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: The Alchemist, the Mechanic and the Wardrobe

Chapter 8

By: RomanceFanFicLover

"Are you sure you guys can handle yourselves?" Pinako asked, the look of concern adorning her features having been meticulously placed there with practice in the bathroom mirror.

"Yes Granny. It's fine! We're 18 and 19; I think we can manage cleaning the house by ourselves." Winry's reassuring smile never faltered as she looked her grandmother in the eyes.

Studying her granddaughter's even stare, Pinako broke into a grin and called out to her escort. "Alphonse! We're leaving! Leave the pipsqueak alone!"

A muffled "What did you call me!" was heard from the upper level.

"How long are you going to be gone, Granny?" Winry gazed at the floorboard which seemed incredibly interesting now.

"Why do you ask?"

Hey, that wall over there looks cool too, "Oh, just wondering so we know how fast we have to cleanup." Back to the floor again; gee, that nail looks a little loose.

"Well don't make more of a mess after you cleanup. And don't let the mushroom eat on the couch anymore. Actually, now that I think about it, you should also clean the-"

"Bye Granny! Can't wait 'till you come back! Bye!" Winry cut her grandmother off by waving frantically and practically shoving Al out the door before closing it swiftly.

Staring at the swinging door ornament, then at each other, then at the now still ornament, Al and Pinako 'hmphed' and turned their backs to the door. "They sure wanted to be alone fast." Al grumbled and Pinako nodded before stepping off the porch.

That was how Winry and Ed had found themselves locked in an aggressive battle stance, brooms at ready.

Ed growled slightly and Winry narrowed her eyes every now and then. Ed's legs were starting to cramp form her awkward position. "Alright! Fine! I'll clean upstairs and you clean downstairs! I give up!" Ed exclaimed haughtily before shaking out his legs and thumping up the stairs to the sound of Winry's joyous laughter and victory song.

"It's her house, why doesn't she just do it…stupid mechanic…she should clean her own workroom…and her own room…I'm lucky that hag sleeps downstairs…" Ed continued his grumbling as he made his way through the hallway and into his own room first.

His room only took a total of 13 minutes to complete; he had to put away alchemy books, a few socks and some food crumbs. His next target was Al's room; it was better to stick to familiar territory first off.

Just as Ed had finished off Al's room he heard yelp and a colorful string of curses from downstairs. "What's wrong Win? Did the mop bite you?" he called down teasingly. When no answer was returned, Ed tried again. "Hey, Win?"

Ed started to panic and rushed to the top of the stairs only to skid to a halt before he slammed into Winry and sent her flying down the stairs.

With her back against the wall, a frustrated expression and an embarrassed blush, Winry looked up at Ed sweetly; too sweetly. "Hi Ed. Don't mind me I'm just…dusting the walls."

"With your back?" Ed cocked an eyebrow questioningly.

Winry nodded vigorously. "Uh-huh, Ms. Hughes taught me, so um…Just keep up the good work." Her nervous and rushed laughter made her extremely suspicious but Ed turned into Pinako's room anyways.

A slammed door and the click of a lock came from Winry's room and Ed just stood rooted to the spot in wonder. "Woman…" Ed muttered exasperatedly as he ent back to cleaning the room.

..+..------------------------------..+..

Winry pounced her dresser and pulled out a black skirt identical to the one she was currently 'wearing'. It had torn on a loose nail on the wall; there seemed to be a lot of them in her household.

"Bolts are better than nails anyways…" was all she managed to murmur as she struggled into her skirt. It was a bit shorter than the previous one, but it was still manageable.

She peeked out into the hallway and tiptoed back downstairs; hoping that even though she slammed the door, Ed wouldn't notice that she had run into her room.

Glaring at the nail in the wall, Winry went to fetch the spare toolbox they kept in the downstairs washroom; they always seemed to need spare sets. Brandishing a hammer as her tool, Winry approached the nail.

"It's you and me now, Chump. Get ready to lose!"

..+..------------------------------..+..

A crashing sound and a screech once again came from downstairs and Ed was starting to worry. "Winry are you sure you don't need help?"

"Yes!" Came the huffed response.

"Then can you NOT tear down the house!" Ed screamed at her from his current position cleaning under her bed.

"Stop sounding like Granny and clean!" Winry screamed in reply.

Muttering a few curses under his breath, Ed emerged from under the bed and turned on the closet; he could just picture himself buried in tools if he opened it. Slowly approaching it, as thought it were a deadly homunculi, Ed grabbed the handle and threw the sliding door open before running and plastering his back to the wall beside it.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not a single thing dropped! Ed hesitated before taking a step in front of the closet; it was surprisingly clean. Ed grinned in triumph and set to cleaning out Winry's bedside table.

