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Lessons in Life and Love	By : NekoEro Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > Het - Male/Female > Ed/Winry Views: 7554 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and make no money from writing this fanfic

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Title: Equivalent Exchange Part 2

Author: NekoEro/HaganeNeko/ (formerly) alchemyotaku75

Pairing: EdxWinry

Rating: MA/NC-17 Warnings for explicit sexual situations. This section is PG-13/Teen

Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist/Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (鋼の錬金術師) belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, Bones, TBS, Square Enix, Viz, and Funimation. No infringement is intended. Written for entertainment purposes only; I make nothing from this fic.

Here's Part 2 of the third and final story in the Lessons in Life and Love series, which includes Slippery When Wet and You Can't Hurry Love.

Summary: AU Futurefic. Ed has grown far too comfortable in his intimate relationship with Winry and his self-centeredness, coupled with his tendency to be an outright oblivious idiot, leads to their breakup. Will Ed learn what love really is and that there’s more to being a man than just being of legal age and being in a sexual relationship? This is Part 2 of the third and final of three stories in the “Lessons in Life and Love” series.

There's sure to be typos, but thanks to aff's so-called improvements, I can no longer fix them: there is no way I can get back into a chapter to edit it. It's hell on earth to post the damn thing as it is...

Equivalent Exchange Part 2

Ed’s tongue slipped out from between his lips as he concentrated on targeting one of the many colored pegs a short distance beyond the counter. With a flick of his wrist, the wooden ring sailed to settle onto another red peg, making it the fourth in a row.

“Yes!” he hissed triumphantly, jabbing a fist into the air. “We get our pick!”

The game attendant looked nothing less than surprised; obviously, this didn’t happen very often.

He flashed Winry a cocky grin. “Told you I could do it!” He nodded at the various prizes that lined the shelves at the rear of the booth, encouraging her to make a choice. Her initial frown of disapproval momentarily dampened his victory, but practically swiped at his brow with relief when her frown shifted into a smirk.

“Edward, you don’t have to be so cocky about winning…but…”

Winry touched a finger to her chin. Her brows furrowed as she perused the prizes on the top shelf, and after passing over costume jewelry, many different carved figures and several large stuffed animals, she settled on an unusual choice.

“I think I’d like…the stuffed panda, the one on the end of the shelf.”

Ed turned back to the attendant, “You heard the lady, she’d like that stuffed panda,” he said with a playful lilt and pointed at the toy.

Even though he’d lost one of his more valuable prizes, the man turned it over to Winry with a smile. “Here ya go, miss! I’m glad ‘ole Hector is going home with such a pretty lady.”

Winry blushed then smiled. “Thanks.”

Ed chuckled and slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Why in the world did you choose that thing?” he asked, herding her away from the ring toss booth and through the light crowd of fellow revelers.

“It reminds me of Xiao Mei, which reminds me of Mei Chang,” she responded, holding the bear close in her crossed arms.

“The bean girl?!” Ed ground to a halt, bringing her to a stop also, “Why’d ya hafta bring her up?” He had intended his words to be playful, but they came off as irritated instead.

Annoyance passed through the depths of Winry’s eyes to be replaced with a soft wistfulness. “They’re our friends, Ed. Ling, LanFan, Mei, are all our friends and I miss them.”

The young alchemist nodded in silent agreement. “Me, too, Win. I even miss that pain in the ass, Ling.” Winry’s answering laugh surprised Ed and he frowned at her.

“He certainly did know how to push your buttons, didn’t he?” she quipped, grinning up at him.

A sour expression passed over Ed’s face before he let out a laugh, “That he did. Damn mooch.” He urged Winry to start walking again, heading nowhere in particular.

“Isn’t Al in Xing right now?”

“Yeah, he’s studying alkahestry with the bean girl.”

Winry nudged him in the ribs with an elbow, “She has a name, Ed. It’s Mei.”

