Chapter 3: The Trip to Xing Begins!

The next day after the phone calls from Alphonse and First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye Edward went to the train station and bought the train tickets for his and Winry's trip to Xing. The train was scheduled to arrive the next day and Winry and Ed were busy packing for their trip, both excited about going to the foreign country to visit Al and their foreign friends.

"What kind of clothes should I pack for the trip?" Winry called out from her room for Ed to hear her who was busy packing in his own room.

"Pack what you'd normally bring, what's it matter?" Ed called back, ignorant to the dressing standards of women.

"Well I can't very well go to a foreign country in my work clothes Ed!" Winry scolded him as she was sorting between what clothes to bring.

"You wouldn't hear me complain," Edward said as he walked into Winry's room, shut the door behind him, and settled down on her bed.

"Don't tell me your finished packing already," Winry said as she looked towards him a hurricane of undecided clothes all around her.

"What? I'm not going to change how I dress for Ling, even if he is the Emperor of Xing."

"Well did you at least pack something nice for the coronation?" Winry asked sternly.

"Calm down, I packed my Tux in the suitcase already."

"Well I envy you Ed. I have absolutely NO idea what I should bring!"

"For the coronation or in general?" Edward asked.

"Both," Winry said with a frown as she looked down sadly with a sigh. She wanted to make a good impression when she went to Xing, being friends with its new ruler and all, but she was worried that she'd give off a bad impression if she wore her usual attire.

"I don't know what you're so worried about. We're foreigners; we're allowed to be ignorant of foreign nations and their customs."

"Well excuse me for wanting to look nice Ed," Winry said with a huff as she finally settled on several outfits she would bring. As she began to pack her clothes she heard Edward get off of the bed and the clanking of his metal leg as he approached her. He wrapped his arms around Winry's waist from behind as he kissed her gently on the top of her head before resting his chin on her right shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat by the close contact and the obvious signs of affection he was showing her.

"It doesn't matter what you wear, you'll always be the most beautiful woman in the world." Winry blushed heavily as she turned her head to look at Ed, his golden eyes shining in the light with a loving and affectionate smile that she couldn't help but return.

"Well when you put it that way," Winry said shyly, still blushing. Moving only ever so slightly from his position Edward leaned his head forward to gently kiss Winry, who returned the kiss passionately while putting her hand to his face. After a few seconds in this position Edward picked her up in a bridal carry fashion, never letting his lips leave hers, as he carried her gently towards her bed; but not before slamming his automail leg into the bedpost.

"Careful," Winry couldn't help but say against Edward's lips at the sound of her automail hitting the post; he nodded slightly signaling he had heard her. He took his lips off of hers only for a second to put her onto the bed, but the moment she was lying down and he knelt over her she grabbed Ed by his shirt and pulled him back to her to continue their kiss. As this continues on for a few more moments Ed was surprised when he feelt Winry tugging at the hem of his shirt; following her silent command he quickly removed his shirt so the two could continue. As they kissed Winry couldn't help but run her fingers down Ed's chest and his abs, marveling at how great of shape he was in; she also felt a number of scars that he had accumulated over his journey in search for the Philosophers Stone, she had to remind herself to ask where he got those scars at a later time. They continued to kiss silently for a few more minutes until Edward, who was feeling brave (but still completely oblivious to what he was doing), gently moved his hand and cupped Winry's right breast. As soon as he had made contact with Winry's breast he could feel her moan through their kiss but also freeze momentarily at his touch before pushing him away and ending the kiss.

"What? What's wrong?" Ed asked panicked, worried that he had done something wrong.

"I think we should stop," Winry said gently as she pushed him off of her so she could sit up.

"I'm sorry Winry, I shouldn't of-"

"Oh shut up Ed you didn't do anything wrong," Winry said with a sigh and a light blush on her face.

"Well what's wrong then?" Ed asked confused as to why she wanted to stop all of a sudden. The blush on Winry's face had become more eminent as she went on to explain her actions.

"Well it's just… the way we were going at it we were obviously going to… have…"

"Sex?" Ed asked finishing her sentence for her, a rosy blush now evident on his face as well. Winry nodded too embarrassed to speak as Ed looked away looking somewhat sad. "And you don't want to?" he asked sadly.

"Of course I want to you idiot," she said pushing on his chest, immediately brightening his mood from thinking of the worst.

"Then why'd you stop me?"

"Well it's just, I want to be married first before I have sex," she said sheepishly as she wrapped her arms around her stomach.

"Seriously?" Ed asked surprised by her answer.

"Look I know that it sounds stupid but-"

"No it's ok," Ed assured her as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side. "I understand, you don't have to explain it to me." Winry smiled as she rested her head on Edward's shoulder.

"Thanks Ed," she said gratefully. They sat there for a few moments, holding each other in their arms and enjoying each others company, when Ed finally broke the silence while saying in a humorous tone,

"It'd help if you weren't such a tease though."

WHACK!

Edward found himself on the floor in a daze as Winry, still sitting on the bed, looked down at him with her wrench now in her hand from out of nowhere as she looked down at Ed with a pleasant yet mischievous grin.

"I'll try to remember that."

The next day early in the morning Edward, Winry, Pinako and Den were at the train station with the couple's luggage; a single suitcase for Ed and several suitcases and her tool box for Winry.

"Now I want you to promise to call me once you make it to Xing, understand?" Pinako instructed Winry once the train was in sight.

"I will Granny I promise," Winry assured her grandmother.

"And as for you short stuff," Pinako said gruffly to Ed earning her a volatile stare and a simmering young man. "You be sure to look after my granddaughter. If anything happens to her it's your ass on the chopping block."

"Don't worry Granny I won't take my eyes off of her," he promised while giving Winry an affectionate once over to prove it and to piss off Pinako.

"Moron," the Rockbell women said in unison as the train finally reached the station. As the train stopped and people began getting off and new people started boarding the train the group said their final goodbyes to one another.

"You kids have fun but be safe," Pinako warned.

"We will Granny don't worry," Winry assured the old woman as she embraced her grandmother tightly in farewell.

"And you better be careful to Ed. God knows I don't want to build anymore limbs for you," Pinako said sarcastically.

"I'll miss you to Granny," Ed replied earnestly as he hugged the old woman good bye. As the two boarded the train and took their seats Ed opened the window so they could wave to Winry's grandmother.

"One more thing!" Pinako shouted over the whistle of the train. "I hear that Xing grows some quality tobacco, pick some up for me while you're there!" She shouted while tossing a handful of coins through their window.

"YOU KEEP SMOKING AND YOU WON'T LIVE TO SEE 100!" Ed taunted as the train began to pull out of the station. They waved good bye to Pinako as the train left and laughed as Den followed the train barking as far as the station went, stopping as the train picked up speed and sped off. Once they were out of sight of the train station Ed rolled up the window and stretched out in their car.

"And so the adventure begins huh?" he asked as he playfully bumped his shoulder into Winry's earning him a small smile.

"You make it sound like it's another adventure for the Philosopher Stone," Winry teased earning her a groan from Edward.

"God I hope not, all I want is a nice relaxing trip without dealing with Governor Hot Shot,"

"And to enjoy your beautiful companion's company," Winry added with a flip of her hair. With a chuckle Ed put his arm around Winry's shoulder as he brought her closer to him.

"I thought that went without saying," he said cheaply as he gave Winry a quick kiss before she rested her head on his shoulder, a smile obviously plastered on her face. It was about a four day ride to Xing and there was no one else either of them would rather be with.