Authors Note

well This is my first story it was originally gonna be a oneshot thats why the first chapter is so damn long lol, but i have already started on the second chapter and i think eatch one will be like 1200 words or so. This story is not a action story just what i would invision a day at the elric house like after the promised day I also will not say that my chacters are ooc , because no one really knows what they will be like in the future so this is just my vision.

This is rated M for language some sex references and stuff adults do lol

please review im open to all comments and if you wanna flame go for it, wont bother me cause i still wasted your time making you read it :)

The morning after the New Year's Eve party, Ed woke up earlier than usual- hangovers were rarely merciful and he most definitely wouldn't be sleeping this one off. His throat was parched and it felt like his brain was rattling around in his skull. Try as he might, he could not go back to sleep.
Ed rolled over and groaned into his pillow. "Winryyyy," he whined , "Winry, I don't feel well." When she didn't reply he opened his eyes. The Sunlight burned his eyes like fire, once he finally grew accustomed to the light he saw that something wasn't right; his room looked different . He struggled as he sat up and took in the room, "Oh shit", the little voice in the back of his head said. For Ed had just discovered the he was in fact not in his room, he was in winry's room-even worse he was in her bed, "this is the reason", he reminded himself of why he didn't like to drink.

After he staggered down the stairs he called out again, "Hey Win, you down here?", but there was no reply, "well", he thought, "I guess I can rule out a nice breakfast." He opened the icebox hoping to find something to help settle his stomach, but all he saw was milk, and what he guessed was the bottle of scotch that he and his brother had been drinking last night. Closing the door and figuring that water was the best remedy, something on the table caught his eye, a note.

Ed , sorry I wasn't there to cook for you but Al and I went out early to do some shopping hope you feel OK, Al is just fine, which surprised me because of how much the two of you idiots drank last night,

Winry

P.S

Al says you cant be his wing-man anymore, you passed out after the fifth glass.

Ed grabbed the edge of the table to keep from falling over with laughter, "So Al beat me huh". In all honesty this really didn't surprise him, as he was never much of a drinker, Al on the other hand, well Ed couldn't think of a time when he didn't see a glass of something in his younger brothers hand. Ed was just happy it wasn't him who inherited his fathers love of booze. Setting the note back down and filling a glass from the tap, Ed took in a deep breath, wondering what the world looked like today; he fumbled in his pocket, found his matches and, only once his cigarette was lit did he venture out into the cold. Only it wasn't cold ,and there was a lack of snow, taking a deep drag on the smoke , he thought to himself how strange it was being the first of January and there wasn't a drop of snow on the ground, added to the fact that the temperature hadn't dropped below forty all Winter.

As he scanned the world around him , he took it in, Resembool looked the same as it did from his childhood though most of the neighbors had either died off or moved, and Winry would always buy there land from them, to Ed it seemed like she was trying to make her own mini-country.

There were heavy clouds in the sky. "Maybe we will finally get that snow", he said to himself not really believing it. He took one last drag and flicked it off the patio bouncing it off the birdhouse, smirking at his talent of aim.

Back inside he stared at the kitchen, memories flooded back to him of his childhood and he had to quickly change his thoughts or risk tears flowing. After regaining hold on himself he marched upstairs determined to take a hot shower and to stand under the water till his head stopped throbbing.

After what seemed like a eternity he dried and dressed himself , black shirt, tan cargo pants and his awesome red slippers that winry got him for Christmas.

Not really thinking his feet lead him down the stairs were he heard all too familiar voices.

"Anything good in the paper" Winry asked ?

"Nope" Al replied, "Hey you think ed will remember what he did last night" ?

Winry froze in terror, NO the was no way Al knew about that she was sure he was asleep when Ed had staggered into her room.

"what did I do last night", Ed practically screamed it as he jumped the last four stairs.

Al broke the silence," you pissed on the kitchen floor"

Winry let out a gasp of relief when it was reveled what he was questioning her about, turning back to look at Ed's face she could see a look of pure embarrassment on it, but it quickly faded as his eyes went from hers to Al who was seated at the table eating a muffin and, from its rich brown color, he could only guess was drinking whiskey.

