While Packing

"Are you sure this is the right idea?"

Winry finished folding a shirt to slip it into her bag before turning to Granny. "I've thought it over."

Pinako narrowed her eyes. "Carefully, girl?"

"I talked it over with Al." Winry still had doubts but she wasn't sharing them with her grandmother. "And I want to go, Granny." She added another shirt to the bag.

She blew a sigh through her nostrils. "I suppose there's nothing I can say that'll change your mind. You always were a stubborn girl."

Winry smiled. "I learned it from you."

"Hmph." Granny gave her a sour look before saying, "I suppose you're all ready to go. Contacted your clients and let them know you'd be unavailable for a while?"

It was Granny's way of showing she cared. "Yes'm. The ones in Rush Valley particularly." She figured if anyone showed up here, Granny would take care of them. Pinako Rockbell was still the Panthress of Rezembool. She'd never let a customer down.

"All right," Granny said, almost grudgingly. "If you're absolutely sure."

Winry closed the lid on her case and latched it but that stall didn't give her very much time. Not time enough to consider everything Granny asked – and the things she didn't. Winry swallowed to clear her throat before turning to face Granny. To look her in the eyes when she said, "I'm not sure if it's the best idea. I really don't know! But he needs me and I've always been there when he's needed me."

Granny pulled a sour face as she eyed Winry. "Girl, you know what you mean to me. I don't want to see your heart broken." She didn't say 'again', but the word hung in the air anyway.

Inhaling deeply, Winry held the breath for a few seconds before letting it out again. She laid her hand on Granny's shoulder. "I think…this really is for the best, Granny. I think we can help each other."

Granny rolled her eyes in answer. "You're going to do what you're going to do anyway, aren't you, girl?" She took Winry's hand from her shoulder and gave it a hard squeeze. "Stubborn. And determined. And always looking out for everyone else, even if it hurts you the most."

It wasn't permission but Winry wasn't asking anyway. She grinned and bent down to hug Granny. "You'll take good care of Alphonse."

Granny struggled out of the hug like a cat fought to get out of water. "Like you have to ask."

"I didn't ask." Winry pulled her case from her bed, setting it on the floor near the doorway.

"Well, if you're going to go," Granny said, "I guess I'd better pack you some of my hard cider. You'll probably need it, dealing with two hot heads." Winry started to protest but Granny raised a hand to stop her words. "For yourself, girl, not for them, but if you have to whack them over the head, make sure you empty the bottle, first. Don't waste that cider!"

As a blessing on the travel, it wasn't that great but it was completely Pinako Rockbell. "Got it, Granny!" Winry said, grinning.