The moisture was softly forming over the buildings, making the soft mattress of haze spread all over them, an illusion from yesterday's thick fog that had covered everything. Now all that it was left of it was this sweet and moist airy cloud, barely touching the tops of the baroque and neo-classical buildings. Cold was bitter that day but not unbearable. Most of people in the streets were wrapped within their thickest clothes and whoever was lucky not to have gloves with holes, was wearing them being able to protect their fingers. Sometimes you could see a few ladies dressed in better clothes and their hands were protected in fur and their ears hidden under their low hats. Some men were constantly blowing warm air to their fingers that were emerging from holes in their gloves and were half-running in a hasty pace to feel warmer while their shoulders were turned forward to apply more warmth.

Their breath was coming out in small white clouds as they spoke to greet each other. One or two boys, dressed barely with the basic clothes for this cold weather, were carrying the newspapers under their arms, yelling for the people to buy them while they were running as fast as they could when they had the chance, so they wouldn't freeze. Edward Elric had found himself once more in the street. His coat was buttoned up and his hands were in his pockets to apply warmth to them. His breath was also coming in and out of his mouth in the foggy cloud with his rhythmical breathing. The cold air on his face was not pleasant to him but that was not the reason his face had an annoyed expression. Or, to be more exact, it was half-annoyed, half-anxious.

"Ugh!" he grumped pouting, "Why did Al make me go through this?"

He was mumbling through clenched teeth, not that he had another choice since it was cold enough for Edward not to have the slightest mood to open his mouth completely. Alphonse had woken him up early that Sunday morning and prepared breakfast as usually. They barely spoke during breakfast. It was as if Alphonse was still mad at Edward about what had happened a few days before with Winry O'Malley. Therefore despite the fact Edward was well fed and not tired from work, he was feeling ready to explode.

"Go to apologize to her, he said!" he grumped once more imitating Alphonse's tenor voice, "Feh! For goodness shake! Why me?"

He was mumbling like that since the very first moment he laid a foot outside his house. He kept on doing this in all way up to that point. He was close to Winry's neighborhood as far as he knew.

"And how am I supposed to find her anyway?" he monologized again, "She hardly could be at home now…"

Despite his attitude though, he caught himself many times feeling an irritating knob in his throat and countless butterflies flattering in his stomach. No matter how much he denied it, this Winry, Winry O'Malley had awakened a dormant feeling inside him… Seeing her once again, the Winry he knew and cared about, hearing her voice, tasting her attitude was something he never wished to happen even in his best dreams. However now his dreams were mixed with his nightmares. Cause this Winry was not his friend. She was not Winry Rockbell. She was a stranger to him, someone he barely met however this girl seemed to start replacing Winry Rockbell dynamically within his heart.

Edward Elric shook his head violently once. No. He wouldn't allow himself to forget! He wouldn't allow someone else take the precious memories away from him. He himself had engraved within his watch the words "Don't forget" and also the date when he burnt his house with Alphonse so he would keep it always inside him! He wouldn't forget the only real friend he had left, so easily. However, on the other hand, remembering Winry's face…that Winry's face and almost tearful eyes made him feel guilty and ashamed of the way he treated her. She wasn't responsible for the mess inside his head, nor for the fact that he was trapped within a different world with two missing limbs and a messed up past full of regret and tragedy. It was his entire fault for wanting to surpass his human limits and wanting to defeat Death himself.

If he hadn't done it, then he and his brother would be living in their home in Risembool, probably they would have never been through everything they've been through, they wouldn't have faced all the things they faced…

He sighed miserably. There was no point remembering it now. Whatever was done was done. The point was that Winry O'Malley had no role in his misery or his mess. Therefore it was indeed unfair to treat her the way he treated her. She only wished to help… She only wished to be nice… She only wished…

Lost in his thoughts, Edward walked further down the streets. He was holding a small piece of paper that had an address written to it. He had asked some passing by people about the O'Malley dispensary. (He had made mistake once or twice by habit cause he called them "Rockbells" instead). Not many people were so happy about giving him the information he had asked for. Well…not that he expected them to be anyway. Edward was not stupid. He knew that recently German people tended to hate everyone that wasn't Arian. After a couple of failed attempts, he finally got an old lady to tell him about them and the address.

