That night Edward was sleeping on the couch while Winry was sleeping in his bed. Alphonse had gotten home late from the hospital and was resting in his own bed. All seemed to be peaceful until a loud scream woke the boys up. Edward raced to her room but Alphonse beat him to Winry's side.

She was sitting straight up in bed. Her pupils narrowed. She seemed to be looking past them onto something that terrified her. Alphonse tried yelling her name but she stayed in her trance.

Edward sat on the bed in front of her and grabbed her shoulders. "Winry! Wake up!"

She still stayed in her trance but now she mumbled. "Help me."

Alphonse told Ed. "Wait Ed! Don't shake her. It's best to let her get through it on her own. Try talking to her calmly."

Winry cried out "Someone help me! Ed!"

All Edward wanted to do was shake her awake but he figured his brother knew something from that damn medical school. He took a breath in and rubbed her arms up and down.

Edward spoke in a calm tone "It's okay, Winry. I'm here. You're safe."

He waited and waited for Winry to respond. "Damn it Al, it's not working."

"You have to be patient. Keep talking to her."

"Damn it. Come on Winry. You're here with me and Al. You're safe." Edward said still trying to stay calm.

He moved his hand to her face. The metal one that she had made even though she wasn't sure she would ever see him again. And according to Alphonse, she had carried it with her in case per chance she ran into him again. And she did. And when this hand touched her face, her demeanor seemed to change.

Winry's pupils became larger and focused on Edward. "Ed?"

Alphonse let out a sigh of relief. Edward told her "There you are. You're back with us." He smiled in relief.

He wasn't prepared for her reaction. Her eyes filled with tears and she fell into Edward's chest. She latched her arms around him and sobbed.

Alphonse put his hand on her back and rubbed his hands up and down to soothe her. "It's okay, you're here with us now," he said trying to console her.

Winry continued sobbing while Edward embraced her. He kept telling her that she was safe and they were altogether. Her sobbing slowed down to a gentle cry. Alphonse went to the bathroom and wet a washcloth and gave it to her. She removed her face from Ed's chest and patted her face with the cold cloth. Her cheeks were still red from crying but she was starting to feel better.

Her cries became whimpers and sniffles. She apologized multiple times but the brothers said there was no reason to apologize.

Edward asked "Do you remember your dream?"

Winry nodded. And Alphonse inquired. "Do you want to tell us?"

Winry began recalling her dream. "It was white all around. There was a door. A heavy stone door."

Edward and Alphonse were familiar with this dream but still wanted to see if Winry's differed.

Edward asked her "Anything else?"

"The door opened and there were these eyes and hands that came out and grabbed me. They pulled me through. There were voices laughing like they were enjoying watching me suffer." She grabbed her arms to make sure the little hands from her dream still weren't touching her even though she was awake now.

"It felt so real," she said.

Edward confirmed. "It's because it was real. Not now but that's how you got here. It was through the gate."

Winry looked up at him. He answered her gaze. "We've both seen it. That's how I got here. Al hopped on the plane but he's seen the gate when we tried to bring back mom."

Alphonse added "And we've both had those dreams. The same one you had. It fades over time though."

Edward nodded his head and turned to Al. "Why don't you go back to bed? I got her. Remember I don't have to work tomorrow."

"That's right, you're a slacker right now," Alphonse poked fun at Edward.

"Yeah, well this slacker is helping pay for your medical school," Edward retorted.

Alphonse went to bed leaving Edward and Winry alone. Edward asked "Do you want to try to go back to sleep? Or do you want to stay up a little longer?"

Winry shook her head. "I want to try to sleep."

She laid back down, and he started putting the covers over her when she asked "Ed, can you sleep in here with me?"

Edward wasn't sure. This world had rules about this. Even though he had broken that rule, there were consequences to that. But he couldn't leave her like this. He knew how terrified she had felt. "Sure. Just don't tell anyone. Let me go grab my pillow from the couch."

Winry thought it was weird but didn't feel like asking. She was more curious about something else. Edward came back up quickly and laid in bed. "So you and Al also had those dreams?"

Edward got under the covers and turned to face her. "Yeah. Alphonse did the same thing the first night. I shook him awake which is apparently the wrong thing to do. He freaked out and started to hit me. Don't tell him I told you this. But he cried harder than you. I held him all night long. And it happened a lot in the beginning but like he said, it fades over time. I think it's our minds adjusting to this world or something like that."

"But what about you Ed? What happened while you had that dream?"

Edward grimaced. "Ugh, don't tell Al this either, okay?"

"I promise," Winry said. She held out her pinkie finger and he held out his finger and they intertwined them.

"On those nights, my dad would help me."

"Your father?! He was here?" Winry was shocked.

