Author's Note: (2-14-08) Like the first chapter, there are no major changes, just grammatical and spelling. Hope you enjoy.

I hope you enjoy this chapter! Warning: Some minor swearing! Okay, so this chapter is a bit longer then some of my others, and probably the longest of this story, and I hope you don't find it boring! The last chapter will (hopefully) be out by middle of next week! I know it's a Valentine's Day story, but I have a really cool idea for the last chapter, and so it has to come late. And well, I got lazy and didn't have all the time I wanted to write this chapter, so it led to the idea for the next chapter.

Another warning: I've only edited partway so there maybe some major mistakes that will be fixed later, please forgive me!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist. I do own the idea to this story though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it.

Chapter 2: Jitters

:---:

"Colonel?" Havoc said poking his head into the Colonel's office.

"Yes, Havoc?" Roy said from his desk, Hawkeye had said she wanted at least one pile done by the time she got back from her errand, and he was trying his hardest to make it happen. He kept thinking of what was going to happen if he got it done. 'Positive reinforcement my ass…but it works really well.' He thought to himself.

"Anyone around?"

"No, you can come in. Did you get to order what I asked you to?"

"Yes, Sir, but may I ask, what are they and what are they for?"

"What do you think they are? Chocolate Covered Strawberries…isn't it kind of obvious? And they're for Hawkeye for Valentine's Day."

"Ah, I see." He asked.

"When will they be ready?"

"The day before, anytime after Noon." Havoc answered, giving him the order slip.

"Perfect. Thank you very much, Havoc." Roy said looking at his calendar, seeing that it was the 10th; he marked "Noon" on the 13th inconspicuously in the corner.

"Your welcome, Colonel." Havoc said leaving the office.

:---:

"Colonel, the Elric boys are here." Hawkeye said as she came back into the office later that afternoon.

"Where are they?"

"Right here, Flame boy."

"Oh, Full Metal, there you are. Hello Alphonse."

"Hello Colonel, how are you?" Al responded holding the back of his brother's coat.

"Colonel, you need to sign this one as well." Hawkeye said approaching his desk and placing a file in front of him.

"But Hawkeye…I just finished them all! ALL of them, just not a pile, ALL OF THEM."

"And that one won't take more than a moment. It's only one." She responded. "It's Ed's report on the rebels in the city just outside of North City."

"What did you find Full Metal?" Roy asked going into a more serious mode.

"For you? Nothing dangerous. I'd keep an eye on it, but it's just a bunch of old geezers not happy with a few things the government has done." Ed responded taking the seat in front of Roy's desk. "Everything is detailed in the report."

"Okay. Any closer to your own goal?"

"A little bit. The Alchemic Surgeon in the East was a bit of help, as well as the research we found near there as well."

"And with Miss. Rockbell?"

"She's coming on the 12th." Ed responded out of habit. "Wait! Hold on! Where did that question come from?"

"Curiosity." Roy responded.

"It killed the cat, so what?"

:---:

"I can't believe that guy!' Ed said as they walked out of headquarters a half hour later.

"Now Brother, you can't put full blame on the Colonel. You egged him on as well."

"Well it was his fault for saying that stuff about Winry."

"And Hawkeye was standing right there, Brother, you should have known you'd get shot at." Al responded. "By the way, where are we going?"

"The flower shop and the Candy shop, I still need some supplies for my surprise for Winry." Ed said opening the door.

"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" The clerk at the candy shop asked.

"Hi, I'm looking for some sweets for Valentine's Day." Ed said approaching the counter.

"For your girlfriend I presume?" The clerk asked.

"Yes." Ed said quietly. "She'll be here on the 13th."

"Would you like them for that date or the 14th?"

"Yes, I need them for the 14th."

"What kind of sweets would you like?"

"This sounds weird, but if I give you box, would you put the candies in it?"

"Certainly, do you have something special in mind?"

"Yes, I do, but do you have any metal?" Ed asked a mischievous smile showing on his face.

