2
Edward was home that night. He was sleeping in the next room. She stepped out on the balcony and looked up at the stars. Maybe tomorrow their quest will end; maybe tomorrow they'll come home for good.
They had changed so much the past couple of years, they had grown up so fast, seen so many things, experienced so many things. She sighed, would life in Rizenbool with her be enough? Would they still want to stay with her? Would he?
She looked out at the distance. Rizenbool looked so peaceful. As if it would never change. It was like her love for them, for him. She would also never change. No matter how many years had passed, no matter how many seasons had changed she was still there. As constant as the place they grew up in.
She shivered in the evening air. She had decided long ago she would wait, be the one constant in their lives. Never waiver, never doubt. Yet she could not suppress the fear she felt that she would never see them again every time they left. Never hear Al's voice again, never see Ed's smile, never feel his arms around her again. Suddenly she was afraid. Afraid of losing the one constant in her life.
She snuck into their room. Al had spent the night with their dad and Ed stubbornly refused to see him. She had always done this when they were children. When the thunder would frighten her, she would run to Ed's bed and snuggle next to him. His breathing soothing her. She looked at him sleeping in his bed, his hands resting on his chest.
She smiled. She sat on the edge of the bed wishing she could just stop the time. Wishing she could make them stay. But it was never enough.
He stirred in his sleep, disturbed by the added weight.
"Hmmm Winry?" he asked rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he asked sitting up.
"I wanted to remember." She whispered sadly.
"Remember what?" he asked getting annoyed.
"What it felt like having you home." She said her tears falling.
"Why are you crying?" he asked his voice gentle. Lifting her chin up with his real hand. "I told you to stop crying."
"Are you ever coming home?" she asked raising his palm against her cheek.
"you are our home. That's why we keep coming back." He said wishing he could take her pain away. He knew how much it hurt her every time they left.
"I will always return to you." He whispered. He wished she didn't love him; maybe she wouldn't be hurt so much. He wishes he could just stay with her, hold her hand like they used to. He wished he hadn't fuck up all three of their lives. If it wasn't for him maybe she wouldn't always be crying. "Stop crying you idiot."
She smiled at him and placed her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. He wished she didn't love him and yet he wouldn't know how he'd survive if she did. He needed her to be there, needed to know there was always something he would come home to.
He lifted her head and kissed her. She sighed, relief flooding over her. She reminded herself of what she had and of his promise. He would return.
She leaned into the kiss, he shifted his weight and Winry smiled. He was trying to hide his erection from her. It was sweet in a way, how embarrassed he still felt. They were still just children after all. She felt his hands find their way to her waist settling there, pulling her into his lap, drawing her closer to him.
"Ed…" she whispered drawing away for a moment, placing her forehead on his.
"Yeah?" he asked flushed, absently combing his hands through her hair.
"I love you." She said running her hands on his bare chest.
"I love you too." He smiled. He leaned in taking her lips again, feeling her skin under his palms, feeling the strap of her nightgown fall from her shoulders. He started kissing her neck, tasting her, oh how he wanted to claim her for his own.
Winry took a deep breath. She wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to feel him. Wanting to feel everything that he was. She needed to take a piece of him with her. Wanted to have that one little bit to hold on to.
That nigh she had given herself to him, completely. Her heart, her body, her soul.
Winry opened her eyes. She had dreamt of it again. She had known no other but Edward. Given herself completely only once in her life. The very next day Edward would disappear from her life forever. Leaving nothing but that one gift they shared and a promise left unfulfilled.
She watched the clouds move across the sky form her bed. Another day had started. She had to remind herself this was her life now.
Pride watched as the people in Central started gathering for another protest. They were becoming restless. A civil war might break out soon.
"Look at them, as easy as taking candy from a baby. Idiots." Envy scoffed. "Come on, lets go home."
"Home?" Pride asked as he followed his brother. He didn't know what underground city was called but he knew it wasn't home.
"Major Havoc!" Roy smiled greeting his old subordinate who was now his superior.
