AN: There are some guys plotting something sinister, Edward is on guard all the time and Winry has something important to talk to Edward about. This chapter is a little longer than the previous I guess I got carried away.

Ties of friendship Chap.8

Winry had wanted to go dress shopping for the dance for a week. Edward kept putting her off till he could go with her and she was getting really pissed off because it was taking so long. The dance was in two weeks and she wanted a nice dress before they were all gone. She knew he was just trying to protect her but she felt like a captive in her own home and she didn't blame him she blamed the idiots that put him back in protective mode.

Lolly and the girls had decided to go shopping that day and WInry wanted to go with them but Edward was having second thoughts about her going. Lolly and all the girls showed up at the house to see if they could change his mind.

As Edward sat there facing four and a half females ( Lolly was the half) he had a strange feeling he was going to lose this argument but he was going to hold his ground.

"Come on Ed sweetie she can't stay a prisoner forever." Lolly begged with her hands to her cheeks.

"Yeah they'll be six of us nobody would be that stupid unless their complete dumbasses." Hiyori grinned.

"Edward I promise she won't be alone for a single second. One of us will be with her at all times." Niki reassured him.

Edward sat there with his legs crossed and his hand to his chin. He looked at Winry and the depressed look on her face broke his heart. But he couldn't take the chance of anything happening to her. He got up and silently walked out of the room. Winry looked at all the girls and sighed.

"Well thanks for trying you guys" she said sitting down and putting her head in her hands "I'm doomed to be in this house forever as long as those guys are out there."

Edward paced back and forth in the hallway 'Their right she can't stay a prisoner and she's so depressed. Ahhh! I can't take it. Should she go or no? NO! daaamn it!' He looked back in the living room 'SHIT! I can't stand to see her this way. Well with Lolly and Hiyori she'll be safe and I can't discount NIki, Lisa and Mashiro.'

He walked back into the living room where all the girls were trying to cheer Winry up. He put his head down "Alright" he said softly and Winry looked up at him.

"W-what?" She asked shocked that he was letting her go or did she hear him wrong.

"Alright you can go." He lifted his head and smiled at her as he saw her face light up and a big bright smile crossed it that he hadn't seen in a few weeks.

She jumped up and ran over to him "Really Edward" she threw her arms around his neck.

As she hugged him he turned to all the girls "I'm trusting you with my one reason for living. She's not to be alone anywhere." He pointed his finger at them "I don't care if she has to go to the bathroom one of you will go with her."

They all agreed and gave him a thumbs up "You got it" they said together and nodded. Winry took off down the hall to get her stuff and all the girls noticed the worry on his face.

He put his head down "I know I can't keep her in a box but I would die if something happened to her." He shoved his hands in his pants pockets.

"Don't worry Ed we'll take good care of her." Lolly's voice changed to husky "I told you I'd kill anyone that tried to hurt her."

All the girls turned and stared at her and she looked at them and batted her eyelashes as she shrugged her shoulders "What?" she said in her high pitched woman's voice then giggled "Hee hee."

Hiyori just shook her head and sighed. Winry came running back in the room "I'm ready" she had a big smile on her face as she turned to Edward "I'll be careful I promise. I'll have eyes in the back of my head."

"Just be aware of your surroundings Winry please." He pulled some money out of his pocket and gave it to her "Here get something beautiful okay."

"I'll do just like you taught me Edward. I'll scan the place before I go in and I'll watch everyone around me." Then she kissed him goodbye and held the money up "I'll make sure it's something you'll love."

"I love you" he said smiling a forced smile.

As she left with the girls he felt like his whole world just walked out the door as he watched them walk down the street.

Al walked up behind him and looked over his shoulder to see the girls walking and he knew Edward was worried "She'll be fine Ed."

"Ahhh, you scared the shit out of me Al." He said trying to get his heart rate down.

"She's got the best bodyguards in town. Nobody in their right mind would mess with those women." Al grinned.

Edward got as serious look on his face "Yeah but these guys aren't in their right mind Al." Al then remembered the day they attacked him. The look in their eyes was cold and unemotional and now he began to worry a little.

The girls had visited two dress shops and only Mashiro had found a dress. They decided they would try the one on Main Street. While they were walking Hiyori looked at Lolly.

"We have company" she seethed out.

Lolly turned her head "I know I spotted them a block back" she turned back and over her shoulder "Winry dear come up here and walk with Hiyori and I."

Winry picked up her pace as she slipped between them "They were at the last dress shop."

Surprised Hiyori looked at her "You saw them?"

Winry slightly smiled "Yes, Edward taught me well."

"Well let's see how long they follow us. We might have to call Ed and the guy's to come join us for lunch." Lolly smiled taking her make-up mirror out of her purse and held it up like she was fixing her make-up. She used it to actually watch the guys following them.

They continued to shop and they all finally found dresses. Lolly had a fight with a skinny little red-haired girl over a chiffon lace dress.

Lolly grabbed the dress, "That's mine you harlot."

Red-haired girl pulled it back, "I saw it first."

Lolly pulled it back "Give me the dress-" male husky voice "Don't worry as ugly as you are nobody will ever pop that damn cherry of yours." Everyone was stunned as they watched the red-haired girls eyes welt into tears as she ran out.

