"I can't take it any longer. Seeing her cry, seeing her hurt, seeing her with such sorrow and knowing it was caused by none other than me. I can't take it any more! It's killing me! All this pain for just some stupid answer that I am not willing to give her? Am I afraid of her reaction? Or is it that I don't want to face the facts? What ever the cause is, the truth is that I am breaking down, I'm falling and the only one that can catch me is her."

555

"What are you talking about?" Winry asked innocently, red hot pain seeping deeper into her hand. She held it tight as to prevent some of the hurt.

I'm hurting her. I can see it in her eyes. But why can't I stop myself? Does she really deserve this pain I'm giving her? Even after everything. Why can't I stop myself from caring? I shouldn't. I have no reason to care anymore!

Edward didn't answer her. He simply stared at her with his dull eyes. They were so unbelievably dark that Winry became afraid of them. She had not seen Edward in such a way. Sure he was a little insensitive, but not like this. Not ever.

The wind whipped around the three of them. Leaves fell silently to the grassy ground and the sun was getting ready for the night. Tucking it's self behind the horizon. Although the cold sent chills up Winry's spine she ignored it. Or rather, she tried too.

"It's cold, huh?" Edward commented in a flat voice seeing Winry shiver slightly. "Now you know how it felt. How I felt." Yes, it was cold. It was just like this when you left.

"Ed, I don't know what you're talking about. If you'd just tell me then maybe it might help."

"There's no point in it. What you told me was perfectly clear. You made your choice." But I wish it was something you could take back. Too bad it isn't.

"Ed, what choice did I make?" Winry screeched. Confusion bubbled through her mind. She wrung her hand in an attempt to calm herself just for a moment so that she could think.

Then there was silence that of which Edward broke. "Just when I started to accept everything. Just when I thought I might have..." He paused. No, no! Don't tell her anything. Don't speak! You might say something you'll regret!

"What might have you done Ed? Please tell me." Winry begged.

"No." He told her. "Because words hurt. And as much as I want to hurt you, just like you did to me, I won't..." I can't. I'll die if I did.

The wind continued to blow and Ren continued to watch from a distance. If anything were to go terribly wrong he would step in and put a stop to it.

"So I guess you're not going to tell me are you?" Winry asked. She was crestfallen.

The deafening silence was his response to her question. A very clear one at that. Quiet but clear.

Winry sighed. This was one fight she knew without a doubt that she could not win. Edward had not told her anything before, not anything of importance. So why would he now? What reason would he have for doing so?

The pain in her hand had subsided and she could now rest it comfortably at her side. The tears had also stopped, but her thoughts were still troubled and her eyes were still unclear.

After all these years, I'm still not worthy of his trust, am I? Winry questioned herself even though she knew she would not receive an answer.

After all these years, I still can't help myself, can I? Edward asked himself. And just like Winry, he too did not receive an answer nor did he need one. The answer was, after all, right there in front of him. Staring at him, only at him.

I can't help but care.

555

"E-Ed, it's late. And it's getting cold. Maybe we should go." Winry told Edward in a calming voice. She was now sitting silently on the ground gazing out at nothingness. For the darkness of night had engulfed all colors and weakened her sense of visibility.

There was silence and then, suddenly an answer shot at her from the darkness.

"Where do you suggest I go?" Edward asked, not really expecting an answer. He didn't want one either.

"Y-You can always stay with Ren and I. I'm sure he wouldn't mind." She stated. Shyness could be detected from her voice. The way the words rolled off her tongue made it seem like she was asking Ren for his permission.

"You shouldn't be making decisions for other people." Edward commented, knowing for a fact that Ren hated him with a burning passion.

Ren came from behind Winry and he grabbed her abruptly around the waist. Causing her to squeak and jump in surprise. He wasn't so fond of the idea of Edward staying with them. With himself and Winry. In the same exact house. In his house of all places! Though he would allow it if it was for Winry. He would do anything to make her happy and keep her that way. As long as Edward kept his hands to himself there wouldn't be a problem.