Ed thrust out his lower lip, “Oh, c’mon, cut me some slack. For once I’m really taller than someone else, and after all the grief she gave me about my height, turnabout’s fair play.”

“Is it that, or are you jealous of the fact Al really likes her?”

Ed huffed. “Why should I be jealous of one of his dozen or so girlfriends? One’s good enough for me.”

“Edward, I’ll take that as a compliment, even though it didn’t come out like one,” was Winry’s rueful response, “And Al doesn’t have a dozen girlfriends. He has one. Mei Chang. All these other girls you think are his girlfriends are simply just friends. That’s all.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever,” Edward dismissed her words with a wave of his hand. He really wasn’t interested in Al’s love life, even though it grated on him that Al had tested the waters of male-female relationships long before Winry had made her romantic interest known to him.

An intriguing scent tickled his senses as they passed by several food booths, and Edward shuffled to a halt to test the air as one particular scent caught his attention.

“What is it, Ed?” Winry queried as he swiveled his head about to locate the delectable smell that beckoned to him.

“Something smells really good,” he said, still looking about.

“Ed! I swear you could eat twenty-four hours a day!”

He just shrugged. “Hey, I’m still growing.”

“Yeah. You’ve grown out,” she retorted wryly as she patted his still flat stomach.

Ed glared at her. For an instant, he felt like pitching one of his famous fit-rants, but simply smiled instead. “Y’know, I could say the same about you, considering how much you packed away at dinner last night.”

Now it was Winry’s turn to be angry. “Ed,” she intoned, indicating he was treading on dangerous ground.

Ed caught his slip. “Sorry, sorry! Just kidding!” he rattled off nervously.

“You’d better be!”

Ed shifted directions as he followed his nose, herding Winry along with him. Shortly, they approached a tidy booth that had the scent of roasting meat wafting from it.

The couple sampled meat skewered on sticks and cooked over hot coals, then wandered about the food booths to try other interesting delicacies like vegetables dipped in a batter and deep fried, fire roasted sweet potatoes, and topped it all off with a sweet that Winry particularly liked, rice dumplings skewered on a stick and topped with an interesting sweet-salty sauce.

As they finished their treats, Winry noticed several people walking about the festival with paper lanterns in different shapes and sizes with unique markings on the sides. This piqued her interest, and when she noticed a booth that had several on display, she pulled Ed toward it.

“What--?” Ed started, but fell silent when he saw the curiosity on his girlfriend’s face. He followed without further protest.

Many shelves lined the small booth and on them sat a variety of box lamps of different sizes. All were made of plain white paper with simplified images on two of the faces. Winry pored over them eagerly while Ed looked on with bored disinterest. When the vendor finished with a customer, he approached the young couple.

“Have you bought your lanterns for the ‘Lights of Remembrance’ ceremony? He was a pleasant man, with black hair and eyes as dark as coal. A pair of round frame glasses was perched at the end of his nose. Ed thought he looked rather Xingese, but with some minor facial structure differences.

“’Lights of Remembrance’ ceremony?” Ed parroted, “What’s that?”

“You buy or make a paper box lantern attached to a bit of wood to help keep it afloat, and place a candle in its center. Then everyone gathers at the river, lights the candle, and sets the lanterns afloat on the water. Shortly after that, fireworks are set off. It’s to remember loved ones that have passed on, and all our ancestors, to help light their way back to the world of the dead. It’s the custom of a country even further east than Xing, and the celebration is held once a year, usually in summer.” The man shrugged, “Now that the festival is also being held here in Amestris, it was decided that it would be held in fall, instead.”

Winry’s eyes grew misty, and she nodded, “That sounds like a wonderful idea, Ed. Why don’t we buy some and participate.”

“Sounds silly to me,” he grumbled, only to bite his tongue when Winry threw him a wounded look. He relented, not wanting to upset her over something she obviously felt so strong about.

