Author's Note: I hope I haven't disappointed anyone with anything, reveiws have been down? Please fell free to express your opinion or if you are confused about anything, I will be happy to help :3

I worked really hard on this chapter, though I wasn't sure it came ot the way I wanted it too. So, expect some re-editing soon. Starts off with a dream that's kinda like a flash back...

Disclaimer: Arakawa-sama owns Fullmetal Alchemist and all her wonderful characters...

I Found Myself Dreaming

And again I found myself dreaming...

We were down by the river were we weren't supposed to be. It was far from Ed and Al's house, and mine; Almost took a half hour to walk there. We had never been there before, even when Grandma Pinako said she would bring the three of us when we got older if we wanted. It was late one evening, at there house on the 2nd floor during one of our famous sleep overs. The three of us had layed three blankets down into a star so our heads met once we all layed down. The lights were off because if Trisha were to know we were still awake at ten at night, I would have been sent home. It was pitch black but I could still see the brother's eyes glowing in the darkness. Ed had been telling Al and I about a long salt water river, and what it looked like at night.

"It's amazing. If you get there around midnight, and close your eyes at the very end of the river, and listen and stay as quiet as you can, you can hear every single animal in the woods. Then, after that you open your eyes slowly; And you can see lightning bugs everywhere. And it becomes so bright that you can see the current of the river flowing south."

"But it's so late. And your mom said there was a storm coming." I whispered back, though after hearing Edward's description of the beautiful river, I wanted to see it just as much as he did.

"We would get in so much trouble if we were caught, brother." Al spoke softly, closing his eyes as they disappeared into the darkness.

"But no one is gonna find out. Come on, it's going to be so much fun! And I can still see the stars in the sky; If there aren't any clouds then that means no storm. Who's in?" The thought of sneaking out to find a secret river sounded like fun, but getting caught wasn't. Yet the warm summer air was comforting, and I had begun to want to explore this body of water as well. Therefore, it was decided. The three of us tip toed down the stairs, past Trisha's sleeping form on the couch across from the door. Fortunately, she didn't wake as Ed shut the door as silently as he could.

We began to laugh hysterically as we ran through the grass towards the river, the wet wild flowers touching our ankles softly, brushing our skin. The full moon was brighter then usually, lighting us a path through Risembool, as we jumped over rocks and weeds. I felt as if I could fly, running so fast and feeling so free; Like a wild horse in a huge plain out in the middle of no where. The thought of being caught by any adult had slipped away. My short blond hair only touching a bit past my shoulders escaped in the breeze, rising on my back as it disappeared into the wind. We ran together; No one was the fastest and no one was the slowest; We ran at the same pace for what seemed like hours. My eyes teared from the light wind against my body. I wiped them away smiling into the distance. Once we reached the top of a huge grassy hill, the three of us unconsciously stopped to catch our breath. Ed pointed into the distance with a left had on his hip.

"Look, there is it! Can't you guys see it?" Yes! I could see it! I could hear it from here too, the sound of the river splashing against the rocks. Al and I nodded as we continued our journey toward the magical place. I was so happy, I remember the feeling so well as I ran down that hill with my two best friends in the whole entire universe. I loved them so much, I felt as if I were dreaming, I didn't even notice the slow dark clouds start to move in front of our bright moon. And what seemed like forever, the three of us reached the river closing our eyes immediately at the edge just like Ed had instructed us to do so. I quietly crouched down letting my feet dangle off the dirt side, as my toes touched the cold, refreshing water bellow, shifting with the current. Ed and Al did the same as me, slowly so the lighting bugs wouldn't be scared away. With my eyes still shut, I listened, opening my ears to every single opportunity possible in the small magical river.

