A/N: Hi!

With these last chapters we have been in a transition stage although the one I consider the most as a transition is this one because maybe not much happens but there is an important decision that will mark the course of the next chapters.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you very much for reading!

Golden

Ed yawned loudly as he stretched out on the park bench he was sitting on. He then leaned the back of his neck against the back of the bench with a smile on his face enjoying the sun's rays sneaking through the leaves of the tree next to the bench.

"Ed!" The blond made himself comfortable on the bench so he could see Eddie, who was sitting on a swing being pushed by his mother. "Look, how high I'm going!" The boy exclaimed happily as he swung his little legs to gain more momentum.

"Geez, kiddo, a little more and you'll be flying." Ed said with a smile and in a loud voice so he could make himself heard all the way to where the boy was as there were other children running around the place as well.

Eddie stopped abruptly.

"Eddie?" Rose asked quizzically, who staggered a little since she was in position to give her son another push.

"That's scientifically impossible!" Eddie replied with a scowl and his arms crossed.

Ed laughed. "Yeah, yeah, you're absolutely right. But when you feel the wind in your face don't you feel like you're flying?"

Eddie made a face of concentration before smiling. "Maybe I do. Push me again, Mom!"

Rose leaned forward a bit so she could look her son in the face and thus see him with a raised eyebrow on her face. "Anything you'd like to add, mister?"

"Please, Mom." Eddie added with puppy dog eyes.

Rose laughed, "Okay, here we go!" She said and then began to push Eddie again. As Eddie went back to laughing on the swing and concentrating on reaching higher, Rose gave Ed a warm smile and then focused her full attention on her son.

Ed gave her a brief wave with his automail hand with a smile on his face.

"With those little smiles anyone would think you guys were family."

Ed turned to the voice with a slight blush on his face. "Don't joke, Al. Rose and I aren't at that point in our relationship."

Al sat down next to him. "Well, but Eddie almost seems like your own son the way you two treat each other. Plus you even share the name." He said with a chuckle.

"Me as a father?" Ed said with a hitch in his voice and a lost look in his eyes.

Al shrugged. "I think you'd do just fine, brother. Just look at how much Eddie's taken a liking to you."

Ed was quiet for a few seconds lost in thought before he forced himself to laugh. "Come on, Al, it's more likely to freeze Central Command than for me to have a kid."

"I don't think so. The way things are going I don't think it'll be long before I become an uncle..."

Ed smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "I told you that we're just sharing a bed. Besides we're dating, so what's wrong with us sleeping together?" Ed said trying to push the memories of the last few nights from his mind. Their goodnight kiss was getting more intense with each passing night and Ed had no doubt that Rose's look in those moments was one of desire as he knew that look very well. When he first saw it on Rose he wanted to fool himself by telling himself that he had seen wrong and that she probably wouldn't be comfortable with that kind of closeness between them after what she experienced years ago, but it didn't take him long to realize that what he was seeing was for real given that he had seen that same gaze several times in the past. And that made him doubt. Was he ready to take that step in his relationship with Rose? Could he really do it and be worthy of the great trust Rose was placing in him?

Al's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Nothing, nothing... as long as there isn't someone else on your mind."

Ed exhaled heavily. "Al..."

"You still love her, don't you?" Al said knowing he didn't need to specify the name.

Ed was quiet for a few seconds before answering. "It's not that easy you know?"

"Then why don't you go see her?"

"I remind you that she's on her way to becoming Mrs. Tringham."

The bitterness hidden in his older brother's tone of voice did not go unnoticed by Al. "I know." Al replied as they both remained silent for a few minutes, each focused on their thoughts.

A week after his reunion with Ed, Al had gone to East City to visit Winry. She greeted him with a huge smile and a big hug as she did every time he went to see her after one of his trips. She immediately invited him into her apartment so that he could make himself comfortable while she finished attending to the client she had at that moment.

