A/N: Hey all! So I'm back with more EdxWin fluffies and lemony-ishes! Now I was told that there's confusion because I state that Edward has changed but that some of you don't really see much change in him and also that Winry's nervousness around Edward is too OOC.
First of all, Edward IS changing; we wouldn't see him being so forward and "flirtateous" typically; he'd be much more closed up and bashful like he always was in the anime! So I still hold to the fact that this is a HUGE change in him but also, his changes are going to be gradual and not necessarily always major pivitol points so please just keep reading and you'll see it.
As for Winry, I believe that if six years have gone by, she will have changed too! And with Edward now suddenly back home-for good-it's certainly going to affect our leading lady quite a bit and force to to literally face those feelings she's had for him for so long but now, she's unable to hide or ignore them.
Also with Edward suddenly being alot more forward and direct with her, I think it would cause her some confusion and awkwardness so yes, even Winry Rockbell is capable of a blush or two. So let's just keep reading and go with the flow! :D
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It was just barely daylight when Winry squinted her eyes open. The sun wasn't quite up yet but it's golden rays were just starting to peak over the horizon.
Winry yawned and then feeling a heavy masculine hand shift on her shoulder, her eyes shot open and she looked from the hand to the still-slumbering face of its owner.
That's right.
Her and Ed had met up last night and spent the night outside-all night.
Together.
Under the same blanket.
He'd kissed her too.
Winry flew up to her feet and shook Edward hastily. "Ed...Ed!" She hissed.
The golden-haired man was so sound asleep, he only graced her with a slight moan and then turned over on his other side.
"Ugh, com'on Ed it's almost dawn! If Granny catches us, we're dead!" She hissed again.
Still no movement from the Fullmetal Alchemist that could take on any battle without blinking an eye but when it came to sleep, seemed completely impervious to arousel.
Her brows drew together in a harsh V and she growled, irritatedly, striking him over the head with her wrench and hissing loudly. "Edward!"
The young man yowled, holding his head as he turned over, convulsing in pain. "For God's sakes, Woman! Where the hell do you always keep that thing?!"
She shook her head, yanking the blanket off of him. "Nevermind, just get up! We've got to get back somehow before anyone sees!" She sloppily rolled up the blanket and carelessly tossed it at a still-half asleep Edward who groaned in return.
Pulling out a compact mirror from her pocket, she proceeded to comb hasty fingers through her hair and re-braid it.
"Okay. Done."
She turned around to check and see if Edward was ready, only to discover him still on his knees looking up at her-now very awake-with an intense stare and a warm smile. "Morning, Winry." He breathed.
Suddenly, she was feeling giddy and self-conscious all over again; remembering there previous night and the unexpected very hot kiss from Edward, brought a flaming shade to her cheeks and she stood there stifly, blinking and staring wide-eyed.
He laughed softly, getting to his feet and straightening his coat.
"Um you're hair-wow, its atrocious." She mumbled, her eyes straying to his sloppy, half-undone ponytail and she mutely stood behind him and pulled it out.
"Let me fix this." She sounded more like she was talking to herself.
Edward smiled-and hummed pleasureably as her nimble fingers began combing through his long golden locks that now hung to almost the middle of his back.
She finished and then took up his golden tresses in one hand and retied them into the ponytail.
It was so foreign to see his hair like this instead of the typical single braid that he had sported for so long.
But she liked it this way too-maybe even better.
"Done."
She walked back around to the front of him and picked up the blanket, turning towards the house.
Instinctively, Edward grabbed her hand and whirled her around. "Hey hold on a minute, what's the big rush?"
"Uh, we. need. to. get. back. seriously, Ed I've told you this like ten times already, why are you-?" Her voice was exasperated but a rougish smile spreading across his lips, silenced her immediately.
His eyes looked almost like molten lava as he leveled her with a heated stare. "Well don't I even get a kiss before we go?"
Her mouth fell open and she gawked at him.