"Well Win..." Ren paused. He made it sound like he were trying to decided on something that would determine a life or death situation. "I guess it would be okay. But only for you, got that? And if he ever lays a finger on you, I will kill him!"

"Don't worry about that okay. And thanks." Winry added gratefully. "But could you let go of me?" Her eyes drifted to where she felt his arms around her.

"No."

"And why not?"

"Just because."

"Because, what?"

"Just because..." ...I'm trying to make Edward into a jealous bastard.

Ren tightened his grip on Winry's waist.

She groaned in disapproval but did not pull away. And Edward gave a glare in the direction their voices were coming from. He knew that Ren was doing this just to tickle a nerve. But, boy, was it working!

After Ren had his fun of irritating the hell out of Edward he released Winry. And she sighed in relief.

"Um...Ed? Do you want to go now? It will be nice to be in a real home again." Winry tried to make the idea sound a little more appealing.

"I'm not going anywhere. I did not agree to this in the first place." His answer came at her with no emotion or care. If I go I won't be able to control myself. That could make this whole situation worse than it already is. A mistake could prove fatal.

Edward was swaying between the emotions in his heart. It was his way of contemplating the situation at hand. Should he care or shouldn't he? Should he go or should he stay? Those were the questions on his mind that he eagerly sought answers to.

"But Ed! You can't just stay out here all night. It will get cold and-" Winry desperately tried to find Edward, stumbling in the dark.

"Like you could possibly care about me." Edward shot at her. His words pierced the darkness as well as her heart. Damn it all. I won't be able to take this any longer.

"Ed..." She couldn't find the right words. Whatever she said would truly backfire.

"You have Ren." He spat as if it were a curse to speak of him. As if it burned his tongue with the mere mention of his name. I can't go with her. I have to make her forget about me. If I be enough of a senseless jerk maybe she will forget she ever knew me. That would be best.

"You have no right to say that to her! She just wants to help you!" Ren yelled his anger directed at Edward. "And here you are having a little bitch fit!"

"Shut up, Ren!" Edward warned. "You wouldn't understand."

"I understand perfectly. You feel abandoned, alone, betrayed, and stupid may I add. Am I right?"

Then there was silence. Ren had been right. Every word he spoke had been right.

"Oh shut up already." Edward mumbled.

"Ha! So I guess that means you're coming!" Ren exclaimed. I won't let you hurt her anymore. Especially by not being there when she needs you. Because I'll do anything for her. Even invite an enemy into my house.

555

The bright morning sun poked through the window blinds in an attempt to awake Edward Elric who had lain lazily on the guest room bed. His arms and legs sprawled out over the mattress and his golden hair flowing around himself. The white sheets were thrown around during the course of the night and were left somewhere in the corner.

Birds had begun chirping and Edward began to stir. He tossed and turned, pulled the pillow over his head, anything to keep the excessive noise and bright light at bay. But then it dawned on him. Bed, pillow, sunlight? Was he not under the same tree as he had been the night before? Had he not refused Winry's offer?

Edward shot up from the bed. A terrified look on his face. He looked around in realization that he was not where he should have been.

"Ren's house." He muttered in disgust as he glanced around at the scenery.

A wooden desk was positioned in the corner of the room. Nothing was placed upon it. No books, lamp, candle, photos, nothing. Not even dust. It was so unlike all the desks Edward had seen which had all been piled with books or something of the sort.

He turned his head to the left and his eyes were greeted with a small night stand. Nothing more than a burnt out candle stood on it's surface.

Turning his attention to the ground Edward spoke. "Hardwood floor. Not bad. Not bad at all."

After saying that he collapsed back onto the bed causing a slight creek in the old mattress.

"I should be going soon." Edward told no one in particular. "I can't allow myself to say and I thought I made that clear last night." Why did that just sound so weird? "I should have been a little more firm." Okay...This sounds so messed up. "I couldn't even say no to Winry's stupid offer!" I'm going to shut up now, before this talking to myself thing ends me up in an odd position...Gawd! Damn you, dirty thoughts.

