Chapter 7

Waiting Game

"Ed should be making a speedy recovery from surgery, however, I think his pride after dealing with Winry will be damaged for a long time. She didn't take his broken automail very kindly," Hughes said to Roy as he entered the hospital. Hughes stared at him and sneered as he watched Roy grab two muffins and water from the café before walking up the flight of stairs to Ed's room. "Edward would have to take a trip to visit Winry after the hospital releases him. I'm pretty sure your girlfriend wouldn't mind a trip to his hometown!" At that moment Roy pounded down the stairs and grabbed his best friend's jacket.

"Do not say anything to anyone about last night you hear? The press will have her ass if they find out!" Roy hissed at him and Hughes laughed.

"Why would they have her ass? I think it's cute you two finally realized you belong together. Hawkeye said you sulked around the office after Ishval waiting for Michael's letters to arrive. You're like a love sick dog, it's fun to see you pant over someone for once."

"I'm not a love sick dog and I don't pant!" Roy shouted at him as he walked back up the stairs.

"Yeah how bad did you drool over dinner while you stared at her boobs?!" Roy clenched his fists to keep himself from punching his best friend. He knocked on Ed's door before opening it to see Major Armstrong sitting next to Al on the couch.

"Morning, Fullmetal. Did they tell you when you could leave?" Roy asked Ed.

"I can leave tomorrow so I'm heading out to Resembool to have new automail made," Ed replied as he pushed back his breakfast tray, his milk bottle left un-open. Roy took a seat near the window and took a bite of his muffin. "Where did you run off to yesterday? One moment you were here the next Hughes took over your shift."

"I had a special dinner to attend to," Roy replied. Major Armstrong lit up and his mustache rose with interest.

"Did you really take Miss Blanche on that date? There was a rumor that you two had a date planned going around central," Major Armstrong said and Ed shot Roy a look that contained a gleeful smile filled with blackmail sneers.

"You went on a date with Renee?! Aw, did you take her somewhere special? Brother don't laugh at him like that. Colonel really likes her! I think you two would make a great couple. Fire and ice!" Alphonse said happily and Roy gave a small to him.

"You two really shouldn't be spending your time stalking my love life. That's unhealthy," Roy replied and Al laughed.

"Well, Renee likes you a lot, Colonel. She told us some pretty funny stories about you when you were teaching her alchemy."

"Yeah but Al, Renee is eight years younger than Colonel. He's too old for her," Ed sneered and Roy glared at him.

"Love is ageless, brother. Besides, brother is just jealous because Winry hates him at the moment and he really likes her." Ed threw his milk bottle at Al when Major Armstrong caught it with one hand.

"DON'T GO AROUND TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT MY LIFE AND WINRY!" Ed screamed at his brother.

"Well, Al. Renee and I are at the moment dating if that makes you happy to hear," Roy said changing the subject to keep Ed quiet. The door opened and Renee walked in carrying train tickets and a coffee mug.

"Congrats Renee! Brother and I knew you two would end up together!" Al said happily and Renee glared at Roy.

"I thought we promised not to tell anyone this morning, Mustang." Renee said icily. She tossed the train tickets to Ed and took a seat next to Roy.

"This morning?"

"Did you two-"

"NOW ED! YOU SHOULD BE DRINKING YOUR MILK SO YOU COULD GROW TALLER AND LOOK LIKE ME!" Armstrong shouted over Ed and Al's questions to Renee. Ed began screaming at Armstrong when his stitches broke apart and blood spew out causing panic. After a few hours of visiting Ed and recalling details of Scar's whereabouts, Roy and Renee decided to head out so Renee could pack for the trip to see Winry. Of course, Armstrong would have to come along in order to carry Al's crumpled body in a crate.

"What? You can't be leaving now! I want to know about your sleepover!" Ed shouted and Roy slammed the door behind him.

"You could die from such a kid," Roy hissed and Renee giggled.

"Oh come on. You know you want kids someday and they all are annoying at that age. Just think of it as practice when you babysit him," Renee laughed. The two of them walked down Central and grabbed something to eat before heading back to Renee's place. Michael glared at Roy as he sat by the fireplace with his brothers.

