Here it is! I hope you all enjoy. This chapter was pretty fun to write.

It's going to get even darker. Just making sure that you all understand that before proceeding.

Just a note: There are two spellings of Sheska's (Sciezka) name. I don't know why this is, but I decided to go with the easier version!

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 4

Edward stood quietly beside his brother, watching the bridesmaids and other groomsmen walk down the aisle. He had a few things to look forward to today, one being able to see friends and relatives that he hadn't seen in years. Izumi and Sig Curtis were seated in the front row of the groom's side, in place of Edward and Alphonse's mother and father. Roy and Riza sat beside them.

Edward tried to sneak a smile at Roy, only to feel Izumi's hard glare upon him. He straightened up, hoping fervently that the ceremony wouldn't last as long as it had already seemed to.

Then he saw her.

Pinako and Garfiel were the only people who had seen Winry's dress before the wedding. It was a ruched ballgown dress of the purest white with a strapless sweetheart neckline and a court train. In her hands, she held a bouquet of red roses. Around her neck was a string of pearls, and she wore matching earrings. Her hair was a mess of curls piled onto her head. What struck Edward the most, however, was the cathedral length mantilla veil that made her appear to be glowing.

He had never seen anything so beautiful. His heart began to race, and his eyes widened as he stared at the woman walking closer to him. The bright sunlight danced in her hair and her eyes, and the fabric of her dress and veil flowed in the soft breeze. To him, she looked like an angel. For a moment, he imagined that he was the one who would be wed to her today. This fantasy of his cause a warmth to grow in his heart. A blissful smile began to spread over his lips. He almost had to stop himself from holding out his hand to her as Garfiel brought her to the altar.

Reality returned to him as Alphonse received her from Garfiel, looking just as blissful as Edward had only a moment ago. Winry glanced at Edward for a mere second, which was long enough for her to scowl slightly at his look of despair. It was her wedding day, and she had no time to worry about her childhood friend's feelings for her.

As Edward had hoped, the ceremony was quick and quite nearly painless. He soon found himself seated near Winry and Alphonse's table with Roy, Riza, Jean, and Rebecca, having dinner. The dining hall that Winry had chosen was large and well decorated, with flowers and candles everywhere. It was packed with guests, with a dance floor in the center of the room.

Edward had had two glasses of wine already, and was on his third, ignoring Roy's requests that he slow down.

"I swear, Ed," Roy sighed, "if you're too drunk to get through your speech, I'll kill you."

"I don't know if I'll be drunk enough to get through this damn speech," Edward replied. "Is it really necessary that I do this?"

"It's traditional for the best man and maid of honor to give a speech. You already have yours ready, right?"

"Of course," Edward said as he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from the inside of his jacket. "I brought it in case I absolutely have to do it."

"If Sheska was able to do hers, I'm sure you can too."

"I don't see what the problem is," Jean added. "Aren't you happy for your brother?"

"Yeah, I sure am," Edward said through clenched teeth.

"Just give it your best," Riza said. "I'm sure they will both appreciate that you took the time to write a speech at all."

Edward smiled. He knew that he at least had to try, for his brother. Maybe Winry didn't necessarily deserve his best sentiments, despite that fact that he could never get her out of his head or heart, but Alphonse certainly deserved a few nice words from his older brother.

Edward stiffened as a man approached him with a microphone. He wasn't ready to tell his brother how happy he was that he had stolen the woman of his dreams, and strongly believed that he never would be.

"Whenever you're ready," the man said as he handed the microphone to Edward.

Once the man was gone, Edward took a few deep breaths, trying to put himself in a better frame of mind for lying.

"Just get it over with," Roy said quietly, leaning in closer to Edward and nudging him in the ribs with his elbow. "The more you agonize over it, the harder it's going to be."

Edward nodded, and stood. "Everyone, can I have your attention?" he said, his voice wavering slightly as he spoke into the microphone and looked down at the paper in his hand. "I have a few words for the lovely bride and that handsome groom." He put on the biggest, fakest smile he could manage. He cleared his throat. "When Al and I were little, we used to fight over who would marry Winry. She was pretty much the only kid the two of us had to play with, but we didn't mind, because she was worth more than a thousand people combined. I can't remember a time when we didn't know her, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't think Al would, either. Alphonse is not only my brother, but my best friend. He and Winry are the two people I cherish most in this world. It brings me great joy -" Edward's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat again, attempting to regain his composure. He took a deep breath, and dropped the paper. "It brings me great joy to see these two together. I'm glad that my little brother has someone strong to watch over him when I can't, and I'm glad that the most beautiful woman I know has a great man to love her."

Everyone in the room cheered an applauded, and some were brought to tears by Edward's words. Alphonse and Winry seemed genuinely touched.

"Seriously, Al," Edward continued when the noise died down. "There's a lot of crazy guys out there. Someone might try to steal her away from you."

