Chapter 2: Soup Dinner

Ed sat at the dining table across from Pinako, a warm cup of coffee in his hand. She would smile occasionally, and ask him about his trip. "How was the weather?" "Was it crowded?" He would reply, saying Yes, the weather was fine, or, No, there weren't a lot of people on board. Other than that, they sat in silence. Al sat on the floor by the fireplace, reading a novel that he'd found on the bookshelf. They seemed to be waiting for something.

They were waiting for Winry. Besides furnishing the boy's rooms and adding two new toothbrushes, hairbrushes and sets of eating utensils to the house, she'd also taken on the task of preparing dinner. She wanted Ed and Al's homecoming to be perfect. But she'd also done it for another reason, but at the moment, she couldn't quite remember why.

She was stirring in the herbs with a wooden spoon; her arm resting on the counter while the other did the stirring. She re-read the items in the recipe, and seeing that she had added everything in even portions, relaxed. Good, she thought, at least dinner will go smoothly.

She sighed, remembering her first words to Ed when she saw him. "So where've you been?" She could still his face. He'd hesitated, as if he planned on really telling her, but he stopped and smiled, saying, "What a greeting!" Obviously, she'd botched it. Why hadn't she said something nice, like, "Welcome home, Ed!" or, "Glad your back!"? No, she'd jumped right at his throat, demanding where he'd been. Good going Winry, real nice.

"Winry, is it almost ready?" Pinako's voice penetrated the cracked doorway leading into the kitchen.

Calling back, "Just a minute!" she proceeded to get out three ceramic bowls. Using a hand mitt, she tipped the soup pot and poured it evenly into the three bowls. She knew that Pinako wasn't having any, even though she'd been the one to ask about dinner. She'd only done so because she knew Ed and Al were hungry.

Setting the empty pot on the burner and turning it off with a faint click, she went to retrieve the three bowls. Mitts on each hand, she carried one bowl in each and the other she rested in the crook of her elbow. Pushing the door aside with her shoulder, she stepped into the living room.

Everyone looked up expectantly. Winry could've laughed. Ed and Al looked starved. Pinako, seeing that the dinner was finally ready, got up from her place at the table, and said politely, "It's good to have you home Ed, Al. I'm glad you're staying here."

And with that, she walked out of the room, leaving Winry alone with the two brothers. Smiling widely she went over to the table, watching out of the corner of her eye as Al scrambled from his place on the floor over to the table. He went to reach for the bowl in her left hand, but she quickly said,

"Stop, Al! It's too hot!" He did stop, his hand mid-way toward the soup bowl. Pulling it back, his cheeks flushing, he replied,

"Sorry, Winry."

"It's all right. I just didn't want you to burn yourself." Setting down the bowls, one in front of Ed, and another in the space beside him for Al, she carried her own to the other side of the table. She sat down across from Ed. He watched her take her seat in the chair, setting her bowl down gently on the table.

"It's great you're both here." She commented, sounding as if she'd just said, "It's funny you should ask…"

Ed looked at her, a curious gleam in his eye. "Oh yeah? And why's that?"

Winry brought her bowl to her lips, and when it burnt her tongue, she sat it down hastily, trying hard not to cry out.

Her voice came out angry from her burned tongue. "I don't know…it'll give me something to do." She said in a rush, her tongue tingling still.

Ed watched all this, an amused smirk on his face. Inside, he was bursting with questions. Do you really care that I'm back? Does it matter when we leave? But he hid all this, deciding to let her do the talking.

"What do you mean? Al and me don't have auto mail anymore. There's nothing left to fix." He emphasized his point by holding up his arm, revealing the flesh where metal had once been.

Winry cast her eyes down to her soup, watching the vegetables bob and circle around in the red liquid. Ed was right. She couldn't use the excuse of being their technician to be a part of their lives any more. What good was she? Was Ed trying to say that he didn't need her anymore?

"Well…I was just saying it's great your both here, that's all." She'd meant to sound accusing and angry, but her voice came out small and pitiful. Why was she acting this way?

"Winry?"

She looked up to see Al facing her, his eyes full of excitement and suppressed joy.

"What is it, Al?" she asked, generally curious.

"Yeah, Al? What is it?" Ed questioned as well, turning to look at his brother.

Al smiled, a faint blush on his cheeks. "I was wondering…maybe…if you could enroll me in school."

Ed looked shocked to say the least. "Al? You really want to go back to school? But you can only go for three more years…"

Al nodded. "I know, brother. But I really want to do this." He turned to look at Winry. "Can you?"

Winry looked at Al's hopeful face. How could she say No? "Of course, Al. I think it's great you want to go back to school." She smiled widely.

He stood up from his chair, his smile as wide as his face. "Thank you, Winry! I can't wait!" Al ran from the room then, calling out, "Pinako, Pinako! I'm going to start school soon! Pinako…!" His voice faded as he raced down the hall.

Winry looked at the full bowl of soup at Al's place. "It's wasted." She whispered sourly. She'd worked so hard to prepare it too!

Without speaking, Ed reached over and poured the remains of Al's soup into his own bowl. It filled up to the rim, almost spilling over. Winry watched all this, silently marveling at how Ed could say so much with his actions.

"Um…thanks, Ed."

He looked up, his mouth still drinking from the lip of the bowl. His eyes clearly asked the question, "For what?"

For being you. Well, this is what she wanted to say. Instead she'd replied, "Oh nothing, it's just now I have less work to do on dishes."She watchedwith delight as he frowned and brought the bowl away from his mouth to say, "Oh I get it!"

Winry laughed at his frustration. Ed could be so gullible sometimes. She watched as he grumbled and resumed eating. Winry brought the bowl to her lips, tasting warm soup instead of hot fire this time. As the warm liquid traveled down her throat, she felt it tighten up. Ed's comment still bothered her. If she wasn't good for anything other than an auto technician, then what was she to him?

They drank their soup together, neither one speaking. Both of them were too afraid to. Winry would glance up and wonder, trying to look into his thoughts and see if what he meant was true. Ed would look at her and wonder if she cared that he was back or not. Silently, without realizing it, they both feared the same thing. Rejection.

AN: So how do you like it so far? I'm really trying to capture the personalities of both Winry and Ed. Am I doing okay? Read and Review! Thanks! &Niiroke&