"Uh-um we need to hurry before-"
He cut her off, pulling her into his arms, his face growing uncomfortably closer to hers as he whispered huskily. "You know once we're back there you won't even let me hold your hand; it's gonna be killin' me the whole time when all I'm gonna wanna do is get my hands on you again-"
"Ed-!" She squeaked and threw the wool blanket in his face as she fled his arms.
Edward watched her hasty retreat in surprise but the sight of her flaming cheeks was reward enough for him and he couldn't hold back a laugh as he followed behind her.
Winry cringed at his beautiful, throaty laugh echoing-quite loudly-in the quiet morning air and she whirled around and slammed a hand over his mouth.
"Not. Another. Sound, Edward Elric. Or we are dead."
His eyes were dancing with mirth and laughter but he nodded in agreement and she slowly removed her hand.
"Okay, now hurry up!" She turned back around and grabbed his hand, dragging him along with her as they snuck back up and over the hill.
They were passing the Oak tree and dreading the inevitable return to 'reality' Edward pulled on Winry's hand. "Wait, wait, come here." He tugged her behind the tree unable to resist one last chance to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
Winry gasped when Edward suddenly pulled her behind the tree but when his arms came around her possessively, she nearly lost her breath as he dipped his head and kissed her more thoroughly and passionately than she'd ever thought humanly possible.
He tugged and sucked on her lower lip which only elicted a whimpering moan from the blonde woman and she brought up her leg and hooked it around his hip, trying to feel as much of him as she possibly could.
Suddenly, she really resented clothes-bothersome things.
At her unveiled eagerness, Edward grinned against her lips and slipping his hand under her thigh, he hooked her leg more securely on his hip and pinned her against the tree, his tongue finally gaining entrance to her mouth.
She moaned the instant his tongue stroked hers and she pulled back just enough to moan his name. "E-Edward..."
"Don't talk." He answered breathlessly and devoured her mouth again.
All too soon, this consuming passionate embrace had to end and Winry, being a little more level-headed than Edward was at the moment, broke the kiss-eliciting a dissatisfied groan from her dashing lover-and broke out of his arms.
She walked on towards the house briskly, clearing her throat and straightening her wrinkled clothes and dishevled hair as best she could.
Edward came up behind her and made to brush his nose against the back of her neck.
She jumped away, putting a wide space between them and pointing a definitive finger at him, she warned him to stay on his side.
"No, stop!-over there. You stay over there."
The golden haired alchemist pouted slightly, causing the gorgeous blonde next to him to slightly giggle and he grinned broadly on succeeding at making her smile.
Winry turned back to looking straight ahead but she saw Edward watching her from the corner of her eye and he was grinning like a chesher cat.
She shook her head but a radiant smile was teasing the corners of her lips and causing her baby blue eyes to dance. "You are impossible, now stop it, Ed."
His grin only got wider. "I"m not doing anything, Win; I've got my hands to myself."
Then he daringly leaned over and whispered in her ear. "But I can have them somewhere else in a second if you want."
Her face looked like it would burst into flames when she raised a hand to his face and pushed him away, again putting distance between them.
"On your side, Elric!" She hissed and attempted to look severe but there was no mistaking the laughter in her eyes or the breath-taking blush in her cheeks.
They made it back to the house-succeeding in avoiding any prying eyes and each left to their perspective rooms.
But sleep wasn't on either of their minds as both hearts raced and eyes danced with giddy excitement.
The possibilities of tomorrow were endless.
# # # #
"Oh well good morning, Winry." Granny greated as her granddaughter finally made her appearance in the kitchen that morning.
"Morning Granny." The young girl responded quietly.
Both Elric brothers were already up and eating at the table-but the eldest one held the majority of Winry's intrest as she snuck a glance at him only to find his golden eyes trained on her, intently.
She blushed, turning her eyes away immediately and made for the pot of brewing honeyed grits that was calling her name.
"Whoa Winry, you look kind of flushed, are you feeling okay?" The youngest Elric-unaware of the thick thension and intense heat pulsating between his brother and his best friend, voiced his concern openly.
"Oh my, Alphonse is right, you do look a little flustered, Dear."
