A/N: Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Disclamer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist and if I did pigs would sprout wings, chocolate wouldn't be made of sugar, and it would be the end of the world as we know it.

Warning: Slight spoilers for the anime and possibly the movie in future chapters.

Chapter 2: Leaving

Edward awoke the next morning by knocking sounds originating from the room below. He stumbled out of bed and out the door, half sleepwalking downstairs only to see the workshop door open. He stepped in and saw Winry standing over her workbench. "You are up awfully early." He said while trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes, his voice husky and thick with sleep.

"Yeah I thought of a new combination of metals to make your arm stronger and I had to try it out." Winry Rockbell answered without turning around. She waved her hand, signaling him to come closer. "See," she held the arm up for him to look at it. "I put together Molybdenum to strengthen the steel and Titanium to enforce the pressure you can put it under just in case you choose to be as reckless as always and I finally used Chromium as protective plating for the other metals, since it doesn't rust easily. It's absolutely perfect!" She said blissfully while running a finger up and down her nice handiwork. She got no response from Edward and sent him a stern look, "You could at least pretend you're interested Ed!" She exclaimed a bit frustrated at the lack of enthusiasm in her childhood friend.

"Not everyone can be a mechanic geek!" Edward answered in a sharp tone.

"You're not the one to talk Alchemy freak!" Winry barked back as she put the Automail arm gently on her workbench. As she was about to spin around to face Edward ready for a fight she slipped on a tool lying on the stone floor. Edward grabbed her waving arms and pulled her up.

"You seem to have a habit slipping on things don't you?" He asked as he steadied her, brushing some stray strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail out of her face which by know contained a light blush. He picked the wrench up and added, "You should be more careful, you could have hit your head pretty bad if it had hit the floor."

"It's not like I did it on purpose you know." She answered in a slight annoyed voice as she took the wrench from his hand. She saw him back away as soon as he realized the wrench was no longer in his hand. "Don't worry Ed." She said between her giggles, "I won't hit you."

Edward laughed a nervous laugh as he slowly retreated back into the living room, leaving Winry to continue her work. The last glint he saw of her was her once again standing over the time-honored workbench and sent her a warm smile. He really appreciated the hard working mechanic more than he let on.

By the end of the day Winry had finished his Automail limbs and only the painful process of reattachment was left. She knew the process affected Edward more severely than most people, despite her best efforts to improve the nerve contacts. Every time she attached Edward's new limbs she knew he would get a fever. He always did, it wasn't normal and some part of her suspected, no feared, that it was his stubborn insistence of adjusting to the mechanical limbs within a year that had done some permanent damage. She felt so helpless seeing him in so much pain that made even strong, grown up men cry and scream in agony. But Edward kept quiet during the whole reconnecting process.

During the time when all his nerves were attached to the machinery, there would be no speaking. He didn't want her to hear the pain that weakened his voice. He didn't want her to worry. In the course of this painful process he thought of his brother, trapped in the suit of armor without sensations. Alphonse was in much more pain, so he overcame the pain every time he had to attach new Automail limbs. He did for his brother. He would restore Al's body if it meant sacrificing everything her had left, Alphonse would get his body back, so he could finally live a normal life.

Winry hated seeing Edward sweat in pain and would do anything to take his anguish away. She had a cold, damp cloth ready and laid it on his wet forehead. During this moments filled with sorrow and pain it was always quite. She didn't start a conversation, because she didn't want him to hear her voice crack with sorrow and concern. Instead she ran her fingers through his hair while he clenched the armrest as tightly as possible with his real hand.

When the whole ordeal was finally done Edward pulled himself to his feet, stumbling as best as he could to the couch, where Winry knew he would lie until the pain stopped and fever passed. He always did and every time Winry sat at his side, cooling him of and supporting him in his unconscious state. She never left his side, and she brushed away his sweat with a damp cloth. Lost in thought, Winry did not realize she was crying until she felt tears fall onto her legs. She quickly brushed them away with a trembling finger. She shut her eyes tight to stop the steadily flow of tears from leaving her eyes but it didn't work. The crystals were still falling from her sapphire eyes. She fought to keep her sobs silent lest she disturbed Edward's rest.