“Well, I’m going to buy one,” she declared without hesitation. After another moment of scrutinizing the different types, Winry selected a simple, square one with cranes painted in loose brush strokes, adorning it. When Ed reached for his wallet to pay she looked up at him, puzzled that he hadn’t chosen one for himself.

“Aren’t you going to get one?”

“Nah. It’s not my thing.”

“Don’t you want to pay your respects to your Mom and Dad?”

At this, Ed cast her an astonished look. Seconds later, it changed into a scowl.

“My dad.” He spat the word out as if it were bitter. “Why should I pay any respects to him.” He turned his head and pretended to be interested in a young couple walking past.

“Edward, I know you don’t hate your father anymore,” Winry chastised gently, “Al told me that he offered to sacrifice himself in order to bring him back. And that he never intended to leave your mother, Al, and you alone for so long, that he had a really good reason for being away.”

Ed remained silent. Even though he had learned much about Hohenheim just before his death, he still hadn’t completely sorted out all his feelings concerning his father. Al had never really given up on their old man and had never needed to forgive him, but Ed had been unable, or unwilling, to sort through the confusion that troubled him whenever he thought of Hohenheim.

He felt Winry take his arm and give it a gentle squeeze, and met her calm, bright gaze.

“Buy a lantern for your parents, Ed. Please. Do it for me,” she entreated then smiled.

His resolve wavered, then crumbled. “Fine. I’ll buy one.”

His choice was a plain lantern, and he was paying the vendor when the man asked, “Would you folks like to write something on them?” He extended a brush and shallow dish of ink to the couple with a smile.

“Write something?” Ed and Winry asked in near-unison.

A knowing grin crossed the man’s face, “That’s right, this is your first ‘Lights of Remembrance’ ceremony, isn’t it?” When he got a hesitant nod from the pair, he elaborated, “I told you that the lanterns are lit and set upon the river in order to light your departed ones way to the other side, right?” Affirmative nods answered him again. “Most people write the names of the ones they want to remember, or a short message to them.”

“Message?” Winry cocked her head a bit, “What kind of message?”

“Whatever you wish, Miss,” the merchant replied.

Winry tucked her stuffed toy deeper into the crook of her elbow and took the brush from the man. She began to write something on one face of the lantern, then the other, before handing Ed the brush.

“What?” he asked, annoyance lacing his voice.

“Ed, certainly you have something to say. At the very least, to your mother,” she reminded him and offered the brush again, this time with a decisive shake.

After a reluctant pause Ed took the brush, only to stand and stare at the lantern absently. A moment later he scrawled something on one of the paper panels then handed the brush back to the merchant, who then swished it in a container of water to clean it.

“That will be 1000 cenz, please,” the dark haired man said cheerfully as he held his hand out. When Ed paid him, he pointed in the direction of the riverbank on the other side of the park. “You had best hurry! The ceremony will be starting soon!”

The couple thanked him and shuffled through the thinning crowd in thoughtful silence. They wound around the festival booths, eventually ending up near the river, and Winry led Ed to a quiet spot along the bank, away from the other participants. The silence between then lingered on a few moments longer as he struggled with an inner conflict. Winry waited patiently, gazing out over the dark water flowing past at a lazy pace.

Ed looked down at the paper craft as he turned it in his hands. “Win,” he murmured, “Do you think there’s something else beyond this life?” Out of the corner of his vision he could see her look up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion. “I mean…do you think there’s life after death?”

Winry remained silent for a long moment, fiddling with her own lantern.

“I can’t say. I’d like to think there is, but no one can say for sure.” She walked a few steps ahead, stopping at the water’s edge. “I often wonder if Mom and Dad have gone on to something else. Part of me wants to believe they have, because if they didn’t, they’re just…gone.”

Still not looking up, Ed nodded in thoughtful agreement. “All my life, I never really believed in a god; I still don’t, at least not the way other people do. But I never really tried to think about it. I mean, for five years, me and Al were on this dangerous quest, and I tried to ignore the fact there might be nothing waiting for me beyond this existence if I died.”

