Having overcome the temptation to go to a bar for a drink (as tempting as it was to have the warmth of alcohol flowing through his veins, Ed had not wanted to give in to that desire since it was still a bit early to start drinking and, in the emotional state he was in, he could easily overdo it ending up in a terrible binge from which Ed had been trying to escape since his time on Earth) Ed was in a coffee shop having a coffee at one of the tables at street level with a lost expression on his face. He had left Winry's apartment after breakfast claiming that he was going to take the opportunity to buy a book that was in one of the libraries in the city although he had only said that to have an excuse to spend as many hours as possible away from her apartment because her presence alone was driving him crazy.

The day before they had only spent little time alone together because they practically went to sleep as soon as they got back to the apartment although Ed hadn't really been able to sleep very well as his head was full of thoughts about his friend. In the morning they had only had a brief casual chat over breakfast together but having her in front of him his heart had started to race and his mind was screaming at him to apologize to her, hug her, kiss her, and never let her go again.

However, Ed was clinging to the little part of his mind that reminded him that Winry was engaged and there was nothing he could do to stop her from becoming Mrs. Tringham causing Ed to feel so suffocated that he had to make up that excuse to have some time to himself, not without first putting some hot fomentations on his arm as Winry had warmed some water for him while they were having breakfast and had even offered to put them on him to which Ed refused although he couldn't stop his heart from racing even faster at the same time as his guilt level increased at his friend's gesture when he had been being such a jerk to her.

Unfortunately even being alone, thoughts about Winry were still going around in his mind and even now his brother's words were intersecting with them, wanting to awaken in him the motivation to fight for her. Ed remembered perfectly well the feeling of being reciprocated when he had been making out with Winry and his brother was telling him that he sensed that there were still romantic feelings on the blonde's part for him but on this visit, Ed couldn't quite figure it out. Yes, he had certainly started the visit with a very bad attitude but throughout the day yesterday and this morning, Winry had gone from indifference to an open attitude and vice versa. This had him very confused, making him doubt what attitude the blonde would take when he told her of his plans to change to a different mechanic.

"Sir, would you like me to get you a fresh cup of coffee?"

Ed startled slightly at the waitress's voice. "Huh?" He lowered his gaze to the table and remembered that his cup was full and surely at this point completely cold. "What time is it?" He asked more to himself as he fumbled into his pocket.

"It's noon, sir." The waitress said with a friendly smile.

"Oh, thank you." Ed thought to himself. It was barely 2 hours since he had left Winry's apartment and his mind was in complete chaos even though he intended to spend most of the day out until he could make some sense of his thoughts although right now he was only achieving the opposite.

The waitress stood there somewhat uncomfortably with no answer as she fiddled with the tray she held in her hands.

Ed noticed and said. "Uh, can I have the check, please?"

"Sure, in a moment." The waitress said before walking into the cafeteria.

Ed sighed and leaned back against the back of the chair. He had been trying to figure out a way to deal with Winry so he could tell her his plans trying to hurt her as little as possible but he was simply being a coward and an idiot to be avoiding her wasting the last few hours they would be together and in turn his heart was aching at the thought of all the time with Winry he was wasting.

It wasn't easy but he preferred to be close to her even if he didn't quite know what to talk to her about until it was time to talk about the main topic that had brought him to her apartment.

"Hi, wel-!" Winry stopped when she saw who was on the other side of the door. "Ed?" She glanced at his empty hands. "Didn't you find the book you were looking for?"

Ed put a hand to the back of his neck. "Uh...no. I wasn't convinced in the end."

"I see." The blonde stepped aside to let him pass.

"Are you sure? Is it okay if I stay here... with you?"

Winry rolled her eyes. "If it wasn't okay, I wouldn't have let you spend the night here, would I? Come on in."

Ed walked in and froze. Now that he was there he didn't know how he was going to spend the time.

"Tea?"

"Er... no thanks, I just had a coffee."

"Well, make yourself comfortable then."

Noticing that Winry was heading for the patient room (where Ed had slept the night before), Ed asked. "Do you have patients? On a Sunday?"

"I don't usually attend on Sundays but I had to make an exception."

Ed raised an eyebrow. "A man?"

"What?"

"Your patient is a man?"