"Yes, he helped me adjust to this world. It sucked. I hated him at first. But after that dream, he held me and when I woke up, I punched him right in the face but he came right back and held me, and I sobbed in his arms. But not as bad as you or Al."

"Right." Winry shook her head, not believing him for a second. "So where is your dad?"

"He died. He was involved with some not so friendly people that were trying to open the gate to Amestris."

"Oh Ed, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. It was a long time ago. He helped me get acquainted with this world. Dad was a decent guy in the end. But I still don't like what he did to Mom. Sorry, not the best bedtime conversation."

"It's fine. I'm glad you and him had some time together at the end."

"Yeah, I guess so. Anyways, let's get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Okay. Good night, Ed," she said as she turned over.

"Night Winry," Edward said as he closed his eyes.

"Hey Ed?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you hold me? Just for a little bit."

Edward did hold Alphonse after his night terrors. "Sure. Just until you get to sleep." She turned over so her back was to him and scooted back so he was spooning her. She felt his arm wrap across her. It was his metal arm but that seemed to be more comforting to Winry.

Edward had to admit it was much nicer to sleep on his bed than on the couch. And with it being winter, it was nice to share body heat in his bed. It made a more pleasant sleep than being alone.

The next day, Winry woke up to something warm lying on her legs. She tried to move her legs but the object wouldn't move. She opened her eyes to the sunlight peeking through some curtains. Though she didn't quite recognize them right away. But the realization as to where she was did come to her head. "Oh, that's right. This is Ed's place."

Winry looked down towards her legs. Daisy, Al's cat, was laying on them. The cat refused to move despite Winry trying to move her legs. Winry eventually was able to remove her legs from underneath the cat.

There was the sound of the two talking though it wasn't easy to make out the conversation. She got up and stretched. Her eyes felt sore because she slept poorly. She felt guilty for waking up the boys in the middle of the night. Poor Edward had endured her waking up multiple times and yet he soothed her every time she woke up. Gentle words and warm touches on her back and on her face calmed her nerves down enough to go back to sleep each time.

Winry opened the bedroom door and smelled something savory. She went into the living room and was greeted by the men in the kitchen. Alphonse was sitting at the table. Edward was at the stove cooking something. Alphonse asked her "Do you prefer coffee or tea?"

"Coffee," Winry said with a need for caffeine that was strong. Alphonse got up and poured her a cup. He ushered her to take a seat at the table where there was a plate on it.

Edward looked tired. He yawned as he scrambled the eggs around the pan. "Pour me another cup Al. I'm going to need it today."

Winry frowned. She knew she was the reason that he was so tired. Edward came to the table with the pan and scooped the eggs onto everyone's plates. He also made bacon and toast. These were already on the table. Edward sat down with them, and they ate breakfast together.

Winry spoke her thoughts out loud. "I can't remember the last time someone made me breakfast."

The brothers paused. Alphonse responded "Well today is your lucky day. Ed doesn't always make breakfast."

"Well, I usually hurry to work. Toast works just fine on those mornings." Edward said as he smoothed jam on his toast.

"Well thank you for breakfast. It's actually pretty good," Winry replied.

Winry saw Ed's automail hand. It was the same one she had made him all those years ago. "Oh Ed, how has the automail been? Did you have to find a new mechanic here?"

Edward and Alphonse stilled their chewing and straightened up. They knew this was coming.

Edward decided to break the news. "Well actually, there is no automail in this world. They never invented it. So Al helped me keep up with the maintenance the best we could."

Winry just sat there in silence. Edward and Alphonse waited for her to process this information. It seemed to click.

Winry asked "So that's why when I saw you last you were wearing something completely different?"

Edward nodded. "Yeah, Dad made those limbs for me. I had some decent range of motion but nothing like your automail."

Winry was still having a hard time wrapping her head around it. "So there is no automail. Just prosthetics."

Alphonse interjected "Yes. And Ed's prosthetics were special. Everyone else is going to have something very simple. It's just the way this world is."

Winry put her head in her hands. She didn't know what to do. How could she live without her passion? What would she do career wise now? She had devoted her life to making automail, and now that was for nothing.

Alphonse reached out to her. "Winry, are you okay?"

She wasn't crying. She couldn't cry. Her tears had dried up last night. She finally looked up with a fatigued expression.

"I'll be fine. It's just my whole life I've been dedicated to my profession, and now I can't even use that knowledge. All of that hard work was for nothing," Winry said in frustration.

Edward reached out to her and took her shoulder with his automail hand. "It wasn't for nothing. I still have the arm that you made me. And the leg. Without those, I wouldn't be able to provide for me and Al. And you can still work on them. I would like you to look at them. You know, some routine maintenance."

Winry gave a solemn nod. "Yeah, we'll look at it today."

After breakfast, Winry and Edward went into his room. He opened his closet and got a toolbox out. He also showed her the spare limbs his father had made. Edward brought them from Germany in case his automail received damage, and he needed spare limbs.