"LOLLY!" Winry couldn't believe she made the girl cry.

"I'm sooorry but I just looooove this dress." She batted her eyelashes and smiled.

She took it up to ring it up and the guy behind the counter asked "Uh ma'am what size are you?"

"Oh I'm a size eight" she put her hand to her mouth and leaned over towards him "A very small size eight."

"Well this dress is a size six." He smiled.

Lolly threw her hand out "Oh well don't worry about that I'll fit into it by next week" she turned to face the girls "NO MORE CHEESEBURGERS FOR ME GIRLS FOR AT LEAST A WEEK! IT'S ALL WATER AND CELERY!" she fanned herself as she gazed at the guy behind the counter "Is it hot in here to you."

Lolly made a phone call before they left the dress shop. Then they walked to a little café were they all sat down for lunch.

Leo, Del'quan and Jason were standing there starring at them and they were about to walk over when Edward, Shinji and Al walked up.

Edward walked right up to Leo "I see you have a fascination with my wife?"

Leo grinned "Is your wife that sweet piece of tail in the middle."

Edward's jaw tightened and he clinched his fist knowing full well he couldn't hit the guy. That would be exactly what Leo wanted him to do so he kept his composure as he choked out "Did you just call my wife a piece of tail?" The nerve of this asshole Edward wanted to pound him into the ground "Yes my wife is the one in the middle." Edward may not of been able to beat the crap out of him but he could threaten him as he stepped forward putting his face inches from Leo's "Do you remember what Hiyori did to you last time? Well let's just say I will finish the job. I've done worse to better people than you. Now on your way because this is not your lucky day." Edward stepped back and walked over to Winry.

Shinji and Al stood in front of the guy's and Al looked at Shinji "You know Ed's beat up people for just looking at her wrong."

Shinji nodded "Yeah I heard about that" he gave Leo a devious look "He showed no mercy." Then Shinji and AL turned and walked over by where the girls were.

Just as Leo and his two stupid buddies were about to walk over and start something Alex the other guy in Leo's little group ran up "HOLD ON!" he said putting his hand up "I did some research on this guy and you really don't want to fuck with him." He took a few deep breaths to catch his from running "And he's not the only one."

Alex began to explain to them what he found out "Edward is….Well was the Fullmetal alchemist he can't do alchemy anymore but his fighting skills are off the charts." "Those three" he then pointed to HIyori, Lisa, Mashiro "And him" pointing to Shinji "I've seen them sparing in the yard of the halfway house and their very skilled fighters. Not to mention they would cut your throat in your sleep if they wanted to." He then pointed to Niki "She's the Wire alchemist and I've seen her record." He then pointed to Lolly "She is-"

He was cut off by Del'quan "A guy."

"A guy?" Leo asked surprised.

"Yeah" Del'quan touched his throat "She lifted me two feet off the ground with one hand and didn't even break a fucking nail."

Alex continued "Edward's younger brother" he pointed to Al "His fighting skills match Edward's but he can still do alchemy." He looked at them all remembering the day they jumped him "As we all know" he then turned to Leo "And you want to take them all on for A PIECE OF TAIL! YOU'RE GOING TO GET US KILLED!"

Edward and Shinji walked over to them and Edward smiled "I'm glad to see there's one of you with a brain in your head to do some research."

Alex raised his eyebrow at Leo then turned to Edward "So Ed have you talked to Colonel Roy Mustang THE FLAME ALCHEMIST lately." He said looking back at Leo.

Edward laughed "Why yes I have Alex at my wedding three weeks ago." Edward figured out what Alex was doing so he looked at WInry "He kissed the bride and told her if she ever needed anything to call him."

Alex smacked Leo's arm "What about his bodyguard the woman with the Hawk's Eye?"

Edward put his hand to his chin "Hmm" he snapped his fingers "You mean Riza?" he smiled "Yeah she's like a second mother to Winry and I."

Alex looked at his friends well at this point he wished he was friends with Edward and them. "So Leo since you're such a fucking idiot let me spell it out for you. This guy has friends in such high places if he killed us he'd probably get away with it." Alex's friends stood there with their mouths hanging open as Edward and his friends walked by and Edward patted Alex's shoulder.

"Great research Alex but you might want to dig a little deeper." He said as they all walked off.

Leo turned to his band of assholes "I don't care who he is, I'm gonna make him pay for being so arrogant."

Alex smacked his forehead "Haven't you been listening to anything I've told you? THIS IS SUICIDE!"

Jason smacked him in the face "Aw shut up you pussy. I heard that he didn't believe in taking a life."

Del'quan licked his lips as he watched Winry walk off "I can't pass up a vanilla shake like that."

"You're going to get us all killed because your just that stupid." Then he put his head down and walked off.

"Hey" Leo smacked Jason on the shoulder "I want you to keep an eye on him. He could ruin everything if he cracks. So if it gets to be too much for him take care of him." He winked at Jason "You know what I mean."

Jason nodded because he knew exactly what Leo was talking about. If Alex broke it could send them all to jail for a very long time. Burglary, rape and arson were a couple of things they didn't want to go public.

