Chapter 12: Gifts and Promises

Winry had finished her preparations and fell asleep on her bed, she hadn't use alchemy since the bubbles but she was as tired as if she had done a lot of alchemy. Except even Ed couldn't replenish her energy, she'd have to sleep it off and the hour did her good. There was a knock on the door.

"Winry, hi, I'm Elicia, my mommy's daughter." I nodded and picked her up and set her on my bed.

"Hey Elicia, why aren't you playing with Al and Sciezka."

"Because, I had to do something…

"What was that?"

"Thank you, you saved my life. I would have been hurt and needed to come to you for your work if you hadn't protected everyone, thank you. My mom was so scared for me but now she doesn't worry as much. Do you worry a lot Winry, you and my mommy are alike."

"I have to worry; because, it's my job to protect people and I couldn't does a very good job if I didn't care for what I was doing. My alchemy doesn't work if I don't care for what I need to do alchemy for. I worry a lot about Ed and Al, I'm afraid they will get hurt."

"But you made it so they can't."

"Al needs too much to stay in the bubble all the time and Ed if I even get near him the bubble pops so I'm just surprised that yours hasn't popped."

"Because you need me protected, your bubbles break on touch when you need them to, but you have no need to come into my bubble like you need to touch Edward to help him and such, it's different, like Al's won't break if you touch it. You just need to be more careful."

"You're right, you're smart Elicia, I'll take your advice, go get ready tell everyone I'll be down soon, where that one, it's pretty." Elicia said pointing to a very beautiful sky blue dress; it was the one I was saving for tomorrow.

"That's for tomorrow, I have one like it and it's pink," She smiled, nodded, and walked off. The night went by fast and nothing out of the normal happened and soon she was back at the house with Ed and Al. Al had dismissed himself to go talk to Sciezka. She and Ed changed into clothes that were suitable enough to walking around outside.

She sat out in the yard with Ed and then she looked at the sky. "Beautiful, huh?" He asked.

"Yes, it's very wonderful, and very pretty." She said smiling at the stars, he took her hand and picked her up, her head resting on his right shoulder. "You're a stronger then I thought you'd be, I never really thought about. So where are you taking me?"

"To the river, it's nice a this time of day, we can just walk along side it, together." She smiled, and liked the idea. She removed her hands from his neck to his face and brought his face to hers in a kiss.

He collapsed on the ground near the river, and then she looked at him and laughed. "So why did you fall down?"

"It's harder to kiss you when I have to hold you too; you make me senseless so I can't hold you and kiss you at the same time."

"Then don't, just stay here, I'm perfectly content with being with you. I'm happy no matter where I am, as long as I'm with you." Ed blushed and smiled as they lay down with each other. She laid her head down on his right side and curled up to it, like a child and hugged him tight, then she rolled on top of him. They started kissing and slowly she let her wait fall on him, soon her whole body was pressing against him, and she felt warm against his body.

Hours passed and then he awoke realizing that she was still on top of him, he smiled. He wondered if she was comfortable on top of him like that. He didn't mind, she was very light and he could barely feel her wait and it was very comfortable for him. He wondered if his automail would ever cause her pain. She had never said anything and loved automail but had she'd always laid on his left side, he wondered if that was so she didn't get hurt. She had said she didn't mind but if he ever hurt her because of the automail he'd be very upset. Having automail meant his individuality, being able to do alchemy, carry her, dance with her, hold her, and pretty much everything he needed to do required his arm so without it he was pretty weak, and he wouldn't give it up, plus she seemed to enjoy fixing automail, he didn't always but spending time with her even if painful was worth it.

"You seem to be thinking about something, and what would that be?" She smirked.

"I was thinking about you and your wonderful creation that has given me so much. I was just thinking of how talented you are to give all the things I couldn't do without this arm back to me." She blushed. "You're the most talented girl I've ever met Winry, you don't fear what others think of you, you just do what you think and know is right and defend that."

