14 – Smile

She loved what she did, but he couldn't help but notice that her usually composed self was becoming disrupted.

Since they had first moved into the house in Dublith nearly nine months previously, Edward would come home from work in the evening and greet him by the door, as he held his arms wide open to catch her. Usually, their actions would lead elsewhere with stumbles up the stairs and clothes scattered around the house, sometimes being interrupted by Al, whose presence was sometimes forgotten in these circumstances.

Then, when Winry had been designing her new designs to go in the shop, she wouldn't meet him by the door, but would poke her head out of the kitchen door as she quickly made dinner. Edward would wonder over with a smile on his face and try to pinch a strip of cheese or a sip of stew. Winry would then laugh and shoo him away as she hummed to herself.

And then, her face would falter and her eyes would be tired as she tried to keep calm about the opening of her business. She had been excited yet nervous at the same time, but with steady reassurance from Edward, all negative thoughts would disappear and her usual radiant self would shine through.

Her automail shop had been open for three months and that's when Edward noticed her reclusion. She would shut herself in her workroom behind the shop floor, long after the shop had closed and would draw up some blue prints or tamper with a design. And that's when Edward noticed something that worried him a little:

Winry's gleaming smile was fading.

This sudden realisation hit him as he climbed off the train from a long day at work. He had even bought some of his documents home with him to finish on the train as he re-planned the use of alchemy in the military. Naturally, his thoughts had digressed and travelled to Winry and that's when he noticed the slow change in her.

Tugging his collar he skimmed his way through the crowds at the small train station, taking the usual back exit when he saw a woman with black dreadlocks watch over the crowd. He was going to talk to his Teacher today, but he was worried about Winry – something which distressed him greatly. He walked down a few streets in the darkness as the gas lamps flicked on and noticed the cool northern air touching his face. Winter would be drawing in soon and even though they were in the southern part of the country; snow had lightly blanketed over Dublith in the last decade.

Brushing himself off and searching for his key, he eventually entered the house and made his way up the stairs. When he got to the landing he kicked off his boots and took of his military jacket, hanging it over the banister. He glanced around the dimly lit hallway and strolled through the lounge and into the kitchen where he found his brother pouring over school text books on the small kitchen table.

"Hey, Al," Edward said distractedly as he went to the sink and ran the cold water tap.

He barely looked up and mumbled a reply.

After successfully finding himself a glass, he poured himself a cold drink of water and then leaned against the counter as he drank thoughtfully. Edward frowned at his younger brother.

"Don't tell me you're studying again, Al. The new term has only just started!" he said as he saw 'biology' written on the spine of the textbook as Al wearily closed it shut.

"I know," Al sighed. "It's just really interesting and I like keeping ahead of my studies."

Edward drained his glass and glanced around the room. "Where's Winry?" he asked casually.

Al shrugged as he got up. "I don't know, probably in the workshop or the office knowing her. I guess we could cook for a change," Al suggested.

Edward nodded. "Yeah, it can't be that difficult. Alchemy originated in the kitchen...apparently."

Exchanging glances with each other, the brothers set about the kitchen looking for ingredients to use for dinner. After successfully managing to find some chicken and a few vegetables, they decided to fry the chicken and vegetables together in a large frying pan.

"You sure you know what you're doing, Al?" Edward asked uncertainly. He had seen Winry cook many times, but had never actually watched her cook...he had rather just watched her.

"Of course: May told me the recipe from Xing. Apparently this is called a 'stir-fry'," he smiled smugly.

Edward stared at him for a moment, before his thoughts turned back to Winry who hadn't made an appearance yet. "I'm going to find Winry," Edward said, and headed upstairs briefly just to check to see if she was in the bedroom. He peered through the door and found their dark room empty so concluded that she must be in the shop.

Running down the two flights of stairs with ease, he burst through the shop floor to find it silent and still. Scratching the back of his head, he wondered through the back door and into the workshop where the lights were on, but there was no sign of the person whom he sought. He slowly made his way to the office and lightly pushed open the door.

