"My prayers are wearing thin

I'm worn even before the day begins

I'm worn

I've lost my will to fight

I'm worn so heaven come

And flood my eyes"

My Heart is Heavy chap.6

The sun was shining brightly through the bedroom window the next morning as Winry woke. Opening her eyes and stretching some she reached back to find the side of the bed Ed was on empty. She sat up wondering where he had gone as she heard all the children outside playing. Throwing the covers back she sat her feet on the floor 'Wow I slept like a rock for those two hours after we woke up' putting her hand to her head she rubbed it then stood up and walked to the window. Looking down she saw the children playing tag or something as she turned around and went out the door and started downstairs. She heard Al and granny talking in the kitchen as she walked in "Good morning" Al smiled "Sleep well?"

Winry's eyes scanned the kitchen "Where's Ed?" she asked looking at the kitchen then she walked over and took a pan out to start breakfast. Al turned his head "If you're going to make breakfast you don't have to Ed already feed all the kids." She turned around with a shocked look on her face "He did?" Al chuckled "Yeah he got up and made them breakfast then he tended to granny. I don't know what you did Winry but he's a little better today. This is the first time he's done this in months." Still trying to get her thoughts together she reached for a cup to pour some coffee "I didn't do anything Al." That's when she glanced out the window and saw him at the edge of the yard just staring out at the country side, His long golden hair down blowing in the breeze as he stood completely still like he was staring up into an abyss. Putting sugar in her coffee she stirred it and turned to Al "What's he doing outside?" Al shrugged took a sip of his coffee then grinned "I have no idea but I like to see him outside. It's better than being cooped up in a dark room like he has been."

"I can't believe I over slept" She said sitting down across the table from the as Pinako spoke "Al told me what happened to his wife and who she looked like. Ed and those kids have been through hell. It must be hard for all of them to be here but I have to say he looks a little better today than he did yesterday."

"He actually smiled yesterday." A young voice came from the doorway and they all turned to see Steven standing there. He walked slowly into the kitchen "He smiled for the first time in months last night and it was because we were talking about you." He looked to Winry "I don't know what you are to my dad and it's none of my business but I do know that when we were talking about you he smiled and now he's outside today and that's enough for me." Steven walked closer to her and stood next to her "Please can you help bring back the father we knew before…before that accident took both our parents from us?" his head lowered and Winry stared at this child blankly she didn't know what else she could do except be there for Ed.

Taking a deep breath she looked at Steven "I'll do what I can but I can't make any promises. Losing someone is hard and it takes time to heal. Your father is not the same boy who left seventeen years ago he's grown into a fine man, a man that I know nothing about now. He has deep feelings that I can't touch right now because they're too painful." Steven looked up "I know that if anyone can help him you can." This was a tall order and Winry didn't want to let the boy down but Ed was in bad shape and she knew it would take a long time for him to open up to her because he never was one to talk about his feelings "All I can say is I'll try Steven." The boys head came up and a smile crossed his face "Thank you." Then he turned and left the kitchen.

Pinako sighed as she looked at her granddaughter then Al and back to Winry "So dear what's your first move?" Al leaned forward grinning like he expected her to do this by herself "Yeah Winry how are you going to break through to him?" She looked annoyed at Al as her temper flared and she didn't know why but she just lost it "You know this should be your job you're closer to him than I am. He never told me anything and for that matter" Her voice raised, "NEITHER DID YOU AL!" Then lowering her face a saddened expression crossed it "You guy's never told me anything then you both just up and disappeared." Tears streamed down her face as she stood up and slammed her hands to the table and no one noticed Ed standing at the door as she yelled "DID EITHER ONE OF YOU THINK HOW THAT WOULD EFFECT ME?!" Al's grin disappeared as his head lowered "No and I'm sorry Winry. We were only trying to protect you back then." Edward couldn't help but feel pain in his heart as she continued "I DIDN'T NEED PROTECTING AL." tears flowed from her eyes as her head slumped forward and she softly whispered "I needed you two." The children had stopped playing outside hearing her yell as they watched through the window.

Edward stood there emotionless as she turned and ran upstairs sobbing. Al looked up at him with a saddened look on his face "Brother" he said softly as both their eyes widened for making her cry. Edward took a deep breath and looked at Pinako and slightly smiled as he turned and followed her up the stairs. He could hear her sobbing all the way down the hall and that was something neither he nor Al wanted to hear. They had always made a point not to make Winry cry because her tears are what hurt them the most. She could scream and get pissed off at them all she wanted but when tears fell from her eyes both brothers knew they had screwed up royally and hurt her. So without even knocking he pushed her door open and walked in and she was lying across the bed crying he sat on the edge and reached over and pulled her up into his arms. Burying her face in his chest she sobbed uncontrollably as his eyes fixed on the wall across the room and he stared at it as he took a deep breath and a stone look crossed his face as he just held her tightly. Hearing her sob killed him inside it was something he never wanted to hear from Winry or his wife he had always made it a point to make Windy happy so she didn't cry. But as he thought over his childhood he realized his selfish, ego maniac, non- communication ways had hurt Winry deeply and that was something he couldn't take back. All he could do was sit there and let her cry and a few moments later she looked up at him.

