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Descent	By : ZaKai Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 14665 -:- 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
- 43
- 44
- 45
Review Replies:

Ashley: I�m really glad you�re enjoying
the story.� Sorry this update took so
long.� I�ll try to get the next one out
sooner.� Amethyst-eyed Koneko:� Yeah, I�ve gotten some emails and stuff about
it.� *shrugs* I mean, I understand.� You think you know where this story is going
then it takes another turn, plus it�s really long.� I can understand people wondering if I�m just
making it up as I go along haha.� *sob* I
miss Roy
too!� You have no idea!� empress-eerian-sadow:�
You�re welcome.� I know not all
first times are as fumbling as Al and Winry�s were, but I really did want them
to have a less than stellar experience.� MustangsHavoc:�
*chuckles* well, they are from a country town ^_~� Sasurto:� Actually, this story isn�t getting
sidetracked at all (notice that the summary has AlxWinry
in it).� The point of this story is more
than just Roy and Ed; in fact, while Roy and Ed have a major role in this
story, the main plot point has
nothing to do with their relationship at all.�
Al and Winry are extremely important players in this story and their
parts must be told.� I�m sorry this story
isn�t exactly what you�re looking for, and while I hope you�ll still continue
reading despite that, I�ll understand if you choose not to continue this story
in favor of something more Roy/Ed oriented.�
Nomme de Plume:� *chuckles* yeah there is quite the potential
for angst in this story, isn�t there?�
*blushes* awww, thanks!� I�m so glad that you think this story is so
good. ^_^� chelzi: haha yeah it would be great if he
did, wouldn�t it.� Baroqueangel:� I�m really glad you�re enjoying
the story!� As for when to expect Roy back.� *grins* I think it won�t be too much longer.
^_^� Aibu: Thank you ^_^� I�m glad you�re enjoying the story.� I�m sorry it took so long to get this chapter
up.

-

Descent

Chapter Forty-Four

Till Death Do Us Part

-

The sun
wasn�t up yet before the bustle in the Rockbell house began.� Al and Winry were woken by the sound of
Pinako yelling through the house that �everyone needed to get up and get ready
for this damned wedding� and that Russell had better �get his ass out of bed
and come help in the kitchen�.

The two
of them stared wide-eyed at each other for a moment before practically climbing
over one another to get out of bed.�
Winry hurried to the door and peaked out.� When she didn�t see anyone, she looked back
at Al and gave him a smile before hurrying out of the bedroom to scurry back to
her own.� She didn�t exactly want her
grandmother to find out that they�d spent the night together last night.� It would just be too embarrassing; plus, she
didn�t know if she�d get a lecture for not waiting until they were
married.�

With the
door closed behind her, Winry turned on the light and stood in the middle of
her messy room, trying to decide what she needed to do next.� Her brain was still asleep despite the fact that
her body was fully awake.

�Dress...�
she said, looking around.� Yes, the
dress... an excellent starting point.�
She rushed to her closet, stubbing her toe on one of her tools scattered
on her floor in the process, then flung open the closet doors.� She stared at the dress for a moment, then realized that she couldn�t possibly get in the dress without a shower...

Quickly
grabbing some clean underwear and a towel, she rushed out of her room and
through the house.� �I�m showering!� she
yelled loudly.� �Don�t anyone go to the side
of the house!��

Winry
raced outside to where they kept the shower(1) and
shimmied out of her night clothes.� The
eastern horizon was barely beginning to lighten, and she was glad that it was
summer.� In the winter she would have needed
to take a bath inside and that would have taken a lot longer.

She
washed vigorously as she thought of all that she needed to do in just a couple
of hours... before...� Winry stopped her
washing and stared down at the ground.�
Today was the day...� She
swallowed and wiped the streaming water from her face.� In just a few hours she�d be married, and in
just a few hours Alphonse would leave her...�
She felt like crying both from joy and from sorrow.�

Winry
didn�t want to cry; didn�t want to be weak.�

Looking
up at the sky, she forced the pain away.�
She would not cry; at least,
not right now.� Today she would smile and
she would rejoice that she was being married.�
She would be brave for Al.� It
wouldn�t do to have him see her cry.� Not
when he didn�t want to leave her either...

