DUM DUM DUM! Chapter 10 *WHOO* lol. Anyway, I'm sorry this chappy took so long but it was a little hard to write and since exams are killing me, I didn't have much free time UoU BUT HERE IT IS NOW SO ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA *dances*

PAST MEMORIES AND DREAMS

The three blonds gawked when their eyes rested upon the front door. Winry had no idea who the people standing there were but she guessed that the others probably knew even though when she glanced at Ed and Al they both seemed to share the same shocked and horrified expression. Maybe it was a surprise visit from friends or something?

"Yo, Ed! Al!" shouted the person who seemed to have thrown the door open in the first place, with a wide grin.

Ed's eyes widened briefly before turning to flash a murderous look at Al, silently accusing him of the situation. Jean, Roy, Riza, Maes, Ling and Lan Fan were all shoving each other in an attempt to get passed one another and enter the house first. They were each holding bags, inside what seemed to be a variety of snacks and drinks. Ed's eyes narrowed as he glared daggers at Al, making him shake his head firmly and repetitively in an attempt to get his brother convinced that he wasn't the culprit. At Al's petrified expression, Ed realized that he was just as stunned as himself and therefore not the one responsible. Winry was out of the question; she didn't even know them. That left him with Mei. He turned his head to face her from where she was still sat at the chair and she visibly flinched under his piercing stare. She could tell his eyes were full of anger but other than that, they were silently asking her if she was responsible for the mess.

When she failed to meet his eyes and shifted uncomfortably in her chair, it was all Ed needed to march up to her with a glare that could kill.

"S-sorry," she squeaked uneasily, her voice shaking. Al and Winry noticed the two and walked over to them, seeking answers.

"Did you do this?" Ed spat angrily, barely containing himself. All he had wanted was a nice, calm night, eating dinner with his friend and brother and enjoying his newly made automail without any nuisances. But of course, that was too much to ask. Ever since he had asked Winry to come over things had been going wrong, and naturally, Mei had messed things up even more.

"I-I'm sorry! I really thought you two were together and I got excited ok! I wanted to celebrate..." she trailed off as she sniffed slightly, her lower lip starting to quiver precariously.

Al smiled sympathetically, already knowing that he was the one to blame for anything at all,"It's alright Mei, it's not your fault."

"Like hell it isn't," Ed grumbled before sighing and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could so feel a headache coming.

"Hey Ed! Where aaaare youuuu?" yelled Jean from the living room causing Ed to groan. Al and Mei were so paying for this later. Just then, Winry decided to make her presence remembered as she tapped him on his shoulder. He turned to look at her but no words were exchanged between them; her face clearly showed her confusion about the way things had been turning out as well as her silent demand to be told. Ed had momentarily forgotten she had no idea of what was going on and he mentally sighed exasperatedly. He had taken a deep breath to start talking but was rather aggressively stopped when Ling fell on top of him, shoving the bags of crisps he had been holding in his face.

"Hey Ed!" he shouted as he lifted himself up, making Ed glare at him as he did so. He suddenly became aware of Winry's presence and turned to face her politely, flashing her a grin that almost looked like a smirk.

"Hey there. You're the one huh?" he slurred, a little flirtatiously, his grin now turning into an apparent smirk. He ran a hand through his hair at Winry's lack of response and then shouted,"Hey guys! I FOUND HEEEER!" making Winry flinch and her whole face turned as white as snow; her wide blue eyes standing out more than ever. Immediately after Ling's yell, faint hurried footsteps were heard from the living room, only becoming louder and clearer.

"There you are! Thanks for calling us Mei!" said Maes with a grin, making Mei sink further into her chair, not daring to speak. Al decided to remain quiet, not really wanting to attract the attention of the excited teenagers in front of him.

Ed got up from the ground and rubbed the part of his head that had collided with the floor, wincing slightly. He felt a slap on his shoulder and when he opened his eyes he was met with a smirking Roy who looked far too smug for his liking.

