"Four years is a long time. Anything and everything can change. As it is, things and people are changing everyday, every hour, every second. But why is it that all the changes and events of those four long years remains unsaid? I still remember though. But why doesn't she?"

555

"Winry!" Edward rounded the corner and bolted into the dark alley. Trash cans stacked up against its brick walls. By the looks of the alley it could have been easily mistaken as the site of a horror movie. The kind of movie where innocent people get murdered. Blood spattered all over the walls, it wasn't all that difficult to imagine.

He stopped suddenly. Edward wasn't bothered by the scenery, but what had really shaken him up was the smell. After all, he had seen much worse sights than some dark alleyway. Edward nearly gagged from the horrible smell that floated up from the mess. Spoiled milk and rotting food, that's what it smelt like. His face twisted and turned in disgust. And he waved his hands around franticly to try and keep the smell at bay. His sharp hand movements did nothing to clear the air.

After his stomach fell back to it's rightful place and was no longer making it's home in his throat, Edward ran from the "Smelly Alley of Doom".

"Winry!" Edward called out to the girl whom he had left a deep hurt in. He avoided the stares and whispers of passerby's that were probably alarmed by Edward's excessive yelling.

"Damn!" He cursed under his breath. "Where'd she go!" He ran down the gray, cracked sidewalk. Down a few more streets and pass a few more people. Edward felt rather disappointed in himself. By the look in her eyes he could easily tell that he had said and done the wrong thing at the wrong time. But he had to stay strong so she would not get hurt in the future. He had to prevent that.

Edward continued yelling until he reached the end of the street. A light poll stood to his right towering over him. It was turned off, seeing how it was not yet dark. But it was dark in Edward's heart, pitch black. He needed a light. Something, anything that could help him find the way. For Edward it seemed as if everything he did turned out the wrong way. And after such a long time of nothing but 'trial and i error /i ' negative emotions had clouded his heart from seeing the right path to take. And his choice to distance himself from people would have consequences if nothing was done soon. After all, everyone needs human contact. It's essential to living.

Edward lowered his head to face the ground. He took deep breaths in an attempt to lower his heart rate. His blond hair falling in his face covering it in shadow. Edward had been running for a while and still no sign of Winry. He only hoped she didn't do anything drastic especially in her unstable state. She might deliberately hurt herself and that scared Edward more than anyone would ever believe.

With the thought of Winry hurt Edward's head shot up after minutes of staring at the gray colored ground. He soon found himself staring at the exact person he was trying so hard to find. Winry stood on street across of where he was standing.

"Winry!" Edward called out to her. Winry kept running. She rubbed her eyes now and then to clear her them of the salty tears of which were streaming down her face uncontrollably.

Winry soon collided with a passerby. The person held a few paper bags in their hands and they wore a midnight, blue coat. Raven hair tied back, silver eyes wide with surprise.

Shock soon crept over his face causing his eyes to widen.

It can't be him! Why is that jerk here!Edward cursed in his thoughts.

Edward could not hear what Ren and Winry were speaking of. He wondered what words the two could be exchanging. How desperately he wanted to jump right into their conversation though it would not be a very wise thing to do. Edward kept his distance and merely watched their lips move silently.

The talk grew long and Edward was beginning to get agitated. A few times he could have sworn that Winry was going to faint. He held himself back. If they met eyes the guilt would overcome him. Edward wanted to make their 'good bye' as painless as possible. But it didn't seem to be working all that well.

555

Edward watched as Winry and Ren walked down the street, hand in hand.

"I'm sorry,Winry. You can't stay with me...You can't get hurt. Not by my side." He whispered as they neared the end of the street. He watched as they turned the corner. And he arched his head toward the lighted sky.

That would be the i last /i time he would be seeing her. Seeing his best friend. His Winry.

555

"You can't be serious!" Edward shouted. His voice bellowed through the silent hallways of the military building.

"Yes, Full Metal. How many times must I tell you?" Roy sighed and looked up from his paperwork to continue. "You are transferred to the east headquarters. They need help with a mass murderer."

"Why can't the military send some other person?" Edward said exasperatedly.

"Because they think that you are most capable of accomplishing this mission." Roy turned his gaze back to his pile of paperwork signaling to Edward that the discussion was over.

Edward grunted and turned toward the door.

He's making it sound like it's no big deal. Four years is a long time to be away. Edward sat himself on a bench and crossed his arms over his chest. I have things to do. Things to figure out. I have to get Al back. And once that is accomplished I'll...be able to see Winry. The danger will be pass and we can all live peacefully. Just us three. Edward's thoughts wandered around to all the wonderful things that he knew would probably never come to be. But he could wish couldn't he?

555

Days passed and turned into weeks. Those weeks turned into months and then it was finally the time when Edward was to be relocated to the east headquarters. For all those long months he had not seen Winry. It worried him and yet he felt relived. There was no longer such intensity in the air. And he didn't have to beg her to leave him be. Though Edward worried about Winry now and then he just told himself that she was safe and living happily. That always gave him a reassuring feeling.

