Chapter 4: Meeting the woman of his dreams (quite literally)

Ed: Whines Am I ever going to regain my memories?

Authoress: Whenever I decide should happen…

Envy: I don't have to kiss him again, do I? Madly scrubs at his teeth with toothpaste I'm still trying to clean out my mouth.

Ed: You're one to talk! Angry Like I wanted that to happen!

Authoress: Sweatdrops Come on guys! We're in the middle of a chapter here!

Ed & Envy: Bows heads Sorry!

A/N Well… the start of another chapter and I am so glad to have gotten so much positive and helpful feedback. Thanks guys for inspiring the start of the next chapter.

Must Read(s)-

Expect the Unexpected

A Forgotten Memory

Gah! I can't believe that I forgot to put the 'must reads' in the last chapter, forgive me LadyRiona!

Also, I would like it if everyone that hit on the story would leave a review- I do after all accept anonymous reviews and I wouldn't mind if you simply picked at my story- it would help me to improve my writing after all…

So please, inspire the author and leave a happy (or not so happy) little review!

Previously:

He knew only that if anything were to enter his digestive system before the virus was gone he would be sick to his stomach. He was alone in the room again- they tended now to simply leave him to himself. No visitors came- none t hat is except for Envy and the large man. "Who is that, Envy?" Ed questioned at last, "Who is it that you bring with you when you visit with me?"

"Don't you remember Gluttony?" Envy questioned cautiously, "Oh, but you took such good care of him."

"Gluttony?" The name sounded somewhat familiar- but Ed could not grasp its true meaning.

"Yes. Father wished for him to accompany me, hoping that possibly he would trigger some memory or other within you." Envy said softly.

"I cannot remember. Thank you for trying anyway, I will stick with my quest and soon kill Roy Mustang, extracting Lust's revenge."

"Lust..." Gluttony fairly wailed in sorrow, "I miss Lust."

Now:

"Her death will not be in vain!" Ed said soothingly towards Gluttony who looked as though he could do some serious damage to somebody if one were to get onto his bad side.

"Ed, tell me, do you remember the Philosopher's stone?" Envy questioned hopefully.

"The- Philosopher's stone…" Ed tapped his chin thoughtfully, catching only a brief glimpse of information on the mysterious object, "Some- I cannot remember very much, but I am able to visualize the stone- what is its significance?"

"It is an object that can enhance one's alchemic abilities- should one be able to create it." Envy grinned, "And I have a feeling that you can do just that."

"How so?" Ed cocked his head inquisitively.

"You nearly did it before, but your quest was hindered. You were injured at the time, having been attacked by the military's prisoners whom were thought to be dead- but were instead surviving within suits of armor- much like your brother's. We were so close to our goal Ed, I could practically touch it."

"So, the military also likes to fool with the composition of the human body and soul?" Ed said in disgust.

"It is their way-" A noise in the hallway caused Envy to start, "we must go for now!" He said softly, grasping Gluttony by the arm, "I will return soon Ed."

With those words he and Gluttony leaped through the window and onward towards their freedom. Ed sighed and rolled over on the bed, closing his eyes in attempts to sleep and to get away from the pains of reality. Slowly, so very slowly, he drifted into a nightmarish sleep.

The stone shattered and a splitting pain filled his body. As his body began to dissipate, "Alphonse!" He screamed in agony as the impassive face of his younger brother appeared before him.

"Brother, no!" Al fairly shouted, "you promised! Don't-"

His voice had been cut off then and Ed had entered that loathsome darkness, a feeling of failure crept over him as he contemplated the day's happenings and the loss of those he loved. "Winry!" The name came to his lips and he couldn't help but repeat it as his heart broke, never again would he see her, "Winry, Winry!"

The ghostly memory of tears slid down his cheeks and he clenched his fists, how could he have been so stupid? Why had he used the stone when first it entered his hands instead of testing it out to assure himself that it was no fake? "Winry."

He awoke to the feeling of wetness upon his face and brushed tiredly at the salty tears, "Winry…" He murmured, "Who is Winry?"

