When The Icicle Melts

A/N: Now it begins, the prologue will reveal some of the hidden thoughts and feelings Ed and Winry have throughout their childhood memories to the present time. In other words, when it all began. It'll be the same story, but in both POVs.

Prologue: "To a Past That Will Not Let Go"

…Winry's POV…

Ed… when I think back to how long we've known each other, I can't help but chuckle. We've known each other practically since we came out of our mothers. Sounds wrong, huh? Our mothers; Trisha and Sara, were best friends since they were children as well, so our families were destined to be close. Ed is about six months older than me, so he was there when I was born.

He was in the waiting room with his mom and dad. Granny Pinako once told me that when I was born I wouldn't stop crying, and I didn't stop until Ed and his parents were finally able to come in and see me.

Ed was the first in the room, and he ran, as best he could, straight to the bed where my mom was holding me. I stopped to look at him with tears still in my eyes. Apparently, we were staring at each other for at least five minutes. Granny called it a silent greeting in a form of child telepathy, but who knows with kids?

Granny and our parents just stood there looking at us without a word until Ed broke into his famous trademark grin for the first time. He then wiped away my tears and started stroking my head while giggling. I then joined him in the blissful act, soon followed by our parents and even Granny. Then mom let him hold me because it looked like he wanted to, as long as he sat in a chair so he wouldn't fall over.

It's funny, from the time our parents found out I was a girl, they paired Ed and I together in all activities. We were rarely apart, even as infants.

A little over a year later, Ed's little brother, Alphonse was born. Ed and his dad were in the delivery room with Auntie Trisha until her water broke, then Ed was forced to stay with us in the waiting room. When the doctor came out and told my parents and Granny that it was okay to go in and see the new baby, Ed was the first to go charging into Auntie Trisha's room. I of course, followed closely behind.

When I got there, Ed was by his mother's side and his dad was on the other. I ran over to Ed and he grinned at me. I looked down and saw baby Al in Auntie Trisha's arms. Aw, he was so cute, I wanted to squeeze him and never let go. I couldn't help but feel like I was getting a little brother too.

When the three of us were growing up we were inseparable. We really were the ultimate trio. Ed always acted as my older brother, even though he was just my best friend. Nobody dared to mess with me when he was around, and if they did, well... let's just say they ended up with a sufficient amount of bruises and sometimes even broken bones. Yeah, he was a little overprotective of me.

Then there was Al, who acted as my younger brother. He wasn't as tough as his older brother, but he supplied me with a different type of comfort: moral support. Not that Ed wasn't supportive, he just didn't know how to act when I cried and generally said something to make it worse. But with Al, even for the stupid things he would comfort me. Like when this dog came from nowhere and started barking at us. After we got away from it I started crying, and Al told me it was okay while stroking my back and giving me a reassuring smile.

The Elric brothers really are alike yet so unlike each other.

I remember the time I walked in on them while they were fighting and yelling profanities that they shouldn't have known at their age. There would have been serious consequences for them if Auntie Trisha had found out, but she was out grocery shopping. I marched over to them and yelled at them to stop, it was always something with those two, all their fights always led to punches.

They stopped when they realized it was me, they both looked so embarrassed. I took matters into my own hands and ordered them to go sit at the kitchen table while I went to fetch the first-aid kit. After I patched them up I asked them what they had been fighting about.

Before I knew it they were both at each of my sides holding the hand present and shouting in perfect unison. "Win-chan, will you marry me?" I could tell that Ed was pissed right off because Al used 'his' name for me.

Then he yelled at Al. "She likes me more! I'm cuter, smarter and I'm older!" Then Al countered with. "No, she likes me more! I'm sensitive, sweeter, and caring. Who cares if you're older?!"

I don't think Al realized the irony of saying that he's more caring but still adding 'who cares if you're older.'

By this point I'd heard enough, I told them that I wouldn't marry either of them because Al's younger than me and more like a brother. And I wouldn't marry Ed because he's too short. With that I stormed off and didn't talk to either of them for a week. Secretly though, I didn't mind them fighting over me, but who wouldn't?

But the happiness wasn't meant to last. Soon everything was taken away from us. As doctors, my parents were on call, and forced to go assist the military in the war against Ishbal. The last thing I got concerning my parents, was a letter stating that they had been killed in their line of duty. No answers to how, when, or why.

That was when Ed was there for me for the first time, he helped me through the whole ordeal when he found me in our secret spot in, what I like to call, the Sacred Forest. He held me as I cried out every tear that I had onto his chest. He didn't say anything, he just kept stroking my head. I guess he really was there for me, when it really counted.

Then fate turned its mocking eye on my best friends and took their mother from them. I knew they were planning something when Ed told me they were going off to train with their new sensei.