"Brother? What are you gonna do?" Al said out loud what his mind was screaming not to ask.

"Just making a special box for Winry's candy." Ed said turning to his brother.

"We don't have any metal, Sir. It's something that we don't need here. Most of our boxes are cardboard." The clerk responded.

"Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes, soon as I can find some metal."

"Okay, Sir. But I can get the list of sweets down, that way I can get them into the kitchen; we're really backed up at this time of year."

"Oh, certainly. Hm. I'd like…15 chocolate covered strawberries along the outside edge, then in the center chocolates with…caramel, coconut and…cherry in the center. The very center should be…one of those." Ed said pointing to a Sakura shaped candy.

"Those have been very popular this year. They are a coated shaped chocolate. The coating is something from the west named marzipan, it's really sweet, would you want a sample?" She asked

"Is it free?" Ed asked.

"Of course."

"Then I will."

"Okay, I'll be right back, Sir."

"Thank you."

"Do you want me to go and see if I can find any metal?"

"No, we'll be fine. We've got all afternoon." Ed said. "What do you think of the Sakura?"

"I think Winry will love it." Al said taking a closer look at the candy in the display case. "What is your plan for the box?"

"Well, obviously it's going to be metal. My plan is to make it heart-shaped, about this large," Ed showed Al, with his hands about a foot by foot square. "It's going to be large, but, there's not going to be that much in it." Ed said.

"Here you go." The clerk said coming back out and handing Ed a piece of the marzipan. "Would you like some, Sir?" She asked Al

"No thank you, I don't particularly care for sweets." Al lied as Ed took a bite of the candy.

"That's great. Winry has a huge sweet tooth." Ed said. "I'd like to fill in the empty spots with those as well. "

"Okay and you want those ready for Valentine's Day?"

"Yes, and I'll be back as soon as I can be with the box for them as well." Ed said.

"Thank you, again, Sir. We appreciate having your business."

"You're welcome." Ed said as he and Al left the shop.

"You want to get the flowers first, or see if we can find the metal first?"

"We'll look and see if we can find any metal on the way to the flower shop." Ed said.

Al looked down the alley that they were passing. "Brother, would those pieces of metal there be enough for what you're planning?"

"Hm. It might be. Let me see." Ed said walking into the alley and looking at the pieces of metal. He did a simple transmutation to see if the pieces would be enough to make the box big enough. "I don't think it will be enough. The box isn't big enough. We'll see if we can find a couple more pieces of metal to add to the depth and size of the box." Ed said picking the box up and walking towards Al who stood at the entry of the alley.

"Okay, why don't you go order the flowers, and I'll check a couple of the shops and alleys here to see if I can find a few more scraps."

"Thanks Al! I don't need much more, just a couple small pieces."

"Okay, meet back at the candy shop?" Al asked as Ed ran off in the direction of the flower shop.

"Yeah, twenty minutes!" Ed yelled over his shoulder.

:---:

"Were you able to find the metal, Sir?" The clerk in the candy shop asked when Ed and Al came back through the door.

"Yes, and you'll have the box in just a few moments." Ed said setting the first box and additional metal on the ground in front of the display cases, imagined what he wanted to create, clapped his hands together, and formed the metal heart shaped box he had imagined.

"That's…that's beautiful." The clerk said as Ed handed her the box.

"Thanks." Ed said. "Think she'll like it, Al?"

"She'll love it."

"Your girlfriend will love a metal box?"

"Yes, she's an automail mechanic, plus she loves sweets." Ed said as the clerk put the box with his order slip.

"Well, this will be ready on the 14th." The clerk said turning back to them.

"Thank you. I'll be back then for it." Ed said as he and Al left the shop.

:---:

"Hello, Lt. Hawkeye?" Winry said into the phone. It was the 11th of February and she was anxious about seeing Ed.

"Winry, hello!" Riza said. Roy, who was sitting in her family room, looked up from the newspaper he was reading and raised his eyebrow at what he heard.