"Finally got one eh?" he chuckled and turned to face the others while raising his hands in the air for attention, "Let's party!" he shouted making Ed turn the same white colour as Winry; his golden eyes now standing out like hers.

He had never really been a party person; always preferring to stay in and read instead of getting his eardrums burst from the incredibly loud music. The blonde girl got dragged to the living room while bombarded with questions she had no idea how to answer to, and Ed found himself feeling sorry for her. He felt a pang of guilt; it was partly his fault she was going through this anyway. If he hadn't invited her over for dinner nothing of this would have happened and she would have been perfectly in harmony while resting at her house.

He decided to follow into the living room, hoping to at least offer some silent support to the poor girl. Roy snatched all the snacks and drinks the others were holding and threw them on the living room table while Ling was setting up the radio they had brought for music.

Jean and Maes had seated Winry on the couch and started asking her questions, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable and flustered. Ed noticed Riza and Lan Fan nearby as well, silently listening to what the others had to say. Maybe it would be better if he got her out of this mess? Surely the others would think up a reason and leave them alone but that wouldn't really make things much better now would it? He had to tell them the truth, he decided and a surprisingly large part of him didn't really want to. Would it be that bad for them to think he and Winry were a couple?

He sighed as he pondered that for a moment. It would be. Whatever he thought was best, he always had to ask her first before doing anything and he was positive she was mildly disturbed by the misunderstanding and wanted it fixed as soon as possible.

Ling finally made the radio work and music started playing, at first low but Ling soon turned up the volume too high for Ed's liking. They would wake the neighbours and then he'd have to apologize...Hey, he could always send Al, it was his fault anyway.

Ed watched as Winry wasn't getting most of the questions Jean and Maes were throwing at her due to the music and he had to admit that her flustered expression was pretty funny. He chuckled to himself when he felt a drink being shoved in his hand and turned to look at his right just to see Ling with a childish grin on his face. He took hold of the drink almost subconsciously as he stared at Ling. He turned to rest his back on the wall where Ed's was with a drink of his own and his eyes rested on the blonde girl and the others.

"Poor girl," Ling chuckled, earning a grunt from Ed as a reply. He really wasn't in the mood for a conversation. Right now he just wanted to murder somebody and of course, get out of the house and escape.

"She's very pretty," Ling continued, oblivious to Ed's foul mood. Ed gave another grunt as he tore his eyes away and looked at the beverage in his hand. Orange juice, seriously?

"So? How did you guys meet?" Ling squealed excitedly before gulping down the rest of his orange juice.

Ed wasn't really listening and when Ling noticed, he frowned and waved a hand in front of his face,"Hey Eeeed? Are you still in this world?"

Ed snapped his head up,"Huh?"

Ling rolled his eyes playfully and repeated the question, his excitement still apparent,"Where did you guys meet?"

Ed stared at him blankly for a moment as if trying to comprehend something being told in a another language before his raised an eyebrow, "We are not together," he said flatly, not answering the question and making Ling freeze next to him as he turned his attention back to the orange liquid.

Ling remained deathly silent as Ed's words sank in. Once he had fully understood the meaning of those four words he let his empty plastic cup fall to the floor and he screamed, making Ed flinch and look questionably at him while the others ran up to them, Winry included.

"Is everything alright?" Lan Fan demanded sternly, having practically glued herself to Ling as she glared at Ed.

"ED SAID THEY ARE NOT TOGETHER!" Ling cried dramatically making everyone gasp. Winry slowly moved over to Ed and grabbed hold of his shirt subconsciously, silently seeking protection from the madness. Ed didn't seem to mind as he just stared at Ling as if he had gone crazy.

"Ed, seriously!?" Jean cried,"What does the pretty girl have to say about that!"

Everyone turned to look at Winry who sank further into Ed, wanting to shrink and eventually vanish,"W-we're...not together..." she murmured hesitantly, dreading the others' response. Her face was beet red and she could feel it so she decided to bury it somewhere in Ed as she shifted even further into him, now almost behind him and squashed against his back.