Winry stayed in Ed's pajamas. She didn't want to get grease on her one and only dress.

"Go ahead and take off your shirt," Winry told him.

Edward stalled. He rubbed his flesh arm. "Actually, it's really cold. I'll leave the shirt on but I'll unbutton it so you can see everything.

Winry nodded. "Sure. That seems reasonable." Edward unbuttoned his shirt and took the sleeve off the automail arm but kept the other half of the shirt on. She looked at Ed's arm and removed the plating. It seemed in pretty decent condition. She tightened the screws and inspected the wires. Then she moved on to his leg and did the same thing.

"Not too bad. I'm actually impressed. Your automail just has some wear and tear on it but nothing too bad." Winry sat back with a smile on her face.

"See? I told you I took care of it. Alphonse helped too. He would remind me to oil it."

"Ok, pants off," Winry commanded.

"Geez, Winry, you coming onto me?" Edward smiled slyly as he buttoned up his shirt and started unbuttoning the pants.

"You've grown into such a pervert," Winry shook her head.

"I knew what you meant. But it's freezing so could you hurry?" Edward shivered.

"You can't rush art, Ed. But we can cover your top half with a blanket," Winry suggested.

Winry seemed a little chipper after looking at his automail. Edward hated giving her more bad news but he had to before they went shopping. She had to know some rules of this world before being thrown into it.

"Hey Winry, can we talk about something?" Edward said as sat up on the bed. He buttoned his pants because it was too cold to be half naked.

Winry sat next to him. "Sure. What is it?"

"It's about this world. There are certain rules you need to know before we go out shopping." Edward said in a serious tone.

Winry nodded for him to continue.

"Well, you see, how do I explain this? Women are treated differently than men. Women are expected to be a housewife and mother. It's not common for a woman to have a job. And the jobs that women do have, well, they don't get paid very well. It's really shitty, I know. I wish it was different."

Winry was appalled. "That's ridiculous. Just because I don't have a dick means I get treated inferiorly! That's preposterous!"

"I agree." Edward sighed.

"I can't just be a housewife! I would be useless!"

Edward scowled. "There's nothing wrong with being a housewife. My mom was one!"

Winry bit back her tongue. Edward's mother was precious to him. She was a housewife and wonderful mother. But Winry always saw herself as a career woman balancing her job and her potential family. It was difficult to digest.

"Your mom was amazing Ed. You're right, there's nothing wrong with being a wife and mother. But I just always saw automail my future, too."

"I know. I'm sorry that it's like this," Edward apologized.

"Don't apologize for this world. You did nothing to make it this way. But we'll make due. You did say that some women have jobs, right?"

Edward nodded hoping to turn the conversation into a more positive light. "Yes, but they are few and far between. And they don't pay much."

"Okay. That's something I'll consider," Winry said in defeat.

Edward had to inform her of one more thing. "And Winry, you can't tell anyone that we're sharing a bed. It looks really bad if we're sleeping together."

Winry raised her eyebrow at him. "Well, it's not like we're having sex."

Edward lowered his head to his hands. She was infuriating the way she says it so bluntly. "I know! But people will assume! And it looks bad."

"Since when do you care what others think?" Winry asked. The boy she once knew didn't give a shit what others thought of him. As long as they didn't comment on his height.

"Since it hurt someone that I cared for. People say mean things. They look at you with that judgement. It's disgusting. People should just mind their own damn business but they love their gossip and it makes them forget how shitty they really are."

Winry saw Edward's pain. She wondered who it was that got hurt. And what was said. She didn't want to pry right now. But she would eventually find the right time to ask. Or maybe she'll just ask Alphonse.

She said "People are assholes."

Edward was surprised at her language but he started to smirk "Winry Rockbell, where did you learn that kind of language from?"

Winry started to snicker "I learned it from you, dumbass."

Winry playfully punched his arm. Ed pretended it hurt, and then they both laughed a little.

Edward then agreed with her. "Well you're right about that. People are assholes. Anyways, let's get dressed. We've got some shopping to do. I still need to get Al a present."

Edward and Winry took turns getting dressed in the bedroom. They both put on their winter coats and headed downstairs. Once again, Edward put his hand to her backside and rushed her to the front door of the building as if he was trying to avoid something.

She was about to ask him when they had walked down the street but she noticed Ed doing something. Edward started scratching his arm to the point where Winry noticed. "Ed, is your arm okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Why do you ask?!" he almost yelled.

"Well sheesh, if it weren't for your coat, I would think you'd be scratching the skin off!" Winry yelled right back.

"It's none of your damn business. My arm is fine!" He kept walking and then stopped when he noticed she wasn't following.

Edward sighed. He had been a little harsh. "I'm sorry. It must be this new coat making my arm itch. It's been really bothering me lately."

