Hope Ch.2 EdWin

Ed couldn't believe where he was. He was back in Cental with his brother, Alphonse.'We....we actually did it, we actually made it back home' Ed thought to himself, while there were frantic military officers hovering over them. Ed suddenly snapped back to reality and got up, ignoring those who offered assistance, and looked over to Al, who had the biggest smile on his face. Ed hadn't seen him smile like that for three long years. He walked over to his brother who was just a short distance away and embraced him, also wearing his own smile.


"Well, well it's good to see you Fullmetal." Ed looked in the direction of the familiar voice that he hadn't heard in a while, and to his surprise, he saw Roy Mustang. Even though it had been three years Mustang hadn't changed much at all.


"Good to see you too Colonel."Ed said a little distantly, still taking in his surroundings. He was still trying to convince himself that this was real, that this wasn't one of many dreams he had dreamt back in that other world. He would be able to see everyone again, right then it snapped, he would see Winry again. Ed had thought about her all the time back there, he would often make him self sick by thinking that she had moved on, gotten married, and started a new life, completely forgetting him. Ed had a constant reminder of her, right there on his body, his automail. He looked down at it now, thinking of her and thinking of how much she might have changed in these three years, hoping that there wouldn't be much of a difference. Although he had grown taller and matured more, he hoped that Winry would still be the same wrench-throwing Winry.


Alphonse took in his brothers appearance, and he knew he was thinking about Winry. Back in the other world, he could always tell when brother was thinking of her. He would get a softened look on his face, almost peaceful, and another expression he would get that looked much like outrage, but he was wearing the softer expression at the moment. He knew that his automail, the one reminder of Winry, was one of the things that had kept him sane in that other world besides him.


"Brother?" Ed's head snapped up, still looking very distant, as if his mind was off in another world,"Everyone is going inside now, we should too. We need to get some rest before we start to do anything else." Ed knew his brother was right, they should get some rest, but he knew that even if he tried, resting would do no good now. They were home and he just wanted to keep moving, he wanted to run all the way to that yellow house, on the hill, and see those beautiful, big blue eyes again.


"Yeah, I'm right behind you Al."Ed said softly. Al looked at him and sighed, knowing full well that he would do anything but rest, knowing his brother couldn't wait to go home. Al didn't want to wait much either, but he knew they needed rest before engaging any long trip. Leaving Ed behind him, Al went up to Mustang and asked if he would telephone the Rockbells to let them know they that were back home, safe and sound.

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Winry ended up heading to Central alone, granny saying that she could not handle being on a train that long. So Winry gave her granny a simple 'I'll be back soon'and an 'I love you' and left to catch her train for Central.


The ride to there was a long and nerve wracking one. It had already been about two hours on the train and Winry felt like she was going to burst, she couldn't wait any longer though she knew she had to. So to pass the time she let her mind wander, thinking of what they would be doing right at this moment. Wondering if they had spared a thought for her since they had gotten back. Little did she know that she was all Ed could think about right now. With her mind wandering around in a place known only to her, sleep overcame her.


She was awakened by the sound of the train stopping in Central Station. She got up and stretched feeling very stiff, but that became no problem at all when she started to think about everything at once. She wasn't dreaming, and she would really be able to see her beloved childhood friend and the one she loved most in the world. She stepped off the train to see Riza Hawkeye awaiting her.


As soon as she caught her eye she went over to meet her."Hello Ms.Riza, it's been a while hasn't it?" WInry tried to say as calmly as she could, but she was just dying to see Ed and Al again, knowing she was so close! "Hello Winry, you've changed quite a bit since we met last" Hawkeye began, taking in Winry's appearance, she looked a mess, but she could see the old Winry was popping out of that dim shell she had heard about," how have you been?"


"I've been doing well, thank you" Winry quickly lied, she knew she has been anything but well," Where are those two?" she said quickly scoping the area, seeing if there was any chance they were there in the station.


"They are at Central command, I was told to come here to meet you and take you back with me to see them." She could see that Winry couldn't and wouldn't wait any longer so, she began to make her way out of the station motioning Winry to follow her out. " How are they?" Winry said suddenly nervous, hoping that they weren't hurt in anyway,"Are they hurt or anything?"


"I can asure you that they are very much ok. They're nervously waiting for your arrival back at Command Center"She said smiling, hoping to take some of the anxiousness away from Winry, to let her know that they wanted to see her. Winry was surprised at this bit of news, she hadn't expected them to be waiting for her, but now knowing this she was finally able to accept that this was in fact real, and They were waiting for her.