A/N: Hey everyone! Well, I've got something important to say, so please pay attention. We have been posting this story very quickly, and we are coming to the point where we are catching up to posting more than we have written. Therefore, we have put up a poll in our profile where you can vote on weither we should continue to post normal length chapters once every two weeks, or short chapters every week.

Please give some thought to what you would prefer and then go rock the vote. XD

Last Time:

"Yeah," Ed fumed, "Nice."

Aaron smiled as he glanced once again at Ed. "Is everything okay?" he asked.

Winry watched them. She had noticed them bumping up against each other before; it made a bad feeling pulse through her stomach.

"Sure, everything's peachy. Now let's get going already," Edward groused. He put one hand on the small of Winry's back to push her out the door, and thereby situated himself firmly between the two mechanics.

Winry smiled lightly at feeling Ed's hand on her back. "So... where should we go?" she asked, glancing at Aaron. She decided that she'd still ignore Ed… just to see what would happen.

"Wherever you want to go." Aaron said, moving towards Edward and bumping into him again, throwing a causal hand over the shorter boy's shoulder.

When the larger boy banged into him again, Ed stumbled and had only a moment to curse huge, clumsy giants before his momentum pushed him into Winry.

Winry glanced back at Ed to see the two boys looking at each other. It was then that realization hit her...

She had just introduced the boy of her dreams to one of her best (gay) friends.

Oh... my...God...

Aaron gave a smile, "Sorry..." he apologized, a blush appearing on his face, seemingly from embarrassment.

Ed sent a nasty glare in the big lugs direction and shook off the stray hand before straightening up and turning back to the blonde girl. "I'm sorry, Winry." He scratched the back of his head nervously, "I didn't mean to bump into you like that."

Winry looked uncomfortable but hid it quickly. "It's okay, Ed," she said and kept walking. She would definitely have to speak with Alphonse about this...

Ed cleared his throat and asked awkwardly, "What do you guys want to see?"

"Well…"Aaron said, instantly bubbling with energy, "I heard there was a fountain in the center of town! I was wondering if we could stop by and see it!" he exclaimed, looking at Ed and Winry.

Winry smiled, "That sounds wonderful!" she said, "C'mon, let's go!" She quickened her pace, Aaron by her side.

Ed raised a brow as he watched the two quickly retreating backs. "Well, okay. We can see it if you want," He called out after them, "But you're going in the wrong direction!"

He shook his head in exasperation. Tourists.

Aaron looked back with a sheepish grin. "Really?" he asked, stopping Winry with a hand on her shoulder.

Winry laughed, looking up at Aaron. "We're so silly!" she said, leaning against him as he joined in, laughing with her.

Ed watched the two in their moment of laughter and felt a lump form in his throat. He swallowed thickly and turned on his heel to lead them to the fountain.

Winry smiled, "C'mon, let's go catch up to him." She whispered to her friend.

Aaron nodded.

Al noticed that the others had moved far ahead and were nearly out of sight. He turned to Mei and said, "We should hurry. If we lose them in the crowd we won't be able to find them again."

Mei nodded quickly. "Of course, Alphonse-sama," She agreed readily and sped her steps.

"Hey..." Al said slowly, looking at the milling crowd around them, "Do you see them?"

Mei, who up until that point hadn't been focusing on much beyond Alphonse's hair blowing in the afternoon breeze, blinked and looked around quickly.

She grasped Al's hand nervously and moved closer to the boy's side. "No... I don't."

Al sighed, "I was afraid of that." He looked around but couldn't find his brother or the others anywhere. Damn my short stature; if I was tall like I used to be, I could spot them over the crowd.

When Al just shifted and bit his lip, Mei tugged at his hand. "Alphonse-sama, what will we do?"

"W-well," the boy stuttered in surprise. He knew he had to take charge: this went right along with being manly and getting muscles. Girls liked men with a take-charge attitude.

"We...should take a side path. That way we can get out of the crowd and meet them at our destination." He nodded firmly; that made sense. "So...um...where were they headed?"

The two stared at each other for a moment.

"...Damnit."

Winry walked between the two boys. "Are you sure you know where you're going, Edward?" she asked.

"Of course I do," he called over his shoulder without glancing at her. "It's only a few blocks from Central HQ."

Aaron looked at him slightly confused, "Why would you know Central HQ?" he questioned curiously.