"Colonel!" he grinned, his cigarette hanging lazily across his mouth.
"Haha I'm no longer ranked higher than you Major." He laughed. They had always called him by his old title, out of respect.
"What brings you to our lowly head quarters?" he asked shaking his hand.
"Ah getting down to business. I need a couple of detectives to do background checks for me." He said sitting across the chief of police.
"Doesn't the military have personnel for that?" he asked confused. They had a more extensive file collection he did not understand why he came to him.
"You see the Fuhrer does not want to let the students think they're getting to the military. It might make them bolder and do drastic things." He said leaning back in his chair. "But the civilians are becoming restless and demonstrations are building."
"You need me to check out the student leaders?" he asked reading into what he was saying.
"Ah quick as ever. Yes that is the purpose of my being here."
"The military washes its hands of this dirty job? Ah well that is what the police are for after all."
"We just want to be sure about what the real intentions of these people are. If we start snooping around they may think we actually consider them a threat."
"I see. The Fuhrer does not want out right conflict. He's giving them a way out." He said finally understanding.
"You know the rebellion will not last two days against the military. He wants to resolve things peacefully. Prevent any blood shed."
"But he will look like an idiot that's afraid of the student leaders if he arranges a truce with them. He wants to know the true intentions such that if they actually make sense he might consider going into talks." He said impressed.
"Very sharp Chief." Havoc smiled.
"Armstrong was the right choice for Fuhrer." Roy smiled. "He's very fair."
"That he is." Havoc laughed. "You know, if you hadn't left the military…"
"No more talk of that." He smiled. He knew what he was getting at. He was higher ranked than Armstrong once upon a time, many of his subordinates believed he would've made Fuhrer had he not left.
"Ah I see. You really have lost all ambition." He laughed but he had to admit, he had never seen the Colonel look so carefree. Perhaps leaving was the best choice for him.
"How's Hawkeye?" he asked quietly.
"Ah the Brigadier General is riding my ass!" eh said groaning. "Theoretically of course. God I swear she's getting back at us for what you did!"
"I didn't do anything." He raised his hands as if innocent.
"She never forgave you for abandoning us you know." He said looking at him.
"I know. How is her children?" he asked knowing she already had two with her husband.
"Ah she makes me baby sit. Imagine! A Major babysitting those damn spawns from hell." He said leaning back in his chair.
"Haha" Roy smiled. Havoc looked at him, he laughed more these days.
"How's Winry-chan?" he asked smiling as the Colonel tried to hide his blush.
"Ah she's well. Stubborn as always." He smiled.
"You really should tie her down." He said lighting up. "Might get away you know. And neither of you are getting younger, especially you." He unconsciously cringed at what he said. When Roy was still a Colonel his face would've lit up in flames by now.
"What? I thought a gentleman grows more distinguished as he ages, like brandy?"
"No he just ages." Havoc laughed.
"When the time is right maybe." He answered wistfully. "Maybe I'll have little hell spawns of my own. You're free to baby sit any time you want."
"Hell no!" Havoc said getting up. "Times like these I thank god you are no longer my superior."
He entered the shop bringing her lunch again. The talk with Havoc made him miss her. She was sitting by her work bench watching the sky, lost in what ever world it was she was visiting.
"Hey grease monkey." He smiled taking her out of her day dream.
"Hey Colonel." She smiled.
She's sad today.
He dropped the paper bag on her table sitting across form her. He wasn't blind. He knew she still loved Edward that was why he had never asked her to marry him. He would never impose that choice on her. If she wanted it she would tell him.
"Slow day today?" he commented seeing the store was empty.
"No I decided not to open today." She said looking at her "closed" sign outside.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked concerned.
"Lets go somewhere." She sighed going over to him and wrapping her arms around him. "Take me away Colonel." She whispered.
"What's the matter Pride?" Dane asked stroking his cheek. "You seem different." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Is something wrong my love?" she asked kissing him.
