Speed Bumps

Disclaimer: I Don't Own FMA In Any Way.

Rating: PG—PG-13 Due To Bad Language.

A/N: …Read…now! XD

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Ed hid behind a small house. His back was firm against the wall behind him and he was trying to remain as silent as possible. The provided shadow of a nearby tree made him look like nothing more but a silhouette, considering his eyes were closed, calmly. The slight breezes played with his golden bangs and he felt the same breeze on his flesh arm; it was rather relaxing. He suddenly heard quiet giggling to his left; his golden eyes, shining in the shadow of the tree, widened and he turned his head. It was the girls he had found earlier.

He was playing hade-and-go-seek with the kids; even the teens were having fun. Currently, he had found most of the young girls; though he felt as if they had practically allowed themselves to be found, seeing as Ed would jump any person he found. He shushed them. "Do you want to give away where we are?" he asked them, playing angry.

The girls, and few boys, silenced their laughing and shook their head. They were currently trying to find Winry and the rest of the kids; they were all playing and, even Ed had to admit, he was having fun.

Once the Elric was sure the children he had found, who were also helping him find the rest, were quiet, he turned back to his right, smiling confidently. He listened; hoping to hear, at least, a whisper from his mechanic or the children.

He heard laughing and he grinned mischievously. "C'mon," he demanded, audible to only a murmur and he and his 'team' began walking, quietly tiptoeing over the ground below their feet. After just a few moments, he flung his arm out, indicating his group to stop walking. Turning to them, he smiled.

"Go and find the rest; I want to get this one myself," the Alchemist said quietly, with a mischievous smile on his face.

The group nodded and silently walked off.

Ed simply turned attention to the task at hand once more. He looked, carefully, to the wall at the side of the small building; he could see Winry with her back against the wall and, although he couldn't see them, he as positive a few kids were with her. It would be a good hiding place…had Ed been in front of the building instead of the back. This was because, next to the building, was a large pile of rubble, acting as a cover for anyone hiding behind it.

The blonde Elric pulled back his legs, preparing to jump Winry, obviously to surprise her. One…he mentally counted in his head. Two…just one more and Winry would be laughing under his weight. Three! The teen jumped out of his spot, grabbing his friend by her waist and placing some weight down on her.

"Found ya!" he said jokingly as he laughed victoriously.

Winry was struggling against him but was also laughing at the situation. "Ed, get off!" she told him through laughs.

Ed laughed once more and rolled off her back and onto his, sitting up afterwards. He kept his eyes on her, blushing slightly, as she knelt up and brushed some dirt off of herself.

The Rockbell looked up at him, smiling and blushing as well.

The Alchemist averted his gaze away, still managing to hold a small smile on his lips.

"Edward!" the teen looked up to see who was calling his name; it was his supposed team. "We found everyone else; you wouldn't believe what pathetic hiding places they picked," one of the blonde girls said playfully. Once they all came, though, some froze, slightly surprised to see their leader and opposed on the ground, sitting next to each other and blushing and smiling. Jealousy was evident in some of their faces.

Ed cleared his throat falsely. "Good job, guys!" he said, hoping the crimson from his cheeks would leave soon.

The rest of the kids who had been found, mostly boys, pouted, annoyed.

Afterwards, a young teen girl walked up next to Ed and leaned down slightly. Her blonde hair and dark brown eyes shone as she smiled at him happily. Placing a hand on her jean-covered legs to support herself, she looked at her admired in the eye.

"What is it, Jessica?" Ed asked curiously as he looked back at the girl.

The girl, obviously known as Jessica, smiled and poked the golden-eyed teen's nose. "Tag! You're it!" she exclaimed as she and the rest of the kids ran off.

The Elric's eyes widened when he saw that Winry was no longer at his side either. He smiled playfully, stood up and ran after them. "Get back here!" he called out after them.

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By the end of the day, when the Sun was beginning to set, the group of kids and their caretakers were sitting on a hill; some out of breath from their games and others enjoying the nice breezes that past by them.

Ed and Winry were next to each other but neither dared try anything, seeing as Ed was surrounded by admirers and there were several other young children around them.

The Elric closed his eyes, relaxingly, as the gentle winds that past by played with his golden hair and cooled the sweat on his body.

His followers simply sighed, silently but dreamily at how incredibly good he looked when he was so calm.

As the Alchemist had his eyes closed, though, he realized something; he was able to be a kid again this day. He played the games Al, Winry, and he used to play as kids before everything was ripped away from him. Plus, just like Mustang had said, he cheered up a few spirits of the kids, and even the townspeople.

He allowed a smile to play on his lips; it felt nice to do some good for people in need.

One of the boys looked up to the blonde who was relaxing so well. "Hey, Ed?" he asked curiously.

Ed's train of peaceful thought broke and he looked to the boy; it was Thomas. "Yeah?" he asked back.

"Could you tell us what time it is?" the brunette boy asked.

The blonde smiled and nodded. "Sure," he agreed and pulled out his military pocket watch. All the kids immediately hovered over him, obviously wanting to see the infamous watch that so many State Alchemist's carried, yet not one of the kids had seen.

"Guys, guys, it's just a watch," Ed teased as he looked up to all the faces surrounding him.

