A/N: Hello!

It's time for another reunion between Ed and Winry to find out how things are between them now that they have spent time trying to get their lives back together.

As always thank you all for reading!

Golden

-5 months later-

Ed walked through the streets of East City with somewhat uncertain steps. He had avoided the city like the plague since the last time he was there but there was no point in avoiding the inevitable any longer. He was going to see Winry again.

Despite having told her that he would not leave her life, it was no easy task to keep his word and see her face to face when the last time he had done so had been at the restaurant near the general hospital. Certainly, they had sent each other a couple of letters in recent months in an attempt not to damage their relationship by behaving like strangers, but all of them had been brief so they did not compare in the least to the meeting that was about to happen.

The recommendations Winry had given him during his last visit had worked wonders so Ed hadn't had to worry about maintaining his automails all these months. He had even been extremely careful not to mistreat or damage them to delay the visit as long as possible to give himself more time to mentally prepare for what was coming. Certainly, his automails had received a few scratches here and there, but nothing so serious as to force a repair from his mechanic's part.

However, his care was for naught when, during a mission, his arm was damaged. They had managed to capture the criminal gang that was terrorizing a small town south of New Optain but the cost to Ed had been the restriction of movement of his automail arm as, with great effort, he barely managed to raise it a few centimeters.

Try as he might to fix it, the fault was internal so he had no choice but to go for maintenance and, although the easy way out would have been to go to a mechanic at Central, Ed was prepared to keep his word not to change his mechanic, however difficult it might be to keep that promise.

That was why three days earlier Ed called Winry to ask if it was okay for him to go see her. He didn't want to impose his presence on her in case she didn't feel ready to see him and even feared that she would completely regret what had happened between them and opt to go along with his idea of a few months ago to find another mechanic so they wouldn't have to see each other in person ever again and, if it went well, keep simple and cordial contact through letters.

The call was short and awkward since, being the first time they had heard each other's voices in five months, neither knew what to say so, after a few pauses on both sides, Ed managed to ask her the question that had prompted that call getting an answer that, although he shouldn't have, made her heart race.

Yes, of course. I'd actually... I'd really like to see you.

Those words were the ones he kept repeating to himself every time his steps became unsteady. She wanted to see him. He wanted to see her. It was as simple as that. Maybe they couldn't get back to the point they were at before Fletcher's call but the time had come to see each other again and to strive to not let their relationship, at least as friends, not be destroyed.

They had to make things work, both for themselves and for Russell and Rose. It didn't go unnoticed by Ed the concern and squeamishness Rose tried to hide when he told her he'd made an appointment with Winry, feelings that were even more evident when she'd hugged him tightly as she'd said goodbye to him as he'd left her house bound for the train station. How could he blame her? The last time Ed had gone to visit Winry to repair his automail he had ended up cheating on Rose in every possible way and, if that wasn't enough, as a result of that trip he had confessed to her that he was in love with Winry.

Now that Ed had decided to make a serious attempt to make it work between him and Rose, he had to do whatever it took to keep his still-present feelings for Winry from overpowering him. He had to be firm in his decision as much for his sake as for Winry, Rose, and Eddie. He didn't want to hurt them any more than he had already hurt them.

As Ed began to climb the stairs leading up to Winry's apartment, he tightened his grip on the handle of his suitcase. With each step he climbed more memories of that wonderful night he had shared with Winry came to his mind causing pressure to begin to form in his chest so halfway up he had to inhale and exhale deeply to try to control himself.

Just as the door to Winry's apartment was in his field of vision, it opened letting out a middle-aged man and letting him see Winry, who was chatting amiably with her patient as they said their goodbyes.

Ed froze in place watching Winry. The very sight of her was making his heart beat like crazy and his mouth felt dry.

The man finished saying goodbye to Winry and started walking toward the stairs. As he passed Ed he gave him a salute by slightly tipping the hat he had just placed on his head but to Ed, this gesture went unnoticed as he had all his attention focused on Winry.