Winry turned enough to peer over her shoulder at him. “I know. I thought about that everyday after we were separated at Briggs.”

There was a quiet moment of unspoken understanding between them then Ed joined her on the riverbank.

“I never meant to make you worry.”

“I know.”

The couple simply smiled at one another in the dim light. In spite of their history of incomplete communication, in this instant they understood each other’s thoughts perfectly without the need to say anything.

Further down the shore someone shouted, drawing the couple’s attention. Even though the command was unintelligible, its intent was obvious as people started to cast their lanterns onto the quiet current of the river. Miniature ships traveled out and away from the bank, creating a breathtaking procession of tiny lights and it became obvious why this simple ceremony was considered symbolic of a soul’s journey to the other world.

Ed produced a match from his pocket and struck it on the side of his boot. He first lit Winry’s lantern, then his own. Winry bent and released her’s, giving it a gentle shove so the current could capture it.

“Goodbye Mom, Dad. I miss you,” she mumbled as she stood. Winry dabbed at the tear that slid down her cheek and Ed could hear her sniffle as she quietly mourned for her parents.

He sent his lantern on its way and watched as it was also swept away, closely following Winry’s. “I miss you, Mom,” he whispered, then, the words “Thanks, Dad,” came unbidden from his lips. Ed ignored Winry’s wide-eyed astonishment as she turned to him. Instead, he tipped his head back to look up at the stars made faint by Central’s streetlights, trying his best to not let her see the tears that threatened to fill his own eyes. He noticed in passing that clouds were starting to block out the points of light and realized that rain might be on the way when his automail ports twinged with pain.

“Ed?” Winry beckoned softly. She shifted closer to hug his arm and tipped her head against his shoulder.

The first volley of fireworks interrupted their quiet introspection as they shot upward into the night sky and burst into a multitude of colorful blossoms. Ed watched in fascination as several more rounds rocketed upward to explode in a riot of color. Beside him Winry gasped and he turned to find her gazing skyward, the bright colors reflecting off her face as she gaped in amazement at the spectacle of light. Her expression was so innocent and childlike that Ed’s heart swelled with emotion, one that he now understood and accepted: unconditional love.

Without analyzing the moment he leaned down, startling Winry as he blocked her view, and sweetly kissed her. At first, Winry stiffened, then relaxed as she accepted his gentle display of affection; she even allowed him to deepen the kiss when he gathered her close. There was no guile in his actions, just an intimate expression of his deepest feelings, and the kiss lingered as the fireworks continued to light the night sky.

%%%%%

Even though they made a mad dash the last block to Ed’s apartment, the pair was still drenched to the skin by the time they reached the front entrance of a modest brick building. Lightening brightened the night sky as Ed tugged at the door handle and Winry cringed at the following clap of thunder. She ducked past him, grateful to finally be out of the rain.

Ed followed her and stood in the vestibule, looking like a drowned rat. He grimaced at the sodden toy he held under his arm. “I don’t think ‘Ol Hector’ survived the weather very well.”

Winry sized up the stuffed animal’s condition. It appeared to be in even worse shape than she felt. “Can’t he be dried out?”

Ed nodded. “Yeah, I can use alchemy once we get upstairs.” He raised an eyebrow when Winry shuddered violently. “I think we’d better take care of you, first.”

He ushered Winry up to the second floor and she uneasily eyed the door they stopped at. This was the first time she had been to Ed’s apartment, and while it surprised her that he had settled down enough to actually rent living accommodations, it was the fact they were here alone that concerned her most.

Ed worked the key in the lock then pushed inside. He flicked on the lamp perched on a small table just inside and opened the door further. When Winry hesitated, he turned expectantly, waiting for her to enter. Would it be wise to take him up on his hospitality? A heavy clap of thunder muffled by the building’s brick exterior reminded her that it was still raining heavily outside. Her hotel was at least three blocks away, which meant walking there was out of the question.

