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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
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 9� Within Despair

�Where
exactly are we now?� Edward looked around before glancing back at his brother
and mother.� �Nothing looks familiar to me.�� He found himself standing in the
hallway of an unfamiliar house and started walking it.

Alphonse
looked over his shoulder, �I have no idea where we are.�� He could hear
conversation coming from around the corner.� �It sounds like Fuehrer Bradley
and Lieutenant Hawkeye are speaking.�

�I think
that we are currently in former Fuehrer Bradley�s home.� Trisha said, looking
around.

�What
are we doing here? What exactly is the purpose for us being here in this
house?� Edward scratched the back of his head in confusion.

With a
snap of his fingers, Alphonse turned towards his older brother.� �Perhaps this
is what was happening with the Colonel when we went off to find Dante.�
Remember?� The Colonel was going to��

Edward
interrupted him, �Yeah, I remember.� He looked to his mother who smiled
lightly.

�It must
be of some importance or else you wouldn�t be here.� Trisha said and she turned
to look at the scene before them starting to play out.� �Perhaps you are here
to see that it wasn�t just what you had gone through that was important, but
everyone played their important parts.�

Following
the Fuehrer into the cellar room, Edward, Alphonse and Trisha were able to see�

�Why am
I not surprised that you decided to face me alone,� Roy Mustang�s deep voice
penetrated the silence of the cellar and Edward groaned at hearing it and
seeing him.

Edward
really did not want to see anything involving Mustang; he felt a nudge in his
side and turned a glare on his brother.

�It�s
important so pay attention.� Alphonse implored, he really wanted to get home
and he hoped his brother wasn�t determined to not learn from this.

Bradley
turned around to face his enemy, �Your behavior leads me to assume that this
isn�t the first time you betrayed my trust.�

Roy�s eyes narrowed, �You�ve got a helluva lot of nerve
lecturing me about betrayal.�

Taking a
step closer, Bradley stared Mustang down but noticing that it really didn�t effect
him, he would have to show him the truth.� �Are you referring to the fact that
I am a homunculus.� He lifted the eye patch to reveal the evidence

Flinching
slightly and cringing barely visible, Roy would not address that being one of the main points for
this.� �Whether or not you can call yourself a human being is a non-issue as
far as I�m concerned, Bradley.�� It really was only half of the issue, the
other was all who suffered and lives that were stolen all because of the damned
stone that Bradley wanted.

�Then
what�s the problem?� Bradley intoned in slight wonder, if that wasn�t the fact
of this uprising.� It made little difference to him, since Mustang knew the
truth he wouldn�t leave this place alive.� �Ever since I�ve become Fuehrer I�ve
done nothing but improve this country by winning wars, purging our population
and exponentially expanding our territory.�

Roy sneered, �You couldn�t care less about the state.� All you
wanted was the Philosopher Stone.� You started those conflicts because you knew
people would push to despair by war and tend to seek refuge in the stone.�

�He had
been prime example of that only he never desired the stone as a way to end the
pain.� Trisha said to Edward and Alphonse, �He lived in his terror, welcomed it
as that was what he felt he deserved.�

�If
you�re trying to get me to feel sorry for Mustang...� Edward crossed his arms
over his chest, �Well it�s not going to work,� He fibbed a little, perhaps it
was getting to him a little.� The way Mustang spoke, there was a lot of power
behind it, a lot of pain.� Had Winry heard that, did she think she could fix
him like he was broken Automail?

�People
are foolish.� Bradley said coldly.

�Foolish
enough to let you profit off their pain and suffering.� Roy nearly shouted, so
much anger driving him now.

Bradley
tightened his hand about his sword�s hilt.� �You got me all wrong.� To stop the
human race from leading itself to ruin I intervene and take the stone.� Thereby
preventing its use.� I think of myself one of God�s guardian angels.�

The
horrid look on Roy�s face spoke volumes as well as the hard tone of his
voice, �There�s no such thing as God.�

Alphonse
turned to Edward, �At least you two agree about that.� He saw his brother roll
his eyes and he turned back to the Colonel and former Fuehrer.

�We
can�t know that for sure.� Bradley replied, �However devils do exist.� They�re
the alchemists who dare to get in my way.� His strike with a slashing of his
sword was fast like lightning and Mustang moved just in time to avoid the hit
making it so the human couldn�t perform his alchemy.� �How unfortunate, a quick
slash of my sword changes the air current, disrupting your precious alchemic
reactions.� How can you expect to manipulate the air�s composition if it�s
constantly in flux.� He attacked again and with deadly precision, Mustang moved
about trying to avoid hit after hit, when he made contact.

Blood
and pain, Roy
sucked in a deep breath.� Bradley was too fast, he needed to think of something
and quick.� He was watching the way the homunculus moved and calculating a move
that might cost him his life, but perhaps it was the only chance he had.

