Sorry. I'm sorry T_T I'm trying to update as soon as possible, but it's difficult. Anyway, I won't ramble for long. I hope you enjoy the new chapter! Leave your reviews and thank you for reading.

I love y'all!

Chapter 2: On first glance

"Thank you very much!" The blonde chirped, lifting the dust covered book on the counter and walking out of the library, a smile playing on her lips.

It was that day of the month when she was allowed to borrow any book she desired, a rule made by her grand mama after much convincing.

In order to assist her, Winry needed much more information than the research papers at the shop could provide.

The central library however, was a different story.

Humming a tune and greeting every person she recognized, she walked her way back to the shop after stopping by at the grocery and boulangerie.

It was a magnificent day, the weather just right for a stroll in the park or a horseback ride by the river. Winry had always been weak to the beauty mother nature displayed and would often find herself admiring it in it's entirety.

The young woman raised her head, to face the sun that she admired most, but was met by something quite unexpected.

Up on the tree, there was a man, the first thing visible to her,his long legs draped in black pants.

Perhaps the reason she couldn't tear her eyes away from him were his cobalt orbs that scanned something he held in his gloved hands in concentration, or perhaps it was his long golden hair tied in a knot and fluttered in the wind.

Perhaps the reason she couldn't take her eyes of him was that he resembled the Sun.

But he was a new face, one she had never seen in town before and she knew almost everybody.

He wore a crimson overcoat, so perhaps he was a traveller?

She couldn't tell.

While the cyan eyed beauty stood under the tree, trying to guess where the man was from, without warning, she saw a shadow cover the sun.

And the next thing she felt was stones pricking her derriere, all her purchases scattered around her.

What a disaster.

"Good Lord!" He exclaimed, hoisting himself to his feet, offering a hand to the fallen and visible injured lady.

"I was so engrossed in reading that I didn't notice anybody standing around. My apologies."

He pulled her up after she had accepted his hand and once off the ground, she brushed her clothes that had crumpled post fall. She hurriedly checked all her purchases worried they'd be damaged,which they luckily weren't.

Heaving a sigh of relief, she picked them all up. Winry turned her attention to the man who was staring at a particular spot behind her. She followed his gaze to where a brown object lay half open.

Her book!

She lifted it off, dusting the pages slightly and mumbling "Thank goodness" under her breath.

"It seems we share the same interests." Eyebrow raised, she watched him lift his hand which held a similar book in it, with just one big difference.

The one he held was a limited edition.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, pouncing for the book in his hand as he stood appalled by her response.

He stared at her sparkling eyes that read the title over and over again.

"How did you get your hands on this?" She looked up at him, her eyes blue as spring rain meeting his amber orbs.

And after a whole minute of staying in the position, she realised her idiocy.

Taking a step back, she released her grip on his wrist and looked down at the floor to hide the flush of red that had made it's way to her cheeks.

She courtesied and tried to scurry away out of sheer embarrassement, but was stopped in her stride as he grabbed her arm.

She spun her head around eyeing his fingers that curled around her slim upper arm, unable to meet his eye. They drifted down the side of her arm and reach for the bag she held in them.

"It would be only courteous," he said, seeing as she wasn't ready to let to of the bags.

"After my folly."

He had purposefully touched her, his sensous smile giving it all away.

The nerve of this man!

She had no interest in handing him the bag, but the number of people watching them has increased and though reluctantly, she let it go.

He grinned and followed her as she walked on ahead, leading the way.

Quite a few moments of blissful silence later, he could hardly keep his mouth sealed.

"Why do you read a book on medical sciences? Wouldn't one more suitable for a lady be appropriate?"

She glanced at the man.

He was beautiful. His eyes had a youthful glint in them and despite his short stature, he was one of the most handsome men she had laid her eyes on.

She couldn't ascertain if he had posed an honest question or if it was pure mockery.

"Are you attempting to strike a conversation?" She glanced at the books in his hand that he handled with utmost care.

"Are you denying me the pleasure?"

She sighed.

"I've heard about my parents being life saviors," she said, a sad smile finding it's place on her beautiful face. Somewhere in her heart, she knew that all she desired was to feel their presence in her life.

"I wouldn't know, I don't remember them."

He just looked dumbfounded, but was quick to close his mouth that had been hanging open.

"My condolences."

She acknowledged it with a slight nod.

"And if I may ask, what is your reason?"

He looked distant the moment she raised the question.

"Somebody requires my assistance."