So here he was now…walking to find the infirmary. It wasn't far away, according to that old lady, so Edward made his footsteps faster to avoid the cold. A few blocks further in the cobbled streets and he found it. There was a building and a small, white sign had this written in black letters:

"Dr O'Malley"

Edward opened the door carefully and entered saying:

"Excuse me…"

He saw something he was half-expecting (but it was a blow nevertheless).

"Welcome!" a blonde, blue-eyed nurse greeted him with a smile while whipping her hands in a towel, "Do you have an appointment?"

Right behind her came the doctor. Both of the blonde couple was extremely like Winry's parents…like the Rockbells. Edward could still remember that kind woman…Sara Rockbell, the woman who helped for him to be delivered from his mother and so she did with Alphonse too. As for Dr Rockbell…he had treated his minor wounds countless times, not to mention he had treated him when he had high fever.

The resemblance had hit him like a lightning even if he was half-expecting it (as we said). This blow had him at complete astonishment and for a second he forgot how to use words. He blinked a little and tried to put his thoughts, and the words he had been practicing in his head on his way there, in order.

"Emm…no" he stammered scratching his head in awkwardness, "But…I kinda…" he lost his thoughts again, "I guess…I can leave if you are busy and come some other time…"

"No, please, come on in!" the Rockbell-like woman said with a smile and the doctor behind her also nodded.

Just great… Edward thought miserably as he walked in the room and sat on the chair Dr O'Malley had showed to him.

"What's the problem?" Ms O'Malley asked politely

Edward held onto his auto-mail shoulder with his flesh, glove-clothed hand.

"Emm…my shoulder hurts a little… I guess weather is changing…"

He said not at all untruthfully. What he said was real fact. Because he had artificial limbs his nerves were quite sensitive at those parts, therefore he had sporadically pains and irritations there every time weather or humidity was changing. The same went for his artificial leg as well.

"Ara!" Ms O'Malley said with a smile, "That's bad isn't it? Well…Mr.…Mr.…"

"Oh. Edward. Edward Elric"

"Well then, Mr. Elric can you please remove your coat and shirt?"

Edward gulped. Remove his shirt and coat? That was easier said than done. Edward wanted to avoid showing his artificial limbs to them but yet again he was also expecting he couldn't really keep it a secret from doctors who wanted to…examine him.

"Em…" he stammered again not sure how to ask that, "There is…a favor I need to ask first…"

"Hm?" the woman seemed surprised, "What is it?"

"Could you…" he gulped, "…could you please keep it a secret, when you see my body? And I mean from everyone. I do not really want to reveal that to people"

Doctor and Nurse seemed more confused than before. But they nodded their heads nevertheless.

"We promise" she said

Edward sighed and started removing his shirt first and next he unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt and took them off as well. Last but not least was the skin-substitute around his metal arm. The reaction was the one he had expected. They both opened their eyes wide and Ms O'Malley gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Ara!" she said again, "This is…impressive! I've never seen such thing before!"

She leaned closer to observe the metallic limb better.

"In all the years I work, I have seen people having lost limbs before…and they usually put artificial ones in their place made of wood and sometimes of metal…but I never witnessed something like that! Where did you find it?"

Edward's lips formed a nostalgic smile.

"A childhood friend of mine made it for me long ago, when I lost my arm and leg when I was a child… Therefore I do not really know how she did it!" he smiled to reassure her and he hadn't lied in his answer.

The nurse still seemed impressed but she smiled back.

"I see… In any case let me see then…"

She examined his arm from fingers to shoulder to see what was wrong. She observed the shoulder better.

