Prechap author's note: This is one of those stories that I write when I feel like it, I don't schedule this because this is the one I write when my feelings are at peak pride and happiness, at 11pm-3am because that's how I feel. If you're lucky I'm write you up a chapter by noon the next day, server's down so don't expect an easy chapter update system.

Chapter 6: Dancing

Al had waken up and gotten out of bed early to treat everyone to a nice breakfast but he was surprised to see that both Winry and Ed had slept in because they were first to sleep but maybe that's just what he thought.

"Morning brother, how did you sleep?" Ed laughed and picked up the box that was on the table.

"What's this Al?" Ed asked picking up the box and shaking it; Winry snatched it out of his hand and sighed.

"It's a very delicate automail part Ed, so shaking it isn't the best thing."

"Oh yeah, I guess I should have guessed that seeing that it's addressed to you at the automail garage." Ed said laughing and sitting at the table, Al serving them breakfast.

"Edward you did get mail, it's from the military?" Al and Ed looked at Auntie concerned. "Al did too, here." Auntie handed Ed and Al their letters.

Ed looked at Winry's concerned face and laughed causing her to look at him. "Don't worry so much Winry, I'm sure it's nothing big. They don't need us."

"No brother they do just read the letter." Al said bowing his head.

"Dear Major Edward Elric, we need your special brand of alchemic power. We have another killer on the lose except he is different, his father was killed by an alchemist and a military assassin and now he seeks to kill all the military's men close friends, and family, but not them themselves so they can suffer without their loves one. It is very similar to the crimes of Scar, except he is not an alchemist and just kidnaps the people and kills them, then sends the body to the military official. We need you to come and protect the men, we happen to believe that since you are on probation from the military and he is not after you, Fuhrer Mustang."

"Mine says the same thing except it is addressed to me and says that you would never leave me alone with that man on the loose. Brother, what are we going to do?" Ed pounded his fist on the table and Auntie just looked at him.

"You are on probation but they can call you back if he needs you, you'll need to be tested but if they need you, they'll call you regardless of wither they ask or not." Ed looked at Winry and Winry gave a faint smile, she was trying hard not to cry.

"Al what should we do, I can't leave Winry here, she's one of the most important people to me, what do I do?" Winry stood up and smacked him with the wrench.

"Edward, I am not just a girl, or someone precious to you, I am a military official and an assigned military official and alchemist. I can take care of myself and they won't kill me because I am a member of the military, they won't think twice, they can't punish me by killing me, only you and Al would be effected by my death." Ed sighed and then grabbed his head.

"Brother are you okay?" Al looked at Winry. "Can't you find another way, like smack him with your hand or something, a bit less damaging to his brain?" She sighed, then shrugged.

"Yeah Winry, if I get stupider it's your fault." She sighed and patted him on the head and then went outside and leaned against the house.

"It bothers you that they didn't ask for your help, doesn't it dear?" Her grandmother asked her.

"Why would he write if he'd see us tonight, and why not me is part of it too." Her grandmother put her hand on her granddaughter's shoulder.

"He can't risk taking anyone close to him out in public anymore, something must have happened last night, and any of the dates they brought were main targets too, except Riza, she's a military herself and a prize to Mustang, like you are to Ed."

"Why not me, I'm the leader of defenses, why not me?"

"Because, this guy can still take you away from me and Al and that would hurt both of us a lot and threaten your life to keep us away, this guy isn't stupid he knows us all too well, and this guy suspects that you'll come and defend everyone but that's why." Winry stood up and ran up to her room, and Ed turned around and his head dropped.

"Auntie, why is Winry upset, what did brother do?" Al asked seeing Winry run upstairs.

"Tell her the truth, and it scared her, and upset her. Edward cares so much for Winry that he wouldn't give her the chance to be in trouble, and most likely Riza feels the same way being taken away from her loved ones and put in hiding, it's a sign of weakness and they both can't handle it." Auntie answered Al and Al went up to talk to see Winry.

"Winry, can I come in, it's me Alphonse."

"Sure Al, you can come in." She opened the door and he sat on a chair next to the bed.

"Now that Ed knows I'm stronger than him, he should respect me and let me go. It's the only honorable thing to do."

"Winry, they did." Al and Winry looked at the door to see Ed leaning on the frame. Ed tossed a letter to Winry which she caught.

"Dear Winry, or Eliza as you are referred to in military terms; we need you to do a very special honor for us, we need you to protect all the women, and children, and loved ones of the military officials, your grandmother, and Alphonse are among some of the ones that we will be protecting. We can't have anyone die because of their loved ones choice to be in the military, it's unfair. Scar killed the military them who sacrificed people's blood themselves, the loved ones didn't we need you to protect them, we know you're the only one who can, please do us this great honor, Fuhrer Mustang." Winry read and bowed her head.