"Well, I'm calling from the train stop right before Central. You see, I'm going to surprise Ed by coming a few days early. And I was wondering if you'd be able to come pick me up at the station and take me to the dorms." Winry said.

"Really? Of course I'll come pick you up, he'll love to see you early. I can't tell you how distracted he's been since he and Al got in yesterday." Riza responded.

"Oh, thank you so much, Riza! I can't tell you how much I appreciate this!" Winry said. "I have to get back on the train. We should be there in just about an hour."

"Okay, I'll be there, Roy too probably."

"That's fine! Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!" Winry said. "Oh, and you probably figured this out, but please, don't tell Ed or Al if you happen to see them!"

"No problem, see you shortly." Riza said as she hung up.

"What's going on?" Roy asked as Riza joined him on the couch, picking up her book.

"Winry is coming into Central tonight to surprise Ed. She wants me to pick her up at the train station and take her to the dorms."

"He'll like that." Roy responded, pulling Riza into his embrace.

"Yeah, that's what I said. Although, she sounded a bit…strange."

"Strange?" Roy asked.

"Yeah, almost…nervous."

"Well, she might be nervous. This is going to be the first time they've seen each other since they've started going out."

"That's true, yes, and they've changed their relationship so much with what happened at Christmas, and they weren't even together that much then, oh well, I'm just worrying about nothing, I'm sure."

"We all want to protect them; Ed, Al, Winry, they've been through so much already, it's only natural to want to protect them, Riz." Roy said kissing the top of her head.

"I know." Riza said taking Roy's hand in her own. "Did you want to join me? I'll have to leave in a few minutes."

"Sure, I'll join you; maybe we could pick up some Chinese for dinner."

"Sounds wonderful." Riza said.

:---:

"Man, I had no idea it would that difficult to get Winry flowers and candy." Ed said as he walked into their dorm room and took his coat off.

"It wasn't that difficult, was it, Brother?"

"No, not really, but I'm nervous that she won't like her gifts." Ed said, sitting down on the couch and grabbing an Alchemy book from the coffee table.

"Ed, she'll love anything you give her. Winry isn't picky like that." Al responded.

"I know, but its different now. Do you think she'll like the other thing?"

"I know she will. As long as it is given with your heart, she'll love it."

"I sure hope so."

"So when are you giving them to her?"

"On Valentine's Day, Al. That's the point of it."

"No, when on the 14th, are you giving them to her?"

"Oh, well, I have it set up that I'll pick the flowers up on the way to the train station to pick her up, so the one bouquet then, than the other on Valentine's Day, probably when I get back from picking the gifts up. The candy and the actual present I'll save for that night." Ed said his face scrunched up as he thought. "Why?"

"Just making sure you don't screw it up."

"Al! You just said I couldn't!"

"No, you couldn't screw the gift up; you could screw the moment up royally." Al said explaining.

"Geez, thanks Al. Now I'm really nervous." Ed responded and rolled his eyes.

"It's just that a moment is usually unplanned. You can calculate and plan when and how and create the environment for a moment, but the moment creates itself when two people who care about each other share…something, a special time where they…connect." Al said.

"When did you become so smart?"

"I'm not sure, maybe from all the time I've had to watch the people around us that are in love and haven't done anything about it; you and Winry, Roy and Riza, then by watching Gracia and Hughes as well possibly."

:---:

"Lt. Hawkeye! Colonel Mustang!" Winry yelled waving her hand high above her head, running towards them.

"She seems so happy, so much more than she was when I saw her last." Riza said quietly to Roy who was standing next to her in the lobby.

"She knows she's just a few moments from seeing the one she loves." Roy said, secretly squeezing her hand. "Good evening, Winry. How are you?"
"Great!" Winry exclaimed as she hugged Riza. "I'm so excited about seeing Ed and Al."

"Well, let's get you to the dorms than." Roy said. "Oh do you mind if we stop and get our dinner…we decided to get Chinese on our way home."

