We had spent two months in Central. It was more time than I would have liked, especially with that ass Mustang visiting every other day, but Al wanted to finish up some research before we left, so I obliged him.
Mostly that meant Winry and I home alone for vast amounts of time. I didn't think spending time with my childhood friend could be more uncomfortable. During the day she seemed to avoid me, but at night she would come and sleep in my bed. It killed me how every night, like clockwork, she would cry and beg in her sleep. And every night I would hold her and promise the same thing over and over again. And she would say it every time, that phrase that sent a chill down my spine. "I love you, Ed."
One night she walked in and stood at my bed.
"Hey, Winry, get in." I scooted over as I usually did.
She didn't move to get in like she usually did, but instead, with one quick movement, slipped off her night gown, her naked body gleaming in the moonlight.
"Winry?" I choked. This has to be a dream. Has to be. No way this could be real!
"Do you think I'm pretty, Ed?" She looked down at her body nervously and then back into my eyes.
"Winry?" Okay, so the tightening in my boxers was real.
"Because you've never touched me…" She slipped into bed now, except she faced me. Winry took my hand and placed it on her breast. "Won't you touch me?"
Oh boy. Well, forget this being a dream. I rubbed my thumb gently around her nipple, casing a sigh to escape her mouth. I trapped her sigh with my mouth, crushing my lips against hers. I turned Winry onto her back and pinned her, continuing to ravage her mouth.
Suddenly, she tugged on my boxers, sending them to my knees. Though I was thankful for the relief from pressure, I stopped. "Winry, what are you doing?"
"Please, Ed." She tried to bring me back into a kiss, but I kept my head back.
"Winry, are you sure you want this?"
"We're the only ones left, Ed." She sighed and bit her lip. "Riza and Roy… Maria and Denny. Why can't we be like that?
"They're adults, Winry."
"We're adults, too, Ed." She laughed softly. "We aren't kids anymore. We sleep in the same bed every night now. You weren't expecting this?"
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't had dream about this. "No, I was." I kissed her softly and sighed. "But I have to make sure you want this."
"Yes…" She pulled me back down on her and our lips met again. I slipped my boxers down my legs and off. It seemed like we took hours exploring each other's bodies before I was finally in her. We rocked together, rhythmically, hushing cries and letting others go. After half an hour, we ended, sweaty and spent.
"Thank you, Edward."
I collapsed on top of her, my lips gently meeting her neck. I was so pathetic. I could do this for her, but not admit the feelings that were seizing in my chest. "Winry?"
"Yeah, Ed?"
"Let's go home, soon, together."
"What about Al?"
"Al will come back when he wants to. There are just things I want to do at home."
The door opened, causing me to almost have a heart attack.
"Brother?" Al was standing there, rubbing his eye like a little kid.
"What's up, Al?" I was hoping my face wasn't as red as a tomato.
"Mustang just called. Riza's gone into labor."
"Okay, go get dressed and we'll go over to the hospital."
"Okay." He walked away, leaving the door open.
"Perfect timing," I huffed. I leaned back down and gave her one last kiss.
"Let's go." She slunk out from beneath me and slipped back into her nightgown.
Within ten minutes we were all ready, heading out of the door and to the hospital. Upon arrival, you could hear Riza's voice over everything else in the building. They could have dropped a bomb and Riza's cursing still would echo over the boom.
"Roy Mustang, you bastard!"
We sat down in the waiting room, me starting to get a headache from the noise.
"If you want another baby, you're having it!"
It went on like this for hours, until silence erupted. Suddenly, Roy burst through the door, standing in that stupid victory pose of his author's note: think of his pose during the speech about miniskirts in the military. "I have an heir!"
"To what? Your massive collection of stupidity?" I smirked, but his gleam did not falter.
Winry and Al went full throttle into congratulatory mode and made a b-line to see the baby and Riza, leaving just me and Mustang.
"You know, Fullmetal," he started, taking a seat next to me, "Birth is a wonderful thing."
"Riza didn't seem to think so."
Roy laughed softly. "Yeah, she probably won't speak to me for a week."
"So, what's his name?"
"Maes Hughes Mustang," his face fell slightly.
"I'm sure he would have liked that."
"When he died, I just started thinking that all humans were good for was killing. I constantly blamed myself for his death." He looked at me, and for the first time, he looked weak, pained. "All that I wanted led to the death of those I loved."
"Or the deaths of innocent people," I reminded him, the image of Winry crying over her parents replaying in my head.
"Yes." He looked down at his hands and sighed. "But, now, I've learned humans can create life. I've created something. I've created something far more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. And now, I really do believe in equivalent exchange."
I remembered Dad at that moment… when he had told me that equivalent exchange was a lie. Could all that pain and suffering be worth one beautiful thing?
Suddenly, Winry appeared in front of me, taking my hand. "Come on, Ed, come see the baby."
I stood and touched the side of her face gently. "Equivalent exchange…" I whispered as I leaned in, giving her a chaste, soft kiss. I still wasn't sure. Could equality be reached? Was everything being back to normal Al and my reward for all the pain we went through? But what did Dad give up to send me back? My head was spinning with all the unanswered questions swimming in my brain.
"Edward, come on," she breathed across my lips.
I snapped out of my trance. "Yeah."
We walked together down the hall, stopping at a room with large glass windows. I wrapped an arm around Winry's waist as she pointed eagerly towards one of the babies. Yup, it was Mustang's kid. Same smug face, same ugly black hair. Luckily, the kid got Riza's eyes.
"Aw, I so want one," Winry crooned.
"Don't worry; we'll have plenty, Winry." I froze. Yup, that did just come out of my mouth.
"Edward?" She turned around in my arm and stared at me, her eyes wide and brightly blue. "Did you… just…"
"Ah…" I laughed nervously. Yes, I did. "About that, Winry… uh…" I sighed hard and rubbed my free hand over my face. Now was as good a time as ever. "Winry… I love you. I've loved you since we were kids. And I'm sorry I never really showed it, but I do. I love you so much, Winry Rockbell."
"Edward…" The tears were streaming down her face, but I was expecting that wrench at any moment. Thankfully, instead of the wrench, she kissed me softly on the lips and threw her arms around me, erupting into loud sobs. "I love you, too, Ed."
We stood there for an eternity, me just cradling her in my arms as she cried. One beautiful thing, huh? That's what all this suffering is for? One beautiful thing? I think Mustang got it wrong. All the suffering, the pain, what it gives you is life. That's equivalent exchange. And if I had to go through all that and end up with my brother and I in our original bodies and Winry Rockbell in my arms, I say I got a pretty damn good deal.
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Arigato, kids, for reading the fanfic. It's my first FMA fic, but IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST! Since I have a sick, sad obsession with the idea of a hidden romance between Winry and Ed, you'll be hearing a lot from me, so check back!