(A/N: Chibi, here. I really, really wish I had updated sooner. But I was unable to due to problems. BUT! All of your words of encouragenment have kept me going. I don't what is it with me and these angst chapters. But that's what this one is but not really sad. It's a continuation of the last chapter, so...yeah.
Guest from chapter 20: It' so nice hearing reviews like that! It made me smile so much! Please let me know who you are so I can thank you!
Guest # 1: Aww, shucks. Thank you for your compliments. Your review means a lot, dearie. I wish I knew who I was thanking though. I hope you tell me!
Namindu: I was worried about you! I'm happy you liked both chapters! PM me about the chapters you would like me to write! I was hoping you can help clarify what you meant by the last review! Thanks a bunch for your review!
Guest # 2: I'm glad you read my one-shot! I'm pretty sure I'll be writing more one-shots and I'm even thinking about a modern AU story. But I'm still working on it. I hope you tell me who you are so I know who else to thank!
fmafan: I shall try to update sooner! Thanks for your review!
BluezebraAFHS: Blue, you don't realize how much your reviews mean to me. Thank you for reviewing, dear. And I'm glad you also take the time to read my other one-shots. You are awesome!
ElmoDaHorse: I was just sputtering and blushing at your review. I'm so glad you think my story is awesome. It feels nice hearing people complimenting my story. And yes, the Edwin feels.I get those everyday. Heehee.
To all my followers (I almost have fifty, holy shoot!) Thanks so much! You're all cutie tooties! Enjoy!)
Ed was resting on his arm as he sat on the table, watching Winry comb Ann's black, soft hair. She had taken the liberty of giving Ann a bath after she had accidently spilled milk all over herself. Afterwards, Winry had changed Ann into a fresh set of clothes and was beginning to unravel her hair. Since Ed didn't have anything better to do at the moment, and he really wanted Winry to talk to him again, he stayed close by her. After the conversation that had taken place earlier that morning, Winry was being cold to him. He knew why but it really bothered him. He was trying his hardest to get her to talk to him but all he got was a few grunts in response. So, he decided he would wait it out.
Ann was holding a small toy in her hand that had been inside her baby bag as well. It was also the color golden, so Ed figured the only reason she was attached to him was because of his hair. (Although, he hoped that isn't true.) Once she was done with Ann's hair, she sat her on the table to fix her shirt. Ed gathered the courage to finally speak up until Al walked in carrying Nikko.
"Hello." he said to the both of them. Winry waved in his direction and Ed greeted him back. Al placed Nikko next to his food bowl and grabbed cat food from the pantry. He did this silently, trying to read the atmosphere between the two. Anyone could easily tell that something must have happened between them. There were other times before in the past when Winry had done this to Ed. It wasn't that she was mad. She was just thinking a whole lot more about the matter than either Ed or Al. But Al knew this. Ed didn't. Ed was most likely thinking that Winry was really mad at him. And he would think like this until he actually decided to confront Winry about it. So, Al decided he should do something about it. But, what? He couldn't just say "Hey, you guys should talk." No, doing that would just make everything a whole lot more worse. But he knew that both of them wouldn't say anything about it until they were both grandparents.
Suddenly, a small idea emerged from the depths of his brain.
"You know, I haven't spent any time with Ann at all. Why don't you let me have her for the night?" he offered, hoping either of them would take the bait.
"I don't trust you." was all that Winry said. But, she had taken the bait, like Al had hoped.
"Don't worry. I won't do anything. Besides, I think Granny is coming tomorrow and I at least want to have one night with her. C'mon." he tried. Winry looked at him, almost suspiciously, then gave up.
"Alright. But what's in it for you?" she asked. He shrugged his shoulders innocently.
"Oh, nothing." he said. Winry frowned but relented anyway.
"Hey, Brother? Can I talk to you in the other room for a quick second?" Al asked Ed. Ed, who hadn't said anything at all during the conversation, looked at his brother in surprise.
"Um, yeah. Sure." he stood up from where he sat and followed Al into the other room. Winry's eyes never left the both of them. Once they were as far as away from the kitchen they could possibly go, Al shook his brother excitedly.
"Take her out on a date!" Ed raised an eyebrow. Then he gave a weird laugh.
"Hee, that's funny. You sure are funny, Alphonse." he said to him. Al rolled his eyes.
"I'm being serious here." Al said to him. Ed looked like he wanted to smack his brother upside the head.
"What, do you want me to get hit by her wrench? Can't you see that we're not really talking at the moment?" he whispered harshly so he wouldn't yell. Al waved his hand in annoyance.
"You're the one who can't see, Brother. Winry isn't mad at you. She's just in her own world. And you need to get inside that world with her. She's probably thinking useless thoughts that she shouldn't be burdened with." Al retorted. Ed sighed dramatically.
"But she doesn't want to talk to me, Al." he said, rubbing the temples of his forehead. Al groaned.
"Let's say, brother, Winry has been hiding this secret that could have cost her her own life and suddenly, it's out in the open. How would you feel?" Al asked. Ed thought about it.
"I don't know. I'd probably wonder where the hell I was when she was about to lose her life." Ed said, each word making him realize everything.
"Oh." Ed said faintly. Al raised his hands up in exasperation.
"That's what Winry is thinking probably. And you need to tell her without words that she isn't useless and none of it is her fault." Al said. Ed looked over at the doorway of the kitchen.