Winry did not take long to notice Ed's arrival, so she stood watching him from the entrance of her apartment, unconsciously clenching the door with one hand.

A few seconds passed like that until Winry decided to break the heavy silence that had formed between them. She cracked a slight smile and said. "Hi, Ed. It's good to see you."

Ed shuddered slightly before replying. "Hi, Winry."

Noticing the reluctance and nerves Ed was going through at the moment, Winry moved slightly away from the door and waved a hand at him, inviting him in. "Come on in."

Ed nodded and walked into Winry's apartment.

Seeing Ed unsure of what to do, Winry said. "Why don't you sit down for a moment? I'll go tidy up the room and put Mr. Harrison's file away and then we'll get started on your maintenance okay?"

Ed could only nod before sitting on the living room couch after setting his suitcase down near the apartment door. As Winry entered the patient room, Ed leaned his head back against the back of the couch letting out a long sigh. He knew it wasn't going to be easy but he intended to behave normally and casually with Winry but now the words didn't want to come out of his mouth and his heart did nothing but race with every glimpse he got of her.

For her part, when she was out of Ed's sight, Winry put a hand to her chest and took several inhalations and exhalations, trying to calm herself. Ed was there, in her house, with her. And the two of them were alone... just like that night. Obviously, she couldn't let the same thing happen as on that occasion no matter how much her love for Ed was still there but her mind was betraying her by making her remember all the details of their night together, which hadn't stopped following her since Ed's call.

As precious as those memories were to her, Winry could not allow herself to be dominated by them, much less allow her attempt to keep them at bay to seriously affect her behavior towards Ed. She didn't want to cause Ed any more grief by avoiding him or with sad looks so she was going to try her best to find a way to make him feel comfortable and avoid behaving like strangers. She had no doubt of the great sacrifice Ed had made in setting her free to stay with Russell so even though with Russell's current outbursts her love for him was wavering, she would not let Ed's sacrifice be in vain. She didn't want to hurt him any more than she already had.

With that resolution in mind, Winry smiled again as she peeked around the door and called him into the room.

Ed entered the room with slow steps and, likewise, slowly undressed with his eyes focused on the floor.

As great as the temptation was, Winry turned her back on him as she grabbed some tools to psych herself up to see Ed shirtless trying to keep her mind from focusing on those memories in the midst of checking the young man's automail.

Since it was his arm that required maintenance, this time Ed sat in a chair instead of lying on the bed. Winry walked over to him and began working on his arm. She was trying to find a way to make conversation with Ed but didn't know how. After catching him a couple of times casting him curious glances and seeing on those occasions his lips part without uttering a word, Winry decided to talk to him about anything no matter how casual or strange it might sound.

"It's a nice day today, isn't it?" She said and as she finished her sentence she looked at him for a moment, waiting for his reaction.

"Uh... yeah, it's hot though." Ed said after a slight shudder that was repeated when he realized what he had ended up saying.

Winry laughed lightly, trying to lighten the mood, despite having noticed the other meaning Ed's words might have had. "It's been warmer this year. But don't worry, when we're done I can make you some lemonade."

"Oh, you don't have to bother. A glass of water is enough for me."

"You well know it's no bother, Ed. We're... friends aren't we?" Winry concluded in a slightly shaky tone.

Ed was silent for a few moments causing Winry to look at him again. When their gazes met, Ed made an effort to smile and said to her. "Sure."

Winry reciprocated his smile and continued working on his automail.

They were both aware that the other's smile was diluted. It wasn't as intense and marked as they well knew it could be but they both decided not to comment on it. Their paths had been decided that morning in the restaurant and there was nothing they could do to change their reality.

After a couple of minutes had passed, Winry decided to continue the talk, willing to bring some normalcy to their tense relationship. "So, are you going to tell me how you did this to my automail?"

