Disclaimer: I do not own Ed nor Winry...

Unbearable

The reason Edward and Alphonse had burned down their home years ago in Risembool was because they only had one thing in mind; To move forward. They wanted to leave their painful memories behind them, and move on in their lives. So the two of them burned their home to the ground and left. Even if that was what they wanted at the time, it must of been painful to watch. They grew up in that home after all; Lived behind those wooden blocks their entire life up until now. To leave it at such a young age seems almost impossible. But to watch it happen for the second time. That's unbearable.

Al said to let him go, and not to chase after Ed as we stood in front of the burning building together. He needed some time alone, by himself. And that we would look for him later, Al had told me. Alphonse helped me stand up, as we walked to a small motel only a few miles away from the burning building. As we moved forward.

That's one thing the Elric brother's were good at.

"Are there any rooms available for tonight?" Al asked exhausted to the lady sitting behind the counter. Al had never entered the burning building, he still looked at though he had just left work late after working over time. But me; I was covered in ash, in short black shorts with a tang top loosely around my chest. Not to mention I wasn't wearing a bra. I was still drained of energy, and had clutched the rose petal and book so close to my chest it had left marks on my skin. I had sat down on the couch near the counter, lost in thought.

The lady had red hair in tight curls pinned to her head. Her lip stick was a bright red, and stuck out from her pale white skin. Her black eyes were small, and she looked pretty waisted herself. She was wearing tight black pants with a small tee shirt to match showing her stomach.

"For you two?" She slurred, finally answering Al looking up.

"Uh, yeah. Just for the next couple of nights would be great." He forced a smile at the woman. She sighed reaching under the desk to grab a cigarette, lit it, then nodded. Nearly ten minutes passed before she stood up. I sighed with relief when she handed Al our room key.

"You are in room B-36, enjoy your stay kids." Her voice sounded annoyed, tired, as if this is that was what she was required to say to everyone. Al grabbed the key, paid the lady for the next three nights with the money he had just made at work, then walked over to me.

"Hey Win." He smiled offering me his hand. I grabbed it as he pulled it up. "How are you doing, feeling a bit better?" I nodded, then coughed quickly looking away. He must of knew exactly what I was thinking, concidering what his next statement was. "Brother will be fine, really. I promise you. He just needs some time to think things over. You know, this isn't the first time we lost our home..." Al sighed as his eyes crept down to his feet.

"I know. I'm sorry... Al."

"We just need to move on, it will work out." I tried to smile, but I couldn't trust his voice. He helped me up the stairs to room B-36, slowly but carefully. The room wasn't that bad, besides the fact that it had one bed, in one room. It was a large room with a small kitchen, no table. A queen size bed was pushed against the wall in the back, with a white night stand next to it. The room was carpeted with an old, yet soft carpet. The walls were painted pastel colors, with a wooden door leading into a bathroom. I managed to make it to the bed myself, sitting on it with still with disbelief. Had we really just lost our home? It was a hard concept to except, and I knew it was even harder for Al... And Ed.

"Al, how could this happen?" I suddenly blurted out. He looked at me strangely but didn't answer, so I continued. "I mean, what's next? Is this really possible for everything to be happening the way it has?" My voice cracked, as I felt tears swelling up behind my eyes; I could feel my voice rising. "We're gonna lose our jobs, we don' have m-money for f-food! And Ed, now he's gone, too, he's not the same anymore! What the hell are we going to do! I don't have the slightest clue where he might be, Al!" I had lied about that last statement, I knew where he had probably gone; But the tears had started falling faster then I could handle. But Al knew, I shouldn't have been so blunt with him. He just smiled a sheepish grin and sat on the floor next to the bed.

"Winry... How long have you liked brother? I mean since the three of us started living together, or from Risembool?" My face instantly turned dark red, as I looked away.

"W-why would you ask that?" I sniffed wiping away a fresh tear. Well that was a stupid response. So that was it, Al must have known everything. It only made sense though. I mean, he must of figured out Ed was sleeping somewhere if it wasn't his bed or the couch. And plus, he hadn't sparked an argument with me since we... Got closer.

"Alphonse, I just worry, I have always worried about you two since you left. You k-know that right?" He nodded. "That's all. I miss you... I miss Ed, too. The old Edward, the one who would laugh and smile. He's just been so different since we came here... And I guess it's because he's growing up, too. That probably has something to do with it; After all he has been acting... Umm... More mature..." Al chuckled softly. "But I think he's gotten depressed since you and I crossed the gate. He knows we aren't as happy as we were is Risembool... And, I guess I really.. I think I really do..."

"I think he likes you, too." I stared at him slightly confused. Al laughed again. "C'mon, you think he doesn't? Ed has always cared about you. We're your best friends, but I think since he's gotten older, and might I add, taller, we've come to know you for who you really are." Who I really am, huh? It was a thought... I looked straight into Al's eyes as I had to Edward not to long ago.

"Well, umm... Thanks, Al."

"We'll look for him in the morning if he hasn't already found us, ok? You should get some rest though, you look tired." I layed down on the bed as I watched Alphonse walk to the closet to retrieve a few blankets. It was when he returned to the bed I spoke again.

"Al?"

"Yes?"

"Ed hasn't talked to me since that, umm...night...and I was just wondering...do you know something that I don't?"

"Winry, you know Ed rarely shows his feelings, even to me. But...I'm sure Ed...liked it...he's just probably embarrassed." I felt my cheeks burn up for the second time during that conversation. "I guess the only way to find out is to talk to him, Win." He must of saw the look in my eyes for him to continue talking. "And don't worry, I'll keep it a secret for now. You should be the one to tell him how you feel, when your ready I guess." I had always thought I had to be there for Al, he was younger then me after all... But tonight, he was the older brother for both me and Ed. I smiled for the first time that week; But it was a true smile this time.

"Ok. But really, Al. Thanks."

xxx

Auther's Note: I really worked hard on this chapter. My goal was to get Winry to really dump all her feelings she had kept a secret on Al, and for Al to give her the best advice he could. How did I do? I'm sorry again though for the length, it wasn't supossed to be this long!

And thank you everyone for all the generious reviews!