Meet in the Middle

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. Get a life, really.

Pairing: EdxWinry

It was a habit for them. Every day after breakfast and the morning chores Winry would rush out to meet Ed and Al over by the pine tree close to their houses. It was an old tree that was always seeping sap, and they always managed to get soaked with the sticky goop before the day was done, even if they only stayed under the tree for a few moments. Their parents would constantly groan about finding another meeting place without so much mess, but this one suited Winry just fine. It was in the middle.

"EDWARD! You managed to totally mangle your arm again? Why do you do this to me Ed? It's painful to see my wonderful creations carelessly destroyed because you were being reckless!" Winry groaned, "What did you do? It's flattened. I didn't know you could do that to your automail…"

"Well Winry, I sorta kinda…got it crushed under a falling wall." Ed waved his aerodynamic arm through the air, nervously smiling.

"HOW THE HELL DO YOU DO THAT! Crushed, under a wall of all things! Were you doing demolition crew or something?" Winry was ripping off the short alchemists blood red jacket to check the port to make sure he hadn't destroyed that either.

"No, Brother transmuted a support beam while chasing a pick pocket."

Al chimed in, earning Edwards relentless glares.

"My automail was annihilated, for a pick pocket. A pick pocket. Why… Why must I have such an incompetent, lazy, short tempered midget for a customer?"

"HEY! WHO YOU CALLING SMALLER THEN A VEST BUTTON STITCH SHORT MIGET!" Edward screamed, waving his arm so frantically it was creating quite a breeze.

"I am." Winry stated venomously, and with a quick jerk, she ripped the automail out of its port. "Meet me in the operating room, you're going to need you leg re-measured, you've actually grown some, button stitch." But Ed was still sprawled on the floor from the sudden pain, and was to busy cursing under his breath to hear her last 'affectionate' comment on his height.

Granny Pinako had instructed Winry to go outside and get some air. She had spent all of that morning slaving over Ed's new arm, either tat or salvaging what parts she could from the old contraptions remains. Which wasn't much. She reluctantly agreed and stepped onto the porch, still getting her land legs from sitting so insanely long. She reminded herself to kill Edward when she had the chance, and set out on the dirt path, just taking the one that seemed natural. She let her legs lead her, and she lost herself in thought as she often did while she was walking.

She didn't know what to do about Ed. He was always so stubborn, and arrogant, that she had never really found a time where she felt safe telling him her feelings. Also, Al was always with him, so getting him alone was a task in and of itself. She had liked him ever since she was little. Sure Al was nice, but she just didn't find him attractive in that way. Edward always had something for her to laugh at, or find. In fact, he was kind of like their ring leader when they were little, leading explorations through the forests of the vegetable garden, and facing fearsome creatures like lizards and really big bugs. The smile he had was so attractive, and as she grew she only found herself liking him so much to were it hurt. But Edward was a man with a mission, and hell and high waters couldn't keep him from accomplishing his task. So she knew there would be no room for her in his life, she would get in the way. He probably didn't like her anyways…

A sudden hard force slammed itself into her toes, making her hop around cursing angrily, but she was thankful for the closed toe shoes she had decided to wear. When she had finished nursing her toe, she looked down at the old stump that she had bumped into. It was just a regular old…

"Pine stump." She said, falling to her knees before the remains of the old safe house of their childish desires. It showed signs of being cut down rather recently, there was still some sap hardened on the dead face, almost like tears. She caressed the old stump lovingly, looking at the clear view to the plot of land that used to be Edward's home. The frame was still standing to her surprise, the charred wood getting beaten by the merciless light of day. She got up and sat on the stump, thinking back to all the times they had climbed, kicked, scratched, they down right abused the old tree. But she still felt so attached to it, as a small tear of loss allowed itself to slip along her cheek. She was losing a bit of Edward everyday, and now this. She held back the rest of the tears, trying to regain some dignity. She hadn't come here in years, why should it have mattered?

"So it's gone, eh? That tree was so big, I never expected it to just go like it did." Winry jolted upright and stared at the blonde boy who had now moved to her side, his right sleeve flapping in the breeze.

"Remember that one time I climbed it to get up to a birds nest and got so sticky the eggs clung to my fingers the whole day? You laughed so hard, so did Al. I must have looked pretty stupid trying to get it off one hand only getting it stuck to the other."

"Then it got stuck to both hands, and you couldn't pry them apart, so I went and pulled them apart, only to get my hands stuck to yours-" Winry was cut off by Edward's small laugh.

"Aunt Pinako about had a fit thinking we were holding hands, and your mom took a picture of us covered in sap and stuck together." Edward laughed quietly, a small smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. "Al about had a heart attack, he thought we would have to be stuck together for life, with rotting bird eggs in our hands."

Winry let out a small laugh, staring up at the blue sky. There were moments of contented silence, just the sound of the breeze keeping them company with the phantom needles rustling and old laughter long lost.

"You know, your mother and mine had a bet that we would get married someday. My father was the only one that defended poor Al, everyone else was convinced that we would at least admit our feelings for the other. Shows how silly parents can be." Winry said, her voice pained as her eyes moved from the sky to her knees. Edward just remained silent, the silence now growing more uncomfortable with unconfesed emotions stirring the thick air between their hearts.

"Winry… Do you love me?" Edwards question just about made her bowl over in surprise as brilliant blue eyes jerked over to his golden ones. His face was determined, his eyebrows furrowed as if he was expecting a painful answer. She didn't speak for a time, she didn't know what to say, and she just stared, her mouth agape with awe.

"Say that again?"

He shifted nervously, his gaze averting itself to the blades of grass.

"Do you… love me?" Edward was red now, turning away to hide his crimson cheeks. Winry finally was snapped back to reality, and reality had angry, either that or hyper butterflies flying rampant around in her stomach. She tapped his shoulder lightly, his face turning to her as a furious heat rose in her cheeks knowing what she was about to do.

She kissed him, with all she had. Every ounce of love and desire forced out of her like a torrent on to his lips, if she kept at his pace he would get bruised.

He sat stiff as a board at first, eyes wide in surprise and staring at the beautiful girl that was about to make him fall off the stump. Then he slowly closed them and kissed her back, making his heart leap at the pleasure such a simple act could do. Her arms settled themselves around his neck as he placed more force into his kiss, his only arm being used to make sure neither went flying off into the grass.

Finally lack of oxygen forced them apart, both panting heavily.

"My room ,my house, right now Ed, or I swear to God Edward, I am going to rape you." Winry panted, her hand on her heaving chest.

"Why aren't you suddenly forceful. How about my room, your house, right now. I don't need any of your wrenches near me." Edward was already on his feet, offering his hand out to Winry.

"I guess we can meet in the middle, deal. But you better run fast Ed. I don't like to be kept waiting." She grabbed his hand and pulled herself up, and they both raced for the backdoor of Winry's house. And God help anyone who got in their way.

END

Authors Note: Hey! I'm back from the dead! We have been moving for the last 2 months, so sorry for the lag. So this is my attempt at a romantic/angsty fic. I know I suck. Oh well.

Wearer of the Viking hat,

Gabby the Great