Ed shrugged causing Winry to gently tap him on the side.

"Don't move."

Ed couldn't help a smile at seeing her so focused on her work despite how uncertain their dealings with each other had become. "Well, there's not much to tell. I went on a mission to catch a criminal gang and had to confront one of them. And one of them thought it was funny to bury his switchblade in one of the joints of my automail. As you can tell he wasn't exactly brilliant, maybe he would have had a better chance of getting away if he had buried it in the other arm." Ed said concluding with a slightly joking and ironic tone.

"You should rather be thankful it was in the automail and not your flesh and blood arm." Winry chided him lightly.

"Why do I feel like we've had this conversation before?"

"I don't know, maybe because you never seem to understand?"

"But I've been trying to take good care of your automail." Ed defended himself.

"My automail is the least of it. I want you to be okay."

They both fell silent and met each other's eyes for a few moments before Winry refocused her eyes on her work.

After a few seconds, Winry continued the conversation. "So how have you been?"

"Uh... well you know what happened with my automail."

"That's not what I mean." Winry said as she tightened one of the internal plates with a screwdriver after accommodating the cable in that area. "I'm talking about you, how have you been? You know, we haven't seen each other in months and our correspondence isn't exactly the most detailed regarding our personal lives..." She said hoping Ed wouldn't take it the wrong way when the wound in his heart might not have healed yet.

"Well... I've been okay, I guess." Ed began somewhat unsure, as even he hadn't asked himself how he felt about his life at the moment. Al had asked him in his last letter but Ed had chosen to ignore the question. "At this point, I've gotten used to my duties in the military so it doesn't bother me as much as it used to."

"That's good. In fact, the last time I saw Riza she told me she's very pleased with your work."

Ed laughed lightly. "Sometimes I forget how close you two have become."

Winry shrugged. "Riza is someone very nice and Sheska, she and I had a great time when we got to meet at Central. Although now we will have to figure out how to include little Richard in our meetings." She concluded with a smile as she remembered the new addition to the Mustang family that had been welcomed by her parents just a few weeks ago.

"Ah, so you went to Central."

"A couple of months ago I went to take a course from an automail master who came from Creta." Winry told him with a guilty expression for not having sought him out.

Ed detected the guilt on her face. "It wasn't an accusation." He hastened to say. "I was just curious."

Winry bit her lower lip. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't been tempted to look for Ed during her last visit to Central and had even been on the verge of going to the military barracks to look for him but had regretted it at the last moment. If Ed was finding a way to get over the fact that they couldn't be together, she didn't have the right to interfere in his life.

"Win?"

Ed's voice brought Winry out of her thoughts. "Yeah, right. I know that's why you were saying that." She let out a nervous giggle. "Have you been to Rachel's? They have a stew I'm sure you'll love."

Ed raised an eyebrow but Winry avoided his gaze. "I've heard about it but I haven't gone. I guess I'll give it a try."

"So..." Winry stood up and began placing the tools in the pockets of her coveralls. "Are you staying at the command dorms?" She asked with sincere curiosity since she hadn't dared ask Riza too many questions about Ed and hadn't broached that subject in her correspondence with him either. They had both fallen into a routine of focusing their brief written conversation on their respective jobs, Al and, of course, Russell's state of health.

"No."

Winry half-turned to head toward the table where the rest of her tools rested as she squeezed her eyes shut. She dreaded the answer.

Ed was curious to see her expression when she told him but he had no choice but to continue without being able to see her face. "I'm still staying with Rose."

Although she shouldn't feel it, Winry felt a pang of sadness at the young man's confession, realizing that surely he and Rose were still in a relationship. "I see..." She said in a soft voice. She inhaled and exhaled deeply silently. She bit her lower lip before continuing. "So... she doesn't know about...?" She let the question hang in the air knowing Ed would understand.

