-1Ch.5

Ana blinked as her eyes adjusted to the new light. She was back in her room in her world. "Wow, that was something else." She thought to herself. "I hope Grandfather is okay. I wonder where he's hiding?"

Ana carefully opened her door and glanced down the hallway. Everything was quiet in the house. It seemed as if all the tenants were out. "Good--better for me to arrive when nobody is around. That way there are no questions asked."

"Ana?"

She turned carefully to face her grandfather. "Hello Grandpa."

"My girl!" Frederick ran up and pulled Ana into his arms. "I thought I would never see you again. I'm glad you're back."

Ana chuckled. "Not acting insane Grandpa? How unlike you." She pulled away from him. "I am not staying long. I just came back to set a few things in order and then I am going back."

"Ana…"

"Listen to me, Grandpa. I love Ed and I told him I would be back. I can't break the promise that I made to him."

Frederick smiled. "How like your mother you are. She always spoke to me frankly as well and always got her way." He gently brushed a strand of hair out of Ana's face. "How are we going to explain your disappearance once again?"

"You do not have to worry about that Grandpa. You're coming with me as well. I made a promise to have you with me. I can't imagine living without you. You have always been there for me."

"Ana--who did you promise?"

"My father."

"How…when?"

"When I was back in Ed's world. I don't know how, but Danny is able to take solid form there."

"He's…alive?"

"Oh no--Danny's very much dead still. It's just something about that place that gives him the ability."

"But how does your father figure into this?"

"In a dream. Danny was there and then so was my father. He apologized for being so angry for so long at all of us. He gave me his blessing to be with Ed. Father also asked me to have you with me no matter where we decided to live. I was going to anyway."

Frederick chuckled softly. "He never could tell me anything himself. His messages usually came through you, your brother or your mother. I could never understand why."

"I do." Ana walked away from her grandfather slowly. "I'm going to try and find someone who will run this place as well as we have. We can't just let it go to the dumps. Too many people depend on it."

x.x…X…x.x

"He's been like that ever since Ana left," Al muttered as Rose came into the room. "I hope she comes back soon or Ed will never come out of this stupor."

Rose shook her head as Matthew tugged on her skirt. "Not now Matthew."

"But Mommy--I'm bored."

"Go play outside in the backyard. Don't go far okay?"

With a sigh Matthew let go of his mother's skirts and walked out of the room. "Nobody ever wants to play with me." He went through the back door and fell to the ground. Slowly he began to pick shapes out of the sky. "There's a puppy dog, a cat--"

"And a car and a flower--" Winry knelt down next to the little boy. "What are you doing out here all by yourself Matthew? Where is your mother?"

"In the house with Al and Ed."

"Ah, so how is Ed?"

Matthew sat up almost falling over again. "He's just sitting there watching from the window. He didn't look up when we came in. Is there something wrong with Momma's friend?"

Winry stood up and glanced over her shoulder. "Richard would you look after Matthew please? I need to talk to Edward." Without waiting for an answer she entered the house. Mustang and Riza were standing in the doorway watching as Al and Rose tried to get Ed to talk. "What are you two doing?"

"Seeing if Edward is going to respond," Mustang muttered. "That boy needs to realize that when you love somebody you need to trust them when they say that they will be back."

"Leave it Mustang," Riza sighed. "It's obviously the fist time Edward has every truly been in love with someone."

"I think that Mustang is right. Edward really does need to grow up." Winry stalked into the room and Al and Rose backed away from Ed. "Edward Elric you had better answer me now!" She knelt down in front of him. "Damn it Ed--answer me!"

Ed continued to look out the window. When Winry put her face in Ed's, he moved so he could still see out the window.

"This is for your own good Ed." Winry arched back her hand and let it swing forward. SMACK! Edward's head rocked to the side as a red handprint formed on his cheek.

"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR!?"

"I needed to get your attention Edward."

"But did you have to do it like that?" Ed rubbed his cheek and winced. "That really hurt."

Winry stood up and crossed her arms. "Tell me what's wrong Edward. I come back here to find you the way I left you two days ago? You need to keep going on with your life."

"But she's gone…"

"OH GET OVER IT EDWARD," Al yelled in frustration. "Ana said she would be back. Didn't she keep her promises before this? She probably has a lot to take care of before she can return. It's only been two days."

