AN: Real AN & disclaimer at the bottom!

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CHAPTER 06: Knock, Knock: Who's There?

Winry sat slumped in a kitchen chair; scooping the second-to-last spoonful of mint chocolate chip ice-cream into her mouth and sucking lightly on the cool metal.

She was trying to make her dignity last forever.

"Winry?" She turned her head, and messy blonde locks were thrown askew for a sideways glance at her grandmother.

"Yes?" she answered, but really she wanted to ask 'What's so important that you needed to interrupt THIS?'

"Edward is at the door dear. What should I tell him?" A raised eyebrow and nod towards the almost-emptied cylinder was all it took for the girl to scrunch her face into a look of disgust. She was truly sickened by her own behavior and accordingly the spoon was tossed into the sink.

"Why would you ask me that? Wouldn't you usually just let him in?" she questioned, her voice a whisper as she flipped her head about cautiously to see if he might have overheard. The top of the ice-cream carton was shoved back on and pushed back into the refrigerator as if she was trying to hide the evidence. Pinako just chuckled to herself and closed the wedged open door.

"Sorry Edward, she's a bit busy now. Say hello to your mother for me though."

But there was nobody there.

xoxox

"Hey, Al!" A mass of auburn hair was jerked backwards and the younger boy squealed.

"Brother!" he protested.

"What?" asked the other boy with a smirk as he rolled over onto his back, his hair trailing into a golden fringe down the edge of the sofa. Al sighed in relief when his head was out of Ed's grasp and settled back into his place on the carpet. He rubbed his harshly handled head vigorously while throwing an accusing looked to his brother. "I just wanted to ask you a question."

Al's eyes brightened at the thought of helping, and his back instantly straightened at the rare chance.

"What is it?"

"Well," started Ed carefully, "It's about, you know, the girl."

"Who? What girl?" he replied, brow furrowing. Who was Brother talking about? Did Brother have a crush on someone?

"Well, you know, the girl you... uh... uhm... the girl you like to notice." And to him it was voiced very carefully.

Al's eyes widened in realization and a rush of red flooded the boy's face. "BROTHER!"

"What?"

"YOU DON'T ASK QUESTIONS LIKE THAT!"

"Geez, Alphonse, it's just that Winry and I have been noticing—"

"IT'S NOTICABLE!?"

"Well, more like Winry actually—"

"IT'S NOTICABLE TO GIRLS!?!?"

"Well, yeah, so, uh, who's the girl?" At this point, believe it or not, Al was actually starting to get scary.

To Edward's surprise, Al sighed and started to speak normally.

"It's not just one girl... it's all of them." he mumbled, his cheeks still flushed and his gaze downcast.

Ed suppressed the typical laugh at his brother's expense, "Don't worry Al, it can't be that bad."

"Yeah, well, like you'd know..."

"What does THAT mean?"

"Just that, well," Al began, "you've never really known how hard it is not to notice girls. Like—like how they're just so..."

"Yeah?"

"Bouncy."

"Bouncy?" Ed smirked.

"Well, yeah, you know!"

"Now I know?"

"Well, you should considering Winry lives right next door to us and we see her every day! I'm surprised I haven't gotten out a telescope yet!

I mean, seriously, it's like, wear some more under wire, right Brother!?" Al groaned in agony. "Ugh... I feel so... perverted..." he sulked and buried his head in his lap at the thought Ed might be more innocent than himself.

"Wait—Winry? You like her?" Ed seemed a little put off as well at the thought.

"No! I don't like her like that Brother." He sighed, lazily lifting his head from his knees, "I just notice, okay? Haven't you ever noticed?"

It took some thinking back, but after all Winry had always just been Winry, and nothing more. Was Winry OK? Were they still friends? Ed tried to forget about it and instead flashed a knowing smile and rolled onto his stomach to ruffle his little brother's hair.

"Nope!"

xoxox

Late disclaimer: FMA doesn't belong to me!

AN: Okay, I know what you're thinking: "WHAT THE HELL! THAT WAS SHORT!!!"

Yeah, well, trust me: I know, but I'm just starting this back up and this chapter is kind of a filler/ set up chapter which will drive the next chapter!

In other words: I'd work very hard, but I'm lazy. : )

I everyone had/is having a great winter break! Happy new year!

-Phyco girl