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WWID Chapter 6

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Chapter Six
Love and Loss- Part Two

“A teardrop is insignificant in a pool of water, but it can touch the soul as it runs down someone’s face.”- Anon.

Her body was broken.

The darkness pressed down around her, and Winry bit back a cry. Blinking at the thick, hot, tears that fell down her face, she tried to move. The pain in her limbs skyrocketed, and a sharp wail escaped her. Gasping, she tried to form a coherent thought as to her injuries. Her right leg was broken for sure. Her left ankle throbbed. One of her arms was pumping a slow trickle of warm blood, and felt broken. Her other arm, miraculously, was fine. Something thick was trailing down her cheek and scalp- blood. She was on her stomach, in complete darkness. Straining her ears, she was sure that she heard water running swiftly nearby.

In a rush, it all came back to her, and her wounds explained themselves.

Her arm was bleeding because of Gluttony’s teeth. And she was broken because she had dived into a manhole to escape the homunculus.

Gritting her teeth, Winry reached around with her uninjured arm, searching desperately in her torn backpack. A few things were missing, but luckily, the object that she sought remained. Her aching fingers fumbled on the flashlight, pulling it out, letting a hiss escape her teeth as she relaxed on her straining limbs. Pushing her thumb on the lever, Winry flicked the flashlight on. Immediately, a beam of light blinded her.

Gasping and blinking, she saw a long pathway illuminated by the flashlight. Far away, barely within the beam of light, was a ladder, most likely leading up to another manhole cover. Okay, she thought, grimacing as another sharper wave of pain rolled through her. Think, Winry, Think! My left arm isn’t injured. If I...push along with my leg that only has an injured ankle, and pull with my arm, I can probably move...

Closing her eyes tightly, placing the flashlight in her mouth, and exhaling heavily through her nose, Winry stretched out her uninjured left arm, digging her fingernails into the smooth metal. Lifting her hurt ankle off the ground, she pushed with her knee, pulling with her arm. She moved a few inches, but had to stop immediately- panting harshly, wheezing. It felt as though her ribs were bruised, if not broken as well. Each pant sent an even sharper jab of pain into her chest.

Calming her breathing, Winry inhaled sharply through her nose, doing the process of dragging herself all over again. She wasn’t able to go as far as the last time, and amid her pain and gasping breaths, she felt frustrated and scared.

She didn’t know how long she had been out, but at this rate, she would loose too much blood.

Once the pain in her ribs had lessened, she reached around for her torn backpack, gritting her teeth, tearing off a long strip. Using her uninjured arm to lift her broken one, Winry placed the bit of cloth on the ground, laying her broken arm on top of it. Pausing to regain control of herself and to let the pain fade a little, She tied the ends of the cloth together, over part of the long gash.

She repeated this process until she was fairly sure that the whole wound was bound.

Arching her head back, she let out a long cry. It bubbled up from within her, splintering out of her soul as though pulled by a hook. It felt good to release some of the pain, though the relief was only temporary. Closing her eyes and clenching her jaw, Winry knew that in order to concentrate, and to be able to keep going, she had to keep silent. The more that she allowed herself to moan about her pain, the harder it would be to resist succumbing to it. Swallowing as the persistent need to cry out again fell in her throat, Winry began to pull and push herself along again.

Her fingernails cracked on the surface of the metal as they dug into the minute edges imbedded in it. Her muscles were aching. She could hardly stand to move at the snail’s pace with which she was inching along, and knew that if she were able, she would have kicked something out of frustration. She was careful to not open her mouth more than necessary; afraid that if she did, a cry would force it’s way thorough. It was hard enough to focus on moving as it was- to get herself to keep going. She blinked back the tears that filled her eyes, grunting and squeezing her eyes shut as she pulled herself over a small ridge, the edge jostling the broken and bruised bones in her body.

Her harsh breathing became her only company.

Desperately, she tried to focus on other things- like how the battle had turned out, if those she had evacuated had gotten out okay, if Ed and Al had their bodies back yet...People and faces flashed before her eyes.

Roy Mustang...

Riza Hawkeye...

Hohenheim...

Ed...

Al...