"You're amazing too Edward, as many people as I've seen missing a limb in my days no one has had such a horrifying story and in order to be missing a limb it has to come with a horrifying story but yours was horrible, to see a close friend of mine lose two limbs at one time was devastating, and then Al. I couldn't handle it. You did handle it, not perfectly but I couldn't have handled it that well. You're amazing." She felt herself crying and he sat up with her on his lap still, and held her. "As many people as I've met who need my help and how they handle it, they've all been so strong about. Even though automail is close to me and I love working on it; Auntie knew I could have created the limb on my own, and trusted me to, but she knew the emotional pain would hold me back a bit, so she helped. If I wasn't with her and you working on that arm, I was in my room crying."

"Winry…I-". She put her finger on his lips, and then brought her lips to him.

"Some days I wish I could honestly take your pain, but I can't. For you to care about how sad I feel for you is too much… you shouldn't have to. I can't bear that pain for you, and you shouldn't for me."

"There is the difference, you can't because it's physical, but I can share this because it's emotional, you helped me share in the emotional pain then too. I will always be there for you Winry."

"And I will always be there for you too."

"You always have," Ed commented. "I love you Winry."

"I love you too Edward." They met in a kiss like all the others except it was special because it was far beyond anything they've ever felt, it was pure. After they ended the kiss, he smiled and she stood up, she turned around quickly and winced in pain, and fell to her knees on the ground, he went to her side.

"Winry, what's wrong?"

"I think my rib broke and it's breaking through the skin in my side, I knew I should have taken care of that." She gently tucked her hand under her shirt and pulled it out covered in blood, and she fell over in pain. He took off his black shirt and rapped it around her side and helped stop the bleeding, he gently picked her up, her eyes still open, and carried her to the doctor on the other side of the river.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and met eyes with Ed. "It's good that you're awake, why didn't you tell me your rib hadn't healed yet?"

"One, don't yell. Two, I forgot too, I was just so happy with everything that was going on, I really hadn't felt it, not when you carried me, or when I fell off the beam during practice, or during all that alchemy but that sudden movement took it out of the brace I was using to hold it there and it broke, sorry."

"I'm sorry that I forgot too, it's partially my fault since I had forgotten too, I was just so…

"I know what you mean but we really should be more careful about our bodies." She brought his face to hers and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for helping me though."

"Anytime Winry, you needed help, that's the only way you can help someone in physical pain, do as much as you can for them." She smiled and then she careful got over to the check out center.

"How much do I owe you?" She asked still a little drowsy and not looking at the person.

"I could never charge you Winry, you saved my life and just resetting your brace wasn't a rightful thing to charge you for, all the stuff I needed was right on you, I just reset it. No charge." Winry opened her eyes and looked at the person who was thanking her.

"Molly?" Winry asked.

"Of course, I guess you're still tired. Thanks again for the automail ankle Winry, and you didn't charge me either and this is nothing compared to the prices you have to pay."

"Don't worry about it Molly, you needed it, and I was happy to help. Edward meet Molly Logan, she was positioned in Central with her mother because her dad was in the army. She lost her ankle in a train accident, fell off the car lock and the speed against the ground broke it, she hopped here to find me. I met her when I came to fix your automail some time."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Edward Elric." Edward greeted her, he usually respected most girls except Winry and bossy girls, he now respected Winry but he didn't always, and didn't until Monday of this same week.

She squinted her eyes at him, and smiled for getting to meet him. "So you're a alchemist, and have automail, I say that is quite an accomplishment." Ed shrugged, and he realized when she talked she smiled and squinted never looking at the person.

"Ed is just, very humble. It wasn't easy especially with the all the things he had to overcome."

"Alone overcoming this automail of yours is a hard feat but then joining the military is harder with all the fights, and such and becoming and alchemist is just amazing." Ed blushed again, and then shrugged.

"Molly if you mind me asking; how old is you?" I wondered why Ed would ask her. I was interested in his purposes.

"12, but May I ask why?"

"I'd rather not answer that, but would you like to come to the dance tonight, I know that Winry would have introduced me to you if you would have shown up in prior nights, so I'll tell you if you come to the dance tonight." Winry smacked Ed hard on the head. "What?"

"Think Edward," Winry had to make him think, great!