"Yes, what's wrong with him?"

Ed frowned. "So an exception, huh."

Winry looked at him with an annoyed expression although a smirk wanted to creep up on him by the minute. "What's the matter? Don't tell me you're going to get jealous because I have a KID as a patient."

Ed blushed. "It's not that!"

Winry put her hands on her hips. "Oh yeah? Then why are you asking me this?"

Ed gulped. "Because-"

At that moment someone knocked on the door and Winry, after giving Ed a curious look, went to open it. "Hello, welcome! Gosh, Ben! Look how big you are!"

Ed turned to look at the door and saw a lady and a boy about 10 years old, both with brown hair.

"Oh, Winry sorry to bother you but Ben's hand has been very erratic. I told him not to play around but I think something got damaged."

Winry waved a hand dismissively as she smiled. "Don't worry, Mrs. Stuart. I wouldn't want Ben to get in trouble tomorrow at school."

Ed stood watching the scene with a slight smile, proud and happy to see Winry being passionate about her work and remaining a charitable soul who always lent a helping hand to others.

"Okay, follow me." Winry said as she began to head toward the patient room.

"Thank you." The lady took her son by the flesh and blood hand and began to follow Winry and at that moment she noticed Ed's presence. "Oh, excuse me, I didn't see you. You must be Winry's boyfriend, right?"

Ed had to hide the warmth that the lady's words caused him as he imagined something he wished for but couldn't be, before forcing a smile on his face. "No, ma'am. I'm just a friend." He extended his hand towards her. "Edward Elric."

The boy's eyes lit up at the mention of his name but the lady did not release her grip and gave him an apologetic smile. "Oh, I'm sorry, Edward. It's quite a pleasure to meet you."

"Mom." The boy complained, wanting to move closer to Ed.

"No, Ben, let's go check on your hand. Miss Winry is doing us a huge favor by seeing us today so let's not waste her time."

The boy made a pouting face but allowed himself to be dragged away by his mother as Ed waved his hand and directed a slight smile at him.

Ben Stuart's appointment didn't take more than a few minutes so it wasn't long before Ed and Winry were completely alone again. Since Winry had gone to pick up the necessary wires while Ed was away she set to work replacing the wires in Ed's leg. For his part, Ed wandered around the apartment a bit until he had no better idea than to pull out his new alchemist's journal and reread it. At first, he had done so on the living room couch but his concentration didn't last long because his gaze constantly wandered to the room Winry had designated as her workshop, which she was currently working on.

After a few minutes of indecision, Ed closed his journal and went to Winry's workshop. When he caught the blonde's eye after several knocks on the open door, he said to her. "Do you mind if I read in here?"

Winry looked at him quizzically before replying. "No problem, as long as you don't make any noise."

Ed smiled slightly. "I think I should tell you that."

"Who needs the leg?"

"Okay, yeah, I won't say anything." Ed said with a shrug and then sat down in a wooden chair after settling it against the wall opposite the one Winry was sitting in.

Although she wouldn't say it out loud, Winry was having trouble concentrating now that Ed was in the same room with her. Her experience with the automail was saving her from making mistakes but her speed had slowed since she had to take quiet deep breaths of air to calm her nerves and the butterflies that were threatening to flutter in her stomach that definitely shouldn't be there.

An hour passed in this way until, after a change of leg position to better access a specific part, Winry could notice Ed's reflection in the metal of the automail. Unable to resist her curiosity, she pretended to lubricate the part of the fingers even though her eyes were focused on Ed's reflection. He had not moved from the chair, the book was held a few inches below his face so the book allowed him a sufficient view... of her. At this point, Winry could not pretend that there was anything else that had attracted the young man's attention as she had nothing there that could attract his attention. Furthermore, Ed was doing this action in a "disguised" manner as every so often he would focus his gaze on his book before returning it to the previous position.

In her teenage years, when her feelings for Ed had begun to make their presence known, Winry had long wanted the blond to see her as he was doing now. With a gaze full of warmth and love so intense that just seeing it reflected in an object would not erase their existence. She had certainly noticed that warmth during the weeks they shared together at Rose's house and even when he had kissed her for the first time but if this last experience had taught her anything it was that she could not trust what she saw because perhaps it was her heart that was making her see things that were not really there. For that very reason, she had erased from her mind the thought of believing that during their first kiss, Ed had seen her with love just as she had refused to acknowledge that same spark during their time together a few months ago.

