Oi! So much has happened with me since my last update, sorry for such a long wait! The pot gets stirred in this one! Enjoy!
After dinner came a call. "Hello?" Ed answered the kitchen phone. "Edward?" he heard the familiar voice of Erika on the phone. She was in a town on the border in the West. It had been one of his first expeditions in the area. "Hey, Erika," he greeted warmly. She had worked at the place where he had stayed. He was taking lessons from the grumpy old man on the outskirts of town who had some quite interesting knowledge. "Edward, we need your help," Erika said with a tone of desperation. "Uhh…" Edward wasn't sure how to answer, "What happened?"
Winry heard the name Erika from the couch as she was reading over her materials for class and wondered who this person was and what they wanted from Ed. She pondered what was going on, a knot forming in her stomach, when she heard the phone call end, and Ed walked slowly into the living room. "Edward, what's going on?" she was afraid but asked. "I…" he trailed off before sitting on the couch at Winry's feet, "Daniel disappeared." "Who's Daniel?" Winry moved her feet off the couch and scooted closer to Ed to lean on his arm. "He was the old man I was getting lessons from. He disappeared along with his grandchild, Toby," Ed answered. Winry pressed her cheek against his shoulder, "Why can't they find them themselves?" "Because Daniel left a note just for me with a coded message. I'm confused as well, hun," he moved his arm around her. "So, what are you going to do?" Winry had to ask.
"I," he hated to say it, "I have to go." At this, Winry's eyes moistened. "Ed," she hated being this emotional about him leaving, and wished that she could handle it better. "Winry, please don't cry," Ed's heart hurt. "Did you even try to tell them that you have a family now? That you can't just get up and go?" she tried. When Ed was silent, she added with frustration, "Damn it, Ed, why do you always have to be so caring and helpful?" She succumbed to the sobs and retreated to the other side of the couch. "Winry," he said, not knowing how to make up for this. "I told her that I would leave when my leg was done," he admitted weakly. "Leave me here for a while," Winry tried to shoo him away. "Winry, I'm sorry," he apologized. But she had gone back to her reading, the tears continuing their paths down her cheeks.
Edward remained seated on his side of the couch, and looked down, contemplating what he should have said to Erika, what he should have said to Winry, how to fix it all. He had promised to be more supportive and sensitive, and here he was, leaving. But he had to, Daniel and Toby could be in danger. Ed couldn't help but swear because Daniel had left the note in a code for him only.
Winry calmed herself down on her own as she read, and when she was calm, she got up, "I'm going to bed." Ed stood as well, but Winry didn't wait for him before she left and climbed the stairs. Ed sighed as he followed her. She finished dressing quickly and was already in bed by the time Ed stepped out of his closet. He slid under the covers, and reached for Winry. "Winry," he whispered. "What?" she turned her head sharply. "Come here, hun. I'm sorry," Ed said. "Edward, you don't have anything to be sorry for," she sighed, finally turning to him.
"I'm sorry I'm leaving," he mentioned. "It's not your fault you have to go, but whatever happened out there better be worth it. And you better come back with your new leg in pristine condition," she threatened. Her tone had softened, but Ed could tell she was still upset. "I'm sorry I was insensitive and hurt you," he apologized again. Her eyes filled with tears again, "If the parts come tomorrow, I'll have it done for you on Friday."
"Winry, forget about my leg, I'm sorry I hurt you," he repeated. "I don't know why my tears keep flowing," she nervously chuckled as Ed scooped her up into his arms. "It's because I'm a dummy," he answered with a smile. "I'm sorry I'm being difficult," she said. "You are not being difficult. You are being perfectly reasonable," Ed touched his nose to hers. "But I never cried before when you used to leave," she argued. "Or at least not in front of you," she added quietly. "But that's because I need to stay. I should stay, and I want to stay. But I also have to go," he contradicted himself and kissed her, "I want to stay here, I really do." Edward made a mental promise that this would be the last time. He would never leave Winry again after this. The fears of becoming his father and never being around crept back into his mind as well as fears for Winry and her wellbeing.