"I told her. My intention was to leave her house the same day I came back but in the end..." Even though Winry wasn't looking at him, he ducked his gaze. Although he was very fond of Rose and Eddie he couldn't say he was exactly proud of his decision. When they had discussed it in person his brother had reiterated that he didn't think it was the best thing for either him, Rose, or Eddie given the circumstances but, with a look full of sadness that burned itself into Ed's mind, he told him that in a way he could understand why he had made that decision even though he couldn't support him in it. "We agreed to give each other a chance for Eddie's sake."

Winry was quiet for a few seconds before responding. Even if Rose and she weren't that close friends, they actually got along well especially considering that Eddie had quickly named her and Al as his aunt and uncle. Because of this, Winry also felt guilt for being the woman Ed had been unfaithful to Rose even going so far as to consider the idea of going to apologize to her but the idea disappeared soon after when she got to thinking that she wasn't certain that Rose was aware of what had happened between her and Ed, so she couldn't risk ruining the relationship Ed had with Rose.

"Eddie must be happy." Winry said after her brief pause.

"I hope so." Ed confessed.

After one last deep breath, Winry turned and cracked a slight smile. "I hope Rose gives you the happiness you so richly deserve, Ed."

Ed looked momentarily into her eyes. "Thank you." He mumbled not knowing what to say then averted his gaze to the floor.

Winry returned to his side and continued working on his automail.

A couple of minutes later and after swallowing his breath, Ed spoke again. "How about you Winry? How are things going with you and Russell?"

Winry stopped the movement of her hands. "Russell is still in the hospital. He came back a couple of weeks ago because you remember the Aerugo doctor I mentioned to you in my last letter?" At Ed's nod, she continued. "It looks like his method may work on Russell so he went back to the hospital to have all the necessary studies and tests done so he can have the surgery the doctor is recommending."

"It must be quite a hassle to go back to the hospital after spending three months there."

Winry resumed her work as she replied. "That's right, he wasn't too happy about going back to the hospital but we couldn't let him pass up the chance to walk again." Winry tightened her grip on the wrench she was currently using. "You know Russell hasn't been taking the fact that he can't walk very well so it was foolish of him not to want to give this doctor's treatment a chance."

"That's right. At least he finally reacted."

"Indeed he did." Winry said as she was momentarily lost in thought.

The last few months with Russell... had been complicated. When Russell had just come out of the coma and once the initial shock of bewilderment, pain, and helplessness at what had happened had passed, he had been genuinely happy to have her by his side, being extremely loving to her but as the days passed he began to behave strangely. Little by little he became withdrawn when she was present, sometimes behaving sullenly with her and then, unexpectedly, becoming excessively affectionate with her. It was a behavior that she still couldn't figure out and that had continued even after Russell was discharged. Winry had tried to associate Russell's behavior as something stemming from the emotional trauma he might be dealing with after having been so close to death since she didn't understand why he would change so much going practically from one extreme of emotion to the other and, although the doctor himself had confirmed that it was very likely that something like that was happening to Russell, she couldn't shake the idea that maybe Russell had found out about what had happened between her and Ed.

Although she didn't have a very close relationship with Fletcher, Winry had noticed him distant and even annoyed with her over the past few months. He never fell into impoliteness or rudeness but now every time they were together there was a tension that wasn't there before. Fletcher never questioned her and never again made any comments to her similar to the one he made when he found her outside the restaurant where she had been with Ed but, from her behavior, Winry was sure that Fletcher knew that there had been something between her and Ed. He may not have known the extent of what had happened between them but he surely sensed that she had cheated on Russell to some degree.