“Winry?” Ed asked, drawing her attention, “Aren’t you coming in?”

Another shiver wracked her body and Winry decided his warm apartment was much better than facing the elements again. She pushed back her reluctance and shuffled inside, stopping to take in the dimly lit room as Ed closed the door behind her.

Even in the reduced light she could see that the apartment was sparsely furnished, with only an overstuffed armchair and an ottoman sitting near the window of the all-inclusive room. The battered side table next to the slightly threadbare burgundy chair sported another lamp and a small stack of books. Behind the chair and to the side of the window, a tall bookshelf stood against the wall. In the space opposite the chair, a tiny sink, stove, refrigerator, and a couple of cabinets made up the kitchenette. The far end of the room was barely separated from the living area by the suggestion of an arch and Winry could make out an unmade bed in the deep shadows in the back. There were no pictures on the walls or rugs on the simple plank floor, making the living space feel very sterile and uninviting despite the close quarters.

The lock clicked loudly as Ed set it, causing Winry to flinch.

Setting the stuffed toy on the meager kitchen counter, Ed slipped out of his soaked jacket and hung it on a coat rack next to the door.

“You’ll catch a cold if you don’t get into something dry,” He hesitated on his way to the darkened sleeping area to glance back at her, “You’re welcome to take a hot shower to warm up, if you like. I’ll lay out one of my clean shirts and get you some towels.”

“Actually…” Winry started, unsure how to tell him she would rather leave and still not hurt his feelings, “If you wouldn’t mind, could you call a cab for me?”

Ed frowned. His shoulders sagged slightly as he turned away. “My intentions are pure, Winry. I only want you to get warm and dry so you don’t get sick,” he scolded quietly. He continued on without looking back. “I’ll get a clean towel and some clothes for you,” he repeated over his shoulder as he disappeared into the shadows.

A stab of guilt shot through her. The evening had been so wonderful, and even when Ed had kissed her on the riverbank it had been innocent and sweet. Perhaps it was time to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust both him and herself when they were alone together.

“You’re right, Ed,” she mustered as much confidence in her voice as she could, “I’d best get warmed up, first. Thank you.”

“ ’Welcome,” came his remote, muffled grunt from the other chamber of the apartment.

%%%%%

The towel, while rougher than she was accustomed to, felt good on her pinked skin as she finished drying off. Winry slipped into the shirt Ed had offered, and was grateful her panties had managed to escape the rain’s invasion into her clothing. She much rather wear her own underwear than to borrow a pair of Ed’s boxers.

After hanging her pants and blouse over the shower railing, she exited the bathroom. A shiver seized her as the cooler air of the bedroom washed over her and temporarily dispelled the feeling of contentment brought on by the hot shower. Upon emerging from the sleeping area, Winry found Ed lounging in the armchair, his damp hair now down around his shoulders, reading a book in the pool of light cast by the lamp on the side table. He was dressed in one of his old sleeveless black knit shirts and a pair of light blue boxers, causing Winry to smile at the familiar sight. Memories of childhood and home returned to her, filling her with a sense of safety and a touch of nostalgia.

This was the Ed she had known since childhood, the boy that had always thirsted after knowledge and spent much of his time with his nose buried in a book. Even now that he had completed his quest and had returned his little brother back to normal, he was still pursuing some form of information to enlighten himself with.

“I feel much better, thank you,” she said, breaking the silence and Ed’s focus. Ed snapped upright as he was startled from his reading. He slapped the volume closed and hastily placed the book face down on the stack. She caught an odd, almost guilty look on his face before he masked it behind a smile.

“Good! Sit here and I’ll get us some tea.” He rose from the chair in a fluid movement and stepped past her. It was then Winry noticed an iron teapot atop the tiny stove and two mismatched mugs sitting on the counter next to a now dry Hector. “You still take sugar in your tea, don’t you?”