"Well now that is cleared up why don't you sit down and have some breakfast, winry made a huge omelet, its quite good. Sit ill pour you a drink it will take the edge off"

"No thanks Al after last night I don't think I'll ever drink again, plus isn't it a little early for a drink" ? "Its never too early to drown your sorrows brother you should of learned that by now", he said smiling and taking a large sip of his glasses contents. "I slept wrong last night so Ill have a nip or two and then its all better", he continued as his eyes glazed.

Ed felt the sudden urge to smack his brother, it was barley noon and he was already halfway into orbit, his brothers drinking never bothered him before but today it felt like he should say something. "Why don't you cut back a little bit from now on bud", he said a look of worry on his gold eyes, Al sat his glass down gave him a look from beyond the grave, "why don't you stop smoking that kills you too ya know". "Yea" Ed replied, "but I can have four or five smokes and function just fine, you on the other hand are a different tale", he finished.

There was a long silence were Al looked deep in to his brothers eyes, but it was broken by Al. Slamming his fist on the table and jumping up finger pointed inches from his elder brothers nose, the words left his lips, words Ed had never heard from his brother, much less directed at him.

"Go Fuck Yourself", Ed drew a sharp breath, "I'm almost Nineteen", Al continued, " I can make my own damn Decisions I don't need you to coddle me anymore, you ass". He finished by giving Ed a rather mean gesture with his finger before waking over to the icebox, grabbing the half-empty bottle of whiskey he had bought this morning and walking off to his study.

Still in shock Ed staggered to a chair and flopped unto it. He was soon aware of Winry's soft hands around his shoulders. "Hon" she said, "let him be its not really him its the booze, hes had a rough few days with the way work has been going". Edward wasn't sure what to say, so he grabbed her around the waist pulled her to his level, and proceeded to kiss her with reams of passion, eventually they ended up on the floor when they broke apart she looked at him with red cheeks."So you steal my virginity and now you think you can molest my face anytime you want mister", she questioned. "sure as shit", came his reply. It was crude but that was Edward; as long as she had known him he had always been blunt;and maybe that's why she had fallen for him. "Well", he said as they stood back up.

I guess that I have to thank Al for at least talking me into that damn drinking game, otherwise last night prolly wouldn't of happened" he said half laughing. Winry gave him a troubled look, "um wa-wa- wait you only slept with me because of the booze",terror sounding in her voice. Ed picked up on it.

" No not at all I always wanted to ever since I was a small boy, I was just saying that the liquor helped me manage my fears and admit my feelings, Guess that's why they call it liquid courage, hmm?"

After finishing his eggs and having a long conversation, he left the table, leaving winry to the dishes while he walked down the hall. The door to Al's study was partially open, walking quietly, which he didn't need to do because the radio was quite loud and blaring some sort of music Ed had never heard but was to brash and heavy for him, he peeked in. Al was leaning back in his chair feet resting on top of his large walnut desk, letter in one hand and the bottle in the other,which made several trips a minute to his mouth. He would swallow and shake his head as if something was crawling on him. Ed sighed walking back into the kitchen were winry was finishing up the dishes. He walked past her grabbed the stone ashtray on the counter , and lit up, the first drag was strong and mellow, it gave him a rush.

"Ed?", Winry asked looking concerned. "He doesn't even use a fucking glass anymore, hes got his damn feet on the desk , the desk that's a family heirloom one of the few I saved before I burned our house", his tone rising, " and hes got his feet on it, bottle in hand, fuck it all", he said slamming his right fist on the counter, causing something to shift in a cabinet to his left. Winry gave him a sharp look "look Ed there's nothing you can do hes all grown up and if that's one of the choices he wants to make then your just gonna have to live with it, like it or not."

"Yea",he started "but when it screws with my life then its my issue", he said as he turned to her and gave a look that said, not to even try. She didn't because he was right she can remember , his 20th birthday, which had just recently passed, when Al got so out of control that she had to knock him over the head less he try to fondle every woman in the room. But at least that time everyone else was also pretty lost so no one was really offended. Agreeing with the look in his lovers eyes, Ed walked over and embraced her, being careful not to burn her at the same time.

