The moment the glare of the afternoon sun hid behind a passing cloud, he sees the rolling green grass of his hometown rush across the window of his train seat. Edward stares at it with gleaming eyes, eager to see the rest of the contryside unfold. He sighs nostalgically - "Nearly home," Ed muses as a childhood memory flickers in his mind. . Furious, Ed plopped down on the grass at the side of the road, heart ramming in its cage from all his running around. Sunlight was beginning to dwindle, along with the time he had left."That Winry!" he growled. "I take my eyes off her for one second and she's gone! Where the heck could she be?" The little boy punched a fist into the ground, crushing the tiny flower in his grip. A grim frown stretched across his lips as he peeled off the flattened wildflower from his palm. He couldn't have lost her. For one thing, she had the medicine that they were supposed to pick up for Al! And another thing, he wouldn't dare go back to Auntie Pinako and tell her that he lost her granddaughter. Damn it, why'd she have to go missing! Ed leapt to his feet, cupped his hands around his mouth, and bellowed, "WINRY!" And then, he realized something.Keeping his eyes alert of the vast, green country surrounding him, he continued shouting her name as he ran home. Because that's where they were going, right?.Even from about 100-or-so odd meters away, Winry could still see angry relief shining in the eyes of a short, little boy in the distance. She let out a breath that seemed like she was holding since Ed got himself lost. The sun had sunk halfway down the horizon - it sure took him long enough to come back!"That idiot," she giggled. But Winry frowned guiltily - maybe she shouldn't have ditched him while he was picking some wildflowers (for his mother, she assumed). Perhaps it was a little cruel - he did look worried. But...he did find his way back, right? And besides, he should be thanking her for getting that medicine to Al as fast as possible!Standing on her tiptoes, she raised her arm as high as she could and started waving at him. Ed finally unfroze from his spot and started running. Winry felt pleased, seeing Ed run after her for a change. Maybe it was because Al wasn't there to compete with her (at least for the time being). . When the two were reunited, Ed completely forgot about the wildflowers he shoved into his pocket. He had meant to give one to Winry, but he felt that a smack on the head was a more suitable gift. . He shoves that memory aside as the Rockbell residence draws closer. The roof of Winry's house looms in the horizon, and soon, Edward's heart accelerates (though, his calm expression argues that no such thing is occuring). He begins to see a tiny, familiar figure in the distance, carrying a box from her basement.Edward stops in his tracks. Winry's back faces him, so he grabs her attention by shouting out her name.Her head snaps behind her to look, and in shock, she drops the box and starts waving her arms. Even from about 100-or-so odd meters away, Ed could still make out tears of sheer happiness glinting in the eyes of a blonde-haired girl - or rather, woman. The one that evolved from that little girl he knew from his childhood into this...woman. This woman that he fell in love with. He sticks his fingers in his pockets to make sure that the ring was still there. And after learning that it was and letting a tidal wave of relief wash over him, he closes the distance between them, finishing it by catching her in his arms and giving her the passionate kiss of two lovers seeing each other for the first time in a long time. Unlike one other time, though, the gift in his pocket was not left forgotten.
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