The sheer ridiculousness of the question caused Ed to pause and look back at Aaron.

"How would I know Central HQ?" He shook his head. "How could I not know Central HQ? I've worked there for the past two years."

Aaron's eyes widened, "Wait... you're not one of the Elric Brothers are you?" he gasped.

Ed turned completely around to face the other boy, his face screwed up in confusion. "...Yes?" he tried slowly, unsure of what Aaron was asking.

"I can't believe it!" Aaron squealed, "I-I've heard so much about you!! You're AMAZING! Can I take your automail apart? I'll put it back, I promise! I just wanna see how it works!"

Ed snarled in instinctive territorial rage. It was his automail. Only he was allowed to break it ,and only Winry was allowed to touch it.

"No." He snapped shortly and tried not to growl.

"Ed, that's not very nice! Aaron's a very accomplished mechanic!" She argued, seeing the hurt look on her friend's face.

Ed recoiled as if she'd slapped him. Those ten words had hurt more than all the wrenches Winry had ever thrown.

After all, all those injuries had been in the name of keeping his automail, Winry's automail, in good condition. Not because she wanted to...to share it with some strange boy she'd picked up.

"...Fine," He said faintly, "You can look at it if you want..."

Aaron shook his head, "No, it's okay..." he said, "I just get overzealous sometimes. I'm sure Winry could lend me some blueprints."

Winry looked up at him, "Are you sure?" she asked.

Aaron gave her a reassuring smile, and pulled her into another embrace. "Yeah, its fine, Winry," he whispered.

Ed went cold at the sight of the two. They looked so happy and... and cuddly.

It wasn't fair. He was supposed to have a chance with Winry. It just wasn't fair.

Ed blinked. Had he really just had such a childish thought? He shook his head in disbelief. Since when was life ever fair? He had learned early in life that if you wanted something you had to take it with your own hands.

With that thought firmly in mind, he straightened his shoulders and marched over to the two. He grabbed Winry's hand and pulled her away from the boy. "Come on, we should go," he said stiffly.

He turned, pulling Winry after him without pausing to let her reorient herself.

That was it. He was going to study until he was the best damn automail mechanic Winry had ever seen. No, that she'd ever heard of! And then Aaron would see where he stood.

Winry looked at Ed in shock. "We can't just leave Aaron here!" she exclaimed, "Besides, we barely got to check out the fountain!"

"Could I at least take a picture with you, Winry?" Aaron asked hopefully, feebly pulling out a camera from his pocket.

"No!" Ed cried before he could stop himself. He knew he had just made himself seem like an idiot, but... the thought of Winry and that boy hugging in front of the Central City fountain... It was a damned romance spot for tourist couples...

"I'll...I'll be in a picture with you." He finished awkwardly. He forced a smile to his lips and enticed, "That way you can show all your friends that you met the Fullmetal Alchemist..."

For a moment Winry looked absolutely horrified, but she bit her lip to keep herself from looking any more stupid than she felt.

Aaron looked at Ed, startled. "Really? You'd do that?" he asked, a grin spreading over his face, "That would be great, Ed. Thanks! Come on, let's go over here and take it. The lighting is best over here!"

"Oh, uh, sure," Ed blinked; he hadn't thought Aaron would accept him as a substitute so easily... "Where did you want me to stand?"

"If you could stand over here..." Aaron chirped happily, positioning Ed in the desired position.

As Winry watched the scene, she bit her lip... There was just something wrong about this...

"Now, Winry... Could you take the photo?" he asked with pleading eyes.

Winry nodded uneasily, "Of course..." she said. But every second that went by as they took that picture, her theory became more legit.

She was losing him...

Ed shifted uncomfortably and gave a strained smile at the camera. But as Aaron swung an arm around his back while Winry got the picture in focus, Ed shifted away from the taller youth.

Did the guy really have to be that close for the picture? He knew he had volunteered to put himself on display like this, but really, it was—

—WHERE EXACTLY HAD THAT BASTARD JUST PUT HIS HAND?!?

Winry paled. She had seen the entire thing... and to her surprise, Ed didn't pull away and react violently as he always did.

It was official... they were together.

Winry snapped the pictures, eager to get it over with. Something just seemed wrong about seeing Ed with another person...especially a guy that she knew. She shuddered visibly at the very thought. "Do you think that's enough?" she inquired.