Since Fletcher never put voice to the thoughts Winry thought he had of her and Ed, she was not certain that he had told Russell what he suspected but, at times, that was the only possible explanation Winry could find to justify Russell's strange behavior. But if so... why hadn't Russell said anything to her? Why hadn't he reproached her for her infidelity and broke up with her? Russell was staying in an apartment near the hospital (Winry's apartment was ruled out by the stairs) in the constant company of her and Fletcher as they both took turns helping him and keeping him company since Fletcher had to take care of both of their projects and Winry had to take care of her work and her clients. So with so many opportunities being alone why hadn't he reclaimed her cheating and instead spent his days with such bipolar behavior where he could be a completely cold-hearted guy to her and then want to kiss her like crazy?

"Win?"

Winry startled slightly. "What's up, Ed?" She asked as she focused her eyes on his automail, reminding herself to check that all the parts were secure before she put the outer plate on.

"Is everything okay between you and Russell?" Ed asked with sincere concern after noticing that her gaze had gone lost for a few moments. What little he knew of Russell was thanks to a few comments he got to hear from mutual acquaintances in the military and Winry's letters. Still, the correspondence between the two was always very brief so he didn't know what emotional state Russell was currently in given that he hadn't felt up to going to see him either since he hadn't been able to forget the cold, accusing look Fletcher had given him at the hospital after finding Winry and him hugging.

Winry forced a smile on her face, hoping Ed would believe her so he wouldn't have to worry about her. "Okay, I guess. There's been a lot of ups and downs but I guess that's normal considering everything Russell's been through these past few months."

Ed had to force a slight smile as well. "I see. I'm glad."

"In fact..." Winry secured the outer plate of the automail before continuing. "Next month, once he recovers from surgery, I'm moving in with him. He finally bought a house in one of the surrounding neighborhoods and asked me to move in with him. And well... I think it would be best for me to be with him to help him with his therapy."

Ed had to gulp to keep from showing on his face what that news was causing him. He was aware that, after the Gala night, Russell had stayed with Winry and he didn't doubt that it was a habit they had picked up at some point in their relationship but the knowledge that they would now formally be living together in the same house without it simply being a visit brought a knot to his stomach. He certainly wasn't one to judge them given that he had been living with Rose for close to a year but now, after everything that had happened, Winry moving in with Russell made it all that much more real reminding him that, after all, she and Russell were engaged.

Trying to make his tone sound as casual as possible, Ed said. "So does that mean you'll set a date for your wedding?"

"No!" Winry responded immediately. Inwardly chiding herself at the bluntness of her response, she continued. "Well, I mean it's not a priority yet. Right now a wedding is the least of our plans since, even though I'm going to move in with him, what matters most to me right now is that Russell makes a full recovery."

Ed had to hold back a sigh of relief. He would have more time to prepare himself to see Winry married to another man if he ever managed to feel even a little ready to accept that reality. "I understand..." Trying to use a teasing tone, he added. "That way you'll give Al time to flirt with his teacher to bring her along for the wedding."

Although the prospect of the wedding was strangely giving her a knot in her stomach, Winry smiled at Ed's attempt to gradually normalize their conversation. "I don't know if you mean that in good faith or you just want to tease your little brother."

"A little of both." Ed confessed with a slight smile.

"I figured as much." Winry said before standing up to go drop off her tools to grab some oil and a rag for the final lubrication of the automail. "You better behave yourself when you meet her, huh. I don't want you embarrassing Al." She said to slightly tease him.

"Hey, who do you take me for?"

Winry turned to him with the oil and rag in her hands. "By Edward Elric. That says it all doesn't it?" She said with a sincere smile before making her way back to his side.

Ed's smile became more natural as he saw Winry's. Even if it wasn't the right thing to do at those moments he couldn't help but think how much he loved seeing her smile like that. "Very funny, Win." He said with mock annoyance but unable to keep the smile off his face. "Well, maybe we're thinking about it too much and Al ends up coming alone."

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

"Because in the last letter I received from him, he told me about a new girl who also came to train with his teacher and, if the amount of praise for her he included in the letter is anything to go by, I think we can safely say that good old Al is in a love dilemma at this very moment."