"Screwdriver…Hammer…bolt…screw…another couple bolts…pencil…broken pencil, that's garbage…paper, written on paper, blank paper, ripped paper; that's garbage…Blow torch!" Sitting back on his heels, Ed examined the tool in his hand. Yes, it was a blowtorch. "Machine freak…"

Ed opened the closet and placed the tools on an empty shelf near the bottom and turned back to the half-full table.

"Marker. Picture…hey! This is a picture of me and Al leaving Risembool. Wow that was…" Counting mentally, Ed closed his eyes in concentration trying to remember how old they had been. "Seven years ago…" Ed breathed in amazement. Sometimes it was hard to believe how much they had been through over the years.

Sighing softly, Ed continued rummaging through the drawer. The last item remaining inside and unchecked was a tiny red box. Ed eyed it longingly, he knew he shouldn't go through her things but it was so tempting.

"Don't look Ed, don't look Ed, don't look Ed." As he repeated the mantra, his metal hand opened the box. "Well it wasn't my fault; it's technically not mine, so…" Ed grinned evilly and peered into the box.

A piece of red cloth lay in the box, completely untouched. It looked familiar to Ed and he searched the confines of his mind for a match.

A low growl rumbled through Ed's throat as he fought the temptation to call the Colonel and ask him to burn the offending cloth. That jeweler boy had a raggedy old handkerchief hanging out his pocket, and it was red. Tossing the box underneath Winry's bed, Ed pushed himself up and sat on the bed.

"Cleaning is so much work…" Ed whined to the bed. Stretching out, Ed made himself comfortable on Winry's bed. Yawning slightly Ed reassured himself with a "I won't be asleep for long" before closing his eyes and drifting off.

..+..------------------------------..+..

Winry sighed in relief; she was finally finished the living room. That only left cleaning the bathroom and repairing the hole in the wall she had made while fighting the stubborn nail.

She grimaced lightly as the eyed the gaping hole. "Now we have to go into town, and Granny didn't leave me any money…" Slumping her shoulders over, Winry dragged her feet across the room towards the kitchen table.

Throwing herself into the chair, Winry moped on the table. "Maybe we have some plaster downstairs…Or maybe-" The phone's shrill ring startled her from finishing her sentence. "I hope it's not Al and Granny…" Crossing her fingers, Winry picked up the phone on its second ring.

"Hello? Oh, hi Nelly…No I don't have anything planned tonight…I'm sorry I can't, I have Ed and Al over…Sure, you could come here then…Yes, a sleepover sounds fun…Truth or dare? I'm not so sure Ed and Al would play…Oh, Al has played already with you…" An evil glint washed over Winry's eyes as she hung up the phone.

"Ed! Hurry up and finish; we need to go out!" Waiting for a reply, Winry started to write a list of all the things they would need. "Drinks, Snacks, New batteries for flashlights and Cards…Maybe some other things I like, Ed! Hurry Up!"The unusually soft padding of Ed's feet on the stairs caused Winry to turn around.

The boxers he was wearing while cleaning were now dangerously low on his hips and gave too much to the imagination to wonder about. She tore her eyes away from there, and looked at his wrinkled shirt. He had one hand holding it up as he scratched his chest; granting Winry a full view of his muscles. His other hand rubbed his eyes furiously and his golden hair fell messily into his face. Winry's eyes had a will of their own and once again wandered south, where she could have sworn she saw some gold peeking out before his white shirt covered her view.

"Mhats fong Win…?" Ed's sentence was obscured by his yawn. "What's wrong Win? Why'd you call me?"

Snapping out of her daze, Winry's anger took over. "Edward Elric! Did you even clean or were you just sleeping!"

"I dunno…" Ed laughed nervously as he recognized the fire flaring in her eyes. "I mean, I did I swear, I just have to re-make your bed…" Yawn. "…and that's it. Don't worry."

Glaring at him accusingly, Winry shoved the shopping list in his hand and stuck her hand out. "Wallet."

"What! Are you nuts! I'm not giving you my wallet and letting you waltz into town!" He looked at her incredulously. "I'm going with you or you're not going at all." Snorting, Ed opened the fridge door and absently grabbed any carton.

Ed stopped mid-gulp as Winry looked at him triumphantly. "Mhat?" Her grin widened as Ed took another gulp of the drink; it was pretty good. Putting the carton back in the fridge, he turned to Winry. "What!"

