It is hard to understand how a person's heart is working. Who can possibly know what pains and what agonies someone has been through? How can someone be sure he has understood the other? How can someone know that he has taken in everything the other had to say? People's hearts are dark inside and they hide secrets only the person hiding them can tell us for sure… You can never be sure you have the key to someone's heart…
This was what young Winry O'Malley was thinking as she was walking inside the city of Munich. She had met a new person the other time… Edward. Edward Elric. That guy seemed a mystery to her. He seemed a nice person and for sure he didn't look like those who looked at her like a deadly disease…like their worst enemy. However she couldn't understand why he refused to truly see her. During the minutes he spent into her house, he refused to look at her unless it was absolutely necessary. Winry felt as if he even talked to her out of obligation so he wouldn't be rude to her. However Winry couldn't understand why. Also he seemed somehow melancholic towards her. It was as if she had done something horrible to him in the past and now he was forcing himself to forget it and befriends with her again. However Winry still couldn't get it… The one moment he seemed happy with her and the other he was sank into his own thoughts to avoid speaking with her…
However Winry couldn't simply forget about that and move on. She wanted to learn more for him. She didn't know the reason, but Edward seemed to be one of those people who needed support…help…someone to talk to, perhaps. And Winry wanted to be there for him. She wanted to be of help to him… She felt lucky she had her parents by her side to help her and support her, however Edward had told her he and his brother were living alone. Alone in such a large city… Winry didn't know if she had to feel sad or admire those two. Many children had lost their parents early. It wasn't something unusual with the countless diseases and accidents happening around, but still she couldn't help but feel sad for every single of them… However Edward seemed a tough guy…
She was walking in the road, sometimes looking around at people passing by. She was wearing her common, brown dress, the one she was wearing the day before. The day she had met Edward. Today the sun was bright to the sky. People were walking around, either females doing shopping or males that were going to their works. Winry liked watching people passing by her but many of them simply looked at her with a hostile gaze. She hid inside her dress the Star of David that was hanging from her neck with a delicate silver chain. This small piece of jewelry was gift from her mother when she was born. However people when seeing it, could tell she was Jew and would simply hate her if they were from those Germans who hated everyone that wasn't Christian German…those who weren't of clear blood…
She was holding in her arms some books and she was hugging them tightly to her chest so no one would hit her by mistake while walking and make her drop them. She was holding them as if they were really precious to her… Some children were also passing by her playing with a rag ball or with fake guns (which means peaces of wood they pretended being guns). Winry sighed. Even children had something of war upon them… As she walked by a man that was selling newspapers to people, she couldn't help but take a look to the front page of the newspaper. Again…it was talking about the comeback of Fuhrer and the hope of creating a better Germany away from the financial crisis that was about to happen…or better that was about to become worse.
She sighed and walked further. Someone bumped into her shoulder.
"Filthy worms!" she heard the man hissing at her
"I…I am sorry…" she apologized anyway and walked away.
She was used to their words…the names they were calling her. What else could she do? She walked a bit further and jumped over a small puddle of water to the ground. She looked around.
"No let's see…" she mumbled to herself looking around, "Where is it…?"
She saw a small pub and people talking outside and drinking some beer. Apparently they were ready to leave for work and they were having their last conversation before doing so, or they didn't have work at all and they simply wanted to stay there and talk about the crisis that hit them. Winry didn't really want to approach and cause more trouble but she had no choice. She approached them hesitatingly…
"Emm…excuse me…" she said in a small voice
The others didn't hear her. Or at least they pretended they hadn't heard or seen her.
"Emm…excuse me…" she said again a bit more loudly, "…I am sorry but…could you tell me where is Mr. Edward Elric's house, please…?"
"Get out of here, Jewish girl!" someone told her aggressively
"Go away!" the other agreed.
Winry felt her eyes burning with tears, all of the sudden. She bowed her head and said
"E-Excuse me! Forgive me!" and turned around to storm away from them
She hadn't done even a few meters and she bumped into someone. It was a police officer.