�My
ultimate eye sees your alchemy at work.� Bradley slashed at him, �Even if you
could draw a flame, it wouldn�t have any accuracy.�� He struck again, cutting
Mustang and drawing more blood.

It was a
small price to pay as Roy did not really try to dodge and allowed himself get cut,
on the down movement of the sword after it had made contact with him, he was
able to snap his fingers and throw an explosion.

�Edward
noticed that his mother had tilted her head and was concentrating on
something.� �What�s the matter?�

�I was
just listening to�� She immediately quieted down and snapped her fingers, and
another scene appeared to the left of them.

Winry
was with Scieszka and they were walking back to the house.

�Do you
think he�ll come back?�

Smiling,
Winry stopped walking and stood by the tree that she, Edward and Alphonse used
to play on when they were kids.� �He better,� She said lightheartedly.� �I
still can�t shake this feeling I have.� She sat down on the swing, and fingered
the small red jewel that hung around her neck.

�You
worry too much, Winry.� Everything will go well, I just know it.� Scieszka sat
down in the grass.

�What if
Ed and Al never come back?� Winry started swinging a little, hanging her head.�
�I wished those two were more open with me, they never tell me anything.�

�They
seem to do it to protect you though, Winry.� Scieszka sighed, �I can see how
much you all mean to each other.�

Winry
leaned back in the swing so that her hair hung down and almost touched the
grass.� �I guess you�re right about that.� I hope they are all okay.� She
lifted herself up right.� �And when they come back, I�ll tell them the truth.�

�The
truth regarding the Colonel?� Scieszka asked, having no idea that Mustang had
received a promotion.

Smiling
lightly and leaning the side of her head against the rope of the swing, �Yeah,
I should be honest with them, no matter how much it will anger Edward.�

�It sure
sounds like he really hates the Colonel, they way he acted.� Scieszka sighed,
�I know it will be a hard thing to tell him, but if he�s really you�re friend,
he�ll come to understand.�

�You�re
right, Scieszka.� Winry said.� Something fell into her lap and she looked down
to see the small ruby sitting in her lap.� �Huh, that�s weird.� She picked it
up, �My necklace just broke.�

Scieszka�s
eyes narrowed slightly, �Really, that is weird.�� It hadn�t been tugged on or
anything. She saw that Winry had a sudden idea and that it was a bad one as
worry seemed to appear instantly on her face.

�You
don�t think that it�s�� Winry couldn�t finish her thought out loud as she
glanced at the small red stone and broken gold chain in her hand.� No, it
wasn�t a bad omen.� It was just her mind playing tricks on her, but the chain
wouldn�t have snapped for no reason, she was always very careful with it.� She
closed her eyes as fear and worry raced through her every nerve, �Scieszka?��
Her friend lifted her head, and Winry saw the mirror expressions on Scieszka�s
face.� Tightening her hand around the red stone, Winry wished that it was just
a faulty chain, that it had nothing to with Roy.� �Please be safe, don�t do anything reckless and get
yourself killed, please.� Her heart pounded so hard that she feared it
would rip from her breast.

That
small scene faded away, Alphonse and Edward were staring at Mustang as he just
stood there, breathing hard. They noticed that he had badly bleeding cuts all
about his face.� Where was Bradley, they both wondered, when he seemed to be
standing there now.

Bradley�s
voice sounded so dark, it would frighten most men. �Is my species of
consequence to you now?� He walked out of the flames and all his tissue and
skin started instantly regenerating and he was as good as new.�

Edward
didn�t catch what Bradley had said because he stared in awe at the amazing
ability Bradley displayed.

��I
wanted to see what would happen if I let my whole body explode.� Bradley
sounded smug, and he struck much too fast for anyone to see, even Edward and
Alphonse as Roy was pinned violently to the wall, the sword Bradley held tight
in his hand digging deep right in the shoulder.� He could hear Mustang�s pained
noises and those glares of his were showing complete contempt.� �I can
appreciate the vanity of ambition, but you should have been more patient about
it.� Even if this somehow worked, the council would have found out and they�d
never let an assassin back into their fold.�

Roy grunted, his voice dripping with pain and anger, �I didn�t
do this for politics, I couldn�t forgive myself for being blind this long.��
The pain was intense and it was a struggle for him to even form coherent
sentences.

Edward
was staring, and he dropped his gaze to the floor.� Maybe having wished for
Mustang to suffer had been a little harsh in the past.� He had never looked
past what was an injury to himself and his brother.� He had no idea that
Mustang suffered in his own personal hell. No one deserves this, not even him.