Winry's insides began to tremble but she maintained her outward composure. "Oh it's nothing; my the air in my room is uncommonly hot for some reason so I cracked the window before coming down."
A soft snort was heard from somehwere in the room and Winry cringed before turning a glare on Edward. But the golden-eyed alchemist was already recovered and calmly reading over the morning's paper.
Sneaky bastard.
She thought to herself, taking up her bowl and seating herself between the two boys at the dining room table.
"Well I have a huge grocery list that I need to get filled so I'll be in town for a good part of the day; you kids behave yourselves while I'm gone; Oh, and Ed? Could you please go up on the roof and check on that leak over the parlor as well as the chimney; I'm certain the flu's got to be stuffed up because it smokes terribly in the house now."
"Sure thing, Granny; leave it to me. In fact, I'll get started on that right now." He stood up and placed his empty bowl in the sink, washed his hands and dried them with the towl he had slung over his shoulder.
"Thank you. Winry, remember the housework and help Ed; he'll get it done quicker if you can give him whatever he needs."
Winry turned her back, blushing painfully and cringing as Granny's words held an unintended but obvious double-meaning.
Once Granny had pulled her hat on and taken up her shopping basket, she left with a bubbly goodbye and was out the door.
Alphonse, having finished his third helping of breakfast, excused himself saying he was going to take a shower and then clean the kitchen as a help to Winry.
She mumbled a thank you as the sound of the younger Elric's footfalls could be heard fading up the stairs then down the hall where they finally disappeared into the bathroom.
The moment she'd been dreading was finally here.
Her and Edward were alone again and all she could do was brace herself, pray she wasn't blushing and put on as calm a face as she could.
Edward had been watching Winry closely and he knew she'd been dreading his reaction after Granny's unintended inuenndo. "Give him whatever he needs."
He had to admit, it would be all too easy to tease her unmercifully on that score but then again, he much preferred to catch her when she was least expecting it and this would be far too obvious.
So he let it slide. "Well! Looks like I've already got my work cut out for me then." He said with a good-natured grin.
Winry sighed with relief; it looks like he would let it go this time.
"Yeah and with this house in the state that it is; cleaning's gonna be a nightmare. I swear you boys track more dirt, mud and sweat in here now than you ever did as kids!" Her hands fell to her hips as she looked around the space a little scornfully.
Edward chuckled softly and came to stand beside her. "Well when it's compared with your automail shop, this place doesn't look half-bad!" He gufawed and Winry smacked him hard in the arm.
"Can it, Elric! I'll remind you that that workshop is what gave you that leg! Without it and me, you would have been hobbling around with nothing more than a rolled up pant leg pinned to a stub!"
His laughter settled down and he rested a hand on her head, smiling down at her fondly. "Yeah yeah, I know; take it easy, Woman. You know I'll always owe you for that." His eyes softened as he planted a chaste kiss to her hair then backed away from her. "Well as much as I'd love to stand here all afternoon and remenisce with your pretty self, I've gotta get to that roof and the flu before Granny gets back." And with that, he with a wink and boyish grin, leaving Winry with nothing to do but blush and smile like an idiot.
"Damn him, my cheeks are gonna burn off at this rate and it'll be his fault." She muttered as she slapped her cheeks repetatively, trying to rid them of the persistent crimson stain.
# # # #
Later that evening, Winry setting the table-as Edward had once again, offered to cook-and her eyes caught sight of the date circled on the tatty calander that hung near the doorway.
October 3rd.
Her eyes widened.
"Edward!" She shouted, causing the toe-headed Alchemist to nearly jump out of his skin.
"Damn it, Woman what's with the shreaking!?"
She mellowed. "Sorry I just-your birthday's coming up." She turned back to the calander, pointing at the circled date that now look faded from wear and tear on the calander.
He squinted leaning in to get a better look. "Huh! well I'll be, look at that; it sure is. Hey, I didn't know Granny remembered my birhtday, come to think of it, I didn't think that old crow could remember much of anything lately." He snickered but a crackly voice from behind him caused all the color to drain from his face.