"Excuse me!" she apologized again, "I…I didn't see you…I wasn't paying attention…"
The policeman had his both hands behind her back looking down at her with a suspicious look. He wasn't exactly hostile towards her but he was cold for sure. His glasses were shining softly at the morning sun.
"It's okay." he only said
She bowed her head again, in an apology, and walked away from him… The police officer remained in his position looking at her while she was walking away…
"Is there some problem, officer Hughes?" one of the people at the pub asked
The police officer didn't answer right away. He remained silent for a little and then turned around to answer him.
"No. Nothing"
Winry kept walking till she had lost the pub from her eyes and then she stopped to lean against the wall and wipe her tears before falling. She was used to their aggressive eyes, however they always hurt her…
"Why do they…hate us so much…?" she wondered.
She leaned against the wall, hugging the books tighter to her chest. She sighed and then decided to leave that behind. Winry was a tough young woman. She wouldn't allow grief take over her for that…insignificant matter… She moved away from the wall and continued walking.
"Come to think about it…" she thought, "They didn't even hear my question…"
By the moment she was about to turn around and search elsewhere, she spotted a small, yet beautiful flower shop. At the entrance she saw a woman with short-cut light brown hair putting some flowerpots in place. She was humming some song. Winry hesitated to approach her. She didn't want to disturb her. However on second thought she seemed a nice person. She didn't seem from those who would send her away by yelling and threatening. She took a deep breath and approached her.
"Emm…excuse me…" she whispered in a small voice
The lady turned around and to her surprise, her smile grew warmer and said
"Hello, young lady. How can I help you?"
Winry was shocked by the woman's friendly behavior. She never expected so much kindness. For a moment she didn't know how to react. After a couple of seconds she came back to reality and said.
"Could you…t-tell me where is Edward Elric's house, please…?"
The woman seemed surprised for a second and not in a bad way because she smiled.
"Are you friend of Ed's?" she asked softly
Winry felt her cheeks blushing a little.
"Well…we…kinda met yesterday… I…I wanted to bring something to him… Do you…know where he lives…?"
"You are such a beautiful young lady!" the kind woman commented with a warm-hearted smile making Winry blush, "This is where he lives, sweetheart."
"Oh! So this is it, huh…?" Winry said with a smile
She couldn't believe her luck. Not only she had found a kind lady to talk to, but also she had found the house she had been searching for. The kind lady nodded with a smile
"However" she added, "Ed is not at home right now. Every day he leaves for the factory and returns in the evening"
"I…see…" Winry said in a small voice
"However, his brother, Alphonse should be at home, right now. I think he won't have a problem to see you!" she winked
Winry felt blushing again. The woman seemed really kind…
"Emm…thank you Miss…Miss…"
"Ah! Gracia. My name is Gracia, young lady"
"Winry. Winry O'Malley…"
"Nice to meet you, Winry-chan!" she said smiling as they shook hands
Winry passed a small bang of blonde hair behind her ear.
"Okay then…I guess I'll pay him a visit… Again it was nice to meet you Miss Gracia…"
"Likewise, dear…"
Winry walked to the entrance of the house. She stopped a little, hesitating but then she rang the doorbell. She had reached till there! She wouldn't leave now!
"Just a second!" she heard a voice coming from inside the house
It seemed sweet and somehow childish but she liked that voice. It was Alphonse, she guessed. Indeed after a couple of seconds she heard the door handle and then the "click" as the door opened. It revealed a young man with similar features with Edward. He was about the same height and he had similar characteristics in his face. However his hair was dark blonde, almost brown, short cut and his eyes had a soft hazel-gold color. The youth seemed around fifteen years of age. His eyes proved kindness and soft heart. The youth's eyes widened for a second in surprise seeing her. The reaction reminded her of Edward's reaction. What was wrong with those two? Did she really resemble their friend THAT much?
"Win…ry…?" she thought she heard him whispering.
