Chapter 1

I slowly opened my eyes to complete darkness. Again I had fallen asleep at my workbench. This piece of automail I was working on had some druel on it. I just rolled over and looked at the clock. It read 3 am.

I sighed. I had only fallen asleep two hours ago. Mostly because of exhaustion. Since what ever war central started, I have had non-stop orders for automail. I was making a trip to central about once every other week. My busy work schedule was starting to get on my nerves. But it helped me keep my mind off things, mostly off him.

It had been two years since his disappearance. This time, his brother accompanied him. I had lost them both. I could feel a hotness in my eyes. They glazed over which wasn't anything new. I had found myself crying more. But eventually, the crying helped. My heart would stop aching for a while. But soon after the crying ended, my heart ached even more. I didn't even have the chance to tell him how I felt. Maybe if I did, he would have stayed.

I finished working on the last part of the order for automail and turned again to look at the clock. It was now 4 in the morning. So I dropped my wrench and headed for the staircase. I decided to take a quick shower. It would help me feel better for possible a good night sleep. I didn't pray for one.

"Win, really more short jokes?" He said laughing.

"Please Ed, You are short. I mean come on. I am just as tall." I laughed. He just rolled his eyes. "You know you would be taller if you drank your milk."

"That horrible stuff! I would rather kiss a cow."

"Oh haha!" I sarcastically said. But this time instead of a rude comment back his eyes locked with mine. We both blushed and he turned away. His hand found mine, but he wasn't looking at me. I smiled. I enjoyed having his hand intertwined with mine.

"Win…" He turned towards me with his red face.

I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. "Yeah Ed?"

He placed his hand slowly on my cheek and brushed away my hair. His golden amber eyes stared into mine. I am sure he could read my blue eyes begging for him to kiss me because he started to lean in. As we got closer, I felt his breath on my cheek. They instantly turned red hot. Slowly, I leaned in to him and closed my eyes. His lips were-

"WINRY!" My grandmother yelled. She had thrown a pillow at me.

"What?" I murmured. She had interrupted the best part. She stood there.

"We are going to central with the order. Come on!" She threw clothes at me.

We made it to central a couple of hours later with many suitcases full of automail. Major Armstrong was there to greet us.

"WINRY! PINAKO! Welcome to Central. Let me help you carry that all to headquarters." He said glistening. We let him carry the majority of the suitcases. He loved to show off his strength. We walked past a whole bunch of people. They were bustling all over the place. Central wasn't how Ed explained it. It was too busy. The only thing that was exactly how he explained was Central Headquarters.

We were shown all of the soldiers who needed the automail. Each one had a specific need. So I filled the orders trying to get things done. I wanted to go back to Risembool. It was more peaceful there. Plus it was home.

I never expected what happened next.

I walked into a room and saw a boy sitting there. Well I mean I think he was probably my age. So 20. But it was shocking. Because the majority of the people we were serving had to been in their 30s. He turned to me and smiled. I just rolled my eyes.

"So a teenager is going to be fixing my automail huh?" He repeated.

"I'm 20. Better me than my grandmother." I chuckled. I was more considerate when I attached the arm to the nerves. Granny, she just attached it. Usually causing more pain.

"Well I at least want your name before you attach my arm." He said as he took off his shirt. His body was very refined. His features chiseled. It made me somewhat blush. Not as much as his does though.

"Winry Rockbell. And you are?" I said as I pulled his arm out of the batch.

"Joseph Watkins. First Lieutenant Joseph Watkins." He said proudly.

"Well Joe, I am about the att…"

"I know. I have had an automail arm for awhile. It just in the previous attack, mine was blown completely apart."

"Well, this one will probably be heavier but it we be stronger than your old one. It will take way more than a simple hand grenade to blow this one apart." I chuckled. He did as well.

A good half-hour later, Joe's arm was attached. He was swinging it around to test it out.

"Thanks, I have never had a beautiful young women like yourself fix my arm perfectly. I want to repay you. I don't go back to the front for a couple of weeks. Let's get lunch tomorrow?" Joseph was completely serious. I could see some pink in his face. My face felt warm as well.

"Well, Um… Just lunch?" I asked.

"Yes. Just lunch."

"Alright." I replied.

I didn't realize that a simple lunch would turn into dinner that night. Dinner would turn into lunch and dinner for the next few days and resulted into me staying at Central for the next couple of weeks. I didn't want to admit it but I was falling for the First Lieutenant. And my heart felt as if it was healing. Eventually all good things had to come to an end. He had to return to the front.

That morning wasn't pleasant. I decided to move back to Risembool. We walked hand in hand to the train station. He turned me to face him. His lips slowly touched mine. It made my insides squirm in both a good way and a horrid way. He then looked at me again. His eyes not a pericing as Eds, but something was still there. I didn't know what it was but it was still there.

"Winry, I have fallen for you in these past few weeks. I love everything about you. Your eyes, smile, laugh, everything. Will you marry me?" Joseph got on one knee and pulled out a box with a ring. I was shocked. My heart skipped a beat then fell to the bottom of my stomach. I couldn't fathom it. I wasn't prepared. I just stood there wanting to say something. I did.

"Yes."