"That's fine. I need some time to settle down and get my thoughts under control. My hearts beating so fast; and I have so many thoughts in my head that I can hardly keep them in my head for a second."

Riza chuckled, "I'm sure once you see Ed, everything will be okay."

"I'd like to think that's the way it would be, but I'm not entirely sure."

"You'll be fine. You two haven't run out of things to talk about in the fifteen years you've known each other yet, I doubt it'll happen now."

"But now is so different from then." Winry responded, her eyes downcast.

"You'll be fine, Winry." Riza said hugging her shoulders as they approached the car. Roy, who had taken Winry's suitcase, threw it in the trunk as the two women got into the car.

It only took them a few minutes to get to the Chinese restaurant, and since they had stopped on their way to the train station to order, the friends didn't have to wait long to get Roy and Riza's dinner.

"Oh wow, that smells so good!" Winry said from the back seat as she watched the buildings roll past her on the way to the Military dorms.

"It's the best Chinese in Central." Roy said.

"We're lucky to live in a city that has such a wide selection of foreign foods. If you like it, you should ask Ed to take you there sometime. There are also excellent Italian and German restaurants not far from there." Riza replied.

"Hm, I'm gonna have to bring that up with him. I don't know what he has planned for my trip." Winry said as the dorm came into sight.

"Do you want help inside with your bags?" Roy asked as the three of them stood on the sidewalk by the parked car.

"No thank you. I can manage, there isn't much in there." Winry said. "I'm gonna check in and take it to my room, then go surprise Ed."

"Okay, well, I'm sure we'll be seeing you; good luck." Roy said.

"Everything will be fine." Riza said as she hugged Winry. "It'll just fall right back into place, just like it always has."

"Thank you." Winry said as she picked up her suitcase in one hand and her tool kit in the other.

Roy and Riza stood on the sidewalk for a moment watching Winry enter the building.

"She's a strong girl, isn't she?" Riza said.

"Mm-hm, reminds me of another strong-willed blond I know." Roy said going around the other side of the car.

"Sir, did you want to eat tonight?"

"What? No guns? Just threats about not filling my empty stomach?"

"I might be forced to use the guns, we'll see." Riza replied climbing into the passenger side seat.

:---:

Winry sat her suitcase and toolbox down in her room, one floor above Ed and Al's room. She visited their room before, had even stayed there when they weren't there and she was in Central during January. But now, now she was nervous. Talking with Roy and Riza had helped, but now she wasn't so sure, what would Ed do? He'd be surprised at first, but would he be happy?

'Of course Winry. He's the one that bought you the tickets! So what if you came a day or two early?' She thought to herself as she moved her toolbox to the coffee table and her suitcase to the chair that sat next to the bed. 'I might as well take a shower and change before I go down there. Maybe it will help me settle down.' Winry thought grabbing her black skirt and a long-sleeved t-shirt.

'Well, I don't feel any less nervous, but at least I'm more awake and look better than I did on the train.' Winry thought as she grabbed her room key, steeled herself, and left her room. It didn't take long to get to the steps and reach the floor below her.

She walked slowly to the door, standing out side of it for a moment before knocking. 'It's only 9 o'clock, they should still be up, well at least Ed would be.' She thought to herself as she brought her hand up to the door and knocked. And waited.

:---:

"Was that the door, Al?" Ed asked from the kitchen where he was getting something to drink and a snack.

"I think so, but who would be here at… 9 o'clock in the evening?" Al asked. "Do you want me to get it?"

"No, I'm on my way back in, I'll get it." Ed said coming through the door. There was another knock, "I'm coming, I'm coming!" Ed said. "Probably the Colonel coming to harass us again." Ed said as he opened the door.

"Nope, just me." He heard a female voice say from behind him.

"Win….ry?" Ed said turning slowly, not believing his ears.

"One and only." She said smiling. "Mind if I come in?"

"Of…of course, come on in." Ed said standing aside so she could enter.

"Hey Winry! How are you?" A said from where he sat on the other side of the room.

