Sorryfor the long wait!And yay for Al hormones. I love Munich Al, if he is anything like I have created him, I'll fall in love.

Okay, everyone. Lia went on vacation! So it's not her fault! Okay! Love you lia! Huggles

Chapter Four: The Beginning

"And what do you do with these…?" He held up the piece of metal he was currently looking at with awe. He had never seen these types of … well whatever they were back at home.

"Silly, they are just a certain type of screw…" Her eyes suddenly became distant when she saw the metal he was holding up and looked away. Al placed the screw back in its container and turned around to face the woman.

"What…? Is my ignorance that depressing?" He heard a stifled giggle from the woman and ran his fingers through his hair cockily. At least he could get the girl to laugh. He wasn't up for heated glares and annoyed stares from her for the entire day.

"That's just a type of screw I use for Ed… I forgot it once… I guess I was just… thinking… about…" Her laughter died away, but at least she had turned to face him.

"Reminiscing right?" He finished her sentence. She nodded slightly and turned to look at some different types of screws. She trailed off, again! He was beginning to get sick of finishing her sentences for her. Everything! And Al meant everything in Central was reminding her of Ed. He thought this was supposed to be a cheery day out in one of her favourite places. Even everyone that stopped to speak to her was upset, it's like they were all hiding this deep dark secret that he wasn't aloud allowed to know.

"Riza."

Al looked to the side when he heard the softly spoken name from Winry's lips. There was a woman in a uniform… most likely military gazing down at Winry with despair. Riza hadn't turned to look Al's way yet but after a few more seconds of silence she was bound to. And when she did, it wasn't exactly the most comfortable gaze he had ever held in his life.

"Winry… who is this?" Winry glanced sideways at Al hesitantly and rubbed her wrist somewhat nervously. Was she hesitating to tell this woman about him?

"Al…"

"Al? But last time I checked he was doing something for Mustang."

"Al's not getting into trouble is he?" Winry suddenly yelled… Al was getting slightly annoyed at her outbursts… or just plain scared. This woman was psycho! Beautiful, intelligent, talented, gentle… but just scary…

"I wouldn't know… Mustang and I... don't exactly work together anymore." Riza once again looked at Al suspiciously. He felt himself trying to hide behind Winry, who was definitely not enough to conceal him.

Before Riza had time to enquire about why this so called Al had blue eyes instead of golden brown… and was clearly much older than she had heard… and wasn't running around looking like his Edward. Winry spoke up.

"His name is Al, but he has nothing to do with Alphonse Elric." Riza scratched her chin and nodded with content.

"But my, the resemblance is uncanny…" Winry knew Riza wasn't going to let this go, something fishy was going on in her book. But everyone felt sorry for Winry's loss at the moment, as they did for Al's. So she wasn't going to press the matter any further. Winry wasn't quite sure if she was happy about the reasoning though.

So here he was in this machine… or whatever shop, trying to get his head around everything. Winry had bumped into someone known as Lieutenant Ross, but she didn't have much to say either. Apart from the usual, 'We are doing our best to find Edward, Winry.'

If he could tell the truth, these words only seemed to frustrate Winry. He could even swear she was forcing thank you's and smiles through gritted teeth. He wanted to ask her why… but he just couldn't bring himself to do that. She had been with Edward since she was a little girl. He would hate to think of how he would have felt if he was separated from his Winry back home for good.

He sighed to himself. I'M NOT STUCK HERE FOR GOOD! No matter what he told himself he was not going to be here much longer. That's why it was better to just meet this Al Elric, read up on some alchemy, and then get Ed and himself back where they belonged.

Al suddenly looked up when he heard Winry saying her goodbyes to the shop owner. A bag full of items… girls…

He leant against the brick wall outside as he waited for her. Dizziness had been getting the best of him all day, and he had just learned to breathe through his mouth so he didn't have to faint from the extreme smells.

He had almost fallen over a few times today, enough to worry Winry that was for sure. But he had reassured her he was going fine, was that the right decision though? Now if only she would buy me something to eat.

She smiled at him lightly as she exited the shop, gesturing for him to follow her.

"I can't afford stuff like this at the moment!" She muttered under her breath. "If only Ed and his never-ending money supply were…" Winry looked back over her shoulder when she heard the grumbles of a certain man's stomach and sighed.

"Have you ever had ice-cream?" She asked. Okay… it was a pretty pathetic question, Al had to admit. But plenty of times in their journey today she had 'assumed' he knew what things were, and it only made him look like a total idiot when he had to ask her what they were.

"Yes of course Winry." He sighed.

"Not in Amestris! You haven't had ice-cream till you have had Central ice-cream. It's almost a delicacy here." Winry grinned.

Okay, whatever. He didn't really care. He just wanted food and somewhere to sit. Ice-cream was food, it sounded good to him, delicacy or not.