When Winry was free, the two caught up over a couple of cups of coffee (Al had declined the offer of tea since he drank it all the time at Xing). Al was quick to congratulate Winry on her engagement although he also didn't hesitate to let her know how surprised he was by the news. Winry thanked him for his congratulations and told him that maybe it was a bit of a surprise but that she still had time to get used to the idea since they had not yet set a date for the wedding and that she saw it more as a sort of reminder that someday they would get married rather than a proper engagement. That comment from Winry puzzled Al, but more than the words it was the look on her face and the tone in which she said it as he didn't exactly notice her happy and he got the impression that her tone was closer to one of resignation.

Al knew that Winry had had a very hard time the first few months after the invasion of Amestris. At the time he had believed that it was the pain of losing a dear friend that had her in that state but as time went on he noticed certain signs that, added to a memory here and there that popped up in his dreams, made him come to the conclusion that his friend was in love with Ed. It was because of this discovery that he was surprised when he first found out that she was dating Russell, although he naively believed that it would be a passing thing like her previous relationships but as the months passed and with them came the lack of significant progress in getting Ed back, he became resigned to the idea that Winry deserved to move on with her life although in his heart he held the hope that by some miracle Ed and Winry could be together.

He knew and got along very well with Russell but when he saw them together... there was something that didn't seem quite right. Yes, Winry had looked happier than she had when the invasion had just happened, but he had not seen her again with the same level of radiant happiness that he had seen her with in previous years. For this reason he was surprised that they had become engaged since, although Russell was a good man, Al wasn't sure if he was the ideal man for Winry and now that he was seeing her after her meeting with Ed, he could see that his assumptions might be right since the longing that Winry had managed to hide from her gaze since she began her relationship with Russell had returned and he could almost swear that with greater intensity.

Also, on that same visit Al was able to gather more signs that confirmed his assumptions as it was inevitable not to bring up the subject of Rose and Eddie and thus Ed ended up coming up in the conversation. Al had avoided bringing up the subject so as not to hurt Winry but she herself was steering the conversation that way by saying that they both seemed to be having a great time at the Gala. When Al couldn't deflect the conversation, he was forced to tell her that Ed and Rose were dating and, although Winry made a point of putting on a big smile and saying she was happy for them, the sadness in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by Al.

After that visit, Al made a point of going to see her every two weeks since it wouldn't be long before he had to return to Xing to finish his training and he didn't want to make the mistake of straying so far from Winry again because of being involved in his research since if there was one thing Al regretted it was not being there for her during the first year after the Amestris invasion since he had been so focused on finding a way to bring his brother back that he had then ventured back into his research in different parts of the map almost immediately, unconsciously ignoring the pain and loneliness Winry was experiencing.

During those visits Al always went alone as there was no human power to convince Ed to go with him but on all those occasions Winry's questions about how Ed was doing, often accompanied by a slight sad smile, never failed. Something quite similar to what was happening with Ed when he would ask how Winry was doing after one of Al's visits to East City.

With all those thoughts in mind, Al decided to break the silence that had formed between him and his brother. "Brother, when are you going to go see Winry?"

"I don't know how jealous Russell is about visits from friends."

Al rolled his eyes. "First of all, Russell is our friend even if you don't want to accept it and secondly you know full well what I mean."

Ed grimaced. "I'm fine."

Al gave him a reproving look. "Yeah, right that's why you're sitting here rubbing your thigh."

Ed pushed away the hand that was unconsciously doing just what Al was saying. "It's not that, it's just fatigue from work."

"Ed, don't lie to me. I remind you that you were supposed to go in for a checkup every month."

Ed was quiet for a few seconds before he spoke. "All right, all right. I'll go for a checkup. Happy?"

Al looked at him seriously. "Until I see it I won't believe it."

Ed sighed. "I will, I promise." He was silent for a few moments as a thought crossed his mind, one that he was afraid to finally express aloud but knew he had to in order to force himself to carry out the idea that was forming in his mind. After biting his lower lip and trying not to let doubt and reluctance envelop his voice completely, Ed continued. "Although you know, I've been thinking and I guess I'd better change my mechanic." Al's eyes widened further in surprise. "You know, with all the work I have to do around here it's not very convenient to get back and forth to East City so it might be easier if I had a mechanic in town, don't you think?"