"You can stay here you know. I know you're living at that hotel until you find a decent apartment to live so if you want to you can crash at my place until you get one," Renee said to him before she unlocked the door and saw a dozen boxes sitting in her living room.

"Already had it arranged," Roy kissed her cheek and grabbed a box before making his way up to the vacant room next doors to Renee's bedroom. Renee grabbed her suitcase from the closet and threw it open. She tossed out her uniform and hung it up.

"Roy?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this place a dress wearing place or a casual type of place?"

"It's just a normal village. Wear whatever you want to wear," Roy replied as he grabbed two more boxes and went back to his room. Renee went into her room and opened her closet. Her closet contained manly gowns and black clothing. She made a mental note to ask Winry if they could go shopping when Winry had a free moment. Renee tossed her black skirt, pants and a blue sundress onto her bed before throwing a few shirts and her black lace up boots into the pile. Roy finished moving his boxes into the other room and watched Renee throw clothes onto her bed. She closed her closet door and sighed.

"I never actually went out shopping yet, okay? Riza and I couldn't match up a day to go together."

"Women can't shop alone?"

"No, you always need a shopping buddy so they can stop you from buying something you'll regret later," Renee replied and folded up the clothes in the pile leaving her black skirt and dark blue shirt on the bed for tomorrow. She packed her suitcase carefully downstairs and grabbed Winry's gift and placed it on top of everything.

"I want you to come with," Renee said.

"I can't take all this time off. Besides… I think the press might suspect something if people keep seeing us together," Roy said.

"Who cares? I want you to go."

"Why?"

Renee bit her lip. "I… because Roy as soon as Ed is able to work missions again we won't be able to see each other much. He's really keen on finding the stone and he'll go all the way to Briggs if he has to." Roy's heart lurched and he hugged Renee and kissed her.

"I should go pack a bag then," He replied and Renee shoved him away. She knew from then on out he wasn't going to look for an apartment anymore and she wasn't going to let him leave anyway. Renee smiled and joined Roy upstairs.

"HE'S COMING TOO?!" Ed screamed when he saw Renee with Roy on the train. The train began to move and Armstrong took a seat across from Renee.

"Where's Al?" Renee asked him.

"We had to put him with sheep. There wasn't enough room to set him up here," Armstrong replied.

"Tell me why he's here! I didn't say you could bring your playmate!" Ed hissed and Roy glared at him.

"Sit down, Ed. I brought him to keep you quiet. If you bother me I'll just start making out with him," Renee sneered and Ed's face turned a tinge of green. He took a seat and stared out the window keeping his eyes from glaring at Roy. Throughout most of the train ride Armstrong and Mustang talked quietly about Scar until Armstrong left with Ed to talk to someone in the village while the train was being looked at and refilled.

"So is it true that he really burned down his house before joining the military?" Renee asked Roy while they ate chicken and rice for lunch.

"Pretty much. He said something about not wanting to come back to an empty home," Roy replied and stuffed his face with rice.

"Really? Do you have to eat like a pig? It's not fair that I'll have to end up making nice dinners and you end up swallowing it whole and beg for sex after," Renee snickered and Roy coughed up his chicken.

"Can you not speak of certain things in public?" Roy asked her. He turned around and saw that no one was in the car except for them. Almost everyone on the train left to look at stores or grab something to eat. The door opened and Ed and Armstrong walked in, Ed's face containing a giant smile.

"We talked to Dr. Marcoh. When we get back to Central I need to go over to the military library and grab his research notes on the stone." Ed announced to both of them and took Renee's eggroll.

"You moan like a dog by the way," Renee hissed at Roy before covering her mouth with her hand. Roy dropped his fork into his bowl and Ed's mouth flew open.

"What?" Ed asked her.

"Nothing! Look out the window and think about something else," Roy replied and stuffed another eggroll into Ed's mouth.

"I'm going to grab both of us something to eat…" Armstrong took off leaving Roy, Renee and Ed. Ed stared at both of them and crossed his arms.

"I don't know much about actual relationships but you two have the weirdest one I know. He's eight years older than you. She abuses you. He's lusty and you're not. She's a princess and you're just some Colonel. How do you two actually work out?"