Winry sat Al down on a nearby bench before walking into a beautiful store to purchase some for both of them. He didn't know what flavours they had at all. But they would certainly have chocolate right? So he had asked her for some of that. Only to be replied to with

'You are sooooo boring'

He leant his head down over the back of the bench and watched as the clouds formed patterns in the pinkish sky. The sun was setting. If Al loved anything it was watching clouds and sunsets… it was a form of comfort, he had even dragged Edward watching it a few times. He was just glad that there was a sky here as well… with clouds, and colours more vibrant than he could imagine. No wonder Ed had complained about lack of colour in Munich. If this was truly colour… it was beautiful.

He was beginning to adjust to most things. Okay, so the shine of Winry's hair still partially blinded him, but it didn't give him a searing headache anymore like it had first head. He quite liked the enhanced taste buds, and was enjoying this new set of eyes to see with. But the smell… Al had never been good with smells. He even once vomited when he smelt a dead cat… here it was repulsing. He could smell something DEAD from miles away, and when he got close… well he didn't get close. Sure there were beautiful smells as well… but they were all too strong, he found himself dizzy.

Actually… when Winry emerged from the store with his cone, he was having second thoughts about whether he should eat or not. He could feel it all coming back up later.

"There you go." She placed the 'delicacy' into Al's hands… who now felt extremely guilty. He didn't want to eat this at all. What he had thought was hunger a few seconds ago, had suddenly turned into sickness, and the ice-cream wasn't going to help. But Winry wasn't exactly rich at the moment… and she had bought him this ice-cream, and paid for lunch as well. He felt like the worst type of man on the planet. If he could work in this world he would, and he would pay for things. But suddenly appearing here, wouldn't exactly give him a record… at all… if the military found out, as Winry had warned him. Things would get ugly.

"Ugh… thanks Winry" She gave him that smile again… damn that smile. Now he definitely had to eat it. "I just hate it."

Al froze at her sudden 'outburst' and turned his head to watch her miserable face. What was she thinking about now? Why did she always have to look upset? A girl so beautiful like her shouldn't have to frown about things. Al slumped slightly with sympathy. He had to bring Ed back for her; he had to stop her looking so saddened… Ed wouldn't be happy with him if he didn't do something.

"Are you thinking about Ed again…? Winry I promise I will bring him back to you."

"It's not just Ed!" She said irritably, grabbing fistfuls of her beautiful white dress. "It's me… its Al… it's everyone…!"

He was confused at what she was trying to say, but he lowered his ice-cream slightly. He had lost interest in pretending to eat it.

"Al has gone off somewhere… He is probably getting into trouble looking for his brother." He watched as she tensed her face. "What type of big sister am I? I was supposed to protect him… but I couldn't do anything! Ed wouldn't want him running around with the military and dangerous people, I failed him. I failed Al and Ed."

"Winry…"

"And what am I supposed to do? Just sit at home and wait? I'm sick of everyone else saying that they are doing their best to find Ed. While I just sit and wait… all I can do is waiting. I'm sick of it. I'm not good for anything. Why can't I do my best for Ed, why can't I find strength for him…?" She looked away, leaving with Al with one thing to say to her.

"You are strong Winry. We can bring Ed back together. Trust me, he believes in you Winry." He smiled slightly and took another horrific lick of the ice-cream. She gave him a light smile and nodded.

Hearing her talk this way only increased his desire to set her free. She could find Ed, she could bring him back. He would make sure of it.

"Al… I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience," Winry started. Al gave a little lick of his ice-cream and shuddered… this was going to be hard. Maybe he could pretend to drop it… no that was even more horrible. "but our train leaves in half an hour, we better head for the station."

Oh great, now he had to walk and eat. He wasn't quite sure if he would still be standing by the time they got to the train station. So he was a little grateful for what happened next and a little sore as well.

They had almost arrived at a station and his lack of balance at that point in time; he had meant he failed to notice the first step. Human instincts which lead Al to extreme measures of trying to survive, ended up causing him to grab onto the nearest thing… being Winry. It wasn't his fault the dress didn't completely cover her chest… and that he had accidentally smeared the chocolate ice-cream all over… her… chest…

He stared in disbelief of what he had accidentally done. Still clinging to her dress for safe measures, still very close to her chest indeed, and still staring at all the wrong places. But it was an accident! He had tripped! She was there… oh god… he just wanted to lick it off. The ice-cream looked so much more inviting now. He slapped himself for thinking that way and cursed the male brain… or to put it in better terms, she slapped him.

"PERVERT!" She squealed with astonishment, dropping her bag of belongings to kick him in the stomach. He rolled over on the floor with pain and groaned. This really wasn't doing anything for his upset stomach. Just as she was about to step on him angrily, Al put his hands up in the air in defence.

"WINRY IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

She suddenly forgot about him and started rubbing her hands over the mess with disgust… and Al was staring wide-eyed again.