Winry had bought a beautiful light blue dress, strapless, tight at the waist and it flared out into a skirt that hit right above her knees she even had enough money to buy a pair of flat sandals. She didn't want heels after the whole wedding fiasco. When she got home she hung it on a hanger in the closet. But she had something else on her mind and she needed to talk to Granny about it. But she didn't know how the old lady would handle this talk because they never talked about sex. So she gathered her courage and walked down the hall into the kitchen where Pinako was peeling potatoes for dinner.

"Granny" She smiled as Pinako turned around and she motioned for the old woman to sit down "Can I talk to you about something?"

Pinako noticing she was upset about something "Yes dear" she sat down "Anything."

Winry sat down and began picking at her nails "Uh….Well" then she just blurted it out "Can having sex make your period late."

Pinako's eyes widened in shock "What?" then realizing Winry was serious she lit her pipe and blowing the smoke out "Well dear yes it can." She took another puff and blew it out "How late are you?"

Winry looked up at her grandmother "I should have started three days after we got married." She got defensive "You know me granny I always keep track." She looked down "But I haven't and it's been almost three weeks."

Pinako knew she should have had this talk with her long ago but she just kept putting it off. So she put her pipe down and put her hand over WInry's "Well" she paused not knowing what WInry's reaction would be "You might be pregnant."

Winry pulled her hand back and jumped up "WHAT!" The look on her face explained the million questions going through her mind at that moment.

"It's nothing to be scared about dear." The old woman reassured her.

"But…..But" she sat down slowly in the chair "I don't think we had planned on this so soon."

"Have you discussed it with Ed yet?" Pinako got up and stared out the window at Edward and Al sparing in the little yard.

"No" Winry was unsure of what his reaction would be "What if were not ready?" she started to freak out some "What if he's not ready? What do I do? What if he doesn't want a baby right now?"

Pinako walked over and pulled her into a hug to calm her down "Why don't you talk to him about it then go find out for sure." She leaned back and smiled "Ed loves you and I'm sure he'd like to know about this."

"You think so?" Winry was wondering what his reaction would be.

"Yes just talk to him" Pinako turned around "Now help me with these potatoes" Winry nodded and picked up a knife and began to peel potatoes. Then she gazed out the window at Ed and Al and she visualized Edward teaching their child how to fight and all about alchemy. But then she thought it was also too soon after they got married. Both of them still had two years of college. How could they have a baby and still get their educations.

Later that night she was getting ready for bed and she decided she would talk to him. So she walked out of the bathroom to where he was sitting cross legged on the bed doing some of his homework. She had an uneasy feeling and she was really scared about the way he might react.

"Edward" she said softly.

He kept writing and didn't even look up at her "Yeah."

She needed him to look at her right now and she was getting more frustrated "I have something I need to talk to you about."

"Mmm Hmm" was all he said as he continued writing.

She was getting a little pissed now that he didn't look at her "EDWARD ELRIC LOOK AT ME!" her emotions took over and tears formed in her eyes.

He gazed up at her stunned that she had yelled at him. Then he saw the tears forming in her eyes and he dropped his pencil and pushed the notebook to the side "Alright Winry you have my undivided attention."

She began to fidget and pace back and forth she really didn't know how to start the conversation and it frustrated her more as she began to cry harder and mumble to herself.

"Winry" Edward asked softly thinking something was wrong because of her distraught demeanor.

She stopped and faced him "I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS!" she didn't realize she was yelling at him and crying harder.

Seeing how upset she was he got up and stopped her pacing "Winry tell me why you're so upset. Has something happened?"

She ran a million sentences through her head but when she opened her mouth "I'm late" was the only thing that came out.

Edward didn't know what the hell she was taking about "What are you late for? "

She couldn't take it anymore and he was confused as hell now "NO! I'm not late for anything." She smacked her head "Ahhh, My periods late."

"I don't understand Winry. You're not making any sense."

She wanted to smack the crap out of him so she just said it "I might be pregnant Ed." It took a few minutes for him to process what she had just said and by the look on his face she could tell he was processing it.

"See I knew you'd be upset." She said sitting on the bed and putting her hands to her face and crying harder.

He immediately bent down in front of her and pulled her face up "Winry I'm not upset" he paused "I'm just a little shocked."

She felt a sigh of relief "You mean you're not mad?"

"Uh…no" he chuckled a little then grinned "Why would I be mad? It's a baby a life we created." He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

"I still have to find out for sure" she told him as she slightly smiled resting her head on his shoulder relieved he wasn't upset.

"Alright" He leaned back and nodded at her "Then we'll go find out together."

"You'll go with me?" she wasn't expecting that she couldn't believe he wanted to go.

"Yes I'll go with you." he couldn't believe that they might have created a life. He hadn't thought about having children this soon but at this point he really didn't care. 'If she is pregnant this baby is a part of both of us. A life we created, WOW! A baby? I never thought this would happen this quickly. But we still have to find out for sure and we'll make this work."

She knew she had to tell him how she felt about all this "Edward I'm scared."

He sighed and pulled her into his arms and swallowed hard "I am too Winry."