Thought I may as well add another chapter while I'm at it. Remember FMA isn't mine.

Chapter 7: The Truth

She gave in to shopping the next day with money her father had given her. She had looked at him all doe eyed, something she had not done in a while. It earned her a large wad of money to spend on clothing and such things. Sometimes it was wonderful that her father had so much money. If she wanted she could be so greedy and she was fully aware of that. Did she care? Not too much, she was a lucky one so why shouldn't she enjoy it.

It didn't take her long to find the perfect dress. It was beautiful silk in a deep blue. Low cut with a split up the one leg. It would be perfect for her guests tonight. No more hiding, this evening she would let it all out.

Ed still felt sore. Her comments had cut him deep but he tried his best to forget it. She didn't know him all that well after all. She was giving up some of her freedom for a fake marriage that was to have a definite date set that night. Perhaps she was beginning to have second thoughts.

Something was still out of place with her. When they saw her relaxed on the sofa she was like an entirely different person. Her make up was completed to perfection, lips ruby red and heavy black eyes. In her hand she held a glass of champagne and she brought it to her lips smiling at them.

From the shadows another girl appeared. Her face was all too familiar.

'Rose?' he gasped.

She blinked at him and raised an eyebrow, 'My sister has already informed you of my visit I see. Tell you a whole tale about how awful I am?'

Winry glared at her sisters back. Didn't take her long to try and make a move on him did it?

'You really remind me of someone I used to know back at home, I just can't quite put my finger on who.'

When Hohenheim entered Rose gasped. Winry inwardly rolled her eyes. Trust Rose to be so dramatic.

'Hohenheim, I have not seen you in a while.'

He smiled, 'It is wonderful to see you Rose and how have you been?'

'You two know each other?' Ed gasped.

'Yes, Rose and I met in London a few years ago, during the war…'

The room fell silent. Winry felt the unease in the air. She had remained fairly safe during the war whereas Rose was in London when her own ships attacked. Winry knew she would never find out why father let Rose live in England. For one she was in danger or she had been at least. Two, she was claiming herself an English citizen and shutting herself off from her German life. Trust Rose to be special.

'You know why I left Rose?' Hohenheim asked.

She watched her sisters shoulders slump, ever the drama queen. She met her gaze when Rose turned to face her, then looked away.

'I do.'

Ed felt confused. His father knew Rose when they were in London, so did that mean she knew the version of him that died?

'Winry, can you come with me, I need to talk to you.'

He watched Hohenheim lead a rather puzzled but angry looking Winry away. Her dress moved beautifully as she walked and he kept his gaze on the flow of the material. Almost like water…

'I know you Edward.'

He snapped back to Rose when she made that comment. Her face looked stern but not cruel. Tears appeared to be forming in the corners of her eyes.

'At least I did know you. Your hair was much shorter then. Helping Hohenheim. Then one day you vanished, killed by a falling Zeppelin.'

'Rose I…'

'Hohenheim has explained who you are to me. And now I must tell you something. My father didn't call me here, yours did. I am not welcome in this family. I was the result of an affair. Winry is the only one that doesn't know this and that is how it shall remain…clear?'

Ed nodded his head and so did Al. She sat down and invited them to do the same.

'I have not known your father too long but I know he is a good man. The young boy living with him, the other you, had also originated from Germany. I knew him and he knew me.'

'Where you related?' Al asked.

'We knew each other as children. Most of his life was spent here. My sisters all cooed around him but he was too young for them. Only one of them was his age.'

'Winry,' Al whispered.

'A closer pair you could not find. She followed him wherever he went. As far as she was concerned they would always be together,' she sighed as her eyes began to well up.

'What happened? I mean why was he in London?'

She took a deep breath, 'Young boys are blind to young girls. When he was twelve he got the chance to study in London. Science fascinated him and he was hungry for knowledge. I know my sister meant a lot to him but at that time learning meant that little bit more.'

A small tear fell from her eye giving Ed the chance to try and catch up. Why had Winry never mentioned this to him? Surely she could see that they looked alike?

'She never stopped thinking about him. While the rest of us got married she kept holding on to the hope he would return. When I moved to London and saw him I did not know what to do. He was happy with what he was doing and didn't appear to know what he was putting my sister through. I couldn't tell her where he was. Perhaps if I had, or told him how she felt…he would be alive.'

'Why did Winry never tell us this?' Al asked before Ed could.

'When she heard what had happened she fell into utter despair. She would not eat, she couldn't sleep and she had the most violent outbursts. Father could take no more. He is very much a man of image and if word got out of his crazed daughter.' she trailed off. 'At night she would sneak out and search Munich for him. Became a ghost story my sister,' Rose chuckled darkly, 'Folks say that a broken soul wanders the streets calling to her lost love,'

'I remember hearing that somewhere. But I still don't understand,' Al told her.