"Does this pain happen a lot?" she asked

"Occasionally" Edward answered, "Usually when weather is about to change. Or when humidity is higher…"

"Hmm…" she looked at the spot where his metal arm was connected to the shoulder, "Hmm…are the nerves of your limbs exposed more than the other body?" asked

"Er…yes" Edward replied

"Ah!" she said sighing a fake-disappointed sigh, "I see" she said, "It sounds like rheumatic pains"

She walked over a glass cupboard where she stored several small bottles with medicine. She took out a small, red bottle and took out a small pill. She gave it to him.

"Please drink this"

Edward took it and threw it to his mouth, swallowing it.

"I am sorry Mr. Elric but this is all we can do. The painkiller will help the pain but there is no real cure for rheumatics"

She was smiling while she was saying this, with no malice at all with her small joke about rheumatics and Edward couldn't help but smile with her.

"Then…can I dress up?" he asked

"Please" she gave him permission

Meanwhile Dr O'Malley was writing something in a piece of paper.

"Mr. Elric" he said walking to him while Ed was putting on his waistcoat again, "I am giving you a new prescription for painkillers that probably will help with the rheumatics. Do you have a prescription already?"

"Er…no…not really" Ed said taking the paper

"Good. Then please start this one and if it doesn't help come back here again"

"Okay" Ed replied stowing the paper into one of his coat's pockets

"Still…" Dr O'Malley continued, "I think I'd like you to come once more here and have an appointment to see how things will be with your arm"

Edward seemed thoughtful.

"Oh…okay… If you think it's necessary…"

"Thank you Mr. Elric. Your appointment will be discussed right now… Winry!" he called someone in the depths of the infirmary, "Could you come for a little to write an appointment for a patient?"

Edward's heart skipped a beat hearing the name. So she WAS here after all.

"I am coming Dad!" Winry's voice replied from inside

And soon steps followed and…Winry O'Malley came to view holding a catalogue with the dates of appointments and wearing also a white robe of a nurse over her simple dress. Once she raised her eyes from the papers and looked up, their eyes met and she seemed even more surprised than he was.

"Edward!" she said, "What are you doing here?"

If Ed was before at loss of words, now he was at loss of wits as well. His brain seemed to have stopped and he couldn't even utter a single "hi" to her. She seemed to be feeling equally awkward cause immediately she avoided her gaze from him and looked elsewhere, blushing slightly while her eyes had become sad…

"You know each other?" Ms O'Malley asked surprised

Thankfully the question was enough to break the awkward silence.

"Emm…short of… We met around a week ago…" Winry said in a small voice, "I kinda…" she blushed, "I kinda bumped into him!"

Ms O'Malley gave a small giggle hearing that.

"Mah…" Edward mumbled in deep thought.

It was now or never. He could apologize, right? However having her parents too in the same room… He tried to put his words in an order.

"Emm…would you…I mean… Can we just walk for a little while?"

She blinked rather shocked to hear such an unexpected request.

"Eh?"

Edward was feeling like an idiot. He was used to being straightforward and saying what he had to say, but all this awkwardness was chocking the words in his throat, not to mention his fast-beating heart wasn't really helping.

"Gah!" he half-growled as if he was giving up, scratching the back of his head, "I…I don't mean like a…date or anything! Well…no, that doesn't sound good either…I mean…I…"

Winry raised her fist to her mouth to stop a small giggle. Seeing that, Edward stopped his confused monologue and relaxed, looking at her.

"Thank you. Edward" she said softly. She was genuinely smiling now.

Edward was ready to ask what she was thanking him for but she said:

"Fine. That would be great" she turned to her parents, "Is that okay, Mom? Dad?"

Ms. O'Malley was giggling softly in her palm.

"Of course, dear. Go with the nice, young man!"

"Mom!" Winry protested blushing red like poppy

"Just be careful" Dr O'Malley said

"I will" Winry said removing her nurse's robe to change to her coat.

