Better Together

A/N: Yay, I'm back with chapter 2! I'm excited. ;D And so many people added this story to their alerts already! Thanks you guys! I really hope I don't disappoint... xD Oh, as you can see, I added titles to the chapters now (and they're lines from the song). :)

Also, I want to give my thoughts on something from the first chapter - I mentioned that that wasn't the first time Ed and Winry kissed. Basically, even though I don't think anything major (like sex) happened between them during those two years after the Promised Day, I do think there was probably some flirting and kissing. Some people disagree and think they never kissed because otherwise, he would have kissed her at the train station. But, I mean, we're talking about Ed here. The station was a public place, there could have been people around - there was just no way he was going to kiss her there. xD Besides, even though FMA doesn't take place in our world, it does take place in a seemingly old-fashioned time period, so kissing in public might not have been a good idea.

OK, enough rambling! Just wanted to share my thoughts. Enjoy!

Chapter Two - "We're somewhere in between together"

The next few weeks spent at the Rockbell house went by as they always did. Winry kept fairly busy with appointments; Granny Pinako did the same as well keeping up with daily errands; and Edward was of course forced by both of the women to fulfill a multitude of chores. They were working women, and as long as he was going to be in their household, there was no chance that Ed was just going to be lazing around. Fortunately, he didn't mind it too much. It made the days pass quicker and thus, the closer it was to Alphonse's and Mei's arrival.

Of course, Ed had immediately revealed the news of their upcoming arrival to Winry, who, to his dismay, wasn't in the least bit surprised.

"I figured that," she said nonchalantly.

"What's that supposed to mean? And, why are you not more surprised?" Ed couldn't help but be slightly offended. He thought that Al and Mei being together now was big news but apparently not.

"I spent a good deal of time with those two after we left Briggs. Trust me, Ed, I knew this was coming. Al isn't like you - he wouldn't take forever to confess to a girl," she replied matter-of-factly as she went about her work and left a very disgruntled Edward.

Ed still couldn't believe she had said that to him. Didn't she have any idea how hard it was to confess to her? He supposed that no matter what, Winry would always find a way to take a jab at him for something.

Clearing his thoughts, Ed tried to refocus on his task at hand: repainting the "Rockbell Automail" sign outside the house. As he traced over the faded lettering with thick, fresh paint, he noticed out of the corner of his eye two figures coming up the road. Immediately, he threw down his paintbrush because he knew it was them.

"Brother!" Al shouted and waved as they neared. Even Mei was waving excitedly as they jogged up to the house, and Ed noticed she had Xaoi Mei on her shoulder.

Ed grinned and almost lost his balance when Al ran up and grabbed him for a hug. "Okay, okay, Al!" Ed exclaimed, "geez! You've gotten so damn big!"

Pulling away, Al smirked. "You mean 'tall'."

"Whatever." Ed frowned at the slight height difference between he and his younger brother. Changing the subject, he looked to Mei. "Hey there, Bean-sprout." Then, the banter began.

"I'm not that little! You can't call me that anymore!"

"You're still smaller than me."

"I'm a girl, you dummy!"

"Irrelevant."

Al just slapped his hand to his forehead, but thankfully, Winry walked up behind them and grabbed Ed by his ear, shutting him up but leaving a prominent scowl on his face.

"Sorry, Mei," Winry said with a smile. "I promise I won't let him torture you the whole time you're here. Now, come on, you guys - come inside!"

Winry smiled at Mei as they sat silently sipping fresh-brewed tea that her grandmother had prepared for all of them just moments ago. Pinako hadn't shown it, but she was thrilled that Al had brought a girlfriend back with him, hoping that this meant the two boys were finally ready to settle down.

But, Ed and Al couldn't stop talking to each other about all the new things they had learned long enough to even notice anything else that was going on. The three women didn't really mind, though. They all expected that this is what it would be like when the two were finally reunited, anyway.

"Al, you gotta read over some of these research books I found. Come on, they're upstairs; I'll show you," Ed said enthusiastically as he and his brother jumped up from the table clutching their cups of tea and rushing out of the dining room. However, after just a few seconds, Al popped back into the room.

"Oh, sorry, Mei," he said sheepishly as he walked over to where she sat at the table. "I'll be right back, I promise." Smiling, Al picked up her hand and squeezed it gently.

"It's fine, Alphonse! You go on ahead," she said with a smile in return. "You can tell me what all you find out later."

"Definitely!" Al exclaimed as released her hand and once again rushed out of the room.

Winry couldn't help but smile at that scene, but she also couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy tugging at her. The two of them seemed so comfortable and natural with each other, but how was that possible? They hadn't been together that long at all. Winry and Ed had been around each other their whole lives, and yet, it seemed like their relationship was filled more with awkward moments than pleasant ones. And, Ed would have never held her hand like that in front of everyone, and even if he did, she probably would have slapped him away in embarassment. How could Al and Mei do it so easily?

