(Once again, thanks to everyone whom have been devoted reviewers:D Hope you enjoy Chapter ten! )
Chapter Ten"He broke his promise." Winry muttered with a crestfallen sigh to follow. "He promised that once all this was over with, he'd tell me who he met along the way, what dangers he had to face." Shaking her head gently, "Maybe it was too good to be true." Doubts flooded Winry's mind as she snatched up Edward's shirt that hung on the edge of the couch. Sitting down on the furniture, she kept her gaze on it. "He's always leaving me in the dark, if he continues then how am I supposed to help him?" Anger elevated in her being, "Damn you Ed."
Setting down the damp shirt, she looked at her lap for a second then to her locket. "It's not like him to forget something so meaningful, good or bad." Referring to what she had just witnessed, and to the locket that hung loyally around her neck. "I don't know!" Dropping her hand, she leaned against the back of the couch, bending her head back to challenge the ceiling to a staring contest. The look of frustration dropped to a sullen one. "I hate him for making me feel this way. Does he have any idea?" Spending her days worrying over whether or not Edward might live was exhausting enough. All her life, well most of her life, she made a vow to wait for Edward to acknowledge her for her, not just his mechanic.
Turning her head at a comfortable angle, she found herself looking in the direction of Edward and Alphonse's room. 'What happened, Ed?' She asked in her mind, almost wishing he'd come out and tell her everything from start to finish. Sometimes she wondered, was it really worth the wait? The possibility of her heart being shattered would've been most likely, if not for the locket.
"Winry?"
"Al? Where'd you come from?" She asked in a soft tone, and smiled softly. Winry was thankful toward Alphonse, for breaking her from her trance and doubtful thoughts. The blonde was so used to Al being in armor, despite the fact that it's been years since that gruesome time.
"I heard the conversation earlier." He pointed out.
"Do you know what happened Al? To Ed?" The tone in her voice made Alphonse feel guilt chewing on his soul. His glance cast downwards as he itched at his shoulder as if something was bothering him.
"Unfortunate events occurred, but that's all we can say." He remained silent for a good while before taking a seat beside her. "Brother wanted everything to seem normal when it's really not… Does that make sense?" A gentle smile graced his lips as he glanced to Winry. "He realized something that he never really wanted to acknowledge due to everything that's happened."
"Do you have any?"
Knowing what she meant, his gaze moved to the floor. Nodding briskly, "Yeah… I do." He spoke with hesitation as he looked directly at her. He didn't want to worry Winry with his own problems, but Alphonse knew that they've been doing that from the start, The younger Elric didn't want to lie to Winry anymore, and he was sure Edward, deep down, felt the same. Alphonse once loved Winry too, even when he was in the armor he still felt it. His feelings were cast away and shrunk into friendship. Edward was always too into complaining about Winry's colorful temper, and tended to ignore how Alphonse felt. If he can't be with Winry, then he'd be thrilled If Edward admitted his true feeling before it's too late.
"How bad are they? Let me see."
"It's fine, Winry, really! I've already had them cleansed so I won't get an infection."
"Oh."
Silence filled the room and it felt like not even a sound in the next room could break it.
"You still have the locket." Alphonse pointed out, noticing it around her neck. "Brother said he'd give it to you, but I thought he'd forget." His smile turned into a smirk, "Did you look inside?"
Winry was bewildered for a minute, but then suspicious, "Why? Al." She said his name in a warning tone;.
"Have you talked to him yet? "
Winry's eyes cast down to the floor. The expression she held was thoughtful, but then it switched a mixture of curiosity and anger.
"Al, does he really love me?"
Flash back"Winry, will you marry me?"
An eight-year-old Winry looked at him quizzically, kind of taken a back. "Sorry, but I don't want to marry someone whose shorter than me! I want someone taller and older!" She watched as Edward's expression fell and darkened.
"Just watch! I'll be taller than you one day! And I'm already older than you! You'll have to marry me later on then!"
Watching him whirl around stubbornly, she blinked and put her fist to her mouth. A fit of giggles emitted from her mouth: little did he know she had that schoolgirl crush even back then.
End of Flashback"He does love you Winry, he may not show it but he does. We don't mean to lie to you every time we come back home, we just don't want you to get hurt. Our lives are dangerous, and we've already lost mom… We don't want you to die too."
"Al…" Her eyes softened with emotion and she encircled her arms around the younger Elric, "I'm not going anywhere, and no one can make me leave you two." Pulling away from the comforting warmth of Al's body, she smiled softly. "I'll talk to him tomorrow, it's getting late and we had a long day." Before she could get up, Alphonse tugged on her wrist. Looking up at her apologetically, he frowned. "Sorry if we ruined your Valentine's Day…"
"Are you kidding? You and Ed coming back made it even more special." She smiled to assure him that she meant what she said. Winry Lifted herself from the cushions, "If I'm going to talk to Ed, it might as well be now." The look in her eyes was determined and cautious all in one. Al wanted to tell her that he'd be right behind her every step of the way, but this is something that doesn't involve him. "Now or never…" She breathed, and Al grinned. Winry was always confident, but there was a limitation.
At the door, Winry lifted her hand up to knock, but let her fist drop to her side. Turning away from the door, she was about to walk away, but stomped her foot (in spite of herself) and then turned to the door and knocked in a rapid rhythm.
"Come in."
(Hardly any Edward in this chapter, sorry! I'm not feeling good today (Ugh!) and I wanted to include Alphonse a bit more. I felt bad for leaving him out In the past chapters! D: Anyway, please review!)