(Age 12)

The twins managed to leave Central Command without incident, though their tempers made this quite a feat. With Roy's teasing, Edward and Elizabeth both were subject to outbursts targeted at the Colonel. The man had a knack for finding a person's insecurity, even if finding the insecurities of two twelve year olds wasn't that much to brag about. The two had quite the colorful conversation on the way to the railing station, complaining about the Flame Alchemist and nitpicking obscure things about him. Once they were firmly seated on the train and headed for home, Edward and Elizabeth had gotten over the silly remarks from Mustang and were able to begin a normal conversation.

Elizabeth's mind was full of possibilities that she wanted to discuss with her brother. Could they really return Alphonse to his original body? Is regaining his body from the void even possible? Would she be strong enough to do it, even with Edward's help? How do they even know if his body is still alive, and in existence? What do they do if it's not? Her head was so wound up with the different paths the future could take, and with how much knowledge that she couldn't even fathom knowing about. Where they currently stood wasn't even a point of stability for her, as everything had changed so fast that she had gotten swept up with the movements, just as Edward and Alphonse had.

Of all the thoughts swirling in her mind, she could only vocalize one: "What are we going to do, Ed?" Her voice wasn't strong or stable as she would have liked it to have been. She wished she was strong, level-headed, and able like her brother. She saw him in a very different light than herself. She felt extremely small at the moment, lost and scared.

Though Edward appeared stronger externally, he was also just as scared and worried as his sister. His throat dried up at the sound of Elizabeth's voice. He wanted to be strong for his sister, and make her feel better. Swallowing, he shifted in his seat and assured her, "Well Liz, we'll just have to take one step at a time. We'll go home and have our automail tuned up, I'm sure Winry will be happy to tinker with us. Then we can pack up, and tell Al everything, and say our goodbyes." Just thinking of saying goodbye to everyone they knew in Resembool made everything feel so real to both of them.

Elizabeth stared blankly for a moment, processing her thoughts and feelings. She drew her legs up into the seat and set her chin on her knees, with her eyes fixed on the floor, "We..." she started out slowly, as if speaking off of the top of her head, "Don't really have a home, do we?" She shifted focus to Edward, looking for his reaction, "We haven't for a long time, not since mom got sick." Her expression was an empty kind of sadness, one where the bearer is resigned to something awful.

The twins sat together in silence for a short time. Elizabeth leaned on her brother, trying to refrain from letting out her emotions. She knew that if she told him what she felt right now that it would mean crying, and she didn't want to cry when he was so obviously trying to help her feel better. She glanced up at her brother. "Edward," She said, her voice cracking, "I'm scared of what's going to happen next." Those few words released all of her tears, much like she knew they would. Something she also knew, however, was that keeping everything inside of her would only make it worse later on.

Edward lost his composure within seconds of Elizabeth. He had only been able to hold it for so long because he didn't want to upset her. "I'm scared, too." He admitted, hoping that it wouldn't make her worry more. She understood, and although she was a bit worried that neither of them were sure of the future, it comforted her to know that she wasn't the only one afraid of what may come.

And so they cried, until the call for Resembool's stop came up. They washed their faces, calmed their tears, and put on smiles for everyone back home. They had each resolved, in their minds, that they wouldn't allow themselves to break down in front of Alphonse or Winry. Those two had enough to worry about as it is.

Pinako insisted that the Elric's stay for dinner before returning to Central. Though she wasn't pleased with their decision, she understood why Edward and Elizabeth made it, and respected that it was their choice to do so. Before dinner, Winry did a short diagnostic test on the twins' automail, to ensure that all parts were snugly fit and all nerves were securely attached. They hated adjustments that involved any of the nerve wiring. It was nearly always painful, like rooting around in an open wound.

Winry did some tinkering on our arms and legs, and made sure all nerves were attached. I hated that part. It was so painful whenever she messed with the nerves of the automail. After the adjustments were made, Pinako called everyone in for dinner.

Elizabeth with thrilled with the array of food at the dinner table. Pinako had made stew, bread rolls, and a fresh blueberry pie. It made her feel a bit guilty as she watched Alphonse writing in his notebook. He had started a notebook a few weeks back of all the foods he wanted to eat when he got his body back. Pinako hadn't made blueberry pie since his soul was bound to the armor, so he was most likely adding that to the list. Everything was nice and peaceful until Edward and Pinako's bickering started in. In the best or worst circumstance, those two would always be ready to duke it out.

"I am not drinking that." Edward's voice rang out over all idle chatting at the table. When everyone's attention focused on him, it was obvious he was referring to the glass of milk he was glaring at.

Pinako waved a hand and gave a half-laugh, "Edward simply must enjoy being a midget." She commented, going straight for his weak point.