"Yes, well this 'old crow' still has quite a few sharp claws left. But on this point, you're actually mistaken, that wasn't my doing." She nodded to the calander as she came in and laid the numerous packages and groceries on the kitchen table.
"Winry did that, right after you boys left, six years ago...It was just after your 11th birthday I believe?"
Edward turned surprised eyes to Winry who averted his gaze and shifted her feet awkwardly.
"Winry never missed a birthday; She always wrote you letters but we didn't get your postmark until some time later so she never sent them. Only the ones after, as you already know of course."
"Grams-!" Winry whined, begging her grandmother to stop but the old woman only grinned mischeviously.
"I used to watch her walk out to the mailbox every year and stand there for almost half an hour, debating on whether or not to put the letter in. But she always did in the end; I used to think she was just being bashful but-"
"Grams!" Winry hissed.
The old woman cackled good-naturedly as she finished rinsing the last few dishes, leaving Winry who was only too eager to take up a towel and dry them.
"I'm off to bed, I'm beaten to a frazzle; you kids clean up and-where's Al?"
"Oh he's been in his room; I uh-I might have given him one of the old man's old Alchemy books; the idiot can't put it down." Edward grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
"Well that's just as well, leave the boy there; I haven't seen him so happy and care-free in years-but then that goes for both of you; Al's got his body back and you-well I imagine there's more reasons to your carefree joy than just an arm of flesh, hm?" She eyed Winry who's cheeks flammed red as she nearly dropped a plate she was drying.
Edward grinned as Granny waved at him on her way out of the kitchen, leaving the two young people with nothing but growing sexual tension between them.
"Well, looks like it's just us; I'll give you a hand." He moved behind Winry and reached around her for another towel.
"Oh really Ed I've got this you can-" She turned to dismiss him but found her face mere inches from his as his hands came to rest on the counter on either side of her, locking her in.
"Uh-uhm."
Edward's eyes glowed as he saw that irresistable pink hue dusting the tops of her cheek bones. "Sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you." He breathed out softly, sending shivers up the blonde woman's spine.
She avoided his eyes, choosing to stare at her feet instead. "N-no it's not that-you're fine." She mumbled.
He took this moment to really look at her. His eyes trailed up to her golden hair that was more and more often, pulled over one shoulder, twisted into a loose fishtail braid.
He really liked her hair that way-and from the looks of it, she hadn't cut it in awhile-save for an ocassional trim-so it was longer than he'd ever seen it; It probably reached her waist if she were to let it out.
The thought of those long golden tresses flowing endlessly down her back made him shiver-especially when he imagined running his fingers through it.
Her bangs were still there but they too were getting longer and it seemed to be more of a hinderance to Winry as she was constantly brushing them out of her eyes with that irritated huff of hers that he always found so adorable.
Just then, the blonde peaked up at him. "Ed. You're staring."
He shook his head, his eyes coming back into focus on her baby blues and he smiled wistfully. "Sorry, I was just thinking of something."
"Well..." She slowly turned her back to him. "There's still dishes that need to be dried, idiot so if you don't mind..."
He leaned into her, his nose lightly brushing against the back of her neck. "Winry..."
He breathed her name huskily and the blonde woman only half-managed to surpress a whimper. "...Don't..." She pleaded. But her body was screaming 'yes!' at her and for an instant she could've sworn she actually heard an inner voice begging her to give in.
But they were in the house. Granny as well as Alphonse were about and they couldn't risk being seen-especially not like this.
If it was purely innocent adoration existing between the two, well that would be one thing.
But this...this was so much more than that.
What pulsated between her and Edward was so different and so much more than just innocent fancy...
...it was passionate, uncontrolled, intense longing and want and it went far beyond their hearts and minds.
Their bodies and souls were desperate to be completely connected to each other and that was something they both knew to be forbidden ground-especially when it came to Pinako's standards.
If they weren't married, then they had no business laying a finger on each other like that-there was no room for debate.
But inspite of this, Edward seemed to be more inclined than Winry, to throw caution to the wind.
