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When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom	By : RyokoBlue Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > Het - Male/Female Views: 9498 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Disclaimer: I never claimed to own this, so guess
what. I do not!

Summary: When faced with Love�s difficulty, can three people
locked in its hold push aside their fear for the sake of it? Sequel to
Feel Me, Shame Me, Heal Me.

When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Episode 16�Struggles of the Heart

Winry
slammed the butcher knife down on the chicken, slicing it clean in half, bone
and all. She growled and pounded and chopped, building up a sweat of
anger that no doubt would be followed by extreme violence - even more extreme
than her dinner making seemed to be at this moment.

�Winry,
I think it�s already dead.� Alphonse said from his place at the kitchen
table. He had been helping her by peeling the ends and stringing
peas. He had watched her all afternoon mashing tomatoes for sauce,
crushing garlic, probably imagining that it was someone�s head.

She let
out a loud sigh and turned to face Alphonse. �I know. I�ve been
silently fuming all day, Al. Sorry, but wouldn�t you rather I take my aggression
out on dead meat rather than live flesh.� She grinned wickedly.

Alphonse
felt nervous and he could feel sweat starting to trickle down his forehead from
such nerves. He cleared his throat and wiped at his forehead with his arm
before returning to task of pealing the ends off of peas. �Why are
you so aggressive?� He asked and then rolled his eyes at his ridiculous
question. �Why indeed�Mustang was residing in this very house.�

Groaning,
Winry started to pace, knife in hand. �Why do you think, Al?!� she
screeched, frustrated. �I can�t believe Grandma is letting Roy stay here,
what was she thinking? How could she do this to me?!�
Winry felt like stomping her foot like a child and throwing a tantrum all over
the house.

�Is it
really that bad, Winry?� Alphonse asked, raising his eyes to hers. �It
could be a good thing.� He was sure if it were possibly Winry�s jaw would
have hit the floor from the amount of shock now visible on her face.

�Are you
insane!? Not you too?!� She groaned and spun
around in aggravation before facing him again. �No good could come from
this.� Winry shook her head wildly.

With a
tiny shrug of his shoulders, Alphonse smiled lightly. �Well, he finally
gets to know his kids. That�s a good thing. That is what�s most
important here, isn�t it?� He saw her brow crease slightly. �It
shouldn�t really bother you that the General is staying here if you don�t feel
anything for him, right?�

Winry�s
face flamed and she turned her back on him, facing her chicken. �Right,�
She said softly. She didn�t feel anything, she didn�t! Closing her eyes
tightly she sucked in a deep breath. �It�s just uncomfortable. He�s
just�it�s like�gah, dealing with him is hard!
He makes me so crazy!�

Alphonse
stifled his laugh, his shoulders shaking in merriment. �I don�t doubt
that, Winry.�

�You
don�t know the half of it, Al. That man, he talks me into corners, he�s��
She sighed. Winry lowered her chin to her chest. �I missed him, so
much, and he comes back now�? �It�s just, not right.� She
couldn�t let herself fall, not again. He�s only been here a whole day and
already she couldn�t concentrate on anything except him. �Why can�t he
just fall into some other woman�s arms? Why does he have to come back
here?�

�Are you
sure you would want that?� Alphonse said, putting the bowl of peas on the table
and getting up from his seat. He walked to Winry.

She had
to stand firm, she was not going to let Roy back into her life like this.
Turning her head, she found Alphonse�s sympathetic expression. �You don�t
know him like I do, Al. He promised he would come back, he�� She broke
off feeling her voice trembling, and fighting the onslaught of tears that were
threatening her eyes. ��and he didn�t keep, he� I� I was left with just
cold memories, memories I don�t even want! All because he probably
figured his time with me was done. That he was finally tired of it, but
he couldn�t tell me to my face. He was never very good at sticking with
one woman for long, as you and Ed well know. It�s surprising I lasted as
long as I did, but I knew it would eventually come, and I had always prepared
myself for it. I let my guard down. I shouldn�t have
fallen�given�� She cradled her face in her hands, not caring if the
chicken juice got all over her.