Upon looking at his godly features curve in one filled with painful memories , she reached for his hand and squeezed it, attempting to provide some comfort. Even though he was but a stranger, she felt his aura darken and his eyebrows furrow, something she disliked seeing.

The rest of the walk back was rather silent, an occasional 'what a beautiful day' from her company to nullify the awkward silence that would have otherwise befallen.

As they stepped into the vicinity of her grand mama's shop, she halted.

"This is my destination. Thank you, good sir."

He looked somewhat disappointed, reluctance to leave evident in his features.

"I'll take my leave then," he said, handing her goods back to her.

He was certainly strange, but not in a bad way, she thought as she pushed the gates of the shop open.

Winry put down the safety gear she wore while working and rested her head on the table before her.

Having worked all night without consuming single a morsel of food, she was famished.

It was already daybreak and the girl had seen her grand mama leave early in the morning, probably for the women association meeting that was held once every week.

"You look rather exhausted."

She shrieked in surprise and whipped her head in the direction of the source.

There, outside her window, a man stood, his head in between his hands that were on the sill for support, watching her with a smirk.

"This is a breach of privacy!" She yelled, pointing at the man accusingly.

"I am truly sorry, but I lost my way and had no idea where to go. So I traced my way back to this store!"

A smiled danced on his lips which only further aggravated the fuming woman.

"And it would be wise to watch me while in house clothes how?"

"My deepest apologies." His face fell at her annoyed reply, almost immediately looking like a lost puppy.

And what could resist that?

Definitely not Winry.

"You could have just knocked..." She mumbled, throwing a cloth over her unfinished work and wrapping a shawl around her body. It wasn't decent for a man to enter her room while she wasn't dressed appropriately.

"Never mind,come in. I'll prepare some tea."

He hoped in, his spirits immediately lifting.

Such a child.

As the two youngsters sipped on the elixir, Winry decided to break the silence.

"Where do you wish to go?"

He looked up from his cup to her, gulping the remnants in his mouth before talking.

"The city Hall."

Picking up the dishes, she put them down in the sink. She'd clean them once alone.

"I can direct you there, but if you're new here, why do you travel alone?"

The man looked away, as if not ready to converse about this subject.

"I had company, but I escaped them," His voice was low, almost as if he didn't want her to hear.

"They wouldn't permit me to roam as I wished."

Where had she heard this line before?

She nodded in understanding.

"Then what brings you here?"

"Work."

It almost seemed to her that he wished not to let her in on any further information and so she just allowed silence to fall.

"Is that.." She looked up at the boy whose eyes had caught something out of the ordinary.

And she soon realised what it was.

The part of the shoulder she had tried to construct was peeking out of the cloth, wires and metal melted and soldered to act as the upper hand. She had tried time and time again to get it right, but it was always lacking something, maybe it was expertise, or just a small part, but she had no idea.

Winry sprinted for her work desk, throwing the cloth over it in an attempt to pull a curtain on what he had seen.

But he couldn't unsee it.

"It's just something I was trying, but it doesn't matter because nobody would know what it-"

"Automail?"

Winry froze.

"Is that automail?" He repeated, as if unable to believe his eyes.

"You know of it?"

He fiddled with his fingers that remained hidden under the thick white gloves that looked rather uncomfortable in the warm heat that the morning had brought.

"You create it?"

Winry snorted, picking up the chunk of metal.

"I can hardly call this a creation."

"The intricacies aside," He took it from her hand, running his hand down the structure, analysing it professionally.

A little too professionally.

"It is near perfection."

" You seem to know a lot of details in this matter."

He momentarily lost the smile on his beautiful face, putting the object back in its place.

"I had forgotten to return this," He put down the dusty old book on her dresser.

"Lest you label me a thief."

He grinned and she giggled, watching him climb out of her window in one swift moment and disappear out the tiny gate in the next, "May we meet again" being his last words.

Perhaps in a land afar, automail is but a common occurrence, she mused, washing the cups out of which she had sipped tea with a stranger.

Perhaps she would ask him the next time they met where this paradise existed.

That was, if there would be a next time at all.

And ofcourse, there was a next time, and a time after that, but with thier exciting conversations and exchange of knowledge, she almost always forgot to ask.

His name was "Ed", he had told her and she shared hers with him. They had developed quite an unexpected friendship which remained hidden from the eyes of the world, including her grand mama.

She could no longer deny how she always looked forward to meeting him.

"How many times do I have to refuse your requests for you to finally accept?"

Winry tut tutted, dropping the dishtowel she had been using and placing a tray of cream scones on the table.

Pinako was in her room, saying her evening prayers.