Taking a
deep breath, Winry finished her shower, put on the clean underwear, wrapped the
towel around her, and dashed back toward the house.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

Alphonse
held the earrings tightly in his hand as he walked into the kitchen.� Pinako was rushing about the kitchen making
breakfast.� He could also see that she
was putting some food together for him and Russell to take when they left.� He bit gently on his lip.� She was already so busy...� Maybe he shouldn�t ask...

But at that
moment, Pinako caught sight of him and said in a brisk tone, �What is it?�

�Oh,
eh... um...�� At his stuttering, she
stopped and stared at him expectantly.�
�It�s nothing...� he finally said, deciding not to ask.�

She
folded her arms across her chest and smirked at him.� �Now, you look here.� I raised two boys and I got pretty damn good
at knowing when they wanted something.�
Spit it out.� I�m a busy woman.�

�I know,
that�s why I��

�Alphonse...�
she said in a slight warning tone.

�Alright,
well...�� He took a deep breath, then
said in a jumbled rush, �Winry gave me two of her earrings to make into a ring,
but I just can�t get myself to change their shape so I was thinking about
wearing them the way she does, so if you could help me, I�d really be grateful.�

Pinako
raised an eyebrow and stared quietly at him for a moment, then said, �I wish you�d
said something yesterday.�

�I know,�
Al said, feeling guilty.

�You do
know that we don�t have a lot of time, don�t you?�

�Of
course...�� He knew that better than anyone
else.

She
sighed and moved to wash her hands.� �I�m
not going to bother numbing your ears so it will be a little painful.�

Al waved
that away.� �I can handle a bit of
pain.�� It couldn�t possibly hurt that
much, he reasoned as he followed her out of the kitchen.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

Winry
hurried into the house and started toward the stairs, then stopped and rushed
toward the kitchen.� She�d completely
forgotten about needing someone to help her with getting the dress put on and
fastened.� Originally, Winry had planned
on having some of her female friends that she�d grown up with come and help
her, but now she didn�t think it would be a good idea.� They�d want to know why Al was rushing off,
and they were probably asleep right now anyway...

She stuck
her head in the kitchen, not wanting to walk right in with just a towel if
Russell was in there.� Glancing around,
she frowned when she didn�t see granny; in fact, no one was in there.�
Breakfast was half made and so was the food for Al and Russell�s
journey...� Suddenly, from another room
in the house, there was a loud yell.�
Winry turned quickly, recognizing the shout as Al�s, then gasped in
shock at seeing Russell standing right behind her.� He was so close that they were almost
touching.�

Winry clutched
at her towel, and took a step backward to increase the distance between them,
then said irritably, �You shouldn�t sneak up on people like that!�

Russell
raised an eyebrow and gave her a small smirk.�
�Is it my fault that you weren�t paying attention?�

She scowled
darkly, both at his tone and the condescending look he was giving her.� �What do you want?� she asked, feeling angry.

He
shrugged and moved past her.� �I was
asked to help with the food.�

Winry
opened her mouth to say something, then cut off when
she heard quick footsteps coming toward them.�
A moment later, Pinako walked into the kitchen, then
said, �Seriously.� Men have no real tolerance for pain.�� She turned to Winry and eyed her quickly
before saying, �Hurry up, Winry.� The
mayor should be here in about thirty minutes.�

�I�ll
need some help with the dress...� she said, feeling a little guilty for being a
burden.

Pinako
nodded.� �Go and start getting
ready.� Let me finish breakfast so that the
boys can eat and I�ll be up to help you.�

Winry
nodded and hurried out of the kitchen.�
She glanced in the direction the yell had come from, then
rushed up the stairs to her room.� It
hadn�t hurt that bad when she�d gotten her ears pierced...