Winry spat out the flashlight that she had been holding in her teeth, licking her chapped lips. She immediately choked upon tasting the dried blood on them, spitting the rusty taste out of her mouth. Wheezing, her ribs and muscles and everywhere throbbing- she pressed her face to the cold metal of the floor, the sheer temperature of it driving away her pain for the space of one millisecond.

“Come on,” She muttered to herself- voice low and harsh, somehow grating in the dark and stillness. Putting the flashlight back in her mouth, Winry rearranged herself, fingers stretching out and gripping at edges in the metal, ankle rising off of the ground, bruised knee pushing against the ground.

After that, time was lost to her.

She didn’t know exactly when her knee started bleeding from being scraped along the cold metal- it just was. She didn’t notice when the makeshift bandage she had made for her arm became completely soaked, the rivulets of blood dripping down her arm and leaving a trail along the metal surface. She didn’t know when her body started to loose its pain and go numb- from blood loss, exertion, and other things.

Winry didn’t know exactly when her vision began to be blurry at the edges, she simply knew that her head wanted to fall on the ground and never rise, and that her eyes couldn’t seem to focus, but she had to keep going, because there were people up there waiting for her, and she’d be damned if she let them down...

...If she didn’t see Ed again...or see Al with his body back...

She didn’t know when she found herself staring at the blurring, shaking, metal bars of a ladder, she only knew that now she had to figure out how the hell to get up there.

Through her hazed mind and consciousness, she felt as though she was watching herself reach up and grip the first bar of the ladder with her uninjured hand. Pulling, and pushing off of the ground with her knee, Winry found herself balanced on one knee, the other leg pushed out haphazardly beside her, one arm hanging limply at her side. The pain brought her to her senses, and she reached up for the next bar, closing her eyes and bending, tensing like the coil of a spring before using her knee to jump into the air, pulling herself so that she was half-kneeling on the second bar.

Against her will, a strangled half-cry escaped her throat.

Swallowing, she gripped the next bar, repeating the process. The ladder was so frickin’ long, and her vision was really starting to swim, the dizziness nearly consuming her. When she reached the top, she wrapped her arm around the side bar of the ladder, reaching up with the same arm to push up the manhole cover.

Raindrops fell on her face.

Blinking against the rain and dizziness, Winry pushed aside the manhole cover as much as she could, sticking her head through the hole. Her fingers grasped at the ground as she half pushed, half jumped the rest of the way.

For a moment she simply lay there, in the mud and rubble, breathing, her legs dangling into the hole she had just clambered out of. Pulling herself forward, she tried to focus her eyes on some sign of life- someone to help her. The flashlight fell out of her mouth.

“Help...” She rasped. “Someone...anyone...help me...please...”

A sound tore through the air then- a high keening sound, like a great wounded animal sounded through the air. It took a moment for Winry’s muddled mind to realize that it was someone screaming- screaming and crying and shouting as though undergoing the most brutal torture.

And, though she would have thought that she was going through enough pain, her heart hurt at the sound. Somehow, it seemed familiar, and that made the pain of it all the more crushing.

The sound started to grow distant, then muffled, until it gradually faded.

Winry’s eyes focused on where it had been coming from. There were many flashing lights, the small but distinct shapes of people, and a huge skeleton...

Her fumbling white fingers found the flashlight, and she started clicking it on and off as rapidly as she could. Her head lay against the ground, and her eyes started to close. Her finger still moved the switch on the light, though slower, more sluggishly each time.

“Please...” Winry whispered.

There was the sound of tires squealing against the road, dodging the debris in its way. Hurried footsteps ran toward her, and Winry felt hands grab her shoulders.

“Winry! Winry! God, you’re alive!” The hands picked her up, shouting order to the other people that had come, and through her slitted eyes, Winry saw a blue-uniformed woman with blonde hair...

“Riza...” She mumbled. Winry felt herself being laid upon the seat of a car.

“Hold on Winry, don’t worry, we’ll get you to a hospital.

Winry felt the car start and found herself smiling. “Thanks...” She frowned for a moment, fumbling with her thoughts. “Are...Ed and Al...?”

