Warnings and Disclaimers: Any and all characters from the anime Fullmetal Alchemist do not belong to me. I only torture them for some stories. There may be some teenage content in the story but it is very limited. This story is set after the movie which means there are some spoilers and if you have no idea what any of this may be about, then don't come crying to me please. It's not my fault, I warned you sheepish grin.

Seasons

Spring: Flowers of Remembrance

Chapter 7

By: RomanceFanFicLover

Rain continued to fall from heaven, misting everything in a dull-grey tone. Energy was sapped away from everyone in the area that day and old joints, automail parts, leg stumps, arm stumps, arthritis and sore backs gave into the moist weather and brought pain to their owners.

Ed rolled out of bed very slowly. :Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow…" Gritting his teeth against the pain, Ed raised himself up onto his legs. He waited there for a moment and then began to move his automail leg carefully. A triumphant grin crossed his face and he marched out of his room.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow! How am I supposed to finish my automail projects like this!" Winry's whining voice floated out of her room in utter misery.

"Hey, what's up with you?"

Winry looked to the teenager in the doorway with desperate eyes before quickly giving him a once over. "How's your automail?" Her voice was tentative; sometimes this was still a delicate subject with Ed.

"It's alright, I can walk perfectly. It's just my arm that's a little sore." His grin was prideful and began to march into her room when his leg abruptly buckled underneath him. "Ouch! Shit! You're a jinx." He landed with a thump on the floor. Now he had three parts hurting; his arm, his leg and his ass. Rubbing the latter of the three, Ed stumbled back to his feet and shuffled over to Winry's bed to sit beside her.

"I wish I could help with that, but unfortunately there's no real way to prevent that pain. My arm hurts as well."

"Your arm?" Ed asked, clearly puzzled. He looked down at her arm, it certainly wasn't automail and he didn't remember anything happening to it.

"Yup. My right one; the one I broke on the swing when I was little."

"That hurts too?"

"Mmhmm. I'm surprised you don't remember; it was on the old swing that we had attached to that big tree by the river."

Ed fought to remember before the memory came back to him. She had been reaching for something… "Weren't you trying to pick a flower or something out of the tree?"

Winry's eyes brightened at the memory, "Oh yeah! It was a big, pretty red one. I didn't get it though." She scrunched up her nose in mock disappointment.

"Yes you did." Ed wasn't looking at her anymore; he was looking off to his side whiel his hands played with her bedspread.

"I did?" Winry was pretty sure she remembered touching it, but not grabbing it. She had fallen right before she was about to.

"Yeah…don't you remember the night you came back from the hospital?" Ed felt nervous and giddy rolled into one and it was making his stomach do back flips.

Closing her eyes in concentration and making a low humming noise, Winry focused on the memory. With her eyes still closed she mumbled, "No, I don't remember going outside that night…"

Ed looked over at her and smothered the laugh that threatened to erupt in his throat. She had her head tilted to the side slightly, with her eyes closed tightly and her forehead wrinkled in her concentration. "You didn't go outside."

"Then how'd I get it!" Winry's lack of knowledge on the subject was really starting to tick her off and she glared at Ed heatedly.

Grinning evilly, Ed got up from the bed and headed out the door. He looked at her over his shoulder, "You have some really bad memory there, Win." He dashed down the stairs and her shoe soared through the air in his direction.

Winry sat there for a few more minutes before heading down after Ed.

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The rain had cleared up for the time being, but they were expecting more later that evening. Ed and Al were sparring outside in the backyard and Winry was helping her grandmother clean up the dishes from lunch.

"Granny…" Pinako rinsed the last plate and turned to look at her granddaughter who was sitting at the table, deep in thought. Sitting at the table to join her, Pinako nodded for Winry to continue her train of thought.

"Do you remember the day I broke my arm all those years ago?"

Pinako removed her pipe from her mouth in surprise; her granddaughter wasn't one to bring up the past at random moments. She nodded anyways.

"Do you remember why it broke?"

"Sure I do, what made you think of it?"

"Oh, well…Ed and I were talking about it this morning and he said that I got the flower I was reaching for. But I don't remember getting it. Am I wrong or have I really hit him over the head with my wrench too many times?" Winry tone hinted her amusement, but her eyes were serious.

"No, no. You did get the flower." Winry's eyes widened in amazement; half because Ed was actually right, and half because she had actually forgotten.

