Edward stood silently as he stared at the man in front of him, it had been three long years since he had last seen him, it had been a brief visit considering they had been in a battle between worlds and then he had left. Mustang was in shock, he thought he would never see Ed again, yet he was, in his office at Central, he had just been sitting at his desk when Ed had appeared, so his reaction was to be expected. He was sitting mouth open as he too stared at the other. Both men didn't seem to know what to say to the other.

Ed was the first to break the awkward silence.

"So they finally promoted you to Brigadier General, congratulations."

Mustang nodded but still didn't say anything, until he looked around and noticed that someone hadn't shown up when Ed had.

"Where's Al?"

Ed shrugged, "He should be in Liore somewhere looking for a phone to call me that is if our calculations were correct, I ended up where I was supposed to, so I would say that we were." Despite his actions Ed's voice held concern.

Ed was given a weird look so he clarified "When we found a way home we realised that we couldn't come through the same portal at the once, since we used a different method then the last time."

"It had to be a place where Alchemy was used a lot or frequently, so I came here to central and Al went to Liore. Al knows the number to this line and should be calling at any minute to check in."

Roy nodded, "Have you got any plans to what you are going to do next?"

Ed sat down on the couch, the tension in the air finally disappearing.

"Well we need to go back to Risembool, Granny and Winry would kill us if we didn't come home and tell them we are back."

Roy nodded "No doubt you will need new automail fitted? You're taller then you were the last time I saw you."

Ed scowled at the other man. "Well I wasn't going to stay a tiny little midget forever, and no I don't need new automail, I had some made on the other side…. No doubt that won't stop them from making me more; they would see it as an insult by wearing someone else's automail." Ed added the second part as an afterthought"

Roy noted that although Ed seemed to have gotten a little control over his anger, that or he was planning a sneak attack later, however before anyone could say anything more the phone rang and Mustang picked it up before the first ring ended, already guessing who would be on the other end of the line.

"Mustang." He answered.

"Uh Hi General, its Al…. is brother there?" Al spoke worriedly.

"Yes he is, I'll put him on… oh and its brigadier General now."

"Congratulations." Al spoke before Roy handed the phone to Ed who took it quickly.

"Al? Are you alright? Did everything go okay?" Ed asked frantically.

Al sighed "I'm fine brother really; the one I'm worried about is you."

"I'm fine, don't worry about me." Ed dismissed

"I'm glad, I will start making my way to Risembool now."

Ed frowned, "How you don't have money for the train… come to think of it neither do I."

"Rose is going to take me, I sort of appeared in front of her and she promised to help."

ED nodded. "I'll go around fixing stuff for people and earn the money for the ticket and meet you at home okay?"

"Okay brother, be safe and don't get into any trouble."

"Same to you Al, see you soon… it's good to be back anyway."

Al chuckled "I know what you mean… see you soon."

"Yeah bye." Ed hung up the phone.

Roy chose this moment to speak. "Fullmetal you are still technically a state alchemist, one who we filled as missing in action in hopes you would one day return…. You still have your accounts so you can pay for your ticket."

"How did you manage that, a soldier goes missing for more than a year they are deemed dead?"

Roy smirked, "being a Brigadier General gave me some power, although I managed to give you a deadline of five years."

"Two years early."

Roy shook his head. "Maybe officially but I speak for everyone who cares about you when I say that your three years late."

Ed stood in front of Roy's desk awkwardly for a few moments before he made it even more so.

"Come to Risembool with me.."

His words seemed to shock both him and Roy.

"Why?"

Ed rubbed the back of his neck and tried to think of an excuse for his words. "I um hate getting the train by myself and what better way to catch up that a full days train ride?"

The room was silent once more Ed had a blush slowly building on his face the longer the other man didn't say anything, he also wouldn't look Mustang in the eye anymore, he seemed to look everywhere else instead.

Finally after what felt like an eternity Roy spoke.

"Okay ill come, I have some leave built up I can use."

Ed looked confused as his head swung to look back at Mustang who just gave the younger man a smirk.

"Anything to get out of paperwork."

Ed gave Mustang a bright smile. "Wont Hawkeye kill you?"

Mustang shook his head. "Sure if she was here but she is on her honeymoon."

Ed stared at the other in shock. "Honeymoon? But I though you and her-?"

"No most people thought so too but its more she sees me as an annoying younger brother and me a slightly over protective sister, Havoc finally got a girl that I wouldn't fall for me instead."

Ed nodded.

"Besides I have feelings for someone else."

Ed looked intrigued. "Oooooh who is it?"

Roy looked caught like he hadn't meant for Ed to hear the last part.

"For me to know and for you to find out….. Maybe one day."

Ed pouted. "No fair."

Roy smiled. "So when did you want to leave for Risembool?"

Ed sat at the top of Roy's desk, making sure not to mess any of the paperwork. He received an annoyed look from the other but he ignored it before speaking.

"As soon as possible, like you said we have been gone three years already, Winry and Granny must be worried."

Mustang nodded and picked up the phone, making a phone call to book the tickets. When he hung up the phone he seemed to have a smirk on his face as he realised something.

"You missed the wedding..."

Edward looked confused for a few minuted before his mouth dropped in horror as he remembered what Roy had said earlier. "She is going to kill me isn't she?"

"Probably."

Ed still sat there in horror as he imagined all the ways that Hawkeye would kill him for missing her wedding, after all she and the Elric brothers had gotten close.

"She should be happy enough that I'm back and forget that I missed her wedding, besides I didn't even know about it how could I was in another world at the time."

Roy nodded "If you say so."

He patted Edward on the head as he got up and began to leave the room. "Our train leaves in three hours, I'm going home to pack before we leave, I suggest you go say hello to everyone before we do."