“They’re fine. Alphonse has his body back...”

Winry felt another smile light her face; tears starting to slip down her cheeks. “T’has good...” she slurred. Her eyebrows furrowed a little. “Riza...did the kids...all the... people...get out okay? The ones we...evacuated...?”

“I don’t know. Hush now, don’t talk. We’ll get Doctor Marcoh to take a look at you. Just sleep now, Winry. Everything is alright...”

Yeah, Winry wanted to say. It will be...

She slipped into unconsciousness.

*(*(*(*)*)*)*

He gritted his teeth.

It was hard to stomach- the presence of that murderer beside him. Ed narrowed his eyes, spine sword-straight, as though expecting an attack from behind, where Scar was.

“FullMetal,” Scar’s low voice issued from behind.

Ed froze, scowling. “What?” He snarled, without turning around. Beside him, Al looked back at Scar curiously.

“There is a matter I wish to discuss with you, FullMetal.”

His scowl deepening, Ed gestured at Al to go on leave him behind with Scar. Al made a strange noise that Ed supposed was the armor’s equivalent to a heavy snort. “Not likely, brother.” Al crossed his heavy arms.

“Fine,” Ed rolled his eyes. “What do you want, Scar? In case you haven’t noticed, we really don’t have time for a lengthy discussion...”

For a moment, Scar said nothing. Then- “I’m not going to harm her.”

Ed blinked, sharing a startled look with Al. “What?”

“Winry Rockbell, those doctors’ daughter. I’m not going to harm her.”

Ed whirled around, anger flashing in his eyes. “Oh yeah? Why the hell would you do that? And why should I believe you?!?”

Scar’s expression remained calm- his eyebrows rising a little over his red eyes. “Because she doesn’t deserve to die,” He said simply. Without another word he strode past them, stopping so that his back was turned to them. He clenched his fist- the arm that had the tattoos on it- and sighed heavily.

When he spoke, his voice was quiet.

“She doesn’t deserve to die,” he repeated. “And she...helped me. Though I don’t deserve her help...she helped me anyway.” He bent his head. “I’ve killed...many people, for what I have lost. I never thought of the others that would suffer from it, suffer as I have suffered. That girl knows what it is to be on the receiving end of that suffering...and for that, I honor her.” He lifted his head, toward the sky, as though beseeching his god.

“It’s all I can give her,” He said. “In...exchange. It will never be enough, but it is all I can give...Her life-” He turned and eyed them with a hard expression. “And both of yours.” His expression became calm again, and he walked away.

“After all, though I am an alchemist, that is as close to equivalent exchange as I am going to get...”

Edward Elric woke with a start.

He blinked fuzzily, staring at his surroundings. He was lying on a hospital bed, with assorted bandages dotting his visage. He blinked. The hospital room had cracked walls, and crooked pictures on the walls. Not exactly what he had become accustomed to. Yawning, he sat up, eyes flicking about for his brother’s usual waiting form, perhaps sitting by his bed...

What Ed found, was another hospital bed, his flesh-and-blood brother lying in it, fast asleep. For a moment, Ed didn’t know whether to laugh or cy. His first instinct told him that it was a dream- but after a moment the memories returned to him, and he lept out of bed- momentarily distracted by a weird thin tube-thing taped to his arm. Peeling it off, He bounced to his brother’s bedside.

Ed had never thought that he could be so happy, watching his brother sleep in a hospital bed. Odd it might be, Ed just couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

Wincing a little as he felt his once-automail-leg protest, he grabbed a nearby chair, plopping down into it, staring at his brother.

Ed let out a breath that he hadn’t known he’d been holding. It was over. He- they- had done it. Ed lifted his automail hand, staring at it. He didn’t regret his decision. Sure, automail made things harder and hurt sometimes, but in many ways, this automail arm had saved not only his life, but others as well. With his automail he was the FullMetal Alchemist, ‘Hero of the people.’ He didn’t like being tied to the military as a lapdog- but he liked being able to protect others. And his automail arm was more useful to him than a normal arm.

Besides, his automail was the only sure thing in his life that always led him back to Winry. Something that would always give him a chance to see her...

