Chapter Four: Her Request
The day had once again passed by too quickly, as I searched through books frantically trying to fit in as much research as I could before the day ended and I was another day short of a lifetimes worth of reasearch. I had been cramming information into my head all day, because apparently night was now "Winry and Edward catch-up time" As she liked to call but I liked to call it. "Time where Edward is in hell" since all she really did was pressure me into drinking milk and criticize me about my height. In a way it was refreshing because it felt exactly like the old days, and I missed our fights where we both battled for dominance. But I knew deep down Winry had changed now, and she felt something else towards me, whatever it may be I couldn't put my finger on it. But I knew that if I was in her situation I would never want to see my face again, maybe she was becoming less and less talkative because she was trying to hide all her hate for me. When Winry looked deep into my eyes now all I saw was bottled up emotion that I couldn't determine. Hate was the only thing I could pinpoint. A deep hate that had been growing inside of her for me for four years.

I shook my head in an annoyed manner. This wasn't the first time I had trailed off from my research and thought about Winry and it was starting to irritate me. Finding a way to bring Al back was the most important thing here. I made a promise and I was going to keep it. If I hadn't even been so foolish to suggest human transmutation so many years ago, Al would still be alive. It was my entire selfish fault. Al would probably be living a happy life, maybe married with children to Winry I guess. Yet even though I was the one who made the mistake Al was the one paying for it while I was here still enjoying Winry's company, and touch, since I had a body to feel with. The thought sobered me for a few seconds and I thought desperately of ending my own selfish life to bring back Al. But ending it was also selfish. Selfish towards Winry, who wouldn't know what to do once I left her life.

It was funny we always used to fight overwork when we were young. Just a childhood thing really, but I could tell that Al still held feelings for her. I never noticed Winry caring for him that way though, although I never had the heart to tell Al. Deep down, I think Al knew. Winry had always had love for someone else, we just never knew who. I mean there weren't any other males in her life that I knew, and who could it possibly be if it wasn't Al? I'd always had the gift of reading people, high perception skills. Then why couldn't I tell what Winry was feeling towards me at the moment?

I threw the book across the room in frustration, staring down at the paper with my messy handwriting decorating it. "It's no use!" I muttered under my breath. Even if I did manage to somehow create the philosophers stone… its not like it would work! That was the funny thing, even with the philosophers stone Al disappeared. How many human lives were equivalent to mine? Surely one or maybe two. Then why did a whole city that had been wiped out not manage to bring me back and keep my brother there? How exactly did equivalent trade work here? Was equivalent trade really something taught to children?

"Ed?"

I looked up with anger on my face as I saw Winry poke her head through the door. I had learnt sometime ago that equivalent trade did not exist. But I refused to believe that in the case of alchemy, sure in life there was no such thing, but alchemy it had to be right! Al and I had been following that rule all our life, and it was right we could never create something unless we presented something of equal mass.

"Didn't I tell you to knock?" I said in a deep voice turning away.

"I'm sorry… it's just that man has gone to sleep and I wanted to talk for a bit…" Winry said taken aback by my sudden out burst, which actually wasn't directed at her, more like taken out on her. I opened my mouth in shock and was glad I wasn't facing her direction.

"No I'm right here! You two have a happy night together! Although that bed looks a tad to small for the two of you!" With that I heard the door slam and turned around instantly with horror Winry pondering what had just happened.

"I forgot that married couple's to be sleep together don't they…?" Winry sighed.
"It's like he's trying to catch us out or something, do we look that bad together?" I asked laughing nervously trying not to think about the sleeping. Were we supposed to sleep in the bed together… squashed against each other? The nightmare of Mr. Whatever his name was, coming in to see me sleeping on the floor ran through my mind. "OH YOU HAD A FIGHT KISS AND MAKE UP!" He would say. I twitched nervously.

"You're wrong! It's because you're such a bad actor!" Winry said stomping her foot on the ground. "I mean you couldn't even create our first kiss, I have to do all the work when he asks to tell stories!" Winry whined sitting at the opposite end of the bed to me.