Edward boarded the train, handed the ticket to the man with greased back hair, and took his seat. He gazed out of the window to the right of himself and let out a deep sigh.

Four years is a long time.

555

Edward squinted his eyes and held up his hand to shield his eyes form the light. The light of the setting sun. It was bright and cast a beautiful, orange glow on everything it touched. Even though he lay in the shade of an immense tree the light still managed to find a way to pierce his eyes. Edward groaned in disapproval as he used his arms to hoist himself into a sitting position. He rubbed his tired golden eyes a couple of times as he thought about the peculiar dream that he had awoken from.

Why would I have a dream about that? About...Winry. And that-urrgh!-Ren! Edward fell back to the soft grass covered ground. He stared up at the branches of the tree that he guessed was over fifty years old. I left them. They don't affect me anymore. I shouldn't care about them. I still have to get Al back. That's my first priority.

Edward sat up again and this time he looked strait off into the distance. All of the people living in the houses that Edward could see were probably getting ready to go to sleep for the night. He wondered if those people were truly happy living such a mediocre life. Edward didn't like being like all the other kids when he was little. He wanted to be different and live an exciting life always on the edge. But he did not realize how good it was to be normal till it was too late to turn back. He had made the same mistake again. Nothing could fix Winry and Edward's relationship now.

"Back than was I wrong for pushing her away from me? Or was she wrong for wanting to help me?" Edward hung his head low. Remembering the past had disturbed him quite a bit. "Am I cursed or something?" He asked the wind that whirled around him. "Heh. I got no one now. But I guess it's okay. I'll live." His eyes started to cloud up. Filling them with tears that were never meant to be shed, not on Edward's part.

"Hey..." A voice for behind him called.

Edward didn't turn around. He knew who it was and having them see himself crying would not change anything.

"Guys don't cry." The person stated calmly. "We aren't allowed to cry."

"Shut up, Ren!" Edward snapped. His head spun around to face the boy with his hands in the pockets of his blue coat.

"But it's true. We can't allow ourselves to." He continued turning his eyes to the sunset. "You agree with me, don't you? It's what guys like you and I live by. We've seen so many messed up things that crying over anything else seems pathetic."

"To think I've fallen so low..." Edward spoke lifelessly after a moment of silence.

"She told me to bring you back. I don't know why the hell she would want you back but all I know is that she does."

"I'm not going back. I don't need her! I don't need anyone!" Edward yelled. His voice echoed through the quiet town. Golden eyes flaming.

"I didn't say you did." Ren said as he leaned back against the tree. "But she needs you."

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. You would have been so eager to return to her. I remember that night when you ran-"

Ren was interrupted by a not-so-pleasant Edward. "Shut up! I don't want to remember that! It was my mistake!" He clenched his fist. "And if you say even a word about that, I'll kill you!" He hissed. "Because I just remembered what led me to that. A good thing too. I almost repeated the same stupid mistake." He forced himself to smirk.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ren asked.

"Like I'd really tell you!"

"You might wanna before you start crying again."

"Damn you, jerk!" Edward stood and walked angrily over to where Ren was standing.

Then a voice called out suddenly. "Ren! Did you find him?"

Oh, shit! Winry! Ren thought. He began to sweat nervously. What if she brought the wrench! I'm so dead!

"Ren! Answer me!" Winry hollered. She ran up the road huffing and puffing, trying to catch her breath.

"Yeah I found him!" Ren yelled back glaring at Edward as he did so.

Winry stopped infront of the two. Edward was still fuming and he didn't seem to notice her presence.

"Ed...?" She questioned as she inched herself closer to him, placing her slender hand upon his shoulder.

Edward regained his senses and pulled away immediately. Slapping Winry's hand off him in the process.

Winry pulled her hand quickly toward her chest. Fear and surprise reflected in her deep blue eyes. She held her hand tenderly trying to stop the throbbing caused by Edward's slap.

"Don't touch me!" Edward snapped coldly looking down at Winry with soulless eyes. The bright, golden gleam had dulled and left him, just as all emotion left him. Others feelings did not seem to matter to Edward at this moment in time. The hurt of the past had taken over and left him without a soul.

"What's wrong, Ed? Tell me!" She commanded still holding her hand close to her chest. Tears surfaced in her eyes and began to peek out of the corners.

Edward stared at the ground. A lifeless stare. He did not bother to answer Winry nor did he want to.

"You should know. I remembered. Why don't you?"

A/N:

Oh, and I know you have a lot of questions but unfortunately I cannot answer them all. Though I can give this chapter Somme clarification. Ed woke up from the dream of his past. But the dream only covered up till he left for the east headquarters. And during those four years that the dream did not cover lots of other things happened. Those are the things that he said he remembered. Understand? Good.

I apologize again for my stupid mistake. What happened was that I updated this chapter before this previous one. That must have caused you some confusion. And I take full responsibility for that. Have some cake and ice cream to show how sorry I am.

Thank you reviewers! I luv you all! I would like to recognize the following for their nice reviews...

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I'll see you in the next update and I promise I'll post the right chapter.