A/N: I love Fullmetal Alchemist and consider it one of the best written stories of all time. However, there is one part that I have always considered missing and that would be Ed returning Winry's earrings. The first part takes place during episode 46 (Looming Shadows) when Ed returns to Reesembol before The Promised Day for a tune up. The story may be a two-shot.

I don't own anything, the story and characters belong to the amazing Hiromu Arakawa. Please review with constructive criticism.

Ed wandered downstairs after Winry had yelled at him – again. He really should be numb to it by now, however, the only thing that felt numb was his head after her wrench attack. This time, Ed had to admit, she was right. He could have no thoughts of failure and that meant Winry and Granny had to stay in Amestris, because nothing was going to go wrong. They were going to beat the bearded bastard, he and Al would get their bodies back and that was that. In the back of his mind, Ed sometimes wondered how he got anything done without Winry pushing him – sometimes literally – to get started. He fingered her earrings in his pocket – something that had become a bit of a habit for him when he was worried, so much so that Greed had started to tease him about it – and with a curse, realised that he should actually return them. He stomped back up to the Winry's bedroom where she was organising her tools with her back to him. His words were stuck in his throat, she seemed to elicit that from him a lot and he never could figure out why. He watched as she gracefully cared for her tools – she was much gentler with them as she ever was with him. She either spotted him out of the corner of her eye or sensed him because she quickly turned around and asked – hurt hidden in her voice,

"What is it, Ed? You can't have broken your automail already." He was again taken aback by how much older she seemed, both mentally and physically. He was momentarily saddened by the fact they had both had to grow up so much in the past few months. To say the past few years would be more accurate.

"Here," he said, holding out his hand right hand. She cupped her hands together and he dropped her earrings into them – her calloused, oil-stained, healing hands. He then turned and walked away, considering his mission fulfilled but Winry, as always, had other ideas. She quickly walked up to him and grabbed his right arm, tugging him back.

"Wait, Ed," she said, her blue eyes staring into his own, although it shocked Ed a little to realise that Winry had to look up at him, that wasn't something he had noticed before and he briefly wondered if his connection to Al's body was fading away. The implications of that were terrifying.

"Ed", Winry repeated, forcing his right hand open, "You hold onto them a bit longer." Ed frowned at her, not understanding,

"I'll only accept them when a flesh and blood right arm gives them to me". Ed, speechless, took them and walked out the door, a smile on his face as he thought that Winry had once again helped him back on his feet.

Ed and Al had been back in Reesembol for a couple of days after their triumphant return when Ed staggered around his room, looking for a clean pair of pants. The need to sleep and fully comprehend his new status had forced mundane issues like laundry to the back of his mind. He found a pair of the floor that didn't look so bad and he quickly pulled them on, frowning when he felt items in his pocket. He pulled them out with his arm – his real arm, that was still hard to get used to – and saw Winry's earrings in his hand. He smiled as they sat, as Winry would say, in his flesh and blood arm and Ed walked over to her room. He knocked and opened the door when she called. She was sitting at her desk, drawing up automail plans. It looked like a design for a leg. "What is it, Ed?" she asked, distracted and she tapped the pencil against her temple.

"I have something to return to you," Ed answered, quite happily, "You better accept it this time." Winry dropped the pencil on her desk and stood to face him, her hands cupped expectantly. He placed them in her hands but before he could take his own away, she covered his hand with her right one. She looked at him, and he once again found himself staring into her eyes, shining brighter than any sun.

"Thank you, Ed," she said sincerely, "I knew I was right to believe in you". Ed smiled and his now constant feeling of happiness rose and so did his desire to tease her, "Well, at least now you don't have to make any demands of me. But considering I helped save the country, maybe you could help me out a bit..." She waited with her head cocked to the side as he continued, suddenly wondering if the joke was worth the incoming pain, "Want to do my laundry?" The wrench to the head was expected but still painful, and at that point it was hard to laugh at his own wit.

"LAUNDRY, EDWARD ELRIC? I am here planning to make you a new leg, better than before and one that will be able to last even with your poor maintenance and you expect me to do your laundry? I think you gave away your common sense along with your alchemy abilities." With the tirade over, Winry huffed, waiting for Ed to be contrite, but he only laughed and said, "Learn to take a joke". He then swaggered out the room, or at least, he attempted to even though his head throbbed. He heard humming as he reached the hallway and turned to see Winry putting her earrings back on with a smile on her face. Ed grinned to himself and in that moment considered alchemy – and a headache – a small price to pay to see Winry's smile.