I felt as if I could hear everything in the world. The sound of snoring in houses spread along the river; small dogs barking from the warm, summer breeze, crickets chirping as loud as they could with owls lightly in a far away woods. I heard the river slowing, crashing into rocks and moving lily pads from one position to another, yet not totally changing it's current home. Frogs sung with the crickets jumping into the water from fear of the three invaders kneeling next to their river. I could hear Ed's breathing; So soft and so strong. I noticed he was sitting so close to me as I opened my eyes by mistake. He was cross legged, and looked so peaceful with his eyes shut, just as if he were sleeping. I could tell he was listening to the river not with his delicate ears hidden behind his golden bangs, but his heart. I turned back to the river shutting my eyes as hard as the could, and tried to listen just a strong as himself. I tried to follow his example, but was distracted by a sudden shock of thunder out in the distance. My eyes snapped open as I turned to the Elrics who had ignored the noise completely. I wanted to love thunder storms as much as Ed and Al had always had. They had told me it was a comforting sound to listen to the rain pound against the roof of their house. As long as you were inside anyways. So I tried to ignore it too. I just hoped it wouldn't start raining with us away from home.

"Okay. Winry; Al... Now, open your eyes and look at the river. But stay quiet." Al and I obeyed Ed's command as we opened our eyes, stretching my heart over the river. Just like he said, we watched as small lightning bugs filled the river, lighting up the water that flowed below us. Showing us with their light the small fish swimming with the current. Now, along with the sound we witnessed over the long body of water, we could see it as well. The trick Ed wanted us to learn was this; First we had to look at the river with our heart and mind. Not our eyes. We needed to see even those that could not be seen with out looking for it. We had to look at it with our ears, and imagine were the sound could be coming from. Then, once we had heard it, we were aloud to view it, bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together. And what a beautiful sight is was. Something I never wanted to leave. Or forget.

Though the beauty of the hour withered away as I felt the first rain drop of the storm, with another loud boom in the background. The three of us looked at each other silently as the rain began taking over Risembool's, cool night sky. I looked up the stars, only to find the clouds that weren't at all existing a few hours ago had completely covered the once beautiful, dark blue sky. We watched as the rain came faster, and harder, the river's existence disappeared along with it's sound.

"We should leave, brother." Al spoke disappointed.

"Yeah..." Edward whispered back to his brother standing up. The three of continued walking towards the grassy hill, soaked with rain. The thunder was loud, and I was trying my best to keep silent. I was terrified, but didn't want to show my fear to Ed and Al. How could they be so calm? Once we reached the top of the hill we were drenched.

"Guys, we shouldn't stay here with the lightning tonight." I shivered looking over the sleeping town. The freezing air had taken over the cool July breeze, as I trembled looking over to the Elrics.

"Ah, don't worry Win, the odds of being struck by lightning is 1 to 576,000. That's more people then all the people who live in Risembool together times two. I wouldn't worry. Oh, and you can borrow something to wear once we reach our house." Ed stated comfortably with a sheepish grin. "You want to run home guys?" His brother and himself agreed not even counting down like we usually did. The two of them took off from the top of the hill leaving me behind. I didn't want to run anymore. I was soaked, freezing and terrified of the storm. The wonderful thoughts from the river had completely disappeared. But I didn't want to be left alone. Even though the Elrics were a good distance ahead of me, I took off down the hill running as fast as my small legs could take me. Even though I felt as if I was running faster then a life time's worth, I couldn't catch up to the brothers. I tried to run harder, jumping as lighting struck across the sky. "...the odds of being struck by lightning is 1 to 576,000..." That was what Edward had told me, and I trusted him. My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden increase of speed- With in seconds I was on the ground, looking up to the brother's in front of me disappearing into the storm. I had tripped and fell, and was now in a huge puddle of mud, right at the bottom of the huge hill.

"Edward! Alphonse!! Wait for me!" I screamed into the darkness as I tried to sit up. My knee was scratched, and bleeding horribly, as well as I couldn't move my leg. I tried to stand up, but fell back to the ground immediately. I started to cry as it poured against my delicate skin. Thunder filled my ears as lightning controlled the sky. There was no one to blame, it was my fault I had tripped. How foolish I was when I should of been watching where I was going. Even if I had walked down the hill, I would have eventually made it home; And that was better then sitting in a storm covered in mud. It felt like forever before I heard someone calling my name out from the rain covered air.