"Granny! I'm losing my memory! Granny! Call the doctor, this isn't good. Oh my God, what if I forget how to build automail! I'll pack my bags to go to the-" Winry stopped her frantic rush of words when her grandmother laughed so hard that she almost swallowed her pipe.

Coughing lightly, Pinako put down her pipe and cleared her throat. "Winry my dear, you aren't sick. People forget things all the time. Keep bothering Edward, I'm sure he'll tell you eventually."

Winry looked down at her folded hands in thought. 'But he looked to upset when I didn't seem to remember. He smiled, but his eyes…' Winry's thoughts were interrupted as the front door opened and Al stepped inside.

"Have fun?"

"Yes. Brother beat me again though. He's tougher when I'm not double his height." Winry's smile was enormous as she looked at Al. They had been through to much, yet sometimes it seemed like nothing changed at all.

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Ed watched Alphonse go inside and decided to wait outside a while longer. Flopping down into the still-moist grass, Ed closed his eyes and inhaled the fresh scents of spring.

He had missed this so greatly during his time in Central and in the other world. It felt so good to me home.

'Home…' The word had many meanings. For Ed, home was with family and friends. No, that wasn't exactly true; he had been in the other world with Al and had made friends but it still wasn't "home".

Rolling onto his side, Ed picked out a small, partially bloomed flower and began rolling the stem between his thumb and forefinger before rolling onto his back again.

"What is home…?"

"Right here you moron." Ed blinked rapidly as the smiling face of Pinako appeared above his head. He nodded absently; it really was home.

"I came here to talk to you about an important matter."

"What is it old woman?"

"The handsome Colonel called and left a message to the pipsqueak. He said that on the first of May there will be a farewell party held in your behalf from the military. Formal dress is required as well as a date."

"Auntie…Do I have to go?" Ed whined as he squirmed on the grass in discomfort. "I don't know anyone who I would go with as my date, I don't have any tuxedos or suits and there is no way in hell that I am dancing."

"Winry will be your date and Al will escort you two, the military gave you one hell of a pay off for the discovery and sealing of the gate so buy a damned tux with it, and you will dance because Winry will murder you if you don't."

Dammit, that woman had it all down. "Winry is my best friend so I won't be taking her with me, I hate clothes shopping and since Winry's not going I won't have to dance." Ed grinned at his logic.

"Suit yourself." Pinako turned on her heel and trudged back into the house,

'She gave up too fast; she's up to something!' Ed struggled to get up and slipped on the wet grass before making a run for the door. "Hey Auntie-"

An unnaturally high-pitched squeal met Ed's ears before he even reached the porch steps and the door was flung open. "Ed! You're taking me to the military party! Thank you!" Ed stared in shock as she flung herself into his arms and continued squealing in delight.

Ed glared over Winry's shoulder at his grinning Aunt and brother. He was difinitely going to kill them. They won't see the sunrise tomorrow. Ed's head was crammed with ideas of murder when Al spoke up.

"Hey, Winry you don't have a dress fro that right? And brother doesn't have a tuxedo or a suit. You guys should go shopping for them soon.

Another squeal of delight erupted from the girl. "We have to go shopping for my dress and shoes…Oh and your tuxedo and shoes! This is going to be so much fun. And you better dance Ed!" Winry pulled away from Ed, her eyes shining in her happiness as she looked at Ed. "What's wrong?" Her eyes dulled a little and her smile faltered.

Ed smiled involuntarily. 'Damn her!' He shook his head and she leapt at him again, another squeal piercing the air. "What are you a pig? Stop squealing you freak."

His insult when unnoticed as Winry jumped into another breathless plan of what they should wear and whether or not they should match.

"Al, don't you need to go buy a suit as well?" Ed reached for the last resource he had before he would be drowned in Winry.

"Nope, Auntie Pinako bought it for me." Ed's jaw dropped as he looked at his Aunt and brother in shock. No, they weren't his Aunt and brother; they were monsters. Cruel monsters.

"You guys are evil…" He whined in defeat as Winry dragged him off down the road, waving to Al and her grandmother. Den trotted up to Ed and looked at him. "Don't look at me, you're probably in on this too." He muttered before turning his nose up, away from the dog. Den snorted and ran down the path, towards the river.

"Ed, you have your wallet right?"

"Help me…"

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"Four and a half hours, fifteen stores, half my wallet and not a single bite of food. I can't wait to go home…" Ed's hunger-induced craze had finally set in.

