Chapter 29

"Ed…" a familiar voice called out. "Listen to me, Ed."

Ed opened his eyes that no longer revealed a darkness. He looked around. This was Winry's house! It was slightly foggy in the house, though, and it looked different.

"Hey, Ed," the voice said again. Ed followed it and saw what he never believed.

It looked like an older version of himself. Long hair no longer resided in a braid, but remained in a ponytail. He was taller, more muscular, and most importantly, alive.

"I'm you, Ed. I'm Edward." Ed backed up, noticing they weren't alone in the house. There were two toddler twin boys sitting in the living room coloring on paper, and it sounded like Winry was in the kitchen cooking. "I know you're scared, Ed. I need to talk to you before you wake up," Edward said.

"How do I know you're really me?" Ed asked. Edward sighed and rolled up his sleeve. The scars were identical to the cuts and scars on Ed's arm.

"Oh shit…" Ed trailed off.

"I'm 24, and I'm married. I have two kids and we're hoping for more," Edward explained.

"You're married to Winry?" Ed asked. They were in Winry's house, after all.

"Yeah; and I'm going to college for psychology. I'm going to be a therapist," Edward said. "None of this will happen if you kill yourself."

"I don't want to be alive," Ed responded.

"I know," Edward smiled in a gentle way Ed himself had never done before. "Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. You're mostly upset because of Al's body, but you keep trying."

"Do you…we…ever get Al's body back?" Ed asked.

"We do." Edward placed a hand on Ed's shoulder. "We're eighteen when we get it back. Al's happily in Xing in my time with his girlfriend."

"Who's that?" Ed asked.

"Find out for yourself." Edward smirked in a more familiar way. "And tell that bastard colonel I said hi."

When Edward woke, Roy was right there. Ed hadn't expected to wake up at all, but knew this was real because of the tube in his throat. Edward had dealt with this before, and allowed the tube to breathe for him.

"You're awake," Roy said. He had a relieved smile on his face. "I'll call the nurse to remove your tube." The colonel reached over and pressed the call button. A nurse walked in moments later and removed the tube. Once it was removed, Ed let out a scratchy cough. "You okay" Mustang asked.

"I wasn't supposed to wake up," Ed said, his voice hoarse from the tube.

"It's too bad we all like you so much, then," the colonel said. He then grew serious. "Edward, we need to talk about our next step."

"Next step" Ed asked.

"The doctor wants to transfer you to their psychiatric facility. I haven't signed the papers yet because I wanted to talk to you about it," the man explained.

"I don't want to go there again," Edward said.

"Why not?" Mustang asked.

"They smell weird, and the people are crazy, and they make you go to bed like a toddler, and wake you up batshit early," Ed explained.

"But they'll help you get better. If you want, I can go find another place for you. I'll find you a better one," Roy said.

Edward paused. What did he want? Did he want to go to a different hospital? He didn't want to feel these things anymore. He knew cutting would solve the problem.

"I don't want them to take my arm again," Ed said.

"I'll have the doctor not take any of your limbs without consent from me," Roy promised.

"Thank you."

Like the colonel promised, the doctors wouldn't take the automail limbs without his permission. The nurses had several requests to have the automail removed, but when Mustang asked for their reasoning, they claimed they feared for their safety, despite the fact that Edward had been a model patient.

Ed was put back on his antidepressants. At first he hated it, but after adjusted – well, he still hated it, but he was better about them.

"Edward," Dr. Cameron – Ed's therapist for the past three years, as well as his colleague now – started. He had the shoulders of a young boy in his grip. "This is Kevin. He's thirteen and has been self harming. I thought you would be the best person to understand what he's going through and to help him understand," he explained.

Ed smiled. At his mature age of 27, Ed had been long since recovered from his previous problems. "Hey, Kevin, why don't you sit down?" Edward suggested, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

After getting Al's body back, Ed had decided to go to college and to get a degree in psychology. He decided to become a therapist to help others with the same problems he had experienced. It all seemed like a lifetime ago now.

Winry helped with his recovery and him nearly relapsing when she became pregnant with their sons. Now, though, life was good and he would continue to help others.

Kevin sat down.

"What can I do to help you, Kevin?"

So, like I announced before, this is the last chapter. There was actually quite a bit I still wanted to include in the story, so I'll maybe try to push everything I wanted into a little deleted scene extra.

It really helped me to write this story because when I began writing, I was recovering from self harm. I still am, but it's easier now than it was before, and I like to think all of your positive reviews have something to do with that.

It is also my friend's birthday today, so happy 19th birthday, Gypsy! And May 5th is my last day of high school! I graduate on May 10th, which my mom says is the best mothers day present she could get! :) See you guys on the other side when I happen to write something good enough.