And she could sense it in him; every moment she spent near him even if it was purely platonic on the surface, there was always the undercurrent surging between them. She saw it mostly in his eyes whenever he looked at her.
And moments like this, a hundred times worse...
She could barely stand how close he was to her; it would be so easy for them to cross that line and abandon themselves to the reckless passions of each other...but for her, she knew it was too great a risk-at least at this point; regardless of whether or not Edward was eager and even willing to throw it all away for her, she couldn't let him risk his reputation for that; he'd worked so hard and sacrificed too much.
Not too mention, he'd most likely be thrown out of the house the moment Pinako caught wind of it.
Damn it, she hated this; but she had to be the level-headed and responsible one.
Just like always; ironic how some things never change...
She squared her shoulders and turned back to face Edward. "You know, we can't." She stated firmly, pressing a hand to his chest to put some distance between them.
Edward's golden eyes met hers and the fire that had been burning in their depths, extinguished and he frowned.
"You don't want me to-" He started to turn away from her and she knew instantly, he was getting the wrong idea.
She grabbed his hand tightly and looked directly into his eyes. "You know that's not what I mean, Ed. There's-huhh-look in my eyes right now. If you seriously think that I don't want you to, then you're way more of an idiot than I thought."
He looked in her eyes.
She was staring right back at him and her eyes held nothing back.
He saw it. It was concealed well from anyone else who might look at her-but not for him; he could see it plainly.
Passion.
Want.
Desperation.
...But also defeat, resignation and discouragement.
She clearly wanted this-just as much as he did-but unlike him, she felt trapped and saw no clear way for them to have it-at least not now.
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He knew she was right; now wasn't really the time for-all this.
But he still fought against it because he hated it; they'd been through so much; both of them had been to hell and back God knows, how many times and now that they'd finally made it here...
They had everything they wanted right in front of them.
Because all they wanted, was each other.
And still, something stood in the way and for more comlicated reasons than either of them cared to recount, they couldn't have it.
Not now.
And honestly, who knows when they would be able to.
She had to have been just as frustrated as he was-maybe moreso, for she was the one who'd spent most of her life waiting on him. Waiting for him to call.
Waiting for him to write.
Waiting for him to come home.
Waiting for him to talk to her.
Waiting, waiting, waiting.
And here she was, having to wait again, despite the fact that he was right there in front of her, free and open for the taking.
But he knew she was trying to think of him.
That's why she was doing this.
Afterall, he was still a state Alchemist, employed by the military and consequently, his reputation was known to everyone and their mother.
Damn it.
If there was ever a time he would actually resent being a state Alchemist, this would definitely be it.
Winry sighed but took his hand and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I know-it's stupid. And dumb. And stupid. And infuriating."
He sensed her frustration growing and he smiled sadly, resting a hand against her cheek, holding her against him. "You said 'stupid' twice, Win."
"Shut. up. I know. I said it twice because this situation is twice the stupidity."
She let out a frustrated huff and felt Edward's chest rumble when he laughed.
"I know-I mean I-well honestly, what I hate the most is-you're doing this because of me; because I'm a-state Alchemist." He spat out the phrase and Winry looked up at him in complete surprise.
"Ed! You said that like you despise it."
He ran a hand down his face. "Yeah well, maybe I do a little-especially right now." He grumbled, his eyes wondering down to their intwined fingers and his thumb began to brush across the back of her hand.
Winry nuzzled his neck a little-trying to encourage him-but it elicited a low moan from the handsome alchemist and his arm instinctively came around her.
"Damn it, Woman are you trying to kill me?"
She looked up at him apologetically.
"Do that again and I won't give a damn if I'm the military's dog or not-"
"I know, I know I'm sorry." She pressed a hand to her forehead. "I didn't think, I was just trying to encourage you, that's all."
"Oh believe me, you were encouraging me-just in the opposite direction than what you meant to."
She laughed nervously, gently pushing out of his arms.
"Alright, that's it I'm leaving the rest of these to dry on the towels...we, we need to get some space-go to bed before we do something-" She left the end of the sentence hanging in the air as she moved towards the stairs, Edward close behind her.