She wasn't sure though. However she felt slightly uneasy and felt the blush at her cheeks.
"Emm…excuse me…for the disturbance…" she said in a small voice to break the ice.
The youth seemed to be snapping back in reality because he blinked and said.
"Oh, sorry. Excuse me for my rudeness…I wasn't expecting visitors… Are you…Emm…friend of Nii-san's?" he asked
She nodded.
"You…may say so… We…kinda met the other day…and I… Emm…I was hoping to…see him…" she started clenching and un-clenching the books on her chest again feeling slight nervousness, "But…I didn't know he was…working… I can…leave if I am a bother…"
"Oh! No. No please come in!" Alphonse said opening the door for her and stepping aside to let her pass
She did so.
"Thank you" she said, "Forgive me for…coming without a warning…I…I wanted to leave something to him but…"
"No. It's okay, really. I am Alphonse, by the way. Alphonse Elric." Alphonse said extending his hand for a handshake. "And you are…"
"Emm…Winry. Winry O'Malley" she said doing the handshake with him
"Nice to meet you!"
The youth's happiness to meet her was genuine, Winry had noticed and that pleased her really much. Alphonse smiled and rubbed the back of his head.
"Forgive me, I do not have much to offer you. I wasn't expecting visitors…"
"Ah, no, it's okay. There is no need to bother…"
"It is not a bother. I have some cake made and I was making some tea. Shall I offer you some?"
She smiled
"Thank you…"
In a few minutes they were both sitting to the living room sipping sweet tea and talking like old friends. Winry told him about what happened and how she met Edward the day before... It felt nice talking to him and the tea was tasty too and warm and welcoming. Winry took the small plate and fork to taste a little the cake covered in cream.
"Mmm!" she made a sound of approval, "This is delicious! Did Miss Gracia make this?"
"Emm…no. Actually…I made it" Alphonse said smiling
"You did?" she seemed surprised, "It's delicious!"
"Thanks. I usually do the cooking and sometimes I like making sweets. Nii-san is not so good with kitchen so it is I usually the one who does the cooking. I am glad you like it, though"
"I do!"
"And so…you actually met Gracia-san!"
"Yes, I did! She is really kind and sweet"
"Yes she is. She is our housekeeper. Nii-san and I are grateful to have her"
"I can imagine!" Winry said smiling
It felt nice talking to Alphonse. It felt as if she was talking to an old friend and she felt she could trust him no matter what.
"By the way…" Alphonse asked placing his teacup back on the small table, "What was the reason you needed Nii-san…? If you do not mind ask, that is"
"Oh, not at all…in fact…I…I wanted to talk to you too"
"Me? For what reason?"
"I…came here to give you these…" she said extending the books towards Alphonse
Alphonse took them and looked at them.
"Edward told me…you wanted to be a doctor…and so…since my parents are doctors…"
"Oh! Your parents are doctors, Winry-san?" Alphonse asked her with a smile
"Yes…" she blinked in surprise he didn't know, "Didn't your brother…tell you about it…?"
"Emm…no" Alphonse confessed with a sad smile, "Actually…Nii-san didn't mention anything from yesterday… He wasn't feeling so well, so he went straight to bed and…he didn't mention anything…"
"Oh… I…I see…" she said trying not to sound disappointed
She hoped that Edward would have spoken about her at least mention something. So…didn't he like her…?
"Anyway!" she said trying to sound cheerful, "Since my parents are doctors I…I asked their permission to…lend you these books… They are teaching the basic stuff for those who have started studying for the profession… They had them when they began and…I thought you would find them useful…"
Alphonse's sweet face lit up with a smile.
"That's really nice of you! Thank you really much, Winry-san! I will take good care of them, I promise!"
Winry nodded her head softly. Alphonse stood up to gather the plates and cups from the table.