"How come you like chocolate milk but you don't like milk?" Ed froze, petrified.

"Chocolate….Milk!" Eyes wide, Ed flung the refrigerator door open and grabbed at the carton. Upon reading 'Chocolate Milk' on the label, Ed nearly fainted. "It has milk…and it tastes good…"

"That's not the point. Hurry up and get dressed, we need to get some things for when Nelly comes over…"

"Nelly's coming over?"

"Yes, and we need to buy something for the wall." Winry made a dismissive wave with her hand towards the offending wall.

"What did you do!"

"Shut up! It had it coming!"

Ed looked at Winry dubiously. During times like these, it was better to just agree. "Yes, well um…I'm going to go get dressed." Taking another glance at the surely half-crazy girl, Ed all but ran up the stairs.

..+..------------------------------..+..

When Pinako had called Winry made sure to inform her of the extra company. They were all set and ready for the night and now they just waited for Nelly to arrive.

Ed, Winry and Al. They sat side by side relaxing in the grass, just like they used to. Ed sported a lopsided smile, while Winry squirmed excitedly and Al grinned suspiciously.

Ed analyzed the smile his brother had and decided he was most difinitely planning something. So when Winry ran to meet up with Nelly, Ed made his attack, and it wasn't subtle.

"What are you planning?"

Al blinked innocently. "What?"

"What are you planning? I know that grin, it's the Colonel's grin. What are you planning?"

"You'll see." Was his only answer as Al got up to greet Nelly.

Getting up as well, Ed stumbled towards them in half-shock; he hadn't really expected his brother to be planning anything. After saying his hellos, Ed continued to glare at Al's back. "That kid hangs around the wrong people…"

"Hurry up Ed, don't be so slow!" Winry called to him from the front door.

She waited for him at the door, a happy smile plastered to her face. Ed couldn't help but feel guilt; she had to wait for him for so long, and she still does in some ways. Ed shook his head to clear his thoughts and bounded up the stairs towards her.

He reached out his flesh hand and placed it on her bare hip. The whoosh of air form her gasp tickled his ear as he passed by her very closely. He wasn't sure why he did it, he sort of needed the reassurance that she really was there, that she wouldn't pull away from him.

When he finally went into the living room, Winry's legs felt like jello. She noticed the look that Nelly and Al shared when she stumbled into the room and she also noticed Ed's extremely red face. Straightening herself, Winry looked at the occupants of the room defiantly. "What's with the cherry mask, Ed?"

"What do you mean cherry!"

"Oh, you know the very red, very small fruit." Winry held back her smirk, his outburst was sure to distract the attention from Winry's inability to walk.

"Who are you calling short, I'm way taller than you!"

Nelly joined in, "Oh please! Al's still taller then you and you're supposed to be the older one."

"Why you little…" Ed almost practically shook with anger.

"If you want I could ask my dad to save some milk from our cows especially for you." Nelly pressed on as Winry and Al laughed at the scene.

"Hey that is a pretty good idea, brother. You could use the extra…um…'boost.'" Al added in slyly.

"Al, while you're sleeping I'm going to-" Ed's threat fell short as nose detected the large dinner Pinako placed on the table. "Eat!"

"You're going to what?" Confusion clouded everyone's eyes as Ed dashed into the kitchen and shortly after Pinako could be heard yelling.

"Ed! Get your hands off of that food, wait for the others! That military did you no good! Don't think I didn't see that! Drink your milk before you eat so you'll grow enough to actually reach that plate."

"What did you say you old hag!"

Nelly grinned at Winry, "Just like old times, ne?" Nodding happily, the girls linked arms and marched themselves to the table.

Al's mouth watered. His nose smelt all the spices, and yes even the slightly cinnamon smell of apple pie. Forcing back irrelevant tears, Al savored every step his bare feet took on the rough wooden floor and every delicious bite he took throughout dinner. Yes, it was difinitely just like old times.

..+..------------------------------..+..

Two apple pies and a tub of ice-cream later, Winry, Ed, Al and Nelly sat in a circle around a large glass bottle.

"What exactly is the bottle for?" Ed asked curiously.

"It's to see who gets dared and the dare is done on, brother."

"How would you know?" Ed's suspicious tone floated through the now-silent air.

Al's mindless stuttering and embarrassed glow gave Ed the answer he needed. "When the hell did you play truth or dare! Where was I?"

"With Winry, as usual, brother." Al was more confident in his answer this time.

"Eh…?" was all Ed could say in response.

"Can we play already? You guys fight too much." Winry pouted in annoyance. Ed watched her; she's played too? With who? Ed swallowed the growl that formed in his throat.