"Yeah, give the girl some time Edward." Mustang finally entered the room. "Now how about you and I go for a little walk? We need to talk." He grasped Ed's arm and led him out of the room.

"Excellent job Winry. Nobody else has been able to get Ed to talk. I hope you girls are hungry. I made so much food the other day that I still have so much leftovers," Riza looked around. "Is Matthew hungry?"

"Probably--he's always eating now," Rose relied.

"I'll go get him." Al left the girls to be by themselves.

"Well all the boys are gone let's get down to business." Riza pulled the other two closer and lowered her voice. "We are going to plan the biggest and best wedding for Edward and Ana."

"Wedding? What wedding," Rose asked.

"Since when are they getting married?" Winry raised an eyebrow. "Why wasn't I even informed of this?"

"Because Ed and Ana don't know this is happening just yet. I know that it will though. So, we're going to get a head start."

Winry and Rose grinned. "Okay--let's get it going."

Ed walked with his head hung down. "I'm sorry."

Mustang glanced over at him. "For what Edward?"

"For acting like this. I've been nothing but melancholy lately. I should have…"

"Have what?"

"I don't know! Gone about my life? Believed in Ana when she said that she would be back. Why couldn't I just go on living?"

Mustang chuckled. "You have grown up haven't you little man?" He cocked his head to the side when Ed didn't answer. "What? No retort? No screaming fit because I joked about you being short?"

"I have better things to say."

"Like?"

Ed grinned and turned to face him. "HOW DARE YOU SAY I'M AS SMALL AS AN ANT THAT NOT EVEN AN MAGNIFYING GLASSS CAN SEE! I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM NORMAL! YOU TALL PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE DIFFERENT!"

"Oh, good one." Mustang sighed. "Seriously Edward--you have grown up a lot. I guess the other side of the gate did you some good after all."

"I can't wait for Ana to get back."

"Yeah and she'd better get back soon before Riza goes too far."

"What are you talking about?"

"Of course you wouldn't know. All Riza has been able to talk about is you and Ana. I think she hears wedding bells in your future. It wouldn't surprise me at all if she and the girls are plotting something at this very moment."

"Wedding bells?" Ed's eyes grew wide. "But I'm not ready to--at least I don't think I am ready to marry."

Mustang nodded his head. "Well you should try telling that to Riza."

x.x…X…x.x

Matthew sat under a tree watching the house. "Why doesn't anybody want to play?" He thought to himself. He jumped when a hand lightly touched his shoulder. "Ana!" Matthew jumped to his feet and threw his arms around her neck. "Everybody's been so worried. Mom and Aunt Riza and Aunt Winry have been hiding in one of the rooms and Ed has been quiet! Al says it's because you left."

Ana sighed as she lifted Matthew onto her hip. "I said I would be back and my promises are always kept."

"Well that is good. Who is he?" Matthew nodded.

Ana smiled. "That is my grandfather. Grandpa--this is Rose's son, Matthew."

"Well hello there my good chap! The name's Frederick Myers, but you may call me Fred if you wish."

Matthew giggled, "You're funny."

"Yes--I have been told that on occasion. So, where are those two young scallywags?"

"Is everyone inside Matthew?"

Matthew nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!" He squirmed in Ana's arms until she let him down. "Come with me Ana! They will be happy to see you!"

Ana allowed Matthew to pull her along behind him. Her grandfather trailed behind with the few bags they had arrived with. "Maybe you should tell them first that I am back Matthew. I don't want to give them a--"

"Ana," Ed asked quietly from the doorway.

Matthew let go of Ana's hand and hid behind her next to Frederick. "Ana's back Ed! Now you can be happy again!"

"Hello Ed," Ana said quietly.

"You're back."

"I said I would be didn't I?"

Ed jumped down the steps and pulled Ana into his arms. He buried his face into her hair. "I missed you."

"And I missed you."

Ed pulled back and played with Ana's hair. "I see you brought your grandfather."

"Of course she did! Ana wouldn't just leave me there! Now why don't you kiss Ana already? We've made all these plans to live here and you haven't kissed her yet? Shows how much you care!"

"Grandpa--"

"No, he's right." Ed pulled Ana closer. "I do owe you a kiss." He cupped Ana's face in his hands and kissed her softly.