Chapter 21

"I think I've got more stuff than I came with." Among other souvenirs, Winry bought a small woven rug to give to Pinako. She also bought several skeins of soft goat's wool yarn to make scarves as well as several yards of white Xingese silk with which she intended to make her wedding gown. She didn't know how to either knit or sew, but she didn't think it could possibly be that hard.

Scar watched her from the doorway of her room as the girl leaned her forearm on her suitcase to try to close it, which proved inefficient. Then she sat on it, trying to reach between her legs to close the clasps, which also proved inefficient. Finally he couldn't take it any longer.

He waved her up. "Get off of there."

Winry stood up and Scar pressed his palms on the lid of the suitcase, leaning his weight on it. The two edges met neatly and Winry quickly snapped the clasps. With a triumphant grin she straightened up.

"Thanks!" Her smile faded to a frown of concern. "I hope that was everything. If I try to open that up again, it might explode."

"Just stay away from the marketplace," Scar advised. He grasped the handle of the suitcase and picked it up. He lifted his eyebrows. "How heavy was this when you came here?"

Winry shrugged. "Not too much, I guess. I carried it by myself, plus I had my other basket with the pies. I'll manage, I'm sure."

Scar set it on the floor. "Try picking that up."

Winry grabbed the handle and gave it a tug, then stumbled forward, having lifted the suitcase a scant inch. "Okay, fine. Ed can carry it."

"I'll carry it," Scar insisted. "I expect Edward will have his hands full enough. Rada's filling up your basket."

They both stood contemplating the suitcase for a few moments in an almost awkward silence, which Winry was the first to break.

"I'm going to miss this place," she said quietly.

Scar's mouth twitched in a slight smile. "This place is going to miss you." After a moment he grew solemn and added, "I'll miss you."

The girl looked up at him with a smile that wordlessly answered him. Then she gave a little shrug. "Well, I'll see you in just a few months, after all." She fixed him with a stern look. "You are coming to the wedding, right? You're not going to chicken out, are you? You have no excuse to not leave Ishval anymore."

"I said I'd come," Scar assured her. "You know I keep my word."

Winry nodded with relief. "Good!" She looked up at him with anxious hope. "Because…I'm going to need someone to give me away."

Scar gave her a puzzled look. "Give you away? Whatever does that mean?"

Winry let out a somewhat exasperated breath. "I need someone to walk me down the aisle!"

Scar frowned, somewhat surprised and still puzzled. "I know our customs differ, but surely that's a task reserved for family, even in Amestrian ceremonies. Your grandmother—"

Winry shook her head. "No—I mean—I would have, except—" she stammered. "Um…you see, the custom is that…um…the bride's father does that…and…" Her voice trailed off at the look of disbelief on Scar's face. She drew herself up and lifted her chin defiantly. "I dare you to chicken out of that one!"

Scar regarded her with a grave frown. "Doesn't anything about that strike you as unseemly?"

Winry glared back at him. "You told me yourself that you couldn't take my father's place but that you were the one who created that void in my life, remember? Well, I'm going to have a void right next to me on my wedding day, and you owe it to me to fill it!"

Their stubborn scowls battled with each other for a moment, and Scar's was the one to give up the field. He let out a sigh and lifted his hands.

"I'm not sure what it is about you, Winry Rockbell," he said with a wry smile, "but this is not the first time you've wheedled me into some scheme of yours."

"Hey, that scheme of mine up in Baschool was brilliant!" Winry countered, pointing her finger at him. "So you've got nothing to complain about!"

Scar gave a slight shrug. "Admittedly, no. But Edward might."

"Oh, pfft!" Winry waved a hand. "Don't worry about Ed. I'll take care of him."

"And what about your grandmother? She could very well object to me being there at all." Scar met the girl's eyes somberly and added, "I killed her son."

Winry's eyes flicked away and she nibbled on her lower lip. After a moment, she replied, "I'll talk to her. She's…kind of surprising sometimes." She looked back up at Scar, "It might even be good for you both. I mean…this…" She spread her hands to indicate their surroundings and, by extension, their circumstances. "All this has been good for both of us, hasn't it?"

Scar considered the question with the gravity it deserved, then nodded. "Yes, I suppose it has."

Winry cocked her head a little. "You suppose?"

Scar glanced toward the door. They could hear Rada's and Ed's voices from the kitchen, as well as the clink of jars and clay pots and the rustling of paper bags as Rada filled Winry's basket with Ishvalan delicacies. He turned back to her. "I never answered your question," he said quietly. "The one you asked me in Baschool. During all the weeks you've been here, you've had ample opportunity to ask me again. But you haven't."

Winry scowled thoughtfully down at the floor, then she shook her head. "I…think I can take a pretty good guess. Now that I know you better." She raised her head with a determined look. "Your family is everything to you. Not just the one you have now, but the one you lost. I think…I think I might have gone a little crazy, too."

Scar lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "That's…very succinct."

"That's not an excuse," Winry went on quickly. "I mean, it happened and it can't be fixed. But I…" She pressed her lips together for a moment, seeking the right words. "I understand better now. And…um…" She faltered, a frown of concentration on her face as though trying to find the courage to speak further. "I—"

Scar quickly raised his hand. "No, Winry! Don't say it."

Winry looked up at him startled. "How do you know what I was going to say?"

"Because of the effort it was costing you." Scar shook his head. "I don't want you to forgive me, not even freely."

Winry looked even more startled. "But—"

"You haven't called for my death or imprisonment, which is more than I deserve"—Scar gave a small, rueful jerk of his head—"medals of valor aside." He stepped closer to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Let me offer you this small grain of justice. Let me remain in your debt."

Winry gazed at him solemnly for a moment, then nodded. She smiled and held out her hand. "Deal!"

Scar smiled back at her and clasped her hand. He then pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "I will gladly walk you down the aisle, Winry Rockbell, but I will not give you away so easily."

I'm going to tag on an epilogue to use up a couple of ideas that sort of stand by themselves, so there will be yet a little more.

I didn't originally intend to have Ed and Winry get married this soon, but according to Arakawa, they get married in 1917. She put out a thing called "Fullmetal Alchemist Chronicles" which, among other things, tells what happens to some of the characters after the manga. It hasn't been translated yet; I just happened to see that bit of information posted somewhere. So I figured I'd go with it.