A/N: Hello! I have been so busy it's crazy! I have a ton of stories sitting around and I really haven't posted anything of significance for a while so I finally got around to typing up and finishing some of my old stuff. I've never actually posted anything FMA but I did my best:)
A Step Forewords
"There's some money in the closet." Ed whispered, his voice rough, as I changed his bloodied bandages for the umpteenth time today. I smiled wearily back at him.
"You know that's not necessary Ed. Besides, let's focus on you getting better before paying us for any services." I joked flatly, eying the pale stumps that were previously Edward Elric's left leg and right arm. He shook his head.
"No, consider it payment," he paused just as I finished tying the new bandages, already lightly splotched with hints of red. The golden eyed boy took a deep breath before looking up from his lap, "for automail."
Somehow, I saw this coming, yet I still had to turn away from him. I knew what he'd do once he got what he wanted. Ed would leave and become a State Alchemist, a dog of the military, to study the art that was his and many others' greatest downfall. Then he would try this human transmutation again and, like my family and his mother, would die.
"Why can't you just accept that you can't win it all Ed?" I asked, crestfallen. I'd known this boy since I was born, eleven years now, and if I learned anything in that time it was that once he set his mind to something there was no going back. No matter how long it took or how bad things seemed, he always saw it through to the end. Always.
"Because who would I be if I didn't even try?" And that was that.
AN: So this is all one big story but it's split into parts. Italics being Winry's memories and normal being present time.
I love to hear your thoughts:)