As the seconds turned into minutes and minutes developed into hours Winry sat there in silence, brushing the sweat away from Ed's forehead. The fever was beginning to break and he was breathing normally again, the second stage of the reattachment process was finally over. She let out a sigh of relief and the awareness of how tired she was descended on her. She could feel her eyelids slid together and she forcefully pulled them open. The only thing that's mattered right now was definitely not sleep, but be sure that Edward was as comfortable as he could be in his agonizing state.

She placed her thin hand on Ed's flesh arm, tracing the veins down towards his fingers. She blushed when he stirred under her gentle touch and she retracted her hand and averted her gaze downward, looking at the stone floor while the blush spread across her face.

Edward opened his golden eyes slowly, adjusting to the light. He knew the worst part of the process was over and he all that's was left was to get his strength back so Al and he could return to their search for the Philosopher's stone. Once his eyes were function properly and his senses returned, he saw Winry sitting beside him.

"Have you been sitting her the whole time Winry?" He asked gently while sitting up.

She nodded in return, her smile sheepish as her eyes shyly met his.

"You must be exhausted by now." He said in a kind voice, indicating thankfulness, "Go get some rest, you deserve it."

"Ed," Winry started, tugging shyly at her hair, "Don't leave without saying goodbye like you always do, okay?" She asked, looking straight at him with tired sky blue eyes.

"We won't, I promise." He answered as he gently took her hands in his and squeezed them, reassuring her they wouldn't leave without telling her goodbye.

Winry nodded her thanks and gave him a smile, which he returned with one of his own.

Winry awoke the next morning by a familiar voice behind her closed door, asking if she was still sleeping. She called out to young State Alchemist who she knew stood behind that door, granting him permission to enter. The first thing she saw was his blond hair and flashed him one of her trademark smiles. Edward walked towards her and sat down on the bedside while rubbing the back of his head with his right arm. She knew very well Edward hated saying goodbye, but she needed to hear him say those much needed words; say that they would come home again. She hated the feeling of not knowing if her childhood friends remembered her or if they would come back. She already knew Edward only came by when he needed repairs, but it was enough to make her happy. Seeing his face chased away every painful thought of forlornness and loneliness.

Seeing the emotions change in Winry's face he quickly understood she needed to hear these words he was about to say, but why was it so hard to let them slip through his lips like every other word? He looked at her with only kindness in his golden eyes. "Winry," he began but stopped the moment he saw fresh tears fall from those lovely blue eyes of hers. Edward carefully put his finger under her chin and lifted her head up to look at him. He smiled at her as he tucked her hair behind her ears. "Why are you crying?" He asked her as he lifted his hand to brush away the steadily flow of her tears. "I know you hate to see me and Al leave, but we have to, at least I have to. I'm not going to stop half way; I'm going to get his body back. So I'm sorry Winry, but will you wait for us to return home?" He gazed into her sapphire depths, knowing he was opening her healed wounds over and over again by leaving her.

"Ed," Winry finally said, her voice soft, "All this time I have been so afraid you and Alphonse never were going to come home, that you would forget about me and this place we all call home." She said, her voice breaking as more tears fell from her eyes, "I know you have to keep the promise you gave Al, but it's so hard to let you go when you finally made it back home." She cried into her hands.

Ed took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her, guiding her head to rest against his left shoulder. "Everything will be all right. I promise. Ok?" he asked her. When Winry didn't reply, he continued, "I won't say goodbye to you now because that will only mean we will never see each other again, so instead I say to you Winry, not goodbye, but until next time."