The others' horrified expression almost made Ed chuckle. Almost.

"WHAT?" Jean screamed, his cigarette falling from his lips and onto the floor. Ed mentally noted to never let him smoke in his house again.

Winry flinched and squeaked slightly, tightening her grip on Ed's shirt even more.

"THEN WHY THE HELL ARE WE HERE CELEBRATING?" Ling shouted, his expression as shocked as Jean's.

Ed shrugged indifferently, "I dunno, ask Mei." The name burned his tongue and increased his want to murder his brother's girlfriend, but he for once kept himself in check. He felt relieved that they would actually be leaving and he would have some peace and quiet once again. Until he decided to give Al and Mei a piece of his mind that is.

His hopes of freedom were crushed when Roy scoffed,"Yeah right! You're just trying to hide it, but you can't hide from me!" she announced proudly, his trade mark smirk evident on his face once more. Edward glared at him for ruining his plans. Unfortunately, the others believed him.

Jean sniggered and smacked Ed on the shoulder, barely missing Winry's head in the process, "Aww buddy, you don't need to be embarrassed!" he said in mock sympathy. Ed narrowed his eyes at him ominously until Riza came, grabbed Roy by the collar and pulled him away, motioning for the others to come as well.

He didn't know why but he suddenly felt like Riza was on his side and didn't believe the ridiculous stories the others were telling. He sighed in relief when they were free from all the attention and Winry reluctantly released Ed's shirt. He turned his head to look at her. Her blush had reduced slightly but when he offered her a small smile, it returned ten times worse which confused him. He didn't question it though as he grabbed her wrist and guided her towards the front door, discreetly looking around to make sure they had nobody's attention.

He stopped walking when he was in front of the door and grabbed their coats. He threw Winry hers and silently put his own on.

Winry made no comment and waited almost impatiently to walk outside.

Ed opened the front door and stepped outside in the cold with Winry right behind him as she struggled slightly to put on her coat. He swiftly closed the door behind them, hoping they hadn't been noticed. He started descending the few steps and paused at the end of them to wait for Winry. She quickly hopped down and after flashing him a small smile, she began sauntering forward, beckoning Ed to follow. Ed fastened his coat and he started walking a few steps behind her as he slipped his gloves on. He quickly caught up with her after that and they walked in a comfortable silence, both relieved that they had successfully fled from the unwanted attention.

Ed inhaled deeply, savouring the refreshing feeling the freezing cold air gave him.

"Thanks for getting me out of there," Winry spoke up in a laughing tone.

Ed looked over at her and grinned cheekily, "No probs. I really wanted to get out as well. Those idiots can get very annoying at times. Plus, I'm not really a party person."

Winry chuckled, the cold making her breath visible in brief puffs of cold air,"I'm not either...I still can't believe that they thought we were together."

Ed shrugged,"They're on the weird side, don't blame them," he laughed with a small shake of his head.

Winry laughed heartily,"But why would they think that? I mean...it's not like you'd want to be involved in a relationship with someone like me..." she trailed off and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Ed paused at this and thought about his reply. He had been warned beforehand about girls always wanting to be proved right. But he had also been informed that they sometimes degrade themselves in some way and wait for the other to prove them wrong. He frowned as he pondered the reply he would be giving her. This was one of those 'traps' as Roy liked to call them and if you got it wrong you'd most likely get slapped or something. He remembered him saying that sometimes it was a win-win situation or a lose-lose one; and there was no way out of it. Did Winry want him to prove her wrong, or did she want to be proved right? He guessed it would be better if he went with what seemed more logical to him; prove her right. He always liked to be proved right, so why wouldn't she?

"I guess...you're right?" he hesitantly replied. He hoped he had chosen the right option.

Winry was silent for a few seconds and Ed didn't know what to think of it. Should he be relieved that he got it right or terrified that he got it wrong?