Winry tried to calm herself down. She needed to get some rest so that she could build Ed's leg when the parts came. "Edward," she whispered, her tears suddenly stopped, "I fell in love with an adventurous man, one who was persistent, chased his goals to the end, and he was glorious. But now, I just want to cage him. I feel horrible." "Winry, don't think such things," Edward immediately answered, "You are not caging me. I am free here and miserable when I'm away from you. My heart is in your hands, not in a cage. Winry, don't feel horrible. You just want me to be safe and have peace."
"I love you, hun," Ed snuggled her, "This is where I'm the happiest—at your side." "Edward?" Winry asked. "Mmhmm?" he answered. "Can I come with you?" she inquired. Ed was shocked. Why hadn't he thought of that? "Uh, I don't know," he answered truthfully, "I don't want to bring you into any danger." "It's just missing people though, right?" she asked. "Hun, I'd love for you to come if that were the case," Ed smiled, but didn't know how to mention her customers without it sounding like he didn't want her to come. "What do you mean, 'if that were the case'? Isn't it?" Winry said. "It was implied that it's more than that," Ed admitted, "The note was written in blood."
Winry gasped, tears coming to her eyes again. Edward squeezed her tight, "Don't worry, I'm sure everything's fine. I won't get into anything I can't handle." "Edward, I want to reschedule my customers, I want to come with you," she stated. "Winry!" Ed admonished lightly, "Your customers need you. And I don't want you to be in danger. Think of Thomas." Winry's brow furrowed, "Thomas?" Ed's nose wrinkled, "It doesn't sound good, does it? I liked the name better in my head." "Ed!" Winry was the one who was complaining now. Ed got back on topic, "Please, hun. I'll be much more worried if I'm concentrating on you and the baby."
"You'll be worrying about us while we're far away anyway," Winry appealed. "Winry, I trust you can take care of yourself here. I know I can call in some friends to come and visit. Please, please, please. I know you'll be safer here," Ed finished. Winry had nothing to say now, and Ed wondered what she was thinking in that mechanical-otaku head. She seemed sad as she settled in his arms. "Goodnight, hun. I love you," Ed said as if apologizing. She sighed, "Goodnight, Ed. I love you too." Ed lay awake for a long time, thinking about their arguments. Both of them made sense, and although he really wanted Winry to come, she couldn't just leave her customers or travel at the moment. He could call in someone from HQ to come watch her, just to be safe. He was thinking of someone to call when he fell asleep.
Ed woke up to Winry caressing his chest. It tickled, and he smiled as he opened his eyes. "Good morning, Winry," he yawned. She rested her hand on his chest, glad to have finally woken him. "Good morning," she replied, still sounding a bit glum. "Winry," Ed said it almost as a question. "I'll just miss you is all," she said, trying to brighten her tone. "I know the perfect person to call who'll stay with you, hun," Ed tried to cheer her up. "Who?" Winry asked. "Sheska! You two are great pals!" Winry half-smiled, "That would be fun. A girl's…" she trailed off. "How long are you going to be gone exactly?" Winry asked. "I'll be back before next Saturday, I promise," Ed replied, "It'll probably be only a couple of days."
"You should start packing," Winry said from her side of the closet, "I get an inkling your automail parts are here." She emerged in her regular mechanic one-piece. "I'll throw a luggage together later," Ed replied, tying his hair up. "I'll make breakfast," Winry shouted as she walked down the stairs. "Be careful!" Ed answered. "I'll go check the mail," Ed offered after coming down the stairs. The walk to the mailbox was brisk, and he realized that it was becoming a cold autumn. Indeed, there was a package as well as some letters, one from a city way up north. "A long term customer maybe," Ed thought aloud. "It's a bit chilly out there," Ed shut the door. "Yeah?" Winry rushed the toast to the table, and breakfast was served. "Do you have any customers coming in today?" Ed wondered.
