Chapter 1

Ed hadn't budged for over half an hour. His eyes would over the notes, he would scribble something in his journal, then turn his attention back to the notes once more. Finally, Al could stand it no longer.

"Have you managed to find anything?"

"You could say that," Ed replied. "The writing talks about a person called the Philosopher. The first person to create a red stone that bypassed the law of Equivalent Exchange…"

"That's why it's called a Philosopher's Stone!"

"Exactly. It seems to imply that…that he didn't know that it required human sacrifice – the transmutation just pulled people in…but I'm not too sure about that, my Latin's really rusty. And then it says he…he did something with the stone…hid it somewhere?" Ed shook his head. "We need a Latin dictionary or something, I'm tapped."

oooooooo

The train hissed as it pulled away, leaving Winry standing on the platform at Central Station, fumbling with her home-drawn map. Pinako had sent her to Central to pick up a supply of automail alloy. The last delivery boy had damaged the goods so badly they had been forced to reorder, and now Pinako wouldn't trust anyone else with them.

Still, maybe it would give her a chance to see Ed and Al. Even if it was only a quick visit. She really did want to see them, especially Ed…

Winry gave herself a firm mental shake. 'Business first,' she berated herself, 'Then you can pay social calls'.

She peered at the scrap of paper in her hands, showing her the way to the blacksmith's. So it was left turn, then the second right…

Nose glued to the sketch, Winry ambled down the road.

oooooooo

"Thanks for helping me carry this," Winry smiled.

Jason, the blacksmith's nephew, was assisting her in lugging the heavy metal sheets back to her hotel room. Winry had decided to stay the night in Central, make sure the supplies were in order, see some of the sights, and maybe visit the Elric brothers before she went home.

Not that she wasn't seeing some sights now. Jason had proved to be a fairly capable guide, pointing out several attractions already. Like the Crystal Fountain, an enormous structure without crack or seam, carved whole from a gigantic quartz. Or the Teller of Tales, a marble pillar fifty feet high, on which was carved hundreds of folktales in pictographic form.

A raucous clanging filled the darkening sky, making Winry look up.

"Is that a bell?"

Jason nodded, shifting the metal in his arms. "The Stone Bell, the oldest bell in the city. It was carved centuries ago from this weird red stone, but it's in such perfect condition they still ring it today."

"Wow," Winry murmured, "That's what you call good craftsmanship."

It was rather awkward to negotiate their way through the crowds with unwieldy sheets of alloy dragging on their arms and obscuring their vision. So they eventually crashed into someone, Winry wasn't surprised in the least.

"I'm so sorry," Winry blurted when she felt the impact. "It's just this metal-"

"Winry?"

Winry shifted, trying to peer around the supplies. She was startled to realise just who she had ploughed into.

"Ed? Al?"

"What are you doing here!" Ed asked, then almost winced. He hadn't meant to make it sound so accusatory. It was actually nice to see her, it really was…

"Picking up some supplies," Winry said, a little hurt by his tone. She jiggled the metal in her arms for emphasis, groaning as the weight made her stagger. "Speaking of which, I desperately need to get them back to the hotel-"

"I'll take them, Winry," Al offered, easily lifting the heavy sheets from her.

"Thanks, Al," Winry beamed. "If it's not too much trouble, could you take Jason's as well?"

"Jason?" Ed eyed the boy suspiciously as Al took his burden from him.

Ed couldn't explain it, but he wasn't happy about some strange guy hanging around Winry. Logically, he knew the burning sense of resentment settling in the pit of his stomach was completely irrational, but he couldn't seem to help it.

"Jason's from the blacksmith's," Winry explained. "Thanks for the help, Jason."

With a smile and a wave, Jason disappeared into the crowd, heading back to his uncle's shop. Ed felt unaccountably relieved. Winry hadn't introduced Jason to them, so he couldn't be anyone important. Like a boyfriend, for instance…

"Follow me, Al," Winry continued. "My hotel's this way."

oooooooo

"So, why are you getting supplies?" Ed asked as Al deposited the metal on the floor of Winry's hotel room. "Aren't there delivery boys for this kind of stuff?"

"Granny doesn't trust them," Winry said succinctly. "Thanks heaps," she addressed Al.

"No problem," Al said.

"Just out of curiosity, where were you guys headed, anyway?"

"The library," Ed replied. "Which reminds me, Al, we gotta go."

"Goodbye, Winry," Al called as they hurried out.

" 'Bye," Winry waved just before the door shut abruptly.

"Nice to see you, too," she muttered to the empty room, miffed at their hasty departure.

oooooooo

"Brother, do you think we should have spent a little more time with Winry?" Al asked as they searched the shelves of the newly-reconstructed library for a Latin dictionary.

"Ah, she'll get over it," Ed waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, we can go see her tomorrow."

"How do you know she'll still be in Central tomorrow?" Al pointed out. ""She said herself that she was here to pick up supplies, and she might have gone back to the hotel just so she could pack her things. She might be leaving tonight."

Ed paused, realising with a start that Al was right. Winry hadn't said when she was leaving. He'd just assumed…and for all he knew, she could be boarding a train right now.

For some reason, panic rose in him at the thought of Winry leaving so soon after he'd seen her.

"Grab a Latin dictionary, Al, and we'll head back right away."

oooooooo

Winry was getting ready for bed when someone knocked on her door. She was surprised to see Ed and Al standing outside, with a thick book tucked under Al's arm.

"Winry! We were afraid you'd already left." Never mind that he was a suit of armour, Al still managed to look relieved.

"I'm staying the night," Winry said blankly. "I'm leaving tomorrow evening."

"Good," Ed grinned. "We were kinda worried we'd, um…been a bit short with you…or something…" His cheeks were flushed, and he avoided her eyes, but he looked genuinely repentant. "So, we'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure," Winry smiled. As they nodded and disappeared down the corridor, she called out, "And don't worry about being short with me."

'I'm used to it,' was what she did not voice aloud as she closed the door.

oooooooo

AN: This may seem a little slow, but the grounding is necessary.