"I'm sorry Ed" with her puffy tear filled eyes he stared down into his softened as he slightly smiled at her "No Winry I'm the one who needs to apologize. You cared for me and Al and we never took your feelings into consideration at the time and I'm sorry." She was dealing with feelings of more than just old memories now her feelings for Edward were starting to surface again as she looked into his eyes and she didn't know how to deal with them. Knowing he was still hurting from losing his wife this was not the time to tell him how she felt and that was the hardest thing for her. Last night when he asked to hold her she had said yes because she wanted him to. Now even with him holding her while she sobbed over something that happened years ago she was just happy he had his arms around her. She wanted with all her being to look him in the eyes and tell him she loved him. But she figured he didn't feel the same and even when they were younger he never gave her the inclination he liked her in that way.

For Edward holding her was something he had wanted to do for a long time. But he had given his life for his brother and spent two years on the other side of the gate. That day seventeen years ago when he came back and saw how beautiful she had become it broke his heart to leave but he figured since she hadn't said anything he wouldn't either. She had hugged him like seeing an old friend that day and even when she attached his automail they both had kept their silence. His one priority that day was to stop the ships, that crazy bitch and the men from destroying Amestris.

He looked down at her in his arms "Are you okay now?" she wiped her eyes and leaned back out of his arms "Yes I'm fine now Ed." He lowered his head as his long bangs fell forward "I truly am sorry Winry for any pain I caused you years ago it wasn't my intention but like Al said we were trying to protect you."

She stared at him as he sat there and she wiped the tears more from her eyes as she looked at his arm. Then she broached the subject she'd wanted too since yesterday as she slightly smiled "Would you please let me look at your arm and leg now Ed. The way you're walking I have a feeling that these limbs you have are too short now."

He shocked her by leaning his head back and chuckling in the air "Same old Winry" 'He is smiling' she thought as a smile crossed her face and he leaned his head forward "Alright if it'll make you happy. Yes you can look at them and replace them if you'd like." He stood up and stretched "These limbs are getting a little uncomfortable I could use some great automail right now." He saw the huge smile that crossed her face and her eyes started to sparkle "Great I'll get right on it for you." She jumped up and as she passed him she stopped and kissed his cheek softly "Thank you Ed." He got a shocked look for a moment then looking at her happy warmed his heart and automail sure made her happy so he turned and smiled "No problem." She turned and literally skipped out of the bedroom as he sighed, 'Crap! What have I gotten myself into this time? But hey at least she's happy now' He shrugged as he sat back on the bed 'Could I actually have a life here? Without it being the way it was before? I don't want to fight anymore I just want a life where I can be happy. Windy, My dear Windy I loved you with all my heart but sometimes I realize that it was because you looked like Winry that I fell in love with you and I know you realized it too. But after a while I figured out you were different from her and that you both were the same but two completely different women. Would you hate me if I told her how I felt about her even though she probably doesn't feel the same for me? I have too just because I have a second chance to and it's something I have to get off my chest.' He sighed as he stood up and went to the window to look down at the kids playing in the yard 'Would they hate me if I told them how I felt about her?' shoving his hands in his pockets he exited the room and walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Al looked up and grinned "You agreed to let her fix your arm and leg didn't you?" Getting a confusing look Edward "What are you talking about?"

Pinako smiled and looked at him "She came down eyes gleaming and whistling and headed straight for the basement." Shaking his head Edward turned to leave the room "Your damn right I did." Both Al and Pinako smiled at each other but Al figured it was time to tell Ed what was going on with Winry and her husband. He needed his brother to be aware in case the guy tried anything and now that Ed was more aware of the world around him instead of grieving he decided this was a good time. As he stood up Pinako stared at him "You're going to tell him aren't you? In that case I think he'll need a new arm and leg."

Walking out to where Edward was sitting Al sat next to him "Brother I have to tell you something about why Winry is here and why Fuery was here when we got here." Curious Edward turned to Al but when he saw Al's face he knew something was wrong "Okaaay what is it Al?" As Al explained to him what Mustang had told him Edward's face got a surprised look on it but when Al got to the part about him hurting Winry's arm his face changed to a pissed off look. "So that's what she meant about feeling fear." Edward sat forward as Al looked at him confused "What?" Edward shook his head "Nothing Al" keeping that part to himself. Al could tell Edward was not happy about this and his total demeanor changed "Alright then Al we need to be more aware of what's going on then." Smiling Al agreed "Right brother" He was happy because this sounded like the Ed he knew so long ago. Feeling a sense of happiness Al leaned forward wondering what his brother planned to do about it "So Ed what are we going to do?"

A feeling rose up in Edward he hadn't felt in a long time. It was the feeling of protection over Winry 'How dare this guy lay a finger on her' He thought as he turned to Al with a look in his eyes Al hadn't seen in almost fifteen years "I'm going to kick his ass if he comes near her or her boys Al." Al smiled as he stood up and took a step then stopped and turned back to Ed "Good to have you back brother." Edward looked up at Al with a fire in his eyes again "Good to be back Al." As Al turned and walked away Edward realized he couldn't stay in his grief forever. He had children to raise and now someone wanted to hurt Winry. He figured Windy would understand if he became the person he used to be. Because he was sure she wouldn't want him to be unhappy the rest of his life. Closing his eyes he listened to the wind as it blew and his eyes shot open when he heard in Windy's voice "Take care of her Ed." Shaking his head thinking he was hearing things he stood up feeling like a completely different man at that point as he looked to the sky and grinned "I will."