Winry pulled back far enough to see Ed's face; her eyes searched his and found nothing but truth in their golden depths. "What are you going to do now?" she asked, slowly untwining her arms from around his waist.

"We planned on going to Central. I'm sure Colonel Sarcasm is pretty irate by our absent by now." He answered, a sly smile playing on his face. "And besides we need to check up something at Central Library."

"Edward," Winry began and with a shuddering breath, she added, "That's great and all, but why would you never tell me what you two are really up to?" The tears began to fall again, and Winry bowed her head, unwilling to let Ed see the hurt in her eyes.

Silence crept upon them and neither of them knew what to say to each other. Edward was the first to break the unbearable silence between the two childhood friends. "Winry I…" He started but was interrupted by a despondent Winry.

"Is it that you don't trust me Ed or do you think I won't be able to bear the burden with you? She almost screamed out, her voice thick with hurt and tears. With a heartbreaking sigh she continued, "If that's your reasons Edward, I suggest you find yourself a new mechanic because without you knowing it, staying quiet hurts me more than you can possibly imagine and it worries me too. You don't even have a chance to guess how many times my mind have played your death before my eyes in every method possible to kill a human being." She rose from her bed in an attempt to get away from all the painful thoughts and Edward's hurt expression. But before she reached the door, a hand grabbed her wrist and before she knew what happened, a pair of warm arms wrapped themselves around her thin frame, pulling her into an embrace.

"I'm so sorry Winry." He said in the most heartwarming voice she had ever heard. He hugged her tighter to him and added, "I had no idea I hurt you so badly, and here I thought I did you a favor by not telling you. I wanted to prevent you from getting dragged into danger, but instead my actions led to more pain. I should have known."

She couldn't help the tears as they made tracks down her cheeks. She didn't know what to say to him. Ed had triggered something that she had closed deep in her heart and now the walls around her deep emotions had crumbled, she had taken it all out on him. She felt so rotten for saying those things to him even though she knew he had a heavy burden resting on his tiny shoulders.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you Ed. I don't know what made me do that." She whispered to him as she brushed away her tears.

"Winry," He began with a gentleness she never knew he had. He turned her around, so she was facing him. "You have nothing to be sorry for." He brushed back a stray strand of hair from her forehead and cupped her cheek, lifting her head so her sad blue eyes met his warm golden ones. He saw how deeply wounded she was and whished with his whole being, he could take the hurt away from her beautiful eyes and heart. He wanted to be the one healing her broken heart, but knew he needed to restore Al's body first and knew he would have to leave her time and time again. He saw the new tears form in her eyes and how she rapidly blinked to wipe them away.

"Oh Winry," he said, brushing another stray strand of hair from her face before continuing, "I know you hate to see us leave, it hurts you deeply to wave goodbye even if you wear that spurious smile. But I have to, even if I wanted to stay here, I have no choice but to go, you know that. But I just hope you will wait for us, for me, like you always have."

"Ed," Winry finally said, her voice tender, "I'll wait forever and more for you two to come back home, so just promise me you will return home one day."

"Then I promise you; Winry Rockbell, that I will return safely with Al by my side, in his human body." He vowed, his voice full of honesty and affectionate.

They were interrupted by Al's hollow voice, "Brother are you ready? We have to leave now if you wish to reach the train station in time."

Edward looked at Winry before answering his brother's question, "Okay Al, I'll be there right away."

"Well then I guess this is farewell for now…" Winey all but whispered, afraid her voice would fail her if she used her normal voice.

"I suppose it is." Edward confirmed, squeezing her hand one last time before letting go.

"I'll see you soon," he promised over his shoulder, leaving her behind again.

Winry could hear his footsteps vanish down the stairs and then the front door slammed shut. She opened the door to the balcony, stepping outside in the beautiful sunset. It was as if the sun had set the very clouds on fire, but Winry didn't notice this, her mind focusing on the two boys below her, walking away from the snug yellow house.