However... now that she was seeing that look in Ed's eyes again without him knowing she was doing it gave that warmth and love more depth. It made it more... genuine. He didn't know she was seeing it so he didn't have to pretend and look at her that way. So... had she finally gotten what she had longed for so much in her adolescence?

That realization completely released the butterflies she had tried to keep at bay, the same ones that had gone crazy when they were kissing on the night of the Gala. The pain, bitterness, and guilt of what had happened that night and the bad memories of her loneliness had kept her from fully enjoying them at the moment and even sometime later when she remembered that make-out session but now she wanted to be a little selfish and enjoy what Ed's gaze meant.

Unfortunately, neither of them was free to initiate the love story that fate had denied them. Even now Winry could note the irony of the situation since right now it was Ed who was looking at her with a certain longing and, although at times she wanted to do the same, she wasn't giving him the same openness with which she would have gladly received him years ago.

But all that aside... Winry allowed herself to feel some of the happiness that her younger self would have been overcome with had she seen that look from Ed directed at her, so, knowing that Ed couldn't see her face from that position, she allowed herself to go about her work with a smile on her face.

At some point during her work with the automail, Winry lost her companion as Ed rose from his place and silently left the room without so much as a nod or a word to her. Although she noticed the moment of his departure (because she couldn't resist seeing his golden gaze reflected in the automail) Winry said nothing to him and continued working assuming he was out for a walk in town or even taking a nap.

By the time Winry finished wiring Ed's leg, a couple of hours had passed so she stretched in her chair before standing up. Consulting the clock she realized that it was almost 7 pm so she had better get on with getting dinner ready.

"Surely Ed must have gone to eat at a restaurant." She muttered to herself as she looked at the clock. She sighed. "Anyway, I guess it was already too much that we would have had breakfast together."

Resigned, Winry walked out of her workshop removing the bandana from her hair but when the fabric came loose and remained in her hand, she stopped short when she noticed the view that greeted her.

Because the living room and dining room of her apartment were connected, she quickly noticed that the table was set with plates and glasses as well as a couple of casseroles resting in the center of it. And on the couch in the living room sat Ed reading this time a book in comparison to the journal from earlier.

Seeing her, Ed set the book down on his lap and gave her a shy smile. "Hey, are you hungry?"

Winry watched him open-mouthed for a few seconds. "Did you cook by yourself?"

Ed rolled his eyes. "Obvious, unless one of your neighbors felt like coming over to cook for an automail freak." At the surprise still evident on Winry's face, he added. "Oh, come on, you saw me cook at Rose's house."

Winry fiddled with her bandana with both hands. "I know but I thought it was something that only happened on new moon nights or something."

Ed laughed. "Well, you see that's not the case." He put a hand to the back of his neck. "I know I haven't been the best of guests so I want to make it up to you with dinner. I would have invited you to dinner at some restaurant but I know if I tried to interrupt you while you were working on the automail you were going to hit me with your wrench."

Winry's laugh lightened Ed's nerves. "Surely." Directing a smile at him, she added. "Thanks, Ed."

Ed reciprocated her smile. "If you'd like go change while I serve the food."

"Okay." Winry said before heading to her room.

After changing into a white blouse and denim capri, Winry returned to the dining room and took a seat in front of the plates Ed had already set in place.

"I hope you like it." He told her with a shy smile before sitting down at the place next to her.

Winry looked at the plates in front of her. On a small one was what were undoubtedly potatoes which appeared to be smeared with some sauce and, from the specks she could tell, contained some spices. As for the bowl that served as the main course, it was filled with small balls of meat in a whitish broth.

Curious, Winry dipped her spoon into the bowl and placed one of the meatballs in it so she could lift it and get a better look at it. "Meatballs?"

"Something like that. Well yes, but they're different from the meatballs you know. Go on try them." Noticing Winry's hesitation, Ed rolled his eyes and popped one of the meatballs into his mouth. When he finished eating it, he said. "See? They're not poisoned."