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

Al took a
bite of his breakfast and tried to ignore Russell�s look of amusement, but it
was hard.� It was almost as if he was
enjoying the fact that Al�s ears still hurt, and it took an effort not to
whimper.� He definitely should have done
this last night when he could have had them numbed...� Not that they hurt horribly... anymore... it was just that they still throbbed...

He took
another bite, swallowed, then glared at Russell.� �Say it,� he growled.� Russell raised his eyebrows in a questioning
gesture.� �Do I really look that stupid?�
he asked, tired of the looks Russell was giving him.

With a
smirk, Russell said, �Yes.�

Al�s
mouth dropped open for a moment, almost in disbelief that his friend would be
so brutally honest, then took one more bite before picking his plate up,
dumping it in the sink, and leaving the kitchen.� He rushed up the stairs and glanced at
Winry�s bedroom door before heading into his own bedroom.� Shutting the door firmly, Al walked over to
the mirror above the dresser and looked at himself.�

He had to
admit that the small hoop earrings did look a little funny on him, but that�s
just because he wasn�t used to them, he was sure.� Frowning, Al turned his head one way then
another before groaning.� He did look strange.

The
gesture of wearing them was meant to be sort of... romantic, but no one else seemed to think of it that way.� Al gently touched one of the earrings, winced
at the twinges of pain, then turned his attention to
his clothes.� He was dressed in
nondescript traveling clothes; nothing to mark him as anything out of the
ordinary, but sadly nothing like he�d imagined he�d get married in...

Pushing
away from the mirror, Al sat heavily on the bed and stared dully down at the
floor.� It was almost so unfair that he
had to leave; unfair that they had to rush things...� Life had been going so smoothly before...� What had happened...?�

Winry
seemed to blame Russell, but the idea was ludicrous.� There was no way that Russell could have made
him and Winry fight, or have caused the military to show up in Rizembool, or
for those soldiers to be waiting on the road.�
It all just had to be a coincidence... right?

There was
a knock on his bedroom door before it opened and Russell said, �The mayor is
here.�

Al looked
up and studied Russell for a moment.� Was
he doing the right thing?� What if the
People�s Army wouldn�t help him?� What if Colonel Archer was waiting for Al to
try fleeing from Rizembool so that he could say, �See!� This is proof that he�s guilty!�� Was this just a set up to get Al to join up
with him?� Some sort of
twisted blackmail?� And the People�s Army...�
What if he never came back?� What
if something happened to him?� Winry
would be left a widow before she even had a chance to have a husband...

He looked
over at his suitcase and wondered if he was doing the right thing by marrying
her right now.� Should he have said no to
her?� Even if he should have, Al didn�t know if he would have been able to.� He wanted her to be happy; and by leaving, he
was only bringing her sadness...

�Are you
ready?� Russell asked, breaking into his thoughts.� �If you�re going to do this marriage thing,
you should do it so we can leave.� The
sun is almost fully up and we should be leaving... not having a wedding.� If you ask me, she was pretty selfish to have
even suggested this.�� He sounded
irritable, and Al gave him a dark glare.

Standing,
Al grabbed his suitcase and said, �It�s not selfish...� You just don�t understand...�

�Oh?�
Russell asked, folding his arms.� �Your
life is in danger and she wants to stop and marry you first?�

�If
anyone is being selfish, it�s me,� Al
said.� �If I would have just given in and
let her come with us, then she wouldn�t be asking for this.�� He sighed.�
�But I want her to be safe...� I
want to know she�s safe...� �He shook his
head.� �Besides... I want to get married
right now too.�

Al
started to walk past Russell when he said softly, �What�s wrong?� You afraid someone will snatch her up while
you�re gone?�� He stopped walking and
ground his teeth together in frustration and anger.� He wanted to say something against it, but
that was the biggest reason that he�d agreed to it...� �Perhaps, you�re afraid she doesn�t love you
as much as she says she does?� Russell asked in a whisper.�

Turning
his head, Al glared at Russell angrily.�
The tone in Russell�s voice suggested that he was amused by this line of
thought, yet when Al looked at him, his face showed no such thing.