"I'm good Al, how about you?" She answered going up and hugging him.

"Pretty good, but we weren't expecting you until the 13th."

"I decided to turn in my ticket and exchange it for an earlier day." Winry said smiling.

"Geez, that's nice, isn't it Brother?" Al said looking towards Ed, who still stood by the door.

"Brother?"

"Ed?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry, just surprised I guess. How ya been, Win?" Ed asked coming out of his trance.

"Good." She answered quietly. "The shop has been really busy; Granny's been doing well also. I have a present from her to you two up in my room; I'll bring it down tomorrow."

"Okay, that sounds good." Ed said sitting down on the couch, cleaning up his papers and books so he could sit his crackers and drink down.

"How have you two been?"

"Good, we think we're getting close to finding something." Al answered as he watched his brother and Winry. They were both so…stiff…uncomfortable. So unlike themselves.

"That's good news! Wow, you two have worked so hard for so long, I'm glad something is going right for you two." She said quietly, but excitedly.

"Well, it's good to see you Winry, but I'm getting tired. We had a late night yesterday and were running around all day today, so I'm really tired." Al said as he stood up. "It's good to see you Winry. Good night, Brother."

"Sleep well, Al." Winry answered as she watched the young Elric go towards the door that separated the living area from the small bedroom that held two beds, one for Al and one for Ed.

Winry and Ed just stared at each other for several long moments; after a few moments Ed smiled and patted the spot next to him on the couch. Winry smiled and walked over to join him.

"I've missed you." Ed said as he pulled her to lean with her back against him.

"Ed, I've missed you so much. I'm sorry to surprise you like this, but I just couldn't wait knowing you were so close." Winry said tilting her head to look up at him.

"I don't mind at all." Ed whispered kissing her forehead. "I was just contemplating how I was going to wait two more days to see you."

"Well, that's fixed now." Winry said smiling.

Ed felt like he was punched in the stomach. 'Why does her smile always do that to me?' Ed thought as he looked down at her.

"Ed? What's wrong?" Winry said sitting up while turning in his arms to look at him.

"Nothing, just a punch in the gut." Ed said. At Winry's confused look he smiled slightly. "Your smile, it always feels like I get punched in the gut when you smile at me."

Winry smiled slightly, "So, it kinda feels like this?" She said punching him lightly in the stomach.

"Yeah, just a bit harder." Ed said pulling her to him again. "Kinda like a wrench in the head really." Ed said smiling down at her. "You didn't bring it with you, did you?" He suddenly said a terrified look on his face.

"I did, but it's up in my room." Winry said laughing slightly. "I figured you would need your arm and leg checked."

"Tomorrow. It hasn't been bothering me to much, but something is off in the shoulder I think." Ed said quietly.

"Ed?" Winry asked quietly a few moments later.

"Hm?" He answered, probably half asleep.

"How is it really going? You look so tired, and Al, well he sounds just as tired."

"It's been hard, I can't lie about that, it seems just as we get to the next place it slips through our fingers, but I can't lie and say we're not getting anywhere either, because we are. It's the chase that is so tiring, going from place to place, just for a night or two, never getting many answers, or the answers we're looking for."

"Take a few days off while I'm here, okay Ed?" Winry asked. "Both of you need the rest so badly. It's not good for either of you, both of you could get really sick." Winry said, falling asleep.

"Al can't get sick, Winry."

"I know." She responded, already asleep.

Ed sighed, "You need your rest too if it's been as busy as what you you've said tonight and in your letters." He shifted his body a bit and moved the pillow behind him so that they'd be a bit more comfortable, then pulled the blanket down to cover them both.

:---:

"Good morning." Winry said when Ed's eyes opened a few moments after she woke up.

"How long have you been watching me sleep?" Ed yawned.

"I just woke up a few minutes ago. You need me to move, or are you comfortable?" She asked. When she had woken up she had found herself on the edge of the couch, only staying on because of Ed's arm holding her in place. He was behind her, snoring slightly with his back against the back of the couch.

