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Breda lightly touched his arm, feeling for any other protrusions of bone. It seemed to be knitting well, and he could feel a certain amount of flexibility. Provided he saw a doctor soon, maybe it would heal fully.

He looked at the others, all waiting in their own way for the test. Winry and Edward were quietly talking, reminiscing about Risembool, while Mustang paced up and down nervously. Breda himself was indulging his stomach with extra rations he had scrounged, while Havoc stood outside, smoking like a chimney. By now, most of the other refugees had left, thankful to the Hughes' for their hospitality and seeking their homes once more, leaving only the Amestrians and Noah.

Even Fuery had returned, reeking of garlic and patched up from his time in France, still eagerly engaging Falman with the stories of his misadventures. A faint gust blew down the street, and they all looked up as the grand-father clock chimed the hour. It was time. They gathered around the wall that the Hughes' had vacated to form the gate, and waited. It was all up to Alphonse now.

**

Alphonse stared in horror. The force unleashed was many millions of times that he had ever known, and it seemed as if there was a second sun on Earth. The cloud continued growing, the sand of the New Mexico desert still fleeing this incredible power, a shock-wave rippling its' way towards him. In his pocket, he felt the fan whirring excitedly, the "Food parcel" performing its task. The effect of the shock-wave almost knocked him sideways, but he stood his ground, still horror-stricken.

This was to be used against people.

A solitary tear escaped each eye, and settled in the rubber of the radiation goggles, the sheer madness overpowering his senses. Oppenheimer too, looked shocked, but all stayed wordless, as the roaring died away and the cloud grew quietly.

Trinity had been a success.

Oppenheimer picked up the telephone in the bunker, and called the General.

"Congratulations. You have your weapon." He set the reciever down, not awaiting the reply.

"I guess we are all sons of bitches now." He muttered quietly.

Al continued to look into the heart of the cloud, considering that he had made the best decision by staying behind to make sure this weapon was never used again after the war.

"But this had better be worth it, brother."

**

Winry stepped back as the machine began whirring, a faint buzzing growing much louder as Ed and Mustang took up positions in front of the pre-prepared transmutations circles, and nodded to one another, forcing open the gate. It had only been a hope, but the circle grew stronger as obviously someone else strengthened the circle from the other side.

"GO!" Mustang yelled, and the four officers went first, walking into the wall despite their natural terror.

Scieska followed, with Winry close behind. Mustang and Hawkeye both took each others' hands and walked through themselves, leaving only Ed. He turned to Hughes and made his final farewells, a solid lump in his throat.

"I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me... for all of us."

Hughes shook his head and held Gracia tight, both of them smiling at him, as Noah looked on, smiling too.

"Without you, we would never have found each other. Thank you, Edward, and... live a good life."

Edward nodded, and waved, walking into the wall and disappearing from Earth, knowing that this time would be the final passage across.

The machine sputtered and sparked, before dying out, wires melting under the incredible heat of the power transfer, leaving a considerable amount of smoke drifting around the room. Hughes sat down in his old arm-chair, one he had kept un-used since before the war. Finally, after all the devastation, the death and now the loss of his best friend to another world, their war was over. He smiled at Gracia, good humour returning as it always did.

"You know, Gracia, the worst thing about having guests over is the clean-up afterwards."

She chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "We can sort it tomorrow."

Just one other bit of unfinished business.

"Noah, you are free to stay here if you wish... it's going to be quiet now, especially with Elycia trying to find a university in Switzerland to go to, and... we'd appreciate your company."

Noah smiled. "Thanks, Mister Hughes, I honestly had no idea where I was going to go... I want to find a job but..."

Hughes chuckled. "Your not being able to read is a problem we can sort out. Tomorrow, I can start teaching you."

Gracia nodded. "I wanted to reopen the flower shop too... it will take a while, but the garden is still full of good soil to use, and maybe we can start turning a profit."

Noah beamed, tears brimming as she hugged them both. "Thank you!"

Maes grinned, taking the opportunity to wind up his daughter.

"Besides, you can sleep in Elycia's room... I imagine it'll be much nicer than that cellar you've stayed in for six years..."

"DAD!"

**

They stepped out into a large stone hall, the gate fading behind them slowly after Ed pulled himself out. They looked around, but saw no sign of the person who had kept the gate open for them from this side, until a magnificent voice boomed out from above.

"It worked!"

Crap. Why did it have to be...

Armstrong burst out through the doorway, running towards them with tears streaming.

"THANK HEAVENS YOU ARE ALL RIGHT! I WAS SO CONCERNED!!!" Hawkeye quickly pushed Mustang out of the way as the Major bowled over the others and began hugging the life out of each one, sprig of hair dancing and his mustache twitching as he spoke.

"And Edward Elric! My have you grown! It's only been six months! Allow me to measure you with my abdominal muscles!" Edward ran, trying to escape, but got flattened as Armstrong caught up with him, and wheezing "Major! I can't breathe!"

Mustang and Hawkeye quickly got up, glad to have escaped Armstrong's notice for the moment, as Fuhrer Grumman entered with several alchemists.

"Brigadier-General! It's hard to believe you all made it out alive. And Edward Elric returning as well? This is most fortuitous."

"Sir, I'm sorry to report that we were the only ones who made it through... everyone else in central command..."

"We know, Mustang... fortunately most of the staff were on leave. In all, we reckon only fourteen people including yourselves were in the building... it was an absolute miracle."

"So... only six people are unaccounted for?"

"Yes, Mustang, and knowing them, any that survived are probably eeking out their lives in the other world."

"I hope so, sir... I hope so."