Winry wasn't a very religious child because she had realised it took most of the time she could have used to progress in her work.

Rosé frowned, taking her pick from the tray before her.

"Oh, please won't you?!"

After years of being close friends, Rose still didn't seem to understand Winry's aversion to large crowds. She despised it and avoided it like the plague.

"Winry, it's the last time I shall ever ask you, but please!" The blonde knew that it was a total falsehood and that surely a week later she would be here again, but she disliked to see her good friend begging for a favour.

"It's a masked ball, so you have no need to worry!" were probably the words that put the girl's mind to ease.

Masked balls were Winry's favorite, possibly because faces were hidden, and introductions were rarely made.

They gave her a feeling of comfort that the folk who chose to be with her would be for her own person and not her lineage.

It was a pleasure to the eyes, when Winry walked into the ballroom accompanied by Rosé, to look at the vibrant colours that decorated it in form of beautiful ball gowns.

Men were dressed elegantly in their evening around the town attire.

The debutante stood in the garden discussing the newest political improvement and she instantly knew where she was certainly not going.

Wanting total anonymity but due to the sudden invitation, Winry had worn a half mask, unwanted attention being something she disliked most. Rosé had donned only an eye mask, clearly expecting a certain someone to notice her.

Leaving the girl alone for her to...well, enjoy her partner, Winry seated herself on one of the many chairs in the corner, a glass of champagne in her hands.

"Why must a beautiful young woman be sitting alone in such a splendid party?"

Walking up to her was her very good friend, who was dressed marvellously in a pink ballgown that suited her strawberry blonde hair and chocolate eyes, an amethyst hanging from her long neck.

"Lady Risa." She got up to greet the woman who returned it with a gentle smile.

"I happened to chance upon your simple yet fantastic gown. Such exquisite beauty could be none but you."

This was, ofcourse, only half of the truth. Lady Risa, the daughter of the Viscount of Amestris had a very sharp eye, which seemed to run in her lineage, given their family name was "Hawkeye".

"And judging by your simple attire, I believe you have finally decided to stop playing cat and mouse with Colonel Lord Mustang?"

A hue of red spread through her face that was visible even through her half mask and Winry stiffled a laugh.

It had been years that they had known each other, her father being his mentor. Chasing her for decades and decades, it seemed he had finally acquired her attention.

"Oh hush now," she whispered to the girl, embarrassed by the people around watching.

"We are yet to declare it."

Winry sipped on her drink, looking around at people gracefully dancing, the room filled with gaeity.

"And what about yourself? Have you finally decided to let go of your stubborn refusal to marry?"

The blonde grunted in an unladylike manner, earning a heart laugh from her friend.

"Oh, surely it can't be that bad!"

"Not everybody is blessed with a loving fiancé as you are, my dear."

It certainly was fact that the Colonel looked nowhere else once Lady Risa was in sight, business or not.

He put her above everything.

"Well, I wouldn't deny it on my life." An expression filled with adoration sat on Risa's face and Winry couldn't help but feel happy for her, who had suffered the loss of her father.

She had finally let her past slip away, let it be just history.

"You cannot tell me you haven't your eyes set on any of these magnificent men!"

The very mention of a beautiful man brought to her mind the image of a certain amber eyed one, but she witheld her urge to slap herself.

"None at all."

"Earl of Resembool, Lord Edward Elric!" the gateman announced as he did for all the lords, but this one particular time, the entire hall went silent,music and dance alike.

As he walked in, all eyes fell on his scuptered visage. Golden locks of hair trailed behind him, a handsome attire full with a pocket watch hanging with a string from his pants.

And he was a face she could not forget.

"Drat!"

Winry dived behind the many refreshments that decorated the plates, hiding from his gaze.

"What's the matter?" Lady Risa after she had noticed Winry scuttling away behind the cream scones.

"Shush!" She said, a finger on her lip as she struggled to hide her face with the mask.

"What is he doing here?" She asked panicking.

"He?" Risa had a no idea what had the girl so riled up.

Winry pointed with a shaky finger to the newly arrived Lord.

"Lord Edward?" Risa looked taken aback.

"Why this party is rejoicing his arrival in the Central!"

She peeped above the table to see him greeting a few officials and noticed all the women fawning over him within moments of his arrival.

Very popular, wasn't he?

The biggest secret of her entire life would be out in the open if she did not leave this instant. But it wasn't just that. There was a clear feeling that had filled her being the moment she saw him there.

Hurt.

She would escape from the back of the hall without him even noticing her and they would never meet again. This was probably for the best, even though her chest tightened at just the thought.