"Better now than never." Edward said as he hoisted himself into a sitting position and onto his feet. He stared at the window for a few seconds thinking that it was the best way to escape this prison. "Bye Winry." He looked back pretending, in his mind, that she was standing behind him. "And I'm sorry. I was just as stupid as you were."

Then there was the sound of footsteps. They were faint but soon got louder as the person neared the guest room door. Just as Edward suspected, they stopped.

"Damn." Edward cursed aloud. How am I going to get myself out of this one.

"No. I'll be fine. I'm just bringing Ed his breakfast." He heard Winry yell.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Edward managed to make out what Ren was saying.

"I'm sure."

"If he does anything to you, I'll poison his dinner!" Ren warned.

"No!" Winry screamed.

"Fine, but be careful." Ren sighed.

"It's not like he's going to eat me." She scoffed.

Upon that last statement Winry opened the door to face a rather shaken Edward. She gave him a small, exhausted smile. It looked like she was having a rough night, thinking things over. The lack of sleep had indeed worn her through.

Edward stared blankly at her, the blonde standing barely three feet away from himself, holding a small tray of food. All the normal breakfast foods placed across it's surface. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, all the foods that people normally eat early on in the day. But Edward ignored the food and stared directly at her.

Winry walked over to the night stand and settled the tray on top of it. She then turned to face Edward, with pain reflected in her deep blue eyes.

He quickly turned his gaze toward the ground, the rather interesting ground might I add.

Don't look at me. Especially not like that. I'll snap. Those were Edward's thoughts at the moment he stared at the hardwood floor that the morning sun was able to reflect against.

"Ed..." It was barely a whisper and not enough to make him look up. "What did I do?"

"Don't ask me that again." Please, don't.

"But why!" She pressed the conversation. "I need to know! I deserve to know!"

"No, you don't. It's all in the past. Leave it there, where it belongs." If only someone could rewrite the past. I'd do everything over again. I'd make it right. His mind and body was now at it's brink. He wouldn't last any longer.

"I want to fix things...please." She begged as she inched her way towards him, her hand held out. She was trying to reach out to him in any way possible. "I-I want to remember what I did wrong."

"No." His answer was harsh and caused her to flinch. Edward looked up with sorrowful eyes and he began to back away. Don't come near me.

Soon enough Edward was backed up against a wall. He had no where to run or hide. It was time for him to face the facts.

Winry placed a hand on Edward's cheek. She had tears pouring from her blue eyes.

"Please." She asked again. "Tell me."

For a minute, which felt like eternity, the two just stared at each other. Golden eyes boring into blue ones. One was crying the other was on the brink of breaking down right then and there. But both continued to stare, unblinking and unfaltering. Both awaiting an answer. Edward's answer.

Winry opened her mouth to speak and that's when he gave his answer. That's when he slipped. Edward's mouth captured her's in a soft kiss. That's when he knew it was over.

Edward grabbed Winry's wrist and threw her onto the bed and they engaged in another staring contest. He could tell she was shocked and her mind was in too much chaos to register any other feeling.

"D-Does that mean you'll tell me?" Was all she managed to ask while not breaking eye contact.

He answered a second time, the same way as the first. He brought his head down to her's and kissed her. It was like feeling fire and ice. At that moment she couldn't even begin to explain it. But she knew it would not last long. Nothing with Edward ever did. And soon enough he pulled away. Much to her dismay.

"I guess I have to tell you. I don't have any other choice, do I?" He whispered huskily into her ear.

She shook her head. "You're right, for once. You've got no way out."

555

A/N:

Hi, everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in so long! Gomen! I just have been so lazy. I know, lame excuse. But cut me some slack, it's summer!

Did this chapter meet your expectations? I really hope so! (I know I've said this but bear with me.) If you have any ideas or suggestions please tell me. Constructive criticism is always welcome here.

Special Thanks:

kikyoreborn9295

Edward Elric55

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pure-reflection

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These are all the people who reviewed throughout the entire story and I would like to thank them all! You have all been very supportive!

Ok, till next time people. Bye bye.