Granny Pinako and I didn't even know they were back until one stormy night, a suit of armour carrying an unconscious Ed, covered from head to toe in blood, burst through our front door. It was quite a sight to behold, to see one of my childhood friends without a body. Regardless, I wasted no time and rushed to get the medical supplies even before Granny Pinako could blink.

When Ed awoke, he said that he wanted us to equip him with automail so he could fix what he had done by becoming a State Alchemist so he could have access to the information he needed.

I knew it, he had heard what that military man from the other night said.

Before I knew it, one evening while the sun was still setting, I smelt smoke. I rushed outside with Granny Pinako in tow to see that the brothers had burned down their house, well more than likely Ed was the catalyst of that act.

They were leaving, I knew it would happen eventually, it just happened sooner than I thought and hoped.

Almost a year later, I got a letter from Ed saying that he had passed the State Alchemist exam. I was so happy for him that I decided to go surprise him and Al by showing up in Central unannounced.

Big mistake.

It turned into one of the worst nightmares of our lives with me being held hostage, and this psychopath by the name of Barry the Chopper trying to slice my friend to ribbons. I was so scared, I couldn't do anything to help him, I had never felt so helpless in my life…

Finally, the nightmare ended when Al and some other military officers showed up. A woman named Riza Hawkeye had a blanket draped over my shoulders and was squeezing my shoulders reassuringly while I was being questioned by a man named Roy Mustang on the events that occurred, something I never wanted to relive.

At one moment, I glanced over to where Ed and Al were sitting, and I saw it, something he didn't even do at Auntie Trisha's funeral. Ed was crying and not lightly.

So I guess for me, it all started when Ed and I were twelve years old. At that moment, I couldn't help but cry with and for him. When it dawned on me. All of our childhood history, the tragedies in our short lives, and the horrible things that he and Al must have seen that got them to this point. I knew from that point on, no matter what, I would always be bound to them both and try to help them in any way that I could.

Even when they pushed me away, it hurt so much. But deep down, I knew they were just trying to protect me. However, I wish that if they won't tell me anything, someone else would. I'd give anything for that bit of relief just to know what goes on.

I know it's wrong, but I do love them both, but my heart yearns for Ed more, it's just something about him that gives me

Because no matter how hard I try to move forward, the emotions I tried to suppress always brought me back to one person… Edward.

…Edward's POV…

Winry… has it really been that long? We've known each other since birth and now we're young adults. Time really flew by now that I think about it.

I remember once my mother told me about the day Winry was born. I didn't really want to listen, because I had the feeling that the talks about 'where babies come from' and 'the birds and bees' were soon to come. I still get chills thinking about when I first learned about 'that.' Give me a break, I was frickin' eight years old. I know they're all laughing at me especially about my… lack of growth…

Anyway, Winry's birth… I vaguely remember alot of screaming coming from the delivery room that sounded an awful lot like Auntie Sarah, which made me nervous. But my mother held me on her lap while stroking my head reassuringly. She told me that I was going to get someone to play with.

I didn't really understand what she was saying, but something told me that it was a good thing.

Finally, the nurse came out and told us that it was a healthy baby girl and that we could go in and see her. I immediately jumped off my mother's lap and half ran, half crawled into Auntie Sarah's room. When I got there I went straight to the bedside to see my new soon-to-be best friend.

My mother told me that when I got there I just stared into baby Winry's eyes for the longest time. She had been crying but stopped when I got there. I still have no idea to this day what was going on in my head. But there we were, looking into each other's eyes, the gateway to the soul.

Finally I felt satisfied with what I saw and started stroking her head while giggling. I was soon followed by everyone, even baby Winry. Then Auntie Sarah let me hold her while sitting in a chair because I wasn't big enough to hold her while standing. Eventually Winry fell asleep in my arms.

I always looked forward to the days when our families would visit, but why did our parents always pair us together? Not that I ever complained.

A while after that, my mother told me that she was pregnant, and that I was going to get a little brother or sister. I remember responding with. "But I already have a little sister." Give me a break! I was only one and I didn't know that there is a difference between a blood sibling and a best friend. My mother laughed a bit and pulled me into an embrace and told me that what I was getting was a person who I would share a special, undefined type of bond with that is different from the one I have with Winry-chan. I still didn't get it, but nevertheless, I took my mother's word for it.

Then came the day of my little brother's birth, I will always remember that day. I was sitting in the waiting room next to Winry, her parents and Auntie Pinako were there too while my dad was with my mother. I could hear her screaming and it felt like a dagger had pierced through my heart. Winry was squeezing my hand reassuringly, which helped alot. I don't think I could've gotten through that without her, I'll have to thank her someday.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the nurse came and told us that it was okay to go in and see the new baby boy. I tore off for the room with Winry at my heels. When I got there I saw my mother holding a tiny bundle, just like when Winry was born. I remember being so curious about my new baby brother and asking alot of questions. Soon Winry came in and I flashed her my famous grin. I now had a best friend and a little brother. What more could I ask for?