"I just barely got use to my ankle, Winry is a wonderful mechanic but if I can't stand up on it then what's the use but to see what your very interesting mind thought of I will try to make it there, okay. Winry thanks for defending me."

"Oh sorry Molly, I forgot how for others it takes time to adjust to automail I was running after 4 days, Winry scolded me for it but she was there with me every step so I guess that's why."

"I hope to see you there Molly, I would like to know what Ed's thinking of now, so hopefully see there." She nodded.

They returned home and as Ed explained what had happened Winry sat in the back yard alone and read the note Garcia had given her the previous day.

Dear Winry,

I never got a chance to thank you for all you have done for Edward in the past. It seems that you treat him right; you respect him, take care of him and will for years to come. I hope to someday here that you will wed Edward because he talks very highly of you. He never worried about his automail because he knew that as much as it was a ton of work for you and pain for himself you'd understand he broke it in protection of himself and I'm sure you would agree that your automail has no purpose on him if he's dead. Thank you for the wonderful care you've given to Edward in the hard times in his life, I hope to someday here that your services will no longer needed to care for his automail not because I want him away from you but how Edward sees it when they're back to normal he hopes to settle in and start a relationship with you. I don't know for sure when you'll get this note but I know you're a very important person in his life. I hope you find exactly what you need in each other, start a life together, have a family like I am so lucky to have. Take care of yourself, thank you for supporting Edward and also Alphonse in their states. Say hello to Ed and Al for me Winry.

-Thanks L.C.Hues

Winry hadn't noticed herself crying until Al was strolling and saw her crying and walked over to her. "Winry, what's wrong, you're crying?" Al pointed out.

"Nothing Al, just something I was thinking about that upset me." He frowned and pointed to the letter, To: Winry Rockbell- From: L.C. Maes. "Oh, I should put this away. So Al what are you doing out here, it's almost time to go?"

"I was going out here to get you, brother told me to tell you to get dressed, he didn't want to disturb you but I told him I would do it." She nodded and carefully stood up. She went to her room, and changed then came down stairs, and Ed smiled seeing her wearing the beautiful blue dress.

"You look more beautiful then ever Winry." She blushed, and came down stairs smiling. Ed took her hand and they headed off to the place where they were to take the last night to play around.

"Thanks Ed, so I guess I'm appropriately dressed for the last night of our birthday party." He nodded almost drooling. She laughed slightly at this; he noticed that she had a necklace he had never seen before on, it was pretty. "Ed, what are you looking at?" Winry asked, as if he was now staring through her. He just pointed to her necklace; she undid it and showed it to him close to his face.

"It's beautiful, where did you get it?"

"I thought Al was the one who couldn't remember anything. You made it for me, it was the first thing you made in metal alchemy, I've wear it a lot, I'm surprised that you haven't noticed it yet, or the writing on it."

"What do you mean?" She flipped it over and like his pocket watch it had the Elric family seal on it and the metal transmutation sign on it.

"You made it for me when we were about 12, before you left for the military, you mastered metal alchemy then, you also used the array and I had kept it since then. I told you this house is full of wonderful things that you and Al transmuted."

"I never remember half of the things but that stands apart because I remember transmuting that for you when we were about to leave." She smiled, being glad he did remember transmuting it.

Flashback (Winry and Ed: 12, Al: 11)

"Do you two really have to leave now?" Winry asked surprised that her two closest friends were going to join the military.

"Yes, of course we have to Winry, I need to get Al back in his body, and I need my limbs back!" Ed yelled, not being a bit sympathetic to Winry feelings about them leaving.

"Winry, I know that you're going to miss us, and we are too. But you know I can't stay a suit of armor forever, I want my body back and brother wants his limbs back. We vowed we'd search on forever until we regained that which we lost, sorry to have to leave." Winry sighed, nodded then hugged the young child who was a suit of armor at this current time.

"I know I'm just sorry to see you two leave, I know that you have to do it. Edward, Alphonse take care of yourselves, and each other, I'll miss you too." Winry said brightening up.