"I know you have to, because you're not on probation but just be careful, take care of Al and Auntie for me, I know you're the only one who can protect them, but don't let your life be for those, try to get through to him, you're good at that." She nodded and went up and hugged Ed.

"brother, I'm sorry I lied to you, I didn't mean to, I just had to." Ed nodded.

"I need you to stay in the camp that Winry is guarding, no matter what, don't leave go it Al, I want you and her safe, she can do it, and I trust her as much as I would myself, actually knowing that she beat me without moving I'm sure she could defend you much better, so stay safe." Al nodded and walked out of the room.

"That is all I ever wanted, respect from you Edward Elric. Now that I have it I love you all the more." She pulled his body toward himself. "I want to cry, but I shouldn't because you and I can take care of ourselves, but where are you going to be?"

"I wish I knew but this is turning out to ruin the dance." Ed said sorry to be leaving her again.

She whispered in his ear, "It also says that I'm not to report until the end of the week, the demonstration is canceled so we can be at the place protecting it, so we have a week for each other before we leave, so you prepare yourself for an amazing week." He smiled.

"What are our plans for today before the dance?"

"Well we prepare but first we go into town and pay the Fuhrer a visit along with Al and Auntie. Auntie is the last loved one we have left that isn't in this, leaving her alone would be stupid." Ed nodded.

"You know you are the best defense strategist I've ever seen, knowing me I'd forget her and she'd be dead." Winry hugged Ed closer. "Sorry but I had to show you how special you are, I would have never expected this girl that I use to have to protect and do all that alchemy for just to bring her to the level that Al and I were on, sometimes I miss it."

"You little… why would you miss it?"

"One, I'm taller than you now, two, because now you are fully able to do everything for yourself so I can't do anything to help you. I remember a few years ago when I came home and you were so amazed when I died my hair using alchemy. Anything would impress you, then Al scared you, it was funny, you found safety in being behind me. I really can't easily impress you anymore, and you are fully capable of protecting yourself, aren't you?"

"I guess that's so true, but that was the same reason I tried so hard to be on your level, and become like you."

"Why?"

"It brought me so much closer to you, I understood you better, being a dog of the military wasn't so bad, I understand why you act how you do at things, It makes sense. I wanted to be on your level because I would earn me respect. Day after day I'd practice because I knew the reward would be that I could finally work with you, and Al."

"I guess that makes sense too."

"I hated being useless, defenseless and couldn't rely on myself, I knew it was bound to happen, someone using me to get to you, I knew it. If I was useless we'd both be dead by now."

"Winry, I understand, but I still like it when you're useless sometimes; I also don't like it that I can't show off and amaze you but you being safe is a fair trade huh?"

"Why don't we tell Mustang our answers at the dance and we go get ready and dance, that way you get back in practice, he won't mind." Ed shook his head, and then they got dressed, and pulled Al and Auntie down to the stage and Al turned on the music.

"Al you think you could pick anything slower." Ed complained and Winry went for his wrench, Ed squirming and then she felt it wasn't there, Ed held it up.

"You need to work on your anger and taking it out on Ed so this is part of the training for both of you. Brother this is your start, to remember how to dance, Winry, this is your start, to learn how not to hurt brother with wrenches." Winry and Ed both pouted.

"Edward, Winry, behave yourselves and enjoy each other's company and dance. Winry and Ed, don't hurt each other." Ed smiled at Winry, she stuck her tongue out.

"Auntie, I think they are moving backward not forward." Al complained to her.

"No they are moving forward. Ed is just being playful because she doesn't have her wrench and Winry is doing the same because Ed always stepped on the toes of whoever he was dancing with. He has been taught so many times it gets very funny for him to try."

Meanwhile out on the dance floor, "So if you're going to help me get much better you're going to be in for a hard time."

"Why?"

"One, I've not very coordinated other than alchemy. Two, It's hard for me to be this close to you without wanting to kiss you." They both blushed and she laughed.

"You do and you'll be in for it later." She said patting him on the head like she would do with her wrench except gently and calmer. "Okay, take your right hand and place it on my shoulder." Ed did this gently but he felt sort of out of place because he had his metal arm, but the suit and his gloves would cover it, but he didn't worry about that in the empty place. "Just relax, not put you arm around my waist." Ed did as he was told and he was more comfortable with his left arm being around her because it gave him a bit of leeway compared to his metal one. He didn't want to say how sort of ashamed he felt about her not being able to fell his other arm on his shoulder. He was acting very weirdly and she laughed.

"What?" Ed demanded to know.

"You're just so stressed out with this, stay calm and just feel my movements and how I move and you just mimic it, okay." Ed was still a little freaked out, he should be use to this by now. He's had his metal arm for what, 5 years now, he should know how some people will judge him, but at least Al had nothing to worry about any more. She was just smiling as she began to move, him tensing up. She understood how he felt, but her life being automail she helped her patients and Ed, understand it, she herself wasn't a patient but understood how out of place he sometimes felt. "Ed, just really, be calm. I know what you're thinking, and don't worry, I know you better than you think, and I don't."

