(A/N) I got some interesting mixed emotions from my reviewers on that last chapter... Well, anyways, this is the last one. After this there'll be an epilogue, so don't kill me because of the way this ends. There will be more. I plan to make this a long chapter and hope it will be pleasing.

Disclaimer: For the tenth time, I DON'T OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST! But if anyone is offering to sell it to me I'm willing to give up my soul.

The next day, Winry acted as though nothing happened the previous night. In fact, she acted as if nothing had happened the entire summer. She treated me the same as Al, just a friend. And it hurt. Worse than anything I'd ever known before.

Al was walking Emily home, she'd been spending a LOT of time with us. Though when I first met her I was relieved, it would have been weird, Winry and I being together and Al being the third wheel. Unfortunately, he and Emily only got to see a day of us together, and then I screwed it all up. So now, Winry was Al and Emily's third wheel, and I was the spare tire in the backseat.

Not that it mattered, at the moment, all I was focused on was fixing things between the two of us. Winry was heading back towards her house.

"Winry!" I called after her, trying to catch up, "Hang on a sec," She stopped and waited for me. "Yeah?" she said in her cheerful tone. The one I normally admired, but at the time just stabbed me in the heart. Repeatedly.

"You..." I chose my words carefully, "wanna hang out? Just the two of us?" She looked at me and laughed, "Sure, but quit acting that way, you sound like you're asking me out."

"Yeah..." I sarcastically replied, "Ha... ha... ha..." She tilted her head to the side curiously looking at me. "What?"

"It's the last day of the summer, I-" I clenched my fists angrily, "I leave tommorow dammit, don't act like you don't care! You think you're acting how you would if you hadn't liked me, but you're not! The Winry I know cares about her friends... whether she's mad at them... or not.." I slowed down my yelling, trying to keep calm.

"So..." she looked at me with a blank expression, "how would we do this if we didn't like eachother... that way.."

"Well," I thought for a second, "I guess we'd act the way we did before we did... have feelings like that..."

A concerned look was in her eyes as she stared at the ground, "But I've always..." he voice trailed off.

"I know, Winry," I took a step closer to her, "I have too..."

-

I had no idea what to do right then, I'd been trying my best not to get myself back into the mangled mess of feelings I had for Edward. But I did, I slipped and fell, all over again, the second I looked into his eyes. I tried so hard, to give up on him, to tell myself I didn't love him. But the second he stood so close to me, I knew it was all a lie.

I was lying to myself, and it hurt, because the worst kind of betrayl, is the kind done to yourself.

"I can't do this anymore, Ed, I just can't..." I said unable to turn away from him. "What do you expect me to do about it?" he asked, his hand grasping my own.

"I.." I hesitated, "I don't know..." we were both helpless, and in equal pain, "It's just," I said breaking the long silence of thought, "everytime you come back... every summer... I fall for you all over again. Throughout the year I'd think I had some other crush but the second you entered my life again... I liked you even more... And then this summer, coming to terms with the fact that I love you, just made it even worse."

It took awhile for me to understand my words, despite that they were my true feelings, "So," Ed began, "you're saying the only way we can ever get over this, is to never see eachother again." "It's not like that!" I exclaimed grabbing on to his shoulders firmly, "But... I mean... Is that our only option?"

He placed his hands gently on my waist, "It looks like it. We're both going to college, and need to focus on that. I don't want to mess up your future, just so I can play some stupid love game." He said in a serious tone. "But what if you ARE my future?" I screamed, defying my own logic. I was being so selfish, it was sickening.

He laughed lightly, "Then we'll just have to find out and see..." he smiled, "AFTER you graduate." I smiled back at him. We both knew it could never happen, but the sweet sensations of pointless hope still seemed so wonderful. The chances of two people, not seeing eachother for four years, but still in love, were next to impossible. There was no doubt in my mind this would be the last time I'd hold him.

"Ed..." I leaned my face in, closer to his, my lips hovered over his, our breath mingling. I wanted that moment to last forever.

"We shouldn't... do this.." he said slowly, his voice unconvincing, "I know..." I pulled my body closer to his. It was the last sunset I'd ever see with him, the last passionate moment we'd have, my last chance to make an unforgettable memory. "But I still want to.." I said, nearly whispering. "So do I..." He pulled me into a kiss.

The kiss seemed to last only a second, and an eternity all at the same time, and it left a burning sensation on my lips. "You know," he said after pulling his mouth away just enough to speak, "I'm sorry I ruined that dance you wanted so much... would you like to continue where we left off?" he asked, relaxing his arms.