"She was our childhood friend." Al's voice caused Ed to jump- he hadn't after all expected an answer, "Even though your mind doesn't remember her your body does- you're always calling out her name while you sleep. When you died she stopped speaking with me- at first I was heartbroken and then I knew why. She had lost her parents as a young child and then you- I had gained your appearance in several ways and she could not bear the burden of seeing you whenever she looked into my eyes."

"Go away." Ed said in a semi-hostile tone, "I don't wish to speak with you."

"Brother, how can you say that? Why do you listen to what they say rather than the word of your own brother? You believe that I betrayed you, because of what was said by another. I suspect that you tried to kill Mustang as well because of lies spewed forth by the homunculi."

"Oh really? And what, pray tell, is your version of what happened? Tell me everything- from the beginning and I'll tell you if I believe you or not." He crossed his arms in determination.

There was a sigh of resignation and Al began the lengthy tale, speaking diligently of their mother, teacher, and the adventures that had transpired once Ed had become a state alchemist. Even after all was told Ed still felt weary, "I suppose," he said, "that I will not truly know who is lying and who is being honest until I regain my memories- maybe this… Winry can help, if I can remember her- if only by the sound of her name- then maybe she can trigger my memories. She can be the key that unlocks the secrets of my mind."

"Why don't you eat something?" Al asked tentatively, "that is why I came, the nurse simply refuses to come into your room anymore because you are so violent towards her. She says that the one thing that really upsets you is milk. You should drink it- it can help to make you well again."

"I am not drinking that stuff." Ed said in determination, "I don't care if not drinking it causes me to be ill for the rest of my life, I will not drink it."

Al's face came into view, a light grin splayed upon it, "at least you still remember your distaste for milk. I'll call Winry now, no doubt she is with Granny Pinako, working on her latest automail creation." His grin slid away, "since your- death three years ago she has been terribly upset and drowned herself in her mechanics. I will have to call her personally to tell her of your return- if anyone else called she would not believe it to be true."

"When will she be here?" Ed asked in a dull voice.

"Tomorrow evening at the very latest."

"Good, I don't want anybody else in this room until then- not even the nurses."

"Of course brother." Al said, moving once more towards the door, respecting the elder's wishes.

At some point Ed had drifted back into a sleep- a dreamless one at that- and when he next awoke it was midafternoon the next day and his fever had gone down considerably. That was when he saw her in the corner, standing cautiously as though she were in a dream, "Edward?" Her voice was soft and broken from crying, he could see by the redness of her eyes that she had done so.

"You are- Winry?" He questioned, drinking in her appearance ravenously.

She looked so familiar and he desparately longed for her carress. Mentally he could feel that wall begin to crumble, she had to be the key to regaining his lost memories. Tears rose in her eyes and flooded over her cheeks, "so you- so you really don't remember me, huh? Alphonse tells me that you even tried to k-kill Mustang." Her shoulders shook as she began to sob.

Review Responses:

Fayte Angel: I really don't know what all will happen- the writing is relatively spontaneous and comes of its own free will, I was quite amused last chapter that you had the same idea as me :P anyway, I really hope to hear from you again!

Adurama: Yes, you can't forget his distaste for milk XDD I read the manga and couldn't help but laugh when I read it, also when I saw it on the series I'm glad that you reviewed and hope to hear from you again soon!

Yunie: Thanks I'm glad that you enjoy the story…

winryrockbell2: I'm glad that you like the title, so just for you I'll keep it. Now I can't tell you whether or not Ed will regain his memories, that would ruin the whole spontaneous storyline! ;-P

sanity is under-rated: It's nice to see a new face- thanks for reviewing

A/N: Anyway, I figured that I would update Thursday rather than Friday… I love that I've gotten so many reviews Who knows… maybe I'll get something over 40 (my highest review count on a story was 39) The next chapter is underway, I'll most likely update on Monday- or after I've gotten some reviews… Well, I think I'll go actually start the next chapter.

Ja ne!

Aka-chan