Ed shook his head, blushing a little.

Al stirred. His eyes flickered, then opened, blinking. He turned his head toward his brother. “Ed...” He rasped.

Ed grinned, his own voice cracking as he answered. “Hey, Al.” He lightly pressed a hand on Al’s shoulder. “How are ya feeling?”

Al frowned. “Tired, um, physically and mentally. I think. And like...I don’t know how to use my own body...” He gave a small laugh. “It’s so weird...using expressions...”

Ed laughed a little too. “Do you remember what happened?” Al nodded. A bit of hair fell over his face and he glared at it, cross-eyed. Blowing it out of his face, he said- “I don’t know how you can sand long hair, brother.”

Ed’s grin widened. “It takes skill. We’ll get you a haircut soon, Al.”

Al nodded. “So, where is everyone?”

Shrugging, Ed said: “Around. Mustang’s establishing himself as our great leader-” Ed rolled his eyes – “And everyone else is basically cleaning up. Teacher was here a little while ago, but she left to go help. Maria Ross showed up though! That’s all getting straightened out too...” Ed shrugged again. “That’s all I know. I’ve been out for a while.”

Al nodded, biting his lip. “Ed...” He began hesitantly. “How many...casualties...have there been?”

Ed’s expression darkened. “I don’t know,” He said honestly. He sighed. “But...probably a lot. Many houses got smashed....” He looked away for a moment.

“At least the homunculi won’t be able to hurt anyone any more.” Al’s voice faked cheerfulness.

“Yeah,” Ed said, turning back to his brother. “That is good.” His jaw clenched.

Al frowned at his expression...there was something about it...an almost murderous glint in Ed’s eyes...a pure unequivocal, hatred. “Ed...?” Al questioned. “What’s wrong...?”

Ed blinked, and the strange hatred all but vanished. “Nothing. Anything else you want to know?”

Al pursed his lips, knowing that his brother was lying, but deciding not to pursue the subject. “What about Ling- er, Greed? And Ran Fan? And-” Al gasped suddenly. “Mei! Oh, she must think I’m dead! We have to tell her-”

“Relax Al.” Ed said, waving off his concerns. “She knows. Didn’t want’ to leave her ‘Al-sama’s’ bedside. But they needed her help...”

Al blushed heavily. “Oh. That’s good.”

Ed eyed him critically. “What? You don’t...like...her, do you?”

Al spluttered. “Wha-no, no!” His face turned even redder. “I-I-”

“Oh man,” Ed ran a hand over his forehead. “Of all the girls to like, you had to pick the demented bean girl...”

“She’s not as demented as you brother!” Al cried indignantly.

Ed rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Just promise me that you won’t invite me to the wedding...”

“Brother!”

Ed snickered. “Sorry Al. I’m done, promise.”

“Good.” Al’s heavy blush started to fade as he looked around the room again. Ed frowned, a heavy crease forming between his eyes as he realized what Al was looking for. “He hasn’t shown up, Al.” Ed muttered.

Al looked a little guilty, giving a small “oh.” Suddenly his eyes widened. “Ed,” He said slowly. Ed raised his eyebrows. “What?”

Al’s expression was horror-struck. “Have you called Winry and Granny yet?”

Ed blinked. “Aw, shit. Crap. I need to do that.” He stood up, wobbling a little on his newly returned leg. The door opened.

Hohenheim entered, his face very grave.

Ed froze, eyes narrowing. “What do you want?” he snarled, while Al cried: “Father!”

Hohenheim smiled briefly at Al, though it was small and devoid of any happiness. “Edward,” He said. “I need to speak with you.”

Ed glared. “Why?”

Hohenheim’s face was expressionless. “There is something you need to see.”

Ed’s eyebrows pulled together, exchanging a look with Al, who nodded.

Ed followed his father out the door.

*(*(*(*)*)*)*

The car was silent.

Ed drummed his fingers on the armrest, staring stonily out the window, a heavy scowl on his face. Hohenheim stared out at the road, saying nothing.

Finally, he spoke.