"You've played this too! Am I the only one who doesn't know this game!"

"Ed we already explained the rules!"

Al and Nelly sighed in unison; the argument was just starting, they'd never play at this rate. Ed was quickly learning to dislike the idea of the game and Winry was only making it worse. Thinking quickly, Al made an offer to his brother.

"What if you dare first brother? You can pick whoever you want to dare." Considering the idea carefully, Ed nodded his agreement.

"Alright! Al: truth or dare?"

"Me! Why me!"

"Because you've already played it without me so now it's revenge. Now choose."

"Truth."

"Don't be a chicken!" Nelly elbowed him in the ribs, hard.

"Dare…?" He looked at his brother pleadingly.

The malicious gleam in Ed's eyes as he smirked at his brother was sure to mean misfortune for the younger Elric. "I dare you to kiss…" He was partially tempted to say Winry but a larger part of him protested the idea viciously. "…Den."

"What!" Horror embedded itself into Al's features. "Brother, don't be gross."

"A dare is a dare Al! Take it out get out of the game!" Grumbling angrily, Al called Den to him and kissed the dog's forehead.

"ON-HIS-MOUTH." Winry and Nelly giggled crazily into the pillows they were lying on as Al hesitantly grabbed the oblivious Den's head.

Sputtering and coughing was the result as Den gladly returned the kiss and almost suffocated Al with his tongue. "Disgusting! Winry! Get him off me!" Once he had successfully re-brushed his teeth and washed his face, Al mumbled something about cats being more civil than dogs.

"Okay Al, spin the bottle." Nelly pointed to the untouched bottle and Al spun it quickly.

The dares continued far into the night and it finally came to the point where everyone was vying for some much needed rest.

"One last dare, and then it's bed time." Everyone agreed to Nelly's suggestion. "I went last, so I'll choose the dare. Um…Oh got one!" She grinned evilly and scanned the three faces that looked at her eagerly.

"Tell us already!" Ed yelled in his crankiness. He was really tired. He never even used to read this late into the night.

"Alright, alright. Don't get your automail in a knot."

"He better not." Winry glared accusingly at Ed who grinned innocently and shifted away a few inches.

Spinning the bottle lightly, Nelly watched intently as it landed on Ed who was still bickering with Winry. "Ed!" He blinked at her in surprise. "I dare you to be locked in the large, old wardrobe in the attic with whoever the bottle lands on next."

"What! Why! I need sleep too you know." Ed's attempts were futile and the bottle was firmly pushed into his hand. "Fine…"

All eyes were on the bottle as it spun around and around and around…and around. "Ed, why'd you spin it so hard?" Winry whined in complaint.

"Shut up." They continued to watch as it slowed down and finally came to a stop.

"Winry and Ed, get into that wardrobe now!" Nelly exclaimed excitedly and clapped happily. Grabbing a hold of Winry's forearm and pulling her up the stairs to the attic was easy when she was just sitting there in shock.

Ed, was another story though. Al almost had to pick up his brother to get him upstairs. "Al, come one man. I need sleep, don't do this to me!"

"You can sleep in there, brother." Al stated simply, ignoring Ed's attempts to back out of the dare,

"But-"

"See brother, it's really big and it's empty. Just get in." Al pointed to the large cabinet in the far corner of the attic.

"It looks scary…"

"What?"

Ed spoke louder, despite his embarrassment. "I'm not going, it looks scary in there." Winry nodded her agreement and Nelly scoffed.

"You were in the military, just get in the damn thing."

..+..------------------------------..+..

"Ed…are you awake…?" Winry asked into the darkness. A muffled grunt was her answer. "Can we talk or something." This time a snort and some shuffling was her answer as Ed's face appeared in the darkness.

"Why?" he mumbled sleepily.

"Please?" Her eyes were large and round, Ed realized.

'She must be scared or something.' Shifting his body so that he was sitting beside her, Ed once again marveled at the space inside the wardrobe. "Why the hell do you guys have something this huge in here anyways?" He gestured to the spacious inside of the cabinet.

"It was Granny's. Someone special gave it to her, so she kept it. It was too big for any of the rooms so we keep it here." Winry was also amazed at the size of the thing. They both fit comfortably, although rather closely, beside each other on the side of it and could stretch out vertically down the length of it if they wanted.

They fell into an uneasy silence. For some reason, they seemed closer to each other than they were in the beginning. And all of a sudden, the very spacious wardrobe seemed a little smaller. "Um…do you want to sleep now?" Ed croaked out.