Winry let out a nervous laugh. "I know, I believe you. It's just that-" She cut herself off and looked intently at her dish with a dubious expression. Certainly what Ed had prepared at Rose's had been good but the white sauce coating the meatballs made her doubtful. She had never seen anything like it.

After a second more of hesitation, Winry sighed and brought the spoon to her mouth. As soon as she did her eyes widened a little more in surprise so, when she finished eating it, she said. "Oh, God, I can't believe it. It's delicious!"

"Thank you for your faith." Ed said sarcastically.

"You have to admit, this is not something you commonly see around here." She told him with a smile after eating a spoonful of the sauce. "How did you do that?" She analyzed her bowl. "I think I sense some bay leaf and butter in here but I'm sure that's not the only thing that gives it this flavor."

"Oh, so can we say the Königsberger Klopse are approved?" Ed asked with a smug grin.

"Of cour- Wait what? What thing did you say?"

"Königsberger Klopse." Ed repeated with the same smug grin. After a few failed attempts by Winry trying to repeat her words, Ed laughed.

"Hey, don't laugh." Winry said with a slightly annoyed tone with which she tried to hide the smile she wanted to form now that things were calmer between her and Ed. "It's not my fault you're making up words."

Ed wiped a tear from his eye and replied with a smile. "I'm not making them up. They come from German."

Winry looked at him curiously. "Is that the language they speak on the other side of the Portal?"

"One of them." Ed said with a shrug. "They speak it in a country called Germany but there are many other languages out there. For example, Italian, French, Russian, and English, which, discounting the odd difference, is practically the equivalent of our language here in Amestris."

"Wow." Winry lowered her gaze for a moment to her bowl before speaking. "So what does this mean?" She said pointing to the bowl with the spoon.

"Basically meatballs."

"So you talked like a crazy person just to tell me this was meatballs." Winry said with a slight smirk.

"Hey, it's not that easy. Germans like to complicate their lives with their long words." Said Ed snorting. "Klopse is what literally means meatballs while Königsberger umm well it's weird. König means king and berge mountains but I haven't the slightest idea why they called this dish like that." After popping a spoonful into his mouth, he added. "All that matters is that they're fucking delicious."

Winry laughed. "That's okay. You have a point because this is really delicious." She took one more spoonful from her bowl before pointing to the plate of potatoes with a finger. "And what's this?"

"Kartoffelsalat."

"Salat... you mean salad?"

"That's right."

"I didn't understand the first thing you said but I guess that basically means this is potato salad, right?"

"Bingo, very well deduced Miss Rockbell."

Winry flashed him a smug smile before tasting the potatoes. "Gosh... this is delicious too."

Ed smiled proud of himself. "And to think you were looking fearfully at what I had prepared."

"Shut up and let me savor this." Winry said as she continued to eat.

Ed laughed and continued eating. For a few minutes the only noise in the dining room was the clattering of silverware against plates until, after a repeat of the main course, the clattering of silverware ceased altogether.

Winry exhaled happily as she leaned back against the back of the chair. "Wow... I think I haven't had something this tasty to eat in months."

"I guess I got the idea when you served yourself some more." Ed said with a smile.

"Well, you weren't too far behind either, huh." She said with a smile on her face too.

"I was just sympathetic to the cause."

Winry laughed. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say." She nestled her elbows on the table to settle her face on her hands. "Now tell me, what did you put in it?"

"I think you're going to need to write it down because it was several things." The young man said with a chuckle. "Pork, some bread, anchovies, capers, onion, egg, flour, laurel-"

"Ok ok, I think I'll take you up on that another time. I'm so full I don't even want to move from my chair to go get something to write down." Ed laughed and Winry continued talking. "Now more importantly, did you go shopping? From what you tell me, with any luck I only had half the ingredients you took up."

Ed put a hand to the back of his neck. "Truth be told I wasn't sure what to cook but I remembered that when I got back from the coffee shop I saw a market near here so I went to check it out. Luckily I managed to get there before they closed everything down."

Coffee shop? Winry thought to herself but preferred not to delve into the idea that Ed had purposely stayed away from her earlier in the day. She had already figured as much but preferred to keep the good atmosphere that was finally returning between the two of them. "I see... how much do I owe you?"