“About two days ago I went to Resembool. To ask the Rockbells once more to leave this country.” His voice was low. Ed was staring at his father’s face in the rearview mirror. “While I was there...I...began to speak of things to which I had no right. Things that I did not really know about. One of them, was you.” Hohenheim met his son’s eyes in the mirror briefly. A faint, sad smile flickered across his face.

“Miss Winry Rockbell,” He said, “Was more than happy to correct me. She shouted at me, telling me that I had no right to speak as I did, that I didn’t know you.” Ed stared at the mirror, confused. Hohenheim continued. “She told me that you were brave, kind, and wanted to help people. She told me that you were an amazing brother. She said that at times you were hard to understand, but you were still wonderful. ‘Edward Elric is the most wonderful person that I know,’ she said.”

Ed’s face only held shock, a faint blush spreading across it.

Hohenheim continued. “I said: ‘You’re in love with him, aren’t you?’.” Hohenheim met Ed’s suddenly wide eyes in the mirror, and held them. “Her shoulders drew straight, and she looked me in the eye. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Edward Elric is the person that I love’.”

A half-strangled gasp escaped Ed’s mouth, eyes still wide. Hohenheim finally turned his eyes away. “She felt that she could do nothing for you and Al. She wanted to help you, more than anything. And so, in the morning, she snuck on a train heading for Central.”

Ed, who had been staring at the seat of the car in wide-eyed bewilderment, snapped his head up.

“I knew what she would try, so I found her. The train was on its way, and I knew that I could not change her mind, or leave her without putting her in danger. So I offered my protection. We came here, to evacuate as many as we could. But before we began, I made her promise that as soon as I told her, she would get out of this city, and on a train.”

“I don’t know how many we evacuated. But the sun was rising, and I told her to get out of here. She began to do as I said. She walked away, toward the station. On her way, she heard the start of our battle, and the tremors resulted from it. Two children were trapped in some falling debris, and she doubled back to help them.”

Hohenheim stopped the car, and his eyes were unreadable again. They had stopped in the ruins of a building, and Ed could see through the window a gargantuan skeleton that he guessed had belonged to Gluttony. Hohenheim stepped out of the car, Ed following.

Ed couldn’t understand what his father wanted him to see, and why he was telling him these things. It didn’t make sense. Nothing his father said was making sense.

Military officers were everywhere- including Riza Hawkeye, who looked- of all things- as though she had been crying. She met his gaze, and her eyes widened.

Ed focus found the skeleton, staring hard at a piece of black cloth draped over its teeth. The black jacket looked vaguely familiar, but in all the flashing lights, he couldn’t quite place it. The rain made it even more difficult. Ed squinted at it, an odd sense of dread filling him. He couldn’t understand why.

“Edward,” Hohenheim said.

Snippets of memory passed over Ed’s eyes.

Winry, moving, taking a jacket off of her shoulders to work on his automail.

“...Gluttony chased after her.”

Winry, grinning, flipping the collar of her jacket up against the wind.

“The children she saved told us...she stole a car, letting it chase her away from them.”

Winry, smeared in dirt and blood, tears cascading down her face as she learned the truth about her parents, the color of the gun contrasting with the black jacket she wore.  

“...Ed, she’s gone.”

Winry, as Envy had made her, bleeding, dying, calling out for him, chocking, warm blood seeping from her, life leaving her eyes.

It couldn’t be...she wasn’t’...

“She’s dead Edward.”

Ed whirled around, a wild, desperate anger in his eyes. “DON’T!” He screamed, flying at Hohenheim, fists striking him all over. Hohenheim didn’t move, letting his son hit him. Officers came forward, trying to restrain him, but Ed pushed them away.

“She’s dead Edward!” Hohenheim said, and his voice was soft. “Accept it.”

Ed’s eyes met his, and saw the truth and sadness there. Ed stumbled back, falling to his knees. “No...” He whispered. Trembling hands gripped the sides of his head, eyes squeezing shut. “NO!” His fists pounded on the ground. “Damnit!” He hissed, voice breaking. “Why, dammit? Winry! I told you to stay away!”