"Shall I help…?" Winry asked
"No, it's okay. I do not mind cleaning up anyway!" he said smiling
Winry looked out at the clock at the hallway and got surprised to see that the time had passed. It was late in the afternoon already. Time had passed really fast while she was talking with Alphonse. He was such a pleasant, sweet guy… Alphonse was ready to start washing the dishes when the sound of the front door was heard…
Edward had returned from work…
The door opened and Edward stepped in smiling and saying:
"Al! I am back! And I am famished like a wolf! Is there something rea-…"
His phrase was cut in the middle when he stepped to the living room area and saw Winry on the coach. Winry jolted up and looked at him. Edward seemed frozen as if someone had hit him in the stomach without a warning. His cheerfulness vanished to thin air. Winry too, seemed rather awkward seeing him standing there and felt a slight blush covering her cheeks. She was expecting to see him sooner or later, but it happened to fast. She was unprepared to see him, and to tell the truth, his reaction wasn't really…encouraging.
"Is he…unhappy to see me…? Does he…dislike me and…didn't want to meet me again…?" she thought
She gulped once.
"Emm…hi…" she said
Edward kept staring at her from top to bottom. She was dressed in that long, brown dress again. This was not right. Winry…Winry he knew usually wore pants and thick shoes when she was working…sometimes having her pants only and wearing just a small top to cover herself… When she wore dresses, they were always with bright colors…barely below her knees and were always leaving her neck to be shown and her arms… She never wore long, brown dresses with high neck and long sleeves… Never…and she almost always had her hair up in ponytails… This Winry had her hair down… No. That was not right…
He couldn't help but notice her ears that were visible. He could see one hole in each earlobe of hers, so she could wear earrings. That was not right. Winry had multiple earrings to each ear…four or five (right now he was too shocked to remember) not only one to each ear… Winry would have thrown him something for being late till now…she wouldn't stand there…staring at him… No. This was not Winry! He couldn't allow himself be dragged to that illusion…
"H-Hello…" he finally spoke, "I…well…I…" he felt tongue-tied.
Alphonse approached to the spot wiping his hands in a kitchen towel. Edward looked once at Al and once at Winry and then he gulped.
"I… E-Excuse me…I…I…gotta go…I…I am kind of tired…" he mumbled and walked towards the stairs that led upstairs to the bedrooms…
"Ah! Edward!" Winry called after him but he had already left…
She sighed deeply and her eyes were watery. Why was he avoiding her? Why couldn't he even…look at her…? She realized that Alphonse was behind her so she wiped her eyes fast.
"Why…?" she mumbled, "Does he…dislike me…? Am I…a bother to him…?"
"Ah, no! Please don't think that way, Winry-san!" Alphonse tried to cover it, "I am sure that's not it… It is just…Nii-san is… Well…he… He has been through a lot and he is kinda confused. Also when he has bad time at work he is like that when he returns. It is probably nothing!"
Winry smiled weakly at Alphonse and then said
"In any case, I'll have to go. Mom and dad will be worried about me"
"Yes…of course…I understand… And…sorry about…that…"
"No, it's okay. I understand. I probably dropped by the wrong moment"
Alphonse didn't know what else to say… He escorted her to the door and there, they shook hands again.
"Anyway…I… It was a pleasure to meet you, Winry-san…" Alphonse said trying to lighten the atmosphere
"The same goes for me, Alphonse…"
"Good night, Winry-san…"
"Good night, Alphonse…"
Meanwhile Edward was in his room sitting at the window frame and looking outside. Again he hadn't switched light on and he remained there, in the half-darkness with only the moonlight illuminating the room. He spotted her walking outside and away from the house… He had seen her face…(Winry's face) almost teary…and he knew he was the one who had caused it… However in a way he felt trapped as well. And her appearance was unexpected to him…
"Damn!" he mumbled hitting his wrist to his forehead, "Damn! I am such an idiot!"
She wasn't at fault he knew it. She wasn't at fault for his damn messed up mind. However he couldn't allow himself let someone else take Winry's…Winry Rockbell's place in his heart! But he didn't have much time alone with his elf-criticism. The door opened to reveal an irritated, if not angry Alphonse. Edward groaned.