"It might be convenient, I admit, but that's not the problem here." Al sighed. "Brother, be honest with me and yourself, please. You've been avoiding Winry and if you're thinking of changing your mechanic it's because of how you feel about her, right?"

Ed was quiet for a few moments then let out a sigh and stretched out on the bench so he could look up at the sky as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "I don't know how to approach her. I know I lost her but if I have her around I don't know if I can control myself. She deserves to be happy and I would just be a hindrance on her way to happiness."

Ed knew that what he was proposing was an extreme measure but he feared that it would be the only way to prevent an idiot like him from hurting Winry in one way or another, preventing her from having the happiness she so deserved. He loved Winry and wanted to be by her side but he was aware that he didn't deserve to even aspire to her love and, even if his mind had that idea registered in his mind, he feared he wouldn't be able to restrain himself every time he had her by his side. He had already proved that on the night of Gala, when, even knowing that Winry was engaged to another man, he had kissed her, letting himself be carried away by all the feelings she stirred in him. That had happened when he had been alone with her for a while, so what could he do to control the desire to kiss her and let her know how much he loved her every time he had to be alone with her in each of the automail maintenance sessions?

"If you're in love with Winry, why are you dating Rose? That's not fair to either of them."

"Al, I already told you. I don't want to stand in Winry's way. If she's meant to be happy next to Russell there's nothing I can do and Rose..." He sighed. "I like her very much. She's a great friend and a beautiful woman. I'm sure I can fall in love with her. Besides I'd be lying if I said I haven't grown fond of the little imp." He concluded this last with a slight smile.

Al couldn't help a slight smile. In these three months that he had been living with them he had grown accustomed to the sort of family aura that the three of them gave off as Ed and Eddie got along wonderfully and constantly sought each other out. However... even though there was a lot of affection there, Al knew that Ed's love was somewhere else.

"Brother, I still think you should be honest with Rose and give yourself a chance with Winry." Ed made an attempt to interrupt him but Al held up a hand to ask him to let him continue. "I know Winry is engaged but that's not quite decided yet. She's told me herself that they don't really have a wedding date figured out and on each of my visits I've noticed her... I don't know... weird. She doesn't seem happy in the sense of how you'd expect a woman who's about to get married and I'm pretty sure that might be because she's thinking about you."

Ed let out a bitter laugh. "See? What more proof do you want? I only bring her suffering."

Al shook his head. "It's not that. She may be going through a difficult time emotionally but it may be because she wishes she was with you but now she's engaged to Russell. Seriously, Ed, I'm becoming more and more convinced that she feels the same way about you. You well know that every time I see her she asks me about you and her look seems to say what she dare not in words."

Ed fell silent and clenched his hands into fists.

At Ed's silence, Al asked. "Brother?"

"It's not that easy, Al." Ed muttered before turning to look at his brother. "I lost the right to love her when I decided to return to Earth."

Al shuddered slightly as he realized how much guilt and pain was evident in his brother's golden orbs. "It doesn't have to be something so definitive."

"It has to be, Al. It hurts but I have to accept it. I'm not supposed to love her. I don't deserve her. And you know what the worst part of it all is?" Al shook his head slowly. "That I can't even aspire to her friendship. I'm an idiot in love who won't be satisfied with just having her friendship, so I'd only end up hurting her." With that said he averted his gaze, dropping his face slightly to the front as he let a hand rest over his eyes.

Thanks to his motivation of wanting to be with Winry, Ed was now back in Amestris and for that he felt extremely grateful since the moments of loneliness he had experienced the last few years were behind him, but... it was hard to accept the reality he was facing. It wasn't the end of the world, he knew that, but it was torture to know that he was physically so close to Winry and not being able to do anything to make his greatest desire come true. Winry was dating Russell and was going to marry him. So what place did he have in her life when Winry already had all the pieces in place to build a successful and loving future for herself? There was no choice but to accept that he and Winry had no chance of a destiny together. Maybe he wouldn't do it in the healthiest way since he knew that his decision to walk away from her was selfish but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't finish assimilating what his life would be like trying to live with her knowing that she was someone else's wife. Winry deserved to be happy and he would not stand in her way no matter how much it hurt. It didn't matter if his own heart suffered for it, after all, in a way he had already gotten used to life denying him what he expected and/or desired, so there was no choice but to accept this path, wish Winry the best and try to look for his happiness somewhere else, right?