Deciding to apologize; Ed walked towards his brothers study, the radio still blaring, he knocked. No answer. Ed pushed the door open to a sight he had seen many a time, his brother head on desk, in stupor, the empty bottle laying at his feet , along with a crumpled piece of paper. Realizing he would have to wait to talk to him he picked up the bottle and the paper, being nosy as he was he straightened out the paper, on it was a letter written in cheap looking ink.

December 16,1921

Dear, Alphonse it has been a long time since we last saw each other I really miss the warm touch of your embrace, I am sorry to inform you that do to me being short on funds I will not be able to travel to your house for the holidays I wish you the best and you family who I wish to meet very much one day, hopefully they will accept us for who we are.

With much love,

Erwin

Ed stared down at the letter for quite a while, then it hit him this was a letter too his little brother from his "lover". Ed had never known and Al had done such a good job of hiding it. Why did Al hide this from them, from him, was it because he didn't trust him. Was it that he himself was ashamed of what his older brother would think of him. Still numb Edward crumpled the paper up again set it on the desk , gave Al a kiss on the head while he whispered that he would love him no matter what in his ear. Before walking out of the room, killing the radio and closing the door . Walking down the hall towards Winry's room he tried to gather his thoughts , should he tell her ? In fact it was just a letter it wasn't definitive proof , or was it, it was a love letter, usually those are pretty definitive. Ed's though swam as he walked through doorway into Winry's room she was sitting at her desk going over some Automail blueprints. She was chewing the tip off of a pencil and it instantly made him smile. For these were the simple little things about her that he loved. Simple. That was all Ed wanted was to live a simple life, by the time he was Eighteen he had done more in his time than most did in a life. Did he regret it ? No, the adventures and the time he had spent with his brother were all worth it, but they did take is toll on him . After mustangs promotion to commander of the amestrian army ed left the service, his colonel's pension in hand he walked away from the only way of life he had ever known and promised his brother and Winry that he would never leave them again. Three years had passed and he hadn't broken that oath he took up a job at the university, in chemistry, and nuclear fission, and had since, well, been as normal as he could. His brother on the other hand, well he had worked odd, labor intensive jobs, that in all honesty never paid well. Though it seemed to make his brother happy, and well, that's all that Ed ever cared about. But he could tell that the trauma of his brothers early life was catching up with him.

Trying to clear the swarm of visions clouding his sight, he shook his head and sat on the edge of her bed. After a short moment she turned to face him. "Hey how bout we go out to dinner tonight, just the two of us?",she asked,sympathy in her voice. Ed opened his mouth to answer, but something completely different came out. "Win, you ever thought about having children?" The look upon her face was blank; as if she had just had a stroke. Terror climbed up his spine, had he gone too far?

She answered first," Yes Edward I have, I just never thought I would be you who asked me that." He didn't reply. "sweetheart",she continued ," If you want a child, well I think that's wonderful, I think you would make a great father." "In fact I know you will, I've watched you be Al's father all these years and as much as you doubt yourself, you have always done the best for him. Ed took in these words. As happy as they were they stung with the malice of his past. He rose and left her presence.

Winry sat in her room random memories flooding her mind. Her and ed's childhood, the times he left her, the times he came back. Of how she would sneak into his room to watch him sleep. How she would stroke his golden hair and whisper calming things into his ears. Children. Ed wanted children, he hand only truly showed his love to her the night before , and he was already to have kids with her. Not that this truly bothered her, but it was so abrupt. These were the thoughts that ran through her mind as she sat in the fading sunlight.