"I'm fine, how about you?" He asked.

"Fine. Did we sleep all night like this?" Winry asked.

Ed looked towards the window. "Seems like it." He said seeing the sun starting to come through the window.

"Why don't I come down in a few hours and take a look at your arm and leg?" Winry asked.

"Okay, sounds good. I have a few things to do." Ed said

"As do I." Winry said. "I don't want to get up." She said suddenly.

"Want to sleep a bit longer? You can take my bed, I have to go headquarters. Al will be here if you need anything."

"Maybe I'll do that." Winry said sitting up. "My thing can wait until after your arm and leg."

"Sleepyhead. You always have loved to sleep."

"Can you blame me? It's a glorious thing." She said watching Ed stand up and stretch.

"Man, I forgot how uncomfortable that couch was."

"It wasn't so bad." Winry said walking towards the bedroom.

"Brother!" Al said coming through the door, stopping just in front of Winry.

"What is it, Al?" Ed asked grabbing his black jacket and gloves that had been thrown over the end of the coffee table.

"Good morning, Winry." Al said. "We're supposed to be at headquarters in ten minutes!"

"Damn! Okay. Winry, we'll be back in awhile. The meeting shouldn't take to long."

"Make sure it takes at least an hour." Winry said moving into the bedroom and closing the door.

"Did she sleep here last night?" Al asked as they walked into the hall.

"Yeah, we both kinda fell asleep on the couch."

"Mm-hm. I see."

"Shut up. It's not like anything happened. We were talking and she fell asleep, and I didn't want to wake her up." Ed grouched as they got to the street.

"Its fine Brother, I don't mind. She going to sleep more than?"

"Yeah. When we get back she's going to fix my arm and leg." Ed said.

"Okay."

"I think I'll go see if there's any chance I can get the one bouquet today instead of tomorrow, since she's here early." Ed said as they approached the flower shop.

"We don't have time now Brother! Colonel Mustang will be very mad at us if we're really late!"

"I know that, Al. I meant on the way back to the dorms."

"Oh, okay." Al said as they approached the headquarters building.

:---:

"No wonder you've been having problems with your arm, Ed." Winry said as she placed his unattached metal arm to his flesh and bone arm. "Your arm has gotten longer, looks like your legs have too. Have you had any problems with balance?" She asked as she put the metal arm down and moved to where she could take a look at the length of Ed's stretched out legs.

"A bit I guess, but not too much." Ed responded.

He and Al had gotten home about 45 minutes ago. Winry had been asleep still, so after waking her up, she had gone up stairs to get her tools. She had been down in just a few minutes, long enough for Ed to strip to his boxers and a sleeveless shirt.

"He's been off on his punches." Al responded. He was sitting not to far away reading a book on the ancient city that disappeared in one night.

"It's more than you notice huh?" Winry asked loosening the connections in Ed's leg.

"It's been fine, really."

"If your punches are off it's not fine. How does it work other than that?" Winry asked measuring his flesh leg than the metal leg; 5 centimeters off, big difference.

"Like I said earlier, my shoulder has been stiff, that's possibly because of a fight in the east that we got tangled up in."

"How many times have I told you…"
"Winry?" Ed said interrupting her with a touch to the small of her back since she was turned away from him.

"Yes?"

"Our goal isn't easy, we have to fight, and some of those fights aren't easy."

"I know that Ed. But couldn't you be a little bit more conscience of your arm? It's metal, yes and replaceable yes, but someday, hopefully, you won't need this arm, you'll have one, and it won't be replaceable."

"I've had it replaced once before, so even if it gets injured, it'll be replaced."

"Ed, that's not the point. You have to take care of it anyways!" Winry said.

"Winry…" Ed said.

"I'll be back; I need to go get something from Hughes."

"You on to something, Al?" Ed asked.

"Possibly, I'll be back." Al said. 'Plus I want to give you two some privacy for your argument.' Al thought to himself as he closed the door behind him.