"Just get rid of him!" I yelled. "Or do you like pretending to be my fiancée?" I huffed sticking my nose up in the air stubbornly, yet slightly blush over the comment.

"Never!" She replied with equal irritation. "He is a customer and he must be mused! Never would I want to marry you by the way!" Winry also stuck her nose up in the opposite direction and in both our stubbornness we remained like that, both determined not to speak first. I had never heard of someone pretending to be married just for a customer, don't you think it was going to the extremes?

"Hey… Ed." Winry said after a long moment of silence. I softened my angry face and turned my head slightly, letting her know that I was listening. "Why don't you cry?" She asked. I was un-able to see her expression since I was still facing away but instantly recognized the sadness in her voice.

"I… can't cry." I couldn't exactly explain to her why this was. But it was more the case I wanted to be an adult, and also I wanted to be strong for everyone else. "I guess it's childish. My brother never had a body to cry with. Why should I cry over my pain when he had it far worse and couldn't even cry…?"

"Even adults cry, I think it's very childish you think that, Al would have wanted you to." Winry retorted. I felt the bed lower a little and realised she was shuffling closer to me. When I turned my face to see what exactly she was up to my lips came into contact with her cheek and I instantly jumped back. Winry giggled at this and I just looked away muttering crass things under my breath. "It was just a kiss Edward, if you were an adult you wouldn't jump at such things." Winry moved closer to me again and I was starting to wonder what exactly she was trying to do. "You want to be an adult don't you?"

"It wasn't a kiss!" I said closing my eyes stubbornly while looking away. Suddenly I felt her breath on my face and opened one eye cautiously. What the hell was she doing? "Winry?" I asked curiously her face far to close to mine. The moment was slightly awkward as I tried to look back into her eyes with some difficulty; afraid my own eyes would betray any of the emotions I was feeling right now.

"Hey Ed, let me take out your hair." Winry said sitting back on her knees creating more distance between us. I sighed inwardly and watched her curiously. She started to reach for my hair without my permission and I avoided her hands, moving my head to the side.

"Winry I can take out my own hair." I said my eyes becoming low with disbelief what was I to her a child?

"Idiot! You don't understand at all! Just let me do it!" Winry continued with anger evident on her face, so I gave her a soft smile and nodded. She turned me around so my back faced her and I felt her hands gently untie my hair. For about five minutes she just fiddled around with my hair and I found it strangely relaxing. I found myself being slowly lulled to sleep by her gentle soft motions, her hands running through my hair and massaging my head.

"Ed how is the research going?" I opened my eyes and realised Winry had stopped playing with my hair and frowned.

"Ah…" I said rubbing my face in a tired matter due to the fact it was almost 4 in the morning and I had been busy studying all day. "I feel like I'm going around in circles, not that you would understand anything." I said without thinking. I instantly regretted saying that and tensed my body as it awaited the wrench. But nothing came. I let out a little sound of surprise and turned around only to see Winry looking away sadly.

"Well" I said cheerfully. "I'll sleep on the floor." Winry didn't seem to object to this and merely looked away, so I pulled a sheet off the bed and settled myself nicely on the floor. Safely away from possible human contact.
"I didn't get to talk to you much." Winry said softly.

"Really? That's nice…" I replied not really paying much attention to what she was saying. I didn't really care at this moment I was tired and ready to fall asleep for another big day's worth of studying tomorrow.

"Will you tell me about your past four years tomorrow?" She asked me, her voice suddenly creating guilt deep inside of me.

"Let me think about that for a second." I paused for a long time, thinking about nothing but wishing she would shut-up and let me sleep. "Nope I'm going to be busy with research." I remembered wishing she would also be working on my auto-mail. I heard no reply from her and shrugged feeling myself fall to sleep.

The next day I was awoken by the bright sunlight coming through the window and instantly placed my arm over my face. "Damn Winry!" I muttered wondering why she hadn't shut the blinds when she got up. I then turned my head to check the time when I noticed it was only 5:00. I sighed realising she must still be in bed and that I could have very well just woken her up.