He left the room in with a wave behind him as Ed realised he was about to get a few broken ribs when he saw Armstrong.

Ed began wondering Central command, was everyone still stationed here, or somewhere else? He figured since Mustang was back in Central the others surely should be here, unless on an assignment. That was when he literally ran into Breda.

"Hey are you alright?" Ed asked as he helped Breda up.

"Fullmetal?" Breda looked as if he had seen ghost, which Ed thought he couldn't blame him for except he looked terrified and that's when Edward remembered that the other hated ghost stories and was practically a chicken.

"The one and only, and no I'm not a ghost, I'm really here."

Breda seemed to sigh in relief. "Thank god, your back Sir, Mustang has been mopey without you here."

Ed looked at the other clueless. "Why would he be mopey without me, I thought he would be thrilled without the extra paperwork."

Breda eyes widened as he realised the other was completely clueless about Roy's feelings toward him. So he began thinking of an excuse he didn't want to be on Mustangs hit list.

"Oh he blamed himself for you and AL disappearing, he thought he should have done more."

"Oh." Was all Ed said before beginning to walk away, he stopped and turned back toward Breda?

"Are the others here, I'm leaving for Risembool this afternoon and wanted to tell them I'm back before leaving, well Mustang told me it would be a good idea anyway."

"You have seen the Brigadier General?" Breda was giving him a weird that gave Edward the feeling he was missing something.

"Yeah appeared in his office, he is coming with me to Risembool…. Now focus where are the others?"

Breda continued the weird look but Ed's glare had him looking at his watch, "Well its lunchtime so lucky for you they should be in the mess hall for taco Tuesday, we never miss it."

Ed nodded and began to walk with Breda toward the mess hall; they talked about the things that Edward had missed in the other world.

When they arrived Ed was given one of the Armstrong's bone crushing hugs that he assumed had been passed down by generations just like everything else.

"Not breathing…" He wheezed before Armstrong let him go.

The other man had tears streaming down his face. "EDWARD ELRIC, how great it is to see you again, alive and well, never did I think this day would come, and yet here you are standing before me."

"It's good to see you too Major."

"It's General now actually." The man beamed.

"Wow everyone's been promoted, congrats."

"Well Ed you have been gone for three years." The now First Lieutenant Maria Ross spoke as she gave Ed a hug.

"Yeah I'm a second Lieutenant now." The once Sergeant Fury said shaking Ed's hand as Ross still hugged him.

Edward enjoyed his time catching up with his friends as he waiting for the time to go by until he would go home with the man he grew to love from afar, even if the other man would never return his feelings, Ed knew to be grateful for the time he gets to spend with him. It seemed that the group dynamic between hadn't changed one bit, they were all still a bunch of misfits, Ed was glad that some things never change.

When the time came to catch the train, the others came to see him off, making him promise to come back soon. A promise he was all too happy to make.

Ed and Roy sat in an empty compartment in silence. It seemed not many people where travelling east so they peace and quiet.

Both would watch the other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Roy liked the way Ed's hairs shone from the sun as he leaned against the window watching the scenery go by. Ed liked the way that Roy would look like he was going to fall asleep after the first ten minutes of complete silence, he looked peaceful.

After about an hour of complete silence Roy spoke up.

"What was the other world like?"

And that was how they spent the rest of the trip, Ed explaining anything and everything about the other world as he possibly could. He even mentioned how another Maes lived there which Roy smiled at that glad to hear that his Friends was alive and well in another world.

Roy would ask questions here and there but for the most part he was in silent awe as he listened to everything the blonde had to say and despite the fact that the trip was a long one, for both the men it wasn't long enough.

When they reached Risembool, Ed began to worry. What if Winry and Granny wouldn't welcome him this time, what if his long absence was to much this time and he had finally crossed the line and they would hate him. He didn't know what he would do if his adopted family would reject him.

Ed and Roy began the walk to the Rockbell's, Ed's hands were shaking, it didn't take long for Mustang to notice the silent worry that the other was trying to hide. He grabbed the others automail arm before tugging him to stop.

"Fullmetal, they will be overjoyed about your return, yes your and Alphonse absence has been hard on them but that's because they were worried about you, they love you and will be glad to see you home safe and sound.. Your girlfriend might attack you with a wrench for not saying goodbye though."

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

Ed thought he imagined it but Roy seemed to be relieved to hear that. But despite making him yell Roy's words seemed to have helped him.

"Well let's not make them wait any longer for your return."

When they arrived at the front of the of the Rockbell's house, Ed froze as he went to knock on the door but that didn't stop Mustang from doing it for him. Winry was the one to answer the door.

"oh brigadier General, I wasn't expecting you, what can I help you with."

Roy smiled "Hello Winry, sorry to drop by unannounced but I had to return something to you and your grandmother."

That was when Roy stepped out of the way of her sight if Ed. Her mouth dropped and tears formed in her eyes as she ran at Ed, she knocked him to the ground as she embraced him. "You idiot, what took you so long."

Ed flinched as he waited for the wrench. Winry smiled. "Welcome home Alchemy freak."

Ed grinned back at her. "Thanks, Gear head."

Granny stood on the deck smiling at the sight before her.

"Thank you Mustang for bringing him home."

"It was all him, I just came on the train with him, Al should be arriving with Rose any day now."

"So they both made it back." She smiled

"Come on in shorty, we might as well check your automail measurements before dinner."

"I've grown some you old hag."

"I bet Al is still taller, you micro shrimp."

Ed hugged her before he went inside she returned the hug with shock.

"It's good to be home."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I will have the next one up soon I promise :) please review and have an awesome day :)