�How do
you know what he was thinking when he decided not to return here?� Alphonse
knew why, he couldn�t give away why he knew. So instead, he would try to
plant the idea in her own head that would make her think of it herself, that
maybe the General didn�t feel he was good enough for her. �You say you
know him well, possibly better than anyone, considering that two amazing
children resulted from how well you know him. But maybe there is
something more to it than you think.� Alphonse could see that she was
still terribly hurt, even if she hid it well in front of others. He had a
feeling that Winry suffers silently, while she�s alone. She wasn�t over
him, not by a long shot. But she was determined to force herself not to
care about him, when she still did with all her heart. �Had he not ever
once kept a promise to you?�

Winry
took a deep breath and lifted her head and thought back, �He has never lied to
me. Back when he promised he would return... that was the first time,
ever. He knew he wasn�t going to, he should have just told me
then.� That didn�t make any sense now that she thought about it. He
had never lied, not once; there never had been any cause to mistrust his
word. �What happened? Did he meet someone else?�

�Perhaps
you should ask him, Winry?� Alphonse said with an encouraging smile.
�Find out, don�t just guess on it. You�ll make yourself sick with worry.�

If she
asked him she might not like the answer. But it should mean very little since
she didn�t care about him that way anymore. �I won�t make myself sick
with worry.� She turned back to her chicken. �It really doesn�t matter
anymore. I just won�t allow myself to be used by him.�

Alphonse
then smirked, �Why not? It�s plainly obvious that you enjoy whatever it
is he does for you.�

Winry
whirled around and was astounded at the perverted look on Alphonse�s
face. �Al!�

He
shrugged, �If you like it, why not give in? What will it hurt? It�s
just sex.� He really didn�t feel that way, but he wanted to see what kind
of a reaction out of Winry he got. He was trying to see exactly where her
boundaries were concerning the subject of her and the General. He was
determined to help her set herself free, to swallow her pride, and give into
her feelings. It was the least he could do for his good childhood friend
that had given everything that he and his brother had taken for granted over
the many years.

Her jaw
for the second time that evening dropped open. �Al! What�s the
matter with you? Did living in that other world turn you into some kinda
pervert or something?� She saw him laughing and it did nothing to ease
her shock. �Don�t you know that sex leads to love which leads to broken
and alone?�

�That�s
just your opinion, a rather cynical one at that.� Alphonse leaned up against
the counter. �You�re young still, Winry, you�re only twenty two.
You should be out having fun and romancing, and well, who knows what else, but
you should be doing it.�

�I have
two children, Al. I can�t go doing those kindsa things.� She shook her
head, her face flaming.

Alphonse
smiled, �So what if you�re a mother. You�re still hot and I�m sure you
make guys hot, too.�

Winry�s
face was apple red, �Alphonse Elric, I�m gonna tell your brother your being a
pig! And then do you know what will happen?!� She shook her head and
started separating the bones from the chicken meat.

�He
would agree with me.� Alphonse replied with a smug expression while folding his
arms proudly over his chest.

�No!�
She growled, she still couldn�t help the amused grin,
�He�ll beat you down.�

With a
short laugh, Alphonse shook his head. �Not likely. If you recall,
Winry, Brother never bested me in a fight. I won everything, toys, candy,
you name it. He would lose and go off and sulk.� He just
laughed. �I�m just kidding about all that sex stuff, Winry. I just
want to see that you find something to be happy about.�

She
smiled softly, �Anna and Brian are my reasons for smiling, Al. I love
those kids.� It was surprising when after lunch the children wanted to go
down to the Abbots to see the kittens and Edward offered to take them.
She could tell the little ones made him uncomfortable. Maybe he wanted to
get to know them and that made her happy.

�Well I
better go meet, Brother. Who knows what he�s gotten himself into
involving your kids.� Alphonse snickered and placed the bowl of green beans on
the counter, before excusing himself from the kitchen.

After
Alphonse left, Winry looked up at the clock and actually dreaded the moment Roy
got back, he claimed he was going into town to find
out which hotel his parents were staying at. Perhaps she shouldn�t have
told him they were still in the area.

****

Roy stared
out the window at the town below from fourth floor of an elegant room with wine
colored drapes, and fine furniture of cherry wood. His arms folded over
his chest. He narrowed his eyes at the passersby. �So innocent, so
unknowing what terrors there are out in the world.�
He turned his head finding his father preparing a glass of Sherry for his
mother and handing the woman sitting in the chair the pretty crystal
glass. �How dare you trick me.� He finally said
to them.

