CHAPTER 1 – SAFE TRIP, NOT SAFE TRIPPING

Sort-of Summary: after Ed regained his body and Al's (no idea on how they'll do it, so we'll have to wait for the end of the manga, which I hope is far away), his main goal was completed. So, you'd think he'd have time for a normal teenage boy's stuff, right? Seems like it... So he and Al get a house in the big Central city and have lived there after Al recovered. Winry - who's been slowly progressing on her love-relationship with Ed - decides that she'll spend a week or so in Central with the boys, to be close to Ed. When she arrives, she manages to hit her head and... Loses part of her memory. Her personality changes a bit and... Well... let's just say she has awakened a side of her she never knew she had!

Warning of sorts: Rated M for *coughs* future situations: like possible limes, some swearing, sexual insinuation (?), possible reference to (what an ugly word here) masturbation (I said it was ugly) and naughty stuff like that, that 'normal', older teens are used to already =P Nothing like real limes, and not in the first four chapters anyways I think... So, slowly enjoy!

My make-believe Disclaimer: no, obvously FMA ain't mine, it's Arakawa's! *bows* if it was mine I'd draw you all nice kiddos some fine fluff between our fave couple =3


It was cold. The cool winter breeze bit at her face teasingly, making her wish she'd worn something else underneath her parka. A hoodie would have been a good idea, since her jacket seemed to lack one.

"I can tell it's about to snow a lot… It's so cold" she said as she shivered more than she actually needed to and rubbed her gloved hands together; she wanted to emphasize her point.

Winry took one good look at the boy she loved… 'Boy' seemed to be the correct term. He was only 17 after all; even though he was an alchemy genius and one heck of a fighter, and despite having experienced many things that would make your average proper adult cringe, he was still a kid. In a way, of course. He still had boyish features, but he'd grown so tall; and he worked out extra hard to quickly gain strength in his reacquired limbs, so he'd grown tall and slightly buff as well. His face was even more handsome because his chin was starting to grow more defined, even though he still looked sort of delicate. His eyes were as fierce and piercing as ever and, if that had ever been considered possible, he was even sexier since he had gained the habit of carrying around a constant cocky smile – which made him look sort of pervy.

Speaking of that word – she always avoided those kinds of thoughts. She had quite strong romantic feelings for him, but it didn't seem proper that she'd think about him in certain ways. And even though they were great, she always felt a bit censorable when she had certain dreams about him. She couldn't blame anything else but the hormones and hoped those feelings would be cast away soon; all she really wanted was a kiss or maybe two, and she'd stick to that chaste thought smugly.

"Hmm… Yeah, it is."

Ed decided to continue the small-talk. He didn't know what else to say either, since he'd never been much of a man for words. Though he did admit that after he regained his body and his brothers, changes had been booming all over him. First, in height: in only ten months he'd grown to be about 177 cm tall (about 5"8'), much for the Colonel's dismay and Winry's awe. Alphonse was getting quite tall himself, he'd probably grow to be taller than him anyways. Second but not least, he'd had several behavioral changes. He'd become quieter and calmer, though he still had his temper and would keep making rash decisions if it weren't for Al.

And the only sort-of-bad thing was this: he couldn't take his mind off that girl. He'd have the weirdest (make that wettest) dreams about her, and he couldn't stop thinking about her, ummm, attributes. Her big blue eyes. Her pink kissable lips. Her long, golden, flowery-scented hair. Her fair and silky skin. Her hands which were simultaneously strong and gentle (ah, they're so lovely. He kept shaking off this particular thought: "I bet she can do wonders with them"). Her long slim legs, her toned belly and her cute belly button. Her ass! And, God forbid, her breasts. Actually, he preferred the term 'tits', but that made him enter a weird trance condition that could only be shaken off by… Well, by 'shaking himself off', ya know.

And this was his train of thought when she asked him what he was thinking about, since he was taking such a long time to answer her question.

"Huh? Which question, sorry?" was his reply. He swore he had just said something about not allowing himself to talk about her tits aloud, but that was probably just a very weird impression he had at the moment.

She sighed. "I asked if you're going to call me when you get there? I mean, you and Al of course. When you went out of town and left Al here you'd call like twice a day…" she couldn't keep the envious tone out on her voice, and she hoped he didn't notice that.

"Ah, yeah, no worries! We'll call you. Now that everything has settled down we actually have more time to think about what to do in the future. And besides, you'll be joining us up in Central in a few days, right? So, no need to worry!" he said with a reassuring smile.

She smiled back. That was good, to know that he really did want her to go and spend some time with them, and maybe travel a little. And he had mentioned the future! She'd thought that they'd see her as a burden (since now she didn't have to repair Ed's automail, seeing as though he didn't have any anymore) but it was quite the opposite. They seemed to enjoy her feminine company.

"Ah, that's our train…" Ed signaled his brother to come closer and carry their luggage in; Al had been busy trying to buy them warm hot cocoa for the trip, since the one that was sold on the shop was way better than the train's bar's.

"Well, call me when you get there then, Ed?" she asked and battered her eyelids. They were both a bit red on the cheeks. Al called his older brother, but he didn't hear him.

"Yes, of course I will! Ummm…" he held her gloved hands with his own in a seemingly awkward way, "Do I get some sort of, errr, good-bye present?" he asked hopefully. She squealed and giggled – which was part of the reason why he hated those moments. They'd had a few before, and he always hated that giggling thing she did. He actually thought it was cute, but couldn't help rolling his eyes out of embarrassment.