"Al always seems to have perfect timing with finding a way out."

"He's sweet like that." Winry said, bracing her arms on the kitchen table.

"I don't want to fight, especially with an argument that is fought every time we see each other." Ed said looking Winry's back.

"I don't want to fight either, Ed." Winry said quietly. "I just…I hate seeing your arm and leg like this. It's just not the major re-builds I have to do; even the minor adjustments make me see how much danger you are in usually. You are always going away saying that you'll be safe and you'll watch out, but it is consistently getting more dangerous, and even if you're are being careful, the pain you must feel." Winry said.

Ed could hear her tears; it killed him that he was the one that made her cry. The only one who made her cry. He levered himself up, hopping the one or two steps that she stood away from him, and wrapped his flesh arm around her shoulders. "Don't cry for me Winry. I've told you that countless times."

"And what do I say every time?" Winry said back, turning, holding Ed as much as he was holding her. "I say, I cry because Al can't, and you won't. I'm the only one you two have to cry for you, so I will continue until you can cry on your own."

"I love you so much, Winry. I just want…I want you to be happy, not sad or worried or distressed because of the wrong that we have to right."

"I am happy. I'm happy because you are here, alive, I am happy that I have something to worry about, no matter how much I want you to be here, to be safe, for Al to be back to his human form, I worry because I love you." She responded. "Now, let's get you sitting down again so you don't loose your balance." Winry said moving towards the chair that Ed had been sitting in.

As she was slowly placing Ed in his seat he twisted his body, sitting himself in the chair and pulling Winry down with him.

"You jerk!" Winry said hitting his chest.

"Ow! Winry that hurts!"

"You deserve it! I'm trying to…" Ed interrupted her rant with a kiss. "…help you?" She asked when he broke the kiss.

"Hm…really? Doesn't quite look like it. I am two limbs short of being helped." Ed said smiling cheekily.

"Well if you let me up you would have those two limbs back in a bit." Winry said as Ed let go of her. The 'in a bit' part turned out to be the rest of the afternoon. Al had come back about an hour after he left, finding Ed and Winry squabbling like usually, the tension had passed, and he was glad that they had worked whatever out that they needed to.

:---:

"What do you want to do on Valentine's Day?" Roy asked quietly as he and Riza walked out of the building on the 12th.

"Didn't we decide it would be a quiet evening?" Riza responded just as quietly.

"Yes, but is there anything 'specific you'd like to do?" Roy asked as he held the door to headquarters open for Riza to walk through.

"How about dinner?"

"Okay, my place or yours?" Roy asked.

He looked down at Riza, who wore a thoughtful expression. "Your place, we were at mine the other night."

"Okay, anything specific you'd like?"

"Not Chinese." Riza replied, they had Chinese twice that week already. "I'm getting tired of it."

"So am I, so I guess that's a good thing."

"What time?" Riza asked as they turned down the road that led to her home.

"How about 8 o'clock?"

"Sounds good." She responded.

"Riza," Roy said stopping under the streetlight. Other then the few others on the street, it was dark.

"Hm? What is it, Sir? Riza responded turning to face him.

Roy stood there looking at her for a moment. "You're so beautiful, Riza. You shouldn't have to hide a relationship like we are."

Riza blushed at the compliment. It wasn't that he hadn't given her compliments before, he did everyday nearly. But when he said it as softly and heartfelt as he did just now, her heart leapt into her throat and he made her blush, just like the whispered 'I love you' or 'Dinner tonight?', or 'I miss you' that he whispered whenever he was near enough that no one else would hear. "We're not hiding it. Our friends know. They are the only people that really count." Riza responded holding her hand out to him.

He took a few steps and took her hand, interlacing their fingers and bringing her hand to his lips. Riza stepped in front of him, her other hand touching his cheek. "I love you more than anything. I don't care how I'm near to you, whether it's an embrace, seeing your face over a shared meal, or protecting you when you needed protected; as long as I'm near you, I don't care. As long as you know that I love you, I don't care."