'Father got in the best psychotherapist in Europe. Within a month, Winry had forgotten everything about Edward. Yet still she would not settle. But then you came along,' she said looking straight at Ed, 'and something must have sparked. She still doesn't remember the boy who stole her heart but you are so like him.'

'Is that why your father wants us to marry?'

'I would guess so. Why he hasn't mentioned anything of your appearance I have no idea. Perhaps he thinks he will jinx it. Either way he believes he can finally get the rebel of the family to be at peace.'

Winry tried her best to concentrate on what Hohenheim was saying but her ears were desperately trying to pick up the conversation in the other room. Rose was sneaky as well as pretty.

'So your father is still in the dark about this Winry? He knows nothing?'

'No I haven't said a word. He's getting rid of me that's all that matters.'

'You don't think that maybe he is happy for you?'

'Not at all.'

In that moment of silence she heard her name from the next room spoken by her sister. Winry tensed up. There was no way she was going to loose Ed to her sister.

'They are getting closer to making that rocket everyday. You may not even get the chance to get married,' he chuckled.

She didn't physically react but her brain went into overdrive. Ed was still thinking of leaving straight away. She would need to act fast if she was going to convince him staying would be better for him.

'I'm feeling a bit dizzy, I may go lie down,' she said to him. 'Will you tell Ed to come say goodbye?'

'Yes of course.'

Hiding a smirk she ascended the staircase. That reckless heart that beat on the night they danced pounded in her chest. She was nervous but excited at the same time.

He looked up the stairs sorrowfully. Hohenheim and Al decided to leave Ed to it. He hadn't taken the news very well. He wasn't angry at her for it wasn't her fault, but Ed was just as much a substitute to her as she was to him. He couldn't go on without telling her. She was falling for him, but he was not the person she loved.

Pushing open the door he saw her lying down on the bed. She slowly turned her head toward him and pushed herself up on her elbow. Being a lad it was hard to ignore her extremely exposed long leg or the strap on her dress falling down.

'W…we need to talk Winry.'

'Then make yourself comfortable,' she sighed indicating to the bed, 'I won't bite.'

Feeling slightly bemused he sat toward the end of the bed. She pushed herself up and looked at him with a cocked head. Winry used to do the exact same thing.

'There is something you have to know. Winry the reason you like me is…'

But she caught him off guard. Soft lips had met his in a short but beautiful kiss.

'Because I like you…no need for more than that.'

He had no wish to stop her when she kissed him again. He pressed forward in fact to deepen the embrace. Her hair brushed his arm as he put it around her.

It had been easier then she thought. He seemed to be enjoying this and so was she. She could feel his hand slide down her body, but then it all stopped.

'No…I can't!' he exclaimed shaking his head.

'Why? Father is out and this house is so big no-one will hear.'

'It's not that.'

She sunk back away from him.

'It's her. You're only doing it because you think I'm Winry.'

'Yes…no…oh look. You must listen to me.'

She felt slightly scared at the look in his eyes. He grabbed her hands and bore himself deep into her head.

'You think I am someone else, you just don't realise.'

'I don't follow….'

'Listen. It's been hidden from you for far too long.'

She tried to pull away from his grip but he held her tight. He was clamped around her wrists and all she wanted to do was escape.

'Are you listening to me Winry?'

She shook her head and pulled harder.

'You knew a boy called Edward. You were in love with him but he died. You want me because you think I'm him.'

'Why would I not remember?' she cried.

'They didn't want you to. You were so upset you were falling apart. They had your memory of his erased.'

She couldn't take in this information. Why would he make up such a stupid lie? Why was he being so horrible?

'Think hard! He left to go study in London when you were twelve. You had been friends since you were very little. Don't you remember a thing?'

She was thinking, very hard. Had her dreams been of someone else all along? His eyes…his eyes were so clear in her mind. Perhaps she hadn't been dreaming, perhaps she had been recalling…

'No!'

With a huge force she pulled herself from his tight hold and flew across the room. She flung open a cupboard and began to pull things out, throwing them to the floor.

'What are you looking for?' he inquired.

She was like a panicked animal. Her eyes looked crazed but so full of fear.

'Photo…album. If you are telling me the truth he will be in them.'

'They were all destroyed so…'

'Not quite all.'

Rose had pushed open the door and was looking toward her sister. In her hand was a gold rimmed book.

Winry flew from the room and snatched it from her hands.

Her face dropped and went pale. She took in sharp gasps and gave out small cries. Her eyes darted over the pages as she leafed through. He guessed what she was looking at. A life, a human, a love that had been torn from her very memory. Clearly something was still there as tears began to fall freely from the lagoons in her eyes. She looked up at him and then fell to the floor.