"Nii-san!" Alphonse said rigidly, "That was a horrible thing to do to Winry-san! She came all the way here to say hello and you treated her awfully!"
Edward growled in frustration but didn't answer. He felt like boiling…like ready to explode. He suddenly felt the urge to break everything around him…to scream or burst into tears… And Alphonse continued
"She is not at fault for our lives! She likes you! Can't you see it? She came all the way here because she wanted to see you! And you did that! I am really disappointed at you! And Winry-…"
"This is not Winry!" Edward finally yelled covering his brother's voice for the first time
Alphonse stopped, shocked at his brother's sudden outburst. He was expecting it, yes, however he didn't expect THAT reaction…
"This woman is not Winry!" Edward said again, "She is not Winry and she will never be! She is not Winry we knew!"
Alphonse was speechless. He looked at his brother's golden eyes that now looked like amber in the moonlight. However there was another reason they looked like that. It was because they were teary. Water, salty tears were glistering in his eyes. Edward was doing a Herculean effort to keep them from falling. And his voice was shaking when he had said the last one…
"This is not Winry…not ever…" Edward mumbled again…
This time his voice was barely above a murmur and was shaking clearly. He was holding himself but Alphonse could see it. He could see his pain…his uncertainty. However he could still see that his way of acting was unfair for this Winry. The young woman didn't know a thing and it wasn't right simply to let off steam on her…
"Nii-san…" Alphonse spoke again after a small pause, "I understand that you are confused and that it hurts however we are part of this world now, and we promised to move forward no matter what happens. I understand your feelings, but since we have a chance to move forward…we must leave everything else behind…and…"
"No! You can't understand…you simply can't! I…"
But Edward didn't finish that sentence. He couldn't bring himself to do it. However Alphonse had more or less understood…years now…
"I do…" he only said, "Believe me I do… And I know it won't be easy… However we have no other choice but live with the consequences of our actions…in the past… There is no one to blame but ourselves for this!"
He turned around and walked to the door. Before walking out he said over his shoulder.
"I leave you now, however you must considering apologizing to Winry-san for your behavior… She tried to help after all…and she helped you too. Think about it…"
And he left him… A little before going down the stairs he heard a soft whimpering sound and the sound of the shallow breathing. He sighed and walked down slowly. He knew first-handed what that was… He had come to learn it in years not to interfere…
Edward was crying…
Phew yet another chappie of my story! At last! I please ask for the few readers it has, to forgive me for being so late with it! Especially Dollyshewolf (from DA) I apologize for taking so long!
Well here it is another...boring chappie It doesn't have much action. The entire fanfic gets action later on. This particular chapter is a walk with...Winry O'Malley in the city while she wants to leave something and a small insight of the main characters and mainly Edward and Winry. Those two need a matchmaker don't they?
For those who do get confused with the title, it expresses mainly Edward's feelings, who is trying to persuade himself that this Winry is not "right" so he cannot get to know her better or allow her to take Winry Rockbell's place in his heart
Secondly, Winry O'Malley thinks that something "is not right" with Edward who is trying to avoid her and she doesn't know the reason
Thirdly it is Alphonse who believes that Edward's actions towards Winry are not right and that the girl doesn't deserve this confrontation just because she resembles the old Winry
Last but not least it is the opinion of people who think "is not right" to have financial crisis and "non-purebloods" in their country while the others think "it is not right" to be treated like rascals just because of their beliefs and their "blood"
Also you have noticed that Alphonse calls Winry O' Malley "Winry-san" and not "Winry". It is because he cannot make himself adress Winry O' Malley the same way he adressed his friend Winry...
And probably you got that Winry wanted indeed to help Alphonse but also needed an excuse to see Edward again!
Anyway sorry this chappie is kinda boring I promise that sooner or later there will be action! Thank you so much those who support this... Please review...
Again this is a tribute to the number one reader Dollyshewolf (From DA) of the story And of course to all my friends and the awesome readers I have