"What?" She just shook her head and kept moving to the beat.

"You think people will care about your automail and you wonder if I think about it, I only worry how your mind worries about it. I've dealt with this my whole life, and you need to learn that some people will care, others won't, it's the soul of the person that you really need to worry about, I don't care that you have automail, if I did you'd think I'd work with it, I know you. I really don't mind, any you'll deal with it and I promise you I don't mind, it's just your doubting yourself, that's not good, if I had a wrench I'd hit you for thinking that I did."

"I seriously don't know what you're talking about." Ed lied to her, and she just stared back and kept dancing.

Ed wasn't worried that she didn't like the automail, Winry loved automail, he's seen evidences of it so many times he doubted it was that, did she like the patients that had it was the question. What was bothering him then? "It's not that Winry really; I guess it's that I'm ashamed because I have automail, for other people to be different than me?" Winry fell to the ground and started laughing. "Winry, please don't do this to me."

"Ed you are the most different person I've ever met, everyone at this party is completely different than anyone else, you're a alchemist, who has automail, Al was a alchemist whose soul was trapped to a piece of armor. Mustang is an alchemist who killed my parents, yet he's still a friend of mine. I could give you so many special people who are so rare that it's funny."

"What about you?" She laughed.

"Me, let's see, I am a alchemist who specializes in defensive instead of offensive attacks, I love Edward Elric which most people think is impossible because of your temper alone, and most of all, I hate spending my time being a girly girl, I like to build automail and read and hang out with two people who are the most amazing people in the world; I'm sure all that it normal, right." Ed laughed and then he picked her up to her feet.

"I see what you're getting at Winry, but I feel that you deserve so much more than I can give you." This time Winry wasn't going to joke around with Ed about this. She clapped her hands together at a metal soldier and she transmuted the arm of it to a wrench and threw it at him, hitting him hard in the head, and knocking him to the floor.

"Brother!" Al yelled from the DJ station and ran to him. "Winry, what did I tell you."

"Hello Ed thought that I cared that he had automail, then he went over the edge saying that I deserve so much more than he can give me. That pushed me over the edge, him being a confident less child I can understand from time to time, but when he gets down on himself like that I can't stand it, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me, apologize to brother, I bet he's unconscious." Winry shook her head. "Winry, you hurt brother."

"He deserved it." Al looked at me.

"Winry that's not nice." Winry pouted again and sat down on the ground. Al starts crying and Ed comes to attention.

"Ow Winry, where did you get a wrench from, that hurt, Al I thought you had her wrench, wait Winry did you hit poor Al with the wrench." She shook her head and got up.

"Al, get up. Ed, one, you ever say anything that infers that again and I will hit you harder, got it. Two, Al grow up, Ed is fine and he needed to learn his lesson now he has and you're just upset because you're afraid I'm going to kill Ed."

"What!" Ed yelled and I patted him on the head again.

"I didn't mean to hurt you Ed, but you have a thick head and it had to get through to you, and I've found a wrench is the best way. Oh and I transmuted the wrench from the suit of armor over there's arm." Ed sighed and sat down.

"I'm so sorry brother, I should have watch out of her, to stop her, sorry brother, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, but what's your problem Winry?" She took her hand and took it like in kendo and brought it down on Ed's head.

"My problem is you are more than anyone even I could ask for and you're doubting yourself, you care so much for everyone and are never selfish and I could go on for hours but you get down on your self and I couldn't take it anymore. So I had to make you stop and that was the only way."

"Or you could have done this." Ed grabbed Winry face and brought it to his. "That shuts us both up every time, and it never hurts me or you, it just makes me feel a lot better." Winry smiles at Ed, and Al quietly walks away.

"It makes me feel better but if you ever doubt me again I won't think twice about hitting you until you're on the floor because you deserved it, now Al cue music." Al nodded. "Now Ed, you know what to do so do it." Ed took a hold of her shoulder and then rapped his arm around her waist and they danced.

After they danced for 3 hours they collapsed on the ground and Winry took of her shoes and looked at her feet and wiggled them. Ed raised an eye brow at her and she laughed. "Rose said once that she tried to teach you and her toes were bruised for months afterward." Ed blushed.

"What, I had only had my automail legs for a few months then, give me a break, I also hadn't ever danced before." She laughed.

"I have two feet, and so do you, feel's nice, huh?"

"Yah it does, Al sees everything as a blessing anymore, I'm glad he can feel everything again."

"Me too, Al is a better dancer than you are. I don't know how because he was never taught, was a suit of armor for those years and can't feel."

"I have no clue how you can keep a straight face saying that." She laughed. "Apparently it's not easy." She nodded.

"Al is so in tune with everything and is so young still not just physically but mentally he's sometimes so ahead, and sometimes so far behind, it's strange." Ed nodded.