"What are you talking about? I couldn't buy you dinner but I'm inviting you the meal. Well, part of it because I did take some ingredients from your fridge."

Winry smiled at him. "It means a lot to me that you prepared it all yourself. Thank you so much, Ed."

Ed struggled to control the blush that radiant smile wanted to bring on his face. "You're welcome. And well... um... I hope this helps make up for my behavior a little." He confessed with a slight guilty grimace.

Winry sighed and pushed her elbows away from the table. "I don't know whether to believe you or think this is just another one of your bipolar outbursts."

"It's not that I'm bipolar, it's just that..." Ed gulped and gave her a regretful look. "I don't know how to behave with you. You're someone very special in my life and the thought of not seeing you anymore hurts and makes me lose clarity in my thoughts and actions."

"You don't have to think that, Ed. There's no reason we have to stop seeing each other is there? We may not be able to see each other as often because of the distance but I think we're used to it. So there's nothing to worry about." She said directing a slight smile at him.

Ed swallowed as the thought of talking to her about the decision he had made swirled in his mind but he struggled to get the words out of his mouth. He knew it was the best thing for both of them but he really didn't want to do it. He had to do it but he couldn't take that last decisive step.

Confused at Ed's silence, Winry decided to speak again. "You know, Ed. You're not the only one who has to apologize." She brought her hands to her lap and fiddled with them as she lowered her gaze slightly. "I'm offering you an apology for my behavior the other night. You know which one. I didn't have to have done what I did but... my mind wasn't at its best. And I also think it wouldn't hurt to apologize for my behavior these days. Maybe you started the guideline of how to treat us but I followed it and that wasn't right. I didn't know how to behave with you and I don't think I acted properly. I'm sorry."

"Winry, look at me please." Winry lifted her face as she clenched her fists on her knees. "There's nothing I have to forgive you for. The one who owes you a thousand and one apologies is me, because since I'm an idiot I've hurt you several times and you don't know how sorry I am... I'm very sorry." He gave her a regretful look before sighing and continuing. "I don't know how you can put up with me in your life."

"First and foremost you're my friend Ed. I care for you very much and believe me I'll always be willing to help you in any way I can."

Ed closed his eyes and bowed his head. I have to tell her. I don't want to lie to her by telling her that we'll stay friends when I've already decided not to see her again.

"Ed?"

Getting no response, Winry reached out her hand until she held Ed's with her own. Surprised, Ed opened his eyes, lifted his head, and let Winry guide his hand, causing them both to place their elbows on the table while Winry held his hand with hers.

"I'm serious Ed, I know a lot has changed starting with ourselves but I have always had a very special fondness for you and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. Now our occupations and our lives are taking us down different paths but in me, you have a friend you can count on for anything so please don't turn away from me. It doesn't matter that I'm getting married or that you're dating Rose." Winry felt a pang in her heart but tried not to show that feeling on her face. "We are friends and our friendship is worth a lot to me. Please, I don't want to lose you again. I couldn't bear it." She said in a soft voice.

Ed looked into Winry's bright blue eyes, finding so much sincerity and affection in them that he felt his stomach twist, making him regret having dinner and even not having drunk more than a glass of wine as perhaps the alcohol might temporarily dull the pain that was clinging more tightly to his chest.. He had already made the mistake of keeping things from Winry and now he couldn't and wouldn't make the mistake of blatantly lying to her. His heart was pounding intensely at the same time as the pain in his chest intensified, making his own body remind him how much he wanted to put off as long as possible what he had to tell her.

But, unfortunately, it was time to stop running away and face reality. He would do it right then and there even if his heart would break completely that very night.

Ed pulled his hand away from Winry's. "I'm sorry, Winry. I'm really sorry but I can't do that."

Winry froze for a few moments. "W-what? ... Why?" She said in a trembling voice.

Ed ducked his head until his bangs hid his gaze. "I'm a selfish person, Winry. Very selfish. At first, I wanted to convince myself that I could do it but I just can't. I can't settle for your friendship alone. So..." He gulped and raised his gaze to meet Winry's bewildered blue eyes. Every word he uttered hurt immensely but he had to tell her straight out. It was the least he could do for her. Speak to her head-on and honestly. "I came to say goodbye to you, Winry. This will be the last maintenance I'll have with you." He clenched his automail into a fist. "I've decided to look for another mechanic."