"You know me too well..." I said smiling. And we danced, on my front porch, with no music, in jeans and a tank top, and it was the most unforgettable moment of my lifetime.

-

"You better not grow any more," Winry said following me out to the car, "you scared me enough last time." she laughed. "Really," Al added, "brother is almost as tall as me now." Winry looked at him for a second as I tossed the last box into the back of my moms car. "Wow Al," she replied, "you grew too, but that's expected of you, you drink your milk."

They both laughed. "Shut up," I slammed the trunk. "All ready?" my mom walked up unlocking the drivers door, "Yeah," I nodded looking back at Al. "See ya later Alphonse," I hugged him, "Bye brother, have fun, and don't get into trouble." "Yeah, yeah," I smiled and went over and hugged Winry.

"I guess it just wasn't meant to be..." she whispered in my ear sadly, "The book isn't over, until the last page is turned." I spoke only loud enough for her to hear me. She gave me a puzzled look, "Never mind," I laughed softly, "but no matter what you think, I'll never stop loving you." I backed away and got in the car, "See you later, some day..."

"Winry, dear," my mom asked her, "are you sure you don't want to go to the airport with me to see Edward off?" "No," she replied grinning, "I've taken your son away from you for almost the whole summer, and now he's going off to college! You need some time with him too."

"If you're sure," she climbed in the car and put the key in the ignition, closing the door behind her. "Wave goodbye to you brother... and Winry.." she said backing out. I waved slowly watching Winry's mouth moving as she said something, before disappearing off into the distance.

-

"See you... some day..." I told him, though he was too far to hear me. "Are you alright, Winry?" Al asked me as I watched the car drive away until it was no longer visible. "Yeah..." I said suddenly feeling exhausted, "I think I'll be okay."

"You know," he said trying to cheer me up, "Brother will be back for Christm-" "No Al." I stopped him, "Ed and I have decided not to see eachother until after we're out of college... but it doesn't matter because by that time..." I didn't want to continue, it was just too depressing.

"Winry," Al hugged me, "why wouldn't it matter anymore?" "Because..." I squeezed tightly, "two people can't still be in love after being apart for four years... we probably couldn't even be friends... but it's less painful this way.."

He shook his head, "It sounds like you're both being stupid." I laughed and pulled away, "You're right, we probably are." He smiled. "Look," I remembered something, "you're only here for one more day, you should be spending today with your girlfriend. Not mending the broken heart your brother left behind."

"You sure?" he asked, I nodded, "Okay, I'll come by tommorow morning and say goodbye!" he turned running off. "Sure thing!" I called after him.

I stood on the sidewalk for a second, not really thinking about anything. I checked the clock on my cell phone and look at my car, parked in the driveway. It was childish really, to be so pathetic that I felt I needed to see him on more time, but I went with my impulse and swung open the car door anyway.

I checked the back seat and it was still back there, Edwards jacket. I put it on, despite the August heat, and sped off to the airport. I didn't want to say anything to him, I just wanted to see him, to burn one last image of him into my memory. When I'd reached the busy airport, I parked and raced into the building.

My chances of seeing him in the crowds were slim. I wormed my way through the masses of people, and I was sweating like crazy, but I pulled the jacket even tighter around me. I heard the flight he was going on announced, and I headed for the gate he would be boarding at. I still... have a chance...

And then I saw him, the back of him walking away, blending into a crowd. He disappeared but I knew he was still within hearing distance of me, "This really was the best summer ever!"

I tried my best not to cry, so I smiled instead. I couldn't see his face to know if my words had reached him, but something deep inside me said he heard. Thinking that way, made it easier to accept that I'd probably never see him again.

I wasn't Cinderella, he wasn't my prince charming. We were simply Edward Elric and Winry Rockbell. As much as I believed we weren't meant to be, back then, I continued to hang on to my small speck of hope. And I keep it in a special place in my heart. Despite everything, I've never lost an ounce of love for him.

I still think about you, every day, and I pray that someday, we WILL meet again... just like you promised...

I wonder if you still hate milk?

(A/N) It's complete. My longest fanfiction is finally done! Wait! Don't pummel me with rocks yet, read the epilogue before you kill mem, WAAAIT! I promise it will be worth your time to read it... as soon as I post it... Soon! I promise. So, review please! I'll try and get it posted soon, it probably won't exceed 1,000 words, so it should be simple enough to write. Wow this chapter was long, over 2,000 words!