"Nothing." He answered. Dante always wanted him near her, she never let him out of her sight. He reminded her of Hohenheim. She wanted him to be her partner. To love her too. As much as humonculi were able to love. But she was too weak. She didn't want him to love her in her decaying body. She needed the philosopher's stone soon.
All three of them were the only ones left. A lot of her power was lost in bring Envy back from the gate. Resurrecting Pride had almost killed her. Now she was close to nothing. She needed that stone.
"Pride." She whispered setting her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her automatically. "I need you to do something for me."
"I need you to start this war." She whispered burrowing deeper in his embrace.
"Yes master." He said quietly.
They sat on a field in the outskirts of central, in the shadow of a big oak tree just watching the day pass. They rarely left central. They had no where else to go anyway.
Ever since Pinako died Winry refused to return to Rizenbool. She had nothing to go back to there, she said. All she had left were graves.
Her whole life now revolved around Roy. He was her only family. He was her life now.
She put down her book, watching his sleeping face on her lap. She loved Roy, she was sure of that. Its just some wounds just never heal.
She thought about starting a family. She knew he wanted to be a father. She knew he was just waiting for her. Perhaps it was time she finally let go of her past. Perhaps they could begin anew, the two of them. Halves of who they were when they began. Perhaps they might be whole together.
"Ouch…" he cried grabbing his neck. "I got a cramp." He said sitting up.
She leaned over and kissed him. Silently thanking him for being there.
"Wow! Well good morning to you too." He smiled.
The streets of Boerhaven were awash with blood. People were screaming for help as buildings came crashing down. Pride looked on; they had to start the catalyst in one of the provincial cities. They couldn't let Pride's face be recognized after all.
He used his alchemy to wreak havoc in the city. He created bombs out of the streets, caused buildings to fall on their foundations. The people didn't know what hit them. All they knew was that it was a Nationally Certified Alchemist.
He started walking across the field towards the train station. Envy would be waiting there. He paused underneath an old oak tree. The afternoon sun filtering through the leaves falling on his face and remembered.
There were two children barely six years old, a boy and a girl. The girl was crying cause some boy took her doll, the boy had told her to wait for him at the tree and not to move till he came back.
He came back running his clothes all muddied up and his arms and legs full of scratches showing he was in a fight. A great big smile broke on his lips as he held up the doll triumphantly. The girl clapped her hands and laughed running into his arms.
"Yay thank you Edward!" she smiled hugging her doll.
"It was nothing..." he smiled rubbing the back of his head embarrassed.
"Is there anything you want? I'll cook for you." She smiled.
"No I want something else." He said turning red.
"What do you want then Ed?" she asked holding on to his hand swinging her doll in the other.
"Winry…you'll marry me right? Not Al?" he blurted out.
"Huh? What do you mean Ed?" she asked shivering.
"I mean you'll live in a house with me and cook for me and stay up and talk with me." He said in one breath.
"But I already do that now?" she asked confused.
"No but I want you to love me to!"
"But I already love you."
"No more than Al!" he stopped getting frustrated. The girl paused thoughtfully at him.
"But I already love you more…" she said quietly.
"Yay! So its decided you'll marry me!" The boy laughed. "Now we have to seal the promise with a kiss!"
"Do we have to?" she asked suddenly apprehensive.
"Yeah so it'll be forever!" he said seriously.
"Oh ok…do I have to close my eyes?" she asked.
"Hmm yeah so it'll be true love!"
"Oh ok." The girl closed her eyes. And the boy leaned in and kissed her, running away laughing after.
"Edwaaaaarrrrddd!" she yelled running after him.
Pride watched the sunlight dance through the leaves.
Edward?
It was really late when they got back. They sat in the couch listening to the radio. He was running his hand through her hair. Watching her. She was so beautiful.
"Well its late." he said starting to stand up. "I gotta go back home." He kissed her softly on her forehead.
"Roy..."
"Hmmm?" he asked turning to look at her.
"Stay with me." She said quietly. "Stay with me tonight."