An
amused grunt emerged from the older Mustang. �I only did what I thought
was necessary, and it worked. You hopped the next train and came right
here.�

Spinning
around, Roy pinned his father with a hard stare. �You had no right to
meddle in my affairs like that. I will decide what is to happen in my
life.�

Jenny
smiled lightly while looking at the reddish liquid in her glass. �Why are
you so angry? Wasn�t it a joy to see Winry again?�

All Roy
did was groan with regret. �Why didn�t you tell me that she gave birth to
my children? You have more loyalty to me, your own flesh and blood, than
you do her.� He knew that sounded hurtful, and also knew how taken his
mother was with Winry, that she would treat her like the daughter she never had
but really wanted. �You all purposely hid that information from me.�

�Would
you have come back to her, Roy? Or were you too self absorbed in whatever
it was, shame, revulsion, self pity? Even if we had told you about the
children, there was no guarantee you would do anything different.� Gerald
countered, hearing his son�s irritated growl. �You were behaving like a
coward.�

�Don�t
you dare talk to me about cowardice!� Roy raged
tightly. �That is one topic of conversation that you will not address with me,
ever.�

Gerald
sighed, �I�ve seen the horrors of war, Roy. Many more than you have
seen. All that you�ve seen was tiny in comparison to my lifetime�s
worth. You weren�t the only one to lose something, to lose their self
respect and their reasons for living on. But it does no one any good to
wallow in it.�

�You
cannot say how something affects another, we�ve had
far different experiences.� Roy looked away from his father and towards his
mother. He wondered if his father was just as tainted in death and sin as
he was. He took in a deep breath, �It seems I can�t even follow my own
advice.� He remembered back to the whole Nina Tucker incident; how he
told Edward Elric to be glad that it wasn�t him that was dead and to just keep
moving. He couldn�t even follow what he told the boy, instead he hid
away, shamed and disgusted with himself for not being able to save people,
innocent children, friends, no one. He had not really been able to
protect anyone as all those who came in contact with him ended up in worse shape
than they started.

Knowing
what was going through her son�s head, Jenny sat the glass down on the small
table and stood up, walking to him. �You just need to let go of your
hate, Roy. It�s not healthy to be so bitter with yourself.� She
grabbed his arm and she knew he let her pull him to the chair, where he sat
down. �It is not a curse to be involved with you, my son.� She ran her
hands through his hair that was a bit unkempt with its length. �You were
my miracle, Roy. And you are so to others, only you just don�t see
it. That no matter what they would have stayed by your side, through
everything.� She smiled lightly as her son lifted his dark eye to
her. �Winry is one of them, she loves you.�

Roy�s
brow creased, �She said that?�

Jenny�s
smile remained, �She doesn�t have to say it, it�s just
true.� Her kind smile turned into the very smirk that seemed to have
passed onto Roy. �She�s no longer that young teenage girl anymore; you
realize that you can now openly and in front of the whole world romance her
adorable little socks off?�

He
couldn�t help it a small smile curved the side of Roy�s mouth. �She does
have adorable ankles to go in those adorable socks.� He recalled the many
times with Winry that he had always lavished extreme attention on her
feet. He loved her feet, her toes, her delicate
arch. If she had been standing on them all day during an Automail
attachment, he was more than willing to relive the ache in them.

�You might
have some trouble now though, Roy.� Gerald said, pulling his son out of his
musings, �Since that other man resides there. You know the blonde one,
about so big.� He held his hand level with his waist which made his son grunt
with amusement.

�Yes, I
know the one you mean.� Roy sat back in the chair and his mother removed her
hands from his hair. �Edward Elric is nothing to worry about.� He
wondered if he could lose Winry to Edward. After all, he�d been gone from
her life for almost five years, and Edward has had her attention before in the
past, they have been friends a long time. But did the younger man enflame
her with passion every time they met up? Or did Edward only ignite her
temper? He sure wished he could get inside Winry�s head to see how she
really thinks.