“Yes.” she replied then added, “I also like milk, but I know you don’t have any on hand, so just sugar is fine.”

She smiled at Ed’s irritated snort over her snide but playful remark. He poured the hot liquid into the two mugs and added a generous amount of sugar to one. A puzzled look crossed his face when he turned and saw that Winry was still standing. He nodded at the chair again.

“Sit.”

“But where will you sit?” she asked, glancing about the tiny apartment for another chair.

“On the footrest,” he replied, careful to not upset the tea as he approached her.

Winry stifled the urge to laugh; she still had a hard time accepting Ed’s new behavior and it felt so odd when he acted like a gentleman. Still, it was a nice change, and she relished this new maturity immerging from his usually volatile personality.

She took him up on his offer and eased into the armchair. Curling her legs beneath her, Winry looked up when Ed handed her a steaming mug. Facing her, he settled onto the plushy upholstered ottoman. She breathed in the aromatic vapors, took a tentative sip, and was very surprised to discover that Ed could make a decent cup of tea.

“S’good,” she mumbled and savored another careful taste.

“Thanks. Al brought this back from Xing a few months ago.”

“He spends a lot of time there, doesn’t he?” She sipped at the soothing liquid again. “Do you miss Al? I mean, you two were inseparable when you were kids, so does it feel strange that you don’t see him all that often anymore?”

An indifferent shrug shifted his shoulders. “Yeah, kinda. But he was trapped in that suit of armor for so long that I can’t fault him for wanting to find new experiences.”

“Why didn’t you go with him? It’s not like you to stay in one place and take on an apartment. I’ve known you all my life and you’ve never been able to sit still for very long.”

Ed lifted his eyes and scrutinized her for a long moment. Winry shuddered as she met his steady gaze; it always seemed like he could see right through her with those brilliant, piercing eyes, as if he could see into her very being.

“I found something worth staying for,” came his enigmatic reply.

Winry squirmed when his gaze softened. In that instant, she knew what, or more accurately, whom he had stayed in Amestris for. She looked away, suddenly feeling shy, and shifted her focus to the books on the side table.

“What are you reading?” she asked, setting the mug down next to them and reaching for the top book.

Ed practically launched himself off the padded footrest, startling Winry and causing her to flinch backwards. “N-nothing important!” he sputtered, slapping his natural hand down on the stack. It was nothing short of a miracle he hadn’t spilled his tea, and her curiosity was replaced with confusion at the panicked light in his eyes. She blinked then cocked a skeptical eyebrow as she settled back onto the cushion.

“O-kay.” She drawled, allowing Ed his secret, whatever it was. After all, he was Edward Elric, the youngest State Alchemist in Amestris’ history, so it had to be yet another stuffy alchemy book he was reading. She watched Ed gather up the pile and carry them to the lone bookshelf where he shoved them into an empty spot on the top shelf.

“More tea?” he asked and Winry could swear he sounded a bit nervous. He retrieved his mug from the side table and held a hand out for hers.

Winry glanced down at her cup. “I haven’t finished this one yet.”

“Would you like some cookies? I bought them yesterday at the bakery down the street. Chocolate chip. They’re very good.”

Winry could swear he sounded a bit nervous and his anxious posture and movements spoke of a guilty secret, but she decided that calling him out wouldn’t be a prudent idea at the moment. “That’s fine. I bet they’d taste good with this tea.”

Ed retrieved a plate from the cupboard and made an attempt to arrange the cookies in a decorative manner instead of serving them straight from the box.

“How’s things back home?” he asked over his shoulder as he topped off his cup, “Is the old hag still doing well?”

“Granny is doing fine. She isn’t making as much automail as she used to because she’s developed arthritis in her hands. I’ve pretty much taken over the business since I finished my apprenticeship.” Winry squinted at the bookshelf, straining to read the spines of the books Ed had just moved. The corner of the room was too dimly lit for her to see them well. Ed approached again and she quickly turned back to cover up her interest.