�Let�s go
down stairs,� Al said tightly, then moving down the stairs.� Now wasn�t the time for this
discussion...� Winry did love him!� As much as Ed? his traitorous mind asked.�
Shut up! Al thought, walking
out the door and down the steps from the porch.�

�Where�s
the mayor?� Al asked, looking around.

�Upstairs
talking with Winry and Pinako,� Russell responded, then grinned.� �I got a look at her, by the way. �She looks nice.� Too bad you won�t get to sample the goods
before leaving.�� Al blinked, then
scowled and tried to ignore Russell�s comment, but his face was heating as he
thought about what he and Winry had done last night.

There was
a pause, then Russell said, �Oh, I see how it
is...�� Al looked at him.� �You�ve already
had a taste.� Tell me...�� Russell leered and said more quietly, �Was
she good?�

Al,
seething now, grabbed Russell�s shirt and pulled him close.� �You�d better shut the hell up!�� His breathing was short and labored, and his
hands twitched to punch Russell out, but Russell merely laughed and stared Al
in the eyes.

�Are you
going to do to me what you did to that soldier?� he whispered with a grin.

Memories
of being inside the soldier�s mind�of killing him�flashed before Al�s eyes and
his grip on Russell loosened.� He
squeezed his eyes shut, and turned his head away before letting go of Russell
completely.

�No...�
he whispered roughly, trying to fight the bile that was burning his throat now.� He�d never really wanted to kill anyone.�
He�d never wanted it to happen...�
Al squeezed his eyes shut even tighter and clenched his fists.� It was a lie�or rather, it wasn�t the whole
truth.� He�d never wanted to kill anyone
before, but in that moment of pure rage and desire to protect Winry, he had wanted to kill that man.

But to have actually done it...�

Al opened
his eyes when he heard the door open and looked up to see the mayor and Pinako
coming out and walking down the steps.�
Pinako stood off to one side of the steps and motioned for Russell to
come stand by her.� The mayor stood on
the other side and studied Al with a disapproving frown before scratching at
one of his ears and giving a forced smile.

�Are you
ready?� the mayor asked, his voice pleasant, but with a small hint of
dissatisfaction.�

Part of
him wanted to launch into an explanation about the earrings�he was sure that�s
why the mayor had frowned at him�but he had much more important things on his
mind than what the mayor thought of him.

In
nervous excitement, Al nodded and looked up at the porch expectantly.� His heart beat quickly in his chest and his
palms were sweating.� Every second
waiting for Winry to come out seemed like a thousand eternities.� When the front door opened again, his heart
stopped in his chest and Al could only stare in rapture as Winry walked out and
started slowly down the steps.��

Her
blonde hair fell down her back and over her shoulders in wide curls from where
it was pinned up at the back of her head.�
The simple, yet beautiful, white dress she was wearing had a scooped
neck and long, flowing sleeves.� The
skirt of the dress was so long that it hid her feet from view.� In her hands, Winry held a bouquet of wild
flowers, held together with a white ribbon.�
Her eyes were fixed on his and a radiant smile lit her face.�

As she
stepped next to him, Al whispered, �You look...�
You�re so...�� He couldn�t seem to
find the words that fit, so fell back on, �You look like an angel...�

Instead
of scowling, Winry smirked, �For someone who doesn�t believe in a god, you sure
do mention angels a lot.�

He smiled
softly.� �I believe in you...�

She
opened her mouth, closed it, then blushed and ducked her head in a way that was
so demure and very un-Winry-like.� �I
believe in you too...�

The sound
of a throat clearing sounded behind them, and Al looked to see Russell being
elbowed hard by Pinako.� She was
obviously displeased with him trying to rush this special moment.

�Are the
two of you ready?� the mayor asked.

Al looked
at Winry.� She was studying him with a
bemused smile, and it was his turn to blush.�
She must be thinking he looked really stupid with the earrings... he
thought self-consciously.� Why had he
ever thought this was a good idea?