And he started screaming. His head bowed to the earth, hands clawing at his head, ripping, bleeding, hot tears mixing with rain as they poured down his face. His cry echoed around them, stopping all who were near. It cracked and rattled, gasping and choking as his fists slammed the ground. Hands grabbed at him, pulling him away, and though he fought them, they shoved him in a car, leaving him thrashing, trying to break the windows. He tilted his head up, the cry dying away.

Ed was shaking, curled up in a ball, small, animal-like whimpers escaping him.

“Ed,” Hohenheim said. “Ed, pull yourself together. Think of Alphonse!” Hohenheim’s voice became hard. “There are still things to live for!”

Ed raised his head, and there was no life in his eyes. “She’s- Winry- She’s-”

Hohenheim sighed. “I know.”

“I- I- can’t- it-” Ed’s hands clutched at his chest.

“I know, my son. It...hurts, doesn’t it?”

Ed’s eyes were wide, shining in the remnants of their tears, almost childlike. But a deep pain was etched in them- a brokenness- that no child could posses.

“Can’t-gone-dead-don’t wanna-live-” His words were fragmented.

“I know.” Hohenheim sighed deeply, his own sorrow plain on his face. “But you have to.”

Hohenheim knew that soon, his son would be filled with hatred. But now, while broken with his pain, Ed didn’t seem to realize whom he was talking to.

Or perhaps, it was as Winry had told him- “He doesn’t hate you, not really.”

Hohenheim shook that off. Part of him wanted to seize this chance, wanted to be a father to Ed. But he couldn’t- not now. All he could be was someone that understood the pain of loosing the one you loved.

Hohenheim hoped that in the end, it would be enough.

*(*(*(*)*)*)*

Ed stumbled into Al’s room, feeling as though he was walking in a nightmare. He leaned against the wall, face pale and body shaking.

“Brother?!” Al cried. “What happened?”

Ed’s hands came up to his face, and he shook his head. “W-Winry, Al, Winry-”

“Winry? What about her, Ed?”

Ed opened his eyes, and Al saw that his face looked as if he had lived a thousand years of misery in the short time he had been gone. “C-came here. Winry- she- she’s-” Ed took a deep, shuddering breath. “She’s dea...dead.”

“Wh-what?”

Ed stood up from the wall, turning and punching it with all of his force. “She’s dead dammit!” He shouted. “She’s dead!” He struck the wall again, this time sagging against it, a few muted sobs escaping him, forehead pressed against the wall.

“N...no...Winry’s not- she- she can’t be...” Al moaned, tears filling his eyes and falling down his face faster than the pattering rain outside. He tried to draw his hands up to his face, the IV and other hospital machines holding him back. He leaned forward, pressing his face into his palms. One of the first things he was supposed to do when he got his body back was eat some of Winry’s apple pie. And now, only hours after being returned to his body, he was sobbing over her death.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen!” Ed moaned. “Damn it all, why didn’t she listen to me?!?” His fist struck the wall again. The sound it made was that of metal, and Ed stopped, looking up at it for a moment. His face twisted as he stared at it, and for a moment, he lightly touched it with his other hand. Then it slipped down the surface of the wall, and he fell, landing so that he was sitting on the floor. His face was devoid of any emotion- his eyes dead to them.

“H-how did this happen?” Al sobbed, looking at his brother’s hunched back.

Ed spine straightened, and a strange light lit in his eyes. Al stared, tears leaking from the corners of his own eyes. That was the same look Ed had had when Al had mentioned the homunculi...a murderous, hateful, rage.

Ed stood. Both of his fists were clenched. “Our father...” he hissed through gritted teeth.

And before Al could do more than start in surprise and disbelief, Ed walked through the door, slamming it behind him.

*(*(*(*)*)*)*
                
Riza Hawkeye sighed with relief, pressing two hands to her forehead.

“So she’s alright?” She asked, looking at the face of the malformed doctor.

Doctor Marcoh smiled a little. “Mostly. I can’t guarantee that she will live, but for now, she is as ‘alright’ as she is going to get. The rest...well, that is up to her.”

Riza gave a tight smile. “She will be fine, then. She’s strong.”

“I gathered as much. If she traveled as far as it seems she did, in her condition, she couldn’t be anything but.”