"I wish I could give you something to remember us by Winry but I still haven't perfected my alchemy, unlike brothers'." Ed looked at Winry talking with all then grabbed a loose sheet of metal Winry was going to throw away, and clapped his hands and transmuted her a wonderful silver watch made from the very material she loved metal, he also enjoyed the said material.

"Here Winry, I'm sorry that we have to go too, but I messed up and I am not stopping until Al and I get back that in which we lost, here, I know it's not much but you can take it to remember us by, good-bye Winry." She smiled seeing the wonderfully crafted metal.

"It's beautiful." She looked at it with sparkling eyes.

"It's nothing much, it's alchemy, what can you expect?" Ed explained. Al whispered something in her ear and she smiled and put on the necklace, nodded and hugged Ed.

"Thank you Edward, good-bye and good-luck. Don't break that automail or you'll be in for it but try not to get yourselves hurt either." She scolded, yet thanked him.

"Don't worry about me Winry, worry about brother. We'll promise when we get our bodies back we'll come and visit." She nodded and the two walked off, she having said her last words and her grandmother joining her.

"Bye boys, hope you find whatever it is your looking for soon and regain your bodies, then come back here so we can see you in one piece again." Pinako said waving, they waved behind them. Then after they were out of Winry's sight, Pinako came next to her granddaughter, "Don't worry, they'll be back, they promised." Winry nodded, then went to her room and cried holding the necklace in her hand; it was beautiful and was sat to except them being gone.

Flashback Ended

"I felt really bad leaving you but we had to be tough or our conscious would tell us to come back, and I couldn't, I needed to get our bodies back." Ed replied.

"I did too, and that's what I told Winry, remember when I whispered something to Winry, that's almost exactly what I said. She understood and tried to cheer up.

They got to the party and all the guest arrived, and then soon their last guest arrived, Molly. Molly was pretty good on her automail ankle but walking a lot hurt her so she'd rather not so she joined in with the food and talking.

The party was amazing and then Al came over to the table where Winry was talking with Molly. "Hello Winry, who would this nice girl, be next to you?" She stood up and then fell with her weak ankle; he helped her stand up straight.

"I would be Molly Logan, please to meet you, who would you be?"

"Alphonse Elric, it's very nice to meet you Molly."

"Oh, you're Edward's brother, I met him early this morning, I took care of Winry when Edward brought her to me."

"I'm glad that you got to meet my brother, and Winry."

"I've met Winry before now, she did my automail when I was in central, she was working on your brother's automail." Molly and Al talked through the whole night; Ed came to bring Winry onto the dance floor and danced the night away.

"So let me guess you brought Molly here to be with Alphonse, correct?" Ed nodded, and danced around with Winry through the night.

Sciezka walked into the room, and looked at Al hanging with Molly, she walked over to Winry. Winry sat next to Sciezka at her table. "I'm sorry Sciezka, Ed just wanted Al…

"I know, with Molly he has some in the middle of his physical and mental age. I just feel bad for Al. It's okay Winry, I don't mind, I understand. Al was just a friend to me, like Edward. I know I couldn't be more than that with both of them but it was nice. Tell him that." Winry nodded and Sciezka had a great night with everyone.

The night happily went by and that ended the party with tons of cake, and presents for Ed, Winry, and Al. They got all sorts of gifts from their friends and family. Gifts for Alphonse included paintings of places he's been but didn't remember clothing, and books on Alchemy. Edward's presents included books of alchemy, framed letters from people who he has saved, and clothing. Winry was easy to shop for hers included jewelry, lots of metal, dresses, and books on alchemy. Books on alchemy were good for all of them knowing how they loved alchemy and wanted to improve.

A/N: I know this is a bit boring but it was a very fluffy chapter, it was good for me to write. I enjoyed writing and people seem to dislike the pace of it because since it's a long time story it can be slow moving at times, I'm sure everything is going to be great in the end, you should have know it would be slow moving since the beginning because I like long stories. I hope you enjoy the fluff I got complaints about the slowness, and the fluffiness but I liked this story.

I'm on vacation, I'll have a few chapters for you but not until the weekend because there is no computer where I'm going I can't put in, hope you liked it. Aniecä