Al looked at him intently as a certain sadness welled up inside him. It pained him to see his brother's pain especially now that his remorse and sadness was so palpable. He also liked Rose and Eddie very much, and he considered Russell and Fletcher good friends but still at that moment he wished with all his heart that Ed and Winry could be together because he was under the impression that their true happiness lay next to each other.

After a couple of minutes of silence in which Ed didn't move from his position, Al sighed and spoke. "All right. I know I'm not supposed to meddle in your decisions but it would make me very happy if you'd consider what I've told you."

"Al..." Ed mumbled listlessly.

"I won't insist, it was just a suggestion." He cleared his throat before continuing. "What I will insist on, and I won't take no for an answer, is the fact that you have to go see Winry even if you plan on changing your mechanic."

Ed growled. "Why do I have to? You like to see me suffer." He whined.

"That's the last thing I want, brother. But it's necessary. You may not see yourself as capable of maintaining a friendship with Winry but that and the mechanic change thing you have to tell her in person. Winry deserves to hear it directly from you because, above all, she is someone very important in our lives who has always given her best for us. It's the least you can do for her."

Ed frowned. "That's called manipulation, little brother."

"No, that's called being mature, brother." Al said with a slight smile.

Ed exhaled heavily. "Okay, all right. I'll do it. But on one condition." He said then held up a finger.

"Tell me."

"You have to come with me. I don't trust myself and what I can do or say when I'm in front of her."

Al reminisced before answering. "Well, I was thinking of leaving on Thursday but I can move it to the weekend. That way we can both go with Winry and when you're done with your maintenance you come back here and I'll continue on to Xing."

Ed grimaced. "I thought I'd just tell Winry the truth."

"Come on, Ed, it's more than obvious that Winry isn't going to let you go until she gives proper maintenance to your automail. Besides, it's easy to see that you're being bothered by the ports."

Ed swallowed as he thought that that would be the last maintenance Winry would give to his automail. "Fine."

"Fine." Al repeated. "As soon as we get back to Rose's I'll call Winry to let her know."

Ed made a sound in his throat to let him know that he had heard him. At the moment he couldn't bring himself to utter any words as his throat felt strangely dry and his stomach felt in a knot. Next weekend he would see Winry for the last time.

Without intending to, a sting came to his eyes so he averted his gaze to the sky trying to avoid eye contact with his younger brother since Al was someone quite observant. However, it wasn't long before he had to return his gaze to the front when Rose called out to them.

"Ed! Al!" Having their attention, the chestnut smiled at them and with a wave of her hand motioned for them to come closer. "Remember my workmate I told you about?"

Realizing that Ed was a little slow to react, Al answered. "The one who teaches middle school?" He said before giving Ed a subtle nudge and then standing up.

"Yes, come on over, I want to introduce you to him." She said with a slight nod in the direction of the man who was giving a few pushes to the swing Eddie was on as Rose busied herself with calling them over.

Slightly behind Al, Ed walked over to the swings to greet the man with a somewhat forced smile on his face due to the thoughts that were running through his head. He really didn't want to walk away from Winry but something inside him told him that was the best thing to do so he would have no choice but to do it even though it would break his heart.

Luckily the company of Rose's friend, Eddie and Al kept Rose occupied long enough for Ed to get a better grip on the turmoil of emotions that overwhelmed him. His confusion and grief at what he was about to do in a few days did not leave him but at least he was able to keep them hidden from Rose and Eddie, as well as manage the least eye contact with his brother for the rest of the day as the looks Al was giving him did not go unnoticed by him and Ed did not feel able to continue discussing the matter of Winry with him until he managed to finish assimilating the reality that was beginning to form regarding his future with her.

He knew deep down that this would not be easy and he feared that he would never be able to come to terms with his reality with Winry.