"Winry!? Where are you? Are you still out here?" It was Edward's comforting voce, coming closer and closer. So close were even through the darkness of the storm, I could see his hand reaching out toward me.

And it was then I awoke suddenly, back into the darkness of the motel room in the middle of Italy, and out of my dream in Risembool. I rubbed my head, looking toward the source that had woken me up from a wonderful memory that had suddenly turned disastrous. It was Edward, in a deep sleep next to me on the bed. He had rolled onto his back, his favorite possiton to sleep, elbowing me in the face. Thank god I was sleeping on his left side, or his metal arm would have killed me. I didn't move as I watched him breath in and out; Perfectly. His eyes were closed lightly with his mouth slightly ajar. As he took each breath, I watched him suck in his next one.

I missed watching him sleep so much, I hadn't realized how I had forgotten it. Ed slept alot, basically as much as he could when he wasn't stressed. When we were little, I remember coming over to his house with Al leading me up the stairs to Ed passed out on his bed in their bedroom. Or when Ed and Al came to visit Risembool after needing auto mail adjustments, I would always find him napping on the couch as the sun set over the small village. And even in this world, when Ed was bored or had nothing to do, his favorite activity was to sleep. And I always loved to watch him whenever I could. He wasn't easy to wake up either. He really never snored, but his breathing was steady and strong.

And now as I watched him sleep inches next to me, his left elbow resting on my shoulder as we both layed on our backs in the small room, I smiled a true smile for the first time that day. I could feel his leg was brushed up against my own under the covers. He was so warm and it felt so good to be back, however warmer then usawal from his sill slight fever. I giggled softly at the fact he was taking up two thirds of the bed, with me at the edge. Yet I didn't mind. I thought about getting up and finding a wash cloth for his forehead, to cool him down, but by leaving the bed, I might lose my spot. His head was between my pillow and his own. The covers on his side of the bed were down to his chest when we had started out with the sheets pulled up to our chin.

Though my thoughts interrupted such a sweet scene. Why? Why did I do what I did? I ran away from him and Al. I gave up on my best friends who I had known forever. I loved them so much, and I ditched them. I could say that Ed had started it by coming down with such a horrible illness, but had I forgotten what the two of shared only a month ago? We shared, love. He admitted he loved me, as I did the same with him. We kissed in the darkness more then once, and I had loved the feeling. We shared something that only those who promise to stay together for all eternity share. In such a silent place- Had I forgotten the feelings we shared? I shouldn't have given up so easily on him, I should have stayed and tried my best to nurse him back to health. Although it still confused me when he had told me he was ready to die, that was no reason to abandon him. Why did I at least try to understand the pain he was dealing with. And as karma would have, 'er Equivalent Exchange, I was sexuality assaulted by a man I knew was bad news in the first place.

And so I turned on my side causing the bed to shake, however Ed did no more then flinch at the sudden movement. I rapped my arms around his bulky waist, digging my head into his chest. Tears began pouring out of my eyes as I smiled hugging him tighter. I shifted my body leaning closer to his warmth as my blond hair covering my back showing brightly against Ed's black shirt that rested over my body. I squeezed him harder as my leg wrapped around his own flesh knee. I watched as his golden eyes flickered open half way, peeking down at my form.

"Winry..." He slurred rubbing his eyes with his flesh hand.

"Edward, I didn't mean to wake you... I'm sorry. Just go back to sleep, your sick." I whispered silently crying into his shirt.

"It's alright..." He spoke back softy with a raspy tone. I hugged him tight close to my heart as he turned on his side toward me. "Just be careful, I don't want to get you... sick..." He trailed off closing his eyes, as he rested his chin above my head. I smiled as his breathing became steady. I could feel his chest expand and decrease against my own.

xxx