"Do you really think she believes she's useless?" Ed asked. Al looked over the same way and stayed quiet.
"No. But that fact that she didn't know about it makes her feel like she isn't important. I slightly felt like that too." Al admitted. Ed looked over at his brother. He sighed.
"Okay. But I highly doubt Winry will say yes. And I really didn't want to take her out for this reason." Ed said to him.
"Then don't make it a date. Just walk around outside until you think it's safe to talk to her about it." Al suggested. Ed nodded and ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Thanks, Al." Ed said to him. Al gave a quick thumbs up while Ed headed to the kitchen. He found Winry still sitting at the table, braiding Ann's hair.
"Hey, Win? Since Al's on baby duty, you think we can talk a walk outside for a while?" Ed asked. He felt his heart race in nervousness and he was sure there beads of sweat on his forehead. Winry looked at him and hesitated. After a while of being silent, she nodded. They grabbed their coats and waved at Al bye.
LINE BREAK YO
Luckily for them, the snow had long since died down but it was still cold and the thick clouds hadn't even so much as parted. They walked silently down the road. Okay, Al. I got her outside. Now what? Ed thought to himself hopelessly. Winry stared at the other side of the fields, away from Ed. This was the complete opposite of the other time they went out. It was super awkward and Ed had no idea how to fix it. But he'll do it the Ed way.
"Winry, what are you thinking about?" Ed asked her. She sighed, and she was able to see her breath. Winry looked over at Ed and Ed noticed she wasn't wearing her earrings...except for the one that Ed had changed for her.
"Stuff." was all that she answered. She didn't sound mad at all. But she didn't sound happy either.
"What kind of stuff?" he urged on. Winry stayed silent once more. What surprised Ed so much was that he wasn't at all affected by her silence. Instead, he found it as encouragement to push on and get her to laugh again. Or at least smile.
"Mmm. Things." Winry said after a while. Ed nodded and they kept walking down the road, only slightly covered by white.
"Mmm. I see. " Ed responded. Winry gave a small nod. Ed scratched the back of his head, trying desperately to pick the right words. He felt like anything he could say would actually get Winry mad.
"I'm not mad, Ed." Winry said out of the blue. He looked over at her, surprised. She kept looking ahead but she glanced at him. Ed decided to wait for Winry to continue.
"No, I'm not mad. I'm just… thinking. Stuff like, what would have happened if you weren't here today. Both you and Al." she said. He looked up to the grey sky, breathing out a small puff of smoke.
"But we are here." Ed asked, holding his arms up for proof.
"I know. But what if? And what could I do to prevent that from ever happening." she said quietly. It had been so long since Ed had ever heard Winry like this. The last time she sounded so...so lifeless was years ago when her parent's had passed away. She kept asking the same questions and she always asked what she could have done to stop them from leaving.
"Something as trivial as a scar can never take me away from the world, Win. I'm way too stubborn for that." Ed said jokingly. Winry sighed but the corners of her lips twitched. They kept walking on the road.
"It wasn't your fault, Winry. You know that?" Winry looked at Ed, her eyes so full of guilt.
"But, if I hadn't suggested to separate-"
"We had to do it." Ed said forcefully, trying to get through her. She stared at him for the longest while until she finally looked away.
"Win, nothing can take me away from you or Al or from Resembool. It may have some memories I'd rather not remember, but it's still my home and I'll always return back here. Anyways, I'm a man who keeps his promises, right?" Ed said, giving her a grin. She smiled back. At that moment, he tripped on something and landed face first onto the cold ground.
"Son of a-" Ed muttered underneath his breath. Suddenly, Winry was laughing so hard, struggling to stand up straight.
"I-I'm sor-ry!" Winry said in between laughs. Ed frowned at her but he noticed that she was laughing again. He got up on his knees, wiping away the snow on his shirt. Suddenly, something caught his eye.
"Whoa." Ed said in awe. Winry controlled her laughter and wiped away her tears.
"What?" she asked. She bent down to look over Ed's shoulder to see a frozen flower in the middle of the snow.
"Wow! That's so cool!" she said. The flower looked like daisy but the ends of the yellow flower where tinted slightly blue.
"It's so beautiful." Winry said. Ed looked over at her and he smiled.
"Yeah, beautiful." he said in agreement although it wasn't about the flower. Winry looked over at him and she blushed at how close they were. Ed looked at her eyes and then looked down at her soft lips. Neither of them moved at all. Ed wasn't sure if now was the best time to kiss her but he really wanted to feel her lips on his again.
"Thanks for making me feel better." Winry whispered. Ed nodded, looking away to hide his pink cheeks. He stood up and faced Winry. Winry looked at him and this time, she stuck out her hand. Ed's chest felt really warm and he beamed at her. He took her life-giving hands and they kept walking down.
(A/N: SO! How was it? I really wanted them to kiss also but it wasn't the right time. BUT! It's still the afternoon. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring? Review your thoughts and what I should improve on! If all is well, please expect an update VERY soon. And if you have an idea you would rather read than write, let me know. Remember, this takes place two years and maybe even longer. It doesn't necessary have to be about now. PM me or review it! Or maybe even a one-shot about this pairing or any other pairings such as Royai or Almei or LingFan! Let me know!)