Disclaimer: I of course do not own the rights to Fullmetal Alchemist ::sigh::

Chapter 1

"Brother, I think I love Winry."

The words cut through the silence and turned the blood in Ed's veins to ice. Time seemed to pause and he thought he could hear the sound of his heart beating slowly in his ears.

He had noticed the signs lately but had ignored what his eyes and ears told him was more than simple fondness. Still, he never thought he'd hear those words aloud.

Seven months had passed since the Promised Day. To Ed it seemed like only yesterday that Hoenheim had drawn the human transmutation circle and vanished into thin air, only to be replaced with Al moments later, once again whole in body, mind, and spirit. Although Ed had been more than ready and willing to give up his alchemy in return for Al, Hoenheim, with his failing body, had desperately wanted to make this last sacrifice for his sons. Now with his final sacrifice, Ed found he was finally able to forgive his father for the years of abandonment and neglect. His brother alive and whole was the best gift Hoenheim could give them.

Ed had spent the next month in the hospital with Al, doing what he could to strengthen and nourish his brother's atrophied body. After gaining weight, some muscle, and extensive physical therapy, Al was discharged a month later. Colonel Mustang had granted them both six months of leave to rest, recover, and celebrate. They had both returned triumphantly to Resembool where Winry had cried her tears of joy at seeing them. It had been the happiest day of Ed's life.

The months had passed by, leisurely and idyllic. Winry and Pinako were always cooking with a goal of getting Al up to normal weight. Al was more than happy to oblige and spent breakfast, lunch, and dinner working his way through the list of thing he had planned to eat when his body was returned to him. Summer was just beginning so they spent a lot of time outdoors. Ed and Al sparred and did some light training. Sometimes they just sat under a tree and read alchemy books. Often they used their alchemy to help Winry build her new automail shop next door to Pinako's house. It shouldn't have been a lengthy project, but as the consummate perfectionist in anything related to automail, Winry kept changing the design to 'better suit her needs'. Ed was pretty sure she just liked ordering them around. And although he put up quite a front about how much it annoyed him, he enjoyed helping Winry much more than he'd like to admit.

They had been at Resembool for three months when Al decided he wanted to take the state alchemy exam.

"I want to make a difference, Brother. Even though you always complained about it, I never truly felt like you were a dog of the military. I think we did a lot of good together and we could do even more if we were both State Alchemists."

Al's sincerity had been convincing, so for the next three months he helped Al study. Since Ed had taken the test before he tried to be as helpful as possible, remembering all the questions that had been asked of him. Of course, the exam the Al would take would not be identical to the one Ed had taken, surely the questions would be similar. They also worked on their alchemy throughout the Resembool countryside, repairing bridges, building giant columns of rock, doing anything possible to increase Al's skill. As late summer slid slowly into fall, Al finally reached a normal weight and was even gaining some substantial muscle.

It was a cool, windy afternoon and Ed and Al were in their room in Pinako's house. It was only two weeks before the exam which coincidentally coincided with the end of their leave from the military. Al had seemed distracted all morning. They had helped Winry hang up clothes to dry on the clothesline when Winry teasingly threw a wet shirt at Al's face. Al caught it and laughed. Winry gave him a bright smile to which Al blushed a very furious crimson and looked away. Since then he had been quiet and strangely reserved towards Winry for the rest of the morning.

Now, as Ed and Al sat studying together Al had broken a half an hour's worth of silence with his shocking statement. The silence had only been lengthening as Ed worked desperately to master his emotions.

Finally, along with a skeptical grin, he forced out a reply that felt like a betrayal, "Winry eh? Jeez Al, what could you possibly see in her?"

"You don't really mean that Ed." Al's golden eyes were round with disbelief. "I mean, I'm sure you feel the same way about her that I use to, that she was like our sister. But ever since I got my body back I've begun to feel…..differently."

Ed did not want to hear any more. He was doing his best to cover his panic and continued to use sarcasm as, in this situation, it was the only weapon available to him. "Oh yeah, I can see that. You get your body back and want to take it for a test drive."

"Brother, I'm serious." Al's eyes were pleading. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. I look at her and my chest feels tight and my stomach knots. I can't control my blushing whenever she smiles at me and sometimes my hands shake when she's nearby. Is that love, Ed?"

"Aw Al, how should I know?" But with a pleading look from his brother, Ed gave a deep sigh and elaborated. "Love is wanting to spend all your time with someone just to make them laugh and see them smile. It's knowing that if only you could make them completely happy then it would be enough for you to be happy…..is that how you feel for Winry?" Ed ended his statement, feeling deeply self-conscious. Wouldn't Al wonder how he knew what it was like to be in love?

"I'm not sure, but I think it must be." Al looked thoughtfully down at the floor and began unconsciously tracing the lines of the floorboards with his finger. "When I think of her I do have an intense desire for her to be happy. And when she smiles and laughs my chest gets really warm and it's all I can do not to kiss her."

The dread that Ed felt coming on at the start of this conversation had finally been fully recognised. His brother loved Winry. Oh god, how could this happen? But then Ed, thinking of Winry, wondered if it was even possible to have avoided it. Winry was wonderful, and all three of them were incredibly close. They'd been through a lot over the years and there were several situations he could think of that would foster more than brotherly affection. He really shouldn't have been surprised.

Ed regarded Al seriously, doing his best to mask his storming emotions. "And…...and do you think she feels the same way?"

"Oh, I have no idea. I certainly hope so." Al replied, gazing towards the window with a dreamy look in his eye. Suddenly alert, he turned towards Ed, "I think I need to tell her how I feel, just get it all out and tell her everything. Before we leave."

There was another pause. "That soon, huh?"

"Yes. We'll be at Central or traveling for some time, and I don't think I can wait."

"Well, that's your prerogative then. I hope it goes well and I wish you the best of luck." Ed smiled and tried really hard to mean it. He stood up, brushing off his pants. "You keep hard at studying Al, I could use some exercise."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?"

"No, no, the exam is in two weeks and you've got work to do. But next time." He left the room to Al looking back towards the window with that dreamy look on his face.

Feeling miserable and completely disagreeable Ed ran into Winry in the kitchen as he was heading outside. She made eye contact and smiled, stopping him in his tracks. He was always forgetting how blue her eyes were, and how when she smiled they seemed to grow larger in size rather than smaller and crinkled like most people's eyes. Having just come in from the shop for a late lunch she was wearing her standard mechanics outfit today with the cropped black tank top, coveralls knotted at the waist and a red handkerchief as a headband. Her stomach was flat and firm and her chest gently strained against the black tank. God dammit, this was horrible. Trying to put mind over matter he did his best to fight his body's reactions.

Although Winry didn't seem to mind, Ed realized that he was staring. He quickly dropped his eyes and attempted to project an air of indifference as he strode past her, only managing to come off as defensive.

"What's up with you, Ed?" Winry asked, brows furrowed in confusion as he headed towards the door. Ed didn't respond but managed not to slam the door on his way out.

"What's his problem?" Pinako asked from the living room.

Winry frowned. "I have no idea."