Friends

in my dreams

It was amazing how a day of running around the countryside could tire you out. Even the children with their seemingly endless supply of energy. However unlike the old generation who slowly get tired, children usually just... pass out. Such was the case of young Al, laying sprawled out beside his brother on the grass, snoring softly. Ed sat with his back against a wooden fence, liquid gold eyes staring at the stars dotting the night sky. On his other side sat Winry, blue eyes darting from his face to the sky. She seemed confused, unable to understand what he found so fascinating.

"What'cha looking at?" She finally asked, eyes settling on him.

"The stars."

"Why? They're just white dots in the sky."

"Well... sometimes they do interesting things.

"Really?"

Her eyes looked back into the sky. There was a long moment of silence, broken only by the occasional noise from the sleeping Al. Winry suddenly leaned in close to Ed, eyes still on the sky.

"They aren't doing anything."

Instantly disgusted by their closeness, Ed leaned away from Winry as she came closer, eyes also glued to the sky.

"Well... I said 'sometimes'."

"What interesting things are you talking about?"

"They fly."

Winry moved closer in, Ed moved further away. "Fly?"

"Yeah, they go across the sky. Mommy says you have'ta make a wish when you see it."

Winry moved closer still. "Oooohh..."

Ed scooted over, causing Winry to loose her support and nearly fall over.

"Hey!"

"Stop getting close to me!"

"I'm scared!"

"Of what?"

Winry glanced down at her hands in he lap, pouting. "The dark."

Ed blinked at her, eyes finally torn from the sky. He then grinned and puffed out his chest proudly, jabbing a finger into his chest.

"Don't be scared! I'm here, I'll protect you."

Winry blinked and gave him a flat look. "I'm doomed."

Ed face faulted. "Hey!"

Winry giggled as he got up, crossing his arms over his chest and huffing, turning away from her.

"Fine!" Ed said. "I'll let the monsters eat you."

Winry yelped and grabbed Ed's arm. "That's not funny, Ed! You said you'd protect me!"

"I changed my mind."

"Eeeeeeeed!"

No reply. Winry sniffled softly and clung to Ed's arm, now frightened by the possibility that the monsters would come and eat her. Another moment of silence, during which Ed forgot what he had been scowling at and tugged his arm away from Winry.

"Why do you always have to get so close?"

"I told you I was scared. Why does it bother you? Al doesn't care when I'm close."

"Al doesn't understand yet."

"Understand what?"

"You're a girl."

"So?"

"So! You can't be too close!"

"Because I'm a girl?"

"Yeah!"

"...You're weird, Ed. We've been friends forever!"

"So?"

"So? Then it doesn't matter if I'm a girl!"

"It does... but I just don't know why yet."

Winry sweatdropped and grabbed Ed's cheek, pulling rather hard. "You need to stop playing with the Johnsons."

"OW! Leggo!"

Ed waved Winry's hand away and rubbed his cheek. Winry just giggled. And again, silence. The air was beginning to get chilly. The three had been in this very spot since sunset. The sun had disappeared only a few minutes ago. Still, their parents were worried. Of course, this was unknown to the three children, who were simply enjoying being kids.

"Hey, Ed?" Winry suddenly asked, breaking the silence as they both turned their eyes to the stars again.

"What?"

"Do you think it'll be like this forever?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

Winry glanced at her hands again. "I dunno. I heard grandma talking about how times change... I don't want things to change."

"Things will stay the same."

"Promise?"

"Yeah! ... Well... they will sorta change. We'll grow up."

Winry glanced up at him, smiling. "Yeah! That'll be fun, getting older."

"But not too old, like your grandma."

"Yeah... I'll get married!"

"Married?"

"Yeah! You have'ta get married when you're an adult."

Ed made a face. "No you don't!"

"Yes you do!"

"No you don't!"

"Yes you do!"

"No you don't!"

It was a wonder Al hadn't awakened by now. The boy sure could sleep.

"I don't wanna get married!" Ed exclaimed, waving his arms around in protest.

"But you have'ta! We both do!"

Ed blinked at this and dropped his arms, contemplating this information for a moment. He then grinned. "Okay, if we both have'ta get married, then I'll marry you!"

This sent Winry into a fit of giggles, face turning red from embarrassment. "Okay!"

"We'll stay here in Resembool and get a big house."

Winry nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

"And... And we'll have lots of dogs!"

"And kids!"

"Kids!"

"Yeah! Married couples have'ta have kids."

"I don't want kids!"

"We have'ta!"

"No way! We'll have dogs instead! Lots of dogs!"

"Aww... 'kay. What about Al?"

"Uhhh... he can live next door!"

"Won't he be lonely?"

"Yeah... you can marry him too."

"Yay! Then I'll have kids!"

"Why do you want kids?"

"Because you have'ta."

"No you don't!"

"Yes you do!"

"No you don't!"

"Yes you do!"

"No you don't!"

Al suddenly stirred and abruptly sat up, rubbing his eyes with a fist. He blinked sleepily at Ed and Winry before tugging on the end of Ed's shirt. The action caused Ed to turn to him.

"Al?"

"Brother, I'm cold... I wanna go home."

"Okay. It's late anyway."

Ed stood, Al and Winry standing with him. Ed grabbed the hand of the half asleep Al and lead him away, Winry shuffling close behind them.

Ed's eyes opened to the sound of rain. It was still very much night. He sighed and slowly sat up, knowing he would never fall asleep now. He turned to stare out the window, watching the rain splatter against the glass with the sound of beads on a table. He flexed the fingers of his automail arm, glancing down at it wearily.

It needs tuning soon... He thought. Not to mention his leg hurt. It always did when it rained.

"Brother?"

The soft echoing voice made him turn to look at the bed across from his own. Although Al didn't sleep, he liked to lay in bed anyway. Ed smiled a bit, although he doubted Al could see him in the dark.

"Sorry if I disturbed you, Al."

"No, it's fine. I wasn't lost in thought like I usually am at night. Are you okay?"

Ed nodded and turned golden eyes back to the window. "I'm fine. It was just... a dream."

"Oh. A bad dream, huh?"

Ed opened his mouth to reply, but stopped. He then smiled sadly, remembering the promise.

"Yeah. I guess it was."