Making
another pained grunt, Roy, said, �This was the only way I could atone for the
friends I didn�t save.� He couldn�t give up, no matter how much it hurt and how
much he struggled to stay standing.� There were still others to protect. �Winry�I
can�t give up, I have to�get him.�

Leaning
forward a little as he dug the blade into Mustang�s shoulder, Bradley saw the
human�s teeth grit tightly as he tried not to shout out in agony.� �You should
know, Mustang that there will be more that you couldn�t save, as soon as I get
through killing you�� He grinned evilly, �let�s just say, there will be a visit
made to a certain young lady Automail mechanic you like so much.� It�s treason
to harbor fugitives of the state.�

�No!� Roy�s head screamed.� He couldn�t let anything happen to her.�
He had to fight harder, he had to keep her safe! �Y�you stay away from her.� Roy panted.

Bradley
smirked, �So, you did all this because there were friends you didn�t save?� He
repeated Mustangs own words.� �Well by all means, let me help you with that,
give my best regards to General Hughes.� He dug his blade deeper into Mustang�s
shoulder making a very deep gash, and the human�s screams was music to his
ears.

Stomping
his foot, Edward marched right over to Mustang.� �Don�t just stand there pinned
to the wall you bastard! Fight harder! Don�t you dare break your promise to Winry!�
He shouted in Mustang�s ear, knowing very well that the past figure couldn�t
hear him, but he couldn�t help shouting at him.�

�Uh,
Brother� he does in fact live.� Alphonse interjected, �remember what happened
when you actually came back and we finally met up again after so long?�

�Shut
up, Al!� Edward knew that, but he couldn�t help but get caught up in what was
going on in front of him.

Bradley
stopped and stood straight as he heard his son�s voice.

�What�s
going on?� The boy asked watching his father stand up straighter.

�Hello,
Son.� Bradley said with fondness to Salim.� �Good news, I caught the rat.�� He
moved a step or two back from his enemy.

Salim�s
eyes lit up with glee and he smiled.� �I�m sorry I disobeyed you, Father, but I
just had to come back.� I forgot something and I wanted to make sure you were
okay.�

Roy looked at the little boy and then back at Bradley, finding
this very odd indeed.� �So what now? You said people were foolish so how do you
explain loving him.�� He noticed as Bradley bent down to his son�s level that
the homunculus could no longer move.

�Father,
what�s the matter?� You look like you�re hurt, what�s wrong?�

Bradley
couldn�t move, not to mention he actually felt pain.� That only meant one
thing.� �What have you done, you idiot.�

The boy
revealed what he had, �I, uh, just� I got it from your safe.� You said your
life depended on it, and I didn�t want it to get hurt in the fire.�

Roy sees that Bradley was choking the child and a look of
panic crossed his face as he no longer thought about his own pain, he gripped
the sword and in a flash ripped it from his body, no longer pinned to the
wall.� He rushed to stop Bradley from killing his son, but he heard the boy�s
neck snap and realized that he had been too late.� He should have moved faster!
Roy kneeled
down to the boy�s level.

�You are
foolish, all of you.� Even my own son.� He growled

There
was nothing more Roy could do for the dead boy, and he sat the small body on
the floor, and grabbed something extremely valuable.� It must be Bradley�s
weakness.� He gripped the object wrapped in cloth and using his own blood drawing
his transmutation circles on the top of his hand. �I don�t know how long you�ve
lived Fuehrer or how many times you cheated death, but not anymore.� Roy stared in complete
hate at the Homunculus and using his transmutation circles on his hand
proceeded to light Bradley�s original skull on fire, as he did that, Bradley�s
body burst into flames.� �It�s the end of the line.� He watched as the
Homunculus melted into a pile of goo, where Roy tossed the skull into the puddle.� Setting the puddle on
fire, he watched the skull melt until there was nothing left.

Walking
to the dead body of the small boy on the floor, he stared at it a moment.� �I�m
sorry, I didn�t stop him in time.�� Guilt swam inside his veins and he bent
down, picking up the small child and he started walking towards the main door
that led out.

Edward,
Alphonse and Trisha followed after him.� As they all stepped out onto the
porch, they were confronted by a half man, half machine.

�Oh my
God! That�s Colonel Archer!� Edward stared in disgust at Robo-Archer. �So
that�s what happened to him.� What did he do to himself?� Sick!�� What was even
worse as that the guns on Robo-Archer started firing one after another and
Mustang couldn�t avoid the attack.� The boys watched as Mustang�s lifeless body
fell to the ground.

Edward
felt ill, so this is what Mustang dealt with, this was�he didn�t know what to
think, or the odd feeling surfacing inside him at the idea that the man could
be dead�he wasn�t, but he could have been.

Hearing
several gun shots and Archer hit the ground, unmoving.� It was clear to anyone
that he was dead.� Edward and Alphonse both looked up to see Lieutenant Hawkeye
running over.� The expression on her face made them feel even worse.� Even
though this was the past and it was clear that Mustang was alive� seeing this
really was powerfully painful, in the heart.� Edward automatically thought
about what Winry would think if she had seen this.

