Disclaimer: I don't own FMA...

A/N: Um... I have nothing to say right now for this chapter, except that the next one will be in our world. That's strange. XD

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"But... you don't understand, Lieutenant. I—I love... Edward Elric..."

Riza felt a sharp shot of pain course through her body. W-What in the world? Oh my, God. Hearing those words, Riza knew that Winry was speaking the honest truth. The way her voice had only been a whisper...and how it had also quivered when she said Fullmetal's full name. The lieutenant eyed her surroundings, trying to see if anyone else had heard those words. The general and the scientists were still deeply immersed in the paperwork. They hadn't heard anything.

Good. But, it is ironic to see an alchemist working in terms with scientists. They're rare to find in Central, because alchemy outweighs physics in this world. But, they do have their unique skills that we desperately need around here. Anyways... back to the matter at hand.

The lieutenant cleared her throat and placed her hand on top of the mechanic's, and comforted her with a few words. After Winry had calmed down, Riza asked the question that was burning her conscience.

"Winry, why didn't you tell anyone before now?"

She watched while Winry put her left hand into one of her jean's pocket, and slowly pulled out a note. It was folded into sixths. Once finished unfolding it, Winry slid it over to Riza's side of the small table. It read like this:

Dear Edward,

I don't really know why I'm writing this. You were just here two weeks ago, but then you disappeared, along with Alphonse. You've both left me now, and Auntie Pinako is on her last bearings with this progressive cancer she got just a few weeks ago... I'm afraid she's going to pass on soon. And then... who will I have left? I could go to Liore and live with Rosé, but I know I would just be a burden to her.

What should I do? I guess all I can say is that I wish you would come home with Alphonse by your side, like you always have before. I've always waited for you two to come back home, but now I'm just terrified you'll never come back. So, now I've decided to check out this auto-mail mechanic in Central City. He's offered me a job a week ago, and once Auntie... passes on... I guess I'll be going there. At least then I can check on the progress that General Mustang has made each week.

I miss you Edward. Please come home soon... my love.

Best wishes,
Winry Rockbell

12-17-1923

"As you can see, I keep this for my own sanity. Or, that's what I tell myself. Do you think I'm crazy, Riza?" Winry croaked, noticing tears were rising up in her eyes again.

The lieutenant shook her head as a no, and stood up from her chair. At the sound of it pushing back on the hardwood surface, Roy glanced over from reading over the scientists' intricate notes. He started coming over from the way Riza's face looked, but Riza sadly just raised her hand up as a way of saying 'don't come over here right now', and he turned back to his work.

When the sniper reached Winry, she bent down and hugged the young woman as Winry held her head in her hands whilst crying silent tears. Riza rubbed her hand on Winry's back in a motherly way, and calmed her down a second time in a matter of mere minutes. She's gone through so much in just a year's time...

"I'm sorry, Winry. I can't really understand your pain right now, because I've never lost Roy—except for that time he became an enlisted man—but now, all I can say to you is that I'm sorry," Riza whispered, letting go of Winry.

Winry jerked her head up instantly, and her mood changed from somber to inquisitive. Did she just suggest...? I knew this would happen to them! It was so obvious! How did I not notice?

"Did... you just imply... that you and Mustang are... dating?" Winry implored.

To that sudden and unexpected question, the lieutenant's eyes widened in apparent shock. Dammit! Did I say that out loud?! Well, she deserves to know anyhow. I guess I'll just go ahead and tell her.

"Oh, yes. I didn't mean for it to come out like that though, with your current situation. I'm sorry. We... started dating six months ago. It's surprising how you never found out... Roy wasn't that conspicuous about it all, in my opinion. But since the Führer hasn't said anything yet, I suppose I'm wrong."

Winry laughed for the first time since she had entered the examining room, and Riza smiled. Roy walked over from the other side of the room, and laid a stapled group of papers before Lieutenant Hawkeye.

"Yep, it was him. We have the proof in Loa's blood. It has the elements of a bull in it along with the human elements. It's definitely him, alright. He was the only bull chimera in Amestris. The only thing I have to do now is figure out how a dead Loa could have cheated the Gate like Edward did. So, are you two ladies done here?" the general asked, picking up the papers again and putting them into a satchel he had carried over with him.

The lieutenant smiled and saluted, but before they walked out the door, Riza asked if Winry wanted to sleep over at her house tonight. The mechanic replied with a maybe... she'd just have to ask Falere first—the auto-mail mechanic she worked for and stayed with.

"Okay, then. Just knock on my door whenever you feel like, Winry," Riza laughed, handing Winry the directions to her house.