"Long story. Don't pride into our love life, Ed," Renee snapped at him.

"I'm not priding! I'm not the one who announced to the group about Roy moaning like a dog!" Ed hissed loudly.

"Can we just talk about something else please?!" Roy hissed back at him.

The Rockbells gladly took the four of them in and gave the boys the vacated room while Renee and Winry would share Winry's room. Winry took Renee up to her room and closed the door.

"SO?!" Winry asked her excitedly. Renee smiled and nodded her head and Winry jumped up and down. "I KNEW IT! You two are the cutest couple ever!" Winry hugged Renee and held her face in her hands. "I'm so happy!"

"Really? Riza and Michael are sharing an apartment. Roy and I are too until he finds a place closer to Central Command," Renee replied and Winry exploded into a fit of shrieks. Renee held onto Winry and sat down on Winry's bed. "I have something to tell you though."

"What is it?" Winry sat down next to her.

"Roy and I…"

"Don't tell me… you guys went on a date, he brought you back to your place and the ball rolled down from there? Next thing you know you wake up and he's next to you snoring and you realize that last night was never supposed to happen but it did?"

"How did you know?"

"I can tell. He was looking at you with those giant doe eyes over dinner. I can tell when a man really loves a woman. He really loves you, Renee. He's a keeper though. He's flaming hot if you know what I mean," Winry winked and Renee laughed.

"That night wasn't supposed to happen that's the thing… It just happened you know? I keep replaying our dinner date and I'm starting to realize that maybe it's better if we don't start a relationship. Roy is a really sweet guy, I can't have the press ripping him to shreds every day with articles about him not buying me enough gifts or not taking me out enough. I also don't want to put him in danger. My country being wiped out in one night wasn't an accident, something weird is going on. The alchemy here… I can't explain it, but it doesn't feel right. I see the way Roy uses it."

"Are you saying that by being close to Roy you put him in danger? I understand but, Renee… he wants to be by your side. Danger or not. You may not see it but the way he looks at you is pure love and devotion. Yeah he's a hard man to work with and I'm sure he's stubborn in any way possible like Ed but his greatest strength is protection and dedication. If you're in danger his first act is to protect and fight with you right? It's the other way around for you too! Him being by your side is really better! Ignore the press I hardly read the paper anyway."

"I don't want to hurt him. I love him too much to put him in the danger he's about to be placed in. I just can't-" Renee burst into tears and Winry held her.

"I know… I know you can't go through that. I know how much you love him, Renee. I couldn't bear the thought of losing Ed either," Winry replied while she hugged Renee.

"You love him don't you?" Renee said. Winry blushed and bit her lip.

"It's hard to explain…"

"You don't have to tell me. I can see you two together after all of this is over. He's perfect for you, you know," Renee stood up and brushed aside her tears while she smiled at Winry who was turning red. "Don't get embarrassed, Winry. Hell the only time I was truly embarrassed with Roy was…" Renee grew quiet and Winry smirked. "Winry, you have a long time before that night. Don't even start." Renee opened the door.

"Is it… is it like people say it is? You know… do you realize that he's the one when it happens?" Winry whispered. Renee laughed.

"Well if he moans like a dog then you know he's the one. Just be warned, if you think you're cuddle after you're sadly mistaken. They're out like a light after," Renee replied and Winry covered her mouth and burst into giggles.

"I guess that means I'm playing the Waiting Game for Ed," Winry said to Renee and hooked her arm around Renee's.

"Yep… but once you really fall in love with him, it's the happiest feeling in the world."

"I know, and just so you know; I saw you two kissing in the backyard and holding hands. I really hope Ed and I end up like you two," Winry replied and blushed.

"What do you mean?"

"I hope we end up like you guys. You two live by always."

"What?"

"Even though you guys were apart for seven years you later on came back together and fell in love, that's truly the greatest love I have ever heard of."

"So you want to live by always?"

"No… always is your word," Winry laughed as the two walked down the stairs into the living room where Ed and Roy sat in front of the fire bickering about something.

"What word do you want to live by?" Renee asked her as they looked at their guys. Winry looked at Ed and smiled.

"Together."