And a soft "mmhmm" was all Winry dared to let out until Ed started to move towards the other end of the wardrobe. "Um, could you stay here? Beside me?"

Even in the darkness she saw him look at her questioningly. "I'm sort of scared, and I feel better when you're close to me." She figured it was better to admit it now rather then lose sleep while she was in here.

Clearing his throat, Ed managed a strangled "um, sure" before sliding into a slightly more comfortable position beside her. Winry slid down beside him and tentatively placed her head on his metal shoulder.

"Goodnight Ed." Her whisper seemed louder in the quiet air.

Strangely, Ed wasn't really tired anymore. "Are you uncomfortable on the metal?" He was surprised at himself; he shouldn't care if she was comfortable, and especially not if it had to do with the automail she seemed to love so damn much. But he asked anyways and was glad he asked when he felt her nod against him.

"Kind of, yeah." She looked up at him sheepishly. She must have also realized it was a little strange for him to ask.

"You can, uh, put your head on my chest if you'd like." When Winry placed her head on his bare chest, he wasn't sure if he should be deliriously happy with himself or intent on suicide for the torture he was putting himself through.

Winry hesitantly placed her hand on his chest beside her face. His skin was so warm and surprisingly soft. She blinked back the hot tears that pricked her eyes when she opened her eyes to be greeted with a close-up view of his battle scars. Sighing softly, Winry closed her eyes again but opened them wide when Ed wrapped his automail arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

She looked up at him curiously; he was clearly looking everywhere but her. She smiled into his chest and closed her eyes again. Before she knew it, sleep was beginning to blur the edges of her thoughts; his heartbeat was like a natural lullaby to her.

Ed let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding when Winry relaxed into his tighter embrace. He closed him eyes and tried to concentrate on his heartbeat under her hand. Forcing his eyes open again, Ed mentally slapped himself for his stupidity; his heart was on the left side, not the right.

Ed stared down at the girl beside him. Her heartbeat was so strong, so full of life. He had missed that life; the life he grew up with, and the life he had left behind.

He grimaced into the darkness; he seemed to have one more thing to be guilty after the other one just passed. He knew he deserved it though. She had always been there waiting for him. She never complained, well only when his automail was destroyed, and she always welcomed them with open arms, one always wielding a wrench in his general direction.

When they had come back to Amestris all those months ago she hadn't asked what they did or how they did it to get back here, she just hugged each of them and celebrated their return.

Even now, she still waited for them. Himself especially, he had recently noticed. She waited for him to break out of his thoughts and noticed her, waited for him to wake up in the morning and waited for him to go to bed in the evening. She was always there, always watching, always waiting.

For what exactly, he wasn't sure of anymore. First it was for their safe return, but now that she had that she still seems to be waiting.

Ed looked down at the blonde head that rested on his chest. He was pretty damn sure she was asleep, but he couldn't be absolutely positive. He risked it anyways and wrapped his flesh hand around the one the left lip on his chest.

Winry's half-asleep daze was interrupted as Ed's warm hand intertwined with her own. She looked up at him through her bangs, not daring to move her head. She closed her eyes again as he brought his head down to hers and kissed the crown of her head softly. It was such a small gesture, so innocent, yet it seemed to affectionate as well.

She was about to speak, but thought better of it as he began to whisper into her hair.

"Winry Rockbell, thank you for waiting for me and I'm sorry for making you wait. I love you Winry Rockbell. But you'll never hear it from me." Ed buried his nose into her hair and breathed in her intoxicating scent. Before he realized what was happening, hot tears streamed down his cheeks.

He blinked in surprise. He hadn't cried since that Barry the Chopper incident. Nonetheless, he turned his body slightly towards her and held her more tightly against him as he wept into her hair. It felt so good, yet hurt so much to let out all his emotions.

Ed closed his eyes when his tears finally subsided and sighed softly. He felt so exhausted from his sudden wash of emotions. Eyes dropping heavily, he pulled Winry closer to him still, and drifted off into a blank, yet refreshing, dream.

Winry was completely shocked. Ed had said he loved her. He had acknowledged her selfless waiting for him. He had cried, on her! Everything Winry wanted from Ed seemed to happen in that wooden wardrobe.

She grinned to herself as his body slumped in sleep. Ed may have said that she didn't hear it from him. But she'd be damned if she never tried to make him say it to her again.

Winry Rockbell had always loved Edward Elric, and now she knows he loved her too.

..+..------------------------------..+..

A/N: Next chapter should be a military party! Yay! See Ed dancing:P

Xoxoxoxo!