It took Ed three days to finally feel normal again. Even though he was still bleeding his emotional rollercoaster seemed to have stopped. He spent those three days in his room trying to read every medical text Pinako had. He had the cramps again the next day and Pinako helped ease them with a heated pack and he suffered a headache when she cuffed him after she discovered he'd cracked the bathroom tiles that night.
When Ed got up the nerve to explain his predicament and behaviour to Al, his brother had screwed his face up and bolted from the room. A blushing Winry had followed him out and Pinako had just laughed.
"Don't worry Ed. When Al and Winry finally settle down he'll find out more than he's ever going to want to know about it."
Then she chased Al down and made them both fix the broken tiles.
Al was hesitant at moving back into their bedroom but Ed assured him that the mood swings were gone now and besides he missed having his brother close by.
Four years apart had changed them both. Al had become more independent and Ed had become more restrained. Their first week back had seen them overwhelmed with being back together but now they were adjusting to the changes in each other. They had both grown up. They were no longer the inseparable pair they once were. Al was growing closer to Winry and he was sharing thoughts and feelings with her that he just could not do with Edward. And Ed was finding Granny Pinako to be his greatest support. The physical changes to his body, the maturity and self control he had developed over his four years of unintended exile now made him unable to communicate as easily with Al as he used to do.
The love between them was something they could never, would never doubt. They were now trying to see each other as their own person. They were learning to adjust, to find a renewal of their closeness but on a different level. It was the one part of their emotional development that they had missed out on during the years of separation and it was being condensed into three weeks.
"Will you come to Central with me, Al?" Ed asked that night as they lay in their beds.
Al was silent. His sister's voice was light and casual but Al heard the desire in it for his company.
"I don't know, Ed." Al was always honest with Ed. "There's Winry here and I resigned. I just don't know" He repeated. "I have another week, two at the most, before they're expecting me to call."
"Pinako won't clear me to travel for another two weeks anyway. I'm not asking for a decision now, Al." Ed turned and Al watched as she leant on her elbow and looked across at him. "I would like you to come with me but I can understand if you don't want to." Ed was equally honest in return and Al knew that Ed would indeed understand even if she wouldn't be too happy about it.
Al paused before going on. "Winry and I haven't really discussed the future. I know she wants me to stay here…"
"And that you want to stay here too." Ed interjected. Al looked at her in surprise. "I'm not blind Al, I know you want to stay and I don't blame you for it." It was Ed's turn to pause. "I just can't settle yet Al. It's too soon after being away. I need to see them again. I need to see the places we used to go to, the people we, I used to know."
Ed had always enjoyed the travelling around so it was no surprise to Al that she'd want to keep doing it. And yes, there were people who would want to know that Ed was back and alive. He was honest enough with himself to realise that he wouldn't mind seeing the reactions to Ed's return. Ed might want to leave to play 'catch up' with people and places but Al knew his sister well enough to also know that she would never be content to settle back here afterwards. If she settled anywhere it would be Central or even Eastern where they had spent much of their youth.
"You will never settle here." Acknowledgement and acceptance coloured the simple words as Al spoke his thoughts.
"No. But I will always come back. Because you will be here." And there was nothing but simple honesty in Ed's reply.
"Things are changing for us both now, big changes. I've just gotten you back and soon we'll be apart again." Al whispered.