I slowly sat up rubbing my eyes and raised my head over the bed to see Winry sleeping peacefully. I couldn't help but smile and moved some hair out of her face that was constantly being blown away by her breathing. Every time it came back her nose started to twitch and I had found it slightly amusing. I decided this was one of the most beautiful moments I'd ever had with Winry and wished she would relax more often. I tucked her hair behind her ear and saw her face instantly become relieved from the teasing hair. That was the trouble with my hair as well, it annoyed me terribly when I slept, but I could never sleep with it in, since it would dig into the back of my head. As I went to take my hand back my fingers gently brushed over her soft cheek and she instantly re-acted.

"Ed…" She whispered softly sticking her hand over the bed. She came into contact with my head and instantly started running her fingers through my hair.

"Uhh don't get the wrong idea or anything..." I said nervously closing my eyes momentarily as her hands ran through my hair. Damn why the hell did I have to move the stupid hair? All this just got me into deeper trouble. Winry didn't stir, but did however continueto run her fingers delicately over my head and through my hair. Obviously it was one of my weaknesses, but I hadn't known because no-one had ever done this for me. I found myself closing my eyes and resting my head against her hand just enjoying her affection momentarily. When she stopped her motions I turned my head and found myself kissing the palm of her hand urging her to continue. But I didn't like the fact my body had done this without asking my brain first and I flinched in-voluntarily. "Sorry that was an accident." I said while inching back against the wall.

"Ed…" She whispered again in almost a sexual way and rolled over, I felt the heat instantly rise to my cheeks before she whispered my name again a little louder. I continued to blush when I realised Winry had been asleep and she was obviously dreaming about me. Although deeply embarrassed over this fact, I had felt relieved that she hadn't encountered any of my affection towards her due to her unconscious state. I sat there for a while contemplating what had just happened. Even though technically nothing did happen… there were a few strange things going on that I hadn't bothered to notice, like the way I had kissed her suddenly without even thinking about it.

After a while the sunlight got to Winry and she sat up with a yawn. She saw me and looked away angrily. Quite a change from whispering my name in some sort of arousal. She glared at me after she received some clothes from the cupboard and I nodded frantically turning away while she changed. Hoping my blush would be gone once I turned around again. Finally I heard a slam of the bedroom door and turned around to notice I was alone. So she was ignoring m? What the hell had I done now?

In a way I was glad she was ignoring me because I could get on with my research and work on the Rezenboul papers. I would have to collect tax soon. I had slightly lowered tax since I didn't want to make any profit at all with it so I lowered it to the necessary amount to take care of the city, and every-one had seemed to be pleased with that. But in a way I was upset about Winry's mood toward me. It affected my study and so much more since I was constantly wondering what she was angry about. Maybe she was just keen to work on my auto-mail, it's not like she hasn't given the silent treatment to me before. So I decided that it was nothing and went on with my work without thinking about her again.

At around seven my stomach started to grumble again and I sighed. Maybe Winry could make me dinner as well. I felt bad always asking her to cook for me, but I couldn't cook at all, even when Winry lectured me about cooking being a science, and I should be able to cook if I was bothered. Yes it was a science, but one I wasn't interested in.

When I peaked my head outside I saw The Guy (Don't really know his name) and the "Machine Freak" sitting together with their tea. This had become a nightly ritual now and it disturbed me. They had been doing this a lot lately and I felt jealously and anger burn inside of me, it sort of made me think of Winry as a traitor.

"Winry, would you mind making me some dinner?" I asked walking over to the table and choosing to ignore their conversation. They both acted like I wasn't there so I tuned in to what Winry was saying.

