Author's Note: (Disclaimer: You know the drill; I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist in any way, shape or form).

I've had this chapter written for a very long time but couldn't post it until the story was in the right place…it was going to be chapter twenty-three of four but it works here too. Enjoy :)

Love,

AL

The house was silent-it had been since they'd said their good-byes earlier that day. Edward lied on his back enveloped in darkness, his eyes wide open and focused on the ceiling. "Edward?" her quiet voice was accompanied by a soft knock. He didn't say anything but instead shifted his weight, cringing slightly as a great soreness radiated throughout his upper body. He quickly closed his eyes and feigned sleep as the door slowly crept open.

The floor boards quietly protested under the weight of hesitant, shuffling feet.

"Ed?" she repeated softly and he twitched, fighting to keep his eyes closed as the faint smell of roses and steel washed over him. He shivered from cold air creeping under the blanket as Winry lifted it and inched her way under it. The springs creaked as she shifted, making herself comfortable.

Slowly, Ed opened his eyes to see her mass of long blonde hair sprawled out on the pillow beside him. "Is everything okay?" he asked quietly, his voice sounding out of place in the darkness.

Winry yelped, startled, and nearly fell out of the bed. She turned to him, her pale blue eyes wide with a flustered hand covering her surprised 'O' of a mouth. "Ah…sorry, it's just that Alina's in my room tonight and it's been weeks since I slept in an actual bed…I didn't think you'd mind…"

Ed smirked and moved closer to the wall, giving her more room, "I don't."

She scooted farther from the edge, relieved. "Thanks Ed," she murmured as her eyelids fluttered closed.

"No problem," his voice was barely audible-so quiet to the point where he began to question whether or not he'd actually said it aloud. He studied her silhouette, watching the gentler rise and fall or her curves with every breath she took. Being so close to her…it reminded him of a time that he wasn't proud of and suddenly Edward missed the children that they used to be-the afternoons spent with Winry and Alphonse running and playing and taking in every little aspect of their great big world because nothing ever seemed to be enough.

Ed stretched his arms back and then pensively rested them beneath his head. Although it was late into the night, the clock read one twenty-five, he was wide awake. "So this is what it feels like," Winry said quietly with her back still turned to him, "to be an adult…"

"Yeah," Ed laughed softly, "it feels like sixteen was yesterday…and all that time from then to now was just one long dream."

"The last time I saw you, Edward Elric," Winry rolled over onto her back, "you were off being a hero again…and I waited, like always…"

Edward sighed, "I grew up watching how my father's absence destroyed my mom…and I always told myself that I would never be anything like my father but I guess children really do turn out like their parents…"

There was a brief silence between them before he continued, "…I never meant to make you wait…"

"Yeah," Winry muttered, rolling over so that she fit comfortably into his chest, "I know."

Edward slightly flinched in surprise but soon the initial shock wore off and he slowly brought his arm around to cradle her against him. "She's lucky you know- if children really do end up like their parents…"

A small smile crossed his face as he briefly closed his eyes, taking in the serenity of the night.

Please don't let this be a dream…

He opened his eyes, hesitant about what we was about to say when Winry's voice filled the empty air, "I don't think we were very good at growing up."

"At least you got married," Edward pointed out casually.

"You know about that?"

He nodded, his nerves frantic as Winry brought her hand up to rest on his bare chest, "Pinako told me…"

"At least you had a kid," Winry retorted. Ed, rather guilty of the details regarding his daughter's conception, quickly changed the subject, "What was he like?"

"Liam?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I don't know," Winry sighed, her hand sliding to the side of his torso as she shifted, "he was kind…muscular, very manly-of course he lacked that charming Elric ego. I think I really did love him…but…"

Edward, worried about where she was going with this, carefully sat up and she soon followed, surprised as his body slipped away from hers. "Winry…I…um, there's something that I need to tell you."

"Alright," she said, her brows furrowed with curiosity.

"…about Skyla's mother," Edward clarified.

"Her mother?" Winry repeated as if to better understand the situation.

"Well…it takes two to make a baby," although it went unnoticed in the darkness, his cheeks flushed red. He took her silence as a reply and continued, "The two worlds…this one and the next, they act as parallel to one another…which means that the people are parallel as well. Two Al's, two Ed's…"

"And two Winry's…" she whispered incredulously, beginning to understand where he was going.

He nodded guiltily, "her name was Annaliese…she was a physicist that Al and I met while on a research expedition back when we were busy trying to make the best of our new world…"

"She was my parallel?" Winry asked with wide eyes as she sat up straight, the sheets falling limply to her waist.

"I was so young and stupid…I ignored anything that Al tried to tell me…"

"You had sex with me?" Winry's eyes sparked with amusement as Ed, bright with embarrassment, corrected, "…I had sex with her."

He cleared his throat and continued, "A fellow scientist who knew of this world told her about the parallels and eventually she pieced it all together-that Al and I were from a different place and that I loved someone else…"

Winry grew quiet.

"She was pregnant at the time and left the baby at the hospital for me to take home…five years later she came back to see Skyla but she'd changed in those five years…something had snapped inside of her and she wasn't able to handle living anymore…"

She remained silent and Ed shook his head, "I'm so sorry it was a stupid mistake…but a world without you was-"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence. Before he could react, Winry leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. He allowed himself to fall back onto the pillows and her body lowered with his. It was the kiss that they'd always been waiting for-that which had been a source of doubt and denial all throughout their childhood years had finally come.

Winry pulled away, their faces no more than an inch apart. "You love me?" her voice was curious as her long hair pooled over her shoulders and tickled Edward's chest and shoulder. "Yes," he smiled, "I do."

"Good," she breathed, "then let's wipe away our pasts…we've all done a lot of silly things, but that's what time is for…so that we can heal and grow. It's time for us to move forward."

"You can't just push the past aside…we'll always remember…"

"But," she protested, "When we look back we'll be content as we remember the past. No regrets, no remorse."

"Then I'll make you a promise," Edward slid his arms around her waist, "one with no regrets; that no matter what happens, we'll move forward together."

Winry smiled and closed the space between them. Edward's arms tightened around her as their lips melted together. She could feel the heat of his fever with every gentle touch and pulled away with a sigh. "What's wrong?" he murmured tentatively.

"Speaking of promises, I made one to your daughter that I don't plan on breaking any time soon."

"Huh?"

Winry lightly pecked his cheek and slowly lifted her hand from his chest as she rolled over onto her side. "Get some sleep Ed," she told him softly, "after all, I did say that I'd take care of you."

Edward's lips curved upward to form a small smile as he draped his arm around Winry and whispered into her ear, "I'll be looking forward to it."

And once again the house was quiet and still as they drifted off to sleep in those peaceful hours just before the dawn.