The Unknown Chap.2
Resembool was a sight for sore eyes as Edward and Al departed off the train. Inhaling deeply the clean fresh air and listening to the peacefulness of the town. Grabbing his suitcase and turning to Al Edward smiled "Well are you ready?"
Al moved his hair out of his face "Brother I really need a haircut" looking at Edward "Long hair looks good on you but I like my hair short." Edward looked around and found a barber shop and entering Al sat in the chair as the man cut off the hair he had accumulated in the portal about fifteen minutes later and his head feeling lighter Al smiled as he looked in the mirror "I like it thank you very much." The man held out his hand "That'll be twenty cens." Al put his hand in his pocket and came up empty then he looked at Edward "Uh….brother."
Edward reached in his pocket and pulled the money out and paid the guy then turning to Al "Are you ready now?" Edward asked walking out the door and Al followed him to the road.
Al leaned on his cane "Yeah let's get going." Following his brother as he started to walk down the road it was about a half hour later Al found himself sitting on the small brick wall that lined the road as Edward asked him if he wanted him to carry him and Al declined telling him to go ahead. Edward smiled and sighed telling his younger sibling "Nope we left home together and that's how we'll return."
As Al stood up and they began to walk they talked about all the friends they made and even discussed Mei. Edward teased his brother about becoming the next prince of Xing but when Al mentioned what would happen between Edward and Winry, Edward stopped in his tracks seeing the house come into view. He really didn't know what the future would hold but he did know that he had developed feelings for Winry over the years but he had shoved them down because of their search for their bodies. This was new territory for Edward and he really didn't know if he could finally let those feelings come to the surface just yet.
Walking up to the house Den was on the porch as the dog looked up Al yelled "Den we're home boy." The dog got excited and ran over to Al.
Winry was sitting in the kitchen when she heard Den barking "What's he barking at now?" She got up and walked to the door that's when she heard Al yelling "Stop Den that tickles." Winry heard that and wondered what he meant by that tickles as she walked to the front door and opened it. She stepped out on the porch and saw Edward standing with his hand on his hip and Al as he stood up and smiled at her 'Oh my gosh! Al has his BODY!' Before she knew it she began to cry then she ran at them and threw her arms around both their necks and knocked them to the ground waiting a few seconds wanting to hug them both she leaned up with tears streaming down her face "Dummies welcome home."
"Thanks" Edward smiled and Al looked up laughing "Good to be back." she continued to stare at them then she stood up and she and Edward helped Al up.
"I didn't hurt you did I?" She asked hugging both their neck's again.
Al smiled at Edward as she hugged tighter "No this body has to get used to combat again right brother?"
Edward trying to get out of Winry's grasp "Yeah. Combat. You're absolutely right Al." he wheezed out as he slipped from her grasp and limped a few feet away.
Winry noticed his leg "Edward what's wrong with your leg?" then she glanced at his hand and noticed it wasn't automail "EDWARD!" she ran over and grabbed his hand and pushing his sleeve up she touched his arm "Y-Your arm it's not automail anymore."
Edward flinched a little at her touch on his arm then smiled "Yeeeah, I kind of got my arm back." She looked up into his eyes "But your limping didn't you get your leg back."
He lowered his gaze "No" but then he looked up and smiled "I had to keep something for you to work on right?"
Winry slightly smiled and dropped her gaze "Yeah, I guess you did huh?" She wondered what had happened that he didn't get his leg back. She looked up at him "Well then come inside and tell me all about it while I bake an apple pie for you guys."
Both their eyes widened "APPLE PIE?" They both asked and Al began to drool that was something he had on the top of his food list to try when he got his body back. They both turned and followed her into the house and after getting settled in their room they both walked into the kitchen seeing Winry hard at work pealing apples and cutting them up. Edward and Al sat at the table and told her every detail of their fight with Father.
"So that's why we all passed out and it felt like we were in darkness?" She asked remembering that day it had scared her really bad. "So we were almost sacrificed to make a philosophers stone?"