"Oh, okay," Winry said still slightly irritated.

"Come on, you'll catch cold if you stand there any longer." He offered his arm to her and she looked down at it. It seemed like a peace offering.

Winry sighed and interlocked his arm with hers as they strolled down the streets of London.

Edward took her to the same boutique he had went into before, and the same saleswoman was there. She took Winry by the hand and had her try on a few outfits and have a proper bra fitting.

Edward sat and waited impatiently in a chair. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot. He sighed in frustration. This was taking forever and he still had to find something for his brother.

Edward's fidgeting stopped when he saw Winry come out in a dark blue dress. She did a partial twirl. "Hey Ed, what do you think?" she said as she looked down at the dress.

He saw her and realized he had stopped breathing. Gone was the girl he grew up with and here was a woman. She was thin but she still had curves. She was beautiful, and then he realized he never answered her.

"Um, Ed, are you okay?"

"Yeah. It looks fine. Are you done yet? I still have to shop for Alphonse," Edward said his voice a little wobbly. Winry shook her head. She eventually chose the dark blue dress and a light pink one. She also got a nightgown and a few other essentials. Edward paid the saleswoman, who was thrilled to take his cash.

Edward took Winry's bags and went to the next store to get Alphonse a gift. Edward picked him up some underwear and a dress shirt. Winry asked "Is that it?"

"Yeah, he actually needs this stuff," Edward said.

"Well, that's boring. Get him something fun too. Like a game or sweets."

"Fine! We'll get some sweets too," Edward said exasperatingly.

Winry and Edward went to a confectionary and got Alphonse a box of sweets. Edward was so tired of shopping. Edward then had to go the bank to get more cash so he could take them out for lunch. They sat down and ordered some food. While they were waiting, Winry apologized for spending so much of his money.

"Winry, it's fine. Dad had to do the same thing for me."

Winry smiled "You call him 'Dad' now. Before you would never call him that. I think you called him bastard most of the time. Maybe father. But you've changed."

Edward paused and looked down at the table. "I guess so. He did a lot for me after I got here. He bought me clothes and educated me on the history of this place. He also made me an arm and leg and several spares because I wasn't very gentle with them."

Winry snickered at him. He enjoyed the sound of her giggling and smiling. And then he continued. "Just consider it as me paying it forward."

Winry became solemn then. "Well, I'm not sure how I'll ever pay you back or even pay it forward. Not with my job prospects."

Edward frowned at her. Then the food was presented to them. Edward thanked the waiter. He took a bite of his food, and after swallowing it told her "Don't worry about it. We'll figure it out. We have plenty of time."

Winry nodded but she was worried. Edward was being optimistic. It was weird for him. But then her mind drifted as she ate. And then she remembered something else she needed. "Um Ed, there's something else I need to get if you don't mind."

Edward was already so tired of shopping. He asked in an annoyed tone "What is it?"

"Well, I need a toothbrush, and maybe some shampoo and soap."

Edward seemed to calm down when he realized she was asking for essentials.

"Yeah, we'll stop at the general store on the way home. I need to pick up a few things while I'm there. Now eat! Your food is getting cold." Edward urged her to eat and made sure she finished her meal before they left to finish their shopping.

After shopping, her history lesson from Edward, and dinner, Winry needed a nice long hot bath. She figured that would make her feel better, and she could use her new soap and shampoo that she got today. She turned on the bath water and felt for the right temperature. She let the bath water start filling the tub. There was something comforting about the sound of the water rushing from the faucet.

Winry took off her dress and new bra. She looked at herself in the mirror. It was almost like looking at a stranger. When had she lost so much weight? Her ribs could be seen, and she felt her fingers rub across them as if questioning if these were real. Not only was it her body but her face. Her cheeks were sunken in. She looked ghostly. No wonder the brothers were making sure she was eating. They wanted her to get better but she wasn't sure what her ailment was. She had lost a year of memories, so her body image was a mystery.

There was another mystery on her body that the nurse had pointed out. Winry turned to see her backside in the mirror. Sure enough, there was a tattoo on the right side of her lower back. One that she had no recollection of receiving. Not only that but it was an odd shape. It was two squares overlapping each other in differing angles surrounded by a circle. It didn't seem like a transmutation circle because those would be more complicated. But maybe she should show Edward and Alphonse to see if they knew something about it.

Winry stopped the bath water and slipped into the tub. She started scrubbing herself. The floral scent of the soap brought a smile to her face. It smelled like lavender from home.

"Home? I doubt I'll ever see it again. This is my new home now. I hope that one day it feels like it."

Author's note: Finally, Winry is getting settled and we are getting into more of the mystery of her appearance. We will also get into Ed's trauma soon. More of that will be in the next chapter. Please leave kudos or even better, write a comment. It really makes my day to see people enjoy it.