�I need
to get her to trust me again. I know I had done the worst thing imaginable to
her by not coming back. She�s had so much disappointment, and mostly
caused by me.� Roy let out a rough breath of air. �I can�t change the
past, but I can at least do something that would make her happy now. And
I do need her.�

Jenny
smiled, �Then why are you wasting your time here with us when you should be
winning back the young woman you care so much for?�

With a
smirk of his own, Gerald nodded then added, �Get off your lazy duff and do
something about it. Don�t let that other man take her from you.
With enough coaxing he just might be able to.�

That was
partially true, but Roy couldn�t let that happen. He was tired of not
living up to his own expectations. He was going to stop running
away. Instead, he was going to run to her like he should have almost five
years ago. Getting to his feet, Roy with an air of determination headed
for the door.

Arriving
back at Winry�s was quicker than he thought, mostly because his thoughts were
on how to gain her trust, among other things. How would he approach her
without scaring her off? He had tried the direct approach before and with much
success, but this isn�t like those older days. This was different.
Too much has happened and blackmail just wouldn�t work this time. He
wanted her to accept him not because she was pushed into it, but because she
wanted to.

Approaching
the front door, he knocked once out of politeness. It wasn�t his house
even if he was invited to stay, he couldn�t just walk
in without permission. The door opened and Winry stood there with her
right brow arched and a multicolored striped dish towel slung over her
shoulder.

�You
don�t have to knock, just come in.� She said briskly, before turning around and
heading back towards the kitchen.

Clearing
his throat, Roy closed the door behind him. The scent of pasta sauce,
bread and garlic filled his senses. It was a really wonderful scent, and
it made him truly regret his previous actions about how he tried to push her
away. This is what home and warmth smelled like and he just blindly threw
it all away. �I know this must be uncomfortable for you.� He replied,
watching her stop short and turn part away around, facing him.

�Uncomfortable
doesn�t even begin to describe it.� She said slightly edgy.

He
straightened his posture, firming his resolve in his attempt at winning her
back. �I meant what I said last night, Winry. I really do want to
spend time with you as well as the children. I want all of us to spend
time together.�

Winry�s
hands found her hips. �What? Like a family?� She groaned. �Sorry,
Roy, but that�s not what this is. Family does not walk out on each
other. We do not run away when things get hard.� Her tone was
tight. �I don�t know what you hope to accomplish by coming here now?
After you�� She immediately shut her mouth, she was
not going to let him see how much she had been hurt by him. Winry held
her head up high. �If you want to spend time with the children then
that�s fine, but I won�t�� she was cut off by the sudden movement of him, Roy had come to stand right before her. Winry tried to
turn away from him since his close proximity made her uncomfortable and she
could never help reacting to him as a woman does a man. He clutched her
shoulders and turned her back around to face him. �D�don�t touch me, let
go.� She wiggled, trying to escape his hold.

�Why
should I? You�ve always liked it when I touched you, even when you hated
me.� He stared down into pretty blue eyes that were wide with fear that she was
trying to disguise. �I made a mistake, a bad one, Winry. Out of
everything, don�t I deserve a second chance?�

She stopped
struggling not wanting to enjoy the feel of his hands on her, even on her
shoulders and she stared at the floor, shaking her head. She couldn�t let
him do this. �I�I can�t. You shouldn�t expect�It�s just��

He saw
it then, tears sliding slowly down her cheeks. Roy
never liked the sight of her tears, it made his own
heart ache.

Winry
tried to stop the flow of wetness but it wouldn�t stop, she couldn�t stop
it. She tried wiping at her eyes but the tears still continued to
fall. Unable to control her emotions, it all came rushing out. Many
years of built up strong walls collapsed with in an instant and she let it
loose. �Why didn�t you�?� She stared up, her eyes piercing his dark one with
her severely battered heart, �Damn you, why didn�t you come back?!� She
swung her fists at him, slapping and slugging him in the chest as hard as she
could in all her pent up anger, frustration, and pain. �You, you promised me,
you promised!� It felt like her heart was being torn into shreds all over again
and Winry continued to try and beat him, wanting to inflict as much pain
physically on him that he had inflicted on her heart. Until she felt him
pull her to him and he wrapped his arms tight around her. She stopped her
struggle and just fell against him where she sobbed loudly into his
chest. Winry felt Roy lower his face to her neck and cuddled her so
tightly while taking a deep breath. �I waited for you and you never came
back,� she choked on her tears.