Aaron nodded, taking the camera from her and hugging her again. "Yes, its fabulous!" he enthused.

"Y-yeah...fabulous..." Ed whispered brokenly.

What...what had just happened? He had thought that the boy had just... But Aaron was acting so normally... Could it have been an accident?

...It hadn't felt like an accident. Ed shuddered and looked to Winry, "Winry? C-can we leave now?" He didn't like that Aaron kid. Not at all. "Please?" he added hopefully.

Winry couldn't speak for a moment, but only nodded.

Aaron must've seen the hesitation on her face because he smiled and pulled her into another hug. "It's okay, Winry," he said, "I have to get going myself! But it was wonderful hanging out with you guys!"

Winry forced a nervous smile, "Thanks... it was great seeing you too..." she answered as she pulled away, and Aaron started to make his way back down the road.

Ed gave a relieved sigh as he watched the strange boy walk away. At least he wouldn't have to worry about that damn giant clinging on to Winry anymore.

"Okay," He announced, "let's get out of here. Al, we have to..." He trailed off, looking around himself in confusion. "...Al?"

Winry had been so distracted she didn't realize that the taller Elric was no longer with them. After all, the boys were always together. "Wait, you lost Alphonse?" she asked, growing worried.

"No, I didn't lose him!" Ed snapped, looking around for the younger boy frantically. "I mean...he's fifteen years old. He'll be fine." He gulped, eyes bleak, "I hope..." He took a deep, fortifying breath, and then asked, "Did you see where he went, Mei?"

A beat.

"...Mei?"

As Ed murmured her name, a thought both terrifying and inspiring ran through Winry's head.

"Edward... do you think they might've...eloped?" she wondered, glancing at the older Elric.

"What?!" Ed shrieked, whipping around to face the girl.

"B-but that would mean..." He trailed off and slowly collapsed to his knees. "That would mean that—" he was cut off by a sob and buried his face in his sleeve. "T-they just GROW UP SO FAST, WINRY! SO FAST!" He continued, oblivious to Winry's disbelieving stare, "My little, baby brother's all grown up!"

He sniffled but then stilled, his hunched form eerily quiet.

"...Without me." His head snapped up and he lunged to his feet. "Without me! No baby brother of mine is getting married without me there to see it!" He declared hotly.

Winry gave a mental sigh. True, it was Alphonse... but she was almost disappointed at how fast he seemed to forget about her. "Let's go find him, then." she said, trying to get her mind off of her own, one-sided dilemma.

"Right!" Ed said, with one fist clenched in the air, then he rushed to Winry, grabbed her by the hand, and ran off in a likely direction.

Winry blushed deeply as Ed grabbed her hand, and she ran to keep up pace with him.

"So," Ed screamed over the wind buffeting them, "If you were getting married, where would you go?"

"How am I supposed to know?" She asked, "I want to marry an idiot!"

Ed looked to her in confusion, "What?" he called, "I can't hear you when you mutter like that, Winry."

"Don't worry about it!" Winry said, a deep, embarrassed blush covering her face, "Just think about Al! You don't want to miss his wedding, do you?!"

"No!" He cried, devastated, "I can't miss Al's wedding! Who else is going to walk him down the aisle?"

With the mental picture of a dejected Al waiting for him urging him on, Edward sped his steps. He nearly tripped in his rush, but righted himself quickly and continued on.

Winry winced as he dragged her along. His grip was unusually rough, but she couldn't blame him... Al was involved.

"Al!" he called, turning his head every which way, trying to spot his errant brother. "Where are you?"

He stopped short and whipped around when he heard a familiar voice, but stumbled once again, forcing him to cling to Winry's shoulder to stay upright.

He blinked slowly, "Ah...sorry, Winry...I think...," He shook his head, as if to clear a fog, "I think I heard Al's voice around here somewhere..."

Winry glanced around, and her eyes dilated as she saw the pair sitting contentedly at the mouth of an alleyway. "Ed! Over there!" she said, motioning towards the younger couple.

"AL!!!"

Alphonse looked up from his half finished ice cream cone in alarm at his brother's shriek, body tensed for an attack. The only time his brother ever screamed like that was when someone was about to—

His thoughts were harshly interrupted when Edward came hurtling into his chest at top speed, knocking the air from his lungs. He coughed and wrapped an arm around his brother's back to steady the shorter boy. "Nii-san, what—?"

