Every man has seen the wall that limits his mind.

-Unknown

Edward looked down in shame. "I, uh…" he muttered. "I wanted to walk…"

"He woke up a few hours ago and tried to get out of bed," Winry explained simply. "He refused to let us help him."

"I tried to help him," Alphonse said quietly, armor trembling. "But…my armor hurt him…" Trisha was at a loss of what to say. Poor Al, he probably felt so guilty. His armor was very sharp and rough, much unlike his personality.

"It's not your fault, Al," Trisha said automatically. "Are you okay?" Alphonse nodded. Trisha looked around the room, noting the uncomfortable silence.

"There's something else, isn't there?" she frowned. The three exchanged glances before Edward gave Winry a nod and she sighed.

"Can we talk in private?" Winry asked Trisha. Trisha nodded, letting Winry lead her into the drawing room. The girl looked around uncertainly, before speaking slowly.

"We…I mean…Well, he…" Winry shook her head, getting control of her thoughts. "Heard you. Fall down, I mean. When you fainted," she whispered quietly. "He tried so hard to get to you, but only kept hurting himself in the process." Trisha blinked.

"He was trying to get to me?" Winry nodded.

"I eventually had to sedate him. He woke up a few minutes before you, actually," she said.

"I…" Trisha began, unknowing of what to say.

"I was hesitant to tell you, since I knew you'd be upset," Winry sighed. "But when Granny gets home, we'll be able to sort things out."

Trisha hoped Winry was right.

Pinako arrived early in the morning while Ed, Winry, and Trisha were asleep. When Trisha awoke, Pinako was cooking breakfast.

"Ah, Trisha. Care to tell me why Edward has new injuries? Winry wouldn't tell me," the woman said. Pinako listened patiently as Trisha explained the events that had occurred while she was gone.

"Ah, yes, that is a common thing for patients," she nodded. "The feeling of uselessness is worse than any physical pain. As for this 'healing ability', I have no idea where this came from. It shouldn't be possible."

"I know… Van could do the same thing, but…" Trisha sighed. Could she really tell Pinako?

"But what?" Pinako asked, turning all of her attention to Trisha.

"He….is a humanized Philosopher's Stone…" she whispered. "That's how he can heal himself…That's why he's…immortal…" Pinako simply stared at Trisha, unfazed by this information. Suddenly, she let out a bark-like laugh.

"So that's how he's looked so young all these years!" she laughed.

"You're surprisingly calm about it," the brunette blinked.

"Trisha, Van is an impossible man. Nothing surprises me by now," Pinako chuckled.

"But- how can I do that? I'm not a Philosopher's Stone, nor do I have one! It's not possible," she sighed. Pinako pursed her lips.

"That's something we'll figure out later. For now, we need to focus on Ed and Al, they need us. Maybe you can use this power to you advantage in the meantime." Trisha frowned.

"Do you think I could help heal Ed?" she said slowly.

"I don't know," Pinako admitted. "But you can damn well try."

"Ed? Al?" Trisha smiled softly, entering his room carefully. The boy's usually sunken face lit up once he heard his mother's voice.

"Yes, Mom?" Alphonse asked, remaining completely still in the corner of the room. Poor boy. He must be so nervous to move around.

"I...need to tell you something. About your father."

For the first time in Trisha's presence since her resurrection, the child scowled. "What about him?" Edward ground out.

"Are you aware of what a Philosopher's Stone is?" When her sons nodded, she chose to continue. "Well, your father knows how they're made. So do I." Ed gasped.

"Really?! Maybe we could make one! Do you think it could heal our bodi-" the eleven-year old stopped his rambling when Trisha held up her hand to silence him.

"The main ingredient for a Philosopher's Stone is human life. Several of them, actually," she explained calmly. It took all of her strength to not burst into tears at the utter disappointment on her eldest son's face. She couldn't see Al, but she was sure he would have looked similar.

"Did...did that bastard make one?" Ed growled after a long stretch of silence.

"Edward Elric, don't talk about your fa-"

"I'll talk about my father however I want to if he dared make something like that!" the blond snapped. Trisha couldn't help but feel a wave of pride that her son had snapped at her after going so long without her- he had been very skittish and shy around her lately. But he threw that out the window to defend what he thought was right.

"Mom...please don't tell me Dad killed people just for the power..." Al whimpered quietly.

"I'm getting to that," she smiled softly, eyes glowing with pride. "He didn't exactly make one...He...he became one."

Ed and Al both looked at her like she was insane.

"How...?" Alphonse whispered.

"You see, there was a friend of his. A friend in a flask," Trisha began reluctantly. This was going to be a long night.

Trisha had stayed with the boys until Ed had fallen asleep. She'd stayed up chatting with Al for a few hours, but when her eyelids began to droop, her ever-caring son had ushered her out of the room, insisting that she sleep. Once the door closed behind her, she was met by a sleeping Winry, who was leaning against the wall, half of her face pressed up to the door. Trisha chuckled to herself, shaking Winry awake. Once aware of her surroundings, the young girl flushed, embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping.

"A-Auntie Trisha!" she gasped. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," she soothed her honorary niece. "I would've told you eventually anyways." Winry frowned, looking away.

"Is it true?" she whispered. "What you said about the Puh-losophy Stone?" Trisha nodded. Winry looked up at her with a hopeful face.

"Then, could Uncle Van bring back my mommy and daddy?"

Trisha froze, feeling tears well up in her eyes. Probably not, she thought to herself, but didn't say it aloud. Instead, she kneeled in front of the girl whom she'd babysat years ago.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up, dear."

WOW I ACTUALLY POSTED A CHAPTER GOOD JOB ME

Reviews are love c:

Zerorose: Aw, thank you! I don't necessarily need ideas, I just need inspiration and motivation. But thank you :) You actually guessed something that happened in this chapter!

Guest: No, she doesn't have the same powers as Sloth. She's not exactly a homunculus, so she doesn't have the same powers. She's only one soul.

GodlyDeathHunter: B*TCH U GUESSED IT. HWAUH! u is right.

Thanks for reading!