"Oh, and Mr. Elric" Dr O'Malley interrupted, "What about your appointment?"

"Emm…Sunday the same hour is okay?" Edward suggested

"Of course!" Ms O'Malley said smiling

"Okay…" Edward scratched the back of his head again, "Then…"

"Edward, I'm ready" Winry said buttoning her coat up.

"Ah…that's good"

They walked together to the door and Dr O'Malley opened the door for them.

"Have fun Winry, Mr. Elric please don't be late to bring her back!" Ms. O'Malley added.

Edward felt a pink blush making its way to his cheeks.

"Emm…Edward is just fine…" he said

"Alright then, Edward. I am Sara and my husband's name is Isaac"

Isaac then. Not Urey. Edward felt relieved in a way, that this man's name was different in this dimension than it was in Amestris. He smiled and nodded nevertheless and he allowed Winry to step through the door before following her to the coldness of the street.

The weather had become pretty sunny since the moment he came out of his house but it was the same cold. Edward and Winry were walking in silence most of the time. Occasionally they would take glances at each other at a failed attempt of starting a conversation and immediately turn their heads elsewhere once more.

"Well… The weather has become colder, hasn't it?" Winry said out in the blue rubbing her cold hands together, trying to break the awkward silence

"Yeah…" Edward replied absent-mindedly

And the conversation died as soon as it started to give its place to silence one more. After a couple of dozens of meters away Edward finally decided to do it and turned around to say:

"Winry…"

But at the same time Winry had also turned around and said in union:

"Edward…"

They both blushed and turned around.

"Sorry." Edward said, "Go ahead"

"No, you first…" she said tangling her fingers together in embarrassment

Edward scratched the back of his head to put his words in order.

"Winry…"

"Yes, Edward?" she seemed equally tensed as he was

"Well...I…" He sighed miserably, totally giving up the try to put correct words in order so he finally decided to get straight to the point, "I'm sorry…for the other time I mean…"

"Edward, you really don't need to apologize" she said with a sad smile, "I understand…really… I don't mind…"

"No" Edward insisted in a small voice, "I… My life is pretty much a mess sometimes, and I let it get to me… A lot has happened recently which made me doubt myself on some matters and…well…I shouldn't have got it out on you…"

He had said all that with his hands in his pockets looking straight, forward and not at her. He was feeling too embarrassed to do so.

"Therefore…" he looked at her now, "…I'm sorry"

Winry looked at him and seemed surprised but the genuine regret to his face and his voice made her smile and nodded.

"It's okay. Really."

"You sure?" he asked in kind of disbelief

"Yes" she assured him smiling, "Thank you Edward"

"Hm? What for?"

"You came all the way here just to apologize… I appreciate it a lot"

"Ah. Sure…" he said and then looked at the side taking a fake-cocky, silly grin to say, "I guess I CAN be the 'Mr. Nice Guy' after all no matter what Al says!"

For one more time Winry covered her mouth with her fist but this time her giggle was clear as day. Edward looked at her and felt a smile making its way to his lips. This was the second time he made her laugh, and he had to be 100% honest with himself; he liked it. He liked her better in her smile rather than her tears and sad face no matter what her surname was; Rockbell or O'Malley.

Winry rubbed her hands together again and blew some warm air on them a couple of times. Edward saw it. He raised his hands to his neck around which was the small scarf Alphonse gave him to wear. The brown scarf was made of cashmere and it was Al's gift for his birthday the year before. He really didn't wear scarves usually but the morning, he had to admit, was cold. He slowly unwrapped it from around his neck and with a soft movement, tender you'd say, he placed it around Winry's neck and wrapped it once around it. Winry looked at him surprised.

"Edward…"

"Well…" he said looking elsewhere, feeling surprised even himself with his actions, "I don't usually wear scarves anyway… Al just insisted for me to wear it this morning…but I don't need it…really…"

Winry's eyes were wide in surprise and blinked before checking at the soft material around her neck.