"Edward, Alphonse, come back soon ok? And don't forget your promise Ed!" She yelled after them, releasing all her emotions in one sentence while she let her tears rill freely down her red cheeks.

"I won't forget" Edward yelled back with warrant in his voice, reassuring Winry that he would come back one day.

But it was no different than any other time they had left. It reopened the newly healed wound in her heart. And just like last time she went in and lay down on her bed, crying tears of loneliness. She couldn't stop them once they started, so she just let them run their course and fell asleep with crystal tears streaming from her closed eyes.

Edward and Alphonse had just settled down in their seats when Al cleared his throat to get his distant brother's attention, "So what did you promise her?" Al asked with honest curiosity in his eyes.

Edward turned to his brother, "That we would return safely home once I've restored your body." He answered in a quiet voice that Al didn't overlook.

"It's not like you acting this way brother. Is something wrong?" Al asked, concern filling his voice.

"It's just that I'm afraid… I'm afraid of leaving Winry in that state. She was completely broken Al! I have never seen her cry so much. And I have left her so many times." With a shuddering breath, he added, "I'm no better than our father for leaving her."

"That's not true Ed and you know it!" Al affirmed in a tone that wasn't anything like the kindhearted Alphonse Edward knew.

Edward looked at Al with a surprised look, Al didn't often use his name and when he did, he was slightly irritated or wanted to prove his point and get it true Edward's thick head.

"And you know what?" Al asked, staring at his brother and without an answer from Ed he continued, "I think you should go back to Resembool and talk to Winry, ask her to come with us this time."

"Are you sure? What if something happens to her?" Ed asked as he averted his eyes away from Al and out the window.

"If something happens brother, we'll protect her with our life. I have known her all my life just like you brother and I too have noticed her crestfallen face." Al said with maturity in his voice. He looked Edward straight in the eyes and added, "She's hurting more than she lets on, and that's why I think it will do her good to come with us."

"Sometimes Al I wonder who's the older one." Ed said and laughed a sarcastic laugh before his features became serious again and with a sigh, he added, "Your right though, we should ask her to accompany us." He smiled at his brother and Edward return to his old self again. "Once we get of this train, we'll go straight back to Resembool." He said while watching the landscape pass by at high speed.

"Do you think Granny will be surprised to see us so soon?" Al asked as he picked up the book about Alchemy he was reading.

"Yes, I do and I can hear her bold remarks already." Ed answered before trying to imitate Pinako Rockbell, "Well, hello Edward. Have you ruined your Automail yet again? And this time at record speed. To me it doesn't look like you have gotten any taller since we last met a couple of hours ago." He sighed irritated, "You know what Al? Sometimes I think Granny enjoys tantalizing me." Ed complained looking up at Alphonse.

Al laughed at his brother's ignorance, "Brother that's just to show you she cares about you, just like when Winry throws a wrench at your head." He said, holding back a laugh.

Ed snorted at his brother's comment, "No Al, I'm pretty sure Winry's trying to kill me for ruin her lovely Automail." He said as a faint blush colored his face.

"If that's what you believe brother then I won't argue with you." Al muttered to himself before giving the book in his hands his full attention.

Back in Resembool Winry was still sleeping. Dreams about Edward flickered before her mind in her restless slumber. She had woken up more than once screaming his name. She quickly realized he was gone and she was alone in her dark room. The stars were twinkling on the black night sky. Winry loved watching them but not today. She was so tired from crying and soon sleep dragged her into another nightmare. Den lay besides her like she always did when Ed and Al left. She hated seeing her owner so crestfallen and did the best she could to comfort her. Den snuggled closer to Winry, trying to oust her nightmares away.

