Chapter 4

The Virgin

Winry squared her shoulders, and walked boldly into The Songbird's interior, struggling to ignore the leers and jeering comments she attracted. She could do this, she could do this...

She strolled right up to the bar and flagged down the man Wendy had pointed out to her. Though the first time she'd seen him, she had to restrain herself from shouting 'Mr. Havoc!', remembering the chain-smoker who worked with Ed. James Takect, owner and operator of The Songbird, a house of drinking, gambling and women. He approached her, tilting a glass in her direction, but Winry shook her head. She wasn't here for a drink.

She was here for a job.

The police had been arresting a lot of the street-performers lately. For what, Winry didn't know, but she'd had some narrow escapes. She wasn't stupid – she knew she had to find another job, and fast. Wendy had mentioned that the manager of her work was looking for a new card dealer, so Winry had promptly recieved an education in how to cut, shuffle and deal cards in every game Wendy could teach her.

And now she was going to apply for the job.

"What're you looking for, honey?"

Shoving down her irritation at the pet name, Winry spoke "My name's Winry, and I'm looking for a job."

oooooooo

She got the job. Fortunately, James had been the type who respected a woman with strength.

"Good to see a gal with a mind of her own!" he'd roared after an interview with her, then lowered his voice, "But I gotta ask, you sure you and Wendy aren't twins?"

Winry had laughed and said, yes, she was very sure.

He'd had one condition, though. Winry was learning that in this world, any gambling house that wanted to make money cheated at cards, and it was the dealer who had to do the cheating. But to do so without raising suspicion, they needed a distraction. Something about their physical appearance which drew the player's attention to them, rather than the cards. Some wore fake eye patches, others applied false scars or blackened out teeth.

James was adamant that Winry's distraction should be a low-cut gown. Normally comfortable with her body, Winry felt reluctant to display her souvenir of the encounter with the would-be mugger. She told him the white, V-shaped scar had been gained in an accident with a scythe, and explained why she didn't want to work in a low-cut dress.

But James's eyes had lit up. "Christ Almighty! That'll be a distraction, alright!"

And Winry had been forced to concede. But James had offered her half of any increased takes in exchange ("You'll be a draw girl, just see if I'm wrong"). Winry knew that was really half of nothing, but had accepted it anyway.

As it turned out, she was wrong.

The Virgin, as she became known because of the scar on her breast, had drawn customers as open honey drew flies. Her looks were appealing, her voice was sweet and her cool attitude bewildering. She was a mystery, plain and simple, and her unavailability was a challenge in a house where almost every woman could be had at a price.

The sudden increase in her and Wendy's collective funds had financed Eddie's official schooling at last, and paid for a move to a small apartment with better furnishings. In short, things were looking up, and Winry was pleasantly surprised.

oooooooo

"You okay?" Winry asked as Wendy came through the door with a flurry of snow and an explosion of coughing.

"Fine," she rasped, "Just a bit chilly out there."

"Well I hope you're ready for our birthday cake," Winry grinned, producing the cake with a flourish.

"Mummy!" Eddie yelled, skidding on the wooden floor he ran in so fast. "Auntie Win said we could eat the cake when you came back!"

Wendy laughed, hugging her son tightly.

"Get over here people, or I'll eat it all," Winry threatened, knife poised to cut the cake.

Eddie scrambled to the table, almost leaping onto the chair in his eagerness. Winry cut the cake, distributing generous pieces onto each of the three plates.

It had been eight months since Winry had landed in this world. And this very day, they were celebrating two birthdays – hers and Wendy's, both women turning nineteen.

While Winry felt a pang of nostalgia for her friends and family at home, she was determined to be optimistic about this. After all, Wendy and Eddie were hardly dull party guests, and this was Wendy's birthday as well.

Winry grinned at her 'sister' over their plates. "Happy Birthday, Wendy!"

She smiled back. "Happy Birthday, Winry!"

They raised their glasses and clinked them together over the table.

"Me too!" Eddie insisted, raising his glass, "Happy Birthday Mummy and Auntie Win!"

Another round of laughter and another set of loud clinks as the glasses were driven together.

"Still," Wendy gasped out after she'd drained her cup, "Who would have thought we'd have the same birthday, on top of everything else?" She shook her head. "I could swear you're my twin sister, given away at birth!"

Winry snorted. "It's weird isn't it?"

"Very much so."

"Can I have some more, please," Eddie broke in, interrupting their conversation, holding out his empty plate.

"You must be a bottomless pit, kid," Winry said admiringly, "That's the only way to explain where you're putting it all."

Wendy was smiling fondly as she cut Eddie another slice of cake. "Not too much, okay? Or the sugar will keep you up all night, and there's school tomorrow."

"I won't eat too much," Eddie promised, already devouring his new piece.

"I suppose he gets that from his father?" Winry asked, gesturing at the young boy.

Wendy simply nodded sagely.

oooooooo

Later, when Eddie was tucked into bed and they were settling down for the night, Wendy turned to Winry, with a serious expression on her face.

"Winry...there's something I've been meaning to ask you, but I'm quite sure how to say it."

"Just spit it out," Winry shrugged, sitting cross-legged on her bed.

Wendy still looked unsure.

"I promise not to bite your head off."

"Well, I was just wondering..."

Wendy took a deep breath. Winry didn't push anymore, feeling anxious about what she was about to say.

"I...you didn't lose your memory, did you?"

For a heartbeat, raw panic screamed across Winry's mind. Then it tapered off, replaced by acceptance. She'd always wondered how long that story was going to hold up.

"You're right, I didn't," she stated simply, looking right into Wendy's eyes. Letting her know she was being honest this time.

Wendy nodded. "I knew it. There's just something about you, Win...you can just tell. It's like you don't belong in this world...you're too cheerful, too kind for you to have grown up here...so I was just wondering...where did you grow up?"

"You'll laugh at me...you'll think I'm crazy."

Wendy looked hurt. "Win...I would never laugh about something as serious as where you came from...please...tell me?"

Winry took a deep breath, silently prayed her 'sister' wouldn't think she was a nutcase, and prepared to tell Wendy the whole story.