When the Rain stops

Based off the the final opening to Brotherhood. This opening actually gives us all some hope that this show/manga might end on a good note.

Disclaimer-What do you think?

Pleasant Dreams

Was this a dream? It seemed so unreal but at the same time he felt like he was there. Everything was so white that it hurt his eyes and he had to squint. Although he wasn't sure what he was looking for as there was nothing distinctive about this place. He turned around, looking for anything, anyone else there other then himself. Trying to think back to where he was before this, he drew a blank however another thought came to mind. Where was his brother?

"Al?" He took a step forward and spun on his heel, his braid swinging behind him. There was no answer, which only made the emptiness around him seem even more void. Where was he? Was this just a dream?

Edward's strength left him as a feeling of loneliness hit him. He collapsed to his knees, trying to figure out what to do next. The answers wouldn't come, bringing him further down as he leaned forward on his palms. Balling his opened hands into fists he let out a growl.

"I promised her I'd come back," he muttered for no one else to hear. As his vision started to become blurry, he felt another person's presence. Once he knew the individual was standing right behind him, he pushed himself back up, swinging his hands lifelessly on the way.

He turned around, his actions quick in case it was an enemy. Before he could utter anything, he froze in shock. Somewhere in his head, he was trying to convince himself he was imagining this whole thing.

"Hello Edward." The sound of her voice reached his ears and he no longer cared if she was real or not. The brunette women still looked the same to him, as though she would always be that way in his mind. Even if that meant she was only about fifteen years or so older then him, to him she would never age. Bringing her hand up, she touched his cheek and a smile crossed her lips. "You've grown up soo much."

"M...mom?" He tried to straighten up but found his legs unusually weak. She came closer and brought her arms around him, tilting the side of her head against his. Releasing a sigh, he took in a deep breath. Her smell was so familiar.

"I'm so proud of you. You never gave up." She pulled back to looked into his eyes. He seemed confused as he stared at her.

"I know this couldn't possibly be real but still..."

"What's wrong?" Her smile was so welcoming and the feeling of her embrace was what he needed after everything that had happened. He clenched his fists at his sides and dropped his gaze to the ground.

"I can't stay here, I have to find Al... I'm sorry." She pulled him closer again and spoke into his ear.

"I know. You've always been so good about looking after him. Just remember to take care of yourself too." Once again he found himself soaking in the moment and closed his eyes. "Ed, you have to wake up. You've got people waiting for you."

He tried to answer her but for some reason couldn't find the words as everything around them seem to fade away. Where ever he was now was warm and he felt safe. He could stay like this forever. There was something bright moving back and forth as though it was swaying before his closed eyes.

The soft mattress shifted some near him and he heard a light sigh. It was so comfortable, he honestly had no desire to wake up. After several more minutes of silence, he stretched his body from it's normal curled position. A loud yawn forced it's way out as he lifted his arm from the pillow to rub his eye.

The light dimmed a little as someone leaned over head. He slowly opened his eyes and a content smile spread across his face. Twisting his head at an odd angle, he noticed how Winry returned the grin. She pushed some of her hair behind her ear as she stared down at him.

"Welcome home." She looked like an angel after the hell he had witnessed. After blinking several times, he nodded silently back. "You've been out for about a week." The fact surprised him but all he could manage was a nod. She shook her head in disbelief.

"How'd I get back?" He finally found his voice.

"Ling brought you back, don't you remember?" Placing his hand on his head he let out a slight groan.

"Not much, I'm sure it'll all come back though." Stretching again, he paused for a second, noticing something different. His amber eyes shot open completely and he sat up, pulling the white sheets off.

Winry watched as he stared at both his feet in shock and his mouth hung open. His left leg was identical to his right. No metal, just flesh. He moved his foot around as though he were playing with it. Finally his gaze moved down to his right arm. It too was now normal. Bringing it up closer to his face, he looked it over even more as he tightened his fingers into a fist and then released it. His grip felt a little weak.

"Winry..." He brought his head down and she couldn't see the look on his face.

"Are you okay?" She was expecting him to be ecstatic but now he seemed hesitant. Turning back to her, he pushed back the faint sign of tears and hugged her tightly. A slight blush came across her cheeks but she placed her arms around him too.

"Everything's going to be all right. It feels so good...getting to hold you like this." Her blue eyes widened at the statement but he didn't try to explain his way out of it. He really meant it and although he couldn't see her face, she smiled again to herself.

oOoOo

Winry moved quickly around the kitchen, placing sandwiches on a plate and grabbing two mugs down from a nearby cabinet. The kettle behind her whistled loudly, calling out to her for attention. Once she had the tea poured and everything set out of the tray, she removed the apron from around her neck. Quickly brushing the front of her white dress off, she picked up the tray and headed back upstairs. The house had been quiet this particular day as her grandma had left for town for some business. Turning some, she pushed the one guest room door open with her backside.