"I love you so much, why do I deserve you, Riza? I am not worthy of such love."

"Sir, I thought I had gotten this through your head long ago, you are worthy. You are brave, strong, courageous, kind, gentle, so many things that I see, that I wish so many others could. That you could see within yourself." Riza responded standing up on her toes to kiss the corner of Roy's mouth.

After a few moments Roy broke the kiss; kissing her on the corner of her lips, her nose, and top of her head as he held her close. "You're shivering, let's get you out of the snow."

"Mm-Hm." Riza answered turning away. Roy kept his arm tightly around her back, keeping her warm as they walked towards her apartment.

:---:

"Why'd she get a room when she falls asleep in here every night?" Al asked Ed as he came into the living area the next morning.

"I don't know. I called down to the desk and said that the room would be available. We'll move her stuff down later.

"What are you up to?" Al asked.

"I'm going to go get the flowers so they'll be here when she wakes up." Ed said.

"Okay. I'll go get her stuff and start breakfast."

"Thanks, Al. I shouldn't be gone to long." Ed said going through the door.

:---:

Winry felt the sun warming her skin from the window behind her. She burrowed deeper into the blankets, realizing there was something on the bed. "Let me sleep a bit longer Ed, I don't want to get up." She murmured. When there wasn't an answer she opened her eyes slowly. Beside her were a riot of colors; yellow, white, and many shades of red.

'Flowers.' Winry thought to herself. 'They have to be from Ed, but Valentine's Day is tomorrow.' Winry thought as she sat up. She blinked as she took in what she was looking at; the bouquet was huge, there were Sunflowers, Lilies in white, deep red and a pinkish-reddish color that was the most beautiful color she had ever seen, there were also Gerber Daisies in the same colors as the Lilies. Her favorite flowers, her three favorites.

'How did he remember?' She thought, quickly jumping out of bed, grabbing the bouquet and running to the living area.

"ED!" Winry said as she pushed open the door.

"Hm? What is it Winry?" He answered. He and Al were sitting on the couch looking through books and notebooks, writing certain things down. "Winry?" Ed asked again.

She walked up behind him, placing her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "How on earth did you remember my favorite flowers? Did Al help you?" She asked, throwing a look over to Al.

"No, I went to the flower shop alone. Al was doing some other shopping."

"Thank you. I love them." Winry said. "What were you shopping for Al?"

"Metal." Al responded, looking up for the first time.

"Metal?" Winry responded.

"Yup."

"How very interesting. What did you need metal for?"
"We had to transmute something metal." Al responded. "Someone stopped Brother and I and asked us to transmute a bumper, theirs had been damaged, and we had witnessed the accident." Al explained.

Ed threw him a look and smiled. 'My brother is a genius!'

"You didn't tell me you witnessed an accident! Was anyone hurt?"

"No. It was just a minor fender bender." Ed responded. "What did you want to do today?" Ed asked.

"Could we go see Lt. Hawkeye, Colonel Mustang, Hughes, Havoc, and the rest of them?" Winry asked getting a pleading look on her face. "I haven't seen any of them in so long!"

"Didn't Mustang and Hawkeye bring you over here when you got here?"

"Yeah, but I didn't get a lot of time to talk to them. Mostly in the car on the way to the restaurant to pick up their food then on the way here."

"I guess we could do that. It would fun to go just to enjoy time with our friends." AL said. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind taking a break from work."

"Especially Flame, lazy dumbass." Ed muttered.

"Be nice, Edward. You wouldn't have gotten as far as you have without Colonel Mustang's help." Winry warned from the kitchen where she was putting the flowers in a large glass. 'I guess I shouldn't have assumed they would have a vase, their two guys. They wouldn't think of that.' Winry said as she trimmed the stems of the flowers, humming as she arranged them.

"The flowers have made Winry really happy." Al whispered to Ed, who was staring into the kitchen.

"I'm glad. It was really hard remembering those flowers. It took forever for me to remember that." Ed said.

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