The next time Winry awoke from a nightmare drenched in sweat it was eleven p.m. She rose from her bed and walked slowly on trembling legs towards the balcony with Den at her side. She slid open the door carefully not to wake her grandmother and stepped outside in the chilly night air. She went straight towards her lantern and turned it one, the warm light calmed her shaken soul. She knew Ed and Al weren't coming back, but she always turned it on, waiting for them. She rested her head on her arms and slowly her eyelids closed, sleep claiming her once again, but this time it was a dreamless sleep not filled with horror and fear.

The road towards the Rockbell's house had never been so long before. Edward was worried about Winry and wanted to reassure himself that she was as alright as she could be. So he practically ran the whole way, but in his world seconds seemed like minutes, minutes seemed like hours. When the yellow house finally could be seen, he also saw the familiar light from Winry's lantern. He smiled a sad smile as he continued towards the warm light with Al at his side. None of them broke the silence between them but their thoughts were alike; Was Winry doing this every night until they returned?

Once they came closer a frame could be seen on the balcony. Edward realized quickly it was Winry's form resting besides the lantern and knew it was his fault yet again. He had to make the wrong things he had kept doing to her right and this time he was not leaving without her. These thoughts were in his mind as he stepped into the dark, quite house. He went straight upstairs towards Winry's room. When he opened her bedroom door he was met with the cold night air brushing against his exposed skin, sending chills down his spin. He saw Winry's sleeping form sitting in the chair on the balcony and walk silently towards her for not to wake her. Once he reached her he took of his jacket and put it gently around her exposed shoulders. She snuggled closer to it for warmth. Edward sat down beside her and turned off the blinking light. After a while he decided it was too cold to be outside and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her to the bed where he laid her down carefully before settling down on her bedside, holding her cool hand in his warm. He could feel sleep tugging at the back of his mind and he eventually let his eyelids close, resting his head on the bedside. Sleep soon claimed him into a dreamless slumber.

Winry's eyes shot open by yet another nightmare made from her deepest fears. She let her hand fall lightly to her side and was startled when it came in contact with something soft that didn't belong in her bed. The sunrise had started some time ago which made sunrays shine through her windows, making it lighter in her room. She looked downward only to see Edward's messy golden hair. First she thought her mind was playing a trick on her or it was just another dream, but as the time went by and Ed didn't vanish she considered the alternative to be that he must have come back, but why? It was around this time she saw his hand was holding hers and a blush crept upon her face. She didn't want to wake him consider his peaceful face so instead she brushed gently away his stray bangs covering his handsome face. He was beginning to stir under her tender touch and Winry immediately drew her hand back, her face flushing bright red.

Edward slowly opened his golden eyes and raised his head while yawning. He looked at Winry and blushed when he discovered his hand was still holding hers.

"Did I wake you?" Winry asked shyly while tugging at her hair.

"No you didn't." Edward answered affably as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He rose to the ground with Winry right behind him. He opened the balcony door and stepped out into the beautiful sunrise which lit the sky on fire.

"Ed, why did you come back so sudden?" She asked, looking down before adding, "I thought you were going to continue your search without stop." She felt new tears in her eyes but quickly blinked them away.

Edward turned around so he could look at the person he had known all his 16 years. "I forgot something important." He replied, smiling sheepishly. He took Winry's hand in his and gazed into her blue eyes before continuing, "Winry I forgot to ask you if you want to come with us to Central?"

Winry looked dumbfounded at him. She couldn't comprehend what he just had asked. She tried to get her voice through her lips, but every time she opened her mouth no sound came out so instead she nodded and smiled heartwarming at him, letting a few tears of happiness leave her eyes.

Returning Winry's smile, Ed leaned forward, closing the mere inches between them as he touched his lips to hers. Winry froze, surprised, but relaxed again once she realized Ed was not going to pull away. Her arms found their way around his neck as his slipped around her waist, holding each other close, banishing all pain and healing all open wounds.

A/N: I decided to stop it there.

Hope you liked it and please review and give me your opinions, suggestions and critics.

I'm working on getting the next chapter finished as fast as I can so until then.

By for now Taiora Freak.