"Oh, Al!" Ed rambled quickly, "Why didn't you tell me you were getting married? I would have supported you! I promise I would've and--"

He cut off when noticed Mei, who was staring at him in alarm.

"Sister!" He cried joyfully, scrambling off of Al only to land half in Mei's lap, "Welcome to the family!"

And then he hugged her.

Winry's blood froze in her veins when the unlikely couple embraced. He was gay... and he was hugging another woman?!

It was almost too much for her to handle. Gripping her wrench tightly in her hand, she went to leave the alley with tears in her eyes.

As Al watched his brother embrace the love of his own life, all he could think was: What the hell does Nii-san think he's doing?!? I'll kill him! I'll kill him!

But just when he was moving to put his fist through his elder's face, he noticed Winry turn on her heel to and march away.

Al debated for a minute, before growling low in his throat and deciding that his Nii-san was lucky he had such a forgiving little brother. He stood stiffly and followed Winry, catching her by the elbow just before she made it out of the alley.

"Winry..."

"E-Edward-san?" Mei stuttered, drawing away from the boy. She pushed him back and stood quickly while he was disoriented. "W-what are you doin—?"

Ed glomped her mid-sentence, spinning her around and a tight, affectionate hug. "I'm so happy!" He cheered, stumbled backward over his own feet, and quickly corrected himself before he could drop Mei, "Now you and Al can..." He trailed off when he noticed Al and Winry over Mei's shoulder.

He tilted his head to the side to study the scene and rested his chin on his captive's shoulder. Winry was so pretty. And smart. And had such shiny wrenches...

He smiled and hugged Mei tighter.

Winry...

Winry turned around, half-expecting, half-hoping to see Ed there, but her heart fell as she only spotted Alphonse. Swallowing loudly, she turned to the younger Elric.
"Alphonse..." she began hurriedly, "You guys love me like a sister, right?"

Al blinked, thrown by the sudden question. "W-well," he stuttered, "Y-yes, of course we do..."

"And you'd tell me anything... right?" She continued, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She couldn't believe that she was going to ask this... she never even saw it coming!

"Uh..." Al decided that even though the answer was no way in hell, it would be in everyone's best interest if he answered the way Winry obviously wanted him to.

"Sure, Winry. We'd tell you anything you had to know." Which at least wasn't a complete lie.

"Well, I was wondering if you could tell me something about Ed..." She finally responded. She thought of every word before it left her lips. "I-is he...is he..."

She could barely say it... Saying it would mean defeat... It would mean that he would never be hers... and that was the part that hurt her the most.

"Is he what?" Al encouraged patiently. But just when the mechanic opened her moth to reply—

Mei shrieked as Edward collapsed into her. She was able to remain upright, but she wasn't strong enough to hold the boy up, and he ended up on the ground; Mei's arms barely able to cushion his head from the fall.

At Mei's scream Al turned back and, noticing his brother's sprawled form, sprinted back to his brother's side. "Nii-san!"

He checked over his brother with shaking hands, unsure what was wrong. He didn't seem to be injured, but his breathing was shallow and he was so pale...

But even unconscious he kept a firm grip on Mei's wrist.

Through panting lips, Ed whispered fuzzily, "Love you..." Winry...

Winry tensed as she heard the words emerge from his lips. Something wasn't right... but still, he did just say that... Perhaps he wasn't gay after all. Perhaps just bi... but still it didn't change the fact that he did utter those words.

Maybe the thing with Aaron was just a cover... a cover for his hidden love for Mei. But still... something wasn't right.

BUT... perhaps it was that something that made everything clear...

It all made sense!

Al gently pried his brother's hand from Mei's wrist and held the hand in one of his own. With the other he pressed two fingers into the hollow of the limb and felt for a pulse.

"W-we need to get Nii-san to a hospital!" He said urgently, gathering the smaller body into his arms. "His pulse is thready, and passing out like that... Nii-san needs help now!"

Mei rushed to her feet and hurried after Al's quickly retreating form, "Y-yes! Coming!"

She ran after the two boys, but paused when she realized the blonde girl wasn't following.

"Winry-san! Hurry up!"

Winry stood dumbly for a few seconds, but then nodded. "Coming!" she called out, following after them.

A/N: Go check out the poll!