"Ed…" Winry said sadly. I shouted and put my foot down yelling for some dinner, I was starving and it was no time for her to be whispering my name with sadness. But they continued to ignore me. "He didn't even want to talk to me last night. Then whenever he wants something he talks to me, it's the only time he ever says a word to me." Winry said looking into her drink. The man just sat there glaring at me. This doesn't have anything to do with you! I wanted to yell. But I was too busy listening to Winry. "You know… I'm very sorry." Winry said to the man. He diverted his attention from me to look at Winry with confusion and seemed more serious now, like he had finally realised, like he wasn't mucking around with us anymore. I knew he was most likely playing along with us from the start. "I lied to you, Ed and I aren't engaged." Winry whispered. My eyes widened with shock and I removed my hand from her chair in disbelief. "I don't know how I could ever be married to a selfish man like him!" Winry said with a poison in her voice that stung me all over. She removed the ring from her hand and chucked it on the ground.

I flinched when she raised herself from her seat and looked into my eyes with hurt welling inside. I looked away with guilt and felt a sharp slap across my face. I landed on the ground with a thud but chose not to yell at her concerning the circumstances. I saw her standing above me with the wrench in her hand and instantly shielded my head. But after a few seconds there was nothing but the sound of Winry's heart wrenching tears. I looked up with caution to see the wrench hanging in her limp arm, and watched as she dropped it next to me. "You aren't even worth it!" She screamed running into her room and shutting the door. For the next few seconds I could do nothing but stare ahead in shock and disbelief but when my body registered what happened I got up and ran to Winry's door banging on it loudly.

"Winry, wait!" I yelled angry at myself for making her cry. How could I have treated her like this when she was all I had left? All the kindness she was giving me like letting me stay here for next to nothing. And I couldn't even be bothered talking to her. "Winry we need to talk okay?" I screamed banging on the door again. All I heard was her crying loudly and after numerous attempts I kicked the door in frustration letting out a loud scream. "FINE!" I yelled ignoring the glare from our guest.

I headed into my room with anger and despair, not bothering to close the door behind me. Winry wouldn't be coming to annoy me for one of her "catch up sessions". And I didn't know whether that relieved or depressed me. I tried to pick up another pointless book and gather information from it, but there was no use because my mind kept running back to Winry. "This is no good." I muttered under my breath. I suddenly heard a knock at my door and instantly knew who it was.

"May I come in?"

"What do you want old man?" I asked with a frustrated tone folding my arms over my chest.

"Who are you calling an old man?" He yelled entering my room. I sighed and wiped my forehead in shame over having to talk to him. "Do you want me to start on your height?" He asked instantly infuriating me. No I wasn't going to let passes at my height get to me.

"My height has nothing to do with this old man!" I said in a huff removing my red jacket and hanging it over the bed.

"Either does my age midget! Anyway don't you think you should apologize to her?" He asked in a softer tone.

"Why should I?" I questioned obstinately, turning to a page of my research and putting him down as a potential life in the making of the philosopher's stone.

"Because you never said one thing to her apart from when you asked her for food, you were very selfish." The man told me in an infuriated tone. I stuck my head up in the air refusing to reply when he continued. "Switch places with her, wouldn't you feel used and abused?"

"Didn't I tell you we're not engaged, Winry means nothing to me." I whispered softly realising it wasn't the truth, but I was too stubborn to admit how important she was to me. "I am paying her to stay here, that's all it is."

"Ed I think you can stop." He told me in a warning tone, but I stupidly chose to ignore him.

"Winry is so annoying I actually think I hate her, if I am paying why can't she go out of her way to cook me something? I wish I had never come back she ruins everything! Girls just complicate everything!" In a way I was joking just so I could have something to argue over with the man, because really... Winry meant everything to me at the moment.

"Ed that's enough!" The man said sternly. I heard something smash and turned around instantly curious as to what the noise was, and there standing in the door-way was the only person I had left.

Winry stood there un-able to move and it was obvious she had heard everything I had just said. There was rice all over the floor from which I presumed was my dinner. I looked up at here with regret in my eyes and all she did was stand there in a state of shock, her body looked completely frozen and her eyes were shaking. "Winry! I didn't mean it!" I said getting up instantly because I knew there was going to be running involved. As soon as she saw I had made the first move she bolted out of the house, running for her life. I followed her closely behind screaming furiously at her.