As if on cue, the phone rang. "I probably do," Winry got up to answer it. When she returned, he presented the letter, "And I think you have someone in the north who needs your automail." Winry checked the 'from' corner. "Oh, it's Logan," she smiled, "He's an automail mechanic in the north, and we share mechanic tips. He's awful sweet." Ed raised an eyebrow, "How friendly is he with you? Be sure to tell him the good news." "You jealous?" Winry asked interested. "What!? He's the one that's jealous-" Winry cut him off, teasing, "He's taller than you are." Ed looked angry, and Winry quickly apologized, "He's a big flirt with every girl, Ed. I didn't mean to sound that way. I write about you every time I write him. I-"
Ed was upset and interrupted, "Winry, what?" Winry was quiet in fear, and Ed continued, his voice raising, "Do you have a thing with Logan? Am I in your way? Because I am leaving soon." Winry timidly answered, "No." "What's with this 'are you jealous' then?" Ed asked assertively with a streak of anger. "I, I didn't mean it like that," Winry started out nervous, but her voice increased in volume as well, "I meant are you jealous that I have friends that write me!" "My acquaintances write me all the time! In fact, one of them's named Leslie, and you insisted that he was a woman and that I had an affair!" Ed retorted. "I'm sorry," Winry's confidence was gone, and tears formed. "Why would you insinuate that you and Logan were a thing? Did you two have fun while I was away on my last trip? Is that baby even mine, Winry?" Ed escalated.
She was breathing heavy and blinked to clear her vision, hot tears running down her face. "Edward," she covered her mouth as her chest exploded with pain. She fell back into her chair and realized that they had both been standing and yelling at each other. Ed's expression softened, the realization had hit. "Winry," he said, all aggressiveness gone from his tone. She whimpered, holding a hand up to stop him. She tried not to make a sound. "Winry," Ed's eyes were filled with tears. His hands were shaking as he looked down at them. His fists clenched on the table as he stood and hung his head low. "I'm sorry," Ed whispered as his tears fell quickly to the table. He was so shocked with what he had just done. "Winry?" Ed just wanted to hear her voice, that maybe she would forgive him.
She ignored him, her body curled up in the chair, her head down, her arms wrapped around her knees. Ed's guilt overwhelmed him. "What have I done?" his head shot up to look at the ceiling, "Why? It hurts, it hurts." He gripped his chest where his heart ached. He tried to take a step to the right but crumpled to the floor. He curled up like Winry against the cabinets, as if this was a nightmare. "Winry, you don't have to listen to me if you don't want to, but I need to say this," Ed said, wiping his face. She didn't acknowledge him, and he began, "Winry, I didn't want to say those things. They say that when someone's angry, the truth comes out. I want to be my best for you, Winry." He sighed, "I love you so much, dammit, I wish I could put into words how much, but I'm human. I'm human and flawed, and I can't help but wonder if I'm not adequate enough."
Winry wondered where all these big words of his were coming from, but couldn't think too much about it over the throbbing pain of her body. "Stop," she heard herself say. Ed quieted. She lifted her head to see him, and she found the pain had numbed. "Don't make yourself the victim here, Edward. Oh, it's so sad that you feel you're not good enough? How do you think I feel? My husband leaves me, for sometimes a month, to go to faraway places. I loved you enough to let you be free, and I get just as scared as you, just as miserable and stressed. Being here alone is fine when I have customers, but there are some days when I just sit around and miss you. And I wonder if you do the same. I wonder if I can do anything to help you when you're so far away. I love you and want you by my side, but I know that you're married to your job before you're married to me. Letting you go is one of the hardest things to watch," Winry let off some steam.
"Winry," Ed tried to softly protest, but it was true. "Winry," he tried again, "Leaving is so painful for me." "No!" she shouted, "No it's not. If it were truly hard, you would have asked me. We could have talked before you gave an answer." Ed's eyes filled with tears. "That's what this is about," he whispered softly. "Do whatever you want, Edward, your leg will be ready by tomorrow," she got up and grabbing his automail parts, left for the workroom.
Winry's got some mixed emotions... I'll try to update as soon as I can!