Ed's words caused Winry to feel twinges of pain in her heart and her eyes began to sting. "Ed, just because I'm getting married doesn't mean I'm going to neglect my work. You well know how I am with automail so there's not going to be human power to keep me from my profession."

Ed shook his head slowly. "It's not that, Winry. I'm more than aware that I'll never find a mechanic that even remotely comes close to your skills and work but that's precisely why I'm selfish. I know all this but what motivates me to make this decision is your marriage to Tringham... I can't bear to see you with another man because..." He inhaled deeply, stared into her eyes, and spoke in a clear, confident voice. "I am in love with you and have been for a long time." Winry let out a slight gasp of surprise. "I love you, Winry. That's exactly why I'd rather walk away and let you be happy as you so richly deserve because I know that next to me you won't be, especially when you already have a good match waiting for you. I only know how to hurt you and I don't want to condemn you to live that life by my side even though what I would most like is to spend the rest of my days with you."

Winry was quiet for a few moments as she took in Ed's words. He loves me. Ed loves me. So...was I not wrong about what I saw in his eyes during our first kiss? A couple of silent tears began to slide down her cheeks. "Why didn't you tell me years ago?" She said in a whisper since her voice was threatening to cut off.

"You want to know the truth? Well, basically because I'm a fucking asshole." Ed said bitterly. "I started to realize I had feelings for you when I was still traveling with Al but I thought I didn't have time for such things and even came to believe that it would wear off eventually." He let out a bitter laugh. "Like the good idiot that I am, I went on, ignoring how I felt about you and even pushing you away from my side so as not to involve you in my problems and so as not to expose you to danger again hoping also that it would help what felt would go away faster." He sighed. "But obviously that didn't work and at some point, I realized that I had indeed fallen in love with you but naively believed, that once I had recovered Al's body, maybe with any luck the right time would come to tell you."

"I don't know what to tell you, Ed." Winry said sadly as she wiped the tears from her face.

"You don't have to tell me anything, Win. I don't expect you to reciprocate my feelings. I simply want to be honest with you and make you understand why I made the decision I took."

"But I don't want that, Ed. I don't want you to look for another mechanic... No, it's not that. Rather, I don't want you to walk away from me. These past three months have been difficult and I don't know what I would do if I never saw you again. I've already lived years dreading that happening and I don't want to go through that again." Winry told him in a voice slightly shaky from the tears she was trying to keep at bay.

A tear escaped Ed's eyes but he hurried to wipe it away quickly. "It's for the best, Win. I'm like a damn time bomb that could go off at any moment, hurting everyone around you. And I don't want that to happen to you. Not anymore. You're someone wonderful who deserves all the happiness in the world and I don't plan to be the shadow of pain and sadness that tarnishes your joy."

Seeing Ed's determination to go through with his plan, Winry stood abruptly. "Who are you to be deciding what's best for me?! You've never trusted me enough to talk to me about the things going on in your head and now you get the idea to trust me for this?! I always wanted to support you and Al and you always pushed me away no matter how hard I tried! And now you want to do the same thing?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Winry said in an annoyed tone.

Ed was surprised at Winry's outburst but tried to speak to her in a soft tone. "It's not that I want to decide for you, Winry. It is simply that, although it may not seem like it now, this will surely turn out to be the best path for us to take."

Winry reached over and slapped him as new tears escaped her blue orbs. "Why won't you listen to me?! I told you I don't want to go through that suffering again, I can't bear to lose you one more time!"

"You're not going to lose me, Winry." Ed replied with his cheek aching as he restrained the urge to hug Winry and wipe away her tears.

"No? Then what do you call this?"

"Letting you be happy." Ed answered immediately without any hint of hesitation.

"How am I going to be happy never hearing from you again? How can I be happy? Huh! Tell me!" Seeing Ed duck his gaze, she let her heart and anger do the talking for her. "How can I be happy without you, Ed? Tell me! How do you expect me to be happy? How do you expect me to be happy with you out of my life especially loving you the way I do?"

Ed looked up again in surprise, an occasion Winry took the opportunity to drop to her knees to grab him firmly by the shirt.