"Alright, got some food and ..." She paused, wondering where the occupant of the bed had gone. Placing the tray down on the bed, she lectured herself for even questioning where else he'd be. Heading down the hallway to one of their recovery rooms for automail patients, she spotted him standing in the doorway. She came up behind him and placed her head on his shoulder. Her gaze fell on the bed in the room where he was staring. Alphonse was lying on his back, looking deathly pale and thin but human none the less. He seemed so peaceful as though he was making up for all those sleepless nights from before. Winry noticed the content look on Edward's face as he just remained where he was. His mouth was pulled up in a slight grin as he rested his other shoulder against the door frame.

"That has to be one of the best things I've ever seen," he admitted to her. He pushed off the wall and took several wobbly steps before Winry came over to help. Shaking his head, he let out a laugh. "We fought for so long to get our bodies back and now my own leg feels weird." He gave her a slightly pathetic look but was still laughing at himself.

"You'll get use to it." They made it over to the bed and she pulled a chair closer for him. She left the room and returned with the tray of food. "Ed, you should really try to eat. I'm sure you're hungry."

"Thanks...Winry." He took the plate from her but didn't eat anything as his gaze went back to Al. "So has he been out like this since we got back?" She pulled another chair up and grabbed her mug.

"Yeah, they had thought about letting you two stay in Central but Ling was the one who suggested that you both be brought here. It doesn't seem that he needs a hospital or anything, does it?"Ed shook his head back quietly. It was evident he was worried but wanted to believe Al would wake up just like he did. There were so many unanswered questions that he pushed to the back of his mind. Alphonse was his priority for right now. He felt something soft on top of his right hand and he brought his eyes down to see Winry's hand resting there. It was so strange being able to feel anything with that hand. He had gotten so accustomed to automail.

"Please eat something? Al will be okay." She smiled at him and he finally obeyed her. "When he wakes up, I've got apple pie for both of you," she promised, getting him to look back up at her. She always knew how to bring him back to pleasant thoughts and he flashed a wide grin. As he stuffed sandwich into his mouth, he glanced out the window, noticing dark clouds moving in.

"Looks like it's gonna rain." His words came out muffled through his bite of food which caused Winry to shake her head in disbelief.

"Edward, don't talk with food in your mouth." She took a sip from her mug. Her gaze turned to the window as well. "It's practically been raining since you got back."

Her mind wondered back to the night the Elric brother's were brought here. It had been raining hard that night as well, pounding mercilessly against the large yellow house that was the Rockbell residence. But there had been another pounding, louder then the rain, on the front door. Pinako had grumbled something under her breath about it better be an emergency at this hour as Winry came down the stairs. Opening the door, two individuals stood there before them, shrouded in black.

"Yo," The one greeted, bringing his hand up and grinning mostly at Winry. She recognized them both and even more so she recognized something else. The now homunculus Greed or as she had known him Ling was carrying an unconscious blond on his back. His extra weight was covered with his typical vibrant red jacket that seemed to be the only thing out there that stood out.

Behind him, Lan Fan stood silently as she carried the younger of the two in her arms. He looked to be in worse condition as his face seemed too thin. Regardless of this fact though the Elric brother's bodies were restored and that alone was enough to bring content smiles to the members of the Rockbell household.

The two dark haired individuals came inside, water dripping off their clothes. Lan Fan pulled her hood off and tried to restrain the shiver that ran through her.

"Bring them upstairs." Pinako motioned towards the stairs. It felt a lot like that night so long ago, when Al showed up at their door with his bloody brother in his arms begging them for help. As Ling moved past Winry she followed closely behind him, a question teasing her mind.

"So are you Ling or Greed?" He turned back to her with a slightly wicked grin.

"It's Greed." They walked to one of the empty bedrooms, and Greed placed Ed down on the bed. "You got something he can wear? He's kinda drenched." Other then that, his tank had seen better days as it was now shredded. Winry wanted to know how that had happened but instead disappeared into her own room. She found an over sized white t-shirt that she sometimes wore to bed. Bringing it back into the other room, another question came to her thoughts.

"Why'd you bring them here?" She handed him the shirt, noticing immediately that Ed was now stripped down to just his boxers. It brought a flushed look to her face and Greed smiled.
"That's why." He pointed a finger in her face.

"That's nothing." She turned her gaze away and bit her lip. Her reaction got him to laugh. It sounded evil, like how a homunculus should laugh.

"Don't kid yourself, he wanted to come back here once everything was settled." The statement made her light blue eyes go wide. Greed pulled the shirt over Edward's head and got him under the covers. Lan Fan and Pinako came out from another bedroom down the hallway where they had brought Al. Greed and Winry had already gone downstairs and were standing in the foyer.

"Did you two need to stay the night as well," Pinako inquired.

"No need for that, we've gotta be heading out. Just had to drop the boys off," Greed explained as he turned to the door.

"Wait..." Winry called after him and he paused for a second, his hand on the doorknob. "Thank you."

"It's not like he's any good to me without his automail anyway." Another cheeky grin crossed his features before he headed back into the dark wet night. Lan Fan bowed to the Rockbells and smile lightly at Winry.

"Take good care of them." She nodded dumbly back as the black haired warrior exited the home after her master. Closing the door, Pinako glanced up at her granddaughter.

"Well that was interesting." She couldn't help but smile when she said it. Winry just nodded back.