“You’re done in Rush Valley, then? I bet Garfiel misses having you around.” Ed placed the plate and his mug on the side table and settled onto the ottoman, “You were the best mechanic that place has ever seen, so I know you were quite the feather in his cap.” He met her gaze again and she could see something akin to worry there. “Do you plan on going back and starting your own shop?”

“No, at least not until Granny passes.” She felt a twinge of sadness at the thought but pushed it away. She absently reached for a cookie and bit into it.

“Would you stay in Resembool if you had a reason to?”

She shrugged, frowned. Winry hadn’t really given much thought as to where she might settle down and start her own career. While Rush Valley certainly did have a steady influx of customers, part of her didn’t want to leave the quiet foothills where she and two tow-headed boys grew up together. “It depends, I guess,” she said after a lengthy hesitation.

When she didn’t continue her thought, Ed persisted. “Depends on what?”

This line of questioning bewildered the mechanic and she found Ed’s persistence vexing. She scowled. “Ed what’s with the twenty questions?

He threw her a rakish grin and shrugged. “Just making conversation, that’s all.”

“You’ve never been that interested in my future before, so it makes no sense why you would be now.”

Ed became sulky and turned away. The extended bout of silence was broken by another flash of lightning followed very closely by a clap of thunder, causing Winry to jump. Rain lashed harder against the window as the rumbling trailed off in uneven fits. She watched as the glass sheeted over with water and realized it would be some time before she could leave; the storm was only ramping up. It would be difficult to return to her hotel room now, even by cab.

She turned back to Ed and studied him for a long moment, taking in his defensive posture. The expression on his face was a mixture of anger and hurt, and she immediately regretted her sharp words. He was trying so hard to please her, to share some of his feelings, and she had cut him off without considering how it might affect him. This was definitely a more mature Ed. If this conversation had happened a year before, the man-child he had been then would have snarled something rude and walked away. A soft sigh escaped her and Winry cast her gaze to the floor.

“Sorry. That was mean. I shouldn’t have said—”

“You’re right,” he broke in, his attention still fixed on the rainstorm raging outside the window. After a few seconds, he turned to lock eyes with her, “At one time, I wasn’t concerned about your future, because I was too preoccupied with my own, about how I was going to get Al back to normal. That, and I knew you would be okay, because you’re smart, and talented, and strong.” He drew his flesh hand over his face as if trying to wipe away something troubling then hung his head. “All that was before I made things right again, and realized just how I felt about you.”

“Ed?”

He continued on as if he hadn’t heard her, “Then I messed up everything, and when you didn’t want to see me anymore, I…I…” Ed huffed a self-disparaging laugh. “When you kicked me out of your life, all I knew was I had to get you back again, that I had to make things right, for you, this time. To treat you like you should be treated. To show you the respect you deserve.” The intensity in his eyes when they returned to hers both sent a chill down her spine and warmed her heart at the same time. “I owe you everything, Winry. If not for you, I would never have been able to bring Al back.”

“Thanks for giving me a leg to stand and an arm to help me through my burdens.”

The following silence was punctuated by another rumble of thunder. Winry could feel tears of emotion, of joy, well up and she wiped at her eyes to prevent them from falling. “Glad I could help,” finally came her hushed reply.

Ed didn’t stir at first then grinned over his shoulder at her. “Machine junkie.”

“Alchemy freak.”

They grinned at one another, diffusing the tension between them. He reached for her hand and she blinked in astonishment when he pulled it to his lips to kiss the back of it. Yes, she liked this version of Ed very much; it was him but…more affectionate.

To be continued in Part 3

Final note: ‘The Lights of Remembrance’ ceremony is based on the Japanese summer festival of Oban.
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Lessons in Life and Love