Edward's reaction was immediate, "Who the hell are you calling a pint-sized midget?" he snapped back at her, sliding the glass of milk forcefully away from himself.

The other twin gave him an incredulous look, "You're such an idiot," she said, before taking a sip of her own milk and adding, "She only called you a midget. You called yourself pint-sized." She leaned forward and gave Edward a sweet smile, "Maybe if you drank a pint of milk in your lifetime, you wouldn't be the size of it."

Edward fumed, partly because his own sister took a jab at him at the earliest opportunity. Before anyone could break the brief silence in the tense room with another smart-ass remark, the Rockbell's dog, Den, barked at Edward and started begging for food from him. The disturbance struck everyone as funny, and caused the tension to dissolve into laughter and normal conversation.

After dinner was done, Elizabeth and Edward went for a walk around town. Though neither would vocalize their thoughts, they each knew deep down that they had joined the military during a time of high tension. Ever since the Ishvallan conflict, Amestris has been on the verge of war. The twins understood what their risks were, and that there was a chance they may not return home after everything was said and done. Elizabeth tried to put those thoughts to the back of her mind. She saw no sense in worrying over them, especially on such a beautiful evening. The sun had painted the sky an amazing mix of oranges, reds, and pinks.

Before either sibling had realized it, their walk had taken them to the path to their childhood home. The warmth of the sunset brought with it everything worth remembering about the house. Their minds went to birthdays, festivals, dinners, and more shared with one another. How they learned to transmute, and cook, and play-fight. Where they first began reading, and where it became clear that family had to come first.

The sky grew darker, and so did the memories. There were few that overshadowed the good, but they were dark enough to overpower them as well. Edward felt his heart thumping in his chest as they approached the house. Their father abandoned this house, and them. Elizabeth felt her stomach knot up. Their mother fell ill in this house. The two exchanged glances, uneasy but compelled to continue up the front steps. Their mother laid on her deathbed in this house, waiting for a man who never came for her. Now at the door, the twins stopped-neither wanted to make the first move towards the handle. They watched their mother breathe her last in this house. After a long moment, Edward grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. They tried to bring her back from the dead in this house. Neither were sure of what to feel as they stepped inside.

It was a feeling of nostalgia that finally rushed through them. Mixed with a bit of regret, and melancholy. They certainly didn't feel twelve years old. They explored the house a bit, re-familiarizing themselves with the place that held all of their memories of a complete family. It was eerie, how empty and quiet it was, but comforting that it was the same. They could always come home. Without thought, they entered their father's study to reminisce about their favorite reading spot. They had forgotten, or rather, they didn't want to remember. They watched their future end in this house.

Elizabeth crouched down, holding her mouth in horror and disgust. Edward reared up, first-hand memories of the event flooding his vision, as if he were there again. There was no body, but the room clearly held disaster once. The circle had been smudged by age and someone-probably Pinako-walking over it and through it. There was a large, dark stain in the center, flowing out from a large metal basin. That was where their materials had been gathered, where that thing came from.

Harrowed, the two slowly made their way out of the house. Their chests were constricted with an array of emotions; guilt, fear, anxiety, grief. This house could never be considered a childhood home, not anymore, not in the minds of Edward and Elizabeth.

They were too much of a state of shock to bear any outward signs of distress, save for being unnaturally calm and quiet. Edward broke the tense silence first, "Elizabeth." he whispered, "We can't come back."

She nodded in agreement, "I don't want to remember it like that, Edward. Alphonse can't see that, either." She closed her eyes and placed her hands over her face, gently calming herself down.

Edward stepped back, "Can you..." he glanced at her, then back at the front door, "Can you do it?" he asked quietly. Elizabeth slid her hands down her face, and nodded slightly. She turned to face the house, and slowly breathed, as if to take in the house once more. She brought her hands together, pausing for a moment as the air transmuted within the building before her. Flicking her wrist out, she waited beside her brother as the flames spread throughout the house, engulfing it all in cleansing destruction.

The glow of the fire touched everyone, from Alphonse's metal helmet to the tears streaking Winry's face. Elizabeth smiled sadly at the sight. Winry had always been soft-hearted. Edward glanced around at the people around him.

"Why are you crying?" He asked Winry, shifting towards her. He wasn't sure what was wrong or how to comfort her.

She made no attempt to wipe away the streaks running down her face, nor did she try to prevent new tears from falling. She simply wrinkled her nose and replied quietly, without breaking her gaze from the burning house, "Because you won't. All of you are too stubborn to cry when you need to!"

Edward hesitated before taking a step towards her and placing his left hand on her arm, "Winry," he started softly, "Don't cry because of us." Winry shook off his hand and faced him, bringing her eyes up to his. "Don't cry because of me."

"It's not because of you, idiot!" she insisted, wrapping her arms around him in a hug, "It's for you."

Edited.