"Are you sure…it's okay…?"

"Positive" he smiled softly, "You can wear it…"

Winry noticed his face was flushed at the area around the cheekbones, and she wasn't sure that it was the cold at fault for that. But in any case she thought it was cute… She smiled and snuggled her shoulder against his.

"Thank you…Edward…" she whispered smiling and having her eyes closed

Edward felt his heart skipping beat and start bounding in his chest…the blush to his cheeks became even darker but seeing her…Winry's face, Winry's face that so much resembled his old friend made him feel a wave of peace inside him… It was like his previous frustration was flying to thin air as he was walking with her, side by side like they were a couple or something, with her head touching his cheek and her cheek on his shoulder…

Edward didn't know what he felt right now; whether he felt happy and relieved, feeling like he had at last returned fully at home or if he felt like he wanted to cry out of grief and guiltiness because he was actually allowing "another Winry" make him feel like that…like the old Winry was back through a complete stranger… The wind was blowing cold but softly and the dried leaves dancing in the air were passing by them or getting dragged to the cobbled streets. The smell of moisture was sweet to his nostrils and sometimes it got mixed with the scent of firewood being burnt inside the houses around. Edward didn't know if that was what paradise should feel like. Once upon a time he had told to that gypsy, Noah, that this world probably was something like the Hell he deserved. He said he had hoped to be some dream of his.

"We are not some dream of yours"

Alphonse Heiderich had said. And from that day on Edward realized he was losing his present because he got stuck in guilt and illusions of the past. There he was now, walking within a scenery of absolute calmness with Winry O'Malley walking with him, with her warm breath on his shoulder and everything seemed so real…

Yet there was still a slight depression behind it…

Winry raised her head from Edward's shoulder.

"Edward…" she said in a low voice

"Hm?"

"Could we…emm…go to buy some bread? The bakery is on the next corner"

"Er, sure…"

The small bakeries soon came to view as they took the next corner to the right. They opened the store door they were greeted by the light "ding" of the bell hanging from it. Behind the counter was a tall, fat man with sympathetic face and thick, black moustache wearing the white apron.

"Welcome!" he said smiling with his blue eyes shining behind a pair of round glasses.

"Good morning, mister Blue."

"Ah! Winry! My dear! How are you today? Oh! I see you brought a friend with you!"

He was now talking looking over Winry's shoulder seeing Edward.

"Yes. His name is Edward Elric" she replied smiling

"Edward Elric huh? He seems like a charming young one!"

"Uh…" Edward stuttered at the sudden attention, "Nice to meet you" he said giving his hand at him for a handshake

"Likewise" the kind shopkeeper said smiling, "I'm Aaron Blue!"

He then turned to Winry and said.

"Well then, my dear, what can I do for you today?"

"Can you give me the usual please?"

"Right away!"

He put a loaf of bread in a paper bag and gave it to her. She took it.

"Thank you so much Mr. Blue"

"Oh, you're welcome!" the kind baker laughed, "Off you go now, and be careful. Things are getting dangerous every passing minute…"

Winry took a glance at Edward's direction and then she nodded at Aaron Blue.

When they came out of the bakery's she was humming some happy melody while walking. Edward was seriously fighting back a smile hearing her voice even if it was reaching his ears barely faintly.

"So…is he Jew like you…?" he asked to start a conversation, remembering the bakery's name

"Uh-huh" she said merrily, "He is close friend to my Dad. We came here from Britain, he from England and we from Ireland. He and my Dad actually fought at War together"

"Is that so…?" he said absent-mindedly

That would explain why he was so kind at Winry. They were both of the same religion, plus he was close to her father.

"By any chance…" he said, "Does your father know some Fritz Lang?"

It was absurd question and he knew it. However Winry's marching came to halt and looked around, blinking confused.