Winry frowned as she analysed his answer, Ed watching her carefully out of the corner of his eye, trying to seem completely at ease and indifferent. Just then, Winry crossed her arms and huffed as she looked away from him. Ed stared at her, stupefied. He got it wrong? And now she was giving him the cold shoulder? But why? Didn't she like being proved right? Girls were so weird; he didn't even want to think about them. He noticed Winry flash an exasperated look at him and with a roll of her eyes, moved forward. He followed hesitantly and silence settled between them once again.

A few minutes had passed and Winry's annoyance was no more, leaving her with the thoughts that had been occupying her train of thought for a while now. She had subconsciously slowed down, making Ed be a few steps ahead while she stared at his back with a small, thoughtful frown. She briefly analysed the situation one last time to make sure she had thought through everything. Once she was satisfied, she stopped walking. Ed sensed her lack of movement and stopped as well just before looking over his shoulder confusedly. When he got no response, he shrugged and beckoned for her to start moving again. As soon as his whole body was turned, she reached out and grabbed him by the sleeve, halting him once more.

"Ed, can I tell you something?" she asked, her voice soft and unsure as she stared at the floor, hoping to evade his golden stare. "I haven't told this to anyone before, but I feel the need to do so...I-I just...I want a person I can trust. C-can you be that person?" she finished and lifted her head to lock gazes with him, gaining more and more confidence with every word. Ed was taken aback at the sudden revelation of such emotions but soon got a hold of himself and nodded gravely. For him trust was important and if Winry was willing enough to offer such a thing to him, he wouldn't let her down. At his nod, Winry relaxed and allowed a small smile to play on her lips. It vanished as soon as it appeared however as she spoke.

"It's about my parents..."

He frowned at her topic of discussion. If it was something like that that she wanted to discuss, he knew plenty about it already. Maybe that had been the reason she had chosen to trust him in the first place?

He turned his body to completely face her, silently informing her that his full attention was on her. She smiled sadly at him and started walking again, slower this time and left him to catch up. She didn't feel comfortable with just sitting there and discussing it; she would feel better if they walked as they talked, their attention being on the empty roads instead of focused just on her. Ed got the silent message and in seconds he was by her side once again.

Winry subconsciously wrapped her coat around her tighter as the cold night air blew. She shivered before taking a deep breath and starting to explain from the very beginning.

"My parents were doctors," she stated as her eyes stared down at her moving feet. "Very famous ones actually. They...they used to travel a lot all around Amestris, helping out sick people who couldn't afford to go to a hospital." She smiled as the memories flooded her mind and she could already feel her eyes water up but she paid the unshed tears no heed.

"They loved their job, but my mother loved ice skating as much as I do. It was her hobby, and I remember her saying that her dream was to become a professional...b-but that never happened," she sniffed, her voice suddenly getting caught in her throat. Ed listened to her silently and only wrapped an arm around her shoulders as a means of comfort when he realized how much she had started shaking. He didn't really know why she was telling him, since it seemed to be extremely hard for her, but he speculated that her reasons were similar to what his had been when telling her so he didn't question it.

Winry got a hold of herself and took a deep breath before continuing,"They were both murdered by one of their patients who was said to have mental problems. I-I really don't know much about it and I hate that...b-but I was only 7..." she sucked in abundant air in order to calm herself and restrain the tears.

Ed's eyes widened ever so slightly at the revelation of such a cruel death but he quickly disposed of any trace of emotion and instead focused on being the good listener he was supposed to be right now.

"Have you ever heard of the Amestrian ice skating contest held every 2 years?" she suddenly asked and only then did Ed allow and frown to state his confusion. He looked at her uncertainly,"...No?" he admitted sheepishly.

She hid a smile as she began to explain, "It's a very famous ice skating competition held every two years where girls fight for the title of 'Snow Princess'. " she paused as she thought about her next sentence, "There is a male competition as well, but I'm not sure when it's held. I think it's about two or three months after the female one though I can't say for sure..." she shook her head ,"Anyway...winning that competition was my mother's dream. She had always wanted it; people acknowledging her skills and passion for skating. Maybe that's what made me like it so much in the first place...The way her eyes used to sparkle every time she spoke about it or every time she answered one of by queries..."