She nodded; he leaned over a bit and she stood on her tiptoes, pulling at his hands for support. Then, she pecked him on his right cheek; despite the cold, they both felt very warm at the contact. It also made their hearts plummet.

"Th… Thanks then, I guess" he blurted. He was hoping for a kiss in the mouth already, but oh well; he wasn't very disappointed.

"You're soooo silly" she cooed. They felt the electricity jump around between them and in the air surrounding them… and then it was gone, because-

"Nii-san, hurry you dummy! Help me load these." Al was pointing at the luggage with his right foot while holding the drinks in one hand and a luggage in the other. It seemed that Al had missed that tender moment between his brother and friend. He did not miss, however, Ed's eyes throwing deadly daggers at him.

"Um, did I, err…?" he looked apologetically at his brother and then at Winry's almost blank expression and massive sweat drop; he quickly gained one on the left side of his forehead. "Sorry, guys!"

"'Sokay, silly! No harm done." she hugged him in a brotherly way. Al had grown quite tall, too, and his voice sounded weird sometimes. But, he was still Al. Mature, more than his brother at least, peaceful and calm and thoughtful. Ah, why did she have to fall so hard for the silliest of the brothers?

"You guys have a safe trip now!" she waved back at them as the train left the station and started chugging his way down the railroad.

"We will!" was their reply. Then Ed said, "And you hurry up and come meet us back at Central yourself!"

They both smiled at each other again and she waved until she the train was no more than a speck on the horizon.

Inside the train, after they'd accommodated on their seats, Al turned to his older brother with a glint in his eyes.

"What?" said Ed in an annoyed tone, bothered by his brother's mocking gaze. He suddenly realized the reason for the long stare. "Wait, you were looking at us after all?"

In response for sticking out his tongue, Al was chased around the chairs that surrounded them and hit repeatedly over the head with a newspaper.


A week after they arrived, they received a phone call from Risembool. It was Winry, asking them how they were doing and telling them that she'd arrive by noon the next day.

Al put the phone down and went to the study room where Ed was doing some research.

"Nii-san, Winry's arriving tomorrow" he announced, "so I'm going to to some cleaning-up in her room, 'kay?" and with that he left. Ed took a deep breath and smiled. Her room was just next to his…

The phone rang again. "Nii-san, you go get it now! I can't!" came Al's distant voice. Ed grumbled and got up, only to answer the phone and have Granny Pinako threaten him.

"… So! She's been through a lot, you mutant shrimp," she said, making Ed grind his teeth. He heard her inhale on her pipe "and I know she's been acting a bit weird around you, and you've been acting weird around her. I'm not blind!"

He flinched. he almost wish she were...

"So make sure no harm gets to her, alright? And no funny ideas!"

"I know that, you micro-hag!" he responded annoyed. How old did she think he was, 12? Actually, he was kinda mature at that age already; but maybe that was all thanks to Al.

"Good, mutant giant shrimp. Take care, you two! Give Al a hug." and she hung up.

"Micro-hag…" Ed mumbled under his breath. He then turned to resume his studies.


The next day he was waiting at the station. Two minutes left to noon, and he could spot the train in the horizon. He hated being out there in the cold, even though there wasn't much snow inside the station; but it was snowing hard on the outside. As the train slowed and came to a halt, he noticed it was covered in snow.

He looked and saw her hear poking through a window, so he waved.

"Ed!" she smiled as she waved back. He went to the door closest to her window, making way through the throng of people that surrounded him. A lot more people were filling up the place as they left the train.

It all happened too fast.

She was trying to get out of the train, and then one of her suitcases fell on the ground with a loud thud. She bent down to grab it, but someone impatient pushed her from behind and she tripped on her other luggage. She then slipped on a chunk of snow that had fallen off the roof of the train as it shook from the commotion of having halted a few minutes ago. She fell straight on her back, hitting her head hard on the stairs of the train. She wasn't moving…

"WINRY!" he yelled as he pushed and pulled to reach her, and failed to do it in time to catch her before she fell. The man that had pushed her was fat; he wore an expensive-looking suit and was complaining that now he couldn't get off the train.

Meanwhile Ed had lowered himself to the ground to hold her in his arms; he was checking for blood. There was a small droplet on her scalp, in the place she'd hit the stairs. He heard the guards whistle. The man spoke:

"Damned girl! If her luggage wasn't enough, now she's lying here on the floor acting all stupid. You, boy! Get her out of my-"

But he didn't finish his sentence, because Ed rose so fast and tall that the man barely had any time to react; and as the boy's punch connected to the man's face - breaking the his nose and splattering the man's blood all over his fat face - he flew backwards and toppled back into the train, falling on the people behind him and knocking them over.

The guards whistled again, this time higher, and started yelling commands around.

Enraged and shaking, he bent over her limp body again and called her name, his voice sounded almost hysterical.

"Winry? Winry!! Winry, wake the fuck up! Wake up, damnit!" he yelled as he pulled her to his chest. All he got in response was a muffled "Mmmfhh…" and a half-opened eye before she dropped her head back.


Awww, I kinda feel bad for making her hit her head but... Sometimes you need a small trauma so that certain realizations can "hit" you! Ha ha.

Read and review, read and REVIEW! *sings a lovely song about reviews making people happy* If I feel motivated I'll write better and update quickly!

Next chapter - A Trip To The Hospital

(Thanks to my very first reviewer for correcting an error I'd made ^^")