Al smiled "Yeah but our dad had set up a reverse transmutation circle that returned all the citizens souls back to their bodies."
Just then Winry swung around and knocked a vase off the sink and broke it "OH NO! That's the vase grandpa gave granny." She picked the pieces up and walked over to Edward and sat them in front of him "Can you fix it Ed?"
"Sure" he smiled then before he remembered he clapped his hands together then he stopped and looking up at her the smile disappeared as he reached down and pushed the pieces towards Al "Go for it Al." Edward stood up and turned to walk out "I'm gonna go chop some firewood."
Winry looked at Al confused "How come he didn't fix it?" Al put the pieces in front of him and clapped his hands together and placed them over the vase as it went back together the he picked it up and before handing it to Winry "Brother can't do alchemy anymore. He gave up his portal to get my body back."
Winry was shocked at first "B-But he's such a brilliant alchemist Al." she looked out the kitchen window at Edward chopping wood "Alchemy was a deep part of him." She then looked at Al "But I guess you were more important than that." she smiled a huge smile at Al "He said he would do anything to get you back."
"Yes, but Winry alchemy is all Edward knows. Well, that and martial arts. So what is he going to do now? I'm afraid he'll fall into some kind of depression or something." Al's head lowered.
Winry knew Edward wouldn't do that and he gave his alchemy up to save Al "Don't think like that Al. Edward knew what he was doing when he did it so don't think it's going to bring him down." She put her hand on Al's shoulder "He got you back and that's all he ever wanted to do." She turned and put the pie in the oven and walked to the back door as she walked out to where he was he knew she was behind him as he chopped the last piece "Hey" he said turning around to face her and seeing the long face she had he knew Al had told her.
"Edward" she said softly "Al told me what you did. Giving up your portal was a great sacrifice." She thought for a minute "Is that right?"
He walked up to her "Yeah you got it right" he smiled "But it was worth it I have my brother back." He knew Al felt bad but he didn't really care about the alchemy right now he'd figure something else out later it would just take a little research 'Listen to me I'm already trying to compensate for it' He sighed "Winry I'm completely hopeless." He started picking up firewood and started limping towards the house.
"Edward when you put that up I want you to let me look at your leg." She ordered him "I'll meet you downstairs."
His eyes widened at her ordering him but then he realized she was just looking out for his well-being and her automail so he turned and smiled at her "Alright Winry I'll see you in a few minutes."
Putting the firewood next to the fire place he stood up and sighed as he turned and looked at the door to the basement 'Well shit I better get this over with' he thought walking to the door. As he descended the stairs into the basement he saw her standing there with her back to him 'Wow she sure has grown up these past years' he thought looking her up and down. Winry turned to see him staring at what she could only figure was her ass and she blushed some "Edward" His eyes shot up to hers "Yeah" as he shook his head.
She pointed to his pants "Drop them and climb up here so I can see the damage."
He felt a little awkward dropping his pants this time 'What the hell? I've done this millions of times' Finally getting his belt undone he dropped them and climbed on the table as she began to examine his leg. 'Wow it feels good to lay down I'm still exhausted from the trip' He lay there thinking as the feel of her hands on his upper leg sent shockwaves through him. As she began to bitch at him about how he never took care of his automail he turned his head to the side and muttered an occasional "Yep."
She began oiling and tightening the bolts then she asked him a question but she got no answer and as she leaned closer to his face she heard slight snoring. Pulling the hair back that was draped over his eyes she smiled slightly as he moved his hand to his stomach "Oh Ed what am I going to do with you?" Knowing he was probably exhausted and this was probably the first time he wasn't wondering where they had to go next to get a lead on that stupid philosophers stone. She reached over and grabbed a light blanket and covered him up and leaning over she kissed his forehead "Pleasant dreams Edward." He reached up and grabbed her hand and squeezed it as she stood there looking down at him after a few seconds she moved her hand and placed his under the covers and she walked up the stairs to the kitchen. She walked to the living room and saw Pinako standing in the doorway staring at Al as he slept on the couch.