"WINRY YOU KNOW IT WAS A JOKE!" I yelled waiting for some reply that she would usually give. But this time there was nothing but the sound of her heavy breathing trying to escape my wrath. She was running faster than I was, she must have had great determination. Finally her running led us to the old river we used to play at when we were children and my eyes enlarged as I noticed Winry start to fall. I ran as fast as I could also causing me to fall in the process, but I pulled Winry down onto me in an attempt to shield her fall.

We laid there together breathing heavily from our chase while the dust from our plunge settled. The situation was quite un-comfortable since all the rocks where digging into my back with the weight of Winry on top of me, but I didn't mind. "Winry…" I said wrapping my arms tightly around her waist so she couldn't run off again. I had her now and she was going to listen to me, we had to sort out these misunderstandings. "That man was annoying me okay? I just wanted him off my case." Winry shifted a little and I felt a warm tear glide down my neck. "Winry don't cry…" I said in a strained voice. Why did she have to cry? It made situations so much worse. "And I have just been really busy lately, and I'm sorry if I didn't talk to you much… but Winry talking isn't my top priority. I'm sorry but it's not. I made a promise to my brother and myself, and I have to keep that." She didn't seem to move so I released my grip on her, noticing she had sobered a little. "Look I'll make it up to you, how bout we go back and talk tonight okay?" She raised herself slowly to look in my eyes and I gave her a huge grin to assure her I wanted to do it.

"Ed…" She whispered happily. It was nice to see her happy I had to admit. I closed my eyes with relaxed laughter over the situation and suddenly felt something soft touch my cheek. I opened my eyes curiously to see Winry's lips against me. As quickly as she started, she stopped and pulled away with a giggle, and I just began to blush furiously. "Thank you." She said happily, getting off me and lending me a hand to get up.

"It's okay." I replied shyly bringing my hand up to my cheek.

"Ed aren't you going to give me a make-up kiss?" She said sternly

I remembered now, when we were young we used to kiss each other on the cheek after making up over a fight. I never used to think of it then... it felt like something a friend would do. But just then when Winry kissed me it felt different, and I knew it was going to feel different when I did it to her. I stiffened slightly. How did I used to do it? Damn she will be angry if I forget. First I had always wrapped my arms around her waist. So slowly I moved closer to Winry and wrapped my arms around her surprisingly small waist, I hadn't done this for a long time. Then I had to pull my body close to hers, but back then I did this all in a flash of lightening so it didn't mean anything, we were so young… but now. I moved closer to Winry so our bodies touched, she seemed happy that I remembered and flashed me a content smile. This was just a small price to pay for making up I guess. I looked into her eyes more than usual and brushed the hair away from her face (wasn't part of the ritual) She seemed shocked at this, but I smiled and finally placed a kiss near the corner of her mouth lingering for a few moments. I couldn't bring myself to pull away from her. This felt like the old days and I didn't want to let it go. I held Winry close to me tightly and kissed her again. I was going to have a lot of explaining to do. I stopped and hesitated a little wondering if she had noticed but she kept her eyes closed as if expecting another kiss. WHAT THE HELL DID SHE THINK I WAS?

"Ed! Don't think your getting away that easily, you sill have plenty of things to apologize for!" Winry said stubbornly moving her cheek closer to my lips.

"WINRY THIS IS STUPID WERE NOT TWO ANYMORE!" I said angrily letting my arms drop hastily from her waist. But then her voice became dangerously low and she said my name so angrily, I was instantly holding her within a second again. I sighed and pecked her cheek many times, quickly, till she'd had enough and pulled herself away while I gasped for breath. An awkward moment passed between us, a certain moment we had never experienced when we were young, exactly what I thought. But she straightened up and smiled broadly.

"Race you back to the house, shrimpy!" She blew me a kiss and began running as fast as she could.

I tensed my fists and launched off after her as fast as I could. "SHRIMPYYYYY! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? YOU! YOU CHEATED!" And we continued with our bickering the whole way back to the house, so in the end nothing had changed after all.

Saturn Stars