Winry couldn't help her curiosity. "Al? Well, who could see that? Tell me, who is this girl, what did he tell you about her? Did he not mention anything else about Mei?"

Having managed to lighten the mood and having a topic that interested them both, Ed and Winry continued chatting amicably while she finished lubricating her automail. When the issues directly related to the love situation they had been involved in were forgotten it was evident to see how comfortable they were with each other as they could talk about anything, tease each other, and even get to laugh like fools, and that made them feel as good as they hadn't truly felt since the morning before their separation.

Once Winry finished working on his automail, he gave it one last wipe with the rag and stood up. "Well, looks like we're done here."

"Thanks." Ed said as he watched Winry intently as she went to put the used items back where they belonged. As she turned back toward his spot, Ed made contact with her gaze and said. "Are you really okay with you still being my mechanic?"

Winry was silent as she approached him. Once at his side, she poked him in the chest and replied. "Of course I do. Believe me, if you change me for another mechanic I'd dent your head with my wrench." She said with a teasing tone at the end trying not to bring the tension back into the atmosphere.

Ed laughed lightly. "So... I guess I'd like to keep my head intact then."

"Good." Winry said with a smile. "I'll leave you a few moments so you can get dressed." With that said, she left for the kitchen.

Ed dressed slowly. When he was done, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply wanting to fill himself with Winry's scent that filled the air. After a couple of deep breaths, he stood up and left the room noticing Winry looking for something in her cupboard.

"What are you looking for?"

Winry closed a cabinet and looked at him. "Some tea. One of my clients gave me some tea that I'm sure you'll like but I can't remember where I left it."

Ed couldn't help his smile. "I appreciate it, Win, but I have to go."

Winry tried hard not to show sadness in her gaze. "Really? What about that glass of water you told me about earlier?"

"Don't worry, I'm not thirsty right now, and besides I have to make a stop in New Optain before heading back to Central. You know, work stuff."

"I see..."

Noticing some sadness in Winry, he added. "How about saving some for me for the next time I come? Sure, if I can come."

Winry's face lit up again. "Of course you can come. What's more..." She walked over to the coffee table in the living room where a small notebook rested. She wrote something in it and walked over to Ed to hand him the sheet. "This is going to be my new address. Come see me as often as you want to, okay?"

Although the idea of visiting Winry at the house she would be sharing with Russell wasn't something he exactly relished, Ed couldn't say no to the idea of continuing to see Winry. "Okay. By the way, will you be taking care of your clients there too?"

Winry nodded her head. "That's right. it's going to be a little cramped but it's not that far from here so I'm hoping to keep my current clients."

Ed smiled at her. "Surely. They're not going to want to lose the best automail mechanic in Amestris. And that reminds me..." He walked over to his suitcase, placed it for a few moments on top of the couch to pull something out, then returned it to its previous position near the door. "Here. This is yours." He said extending a folder to her.

Winry folded her arms. "Ed, if that's what I think it is-"

Ed didn't let her finish. "You're going to have to be very creative with your threats because it's just what you're thinking."

"Edward." Winry told him in an annoyed tone. "May I remind you that you paid me a considerable amount last time."

"Amount you have refused to collect to this day, Miss Rockbell." Ed refuted.

Winry sighed. "I've been busy you know."

"Of course, I know that but I'm pretty sure that even if you had had some time off, you wouldn't have cashed it in. As we were supposed to have already agreed."

"I know we had already reached an agreement. I went to the bank one day but they told me I had to wait a few hours for the transaction to be processed and I didn't have time for that."

"When?"

"I think it was about three weeks ago."

"Oh, really? I guess they'll have to train the bank staff better because they forgot to tell you the little detail that the check you intended to cash was almost two months past due." Ed said watching her intently.

Winry blushed slightly as her lie was discovered. "Ok fine. I haven't gone to cash it happy?"