"Well I'll be damned. Edward did it didn't he?" She smiled and walked over to Al putting her hand on his head "He got Al's body back."
Winry smiled slightly "Yeah" lowering her gaze "He paid a huge price too granny."
Pinako turned and looked past Winry to see Edward standing at the basement door "Ed it's good to see you." She started to walk towards him and he smiled slightly "Good to see you too granny."
She looked at his arm "You got your arm back" she glanced down "But what about the leg?"
He sighed then smiled a sideways grin "I had to keep the leg so you and Winry would keep me as a customer."
"Awww, Ed we would have taken care of you either way you damn fool." Walking over to the door she looked back at Al sleeping "So how is he adjusting?"
"It's been ruff for him to sleep" Edward said walking over and grabbing a blanket and covering Al.
Winry smiled "He looks like he's having no trouble now."
Al's mouth was hanging open and a little drool was streaming down his cheek "Yeah I guess not" Edward chuckled.
"Oh no" Winry turned and ran to the kitchen reaching the stove she grabbed the door and opened it pulling the pie out "Ahh. Ow, Owww" she turned and set the pie on the table. Edward ran in and grabbed her hand, turned the cold water on and stuck it under the stream "You idiot why didn't you use a towel?"
"I…Uh" She felt his hand on hers and both of them looked at each other. He had a worried look in his eyes and she felt the warmth of his hand and she blushed. He held onto her hand a little longer than he had too as he ran the cold water over it then turning around he picked up a towel and dried her hand. His touch was soft as he patted it dry and still holding her hand he looked into her eyes "Winry you have to be more careful." She had a strange feeling that came over her, she got weak in the knees and they started to shake some as she looked into his amber eyes "I will Edward." He stood there and stared into her eyes as his face began to move closer to hers 'Ahhh, he's going to kiss me' so she closed her eyes to prepare for is lips to meet hers when Pinako walked through the door "That damn brother of yours is sawing logs now Ed."
Edward's head jerked back as he shook off the trance he was just in "W-What?" he turned to Pinako and Winry's eyes shot open 'Great fricken timing granny I've waited how long for him to make a move' she sighed 'Well this will probably never happen again' she pulled her hand gently away "Thanks Ed but I got it from here." He seemed like he didn't want to let it go "Are you sure Winry?" she smiled a huge bright smile at him "Yeah."
"Well Ed it's getting late so leave Al on the couch and let's all get some shut eye." Pinako yawned "I've had a long walk and I'm tired so goodnight you two." She turned and walked to the door stopping to look over her shoulder "It's good to have you two here I hope you plan on staying awhile this time."
"Yes granny we will" Edward smiled then when she left the room he stared at Winry as she tended to her hand. He couldn't understand why he found her so different now. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked walking over and looking over her shoulder. She felt his breath on her ear and it was warm and stirred her inside as she closed her eyes for a second to gather her thoughts "Edward you have a knack for looking over my shoulder while I'm doing something." She turned and stared him square in the eyes "Why is that?"
He got a little defensive "WELL THEN FINE I WON"T WORRY ABOUT YOU THEN." He turned and went to walk off but she grabbed his hand and he turned to face her "WHAT?" he asked annoyed.
"Thank you Ed for always caring." She said softly.
He was caught off guard by that "Uh. Yeah. Um. Your welcome." She then lifted up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek as he blushed bright red in his cheeks. "What was that for?" he asked turning to her.
"For just being you Ed." She blushed pink in her cheeks then cleared her throat "You look tired, why don't you go get some sleep." He put his hand to his cheek and cracked a sideways grin "Yeah I think I will goodnight Winry." As he walked to the stairs he couldn't believe she had kissed his cheek not that he was complaining he actually liked it. Getting into bed that night he thought about what would happen if he and Winry got together he hadn't thought about it before but it was seriously on his mind now. He knew that his feelings for her were strong and he knew he would have to let them out a little at a time because if he let them all out at once the situation and maybe himself would just explode 'I think I'll just sleep on it' he thought covering up and going to sleep.