Fullmetal Rock chap.6

Edward began the next day working with Winry on her voice. Due to her high tone he knew he was dealing with a soprano voice and he wanted to bring that voice to an all-time high. Her voice was beautiful and he knew a country singer who voice was phenomenal and beautiful and that's what he wanted for Winry. He pulled up some music from this country singer with the voice he loved so much and let Winry hear them. After she listened she stared blankly at him "Are you out of your mind I can't sing like that Ed. Her voice is beautiful and well trained mine is high and out of sync." He had to talk her into it "Come on Winry I know you can do it." It took some persuading but he got her to agree then he showed her some breathing exercises to do to train her voice and breathing more so she could hold longer notes.

Winry looked over at him as he sat there typing on the panel "Edward about our science project. I was thinking we could do something on standing waves. You know like how wind goes through instruments and produce sound." He turned to her and smiled "That's an awesome idea. I love it!" He looked back at the panel "You know you are incredible Winry." She knew he was just saying that but it wasn't true he was actually starting to really like her. She was smart, gorgeous and her laugh god he loved to hear her laugh for the few times she did, and her smile was the beautiful especially when her eyes lit up.

He shook his head thinking there was absolutely no way this could ever go anywhere because of the way she felt about men. That guy had done one thing he ruined any other guys chance with her. But Edward wasn't the type to give up so easily. Right now though he knew she just needed a friend and that was good enough for him. It meant he could spend all the time with her he wanted.

Al had booked them another gig but this one was at a country bar, thank God for their wide range of music. Edward and Al were supposed to meet with the owner today and Ed had to convince this guy they could do it. The owner took one look at them and almost changed his mind and kick them out till Edward grabbed a guitar and Al started singing 'What hurts the most' by Rascal Flatts and the owners wife loved it and told him to book them. Edward informed the owner he wouldn't be sorry. They could do a wide range of country so that whole week was spent on country and who could do what song. As Edward secretly worked with Winry, he wanted the other band members to be blown away by what she could do.

One afternoon he asked her out right if she had told her parents what had happened? She replied "I tried but they were too busy to listen. My parents love me but they think nothing in the world is that bad." Edward smiled he was going to arm her with songs that would help in her dealing with this so he let her hear a song by that favorite country singer of his, You know the one from above and she loved it. Working secretly with him on the song and doing her breathing exercises she finally sang it all the way through for him and he was in shocked at her voice. The work they did had taken her voice to something he never imagined, beautiful, high pitched yells that sounded like an angel. When she finished she asked him how it sounded and he couldn't answer her as he just stared at her. She got sort of nervous but then he said with such emotion in his voice "It was absolutely stunning Winry. I-I'm speechless I mean I have no words to describe how you just moved me." The song he had her sing was about someone wanting to talk but no one was listening and it depended on what the one who wasn't listening said next to make her want to stay. He knew it would help with her problem with her parents and she sang it beautifully. He had told her to sing it like her parents were sitting in front of her and she brought tears to his eyes. The pleading in her voice as she sang was like someone pleading for help or just someone to listen to her.

He was so overwhelmed he got up and walked out for a moment and she didn't know what she had done so she followed him and found him in the hallway. Walking up to him "Ed did I do something wrong?" He lifted his head and she saw the tears in his eyes "No Winry you did nothing wrong. You have the voice of an angel and I just can't imagine someone doing what he did to you." It truly hurt him deep inside to envision someone hurting her like that. Lifting his head as the furry in him rose he turned to her "Tell me who he was Winry." She got a shocked look on her face seeing the look in his eyes. It was like he wanted to rip someone apart "No Ed I don't want you doing anything. It's done and over with and I just want to forget it." Tears rolled down her cheeks and he realized he'd upset her. He stepped forward to pull her into a hug and to his surprise she didn't jerk away as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you like that." As her head pressed against his chest she could hear his heart beating and it slowed from the thundering beat it was a moment ago to a soft rhythmic beat and she knew he had calmed down. Leaning back she looked up at him "I wish I would have known you last year." He tightened his grip some "Well I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." Before she knew it she had wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him back. Edward's eyes focused on the wall behind him and they had an angry stare in them. He was going to find out who this guy was and he was going to make him pay. No one should get away with such a violent crime like that. After driving Winry home that night he enlisted the help of the band members to find out who he was.

