A/N: It took me an unnaturally long time to figure out what to have the characters dress up as for Halloween. Whatever. I know I said I wouldn't post anything today, but I lied. I'm actually thinking of finishing the story before Thanksgiving. Also, there is a semi-strong EdXWin moment in this chapter. Just a warning.

Chapter 13

October

"Come on, Brother, you have to dress up too!" Alphonse said in a raspy voice.

Edward, who was hunched over desk piled with medical bills, glanced up at Alphonse. His little brother had lost a frightening amount of weight, and the fifteen-year-old almost looked like a human skeleton. Edward couldn't help it when his eyebrows furrowed in concern and he replied, "Alphonse, it's really cold out tonight. Are you sure it's the best idea to go trick-or-treating. You even said yourself that you feel bad."

"I'm not going to miss Halloween this year," Alphonse answered firmly.

Edward sighed and nodded knowingly. He stood up and took the costume that Alphonse clutched in his hand.

"You're going to be a doctor?" Edward asked, examining the costume.

"Nope. That's a mad scientist costume. And it's not mine, it's yours," Alphonse returned with a smile.

"Really, Alphonse," snorted Edward, "I think I spend enough time in a lab coat, going insane in that laboratory."

"Well, you and I could trade outfits, but I highly doubt you want to be a black cat," Alphonse chuckled.

Edward raised an eyebrow, "You're going to be a cat?"

Alphonse gave a grin that brightened the entire room.

"Of course, Brother!"

Alphonse scurried off and Edward looked down at the mad scientist costume in disgust.

"Oh well, I only have to wear it for two hours, I guess," Edward muttered to himself.

-x-

When six o'clock came, Edward emerged from his bedroom, dressed in a greenish lab coat, the pockets filled with dangerous-looking operation tools. He refused to wear the wig that came with it, which looked suspiciously like Albert Einstein's hair.

"Brother! You need the wig! Without it you look just like any other scientist," Alphonse called from the kitchen.

Edward caught a glimpse of his little brother and laughed at the completely adorable cat outfit he wore.

"What?" Alphonse asked indignantly.

"How cute," exclaimed Edward sarcastically, approaching his younger brother and patted him between the black pointed ears that adorned his head.

Alphonse smacked away Edward's hand and changed the subject, "Whatever. Winry just got here a few minutes ago."

"Oh yeah? Where is she?" Edward asked.

Alphonse pointed behind Edward and the older brother turned, his mouth instantly falling open when he laid eyes on Winry.

Winry was dressed up as a pink bunny outfit. The cuteness of the costume on Winry made Edward's ears turn red.

"Winry . . . you're so . . ." Edward stammered, his mouth still gaping.

Winry blushed and tugged on one of the rabbit ears, "I thought it was a bit immature looking, but I saw it and I just had to buy it."

"Adorable . . ." Edward breathed without thinking.

Winry blushed even more and Alphonse cleared his throat, "Come on, guys. Let's go before you two start making out."

Edward spluttered in embarrassment, but Winry smiled deviously.

"Right, Edo, we can do that when we come back."

"Wh-What? I – But, I–"

Winry slowly walked towards the door, grabbing one of the lapels of Edward's lab coat and dragging him out towards the door with her.

Alphonse shook his head with amusement, and pushed his way to get out the door before the other two could.

Winry must have had the entire situation planned out. Because, before Edward knew it, she had closed the door before they could get outside. She pushed Ed gently against the wall and leaned into him.

Edward's amber eyes widened in fear. "What the hell are you d–" His voice was cut off when Winry pressed her lips up against his.

Edward's first reaction was complete shock. This was the moment that he thought he'd been dreading. He often sat up at night wondering what he would do to get away from this moment. But now that it was finally happening, he had no desire to get away. It was such a pleasant sensation that he relaxed into the tender kiss. He leaned contently into the embrace, letting his eyes finally slide shut. His hands hesitantly lifted and he placed them on Winry's hips as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

After what seemed like an eternity, they broke apart, but Edward still held the young woman close.

But that gave Edward the opportunity to ruin the moment, like he was so skilled at doing.

"That was weird," Edward scoffed nervously.

He felt Winry stiffen and she looked up at him, "What are you talking about?"

"It wasn't quite like I expected," Edward replied.

Winry backed away from Ed with a jerk, "Wait, are you saying it wasn't as good as you expected it to be?"

"No, no, I just didn't expect it to be that sudden. It wasn't romantic," Edward answered, waving his hand nonchalantly.

"It wasn't romantic?" growled Winry, her blue eyes narrowing.

The fact that he was putting his foot in his mouth finally dawned on Ed and he put his hands up in defense, "I mean it didn't happen romantically."

"It doesn't matter what setting it's in, Edward! The thing that makes it romantic is the person you are kissing!" screeched Winry.

"Maybe you're just not the romantic type, Winry. It doesn't matter," Edward offered weakly.

"Why doesn't it matter?" Winry yelled, turning to open the door and slam it behind her.

Edward stared at the door in shock, seeming frozen to the spot.

After a moment, Alphonse opened the door.

"You heard?" Edward asked quietly.

"Yeah."

"What did I do wrong?"

Alphonse sighed, "I hate to say it, Brother. But you did everything wrong."

"Why the hell is it so hard to please that woman?" Edward asked with a pathetic note to his voice.

""Because you try too hard to please her."

"I didn't even do anything!"

"Take my advice, Brother. Next time, just don't say anything after she kisses you."

Edward shuffled his feet, then looked up at Alphonse with a sly grin, "Next time?"

-x-

Later that evening, after the three went trick-or-treating, they sat on the carpet of the apartment sorting the candy they procured from their excursion.

Alphonse, who claimed he didn't feel like candy, divided his goodies and gave them to Winry and Edward.

The two older teens still were ignoring each other. Alphonse hoped that the candy would make them feel better. After all, chocolate gave people the feeling of being in love. But so far, the candy was having no effect on either of them.

"Alphonse, tell your brother he can have my Three Musketeers," Winry said to the younger brother while pushing her pile of candy over towards Ed.

"She said you can have those," Alphonse said to Ed.

"I heard. Tell her she can have my Reese Cups," Edward growled back.

Alphonse looked at Winry, "He said you can have his Reese Cups."

"Well," Winry said with a diabolical grin, "Tell him he can have my Milk Duds and my Milky Way bars."

Edward reacted directly to Winry, "I'm not going to eat those! They taste like vomit!"

"Edo, all chocolate candy has milk in it," chuckled Winry.

"Liar!" Edward shouted, jumping up and pointing an accusing finger at her.

"How dare you call a lady a liar?" she hissed, standing up to face him angrily, planting her fists on her hips.

"I don't see a lady!" Edward replied harshly, "I just see you!"

"You're so crass, Edward!"

"Well you're a selfish–"

Alphonse jumped up and cut in, "Would you guys stop?"

The quickness of Al's movements were too much on his weak little body. Edward yelped in terror as Alphonse's eyes rolled back into his head, unexpectedly passing out.

Edward lunged forward to catch Alphonse, shouting, "Call 911, Winry!"

A word from Gabe: Yay, cliffhanger! No really, though. We all know the inevitable, it's just a question of when it will happen. :(