Waaah, another bad chapter is bad. Sorry everybody!! [/rushes off to get dinner] Thank you so much for all the reviews!!

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Winry let her body fall into the plush bed, a sigh escaping her and her tired muscles silently crying out in pain. As soon as they got off the train and away from the alley, they went to the hotel for not one minute, only to be told that the colonel had called for them. She knew them meant Edward and Alphonse, but somehow she felt slightly left out, a third wheel you may call it. Edward, sensing her distress and averting eyes, took her hand in his automail one, a tired smile on his face. She tried to let her icy heart melt upon the sight, but she still remained frozen all due to seeing the alleyway with the many memories.

She tugged at the comforter with one hand and lightly pounded her fist into the pillow with the other. It was so frustrating to her, it seemed. Winry knew she was strong; she was a Rockbell for goodness sakes. However, apparently under the slightest pressure as of late, her knees shook and she would become immobile, letting her heart, mind, and body stiffen up and remain cold, unfeeling.

As she sighed, she knew Edward was doing his best to help, but it wasn't something he could help with. It was her fault she'd become so withdrawn, and it was her fault she was in this mess in the first place. Half-heartedly, she wondered if she had a wrench in her purse that fateful day. Surely, that would've made all the difference considering her great arm.

A small knock startled the mechanic from her distraught thinking, and bringing her head up to see whom it was, her eyes fluttered, blinking back tears she didn't know where there. Upon seeing the familiar blond boy step in, she didn't know if she wanted to bury back into the pillow or face him like the strong woman she really was on the inside.

"Hey Win..." Edward spoke casually, hands tucked inside his pockets. Soft patters hit against the wood, at almost a cautious, leisurely pace. "How are you holding up?" Winry sniffed, noticing the true tone of curiosity and worry embedded into his voice. At least he didn't seem so frustrated like previously that morning.

"Fine... I guess..." Winry replied, deciding on putting her face back into the puffy cushion. With a heavy sigh, her shoulders rose and fell with her breathing actions. Her unusual breathing didn't go unnoticed by the alchemist.

"You don't sound fine," he retorted calmly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Winry knew what he was doing by the movement of the bed going down, and silently moved over to her left a bit more, making more room for the boy.

"Just tired, Ed..." Her voice rose with more frustration, returning tears stinging yet again at her eyes. A shudder went through her as she attempted to contain barely escaping sobs.

Edward was about to reply, but stopped short, snapping his mouth shut instead. He didn't really know what to say to help her, besides apologizing for dragging her all around Central while they 'worked'. And even then he knew she'd be upset with his unnecessary sorry. Instead, he leaned over, changing his position and laid down in the spot she'd moved to make space for. The bed creaked under both their weight, causing the mechanic to turn her head towards him, a slightly surprised expression on her face.

"I'd hope you tell me if something was wrong," he spoke quietly, not wanting to be too excessively loud as they were right next to each other. Winry nodded and brought her eyes downward, her lids almost covering her brilliant blue eyes entirely. Her small hand toyed with her shorter hair, her slender fingers catching Ed's attention. It wasn't a moment later that Edward grabbed a hold of her hand with his own, eyes smoldering dark amber.

"I love you, you know..." He suddenly blurted out, unaffected as to what she would say or do as a response. Merely nodding into the pillow, her attention was only focused on their conjoined hands. She scrunched her nose as his warm breath tickled her face and spicy scent was overpowering her. She let her eyes close for a moment, merely listening and sitting with the one she loved.

"Do you love me?" He asked, almost hesitantly. Winry kept her eyes closed, feeling sleep rapidly approaching, but nodded once more.

"Of course..." Her voice cracked as she whispered, her weariness and pain evident in her voice. "Always..." Silence broke into their already short-lived conversation. Slumber was just around the corner for the mechanic when she felt a pair of warm lips on her forehead. Cracking open her heavy lids, she looked to the boy next to her, feeling her cheeks warm up as his did the same. As if a dam broke, all their feelings, thoughts, worries rushed out in one single, silent moment, and it was like a major understanding was finally comprehended between the two.

Lowering his lips to her, Edward kissed Winry lightly, their noses brushing slightly with each others. A few seconds felt like hours whence he pulled away, and Winry felt herself somehow regaining confidence, courage, and the self-hate seemed to be receding. Inwardly, she wondered if she'd get another one, but knew it would definitely be too much for him to do. However, to Edward, her eyes read just that, saying 'another...' and he didn't waste another moment to do what her eyes pleaded.

Ed connected his lips to hers again, a tingle of something indefinable being shot through their systems. He released their hands, for a short moment making Winry feel slightly cold and rejected, but soon moved it to her cheek, encasing it in familiar warmth. Humming in contentment, Winry pressed herself closer, wanting, needing to be nearer to him.