To think he was a lord! He had probably escaped the company of his guards due to boredom and had tricked her into believing he was a commoner for entertainment.

She shook her if she was any better.

As she turned around to sneak out however, a voice halted her in her tracks.

"My lady," Head bent, hand resting on his chest and eyes closed, he looked like an angel ready to take her to heaven.

"May I have a dance?"

All her time at the ball, she had avoided complete contact with the ton and now she was standing right atop, recieving utmost attention. To be the first lady asked to dance with him was an honor to most other women, but to Winry at the moment, it called for nothing but trouble.

If she refused him, judging by the amount of stares, every woman would attempt to uncover her identity and they had their methods.

If she agreed, most would markedly ignore her out of jealousy and would forget once the dance was over.

"The waltz is to begin."

Ever since he had entered the room, Edward's eyes seemed to follow the movement of this particular damsel.

Her dress was as blue as her eyes, shimmering in the light and a satin waist belt on holding it in place. It hugged her curves in all the right places, dipping near her waist and then fanning out. The mask was studded with shining jewels covering half her face, her lips the only feature revealed and he wasn't complaining at all. She looked ravishing.

But what struck him as strange was, why, out of all the women in the ballroom, was this one woman who stood in the corner seemingly hiding from him hogging all his attention?

When their eyes met, something clicked.

He knew he had seen her somewhere before.

Edward hardly had any interest in women of the ton, their obsession over dresses made for a rather boring conversation. He had told himself that he would not ask for a dance tonight, he'd sit it out, just rendezvous with his peers and leave.

And yet here he was, enchanted by the beauty of this lady, even just holding her hand sending his mind into turmoil, imagining these very fingers touching his body very sensously.

He skillfully guided her to the dance floor, one arm resting on her back and the other held hers raised above eye level. He pulled her closer, her soft bosom making contact with his firm chest, sending shivers down her spine.

As they spun around the floor, never breaking eye contact, he decided to speak.

"You dance elegantly, my lady." He whispered in her ears.

Winry courteously smiled back , slightly bowing her head, acknowledging his compliment.

"You aren't half as bad yourself, my Lord." She replied, his soft voice tickling the hairs at the nape of her neck that stood in attention.

How she had struggled to reply!

She concealed her identity by lowering her tone to such an extent that he would never be able to tell who she was.

"I am relieved that I will return with my feet unflatenned."

A soft laugh escaped his lips, his eyes closing in the joy of their conversation.

"As am I."

He wore the standard eye mask like most of the gentlemen present that rested on his sharp cheekbones, his amber eyes peering at her through them. How she was aching to pull it off his face.

As the dance continued, he progressively got closer and closer than was decent in public situations and even though a siren rang in her head, she had neither the will nor the wish to push him away.

His hand drew small circles on the small of her back and her little gasps set his nerve on fire.

"Would it be too informal of me to ask your name?"

Winry froze, her feet nearly stopping all movement, before resuming to dance.

"I prefer this anonymity, my Lord. It is so much more exhilarating."

Edward drew her closer, his lips resting on her neck as she arched her back, pushing her small front into his chest, eliciting a groan from him.

"Then shall I unmask you?" He whispered seductively, his husky voice only making her shiver in his tight embrace .

This was not a good sign. She needed to escape at once.

As the dance ended and everybody stopped all movement, Winry let go of his hand, disappearing through the crowd of people that had gathered around him the second the waltz had ended.

As he reached out for her, the only thing that he could grab was the ribbon that held her hair, which now opened, sunny blonde strands bouncing with every movement.

The surprised girl ran into the garden, her face hot and heart pounding into her chest, whether due to her race out or the feeling of his body against hers, she couldn't tell.

That night, she got into her carriage and went straight home, leaving a confused Rosé to wonder where her friend had disappeared off to.

But the indecent thoughts off the feel of his breath fanning her face or his fingers trailing up and down her arm, were the only thing running through her mind as she tried to pull herself together, her thoughts running haywire.

Would he do this to every woman in the ton? she thought to herself, clenching her fists unconsciously. He should have come with a warning, after all, he was hazardous to her health.

This was the last time she would tolerate his presence, she told herself.

She would never let him ruin her perfectly peaceful life.

This was, however, just the beginning of her chaotic future, as stormy clouds brewed in the sky above the woman who wouldn't sleep a wink for the next days to come.

And she wouldn't be able to for a very, very long time.

Old ball dances look so beautiful that I just couldn't resist writing this part. I hope you enjoyed! I love y'all!