A/N: As promised, a follow-up to "Rejection." Because I have far too much fun torturing Edward.
41. Irrational
Ed didn't say a word the whole way back to the hotel, and neither did Winry. Al followed them both at a safe distance, probably half expecting Ed to snap. Ed couldn't blame him; it had happened before, but currently Ed was a bit preoccupied. He'd just kissed Winry- albeit to scare off his fanclub, but that was still a kiss, his first and likely hers as well.
But why should he care? Ed was a scientist first and foremost, and he was having trouble reconciling his feeling about the situation. He liked Winry; her hair was pretty, her eyes were bright, she smiled a lot, she had more curves than Rizembool's hillside, and with any luck he'd be taller than her in a few months. Much as he teased her, she was actually the kindest person he knew, and she was strong and independent. To top it all off, she sometimes got this really cute blush around him, and he was pretty sure she liked him, too. Hell, she kissed him back.
But then why did he- both of them, really- freak out and fear it? It was so irrational on both biological and evolutionary terms. Both young, healthy, able to produce and care for young, and mutual attraction to top it off. For the purpose of continuing the species, they were perfect for each other (so long as the kids weren't as reckless as their-)
Ed froze as the word 'father' coincided with an adult version of himself, a blonde-haired child on his knee, his arm around a grown up, very pregnant Winry. Rationale be damned; that was freaky as hell.
"Ed, you ok?"
Present, un-pregnant Winry's voice roused him from his thoughts. Reflex almost made him start his mantra of "Not cute! Not sexy!" but he stopped himself; if he ever wanted another kiss like the one they'd just shared, he'd have to keep his mouth shut on reflex. "Nothing, just thought of something," he replied as he started moving again.
"About your research?"
"Yeah, just realized if I used a circle with a hexagram circumsc-"
"Never mind, don't care."
Safe, for another afternoon. For now.