Hey everyone! Wow, I was looking back on this story's history, and I've been writing this for at least 2 years. Thanks so much for reading, and thanks so much for all the reviews and messages! 2k14 is almost over, and I hope you all have a good New Year! Here's a new chapter to end this year, and I hope this story gets better next year as well! I still have lots of plans for it!
Winry felt foggy as she awoke and began her day. She checked the calendar and found that she didn't have any customers scheduled. She was cleaning up from breakfast when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Oh, Winry, I'm so excited to take you to the train station to meet your husband!" It was Major Armstrong. Winry was surprised. She supposed that Mustang was speaking of Major Armstrong when he said he knew someone who would love to take her to the train station.
"And many congratulations are in order on your pregnancy!" Armstrong continued. Winry was glad that the invites reached everyone. Or at least they reached Armstrong. She wondered if his sister would come. They had sent her an invitation, but it might be a long journey for her to come.
"What time shall I come pick you up for the train station? When is Al coming in?" Armstrong asked.
"He's coming in at 2pm. Could you be here around 1pm?" Winry asked.
"Of course, Winry! And I won't be late!"
Winry hung up the phone with a smile. Major Armstrong had always been a big Elric fan. She checked the time. It was almost lunch. She could have invited the major over for lunch, but she didn't think of it earlier. It was trickier to cook for just one. But she did it nonetheless. She decided to change into some nicer clothes for Al and May's arrival.
Satisfied with her new look, she decided to check the guest bedroom one last time to make sure everything there looked tidy. She smoothed the comforter on the bed, smiling as there were no bubbles. She checked on lunch in the oven, and sat down at the table with a magazine because it wasn't done yet.
Winry was careful to clean up the kitchen when she was done. She wanted her house to look nice and clean for Al and May. They were guests, after all.
Major Armstrong arrived just on time, as he said. The knock at the door was so gentle, Winry wouldn't have known it was him if she hadn't been expecting him. She opened the door, holding her sweater.
"Good afternoon, Winry! It's so good to see you," he went in for the hug. Winry hugged him back, and noted how careful he was not to crush her. He certainly could with his huge arms. "It's good to see you too," Winry smiled, "What have you been up to lately?" She locked the door behind her, and Armstrong opened her car door for her.
"Nothing, really. Paperwork and casework. But you! How are you doing?" He quickly made his way to the driver side. "I'm doing alright," Winry said, "Ed's off in the West, and he said he'd be back tomorrow. I sure hope he does return, because I'm missing him."
Armstrong drove, and the two talked about how Ed was doing. "You're taking classes you say?" he asked curiously. "Yeah, we have class tonight at 6. I suppose I'm going alone. But I need a ride to that too. Perhaps Al could drive me. I can't remember if he has a driving license here," Winry realized she had forgotten about a ride to class. "Winry, no need! I volunteer myself! I would be delighted to take you to class tonight!"
"But Major," Winry replied, "I wouldn't want to trouble you any more." "Nonsense!" he exclaimed, "I will be at your house at 5." He had pulled into a parking lot near the train station, and he was getting out of the car to get her car door. "Thank you," she thanked, putting her sweater on as she exited the vehicle. He walked her to the platform, where tons of people were bustling about. He searched the arrival board for Al's train. "Platform G," he said, "That way." He pointed to the right.
Winry and Armstrong moved quickly through the crowd due to the sheer size of Armstrong, and the train at Platform G was already empty. Winry looked around confused. The clock above their heads read 2:05pm. All the passengers should just be getting off.
"Winry!" she heard to her left. She turned to see Al and May, lugging all their bags behind them. "Alphonse!" Armstrong rushed toward Al and gave him a squeeze. "And Princess May," Armstrong gave her a gentle hug too. Al dropped his bags and wrapped his arms around Winry. "It's so good to see you," he said. Winry smiled. "Do I look the part yet?" she asked when he stepped away. He looked down. "Just a little," he smiled.