Again, the room was filled with noise, this time with laughter, with the exception of Roy, who stared solemnly at Edward, and Winry, who glared at him from her table.

"That's enough, Ed," He murmured as he tugged on Edward's jacket. "Have a seat."

"Hell," Edward said, ignoring Roy. "I might try to steal her myself. She's a real beauty. If only I had proposed to her before you had."

Of course, everyone believed Edward to be joking once again. Winry stared at him in shock, her mouth wide open. Edward winked at her, which only caused more laughter. Alphonse blushed.

"Ed, I'm begging you," Roy said. "Just stop."

Edward grabbed his glass of wine, and raised it. "To the lovely couple," he said gently.

Once the sound of clanging glass filled the room, Roy snatched the microphone away from Edward, and pulled him into his seat by his sleeve.

The environment became considerably less tense when the dancing commenced. Everyone was excited to celebrate. Jean and Rebecca were the first to reach the dance floor. Heymans was able to persuade Riza into having a dance with him, much to Roy's relief.

When Edward and Roy were alone at their table, Roy spoke.

"Ed, I'd like to be able to dance with my wife before anyone gets any ideas, if I need to stay with you to keep you out of trouble, I will."

"You don't honestly think I'm crafty enough to do much worse than that speech, do you?" Edward asked.

"I know you're crafty enough. That's part of the problem."

"You don't have to babysit me. That speech was just a little rough to get through. You understand, right?"

Roy sighed. "Yeah, I do."

"Go have fun with Riza. She looks beautiful."

"Can I trust you enough to leave you by yourself?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"Don't have any more wine." Roy patted Edward on the shoulder before leaving him to cut in with Heymans and Riza. Edward watched as Roy lovingly held his wife in his arms, and swayed gently to the music.

After about an hour, the other guests had finally started to leave Winry alone. She slipped away from the dance floor, and Edward watched her sneak outside, presumably for a bit of fresh air. After a moment, he checked to make sure that no one was watching him, and he followed her.

Winry stood, facing away from the entrance to the hall. Her hair was a mess, and she had left her veil at her table. In silence, Edward looked at the way the wind played at loose strands of her hair. She inhaled deeply.

"Nice party," Edward said as he approached her.

Startled, Winry spun around, and was almost shocked to see him standing there.

"Yeah," she answered. "I couldn't ask for a better wedding."

"You could have, but I know damn well that Al could never afford the kind of extravagant event that you would have really wanted."

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "No, this is fine as it is."

"You had to pay for most of it, didn't you? A successful mechanic like you is bound to make heaps more than some freelance alchemist with no fortune to his name besides the fame that he gets."

"Just shut up. What was with that speech, anyway?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. They were just a few honest words for my favorite couple."

"I don't know what you were thinking, Ed. You're insane."

"Maybe so, but I'm also right."

"I'm in love with Al. You know that, right?"

"Somehow, I don't entirely believe that. You're in love with his image, but I know you two have nothing in common, and that you hate that he's never going to have the wealth that you want him to have. Even so, marrying a well known alchemist to boost your own fame among possible customers isn't a bad ploy to go with. I'm actually impressed. I didn't think you'd think something like that up on your own."

"You don't know a damn thing. I know what this is about. You're jealous. You've been jealous from the start."

"You got me. I'm jealous as hell." Edward stepped closer, and grabbed Winry around her waist with one arm. He pulled her body against his own, and before she could protest, he pressed his lips against hers. His placed his free hand on the back of her head, entangling his fingers in her hair. Winry pressed half-heartedly against Edward's broad chest. He released her lips, only to take them again in a chain of kisses, each one more passionate than the last.

The taste and feel of Edward's lips upon her own had left her weak in the knees, but Winry managed enough strength to strike him across the face. She stared at him as he stood there, eyes glowing, red lipstick staining his face. His cheek grew rosy where she had hit him.

"Stop this," Winry said as she stormed towards the doors to the hall. "And don't even think about coming back inside without wiping that lipstick of your face."

"I was about to say the same to you," Edward said with a smile. Winry blushed, not realizing that she had also smeared her own makeup. "You know, if you give me what I want, I can give you anything you desire."

"Oh really?" Winry said as she turned, crossing her arms. "And what is it that you want?"

"You."

"You're ridiculous."

"I'll pay you."

"Are you crazy? I'm not like some prostitute that you can buy your pleasures from."

"It doesn't have to be with money. I can give you any gift. Just tell me what you want, and you'll have it. It can be anything. All I ask in return is that you treat me the way that you'll be expected to treat Alphonse, as his wife."

"You're pathetic. I don't know who you are anymore. You've lost all sense of dignity."

"That may be true, but I have wealth, and to someone as spoiled and greedy as you, I know that means more than a pure heart."

Winry turned and stomped back inside, leaving Edward there, alone, and smiling.