The alchemist moved closer to her as well, as if desperately seeking her body heat. It was different than before, they both noted as their lips shyly moved against each other's. Back in Risembool, it seemed to be either forced or clearly upset. But now... Winry's heart fluttered in her chest noting now it was true, tender, caring.

Edward shifted his weight onto one side and used a hand to push her back down onto the comforter. Hovering above her slightly, he brought his left hand to the small of her back, lightly pulling her closer to him. Winry shifted her arms to latch under his and placed upon his back, slender finger digging into the fabric of his button up shirt.

The boy murmured her name as he tenderly placed a kiss on her cheek, temple, then jaw line, being slow and careful before doing such things. At the moment his mind was clear enough and he could think straight, making sure he wouldn't go too far and hurt her in a way that would cause him to hate himself forever. But being a boy, he could still feel himself slipping away, loosing himself to the light, foggy lust in his mind, begging and pleaded to continue on further and further.

Winry's cheeks burned hotter once she opened her eyes, staring directly into his amber ones. It was clear that he truly loved her in the moment, and a small smile played at his lips. His sincere grin made her want to smile as well.

Pulling him closer, Winry let the unfamiliar feeling of a smile tug at her lips. A groan and shudder made its way through his body, causing a small giggle to emit from her lips. They were both surprised, as they both pulled away a bit and looked at each other in shock. She hadn't laughed like that in a long while, and it was sort of... refreshing.

She bit her lip, wishing she could take back her words from earlier concerning the boy and his worry over her. Maybe he could be of help to her. No, not maybe, he would.

Edward grinned and lowered himself again, kissing her a bit harder on the lips. His chilly automail hand sent a shiver down her spine once the metal object tried to creep up her shirt. Clearly she was unused to this type of affection action.

When she wanted it least, fresh images of the day, her life-changing day, melted her current surroundings and instead, could perfectly see the green-haired man Edward referred to as Envy, and his awful motions. A gasp came from her lips as the man smirked evilly, purple eyes glowing with lust and malice. His large, unfamiliar hands groped her breasts and she squeaked in fear, pushing the man away with a hard shove.

"S-Stop!!" She yelled, hands shaking from the memories. Squeezing her eyes tight, a whimper left her and she continually repeated for this, 'Envy' to stop and leave her alone.

Only instead, she was grabbed again and hard whispers were spoken into her ear, causing the warm breath to arch her back instinctively. Winry sobbed and sobbed, begging for the thing to halt.

"W-Winry, it's me!" Edward stuttered, alarmed by her sudden fear and heavy shove to his chest. Falling just about off the bed too, he quickly regained his form not to continue when she was clearly in no condition, but to get her to calm down. Inside, he beat himself up over and over again for causing her to relive such pain. He didn't have any bad intentions in the least, only wanting her to be happier in a situation like this, but apparently it was still too early for her.

Opening up her shining blue eyes, the desk lamp barely illuminating the both of them, Winry could make out the faint outline of Edward Elric, Automail hand and braid and all. She choked a sob back before pulling him into a hesitant hug, tears slowly but surely making their ways down her face. He was honestly surprised by her actions, as he thought she would've done the complete opposite.

Groaning in frustration at himself, he whispered many words of apologies into her hair, feeling those uncomfortable drops stinging at his own eyes as well. Winry sobbed into her shoulder, doing the exact same thing, although he didn't find anything she needed to apologize for.

The two remained in each other's arms until she managed to calm down, going from intense crying to slight hyperventilation. He rolled back onto his side, allowing more room between them. Winry didn't seem to like the idea too much, but she also thought it might've been better for the both of them anyways.

A sniff came from the mechanic before she started to speak. "W-Will you... be here in the morning?" He words were almost inaudible as he watched her lips, reading what she was speaking. And to think he was kissing those magnificent, plush pink lips not more than five minutes ago, and now things had majorly gone down the tube.

Placing a hesitated kiss on her forehead again, he exhaled sharply, her bangs slightly moving due to his breathing.

"O-of course... I'm always here for you, Win..."

Winry nodded, her heart gradually filling back up with her always present trust for him. She scooted closer to him, holding tightly onto his shirt. Edward did the same, albeit much more cautiously. Again, he feared of causing something bad to happen to her.

"Thank you..." She breathed before lulling into a heavy sleep, very much grateful for his words and actions, even if she didn't say it often. For him to say he'd always be there meant the world to her.

But when Winry was to awake the next morning, she'd find he'd gone against his word, and was nowhere to be found.

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R & R~