A military officer ran down the hall. “Doctor Marcoh, we found another one!”

The doctor nodded. “Right.” With a respectful nod toward Riza, he ran after the officer.

“Hm.” Riza smiled. A sudden thought came to her and her eyes flew wide. “Edward...” she whispered. “He thinks...she’s dead....” She turned on her heel and sprinted toward the nearest hospital employee. She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, demanding- “What room are the FullMetal Alchemist and his brother staying in?”

“That- that’s privileged information-” The man stuttered.

Riza drew her gun, pointing it at his neck. “Tell me. Now!”

“S-second floor, room 102-” the hospital aide gasped, dropping to his knees as soon as she let him go.

Riza sprinted up the stairs, firing a few rounds at people’s feet to scatter them. A loud crash broke through her gunshots, and she heard shouting...

Rounding the corner, Riza saw Edward, his arm pushing his father against the wall, automail arm transmuted into a blade, which was pointing directly at his father’s neck.

“How could you?!?” Ed screamed. “If it weren‘t for you, Winry’d be-”

Hohenheim’s face was calm. Sadness glinted in his eyes. “There is little that I regret more than my bringing her here,” He whispered. “Death is more than I deserve.”

Without hesitating, Riza fired at Ed’s automail arm. The bullet bounced off, clattering to the floor. Ed paused, glaring hard at Riza. “What?!?” he snarled.

Riza lowered her gun, keeping her eyes locked with his. “Ed, she’s not dead. We found her.” Ed’s expression didn’t change.

“DON’T LIE!” He screamed. Hohenheim stared at her in shock.

Riza shook her head. “I’m not lying, Edward. We found her. I’m here to take you to her.”

Ed’s expression seemed to draw in on itself. As though he was trying to keep himself from hoping. But his eyes lightened. “But-but...”

“I know. Seems like she made quite a journey to live, but she did it. Doctor Marcoh has seen to her. She’s in bad shape, but she’s alive.”

Ed slowly lowered his arm, face disbelieving, eyes wide. “What...? But...she...”

Riza strode forward, and seized him by the shoulders. “Ed, listen to me.” Ed looked up at her, eyes wide and almost childlike. “Ed, Winry is alive. You’re keeping her waiting.”

A strangled half-gasp escaped him, and he tore down the hall, coat flapping behind him.

“Room 52, Edward!” Riza shouted after him. Her thanks was the sound of his footsteps fading as he ran down the stairs.

She turned to Hohenheim, who was staring after his son in quiet disbelief. “She...really is...alive?” He questioned.

Riza’s eyebrows pulled together, but she nodded.

“Hn.” Hohenheim tilted his face toward the ceiling, closing his eyes. “That’s just as well,” He whispered. “My son won’t have to live with the grief that I did...” Tears leaked down his face.

After eyeing him quietly for a moment, Riza made her way to the room to tell Alphonse.

*(*(*(*)*)*)*
The door flew open.

Ed stopped in the light from the door, staring in the darkened room, at a faint outline on a hospital bed. His hand gripped the doorframe for a moment, before he walked in.

And there she was.

She was covered in bandages- on her head and arms. One leg was propped up and hanging suspended, wrapped in a heavy cast. Small, minute bandages covered a few places on her face. A small smile twisted her lips, though her eyebrows were furrowed.

Her expression seemed to say- “Jeez, what took you so long, Ed? I’ve been waiting...”

Her hair flared out around her, the hospital staff obviously having seen to her being cleaned so that they could dress her wounds. More bandages peeked out from under her hospital gown, wrapped around her chest.

She was badly hurt, Ed could tell.

And yet, there was an odd glow about her. Maybe it was the lighting, or the shine of her hair, the bandages reflecting some light, or maybe it was just Ed, but, there seemed to be a soft, delicate light around her- like a halo around her whole body. Maybe it was because she was alive.

Alive.

Wonderfully, gloriously, beautifully, alive.

Ed stopped, over her bed, sinking into the chair beside her. Shakily, Ed reached for her unbandaged arm, his fingers curling around hers. He shook his head.

“Ah, Winry.” He said, and his voice was gently scolding- gentle, but filled with a fear that hadn’t yet been stated. “Why did you do this? You really could be...dead, now.”