Winry had her head in her arms on the desk, surrounded by paperwork and fast asleep. Her hair was down completely and her mouth was slightly open and her eyes were tight shut. Edward closed the door behind him quietly and stepped into the office. He moved over to her desk and peered over her shoulder to see numerous sheets of finances with an abundance of crossings out and calculations. He frowned and glanced down at her, gently moving the strands of blonde hair that had fallen on her cheek.

As Winry stirred, Edward sat on the desk and looked down at her, concern flooding him. It was unusual for Winry to be this tired and stressed and the thought of her over-working and making herself ill made him feel sick.

"Oh, Ed; I didn't hear you come in," she mumbled sleepily as she raised her head.

He smiled at her. "Yeah, Al is trying to unsuccessfully cook dinner so I thought I would come and find you," he glanced at her worriedly.

"Is that the time already?" she stifled a yawn and stretched her arms above her head.

"Winry, what's up?" Edward asked quietly.

She paused and looked at him. "Nothing's up Ed. I'm just tired. I didn't know running an automail shop could be so much work. The finances are killing me and that automail shop had more customers than me today..."

"Just smile Winry, okay?" he said, placing a hand on the side of her face.

She gaped at him for a moment and then shook her head. "Sure, Ed," she muttered and got up from her desk chair, her eyes nervously flicking between the stacks of paperwork.

"I mean it Winry. You don't smile anymore..."

"Of course I smile, Ed. I smile at my customers and-"

"Yes but you don't smile like you mean it. I've seen you, Win. Forced smiles yet I can tell when you really smile and truly mean it because your eyes smile too," he said simply.

She stopped in front of him, her mouth open a little and a slight blush on her face. After a moment, her gaze fell to the floor, her face downcast. "Sorry, Ed," she whispered.

"No no, Winry, I don't want you to apologise!" he said quickly, cupping her face with his hands. "I just want to see you happy and I will do anything I can to make you happy. Just tell me if something is bothering you," he said sincerely, his eyes wide as he tried to force his message across.

"There's nothing, Ed. I'm just ... a little stressed...trust me," she smiled.

Edward nodded and kissed her on her lips and she kissed him back. Then he pulled her into a fierce hug, resting his head on top of hers, smelling the sweetness of her hair. "Maybe a holiday is needed then, to make you relax?" He suggested.

Winry shook her head. "I can't take a holiday just yet, Ed. I am still sorting out business...but maybe someday though," she sighed into his chest.

Remaining silent, Edward held her a little tighter as if to silently reassure her. "If there's anything bothering you, ever – then please tell me Winry. I don't like seeing you like this," he mumbled.

She nodded. "I know Ed, but I think I am just really tired. I'm sorry if I snap at you, alright?" She said quietly.

Pulling away and taking hold of her hand, they made their way up the stairs, a strong and delicious smell wafting around the house. Edward was a bit apprehensive about his younger brother's cooking, and remembered that he needed to tease Al later about the bean girl.

Winry sniffed her nose and ran into the kitchen squealing. "You cooked chicken? I love chicken! I can't stop eating it at the moment – it just tastes so good!" she cried, grabbing a plate of food and eagerly sitting down at the table, eating the chicken very quickly. Edward and Alphonse just stared – they had never seen Winry eat so quickly. Edward shrugged and smiled and grabbed another plate full of stir-fry and joined Winry at the table, closely followed by a confused Al.

When they had finished eating and Winry had stolen a few pieces of chicken from Edward's plate, she yawned again. "I think I am going to go to bed. Wake me up early please Ed. Thanks for dinner, Al; you can cook more often if you want," she chuckled clearing the plates away. She stooped to give Edward a kiss on the cheek and the made her way upstairs, quickly wiping the smile off her face as she left the room.

There was silence in kitchen, save for the ticking clock on the wall. Edward cleared his throat. "Since when did Winry like chicken so much? What's up with her? One moment she's stressed, the next she's angry, the next she's crying and then suddenly she's hysterically happy..." he ran a hand through his hair, making the hair band become loose. "Women are so freakin' complicated, Al but at least she is smiling again," he sighed, looking at the ceiling.

Al merely nodded and turned away a little concerned at Winry's erratic behaviour.

Edited Jan '10. Removed silly tickle fight. Hope it sounds better now.

Reviews LOVED!