Envy spoke up as he sat in a chair "Last year I remember her. Well by seeing her around that is, she was with that one guy. What was his name?" Envy snapped his fingers trying to remember then he jumped up "It was Joshua Greed that football player. You know the one who thinks he's hot shit?"

Rhea was curious why Edward was so interested in this guy "What's up Ed? Why the sudden curiosity in who she dated?" Edward sat silent for a moment then he leaned forward "I don't want this leaving this room and I definitely don't want Winry knowing I told you but I may need your help with this." He was reluctant to betray her trust but he knew his friends would keep their mouths closed and he was definitely going to need their help with the posse Joshua Greed had around him. So he took a deep breath and looked at all of them "He raped her." Rhea was furious "WHAT THE FUCK?" Al tried to calm her down as she continued to speak "I knew her in tenth grade and after meeting her here I knew she had changed but shit. He raped her."

Edward figured it was time to tell Al who Winry was "Hey Al do you remember when we lived in Resembool? Remember the obnoxious blonde girl we used to play with?" Al nodded "Uh huh Winry." His eyes widened as he looked at Edward "No fucking way. That's the Winry?" Edward shook his head "Yeah one in the same. Pinako Rockbell's granddaughter."

Al couldn't believe his ears "Wow. I can't believe it Ed it's been ten years since we've seen her."

Edward exhaled loudly "I know that's why I didn't recognize her but that makes no difference now. The fact is it is her and-"his voice trailed off as Al turned "And what Ed?" Edward sat there for a minute and Envy caught on before anyone else "And he's developing feelings for her right Ed?"

"YOU ARE? THAT'S GREAT!" Rhea jumped up and ran over and hugged his neck "NO MORE ICKY VICKEY!"

Edward trying to pry her arms from his neck "It's not that simple Rhea. With her vulnerable state it isn't easy to get close to her. So right now all I can do is help her from afar." Rhea slumped into the chair behind Edward "Aw that sucks!"

Al looked up and figured his brother had an idea of what he was going to do to Joshua Greed "What do you have planned Ed?" Edward sat back and squashed Rhea "Right now nothing." Rhea was flailing her arms "HEY I'M BACK HERE YOU KNOW?" Edward smiled as he leaned farther back "Yeah I know and this is for strangling me." As he had her pinned he reached down and grabbed her foot and began to tickle it "STOP! STOP! EDWAAAARD STOP IT!" she yelled as he held onto her foot as she flung it around by bending her knee.

Edward was bothered by the fact of wanting to beat this guy down so he went to the only person he knew would tell him straight. As he knocked on the door his domineering voice said "Come in" Edward entered the room to see Roy standing there admiring his wife through the window watering flowers outside and he smiled 'Totally whipped' he thought as he walked in "Uh Roy can I talk to you." Roy turned and saw the serious look on his foster sons face "Sure Edward what's bothering you." Edward began to spill his guts he told Roy about who Winry was and then he confided in him about what happened to her. Then he explained his feelings he had developed over the past few weeks. Then he told him he knew who the guy was and that he wanted to seriously beat him down.

Roy stood there and thought about all the things Edward had told him. Then placing his hand on his chin "You know I don't condone fighting but in this circumstance if it happened I would overlook it if you got suspended. You have got quite the situation on your hands here Edward. You could do this and what if Winry hates you for it. But then again you could tell her of the feelings you have for her and she could shoot you down. It's a tough decision and I don't envy you in it. It could be a lose lose situation or a win win situation." He then turned to Edward "But I know you're a smart kid and whatever you do I'll back you on it."

Edward left the room feeling more confident about what he was going to do now all he had to do was figure out how to do it without losing the girl.