Thanks for all the wonderful praise! I think I'll make you all happy and have a certain someone take your lovely advice that you gave him.
Winry was the first to rise that morning around 6 but she stayed confined within her room. With a yawn, she dragged herself out of bed, tossed off her clothes, pulled on a clean pair of lilac slacks and a black tub top, then wandered over to her window. She gave a light sigh and sat on the sill, gazing out while pulling her hair back in a low pony.
As the sun began to fully rise, a figure began appearing over the hill. It was a young blonde-haired male, only a few years younger than Ed and Winry. He wore faded black pants, a loose grey button up shirt, dusty brown boots, and white gloves. He held a tan sack and his red jacket over one shoulder and a grin on his lips.
"Alphonse!' the female cried out, jumping from her seat and bursting out of her bedroom.
The shock and noise jolted Edward awake and he tumbled off the couch, his head meeting with the coffee table. "Damnit!" he cursed quietly, sitting up and rubbing the wound. He then turned to the front door as it flew open and the crimson-tipped blonde rushed outside.
"Alphonse! You're back!" she yelled in delight, running out to him and pulling him into a sisterly embrace.
"Hey Winry, long time no see!" he greeted back, dropping the sack and hugging her in return.
After Ed had roughly yanked on some clean clothes, he waded out onto the porch, hands in the pockets of his black pants and a mixture of a smirk and a grin on his lips. "Welcome home Al."
Alphonse let go of Winry and turned up to his brother. "Big Brother…you're back!" he choked out in shock, eyes wide.
"No, I'm just a ghost. Of course I'm back!" Ed replied, jumping down from the porch and walking over to his kid brother.
Al didn't give him time to come within a few more feet before sprinting forward and lunging onto his brother, taking him crashing to the ground. "You're alive! I didn't think I'd ever see you again! It must have been terrible in that war, how did you…" Hundreds of questions and exclamations poured from the young blonde, drawing out a light giggle from Winry.
"Looks like the whole family is back together again." Pinako commented with a soft laugh from the front door before taking a puff from her pipe. Den bounded off the porch and joined the two on the ground, causing more fuss to come from Ed.
..:2 Hours Later:..
"Come on, let's go swimming!" Al cheered while jumping from the porch, a towel over his shoulder and the black country dog running at his side.
"Wait for us!" Winry called after him, running out from the house in her bathing suit and a towel draped over her shoulders. She had her hair back in a braid, the crimson ends curled up slightly.
The two of them stopped a few feet away from the front of the house and turned back to the porch.
"Ed, come on!" Al yelled out to his big brother.
With a groan, the older male walked out with a towel around his neck, Pinako pushing him from behind. "You know I don't like swimming!"
"You don't have automail anymore so you won't sink." Winry told him before her eyes saddened and she turned away, starting to walk again. With a light laugh, Alphonse and Den resumed their race to the water hole.
Ed walked up behind Winry and his stride caught with the still-upset female's. "Look Win, about yesterday….I'm sorry." He said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"It's alright Edward. I understand." She said calmly, keeping her gaze locked ahead while they walked.
"Can't we just forget it and have things go back to how they were before?" he asked after a moment, folding his arms back behind his head and looking up at the sky.
"If that's what you want, okay." She said, once again calmly, then hastened her stride to catch up with the younger brother.
Ed sighed and slowed his pace down, dropping his arms to his side. "I was right, she is still upset." He muttered before a sorrowful look coming to his eyes. He shook it away and followed the others.
Once at the water hole, Al and Den both leapt off the wooden dock into the bluish-green water. Winry followed with another giggle and kneeled down at the end of the dock, tossing her towel with the younger male's.
Ed sauntered after and dropped his towel by the pile as well. He placed his hands on his hips and looked down at the water. He glared at it for a moment then side, his shoulders sagging. Then, before he knew it, a strong force slammed into his back and he went sprawling forward.
The two blondes hunched over laughing furiously and Den barked happily, running around the two. Ed quickly broke to the surface, gasping for breath and coughing out water.
"What'dcha do that for?" he yelled, glaring at them both while dragging himself up onto the wood.
"You should watch your back." Al answered once he got over the laughing fit and straightened up.
"Yep." Winry said with a smile as she sat down.
"Oh yeah?" Before Al had time to move, Ed snatched hold of the young boy's nearest ankle and yanked it, pulling him forward into the water.
He rose up coughing. "Hey!"
"Karma." He spat back, pulling up onto the dock next to Winry, who was once again laughing.
"Whatever." Al muttered before pulling himself back up. The three then all burst out laughing.
After a few hours of swimming and eating some sandwiches Pinako had sent for them, they all laid on their backs on the grass near the bank.
"Hey Al, how was your training with Teacher?" Winry called over to the boy furthest away.
No answer came.
"Al?" Ed questioned, glancing over at his brother.
The young boy laid with one hand draped lazily over his eyes and his breathing was steady. Den lie curled up beside him and both were fast asleep.
Winry and Ed sat up then laughed softly at the sleeping two.
"Guess Teacher wore him out." Ed said with a chuckle, leaning back and propping his torso up with his arms behind him.
"Guess so." She replied softly, averting her gaze away.
After a few moments of silence passed, Ed sighed and turned to her. "Winry? There's something…something I need to tell you that's been bugging me for some time now."
"Yes Edward?" she inquired, slowly turning back to him.
"I'm sorry how I reacted when you confessed to me…it was just real sudden..but now there's something I think I should tell you as well…"
"Go ahead." She said gently, turning to him.
He looked down and swallowed hard. "I…I love you as well, Winry. It just took me so long to final realize it." He told her while glancing up hesitantly.
Winry froze and her breath caught. She had never figured he would return her feelings, especially so soon. Before she could say a word to respond, he cupped her chin and leaned forward, capturing her lips with his own.
Her cheeks turned bright pink but she didn't pull back. Instead, she placed one hand on the ground between them and the other on his shoulder lightly, leaning closer. Her eyes closed part way as he deepened the kiss, his other hand brushing up onto of hers.
At last they pulled away, both a bit out of breath and flushed. They stayed near each other though and their eyes locked. Ed gave a light smile and his hand gripped hers tenderly.
"I love you."