As kids we did everything together. Anyone would have to literally pry us apart, because where one went, the other two followed. I was the oldest so it was up to me to look after the other two. Al never really got picked on and if he did, he held his own just fine. Same went for Winry, but if ever someone did threaten her, well let's just say that they went home crying to their mama with something broken. I got in trouble countless times for those stunts, but it was worth it.

Both Al and I were violent as children, still are now actually. But we wouldn't hesitate to punch each other's lights out whenever we argued. The biggest argument being when we fought countless times on who would get to marry Winry. Al was the one who was less banged up, so I guess he won.

But when Winry found out she was disgusted with us both and told Al that she wouldn't marry him because he's younger and more like her brother, and she said she wouldn't marry me because I was too short. SHORT! That stung, coming from her. After that she didn't speak to either of us for a week. That was one long week.

One thing always bothered me though. She never once came to me for comfort, she always went to Al. I know I don't handle situations very well when she's crying, but it's just because I can't stand to see her that way, it hurts me too. So I usually wind up saying something stupid…

But things didn't last. One day we went to go see her and we found out that her parents were dead. I didn't know what to say, so I blurted out some insult to Auntie Pinako, which got us kicked out. But I wasn't going to let it go there, I wanted to believe that Winry needed me, so I went looking for her in our secret forest area. And sure enough there she was, crying. Oh boy. Instead of fleeing the scene like I normally do, I went over to her and held her in my arms. Letting her soak my shirt with her tears. I didn't say anything, but I think she was content with just my presence, for the first time.

Soon it was me and Al's turn to suffer. One day we found our mother on the floor. She was deathly sick, and soon she too passed away. That was the changing point in me and Al's lives. It was time that we focused on our alchemy and nothing else with no time for play or family. That alone proved to be a big mistake…

I remember the night Al and I came home after training with Izumi-sensei, we attempted the most forbidden art in all the books of alchemy… Human Transmutation. It all seemed to be going so well when suddenly a portal opened up and took my brother away from me. I soon found myself at a gate. 'The Gateway.' I gave up my right arm so I could bring Al's soul back and my left leg to bring mom back. The last thing I remember before passing out was Al in a metal suit that I had attached his soul to, and the putrid looking heap of flesh and pulsing organs that was… our mother.

I was unconscious, but I could feel Winry's presence beside me when I heard the voice of a man I didn't know. He was talking about a way to fix what I had done, I'm sure of it. The only thing that really stuck in my mind was to do this, I had to become a State Alchemist. From that day, that would be my new goal.

When I finally regained consciousness I asked Auntie Pinako to equip me with automail. The only things I can remember during the automail surgery was blinding, excruciating pain that I can't even put into words. But I do remember Winry's voice telling me that it was going to be okay and to stay with them, and I did. It was my desire to fix what I had done to Al and Winry's voice that were my strength through the entire operation.

Finally the day had come for us to leave, I couldn't say goodbye, this just wasn't our home anymore. So Al and I burned down our house to ensure that there was no turning back.

After a long journey and many trials, I passed my State Alchemist exam. I was so excited I had to tell Winry all about it. The following day I was told that I had a visitor. What shocked me was to find a screw that I knew belonged to Winry. Shock was easily overcome by panic when I remembered what the recent serial killer liked to do to young women, and the tire tracks in front of HQ were enough evidence for me. But I couldn't loose my mind over this, that wouldn't help save Winry.

The events soon transpired into one of my worst nightmares to this day. I thought for sure that I was going to lose Winry when the serial killer known as Barry the Chopper held her hostage, threatening to slaughter her right in front of my eyes. I can't even describe the type of fear I felt, I thought I was going to die, I thought Winry as going to as well, and I couldn't do anything. I completely lost myself and even hit Al when he and the military showed up…

After that, I was sitting with Al while Winry was being questioned by Lieutenant Colonel Mustang and First Lieutenant Hawkeye. Why couldn't they just leave her alone? Couldn't they see that she had been through enough already? At that moment I started crying, again. First it was Nina now this. I almost failed protecting someone else.

I am so sick of everything in this ludicrous world, where a child can't even trust their own father, I've had enough…

Ever since the 'Barry the Chopper incident' I've looked at Winry differently. I'm not sure what it is I feel, but she's more than just a plain childhood friend and automail mechanic to me. So that's why I had to keep her out of the fray and in the dark at any cost, even if it meant that she would hate me.

She should hate me, and so should Al. After all that I've put them through, it's bad enough that Al is always in danger. I can't risk everything I have left. I know that if anything were to happen to her, I might kill myself…

Because no matter how hard I try to move forward, the emotions I tried to suppress always brought me back to one person… Winry.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.