"May! How're you doing?" Winry hugged her. "Long and fun train ride," May laughed. In the corner of her eye, she saw Al turning pink. In front of her was Armstrong getting teary-eyed at the reunion. "Almost all the Elrics together," he said. Everyone gave him a sympathetic look before he grabbed everyone's bags like they were nothing, and they all headed out to the car.
Al and May sat in the back with all the bags, and Winry was up front. "Was the train ride really long?" she asked. "It was somewhat tiring, but they did feed us well," May said, reaching out for Al's hand. They couldn't see from the front seat, she rationalized. "That's good," Winry said, "I hope I can feed you just as well while you're staying with us." "I'm sure your cooking will be phenomenal," Al assured her, "And I hope you didn't tidy up too much just because we were coming."
Winry didn't think she tidied up too much, she just wanted the house to look clean. Major Armstrong carried their bags inside when they arrived, and Winry thanked him again for driving. "My pleasure, Winry! And don't forget I will be here at 5." He drove away, and Winry shut the door.
"The room is upstairs," Winry said. "You want to take the room upstairs like last time?" Al asked May. "Where will you sleep?" she asked, sounding concerned. "I can manage on the couch down here," he said, taking a hold of her bags. He followed the two girls up the stairs, and set May's bags down on the floor.
"This room looks really nice!" May bowed, "Thank you." "Of course," Winry smiled, "I can give you some time to get all your things in order up here, if you like. Are you hungry for snack?" Al and May looked at each other before looking back at her. "We don't want to overwork you, Winry," Al said, "We can rummage through the fridge when we're done here. Just relax." Winry smiled, "Okay, I'll be downstairs in my workroom when you need me." She didn't want to leave them and be a bad host, but she thought it was best to do as they wished. They probably needed space after being on that train full of people for such a long time.
Winry left, and they could hear each creak of the steps. When she had reached the landing, May turned to Al and put her hands in his. He touched his forehead to hers. "You sure turned pink at the train station," May commented. "May," Al was turning pink at the thought of it-last night.
"Alphonse," she said, searching his face, "We only shared a room. You don't have to feel embarrassed." She let their noses touch. "There was only one bed," Al reminded her. Al was being shy. May reached on her tippy-toes to try and kiss him. "May, I just feel uncomfortable," he admitted.
"Is it still because I'm 14?" she asked. Al's jaw clenched. He gave a small nod, their faces still touching. "Alphonse," she whispered. She released his hands and put her arms around him for a hug. "I really want to kiss you and hold you and protect you, but-" "But what?" May retreated from the hug, interrupting him, "A few weeks ago we kissed. A few days ago you told me you liked kissing me, that you loved me. Yesterday we were kissing in our train car. Last night you held me so close before getting uncomfortable and moving away. You stayed on your side of the bed the whole night." She sounded like she was angry and hurt, but her tone changed.
"Alphonse," she put a hand on his cheek, "How can I help you? You seem so conflicted." "May, I feel like I'm rushing things," he said. "Because I'm young?" she asked. He nodded silently. "Alphonse, I'm fine. I know I'm young. Can I make a compromise with you?" she wondered. "Sure," he said, taking a deep breath.
"How about I tell you when you're rushing things with me? We can set rules for how we'll act, so we don't do anything we're not ready for. Okay?" May smiled. Al thought about it. It wasn't too bad of an idea. "Deal," he said. "Could you kiss me?" May pulled herself closer to Al. He tried to give a slight smile before ducking his head and pressing his lips to hers. She moved his hands from his side to her hips, and Al felt May tilt her head, continuing the kissing, her mouth slightly open. He tilted his too as her arms wrapped around his neck.
They continued kissing until Al stopped to breathe. He realized they were at Ed's house, and that Winry could have come back in at any moment. May watched, puzzled as Al looked down and sighed. "Alphonse?" she asked, "Are you okay?" He shook his head. "You should get unpacked," he quickly took his exit, pretending not to notice that she called out after him.