"So, Mei," Pinako began. "You and Alphonse seem pretty close."

"Oh, well, yes ma'am," Mei replied as a slight blush appeared on her cheeks and a dreamy expression filled her face. "Al is the kindest person I have ever met! He told me that you mostly raised him, and for that Ms. Pinako, I am so grateful. It must be because of you that he is such a gentleman!"

Winry grinned at Mei's exclamation. She was still as passionate as ever.

"Well, I suppose as long as one of them ended up that way, I didn't do too bad of a job," replied Pinako with a chuckle. The two young girls chimed in with laughter as well.

"Ugh, Winry... it's hot! Do we really have to go on a picnic today?" Ed whined. The four young adults had only just started their short walk to the river, and Ed was already feeling the sweat beads form on his brow.

"Yes!" Winry declared with a frown. "You two have been locked up in your room for days now. A little fresh air and sunshine won't kill you."

"You're not the one with the automail! And you're also conveniently not the one lugging this damn basket! Did you pack enough for the whole town?" Ed exclaimed, but his frown deepened when Winry just ignored him. He looked back to Alphonse, expecting his little brother to have his back but instead saw that he was chatting with Mei, their hands entwined. Ed decided to just resume his sulking until they made it to the river.

Finally, after what seemed like forever to an irritated, hot, and hungry Edward, the group made it there and picked out a nice spot in the shade to enjoy their lunch.

"So, Mei," Ed said after swallowing a bite of his sandwich, "how long are you planning to stay here?"

"Ed! Don't be rude!" Winry hissed and then smiled at Mei. "You can stay as long as you like."

"Well, I guess it's really up to Alphonse. I'm his guest and it's his home," Mei said with small shrug. "Although, I really don't want to have to leave him anytime soon!"

A warm smile spread across Al's face as he threw his arm around Mei's shoulders. "Don't worry, I don't want you leaving either. Like Winry said, you can stay as long as you like." Mei's face lit up and she gave Al a quick peck on the lips - the sight of which definitely caught both Edward and Winry off-guard.

"Alright, that's enough of that! You two are getting too touchy-feely!" Ed exclaimed dramatically, practically flailing his arms around in the air.

"Brother, what's the big deal? It was just a kiss, and it's not like we did it in front of Granny or anything," Al tried to reason; although, he should have known that would be pointless.

"Well, I still don't wanna see it!"

"It's okay," Winry chimed in. "Ed's just a prude, you guys."

Ed was sure his jaw dropped to the ground at that remark, and Al and Mei couldn't hold back their giggling at the sight. Scowling, Ed crossed his arms over his chest. "I just love how I'm the butt of everyone's jokes around here," he said sarcastically.

"Oh, come on, Brother! Don't be mad. I've seen you kiss Winry before, and I didn't care!" Al said reassuringly in hopes of calming Ed down, but instead both Ed and Winry's faces immediately turned a shade of red.

"Al, how dare you spy on us!" Winry exclaimed. She had been on Al's side, but this was just too much.

Al threw his hands up in apology. "I'm sorry; I wasn't spying! Geez, I just don't understand why you two are so embarrassed by it!"

Ed and Winry just frowned, and an awkward silence fell over the group for a moment.

"Heh...um," Mei began sheepishly, "how about dessert?" Everyone quickly agreed, glad for the change of subject.

During the walk back to the Rockbell house, quietness returned to the group but this time it wasn't so awkward. Al and Mei led the way, hands linked together, and Winry and Ed walked side-by-side several steps behind.

After a few moments, Ed spoke softly to Winry. "I guess Al really likes her."

Winry nodded. "Yeah. I'm glad."

Ed sighed in reluctance. "Yeah, I am too, I guess."

"I'm a little jealous of them, really," Winry said with a small laugh. "They're so comfortable with each other."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know what I mean," she replied, her eyes downcast. "They express their feelings like it's no big deal. It makes me feel a little sad, actually. They haven't even been together that long, and here I am wondering if we'll ever be like them."

Ed resumed walking in silence for he couldn't bring himself to respond. He had nothing to say to that, really. He had felt as if he had filled Winry's heart with joy when he told her that he was home for good recently, but suddenly, he felt as if he was letting her down again. He gently grasped her hand and slipped his fingers between hers. It was a small gesture, he knew, but it was all he felt he could do at the moment.

Al threw a quick glance over his shoulder and smiled when he saw what he had been hoping for. It's at least a step in the right direction, he thought.

A/N: I'm sorry this took me such a while, and it wasn't even that long or eventful. =/ Well, I'm at least setting the stage! I know some of it is just who they are, but Ed and Winry are going to have to tear down some of those walls surrounding them in order for this to work. ;D We'll just have to see what happens! And, at least I got to have quite a bit of AlMei in this one, so that's always good because they're adorable. Anyway, I'll try to be quicker with the next chapter, especially since I've decided to not make them that long! Thanks for reading; please review!