A; "YAY!"
Drumstick; "Is it as sad?"
Bane; "Maybe…but it gets cutesie in this one."
A; "Yay?"
Drumstick; -grin-
Bane; "Okay, I'm truly sorry that the last chapter was short…but I published another story to keep you busy at the same time…"
A; -.-' "Joy."
Bane; "And Basser made a good point. Although I can't keep it completely clean, (remember, I have A for a friend…)NEVER EXPLICIT.But the romance will definitely be strong in this chapter…even if it's not including so much mattress dancing.
A; grumbles
Drumstick; "Yay! Clean; or, just not as muddy. That's good for me!"
A; begins pelting Laura with lemons
Drumstick; "Mercy!"
A; smirks "Wanna' say something bad about lemons again?"
Drumstick; "Noooo!"
"You yelled at him the second he woke?"
His face was in his hands.
"After being asleep for the last three days after a suicide attempt, you yell at him first thing? Damn it, Al! Can't you think it through?"
"Winry…I…didn't mean what I said…"
"What did you say to make him leave, then? You never told me…"
"I told him…he said something about being sick of being in his dying body; about how he was tired of being composed mainly of steel…"
"And…?"
"And I said 'you can talk'."
Tears welled up his his eyes…why had he been so infuriated?
"Dumb-ass."
She, in turn, made her way gracefully to the door, slamming it shut. Maybe she could find him…
He wandered aimlessly, finding his way to the hill Al and he used to lie on. Too familiar… He roamed farther, finally settling down to sit next to a river; the place where they had spent too many timeless hours swimming and yelling together, just the three of them.
God, how everything could change so quickly…
Despair still swam endlessly about his mind, but now he knew it; now he could control it. He now realized that, after coming so close, he had no real wish to die. He just longed that Al wouldn't screech at him. But then, didn't he deserve it…?
Where the hell would life's shortest reject hang out? She thought to herself. Had it been eight years before, she could have told anyone, but now…?
Is he so much different?
Couldn't be…
The hill? He wasn't that careless. He'd know one of them would go to look for him. She walked further, and paused when she saw him in the distance. He lay in the grass a yard or two from the river, arms folded beneath his head. The sound of his breathing still caused her heart to skip as many beats as was humanly possible.
Winry walked up to him, pausing to watch him in his slumber. It was then that she lay beside him, letting her cheek brush up against his ribcage. She fell into a deep and restful sleep there, listening to the water flow, grass rustle, and feeling the warmth of the first boy- now man, she had ever loved.
He woke to the setting of the sun. He made to get up, but felt a slight weight at his chest. Looking down, he noticed a still sleeping Winry beside him. He didn't know how she had come to be there, but here, at this moment, with her cuddled up beside him, he didn't really care. Carefully, he removed the red over coat, laying it gently over her. Edward then lay back down, waiting for her to wake.
Winry was brought from her sleep with a slight sigh.
"Sleep well?"
The voice was perfect to wake up to.
"Mmm. Yeah. You?"
"Never better."
"Guess we'd better head baaaaa-whoaaa!"
Edward scooped her up and placed her in an upright sitting position onto his shoulder.
"Thank god you make the best automail in the world. Might not have been able to do this…"
"Thank god you hit your growth spurt!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you hadn't grown any since I last saw you, this would have been like riding a miniature pony."
"Remember you wanted one for Christmas…?"
"Once! When I was five!"
"It was five years in a row, and you were seven."
She blushed profusely.
"Can't believe I still remember that…"
"Mmm."
He began walking slowly towards home.
"Oh, Ed?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you still as clumsy as you've been since…since well, since the day I met you?"
"I'm not clumsy!"
"And you knocked over the sugarbowl at my house? Den was just a pup, and you scared him to death."
"I didn't do that, did I?"
"Damn right you did. And then you fell down the stairs. I laughed myself silly."
"Oh yeah! I remember, but that was because you were tickling me."
"Was it?"
He laughed again. The sound was uplifting. It'd been too long since she'd heard that sound…
He wasn't particularly holding interest to the ground in front of him, and ended up tripping spectacularly on a malicious rock. Winry, still perched on his shoulder, was thrown upwards, whereas Edward landed on his back, skidding a few feet. He caught her in his arms. Perfectly placed, she leaned over, and after a moment's hesitation from both of them, they shared a lasting kiss.
"Told you you were clumsy."
"Don't see you complaining."
Their lips connected once more, only this time the link was more passionate.
"Think maybe Al's worried?"
"Think maybe I'm pissed at Al?"
Ed threw her a look of confusion. Why would she be pissed at Alphonse?
"I'll explain later."
They rose to their feet, making their way further into Resemboul. Their hands closed around eachother, the warmth giving their hearts reason to swell with joy.
It was 9:53 when they reached home. Edward smiled at her, planting another kiss on her forhead. Turning to leave, the tails of his overcoat flew.
"Where the hell are you going?"
"Dunno. Somewhere, I guess."
"You dumb-ass. I have a house; you're right next to that house. It's late. It's night, and low and behold; you can have your own room."
He murmured something softly.
"What?"
"Nothing. I just…can't…"
"And why not?"
He sighed, his eyes wandering, as though it bothered him to say it aloud.
"Ed, you can tell me…"
"Al didn't sound like he wanted me around here any more."
Was that what he thought?
"He was just a little mad…"
"A little? But then again, he had reason to be…"
"It'll be fine. He'll be happy to see you're back."
"I'd really rather not…"
"Since when is the Full Metal Alchemist scared of his own younger brother?"