"Not really." Ed softened his gaze. "Win, I told you that time. I want you to keep that money. I want to help you at least that much." He paused slightly before adding in a subtly hurt tone. "I thought you believed me when I told you."

"I'm sorry, Ed. Of course, I believed and believe in you." Winry said apologetically. "It's just that..." She ducked her head slightly. "After everything that happened... how I hurt you... I didn't mean to-"

Unable to contain himself, Ed brought his hand to Winry's chin to lift her face and make her look him in the eye. "Don't say that, Win. You gave me everything. Besides I was the one who came up with the idea of breaking us up wasn't I?"

"But, Ed, maybe if things had been different or if I had made other decisions that day you wouldn't have had to have done it."

Ed gulped to push away the knot that wanted to form in him. He had spent countless nights thinking about the future he and Winry might have had if Russell's accident hadn't happened. After clearing his throat a little, he said. "But here we are in the end." He flashed a sad smile and shrugged his shoulders after pulling his hand away from Winry's face.

Trying not to show the true sadness she was feeling at the thought of what could not have come to be between her and Ed, Winry also flashed a sad smile. "Here we are." She repeated. "But at least we still count on each other right?" She added wanting to reassure herself again that they wouldn't lose touch despite their current circumstances.

"That only applies if you accept this check once and for all." Ed said extending the folder towards her again.

Winry shot a distrustful glance at the folder. "I have to assume you're still insisting on the amount from last time."

"You assume right." Ed said gradually returning to a more natural smile. "That amount is no longer negotiable. We had an agreement didn't we?"

Winry sighed and took the folder to open it. Inside she found some papers behind the check. Focusing her attention on the check, she took it and said. "You're hopeless, Ed." She gave him a quick glance which brought a frown to her face. "This is more than the one from last time."

"What about today's maintenance?"

"Maintenance doesn't cost the extra you put in and you know it."

"Well, then consider it compensation for the ingredients I took from your cupboard last time."

Winry pinched the bridge of her nose. "Here we go again..."

"Winry we already had this discussion last time so there's no point in repeating it." He started to make his way to the door. "Last time you ended up agreeing to take the money. Since you didn't collect it's your fault we're having this discussion now." He concluded then turned to continue looking at the blonde.

"Ah, now it turns out it's my fault." Winry said as she walked over to him.

"Well if it helps end this argument, you can blame me. Matter settled." Ed said with a smile.

Winry sighed, resigned. "I'll ask Riza as a favor to give you more work to make up for your stubbornness."

"Hey, that's not fair. Besides, you're the one who's being stubborn."

"Well, okay I'll just suggest it to her okay?" Winry said with a smile of fake innocence.

Grateful to be back to a more casual and lively atmosphere between them, Ed couldn't help but laugh briefly. "Okay. You do whatever you want. But you gotta cash that check or I'm gonna find out. I'm going to be checking until I see you did."

Winry rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir."

"Good."

Winry sighed and returned the check to the folder paying attention until that moment that the first sheet inside contained some traces. "What's this?" She asked as she pulled out a couple of sheets to examine them.

"Oh, that." Ed put his free hand to the back of his neck. "It's some tracings and calculations that might help you."

"Calculations? For-?" Winry interrupted herself when she realized what this was about. "Ed, it wasn't necessary."

"It's no big deal. I tried to remember as much as possible to give you as much of the basics as possible. The designs are just an approximation of the two main models that were being manufactured on Earth but, knowing you, I know you'll easily make sense of my scribblings to make it all work." Ed told her with a smile.

"But, Ed, there's nothing scribbly about this. You must have taken a long time to do all the designs and gather this information."

Ed pulled his hand away from the back of his neck and shrugged. "Hours more, hours less what does it matter? What's more, it had even taken long enough for me to give them to you. I know you're more than capable of recreating these things but I'm afraid-"

"It may be a process of years as we find a way to adapt our materials and tools to those used on Earth." Winry finished for him by recalling the conversation they had come to have regarding the subject during the last dinner they had shared in that very apartment.

"That's right."

Winry closed the folder and pulled it to her chest with both hands. She loved mechanics and felt fortunate to be able to work doing what she loved, but these last few months with everything that had happened between Russell and Ed, she had to confess that she had fallen into the monotony of doing most of her work on autopilot, not dedicating herself 100% to it and, therefore, not fully enjoying her work. Not to mention that she had not even had time to devote to any personal projects despite how much she loved to experiment to find ways to improve her technique. However, now she had a project in her hands that would require her time and dedication and of which she would probably not see the fruits for some years, but nevertheless she was very excited about how she would develop each stage of it, completely rekindling the flame of passion for her career. And that excitement and passion had been returned to her by the very person who continued to make her heart pound intensely simply by having him so close to her.

Winry inhaled deeply to hold back the tears, stepped forward, and gave the young man a bright smile. "Thank you so much, Ed, you don't know how much this means to me."

Ed reciprocated her smile, feeling a warmth run through him from head to toe at seeing Winry smile like that. "As long as you treat me to a ticket for the first flight I'll be well served."

"I'll give you as many as you want. You'll be my VIP passenger."

"Great."

After that exchange of words, Ed and Winry had come to be only a short distance away from each other and it was until that moment that they were both aware of it. Their gazes connected as they felt the warmth emanating from each other's bodies. Thus they remained silent for a few moments until Ed began to lean slightly towards her. Instead of shying away from him as her mind was telling her to do, Winry lifted her face a little so that their lips were at the same height and closed her eyes waiting and longing to feel the contact of his lips on hers. However, after a few seconds of waiting Winry opened her eyes again, discovering Ed with flushed cheeks standing fully upright in front of her as he held his suitcase in his automail hand.

"Well..." Ed began when he saw her open her eyes. "I'd better get going. We'll be in touch okay?"

Somewhat confused having expected another action from Ed, Winry could only nod her head.

Ed gave her a warm smile. "Take good care of yourself, Win. And thanks for the maintenance on my automail." With that said he turned and hurried out of Winry's apartment.

Winry stood there staring blankly at the door through which Ed had just exited. Her heart was beating like crazy and she was sure her cheeks were intensely flushed. That closeness with Ed had reminded her of the beautiful moments they had spent together making her long to feel his kisses and caresses again... only that now that was no longer possible. She knew it was selfish of her to expect that when she well knew what Ed had gone through when he broke up with her at the restaurant, and they were both supposed to be trying to move their own relationships forward but it was hard to completely push away the longing of things having ended differently.

To her, it wasn't fair that for one thing or another, they couldn't be together but there was no choice. She had to move on with her life striving to keep her feelings for Ed in check to control her reactions because she really wanted Ed to be in her life but she wasn't doing a very good job of controlling the emotions and desires he provoked in her.

It wasn't easy but she was resigned to the fact that this was what she had to do...

Ed's quick exit was prompted by what he almost ended up doing. Holding Winry so close to him he couldn't help but long for the taste of her lips and the warmth of her hands roaming his body. With memories of their night together flashing through his mind, Ed had begun to lean toward her to kiss or hold her. He wasn't even sure what he was going to do, the only thing he was sure of was that he wanted to feel her close to him, to feel her warmth and her breathing, and to listen closely to the intense beating of her heart.

However, when he saw her close her eyes seemingly willing to accept his advances, he reacted. It had already been extremely difficult to have to part with her once, and he did not feel able to do it again if he were to be romantically close to her again. If he kissed her he had the impression that tasting the taste of her lips again would prevent him from separating from her again and that went against the decision he had made months ago. They were each starting to go their way and that was the way things were supposed to go.

Obviously it wasn't easy to forget what he had almost done so Ed had to repeat the same words to himself over and over again all the way back to Central: This is for the best.

Now all that was left was that he could believe those words.