She
looked at the mayor and nodded, then Al turned his
attention to the mayor as well and said, �Yeah, we�re ready.�

�Very good.� Now, face each other and hold
hands, if you please,� the mayor said, slipping a pair of wire-rimmed
spectacles on and opening a small book.�

Al and
Winry turned and reached out for each other.�
With their hands joined, Al felt a lump form in his throat.� They were creating a circle...� Just like in alchemy...� He smiled, wondering if Winry would laugh at
him if she knew he was thinking of alchemy at a time like this.

The mayor
cleared his throat, and said, �I usually prepare a speech when I perform
wedding ceremonies, but I must say that with the timing, I wasn�t able to do
so.� I might also be nosy and ask why the
quick wedding; and why you, Alphonse, are leaving in such a hurry, but in these
dark times, I think it�s better not to know some things.�

Al
glanced at the mayor, feeling grateful, but also knowing that it was probably
for the mayor�s benefit as much as his and Winry�s.�

�Now,
even though I don�t have a speech prepared, I do have a few things I�d like to
say to you.� Right now, the two of you
are beginning a great journey together, and there will be many hard times to
come.�

Al
glanced at his suitcase and swallowed hard.�
There were already hard
times...

�But,
there will also be good times as well,� the mayor continued.� �Cherish those moments.� Cherish each other.� Love each other and trust each other.� Put the wants and needs of the other before
your own, and try not to let the fire of your love go out over little rain
drops of disagreement.�

Winry
glanced down and squeezed his hand, before looking up and giving him a smile
that seemed as if it held pain as well as joy.

The mayor
cleared his throat and continued.� �Marriage
is not to be taken lightly.� The vows you
take today are not to be abandoned when inconvenient or when life becomes too
hard.� You must bond together and support
one another.� You must learn to
understand each other�s differences and learn to compromise.� And, in times of trial, you must turn to each
other for comfort from life�s storms, and no other.�

I could never be with anyone
else... Al
thought, gazing at Winry lovingly.

�Now... do
you have rings?� the mayor asked.

�We�ve
already exchanged them...� Winry said, holding up her hand, then, with a funny
look on her face, reaching up and gently touching one of the earrings in Al�s
ear.

�I see,�
the mayor said, glancing emotionlessly at Al�s ears.� �In that case, I�ll have the two of you
exchange vows.�(2)� He turned to face Al
more fully and said, �Alphonse Elric, do you take Winry Rockbell to be your
lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better,
for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do
you part?�

Al�s
throat constricted and he wasn�t sure if he�d be able to speak.� It seemed like such an obvious question.� Why else would he be here if not for those
reasons?� He searched Winry�s face,
squeezed her hands, and choked, �No... Not just until death.� Forever...��
He squeezed her hands again.�
�I�ll love you and cherish you forever...�� Winry smiled and he could see a shimmer of
tears in her eyes now.�

Turning
to Winry, the mayor said, �Winry Rockbell, do you take Alphonse Elric to be
your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for
better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until
death do you part?�

A tear
trickled down her cheek, but she didn�t bother to wipe it away.� She opened her mouth to speak, but only a
small squeak came out and she closed it.�
Swallowing hard and sniffling, she nodded, then
whispered hoarsely, �Always.�

�Then, as
the mayor of Rizembool township and surrounding
countryside, I pronounce you husband and wife.��
There was a slight pause, then a softer and more
gentle, �You may now kiss your lovely bride, Mister Elric.�

Al gazed
silently at Winry for a moment trying to commit this moment to memory�the quiet
morning; the soft and gentle breeze that made the strands of her hair tickle
her delicate skin; her moist, but happy eyes staring lovingly at him...� He never wanted to let her go...� Swallowing back the lump that was forming in
his throat, he stepped forward, gathered her in his arms, and gently pressed
his lips against hers.� Her arms wrapped
around him and held him back tightly.� Al
broke the kiss and hugged her, feeling both joyful and grief-stricken.� There was nothing he wanted more desperately
right now than to stay by her side...