They were once again walking through the town and back home after a long day of shopping. Winry practically glowed with happiness. She had bought, well actually Ed had bought it for her, one of the most beautiful gowns she had ever seen. After making a quick phone call arrangement with Scheiska and Riza; Winry and Ed's purchases were sent to Central's Military HQ.

Although Ed would never admit it, Winry knew he had fun with her today. They had tried on dozens of outfits and made sure to make fun of one another as much as possible. They had even gone into some costume shops that they had never even known to exist in their tiny town of Risembool. Winry reminisced on all the amusing events that occurred while they were in town. A blush painted her cheeks and she looked over at Ed's zombie-like form to make sure he wasn't watching her.

There was one event in particular that Winry wanted to remember. They had gone into a wedding shop…

"Hey Win, get a load of this one. Think you could breathe with all the frills?" Ed held up an incredibly ugly white dress with frills covering every other inch of the fabric.

Winry made a fake gagging sound and they continued through the store. A shopping clerk came up to them and asked them if they needed help. Winry declined their offer before dragging Ed to a rack of silk dresses.

"Ed! Look these dresses are so soft…and…kind of scandalous." Winry looked at an incredibly skimpy silk wedding dress. "Is this really a wedding store?" She whispered doubtfully to Ed who in turn doubled over in laughter.

The clerk came up to them again and tapped Ed on the shoulder. "I'm sorry to intrude, but isn't it bad luck to have the groom present when the bride is picking a dress?" Winry looked from the appalled expression that Ed wore, to the nervous one the clerk possessed.

Winry braced her heart for the heartbreaking denial Ed would portray before he stormed out the door. Holding her breath, Winry watched Ed expectantly. This was sure to be a big outburst; he was taking a long time to talk.

"We…uh, we don't believe in that. Okay! Win let's go." Latching onto her hand, Ed yanked Winry from the rack of dresses and weaved them through the other various racks in the store towards the door.

"Ed…" Winry started to explain to him that she didn't mind if he yelled at the clerk about how stupid she was to even consider that, but she knew she didn't really think that way and decided not to say anything at all.

Ed suddenly stopped and dropped her hand. He didn't turn around to look at her, he just stood there. Winry waited for him to speak first as she kicked a pebble with the toe of her boot.

"S-Sorry…I should have let you tell her to go stick a bridal magazine in her-" Ed didn't finish his sentence as Winry hit him over the head with the ever present wrench.

"Don't be stupid, let's go." Winry walked ahead of Ed, humming lightly. She couldn't help but wonder if Ed would go shopping with her like this if they really were to be married.

Winry's blush strengthened as she once again played with the thought.

Ed broke out of his daze as he heard Winry giggling behind him. He stopped and turned to look at her. She was blushing and seemed to be lost in a daydream. For some reason, the thought of that Jonathon guy from the jewelry store popped into Ed's head, he quickly banished it before thoughts manifested in his mind.

"Hey Win…Winry? Winry!" She walked right past him, completely oblivious to where she was going. "WINRY!" She stopped and turned to look at him.

"Ed?" She looked at him in confusion, then looked around them. "Where are we?"

Ed looked around as well, until the landscape sunk in and became familiar. Turning around very slowly, Ed spotted a small pile of burned rubble behind them.

Winry followed his gaze and spotted a large tree. "Ed, look! It's the tree where I broke my arm." Winry walked ahead of Ed, completely oblivious to his inner battle to look away from the charred remains of his home.

'No it's not. It's not my home.' Ed stared at Winry's back as she walked away from him. 'I have another home now.' Glancing one more time at the rubble, Ed chased after Winry. "Where are you going!"

Winry pointed to the tree in front of her before closing the distance between it's longest root and herself. When Ed finally caught up to her, she had just made it to the base of the tree.

"It's the tree." Winry looked at it's scarred bark lovingly and ran her fingertips over it.

"It's the flower…" Winry heard Ed mutter something and turned around to fin him gone.

"Ed?" Silence was her answer. "Ed? Where are you? Don't play hide and seek with me! I thought you were hungry!" She spun around in a circle, scanning the fields of grass for any trace of blonde hair and a red coat.

A soft rustling sound above Winry's head released Ed. Winry screamed as Ed's upside-down face appeared inches away from her own. He looked at her seriously before offering her a lopsided grin.

Winry giggled at the sight. Ed had a tree branched hooked under his knees and he hung upside down, his shirt obeying gravity to reveal heavily outlined muscles and toned skin. His bangs floated above his head and his braid fluttered in the wind.

