Chapter 1 – Our Friend
"Edward, you're so mean!" Winry yelled as Edward was spraying water at her. He had previously been given a new toy by his father, which he wasn't afraid to start using. Alfonso was ashamed at his brother for his cruelty.
"Brother please, it's for us to use when we play war," He interrupted the torture Edward was giving.
Edward had no intention of stopping. Unfortunately for him, that's when his face met the fist of his father.
"Boy, I told you not to be doin that crap," He started. He looked toward the little girl who was in tears. "I'm apologizing for my dumb ass son's behavior," He finished.
He took a sip of his alcoholic beverage; he was apparently drunk again in the sorrow of his lost love. The two brothers never did get to know their mother very well. It had been a terrible accident that took her away from them as toddlers.
The thing they hadn't gotten though was the fact that he seemed to be real sad at first for a time, then one night he was real happy and the next he was in a confused state of mind, the strangest part was that it seemed like he would always hide his bear torso as if he was hiding something no one should know. Ever since then, their father had never been the same.
Deep down he was a good man. He even knew all kinds of stuff like science and history. He used to love giving lectures to his boys but ever since Trish's death…
"You're the Rockwell's kid aren't you? I'm sorry, tell your parents I said hi," motioning for the boys to come home with him.
"I will once they get back mister," Winry explained frightened by the violent punishment Edward had received.
"Get back?" He was curious at what she meant by when they get back.
"Oh, they're over at the war," she smiled pretending like she knew what she was really saying. Her innocent gaze had yet to be broken by the truth of what war meant.
The brother's father seemed surprised at the comment. There was almost a look of fear in his eyes.
Later that evening, in their trailer his father was attending to his son.
"I'm sorry Edward but you really shouldn't do things to people they don't want you doing," He said.
He was now in a state of a hangover becoming clearer in his state of mind.
"I was just having fun," Edward said innocently.
His father gave him a saddened smile.
"You really should listen to your brother more often," his father finished.
"Hey can we see her again?" Edward asked.
"I mean, not that I like her or anything it's just that our town is so small and full mostly of adults…" He finished.
"Sure, maybe you two will get married one day," His father jokingly stated.
Edward blushed at the comment. His brother couldn't help but pick on him along with their father. For the first time in a long time they enjoyed the night with their father.
Four years later…
It was a stormy day. The brothers and Winry had become quite good friends since that day they first met. They were all entering the early years of teen life.
"Edward, Alfonso!" Winry yelled for them. It was Edward's birthday and she wanted to give him a special present. One that showed she cared. She was starting to fall in love with Ed though she would never admit it.
She discovered the brothers to be reading by their favorite spot. It was in front of their trailer by a lonely tree.
"What are you guys reading?" She asked.
Edward took a moment to snap back to reality to notice her.
"The Lost Arts, it's actually pretty interesting. It talks about the raising of the dead and forbidden arts lost to history. Nothing that's real but it's still interesting," Edward explained.
Edward was always happy to see Winry. He hadn't yet developed deep feelings such as Winry had but he did love her as friend for now. They got to spend a lot of time together as she only lived down the road, she would always walk to their trailer.
"Do you know what today is Edward?" She asked playing innocent like he didn't know.
"Oh yeah, Today's my birthday," Edward said.
"HAPPY THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY" She said in her most angelic voice. She raised a cake with Edward's profile plastered on it.
He gave her a warm smile accepting the present. They enjoyed their day together until it was almost dawn. It started raining so they decided to head to Winry's to take her home. She was currently living with her grandmother who enjoyed their company. It was always a happy reunion with the four…
Except tonight was going to be different.
They entered to discover Winry's grandmother with a disheartened look on her face.
"Winry can I talk to you alone?" She asked.
"Hey can you guys hold on a sec? I'll be right back" Winry then followed her grandmother to her room.
The boys had given her a kind of agreeing look. They were still concerned and curious as to what Winry was being told. There was an eerie silence for a few minutes and then a burst from the door. Winry ran past them straight out the door in tears.
"WINRY?" Edward yelled in concern. He badly wanted to chase after her but waited for Winry's grandmother to enter the living room.
"What's happened?" He demanded.
"Winry's parents…they're dead," She explained.
The brother's faces turned to horrified looks of deep concern.
Edward chased after Winry to find her sulking in her back yard in her parent's memento. It was a large swing set given to her before her parents left promising they would be back soon. Edward sat next to her on the other swing.
"Go away Ed," She demanded in a cold voice.
"Winry please, I'm your friend. I want to help comfort you," He said.
"You don't get it Ed, they're never coming back!" She said nearly chocking on her sadness.
"I…never told you this but Winry…We lost our mother when we we're little. I know it's not the same and sounds selfish but please listen. I was sad too, I know how much it hurts," He said.
Winry looked at him in shock. Apparently this only made things worse for her.
"Winry, I'll leave you alone now but please come inside. We'll leave…" He said.
"You sniff don't sniff have to…" She wiped her tears away.
He brought her back inside to her grandmother. He knew that Winry needed some time to think. He hugged her for the first time to show he really did care. Of course he wanted to show just how much he did care.
The two brothers left.
"Man, I feel so bad for Winry," Alfonso said.
"Yeah…Hey Al, will you help me with something?" He asked.
"Umm… Sure, what is it?" Alfonso asked feeling weird at the look his brother had.
"I need your help with a science project," He said with a hint of determined growth.
"But what about Winry? Do you really think we should be worried about that right now?" Al was shocked at his brother's selfish statements.
"That's exactly why I need your help. She's our friend…" Ed looked away leaving Alfonso in state of puzzled confusion.
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