�I love
you...� he whispered in her ear.� �I love
you... so much...� I wish...� I...�

�I love
you too,� Winry whispered back, then sniffled a little.� �Remember your promise...��

He pulled
back a little and searched her face.� She
was smiling, but another tear was just escaping one of her eyes.� Al reached up and brushed it away.� �Please don�t cry...� he said, his chest
tightening painfully.

�It�s because...� I�m so happy...� she said; and though that
might have been true, he doubted that was the only reason.�

�Will you
be alright?� he asked quietly.�

�Of
course,� she said in that stubborn way of hers.�
�You�d better call me or send me a letter as soon as you can.�� It was more of a demand than a request and it
made Al smile.

�I will.�

Stepping
back, Al shook the mayor�s hand, then gave Pinako a
hug before looking at Russell and reluctantly saying, �We�d better go...�

Russell
nodded, then stuck out his hand.� �Congratulations.�� Al shook it, then
watched as Russell offered his hand to Winry.�
�Misses Elric, congratulations,� he said.� Winry gave him a distasteful look, but
quickly shook his hand anyway.

Al picked
up his suitcase and gave a heavy sigh.�
It seemed as if it weighed a hundred tons...� Turning, he gave Winry another hug and
kiss.� �I have to go...� he said in a
reluctant and breathy voice.

She
nodded, and he turned and started down the road with Russell following
him.� Every step was agony and it took
everything he had within himself not to throw his suitcase down and run back to
his new wife, or to tell her that she could come along.�

He had to
keep her safe, and this was the best thing...�

Stopping,
Al turned and waved.� Just one more look...� Winry waved
back with a smile on her face.� He smiled
back, then started way once more, feeling so very
weak.� She was so much stronger than he
was...

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

Pinako
watched as Al and Russell started away and blinked her eyes to make the
stinging go away.� So many of her family
had been taken away by war, and though Alphonse said he wasn�t joining with the
rebellion, she knew how easy it was to get involved.�

When Al
stopped and waved to them from a distance, Pinako turned and watched as Winry
lifted one of her hands and waved back with a smile on her face�though Pinako
thought it looked forced.

Then, Al
turned away and, after a moment, Winry�s smile faltered and her hand fell down
to her bouquet.� Her other hand was
already holding it tightly, but Winry wrapped the hand she�d waved with around
it anyway.� It seemed to be something she
could do with her hands�something to keep them occupied.

Pinako
looked back the way the two boys had gone.�
They were almost out of sight...�
A small sniffle caught her attention and she glanced back at Winry to
see her clenching her teeth and fat tears silently falling down her cheeks.� Then, after another short moment, Winry fell
to her knees, doubled up on herself, and pressed her forehead against the
ground.� Large sobs shook her body and it
seemed all the girl could do to not start wailing.

The mayor
caught Pinako�s attention long enough for him to let
her know he would leave them alone, then she moved
over to Winry and knelt down beside her.�
With slow strokes, Pinako quietly rubbed Winry�s back.� There was nothing she could say to make it
better; nothing she could do.� Life was
such a cruel thing sometimes...

�He�ll
come back, right...?� Winry sobbed.�
�He... promised...� He�ll be
fine...�

Pinako
pressed her lips together, but said nothing for a moment.� Truthfully, she didn�t know if Al would come
back.� War and conflict had taken many
people away from her, and she feared that it wasn�t done taking.� Would it be cruel to give Winry false
hope?� Of course, Alphonse and Edward had
always come home before.� They�d always
made it through whatever problems they faced...�
But this was different...

�I think
he will...� Pinako finally said, and hoped, for Winry�s sake, that she was
right.�

--

1 � You�ll remember that when Ed
was at the Rockbell�s house he showered outside.

2 � I�m using the traditional
Catholic wedding vows as a reference here because many civil marriage vows have
been adapted from them, and because they�re so well known.

--

Sorry
this took so long to get out.� I�ll try
to get the next chapter up sooner. ^_^

--

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Descent