Winry chuckled slightly as her mother's exciting voice was clear in her mind. She could remember the moment she had admitted to her mother about being interested in ice skating as clear as day...

Winry's small feet patted almost inaudibly as she made her way to the couch her mother was seated on. She felt a little nervous about what her reaction would be when she heard what she wanted to say but couldn't help but feel excited at the same time. Every time her mother skated she was lost in her own blissful world and that just made Winry even more willing to visit that world herself. She just hoped her mother would let her share it with her.

She picked up her pace happily and halted when she was in front of her mother. She was reading one of her medical books, deeply in thought and didn't even notice Winry until she cleared her throat politely to draw her attention. Sara looked up from the old, thick book she was reading and once her eyes rested on Winry, she smiled, "What is it dear?" she asked and the small blonde turned her gaze to the floor as she made small circles with her right leg shyly.

"Y-you know mummy, I really like it when you skate," Winry spared a glance at her mother's face only to notice the shine in her eyes at the mention of skating, her smile widening. This gave her a boost of confidence and with a deep breath continued, her voice now full with determination,"I want you to teach me!"

Sara's face was comical. Her surprise and happiness were fighting over dominance and her expression shifted from wide eyed, dumbfounded to pure bliss as she bounced off the couch and wrapped her hands around Winry in a bone crushing hug, throwing the book aside in the process.

Ever since then, she and her mother had been inseparable.

"Winry?"

Ed's voice pulled her away from the past and more into the present. She quickly shook her head and planted a smile on her face,"Sorry, I didn't mean to space out," she apologized sheepishly with a small laugh.

"So...as I was saying...It was my mother's dream to win that competition and after the day I told her about my interest in skating, she'd been my teacher for two years...After that she was murdered along with my father and that was when I decided to perform in the competition; to follow her dream. That's what I wanted..." she paused briefly as if to organize her thoughts and glanced over at Ed, who was still giving her his full attention. She smiled at this and continued, "Her dream became my dream but I knew I wasn't ready so I sought out a professional. Miss Christina Roberts was a friend of my mother's and surprisingly a former 'Snow Princess'. After some attempts to get her to teach me, she gave in and I have to admit that I had never felt more relieved in my life," she laughed and earned a smile from Ed.

"Did you perform in the end?" Ed asked curiously and cursed softly when her expression darkened.

"I did, but I failed," she murmured and Ed frowned.

"It's ok if you didn't get it the first time, there is always a second chance!" he said trying to sound encouraging but that only made her sigh.

"It's not what you think...I...I humiliated myself," she whispered and Ed raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn't really expected that response,"What do you mean?"

Winry glared at nothing in particular as the memories of one of the worse days of her life came back to her, "I failed everyone by falling on my ass miserably in front of the whole crowd," she grumbled coldly, but she couldn't help it. She didn't want to let her anger out on Edward, but she couldn't keep it in either. She hoped Ed would understand.

He raised his eyebrows at her blunt tone and word choice but wisely chose not to comment. Instead, he took a deep breath and looked at the empty roads in front of him and voiced a question that had been bugging him for a while now.

"Winry...why are you telling me all this?"

He really didn't know, at first he thought she needed someone to lean on who would understand the position she was in due to the loss of her parents. But that soon turned into something else entirely and he really had no idea how she must feel.

Winry stopped walking and closed her eyes. After a moment, he stopped as well and looked over his shoulder. She seemed like she had been expecting that question sooner or later and Ed couldn't help but feel even more confused. She clearly had something in mind though, that's for sure. She opened her eyes and stared at him, her eyes pleading.

"I need your help."

Hohoho Winry! Yes I'm evil for leaving it here but...bleh, forgive meh xD I'm really excited and I'm about to start writing out chapter 11 HEHE! So, I hope you enjoy this chappy and...

UNTIL NEXT TIME!