Hope Ch.20 The End

 Relief couldn’t even begin to describe Ed’s feelings now. The bastard would be taken away to Central, everyone was safe, and best of all Winry had regained her memory. He had been completely sick with fear that she wouldn’t ever remember who her family was, who he was. Though he was overjoyed that she had remembered everything, he was angry that Erlich had shoved a needle in her arm to do it. Just like what he did to me in Germany.

 As they were walking back to the hotel, he looked at Winry’s exposed arm; a blue and purple bruise had formed where the needle was harshly shoved into her.

 Winry noticed Ed’s stare and sighed, “It’s alright Ed, and it hardly even hurts, so don’t worry about it ok?” She flashed him a reassuring smile and looked back in front of her, wanting to see all the changes to Rush Valley.

 Ed, not totally convinced, spoke again, “Hmm. Are you sure? It looks pretty painful to me.”

 Winry sighed again, “Yes I’m completely and totally sure! Now, can I please enjoy this wonderful heaven that is Rush Valley? Geez, I haven’t been here in over a year you know?”

 Ed laughed as a stubborn look came onto her face, and tightened his grip on her hand, noticing the blush come onto her face when he did, making him smile even wider.

 They were nearing the hotel when suddenly; Garfiel and Paninya came running out of the Automail shop, calling out to Winry.

 “My dear, Winry!” Garfiel said as he shoved Ed to the side and latched onto Winry, “Oh, I’ve missed you! Why haven’t you come by the shop lately?!”

 “Heya Winry, long time no see!” Paninya joined the two hugging in the street, or rather one person hugging and the other struggling for air.

 “Uh, y-yeah, sorry about that.” Winry uttered the words while being squeezed relentlessly.

 Ed, recovering from the brutal push, got up and pried the muscly, feminine man away from Winry. “Hey! She has to breathe you know!”

 “Oh dear me, I apologize! I’m just so happy to see you again!” Tears began springing in his eyes.

 Winry, seeing Garfield’s tears, caused a chain reaction, making her cry too. “I missed you too!!!”

 The two began hugging again, a normal hug this time and not a fight for life, tears streaming down their faces like a river. Paninya soon joined in, and out of nowhere the lady, who called herself Leda, came running out of the hotel and also joined the reunion party.

 Ed just stood there awkwardly, scratching his head, feeling uncomfortable and willing Al to come out of the hotel.

 “U-um.”

 “What’re you doing brother? You don’t want to join the hugging circle?” Alphonse strolled out of the hotel, laughing at how awkward his brother looked at the moment.

 “No way.” Ed stated plainly. “I don’t want to be hugged on by that weird feminine man.” Ed turned his head away from the huggers, and faced Al. Well, Alphonse seems to be back to normal too.

 “What do we do now?” Ed asked as walked closer to his brother.

 “Well, I’ve already called granny and told her we were all okay, earning an earful of course, but as of right now, Ms. Riza is taking Erlich to Central. There’s no doubt that he will be taken into interrogation.”

 Ed sighed and looked over his shoulder to the still hugging Winry, “You don’t think we’ll need to be there do you?” He really didn’t want to leave her to go to some sick bastards questioning.

 Al thought for a moment, “No, I don’t see a reason why we would have to. We already told them everything that happened when we passed through the gate that last time. There really isn’t much of anything else that we can tell them, and even if they do think of something to ask us, they can easily reach us by phone.”

 “You’re right.” Ed smiled at the thought of not needing to do anything, “I guess we can just go home now huh?”

 Al smiled too, “Yeah that sounds really nice.” 

 Ed looked back over to Winry engulfed in the hugging circle, a loving smile on his face when suddenly; Al grabbed his arm and led them both into the group, Ed protesting loudly the way there.

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 “Mommy,” a little boy across the street began to ask him mom a question, “What are those people doing?” The boy was inquiring about the strange oddity that was happening in front of them.

 The mother looked to where the boy was pointing and smiled, “Well, it seems that they are hugging dear.”

 The little boy scratched his head, “But why in the middle of the street like that?”

 Laughing, the mom replied to her son, “I guess they were just too happy to be able to wait and hug each other inside!”

 “That’s really weird.”

 The mom smiled and looked down to her son, “No dear, that's family.”