In response, they all shrugged and pulled back slightly.

The Elric shook his head and laughed quietly. Opening the watch, he read the time. "It's 6:30, guys," he told them, closing the pocket watch once more.

All the kids stood, saying that their parents wanted them home early for dinner. They said their goodbyes and walked off.

Ed and Winry continued to sit down on the spot they were at, wanting to watch the Sunset that would come soon.

As soon as Winry was sure that all the children disappeared long enough out of earshot, she looked to Ed, a playful smile on her lips. "Seems like you have a lot of admirers," she said playfully.

The blonde Alchemist jumped a little at her voice but smiled at her nonetheless. "You talking about the girls who would probably beat each other up if I said I loved one of them?" he asked humorously.

Winry shook her head. "You're so conceited," she told her friend playfully.

Ed laughed a little. "Hey, it's not my fault they find me attractive," he stated light-heartedly.

Winry looked at him, slightly annoyed. "Yes it is," she clarified, crossing her arms and looking ahead.

Ed smirked playfully. "Oh really? How so?" he asked as he hugged his knees and looked to her, awaiting his answer.

The Rockbell's eyes widened slightly as she realized what she had just suggested; she implied that it was Ed's fault they thought he was attractive because of how much work he put into looking the way he does. She blushed and looked away. "It's nothing," she mumbled as she laid her hands to her side, placing her palms on the ground.

Ed noticed this and brought his hands to his sides as well. He blushed and looked away at the thought that was occurring in his mind. You're crazy, he told himself but continued with it. Slowly and carefully, he slid his flesh hand next to hers and then hovered over it for a moment. When he finally decided to place his hand on hers, he felt her hand hit his as she stood up and stretched.

He looked up and then a saddened expression came onto his features. Damn it, the Alchemist thought sadly. Finally he decided to stand up next to her as well, before having another idea hatch in his mind. The blonde smirked at his friend, saying nothing and awaiting her to feel his gaze upon her.

Certainly enough, the Rockbell felt Ed's eyes burning through her and she looked over at him, only to see his playful smirk on his lips. "What?" she asked curiously as she cocked an eyebrow and took a small step back.

Edward poked her nose jokingly. "Tag; you're it!" he took step back, stayed still for a brief moment and then ran off.

Winry's eyes widened. "Ed, get back here!" she demanded as she took off after him.

"You got to catch me first!" she heard the Fullmetal Alchemist say playfully over his shoulder.

Winry smiled and quickened her pace towards him; they were playing a game now, apparently.

Soon, Ed stopped and swiftly turned around to see his adversary running towards him. He grinned and awaited the right moment.

Winry wasted no time; quickening her pace, she threw herself at him originally meant to bring him to the ground the way he had done to her earlier. But, she should've known that he would be prepared.

Ed caught the girl around her shoulders and spun her around once before placing her feet on the ground in front of him once more. Just like when they were kids; except, this time, their bodies stayed close together.

Winry quickly opened her eyes, shocked to still be standing and to be so close to her friend's body. She blushed as she realized her arms were around his neck, as were his around hers.

"Don't you remember, Win?" the Elric asked suddenly, gently but firmly pressing his fingers into her shoulders.

Winry smiled as she realized what the teen was speaking of. "Of course I do," she told him. "When we were younger and I'd run into you; you'd always catch me before either of us could fall. Then, you'd spin us around like you just did and we would keep doing whatever it was we were doing," she mumbled, audible enough for his ears to hear only.

Ed's lips curved to a small smile; he was happy to hear the Rockbell still recalled the events they had as children. He pulled away and looked into the young woman's eyes, carefully pulling his arms around her waist and smiling at her.

The mechanic looked into his eyes as well, keeping her arms around his neck. As she looked into his eyes, she realized just how incredible said eyes were; she could stare at them all day and even lose herself in them. If she could, she certainly would; the great compassion, determination, and even the remorse, were intoxicating to look into.

Ed, like his friend, could stare into Winry's eyes all day if he could. Her eyes contained so much love, kindness, and even the slightest bit of sadness made it easy for Ed lose himself and become mesmerized with those bright, azure eyes of hers.

The blood rushed to their cheeks but neither noticed until the heat came along as well.

Ed, carefully, pulled away and turned around so she wouldn't see his reddening face.

Winry smiled and was grateful he turned away; she didn't want him to see her blushing so much either.

The Elric Alchemist looked up to the sky above; it was a darkish purple, indicating that the Sun had almost set completely. I'm gonna tell her now…I have to, he decided as he turned around.

"Winry?"—"Ed?" Winry asked after him. The two smiled at each other.

"Ladies first," the blonde Elric insisted.

The Rockbell smiled at him. "Let's go back to the hotel; so we can bathe and have some dinner afterwards," she told him.

Ed's eyes drooped for a moment but not long enough for Winry to notice. "Uh, yeah…sure…" he mumbled his response and the two then began walking towards their hotel in silence.

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A/N: OK, pretty fluffy but, oh well :D I like it X3 anyway, please R&R, constructive criticism, no flames :) thanks! By the way, made the chapter a little longer ;D Hope you guys don't mind too much! ;)