"I can help you if you let me. I can take all the pains you have and place them on my shoulders. You think I'm selfish but in reality I just want to stop your hurting. Is it so bad to help someone who doesn't want you? Is it so bad to want to hold someone who is just your friend? I know I asked him a million times to stay but yet he still leaves. It was no different last night. How can I possibly sort out my emotions? Or am I just doomed to waver between love and friendship?"

555

Winry ran her fingers through her tangled blond hair. She was troubled and being without a brush made her frustrated. She thought about the way she had acted toward Edward the previous night.

Ed probably hates me now! What the hell was I thinking making a move on him? I'm such an idiot! Winry felt like crying. She had never wanted to ruin her relationship with him, but somehow all that emotion she had bottled up had rushed out of her all at one time. Edward was the only person there. And Winry needed someone to comfort her so she turned to him. Which was wrong. Entirely wrong. Her eyes fell from the mirror to the hardwood floor. I'm such an idiot! She screamed in her mind letting a few tears fall steadily down her cheeks. Suddenly the door opened.

Using the back of her hand, Winry wiped the tears off of her face. She blinked the remaining tears out of her eyes and tried to straiten her tangled hair once more.

"What?" She asked trying to cover up the way she was actually feeling. She stared into the mirror, at herself, with frustration.

"Let's go." Edward said with a voice so cold it made her flinch. She could see his soulless expression reflected in the mirror. He wasn't how he usually was. It was strange and quite scary to see him in such a mood.

Edward stood in the doorway not planning to move anytime soon. He was determined to find Winry a place to stay. 'A place' that was not with him.

With a sigh Winry turned her vision from the mirror to Edward. I'm not going to argue with him. She thought as she let out another deep sigh. Winry wiped her damp face again, walked right pass Edward, and into the living room.

Out in the living room a simple, black couch was positioned against the otherwise plain wall. An old fashioned radio was placed on a wooden table. On the right wall a window with nice creme color curtains blocked out the morning light. Winry did not bother to glance around the room. She was going to leave and that was that. There was no sense in getting attached to anything. And no way was Edward letting her stay with him. Not after last night. But she couldn't really blame him. It was her fault, after all. It was her fault for turning to him for comfort. It was Winry's mistake.

"Let's go." Edward opened another door and left for the outside without saying anything else. He left the door open for her to follow.

"Yeah." Winry whispered as she focused her attention on the floor upon which she was walking. She followed Edward out of the front door of his apartment and into the tiled hall.

Edward didn't bother to lock the door or wait for Winry. He turned around for just a second to see if she was following him. Winry was, after all, very stubborn. Edward was surprised to see her right behind him. Her head watching the ground closely, deep in thought. He stopped walking and turned to face her. Without looking up Winry collided with Edward.

"Sorry..." She said in a voice barely audible. Winry backed away from Edward; her eyes still focused on the spotless tile.

Edward did not respond. With no expression visible on his face, he turned and continued walking. But suddenly Winry reached out and caught his hand.

"Ed...I'm really sorry. Please forgive me. I won't do it again. Just don't be mad. Don't make me leave..." Winry begged as tears filled her azure, blue eyes.

And yet again there was a pause. No words came from Edward's mouth. He knew he could not allow Winry to stay with him nor could he put her in danger because of his job as a 'dog of the military'. One night he might be sent on a mission and he knew there would be no time for 'good byes'. Edward wanted to spare Winry of that hurt. The hurt of him leaving so suddenly. The probability of him not coming back. And after last night he wasn't too sure if he'd be safe from her. What if Winry had another breakdown, what would Edward do then?

"It's okay. Don't cry about it." Edward told her. "I'm not mad." Sure Edward wasn't mad. The way he pulled away from her was purely because of instinct. They were friends and it felt as if those emotions went far beyond that of 'friendship'. He was more afraid than mad.

"Are you sure you're not mad?" She questioned looking up at him with tearful eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Edward continued. "But I can't let you stay with me."

"What? Why not?" Winry wiped her eyes and waited for a response.

"You just can't stay." Was Edward's simple statement.

"Why?" Winry pushed the conversation along.

"Because you can't." Edward turned and started walking. "C'mon, there's another apartment building nearby we have to be there in ten minutes. If you like it, that will be where you'll be staying." He motioned with his hand for her to follow.

"Ed! Why won't you just let me stay with you! I said I was sorry! I won't do it again! I swear!" Winry cried out and ran up to Edward.

"I told you already you can't stay."

"But-"

Winry was interrupted by Edward. "Don't make this difficult. Winry." He said in a stern voice.

Winry did not speak. She was not bothered by what Edward had said but what he had not said. Winry thought that coming here to see him would have made her happy again. And lift some pain from her heart. Edward had just made things worse. He never was good with emotions but this was unbelievable. Who could be such a jerk?

"I just thought that..." Her voice trailed off.

"What did you say?" Edward asked turning his head in confusion.

"I just thought that you could help me."

" I am, aren't I?" Edward questioned referring to the apartment he was gong to rent for her.

"Not that, Ed. I'm not talking about that. I just came here because I wanted you to tell me everything was going to be okay! I wanted you to say I was overreacting! And that grandma Pinako would want me to be happy!" Winry continued in a trembling voice. "But you never did. You pushed me away like I was nothing. Just exactly what am I to you?" Words were rushing from her mouth and she couldn't do anything to stop them.

"You mean a lot to me, Winry." Edward said.

"Then why didn't you reassure me on anything! You just left me like you always do!" Tears began running down Winry's cheeks creating rivers.

There was silence between the two. Then Edward decided to speak. "Winry, I'm sorry. But, I can't say those things. I'm not good enough to say those things. I don't know if everything's going to be okay. Heck, I don't even know if I'll live to see tomorrow! But you know very well that I can't give up. I have to get Al back. It's my responsibility. And with that responsibility comes a great risk. I don't want you getting hurt because of me." Edward said. His face becoming shadowed with painful memories. He began walking once more.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered for she knew it hurt him more than words could describe. The thought of his brother filled his mind with regrets and Winry knew that. She walked up behind Edward and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm so sorry..."

Edward blushed furiously but again he did not pull away. Her warm embrace made him feel comfortable. It was not filled with lust as it had been the previous night. But just simply with kindness. The pure intentions of taking pain off his shoulders. But still, this was nothing more than a friendly hug to him.

The fact that this bothered her made Winry wonder. Made her wonder why Edward Elric made her feel this way. Did she truly feel more for him than 'just friendship'? Or was it just the shock of losing her grandmother that was controlling her emotions? She did not know. But for now she'd help him in anyway she could. Although Edward had not done anything but hurt her she'd help him. To be wanted meant more to Winry than anything else. And to be wanted by Edward made her heart soar. But for some reason it didn't make her feel as good as she thought it would. Why is that? She wondered.

A/N:

Sorry, this chapter took so long to update. But I got it done and I hope you enjoyed it. Please review! Thanx to all you readers and reviewers! I love you!

I'll answer questions next time around.

Sky