Disclaimer: Stupid disclaimers.
Note: Please don't hate me for not updating this in oh-so close to half a year. Breathe, people, breathe.
First there's a small thing I should get cleared up: As this is slightly manga based, the appearances of the brothers match that version more. In the manga Edward and Alphonse both have the golden hair and eye colour, differing only in the hair style. Edward also looks a lot more like his dad, but that's irrelevant ; P
Hey, this chapter's longer than the last, definitely. Also...by my estimation, there should be at least four more chapters, give or take, depending on feedback, etcetera.
X
Things were most painfully awkward, for the next few weeks. It was mostly up to Pinako to care for the boy, whilst Winry was usually sulking, feeling guilty, embarrassed and ashamed about that idle hope it would be - could be- Edward, and not Alphonse.
And she, shamefully, was still disappointed, going as far as even hoping that she might have imagined the brief (albeit one-sided) exchange, and that it really was Edward in the room across the hall from the bathroom, where she currently was as she splashed a little water on her face.
Her grandmother was out for the day, getting some groceries and stopping by a friends - if it hadn't of been for the visit Pinako planned on making, Winry would have insisted on going herself, to avoid the duties being at home would bring.
But as it was, she would have to tend to Alphonse that day, and she could only wish that he had already forgiven her for her stupidity.
It may not be Edward, but Alphonse was still - she hoped - her best friend, and she'd rather not have him mad at her.
Cautiously stepping into his room, she was surprised to see him up - he certainly was showing recovery! - and digging through the suitcase Ed had left behind before he and Al left to try what she had not-so-affectionately nicknamed the "Correction Incident".
This was also when she noticed that Al must've already been in there, as the pyjamas he had been wearing early were discarded in a neat pile near the bed, and he was, instead, wearing a black top and leather pants, most obviously belonging to his older brother, that seemed, quite surprisingly, too big for him.
Winry felt tears fill her eyes all over again as she looked at the boy, dressed in his brother's clothes, blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, red jacket loosely over his shoulders as he squatted there, amber eyes ablaze. The very image of the boy she missed so dearly, a nearly perfect copy.
She let out a small sniffle, and Alphonse's eyes snapped upwards, to lock onto her face, "Win…ry…?" he croaked out, speaking seemed still to be an unfamiliar sensation to that body of his, the body that had spent years unable to do so.
"Y-yeah, Alphonse?" She gave him a sad smile, moving over to him, setting a hand on his should as he looked curiously up at her, "I just came in to check up on you." she swallowed back the strangled sob that was threatening to escape her throat, "How are you…how are you feeling, today?"
Al gave her a little, shy smile - effectively causing her to brighten up, if only slightly. Damn, he was so tiny and adorable! - and a slight nod, "I-I'm…okay." He seemed satisfied with this, taking her hand as support before pulling himself to his feet, "But…but are…are you?"
Winry blinked, taken aback by his question, and gave him another false smile, "I'm fine, Alphonse, really." Al frowned at this, but said nothing, and Winry took the opportunity to change the subject, "I know granny's been saying no sweets or anything, to make sure you're strong and healthy soon, but…" she smiled, a bit more genuinely, "A little treat couldn't hurt, right?" she took his hand more firmly, as if to lead him away and down the stairs, "I'm pretty sure some apple pie is still left."
Al's eyes shone with a childish delight at her words, and a gleeful grin broke his features, "Please!" he managed, not forgetting his manners.
She laughed, turning to help him downstairs, "I don't see why not."
X
Winry sat quietly at the table, hiding herself behind her cup of tea, half regarding Alphonse has he greedily gobbled down the slice of pie she had given him. She couldn't help but laugh meekly to herself as he mewled happily, some pieces of sticky apple bits smeared over his lips, the sweet cherub face glowing with pleasure.
"Thank you!" The boy managed to get out after a moment or so of trying formulating the words, grinning sheepishly at the girl that sat across from him.
Winry smiled gently to him, "It's no problem, Al." she took another sip of tea, adding silently, 'After my cruelty, you deserve the best.' With a sigh she looked up at the younger, "You're certainly feeling better then, if you have this much energy." With a weak laugh she added a second thought, "Well you've managed to make a mess of yourself, that's for sure."
Al smiled a little to her, reaching up to wipe the sticky mess of crumbs off of his face, but she stopped him, leaning over with a napkin to wipe them away. A faint blush slowly crept onto his cheeks, "Th-thanks." He murmured quietly, casting his eyes down.
Giving him a gentle smile, she leaned back into her seat, picking her tea up again to finish it.
'He really is a sweetheart.' She smiled to herself as she stood, him following close behind, to put the dishes away and clean up the mess. Casting a wink over her shoulder she said, "If we clean up well enough, Granny will never know, right?"
Al beamed at this, a childish smile on his lips, moving to eagerly help her clean up, even if he stumbled a little every now and again, because of his weak body.
Winry smiled again, "He really is…" she mumbled to herself, ruffling his hair slightly, causing him to duck a little bit, a light laugh escaping him.
X
It was needless to say that Pinako was rather surprised by the change she came home to - Winry rather insisted on helping with Alphonse as much as possible, now. Pinako thought that maybe Winry was finally getting over the missing Edward.
That was, after all, half right. But the main reason was the Winry still felt quite guilty about everything, and felt she needed to make it up to the sweet younger boy.
"The stars." The small voice, from slightly below her, snapped her out of her thoughts, but she kept looking ahead, "Their…Their beautiful." Winry felt like Alphonse wanted to add more to this, and waited for a moment to hear, but it seemed he decided against that, for he said nothing.
"You know," Winry, deciding to break this new silence, smiled down at his bright, enthusiastic face – which she noticed a faint blush upon, tingeing his cheeks - as they walked, hand in hand, under open skies, regarding the starlight, "You do you look pretty young, now."
Al pouted, stomping one foot a little bit, cutely. It almost broke her heart to see such a reaction to an issue of size and age, "-Not!" he exclaimed, crossing his free arm over his chest.
"Well you're awfully small." She ventured further, a daring smile on her lips, despite the turmoil within her.
Al pouted again, "Not…kid…"
"Well then?" Winry prodded, "How old are you?" with his size, and the way he acted, she found it quite hard to believe he could be the age Al was supposed to be. And besides, she had no idea whether or not he'd even remember the past couple years.
"I'm…" he mumbled, looking up to the stars, gazing at them wistfully, "I'm four…teen" he paused then shook his head, "Almost…fifteen."
Winry blinked surprised, "So you remember all of the past few years, then?"
A deep frown creased Alphonse's cherub face, "I-I do…not."
"Oh." She said, feeling almost disappointed by this discovery, "Then I guess-"
"I do remem…member…" he started, looking back to her, "I remember…some stuff."
"H-hey, Al…" she started, a sudden curiosity peaking, "How much…" she paused biting her lip. He looked up at her curiously, "How much do you remember?"
Al blinked, surprised by the question, but he blushed and looked away, finding only one thing that he could say.
"I remember you."