Roy
swallowed hard, �I�m sorry.� he said breathlessly, resting his cheek against
the top of her head, tightening his hold about her, wanting to take away her
pain. �I�m so sorry, Winry.� Roy wondered if she would ever forgive him, he had
hurt her so badly. His hands gently framed her face, softly tilting up so
he could look into eyes that he never thought he would see again. �This
will probably be the first and only time I admit to this, but I was
wrong. I was wrong for cutting you off like that. I am truly sorry,
Winry. Please, just don�t cry. I have made you cry far more than
enough through almost all of our acquaintance.�

Softly
pressing his lips to her forehead, Winry�s eyes fluttered closed in the sweet
feeling it created within, her chest hitching as she tried to settle her
breathing. Oh God, she had missed this, missed his scent, the feel of
him. The battle inside her raged, to stay or move away. She lifted
her hands to his upper arms, intending on pushing back from him, but all
thoughts of moving away vanished from her mind with the soft touches he was
bestowing upon her. She could hear him asking her not to cry anymore, but
all she could really pay attention to were his lips moving languidly about her
face, her forehead, her nose, over the wet streaks that had been left by her
tears on her cheeks. �Roy,� She whispered. She brought her hands to
his, her fingers spreading over his that were on her face. �I�I��

His lips
softly brushed hers and she took in a startled breath feeling like electricity
was shooting right through her.

�Winry��
He said gently, his gaze holding hers. Roy cursed himself, he so longed
to have sight of both his eyes. He hated this. She could never
accept him this way, scarred and broken. He was about to pull away from
her to not disgust her because of his own disfigurement. But she quickly
reached up, her arms thrown tightly around his neck where she had crashed his
mouth to hers. Roy was stunned for a moment and it was expressed in his
widened dark eye. His shock was short lived as he melted against her, his
lashes closed and he fell into the feeling of her, drowning in it. His
arm moved around her waist and he pulled her closer.

Winry
felt she couldn�t get close enough, even as she pressed herself flush against
him, wanting to feel every inch of him. She knew she had lost her senses a few
yards back as she just threw herself at him like this. When she had
promised herself she wouldn�t fall again. It was just a kiss, yes, and
those feel good, she wanted to feel good. She couldn�t deny that Roy always
made her feel good. A tiny voice in the back of her head told her that
she was lying to herself, but she didn�t want to address it now. The
voice kept getting louder and louder, telling her to stop this,
that she was only going to end up hurt and alone again. Don�t give
in. Her head was shouting that he really didn�t want her,
she was just an easy target, easy to control. She squeezed her eyes shut
tighter intending on pushing away, but the feel of his tongue, his lips, she
felt herself ignoring her rational thought for more of this feeling that
tingled everywhere he touched.

�Winry!� The sound
of shocked and angry voices barged through the blissful haze, making her draw
back from Roy and turn her head.

�What
the hell�!?� Edward fumed, glaring so hard that it
very well could cause the roof to cave in.

Winry
gasped at seeing Edward, Alphonse and her children standing there at the door
Brian and Anna were looking on her in confusion, where as Edward was an angry
beet red and Alphonse appeared to be nervous. Winry then looked to Roy
who was staring at Edward with a blank expression before he looked back at
her. She hated herself! She wanted to throw herself at him again!
She had wanted it to happen and felt shame bubble in her belly. Roy shouldn�t
have come here, he�s confusing her again. She didn�t care, she couldn�t,
no! Instead of addressing the issue she spun on her heel, while picking
up the towel that had ended up on the floor she raced back to the kitchen.

Alphonse
hurried after her, where as Edward just continued to stare daggers at
Mustang. Brian grabbed Anna�s hand and pulled her to the couch where they
sat down, a bit confused.

Edward
was steaming mad, not to mention the jealousy coursing through him at an
alarming rate. �You can�t just come back here and do this to her.�

Rolling
his eyes, Roy faced Edward. �What are you talking about, Ed?� He
heard his competition growl.

�Don�t
play stupid, Old man! You know what I�m talking about.� Edward wanted to punch Mustang�s
stupid face in.