How long had she sat in her room, a look at the clock told her 5:00pm. That means two hours. Shaking her self back to reality she walked down the hall, looking through the crack in the door to see Al still peacefully asleep. She felt sadness for him, but she brushed it off. Heading down to the kitchen she found no sight of Ed. His jacket was missing, she donned hers and stepped out front. Ed was leaning against the post on the porch, the failing twilight caused his hair to glisten. Hearing her breathing ed turned to her, he must of lost himself in thought, for the cigarette in his fingers had gone out, from lack of attention. Striking a match and drawing a sharp breath Ed gathered his thoughts. Without speaking he handed her a wrinkled piece of paper, "read",he said in a almost demanding tone. She accepted and did as he said. Each word burrowed itself in to her mind. As she read Ed admired the stars that were beginning to populate the heavens, How foolish he thought he was in his younger days; to believe that science could of created all that surrounded him. "Ed",she called his name, her voice somber. "did you have any-" "Not a fucking clue", he replied harshly. "well", she said, trying to sound happy. " I guess this explains why he has been so depressed lately. "Yep", came his reply. "so how bout that dinner huh?", she asked him with hopefulness. " How bout I make us something here", he said smiling while putting his hand on her shoulder. "yea I would like that a lot", came her answer, her eyes gleaming with salty tears. Ed had always known how to cook, he just kept it a secret for fear that Winry would make him do all the cooking, since in all honesty his was much better than hers. She gave him a light kiss on the cheek and then headed up the stairs toward her room, leaving Ed to do his business in the kitchen.

She awoke to the sound of her name being called, for she must of dazed off at her desk. Walking stiffly down the hall, passing Al's still closed door, she could smell garlic and cheese wafting up the stairway. She stood at the base of the stairs in amusement watching Edward; dishtowel around his shoulder his sleeves rolled and perfectly creased. His hand flying all over sounds of butter popping and crackling in the pan the sweat pouring down his forehead, eyes fixated on his goal. Hand grabbing the large pan and pouring two equal portions on a pair of bright blue bowls. He turned around and presented the bowls of Alfredo to her. Stunned by all that she had just seen she took hers and sat down.

She savored every bight. It was perfect, like nothing she had ever tasted. "its something I picked up while I traveled the east over the years ", he stated, smiling. Swallowing a huge bight and blushing slightly, she replied. "well it one of the best things I have ever tasted, haven't had food like this since granny passed." They took turns feeding each other, which ended up not being as romantic as they expected when they kept getting sauce on each other.

When they finished Winry stayed by his side to help him clean the dishes, and to her surprise there wasn't a single spot on the stove. The boy really knew what he was doing. Ed dried the last pan and walked toward the icebox, inside a bottle of champagne left from last night. "why don't you go out on the porch and ill be out there in a minute with this stuff ?", he asked beaming at her.

She consented and grabbing her jacket and walking through the door, she felt a sense of righteousness Ed appeared shortly after her two glasses in hand and a large cigar in his mouth, it smelt of cloves and cinnamon. Noticing her eyes staring at it, he spoke from around the object, " didn't get to this one last night, you know I buy one for every holiday, so I'll just have to celebrate tonight." Remembering all that happened last night and that morning, the words rolled off his lips. "Is Al still out?" "Yea", "he'll probably sleep the whole night too.", she added sounding tired. "well", he spoke. "That's not a issue, just means more time to ourselves." He could tell she was blushing. Seeing her redden made him smile. " I just meant that we can get some some peace that's all, nothing more, in fact after last night I'm quiet sore." pausing to sip his drink, he added, " And that's a complement , just so you know." She knew it was. She also felt tired and had no interest in any sort of "dirty deeds", as granny had always called it. In fact she didn't feel much like talking, for there was much on her mind. She sat there and watched him drag on his cigar, licking his lips, only rising to flick the ashes over the rail. He felt as if he should break the silence, but something deep within told him to let it linger, as if right now silence was his best friend. The sky darkened as time rolled by. You wouldn't think With the silence between them that they were enjoying each others company, but it was quite the opposite. They were enjoying the ability to be normal to just sit there and stare at the stars, with out a care in the world, to be normal.