They reached her room first and she couldn't help but notice that Edward had stopped as though he was waiting for something.
She turned around to look at him but he was staring off somehwere else, deep in thought.
"Well, this is me." She gestured towards the door.
"So I guess I'll see you in the morning then?"
He finally looked at her then...but made no reply.
His golden eyes lacked their usual molten glow; they looked dim and tired.
Winry touched his arm. "Are you-" The unasked question hung in the air; she bit her lip, unable to finish as she sensed how depressed and disappointed he looked.
"It's fine, Winry; don't worry 'bout me."
"Yeah. Like that's ever gonna happen-you're always telling me 'don't worry' when you know that's exactly what I'm going to do-"
He didn't respond, only looked away from her and this somehow left her feeling hurt. "Fine." She mumbled, defeated and turned to leave. He never tells me anything; he never opens up to me.
But then, Edward's hand shot out and grabbed hers, whirling her around and pulling her to him as he whispered, "Hey, come here."
And his lips were on hers again, moving more fervently and desperately than before, as if he was afraid of never being able to touch her again, so he savored every moment of it.
Winry knew the prudent thing would be to break the kiss but she couldn't bring herself to. The way he'd looked at her before-so dejected and frustrated-it had pulled painfully on her heart strings and she suddenly felt the desperate need to leave him with something tangible to cling to; some part of her that he could replay in his head as a way to keep himself going because she knew-they both knew-that from here on, things would be more difficult perhaps than ever before and nothing would be easy.
So why not allow themselves this one precious pleasure of losing themselves in each other, if for just a moment or two.
The clock wouldn't lose it's rythm even for a few stolen seconds or minutes.
They could have at least that.
His arm came around her waist and his fingers splayed across the middle of her back as he pressed her more firmly against him, kissing her with every shred of conviction he had.
Winry shivered at the contact.
His body was so alive, so hot and so strong-she wished she could completely melt into him and forget everything else-that would be the epitomy of all encompasing bliss, in her mind.
Edward felt Winry shiver against him and it only spurred his passion and he deepened the kiss, trailing his tongue along her bottom lip, causing her to whimper softly.
"...Winry..." He whispered against her lips.
The blonde woman responded with a sigh of pleasure, her half-lided blue eyes meeting his molten golden stare.
"We-I-it's late-I need to-g-get to bed and-y-you too."
He kissed her one last time, then pressed his forehead to hers, breathing heavily as his blood pumped hard through his veins. "I-know-I just had to-I needed to kiss you-don't hate me."
She shook her head, a sly smile spreading across her lips as she looked adoringly up at him. "If you hadn't, then I would have, so it's more than fine."
She bit her lower lip and Edward's eyes zeroed in on the action, moaning.
"Damn it, don't-you do that and it makes me want to replace your teeth with mine..." He dipped his head, kissing her again but this time they were quick, sweet kissed that he soon dotted all over her face, making her giggle and blush furiously.
"Ed...! Stop...com'on we have to go to bed."
"Just give me the word, Ms. Rockbell-another kiss-and I'll-another-take you to bed-three more-anytime-a couple more-you want."
"Edward Elric!" She hissed, wide-eyed.
"What...?" He pulled back and looked at her almost pouting.
She shook her head with a rueful smile. "You really are. Hopeless."
He grinned widely looking down at her with that heated irresistable expression of his. "When it comes to you, damn straight."
"Go. To. Bed. Mr. Elric. And I will see you tomorrow." She commanded but there was a sparkle in her eyes as she opened the door to her room and slowly backed away inside.
Edward stood there watching her beautiful face disappear-ever reluctant to leave her. "Yeah, yeah alright fine-sleep well, Winry."
"You too, Ed." And with one last bashful smile, her door clicked shut and a reluctant Edward Elric returned to his own room, his footsteps slow and heavy.
But sleep wouldn't come to the golden-haired Alchemist that night.
All he could do was lay on his back, hands behind his head and stare up at the cieling, his eyes faraway as he saw nothing but long golden hair and beautiful smiling baby blue eyes staring back at him.