�This
doesn�t concern you, Edward. I thought Winry told you to stay out of it.� Roy�s
eye narrowed slightly. �Do I have to enforce your compliance with her
wishes?�

Crossing
his arms tightly over his chest, Edward tried to take a deep settling
breath. �She obviously loses her head around you! She doesn�t know what
she�s doing! I won�t allow you to destroy her again!� He stomped
his foot in bitter anger.

�I�m not
here to destroy her, little man.� Roy growled with a smirk. �Maybe you
should find out real reasons before you go accusing that of which you know
nothing about.�

�Stop
calling me little, you asshole!� Edward snarled.

Roy took
a glance at the children and then at Edward, �You watch your mouth.� He
said darkly then straightened his posture. �I don�t want the children
picking up your bad habits.�

�Rather
mine than yours!�

Brian
lowered his voice. �Do you think Mama likes that man?� He gestured to the dark
haired man with the weird dark object on his face.

Anna
nodded, �Mama only gives kisses to people she
likes. When I asted her yesday
night, she said he was a friend from long time ago and will be stay wit us for
a liddle bit.�

�I renember.� Brian replied, looking back at the two who had begun to
speak. �She say we should all be friends, that
you and me should know him.�

Pursing
her lips, Anna sighed thoughtfully. �Why you think? Maybe he own candy fatory?�

Brian
giggled, �Or toy shop.�

Both
Brian and Anna thought about it and then shook their heads. �Nah!� they
both said at once.

�He don�t look like he own eder a
dose.� Anna leaned back in the sofa cushion.

�We need
to figer it out,� Brian said with determination.
�Aldo, Unca Edwa don�t seem like him much.� He then grinned.
�Maybe the uder man will help protek
Mama, too.�

Anna�s
eyes lit up, �We shud axe him, when Unca Edwa is no around.� Her dark
eyes narrowed in dangerous thought.

�Good tinking, Anna!� Brian said with a proudly raised
fist. �By da way, I hab
new ida for Unca Edward.� He pulled from his pant�s pocket a
small sack. �I gots kiddy lidder from Abbots� pace.� He grinned adorably evil
while his sister giggled.

When
Alphonse entered the kitchen he saw Winry at the counter, she was gripping the
tile and staring down at it. He took a glance back towards the living
room where he could hear Edward�s loud verbal attack on the General.
Doesn�t that boob realize that he should be in here talking to Winry rather
than insulting the General and saying he will defend Winry�s honor so to speak?

Winry
turned her head and was relieved that it wasn�t either Edward or Roy standing
there. She needed time to collect herself away from them. �I told
you he makes me crazy.� She said with a forced half smile.

�You
have nothing to be ashamed about, Winry.� Alphonse said with a kind smile.

�Yes I
do.� She groaned and gripped the counter tiles tighter. �I told myself
over and over again that I wouldn�t let myself fall for any of his tactics, and
I didn�t. I just couldn�t take it, I threw myself at him, like a�like a
whore!�

Alphonse
gasped, �Don�t you dare say anything like that about yourself, Winry. Stop it.�
He ordered, sternly. �Your emotions got the better of you, and I can see
that not a lot of girls can resist the General. But you�re different than
them, because you actually care about him.�

�Care
about him?� Winry groaned, �I don�t want to care about him! I just�want to
stop.� She slammed her hands down on the counter. �I have to stay away
from him. I can�t be anywhere alone with him, I don�t trust myself. I
need to resist that basic desire that needs to touch him!� She turned around
and grabbed Alphonse by the shirt. �Don�t you know that even being in the
same room is like throwing gasoline on a pit of fire!?�

Alphonse
blinked surprised and clutched her hands that were wrapped so tightly around
his shirt and he pulled her hands from him. �I haven�t heard it being
described quite like that before, Winry. What are you going to do about
it now? You already gave into the basic need to kiss him,
you�re going to crave more. You should just let go, it won�t hurt.�

She
lowered her face, her bangs shadowing over her eyes. �I will hurt, Al,
you just won�t see the hurt because it�s on the inside. I can�t let myself
get hurt again, I won�t. Not by anyone.�

�Winry,
think about what you�re saying. You shouldn�t let one bad experience
dictate your life. You are the type that loves so completely, how will
you live without that feeling? You might as well just sit in a dark
corner for the rest of your life.�

Not
knowing what to say to that, Winry stiffened. She didn�t want to talk about
this anymore. �I�m not going to let him infect me again, I won�t.� She
turned back to the sauce that was still simmering on the stove. �Al, I
have to finish dinner.�

He took
this as his clue to leave. Alphonse inwardly sighed knowing that she was
so determined to remain distant from happiness just because something could
cause her pain. Their whole lives revolved around pain, couldn�t she
accept that small bit of happiness. People make mistakes, but they learn
from them. Is she more upset with herself that she had given up on every
one, is that what fuels her need to push all that could be wonderful away?
That she doesn�t deserve joy? He would get to the core of it, it would
take time, but he would do all he could to help her open up to being the woman
she once was.

Leaving
the kitchen, Alphonse entered back into the ring of verbal abuse; it was
starting to drive him crazy. They all had to remain under this roof and
he would lose his mind if those two couldn�t contain themselves. �All right! I�ve had enough!� He growled in severe
irritation which startled his brother, who was now looking at him oddly.
�Stop this, Brother. Stop accusing him of trying to ruin her, all right.
Winry�s a big girl she can take care of herself.� He marched over to his
brother. �She doesn�t need your interference!� He yelled.

�Al?�
Edward was shocked still.

�Can�t you
see she has enough to deal with? Please stop adding more to her
discomfort.� Alphonse looked at General. �Also, Sir, please, have a
little courtesy, Brother is only trying to be a good friend to Winry.
He�s worried about her.�

Roy let
out a frustrated breath, and gave a short nod. The boy was always a
little more level headed than his brother.

Alphonse
felt his temper settle. �Now, dinner is almost ready. I suggest we
all go and clean up.� He said with a calm smile and he turned to the little
ones. �Guess what, Brian and Anna? Your mom�s making your favorite
tonight.�

�Sketti!� Both Anna and Brian shouted at once in a cheer and they
both jumped off the couch to go wash up.

Still
feeling tense, Edward threw a harsh glare at Mustang before heading to the
kitchen to see about dinner.

�Alphonse,�
Roy said and the boy turned his head. �Is Winry all right?�

Turning
around to face him, Alphonse smiled, but it wasn�t a happy expression.
�She�s confused, which I can�t really blame her for. You had really hurt
her by not keeping your promise, more so than anyone. Even more than
Brother and I could.�

Roy
stared at the floor for a moment, before lifting his dark eye back to
Alphonse. �I know. It�s not easy, knowing all that I have done to
her over the many years, a lot of it was a struggle
for her. She put a lot of faith and trust in me and I completely crushed
it.� He rubbed the back of his head, �I can�t change what I have done, but I
want to make up for it. I want her to see that I can be the person she
can depend on.�

�How did
this even happen, Sir? I mean you and her. It seemed extremely unlikely.�
Alphonse asked, having always wanted to know, as did his brother, only he was
better at getting information out of people since he was calmer about it and
not threatening them with bodily harm.

With a
slight tile of his head, Roy regarded Alphonse with a narrowed eye and a
controlled expression that gave away nothing of how he was feeling. �You
really want to know?� Seeing the younger Elric nod, Roy gestured to the
sofa where they both sat down. �You won�t like it.� He gently
warned.

�Just
tell me.� Alphonse turned to face him more, sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

Roy leaned
back against the cushions, �Do you remember when you and your brother unseated
the profit in Liore?�

�Yeah��
Alphonse�s brow creased.

�It was at that time that Winry moved to Central so she could be with you two,
to actually wait for you boys.�

�I
remember that, we got letters from her that you passed on to us and we wrote
back, hopefully you passed our replies onto her.� Alphonse replied, thinking
back to those earlier days when he had still been in that suit of armor.

With a nod,
Roy would tell the boy what he wanted to know, even if could cast him as an
enemy like how Alphonse�s brother saw him. He would soon to find out.

======
Well that's it for this episode/chapter. Do you think Winry will be
able to resist her own temptation for long? And what about Roy,
do you think since he knows of his affect on her that he will use it to his
advantage? The answer to that is... duh, of course!
Thanks for reading!

Ryoko Blue
- 15
- 16
- 17
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When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom