XII Home

June 1st, 1913

East City, Amestris

"Here's you're discharge papers" Mustang said as he handed them to Ed.

He had finally been able to leave the hospital for good, so he called up Mustang to tell him he was stopped by his office. As promised he had the papers ready, and as Ed scanned them over he tossed his watch on his desk.

"It's been nice working for you FullMetal" he said as he held out his hand.

"It's just Ed now Mustang" he said as he stuffed the papers in his suitcase.

He saw his hand out, but instead of shaking it like he expected him to he just gently slapped it with his right then left. Mustang chuckled as he saw the last of him, then inspected his watch. There was a few scratches, but Ed had polished it up before he handed it over. Still, he opened it up to make sure it still worked. It was then when he saw that Ed had inscribed a reminder inside:

Don't Forget

.07

June 2nd, 1913

Resembool, Amestris

Ed sighed as he stepped off the train and breathed in the nice country air that he missed. It was good to be back. He had written Winry and Pinako that he was coming home, but he didn't tell them about how he had gotten everything back. He wanted to surprise them. He walked through town slowly taking everything in slowly since he had been away for so long, then started down the long dirt road that led to the Rockbells house. Den wasn't outside, but as soon as he knocked on the door she started barking like any other protective dog.

"Oh hush Den" he heard Winry say before she opened the door.

She gasped when she saw Ed standing there smiling, then suddenly threw her arms around him causing him to blush, drop his suitcase, and nearly fall off the stairs.

"You're back" she said as she began to cry tears of joy.

"Did you really miss me that much?"

She gasped again, then hugged him tighter and rested her head on his chest.

"Please tell me this isn't a dream" she said.

"It's not" he assured her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm back for good"

He treasured the moment because he could feel that she was there this time, and his treasured their kiss even more. From the balcony Pinako watched with a smile, and Ed was sure Al and Trisha were also looking down on him with approval.

June 5th, 1913

Resembool, Amestris

"Are you sure you want to do this Ed?"

"There's to many memories here Winry. If I don't it'll be hard for me to move on"

Ed had thought about it, and he decided that it would be the best to burn down his own home. It was true that there were many happy memories. but Trisha had died here, and ever since Al had died and he had performed the human transmutation it was hard for him to even look at the place. He had told Winry and Pinako about it, and they both agreed that it was alright.

Pinako spent the day gathering up all the pictures in the house so she could save them, while Ed went into his father's study and gathered up all the books and notes and put them in a box so he could go through them later. It was hard for him to be in the room, after all the transmutation circle was still on the floor, and even though it had been worn down it was still there along with the blood stain of that thing he had created. It had also been where he had first started seeing Alphonse.

He sighed as he shook all the painful thoughts and memories away, then picked up the heavy box and carried it outside. Winry and Pinako were outside waiting for him, and when he put the box down he picked up the watering can that was filled with oil and went back inside. He walked slowly as he took everything in for the last time and poured the oil over things. By the time he was done it was dark, and the place reeked with it.

Winry and Pinako had gone back since he told them he wanted to be alone while he set it ablaze, so it was just him. He stood there silently as he stuck the match and lit the torch, then after a moment of hesitation he threw it into the house. He watched it burn for a few minutes from a safe distance, then as the sky darkened and started to smell of smoke and ash he turned back and started walking back to the Rockbell house.

"Goodbye Alphonse" he whispered.

~FIN~

Author's Notes

Well this is the last chapter (sorry it's short), but like I said expect a Sequel (Moving Forward). I'm not going to work on it right away because I wanna finish and post Tormented Souls first, but if everything goes well I should have it up sometime this summer. Expect lots of EdxWinry, Hughes, Hoenheim, Mustang, and the Tringham brothers. I hope you guys liked this story even after what I did to Ed (and Al...) and please review ^_^