"You're going to get a headache like that."

"I know, I just wanted to get something." Flipping out of the tree, Ed landed on his feet and started walking back down the hill. "Let's go home."

Winry stood there, looking at his back. 'He's changed again. I think I've fallen even harder fro him.' It took Winry a couple seconds to realize that Ed's back had steadily gotten smaller and smaller.

"Wait up! What did you get!" A wide grin was the only response she got.

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Winry flopped onto her bed in exhaustion. Rubbing her slightly bloated stomach, Winry reflected on Ed's odd behavior since their return from shopping.

As soon as he got home, he went straight into his room and locked the door. Al had followed but came downstairs soon after saying that Ed refused to let him in, but he didn't sound upset.

When Ed finally emerged from his room, he threatened everyone, including Den, not to go into his room.

Rolling onto her side, Winry stared out her bedroom door; there was a sliver of light on the hallway floor. She shivered as her feet made contact with the chilly floor boards.

Sticking her head out her door, Winry saw Ed's bedroom door cracked open. She couldn't see anything except his dresser and his bedside table. She stepped back inside her room, but turned back when the light faded slightly.

Ed was standing in front of his dresser with his bare back to her; he wasn't wearing anything except his sleeping pants. He walked away from the dresser and didn't return for a few moments. Giving up, Winry headed back into her room.

Closing her eyes tightly, to ensure that she didn't get distracted by looking out into the hallway, Winry tried to fall asleep.

A soft creaking and the sound of footsteps made their way towards her room. Since she was half asleep anyways, Winry didn't acknowledge Ed's presence.

Instead of passing her room, Ed came into her room and walked to the side of her bed. He stood there, watching her sleep for a few moments. Winry was tempted to open her eyes and comment on the action, when he turned away from her.

Cracking one eye open, Winry watched as he very slowly brought something to his lips, placing a soft kiss to it, before placing it on her bedside table and leaving the room. Winry lay there in shock; was that really Ed?

Getting up slowly, Winry looked down at the small table beside her.

A large, beautiful red flower in full bloom looked up at Winry from between the mass of tools that littered the table's surface. A memory reappeared in her mind's eye as a young Ed handed her the flower she had been reaching for.

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Ed had just gotten into a comfortable position on his bed when his door was thrown open and Winry jumped onto the bed. She looked at him happily for a second before trapping him in a fierce hug.

"W-Winry…?" Ed's mind was in shock; this girl was so...so...random!

"I remember…" Ed felt her breath tickle his ear as she whispered into his hair.

Slowly, he brought a single arm to drape across her back lightly and he relaxed into her embrace. "I told you so." He smirked against her shoulder and she pulled back enough to look him in the eyes.

"Do you remember what happened afterwards?" Ed's smirk vanished. Afterwards? When ever Ed brought back a memory, it was in his dreams. And they always contorted into a nightmare near the end. He wasn't really sure what had happened after he had given her the flower. Ed looked up at her expectantly.

Winry bent down and placed a soft kiss on Ed's cheek, just like she had all those years ago. The strange contrast of her lips and his skin shocked Ed into speechlessness and he barely noticed as Winry left the room just as abruptly as she had entered it.

Ed sat in shock. The memory finished itself for him.

Ed cradled the flower in his hands as he burst through the door on his right and raced to the side of the young girl in the bed.

"Ed? What are you doing here so late?" The little girl looked at him with wonder.

Ed proudly thrust his outstretched arms under her nose and carefully opened the cage of his hands to reveal a beautiful red flower. The little girl looked up at Ed with admiration and squealed in delight before timidly asking, "Is it for me?"

"Yup." Ed couldn't keep the goofy smile off of his face as he watched her eyes sparkle in the dim light of her lamp.

His smile stayed in place as she beckoned him towards her. Making a motion for him to bend towards her, the little girl, Winry, brought her face to his and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

Cheeks burning a dark crimson, Ed's goofy smile grew as he ran down the stairs and ran home. He stayed up in bed all night, staring out the window that granted him sight of the Rockbell house down the way. Little Ed had to get some sleep; he had to go out into town with his mother the next morning. But he didn't care, Cloud 9 was better than sleep anyways.

Ed's cheeks flamed a dark crimson and he lay in bed, wide awake. Sure, sleep was great. But Cloud 9 would always be better.

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A/N: I'm so happy with all the great reviews! I'm sorry I don't respond to them, and I'll try very hard to keep my promise for one chapter a day.

Xoxoxoxo!