Al hurried downstairs and visited Winry in the workroom. "Hey, Winry. I think I'm going to make some sandwiches for snack. Do you want one?" Al asked. "No, I just ate lunch. Thanks though!" Winry replied. Al ducked out, letting Winry resume her focus on her work. He pulled through the fridge to get the bread, cold cuts, and cheese. That'd be enough. No need to get any fancier. Al just missed normal food. They had been served fancy food on the train for the last day.
He fixed himself a sandwich before fixing one for May. He sighed as he put the bread away. What was he going to do about it all? Ed had told him to go ahead with a relationship with her, and he wanted to, but she was young and he wanted more from her than she could probably give.
It would be easier if she wasn't so eager for a relationship at the moment. If she didn't actually want a relationship, he would protect her. As she grew she might grow to love him, love him as a protector and maybe more. But she wasn't like that, she was demanding now. Al didn't know how to handle it.
"Winry?" May was in the doorway to the workroom. Winry turned around in her swivel chair. "Come on in," she invited. "Can I ask you about something?" she approached slowly. "Sure," Winry wondered what May needed. May sat down in the patient chair and Winry wheeled over to listen to her. May stared up at the ceiling for a while, her brow furrowed in thought.
"What is it?" Winry prompted. "How old do I seem to you?" she asked after much thought. Winry was puzzled, "What do you mean?" "Am I severely immature?" she asked, tears forming. Winry sat back. May was perfectly calm sitting there in the chair, but the tears trickling down her cheeks said otherwise.
There was no sign on May's face that indicated that she was sad, she just had a blank expression. "I don't think so," Winry finally answered. "You don't?" she asked, turning her head toward Winry. "Really," Winry gave a comforting smile. "I think Alphonse thinks I am," she turned back to the ceiling. "Why do you think that?" Winry asked. Her patient chair was becoming the patient chair of the therapist Winry. She crossed her legs, intent on listening.
Al brought the sandwich for May to the stairway landing and he heard her voice coming from Winry's workroom. He crept up on the workroom, standing just behind the doorway. "I think Alphonse thinks I am," he heard May say. She sounded upset. He didn't want to listen in, so he took the sandwich upstairs. He sat on the bed up there, looking around. May hadn't started unpacking yet. He put the plate down on the nightstand and started opening her bags. He moved to the closet and opened it. There were plenty of hangers. He started to work.
"Winry, he said that he loves me, and we kissed, and last night he just got 'uncomfortable', and now I'm too young for him. He said he doesn't want to rush. But I want this. I want us to be together," May continued. "May, I think Al is trying to protect you. He knows that being in a relationship is hard. It's not all kissing and hugs. There are really hard times. Relationships are difficult. Maybe he doesn't think you're ready for that. It's a hard thing to know that you're ready for," Winry tried.
"I don't think he's saying you're too young for him. I think he's saying that he doesn't want to put you through a relationship at your age. He's 'uncomfortable' with thrusting too much responsibility at you," Winry continued to explain.
"Winry, I want it, though. I want him to help me grow up. I want us to do things together," May said. She looked sad, but Winry's words helped her understand Al and his actions more. Winry was older than he was, but they were only a year apart. Not to mention that they were childhood friends. Winry had grown up watching Al and his actions.
May sighed. "Thanks, Winry," she smiled gently, "That really helped me." She got up from the chair. "I'm glad," Winry rose too. She was going to get some water to keep her hydrated. "I'll go back upstairs and continue unpacking," she said. "Alright," Winry watched her go, "I'll be here in my workroom after I get some water. And I'm always around when you need me." Winry was glad to have helped May. She never had a little sister, and she always wished she could give good advice. Perhaps she could help May a lot in the future.
I hope you liked the update! Thanks again for reading, and I'll see you in 2k15!
