...hold for a moment." The lady who answered the phone covered it. "Anyone know where Elric is?"

An officer in the background shouted out, "I think he's in Roy's office!"

"Thanks," she muttered. She picked up the phone. "I'll send you to Roy's office- that's where he should be right now."

"Thanks," Alphonse sang. After a couple of rings, a woman picked up.

"Yes?"

Alphonse tried not to look super surprised. He had thought Roy was a man. "Are you Roy?"

"No, I'm his assistance." Riza laughed a bit. "What is it that you need?"

"I'm looking for my brother, Edward Elric. I was directed here."

"He's not here. He hasn't even come here, I'm sorry." She covered the phone for a second. "Anyone know an Elric?" She asked Roy and his staff. Roy knew who he was but didn't know where, so he didn't take any attention. Havoc, Breda, Falman, and Fuery perked up.

"He's going to Hughes' house!" They all mused at the same time. Riza tried to hide how odd she thought that was.

"He is at Lt. Colonel Hughes' place right now."

Alphonse frowned. "Okay, thank you." He hung up before Riza could reply.

Alphonse turned to Winry. "We're going to Central."

"What? Why can't we just call?"

"He's at one of their houses. It'll save us trouble if we just go there."

"Okay," Winry said, though she was obviously not convinced. "I'll tell Pinako where I'm going to be and I'll say goodbye to Mom and Dad."

"Aren't they sleeping?"

"They told me they're never too tired to know where I am."

Al laughed. "I think that applied to us when we were kids and they kept losing you and freaking out."

"Oh well," she sang as she made her way to her house. Al just sighed and packed up his stuff. He'd be seeing Ed soon. It had only been a day and some change, but he already missed his brother.