Sighing, he pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. “Don’t’ scare me like that again,” He whispered. He leaned forward, and repeated words that she had said to him before: “Don’t die, Winry. Please, don’t you ever die, unless I’m dying with you...”

“...Ed...?”

Ed jerked up, staring at Winry, whose eyes were half-opened.

“Hey...” He whispered, gently setting her hand back on the sheets, still holding it lightly.

Winry smiled gently. “Hey, Ed.” She frowned, looking around the room. “Where...am I?”

“Hospital.” Ed said. “You’re...in pretty bad shape.” He winced a little.

Winry made a face. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Ed stared at her for a moment, then looked away, releasing her hand. “Why, Winry? Why did you do this? Do you have any idea what-” He was interrupted as her uninjured hand touched his arm.

“Yes, I know. I could have died, right? But Ed, so could you or Al, at any time, while I was back home, waiting. Any of those times where you left me behind. I don’t blame you. But...I was tired of waiting. I wanted to help you, any way that I could...”

“But that’s stupid!” Ed exclaimed, angry. “You help us plenty! You risk your life enough, you don’t need to-”

“Ed, it was my choice.” Winry took a deep breath. “And I had to do what I could.”

Ed exhaled heavily through his nostrils, crossing his arms.

“Ed, don’t you understand? I helped all of those people...people, who could have otherwise died. Like Gracia and Elysia- I got them out of here, Ed! I-”

“-Put yourself in great danger.” Ed scowled. “Don’t you know what would’ve happened if you had died? What about Granny? And all the people in Rush Valley? What about Al? What about-” He paused, and took a deep breath. “What about me, huh?” He looked away with a slight blush.

Winry stared at him, crystalline eyes wide. “I guess...you know how I feel when you leave, then.” She whispered. Ed closed his eyes. “I deserve that, I guess.” He said.

“Hey,” Winry reached out, grabbing his hand, her own cheeks reddening. “Everything’s going to be alright now.” She said, smiling.

Ed turned back to her, his eyes shining with happiness, the irritation fading away. “Yeah,” He said. “You’re right. It will be.”

The door opened, and Alphonse rolled in, eyes wide and sitting on a wheelchair. “Winry!” He cried, rolling toward them.

“Al!” Winry gasped. “Oh, Al!” Her hand lifted to her mouth, tears of happiness filling her eyes. They stared at each other for a moment.

“Al,” Winry choked. “Get over and give me a hug! Don’t make me go over there!”

Laughing and crying, Al rolled toward her other side. Gently lifting her arm, Winry slung it around his shoulders, bringing him close to her. Her other hand grabbed at Ed. “Come here, you,” She said, wrapping her other arm around his shoulders. Ed blushed as his head was brought close to hers.

Winry looked at him and smiled, tears of happiness still glittering in her eyes.

Ed smiled, pressing his face closer to her.

He had kept his promise.

*(*(*(*)*)*)*

And outside the door, four people watched them.

Hohenheim smiled, backing away from the door. “Let’s wait,” He said, to the other people clustered outside with him. “For the first time in a long time, they’re all together now.”

Riza smiled, and nodded.

Izumi scowled, but then grinned, muttering about the beating Al was going to get to whip his body into shape.

Roy Mustang shook his head, smiling, looking up at the ceiling. “Wish you could be here to see this Maes,” He whispered. “You were right. But then again,” Roy chuckled. “You always were, weren’t you?”

Mei frowned a little, trying to peek through the window. But then she too, nodded.

After all, tomorrow would come.
Chapter six of WWID. A mini resolve of sorts. Please, go see this in better format on my ff.net account if you want to get the full picture and all. Yes, they're getting longer. ^^

Enjoy, and comment please!

Chapter One: [link]
Chapter Seven: [link]

FMA belongs to Hiromu Arakawa.
© 2009 - 2024 flower-in-the-light
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Pan-Zareta's avatar
Tweaking chapters is a pain, ain't it? I just spent three days toying with one so I know how you feel. Plus, this was before the poor beta even got to look at it, I must be driving her crazy.