Ed carried her sleepless body up the steps to her room laying her in her bed, making sure to pull the sheets up tight. Placing a kiss on her forehead he quickly left the room, for he did not want to awaken her. Back downstairs he flopped on to the sofa, not really sure what to do, wishing that the films he saw at the theaters could somehow be seen at home. Brushing off those thoughts he stepped back out side, back to his favorite chair. No sooner than he sat down he heard someone behind him. "Is it morning or night, brother?", Came Al's calm voice. "Its about two thirty , so I guess u could say morning, and if you're drunk, I have no desire to speak to you." Al looked somber, "I'm not I guess I slept it off, sorry about earlier I guess." "Don't be its not worth bringing up again, I know your stressed." Ed spoke as he lit another cigarette and offered one to his brother. Al gladly took it, at this point anything that could help show his sorrow to his brother he would do. Taking the match box back, Ed spoke quickly. " listen brother I have a proposition for you, how bout I send money to Erwin; so he can come visit you, kinda like a late holiday gift." The words hit Al like a brick, immediately his eyes darted to his feet for he was unable to look his brother in the eyes. "Bud, I read your letter, I know I shouldn't but honestly what did it hurt, I just wanted you to know that, you can always trust me, I mean come on I'm your brother, I'll always care about you, even if you act like a shitstick sometimes." He said the last part half laughing.

Al leaped like a ninja at his brother, he hugged him tighter than he thought he ever had. "Hey",came Ed's voice,"be careful with that you burn me and I'll beat you." Al laughed , that was his older brothers way of saying that everything was gonna be alright, and he couldn't of loved him more for it.

Ed wasn't sure when it happened but he and his brother fell asleep out on that porch, and as much as that chair made his back hurt, it was worth it. He dragged himself back inside, only to flop on the sofa , for it was only Six O'clock and there was no way in Hell that he was gonna get up that early on a Weekend.

Ed re-awoke to the smell of what he believed to be waffles coming from the kitchen. Shaking the sleep off he dragged his feet across the wooden floor, causing a dull rubbing sound in the process. The Sun was in the perfect spot in the sky, so as that when he rounded the corner his eyes were scorched by the rays coming through the lower window. Ed rubbed his eyes, mentally kicking his own ass for putting off hanging the blinds in the kitchen. Al was seated at the table nursing a glass of OJ and a plate of waffles, newspaper in hand. "Taxes are going up this year Ed",spoke Al as he noticed his brothers presence. "Great, just another reason to die faster, less money they can steal from my pocket." Ed's reply seemed strangely nonchalant, but the younger passed it off as sleepiness.

Ed reached into the icebox, gave the milk bottle a dirty look and grabbed the pitcher of OJ. It was sweet and crisp and the sugar rush helped awaken him fully. "Well any ideas for today", this was a question Ed asked every morning. Al was quick to reply,"adopt a pet cat!" "Yea-no, I've told you before when you get your own place you can get one of those furry little bastards, but long as this house has my and Winry's name on it, that ain't gonna happen."

Al had known this would be the answer, he only asked just to bug his brother. Quick to change the subject Ed mentioned how he really wasn't ready to go back to work, it bothered him that most of the students in his classes were older than he was but, he could excuse the because he had many years of knowledge on them.

Realizing this conversation wasn't going anywhere soon, he turned to make the trip upstairs. It was close to noon and Win would kill him if he let her sleep any later. He found her just as he left her, the sight made him smile. Seating him self on the edge of the bed, he stroked her blond hair. "Winry", he spoke softly. "it's near noon, I don't think you wanna sleep any later. She cracked one eye open, his gleaming face stared back. " hmm ed, did you sleep well?" She asked with a tired voice. " well as good as a sofa will let you", came his reply a tone of smart-ass in it.

"Why did you sleep on that instead of here with me?", Ed wasn't ready for that question. "Oh I just didn't want to wake you up", he said trying to sound convincing. "O well your welcome anytime hon, it nice to have you here, and for more than just the body heat." That one hit him in the head like a brick. "Um yea thanks", he said feeling the heat rise in his cheeks.

Thanks for reading honestly this just came to me one day and I plan to make it a semi large adventure O and by the next chapter they will be out of the house so yea i was starting to feel kinda locked up myself

Austin