"Since he started throwing knives into walls."
"Ed, please, for me?"
He sighed at this; he knew that she was banking on him noticing the note of pleading in her voice.
"Fine."
She led him inside.
Alphonse lay asleep on the couch, and it was difficult to remain quiet between the two of them…
Bane; "Isn't it classic?"
A; "A little TOO classic."
Bane; "Goddamn it A. It isn't just for show."
"Mmm." Winry mused.
Their fingers still interlocked; they made their way up the stairs.
He looked at his door and his heart sank.
"Well…goodnight…"
"Yeah…"
They parted, finding their beds in their separate rooms. Edward pulled off his boots. He sat upright on his mattress for only minutes before going back into the hallway. He paused for a moment, then brought his hand up to knock on her door, when, suddenly, the door opened. Winry stood at the knob in a red nightgown. Both blushed. "I…was…just… " They said in unison.
"Cold tonight…"
"Yeah…"
"You…want to…come in?"
He nodded, and entered. It smelled like roses…
The both got into the bed, snuggling up closely to eachother. Ed breathed lightly into her hair. The aroma was not of roses, but of orchids.
Bane; "By the way, just got out of Sex education… So…yeah… a little scared so far. Be warned. Basser, keep reading. It's not going to be detailed…"
"You smell… beautiful…"
Her smile broadened. From anyone else, it would have sounded odd, but from Ed, and Ed alone…well, it was magic.
They kissed chastlely for only a moment before the entire world was shut out. Passion burned in their minds, driven by the love that had been blossoming for seven long years.
Clothes were a drawback; and it didn't take long to be free of them. Her skin was pale and silky, her body graceful and thin. Slender, that was the word. Ed was muscled in all the right places, now taller than he once had been.
Edward marveled at the ease in which their bodies melded together…
She woke up pleasantly in his arms. He himself was watching her, his golden eyes dancing with love and amusement.
"Good morning, Sunshine."
"Since when do you call me Sunshine?"
"Since I woke up to find the sun glistening next to me."
"Mmm." She yawned.
Silence flowed freely.
"Why do you keep staring at me? Surely I wasn't that bad last night."
She threw him a look of exaggerated scorn as he laughed.
"You're…just so…brilliant."
Bane; "You thought I was going to say beautiful, didn't you? WELL I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU! Earth to Originality; Bane's in town!"
Drumstick: "You're taking this a wee too far."
They both got out of bed, throwing furtive glances, and trying not to be caught doing so. Once both dressed, Winry opened the door slowly. Someone was cooking downstairs. Al must have gotten home early. She shut the door once more.
"Well…I'm going to go take a bath…"
"Oh…umm…yeah."
In silence for too long, Winry blurted what had been on her mind for too long, "So...what made you do it?" "In that I loved you." Came his distant reply.
"You tried to kill yourself because you love me?"
"Yes."
"Oh. It all makes sense now!"
The hint of sarcasm didn't go unnoticed.
"I knew I was causing you pain…and I couldn't stand it."
Understanding burrowed deep within her. She had caused him to attempt suicide. Her words, forged for the sole purpose of shaking sense into him, had done nothing but push him forward; off the cliff.
"I'm…sorry."
He turned to look at her, letting his golden eyes rest on the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Smiling, he brushed them away.
"It's my fault. Not yours."
Her reply was a shy smile forming at the edges of her mouth.
"There."
"Thanks, Ed."
"Maybe we'd better get up now. Al will be waiting."
"…Or maybe," Winry began with a somewhat devious tone, grabbing a shampoo bottle, "You know, I've always wanted to wash that hair…"
He grimaced, and tried to back away. It was too late; she had him in her clutches.
Bane; "I've decided how I'm gonna' end the next chapter. It's gonna be really short, but very satisfying."
Drumstick; "Then, we'll all put everything into 'Limitations', and start on Bane's new favorite idea for another Ed Win fic."
A; "And it'll be as angsty as this one, only…new turn. Not telling you what!"
Bane; "You'll just have to read Limitations and review until I decide it's time to release it. Muahahahaha!"
A; "But don't leave, the chapter's not over!"
Al sniggered silently as Ed and Winry came down. It was obvious that they were trying to come up with a reason that both of their hair was wet. But work had to come before play.
He winced.
"Brother?"
Tension levels rose.
And Winry knew it.
"Can you say testonsterone face-off?"
She left the room in a hurry. Leaving Alphonse blushing and Ed with a look of disgust and abandonment.
"Brother?" Al asked again, his voice smaller than the first time.
"Yeah, Al?"
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean…it just came out."
"Al?"
"Yes, Brother?"
"I would have done the same thing to you."
This sent a pang of relief, and a slight jolt of uneasyness. Exactly how hard had he been on Brother? And exactly what would he have to go through if he found himself in the same position later?
Alphonse's eyes narrowed, bringing a laugh from Edward.
"You want me to go tell Winry to come back?"
"Umm…I don't think I could say…"
"You couldn't tell her that the testosterone match is over?"
He nodded feebly.
Bane; "Happy? Long chapter!"
A; "We're sorry it took so long. A lot on Bane's mind… and yet, it's so empty inside…"
Drumstick; " Whatever."
Bane; "So…wow, 42 reviews! You're got to be kidding me! I LOVE YOU GUYS! (AND GIRLS!) Wanna' try to get it to 50 to earn the last chapter…? Please?"
A; "That means she loves you guys. See how long she worked perfecting this chapter?"