"How the hell am I going to get this off…?" He didn't mind if she just wanted to stand there trying. Sure take all the time you need Winry, rubbing your hands over it is the exact way to get it off. He groaned mentally. If Ed could see into his thoughts… oh god he didn't even want to think about that.

Al stood up and rubbed the ache in his head. Having an impact with cement… your head being the victim… was not something Al recommended to everyone.

"Diiiiii-sgusting!" She yelled with a face of horror. He watched as she continued to… try and get the mess off her chest… but all it looked like she was doing was rubbing her own breasts… and he certainly didn't mind. He slapped himself mentally again and tried to look away.

"Go to the girl's room or something…" He tried to do anything to get his mind off Winry… and the chocolate… and her skin and shivered. He began twiddling his thumbs and whistled for good measure… yes, yes, he was such an innocent little boy.

"Are you INSANE? I can't walk into the station looking like this!" She suddenly eyed him… not that he knew; he was too busy trying to think of birds and bees. There was a sudden tug on his coat. Oh no she didn't! He looked over his shoulder to see his coat was quite effective at wiping off the sticky substance…

He tried to pull it away, but she was too clingy, and had already begun wiping it off her hands. Licking her chest didn't seem so inviting anymore, punching her in the head was now his new motive.

"WINRY!" His shrill cry pierced through the quite afternoon. "HOW COULD YOU?" It seemed like he was about to cry, and Winry took a step back with fear. Not that she really cared how he felt; she had wiped it off already and only felt a faint stickiness left.

"Are you a girl?" She cried with confusion. "I can clean it when I get home!"

"But you won't! You are the worst type of woman! If anything you will make me clean it!" He took the coat off and tried to air it out… not that it would do any good.

"Well maybe I should! That's what you get!"

"What for, an accident?"

"No for staring at my chest! You dirty old man!"

"I fell over Winry, I was kind of STUNNED!"

"Well it was quite dandy how it conveniently LANDED on my chest!"

"MY COAT…!" He cried. "This is so expensive in Germany… you have no idea. Clothes like these are blessings in that dump."

"Well look at my dress!" Al looked down at her white dress and sighed. It was completely ruined… he was too busy staring at her chest to notice. How could I ever want to look at her?

"ARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He stomped his foot down with infuriation and began walking up the stairs. "How does Ed put up with you? You are a complete disaster! What kind of woman would do this to my coat ahh! Let's just get home before I KILL YOU!"

"Ed doesn't put up with me! When he steps out of line I bash him up!" She argued, walking up the stairs after him with her auto-mail merchandise.

"Oh right!" Al smirked. "I always thought he was slightly BRAIN DAMAGED!"

"Jerk! Ed was a genius and you can thank my wrench!"

They both huffed and turned their backs on one another, Al tapping his foot mindlessly.

"This train had better hurry up" He coughed slightly and felt his forehead after sweat trickled down his neck. He was sweating… He shook it off as becoming so angry at the woman behind him and coughed again. The fight had caused him to forget how sick he had felt, but he was sure it hadn't done anything to make him feel better. Actually yelling and running around in a frenzy was enough to make him feel worse.

He broke out in a coughing fit and felt his body continue to grow hot. But he couldn't believe how physically cold he felt. When a pair of hands settled on his shoulders he felt instantly calmed and tried to cheer up.

"Al… are you okay?" He heard Winry cry with worry over his shoulder.

"I don't think I am quite immune to things here yet…" He replied sheepishly. However the grin was soon wiped of his face when he began coughing again. Coughing loudly, coughing terribly. Winry stood behind him and wrung her hands together as she watched him suffer, the sweat gathering on his forehead. After a few more minutes the train pulled up in front of them. Al tried to stagger towards it, but Winry had already decided.

She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him away. "We will stay in Central tonight; we have to get you to bed." Winry sighed. She had no idea how she was going to afford this. But Al was Ed's friend; she had to look after him. Al was about to disagree when he began coughing furiously again. He clenched his hand over his throat. The pain from constantly coughing was starting to get to him, and when Winry made up her mind… well… she made up her mind.

She checked them both into a hotel and almost had to literally drag Al inside the room. He was almost unconscious. She slung his arm over her shoulder and whispered words of encouragement to him.

"Come on Al… just try to help me these few steps more."

"I'm doing my best!" He replied hoarsely through loud coughing. Winry was starting to become extremely worried.

"How long have you felt sick for?" Winry asked him once he laid down on the bed in front of him. She pulled his shoes and socks from his feet and pulled the blankets up over him.

"Not too long." He lied.

Al shivered as she swiped her fingers through his hair. It felt so nice to be touched. "Bear with me Al… I am just going to pop out to grab some medicine. It's the best I can do."

He grabbed her hand as she stood up from her seat. "No Winry, you can't afford it, please. I'll be fine."

She pulled her hand away with a small smile and headed towards the door.

"Hang in there Al."

With that he was left alone with the echoing sounds of a door shutting, and slowly slipped into unconsciousness.

Saturn Stars and Lialiakicks OUT!