"You're a fucking idiot!" Winry punched him in the chest as she sobbed. "You always have been and will surely remain one for life but despite that, my heart refuses to let you go. Asshole!" Having said that, she reached up and kissed him roughly on the mouth.

Although surprised, Ed managed to reciprocate Winry's kiss for a few seconds before she pulled away and leaned her face against his chest as she continued to cry.

His mind screamed at him not to do it because it would simply make it harder for him to say goodbye, but Ed let his heart lead him. Carefully he rose from the chair and knelt in front of Winry taking care not to separate her from him. He placed his automail hand on Winry's waist to draw her closer to him, placed a kiss on her forehead, and began to run his free hand over Winry's head and hair, massaging her scalp and soothingly combing her hair, which was held in a ponytail.

"Don't cry, Win. Please." Ed said as a couple of tears escaped him.

Winry turned away from him, ready to continue the discussion but stopped at the sight of Ed's tears. Startled, she brought a hand to the young man's cheek, wiping away a tear with her index finger. "Ed..." She murmured.

Ed closed his eyes, enjoying the caress. "Win..." He sighed. "Please... I can't do this..."

At his words, Winry stopped her movement immediately. Then she waited until Ed opened his eyes to give her another slap. "If you'd rather run away than set the record straight, fine. Do it, Edward. After all, you seem to be pretty good at pushing away the people who love you." With that said Winry stood up and walked at a hurried pace towards her room.

"Winry..." Ed muttered as he put a hand to his sore cheek as he watched the blonde walk away. He couldn't help a grimace as the door to the room was shut with a loud bang.

After a few minutes of standing like an idiot watching the path Winry had taken, Ed sighed, sat on the floor with his legs crossed and leaned back placing his hands on the floor so he could see the ceiling.

His list of mistakes had only grown since he had the idea to bring his mother back and for some reason, it seemed that many of them were related to his behavior with Winry. She had always done her best to support him whether it was with her automail or simply offering her company. Always attentive to listen to him when he needed it, which he definitely needed but stubbornly refused to accept constantly. He had pushed her away and could even count on the fingers of one hand the occasions he had gone to Resembool and when he had done so it had been simply for automail issues or problems with the military. It was almost always she who traveled to see him while he had never even had the courtesy to go see her, she, the girl and now woman who had long since stolen his heart. During his time as a state alchemist, he had told himself he was doing it to protect her, not to expose her to another Barry The Chopper but the passage of time had taught him what a big mistake he had made in overprotecting her by restricting her direct access to the huge place she had earned in his heart long ago.

If that wasn't enough, 3 years ago he had given in to his instincts and left her just like that, daring to kiss her even knowing that in a part of his mind, he was aware that there was a possibility that he might not be able to stay in Amestris. And, as icing on the cake, he had left her behind without even saying goodbye, without telling her how much she meant to him, without telling her how much he had missed her, without apologizing...

Damn fool that I am. Ed mentally scolded himself as all those thoughts led him to an important revelation. He had rarely been honest with Winry. He hadn't told her about so many things she deserved to know and, worst of all, he was now repeating practically the same big mistake he had made 3 years ago. He was saying goodbye to her without giving her the full context, without giving her a chance to have her say by preventing her from really being part of the decision. He knew beforehand that he was being selfish in not feeling able to see Winry married to another man but now he was realizing the true extent of the selfishness that was guiding his actions in expecting Winry to accept his decision just like that simply.

Inhaling deeply, Ed stood up. He had to talk to Winry. It was a talk he had put off for too long and would not put off any longer.

A/N: Hello over here!

I really enjoyed being able to write a more calm and friendly moment between Ed and Winry after all the tension and even seriousness that has been going on between them, although well in the end they argued but now practically everything is on the table so they can talk freely and openly and decide which way each one will go.

Unfortunately, the waiting time between this and the next chapter will be a bit longer as chapter 15 will be published on what would be its original publication date, i.e. January 6th but in compensation, we will have the longest chapter in the whole story with about 15k words (so yes, it definitely looks like Ed is not going to hold anything back this time).

I thank you very much to those who have joined this story by reading it and/or commenting and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and an amazing 2024 full of joy, love, and health! A big hug to all of you :D

See you in 2024!

Golden