"Fritz Lang? The moviemaker? Actually he does. Dad saved him out of appendicitis years ago. You know him?"

Small world, Edward thought with a small smile. Indeed he wasn't expecting Fritz Lang would be some kind of…common acquaintance or something. They walked a bit further to a place they were delivering food publicly. Edward went to the line leaving Winry waiting for a little, to return soon holding two steaming mugs of coffee. He offered one to Winry.

"Thank you" she said taking it and blowing it a little so it would become colder.

Edward was observing her all the time without noticing it. She was pretty and he would be a liar to say otherwise… But also…she was so much alike with Winry. Winry Rockbell…!

They passed the rest of their afternoon walking and talking, telling each other stories from their pasts and families (of course Edward never mentioned something about his true homeland and stuff) and before they knew it, they were constantly laughing and talking merrily all their way back. It was late in the afternoon and dusk had already fallen long ago when they went back to Winry's neighborhood. It was peace and quiet. He took her till he door. There she stopped and smiled to him.

"Thanks for today, Edward. I had great time"

The only thing he could do was smile.

"Yeah. Me too"

A moment of silenced passed between them, which was broken by Winry.

"Well…" she said brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, "Let's…do it again sometime…"

"Y-Yeah…" he had to admit that he wanted that too.

"But…" she held the scarf, "What about your scarf?"

"Nah! Keep it for now. I'll come to take it back some other time"

"Goodnight Edward" she smiled

"Goodnight Winry"

They goodnight each other with a handshake and then Winry walked into her house. The yellow light of the hallway was sticking out into the darkness of the street. Edward remained there even after she closed the door behind her and walked in.

When he finally decided to walk away, he put his hands in his pockets and started to walk in the silence of night. Mixed feelings came back inside him but this time way stronger. He wanted to think of Winry, Winry Rockbell not this Winry, however it had become all the more harder. The cold wind was blowing softly, blowing his gold ponytail to the side. He clenched his teeth and his fingers clenched around the silver pocket watch he had in his pockets… The one whose craving inside he couldn't ignore…the crave he had made… It said…

"Don't forget"

This is it guys. Finally I got my lazy fingers move and write the next chapter from this story. I am sorry to keep you waiting. Of course you had it coming. This chapter is a gift for my dear friend Dollyshewolf (DA) for Christmas. Happy Christmas my friend and forgive me for taking so long to write it.

Also you all need to excuse me for this lame and kind of boring or at least extra-long chapter. In Greece I live in weather has become colder and every time I walk outside in the cold, especially when weather isn't rainy, I kinda get into Philosophy and stuff and many pictures come to my mind (I guess it is because I am born in winter! Hehehe)
Anyway, because of the invironment around me, I wanted to put all the feelings I get through these lines of story and because of this I kind of overdid it with the details and stuff. However I wanted to pass as many emotions as I could but through Edward's eyes.

Yes, Edward needed an excuse to go to her so he used the occasional pains in his auto-mail limbs to visit her parents' infirmary. Alphonse wanted him to apologize but as you see from yourselves it is not like he didn't want to see her either.
The title might sound a bit sassy or something but let me explain. It is because in the movie he had said to Noah that perhaps this world is the Hell he dserved. However now it feels more like Paradise to him (even if he doesn't want to admit it)

I don't know how many of you out there will comment "Love's in the air" or something but I kind of feel jealous of those two! Since I see myself through Edward (we have similar behavior after all) so I am kinda jealous! Hehehe! Alright I stop here. Anyway I hope you liked it and I promise that at some point you'll see action too. For the time being please bear the lame-emotional stuff for a little longer^^

Also...the War Winry is referring to, obviously is World War I. I think most of you saw that coming but I am explaining it just in case^-
Also I changed the Mr. O'Malley's name to Isaak instead so it would be a realistically Jewish name. Sara was a name fitted for a Jew itself so I left it the way it was.

Please review me and...Enjoy!