Riza
stopped running, her mahogany eyes filling with tears as well as panic pounding
hard inside her.� �General!�� Seeing the body of a little boy beside that of
Mustang lying on the floor, lifeless and she rushed right over, hovering
closely. �General! Damn-it, Roy Mustang, talk to me!� She demanded, lightly
kneeling there, her hands touched Mustang�s shoulders.� Riza couldn�t help it,
she couldn�t keep the fact of her tears quiet as she leaned on him and started
shaking him. �Don�t do this, what am I going to tell Winry?� She�s waiting for
you� Get up,� She said weakly through her tears as she fell onto him, �She�s
waiting for you.� You promised her.�

Edward
turned to his brother seeing the horror on his face, he could see that Alphonse
was trying his hardest not to break down in front of him.� �Al, remember this
already happened and we know he�s alive.� He felt a tickle in his own throat.

Before
the wetness could fall, Alphonse lifted his hand to his eyes.� �I keep thinking
about Winry. How would she feel if she was here?�

�Me too,
Al,� Edward did think about Winry.� Not that Mustang was good enough for her,
but she seemed to like him.� This would have been terribly heartbreaking for
her if she saw this.�

There
was a flash of light and Edward and Alphonse found themselves back in
Resembool, in the Rockbell house.� They were standing in the living room and
the phone rang.� There was the loud thud of footsteps running from the kitchen
to the phone.� It was Winry and she picked up the receiver.

�Hello,
Rockbell Automail and Prosthetics?� Winry tried not to sound anxious.

�Winry, it�s
Riza�� There was a pause.

Ice
seemed to crawl up Winry�s spine and she gripped the phone receiver tightly,
�Y�yes, uh�what�s wrong?�� �Please don�t let anything��

�I
thought I should call you and let you know what�s going on.� Riza started to
say, �Fuehrer is dead, the Colonel, well he�s a General now, succeeded in his
plan.� She swallowed hard, �It�s not too good on this end, Winry.� The General
was hurt.�

Winry
went pale and she felt her knees buckle and she sank to the floor.� �Is he�is
he�� her voice sounding completely broken.

�I was
too late, Winry.� I should have gotten there sooner.�� Riza took a deep breath,
�So far he�s alive, but he�s in surgery.� This will be his second time going
in.�� There was a long pause, �Winry?� He could still die and it would be all
my fault.�

Winry
swallowed a rather difficult breath of air, �no, you can�t think like that,
Riza.� You did your best.� He�he�s still alive now because you made it there to
him.�� Tears streamed down her cheeks.� �Keep positive, we must�� She leaned against
the telephone table.

�I have
to go now, Winry.� I need to fill out some medical documents.� Riza said, and
she was sure her ache could be heard.� �I�ll keep you up to date with his
progress no matter how it turns out.�

�Thank
you, I appreciate it.� Winry sighed and let the phone�s receiver fall from her
trembling hand to hit the floor after she heard Riza�s end click off.� She
pulled her legs into her chest and buried her face in her arms, resting them
against her knees.� Winry�s whole body shook with her hysterical but silent
tears.

Both
Edward and Alphonse went on their knees on either side of her.

�I wish
we could say something to her.� Edward said, staring down at his shoes.�

Alphonse
nodded, �and hug her and tell her that he�ll be all right.�

Trisha
sighed, �A couple of weeks later Winry receives a letter from Scieszka.� She
gestured to Winry sitting on the porch, reading a sheet of paper.� The sounds
of a happy flesh and blood P-Alphonse was running around chasing after Den.�
Rose was also there with her young boy, sitting in the grass laughing.

Winry
turned back to the letter reading carefully, finally getting to what she had
been anxious about�

It�s
still going to be awhile before General Mustang is ready to come back to work,
but I think his influence will help a lot.

Sighing
deeply and pressing the note to where her heart beat, Winry let out a long
breath. �He�s all right, thank goodness.�� Her heart had felt even more elated
than it did when she got the call from Riza just yesterday saying that Roy was doing fine and
looking healthier each and every day.� He was held up in his private dorm room
at Military Headquarters.� Winry wouldn�t expect him to come back here until he
was healthy and able to move about much easier, right now it was quite a
challenge for him to even walk without assistance.� How hard that must be for
him, a man who never relied on anyone before.� She wondered if he was all right
mentally, or was all this a strain on him.� �I�ll continue to wait, he�ll come
back. I know he will.� She said quietly, lightly touching the ruby hanging
around her neck and fingering Roy�s glove that was resting in her lap.

�That
bastard, how dare he make her feel like this.� Edward clenched his fists
tightly, even thought it wasn�t really Mustang�s fault he was almost killed.�
He was angry at him for hurting Winry even unintentionally.� �He never does
come back, does he?� The realization hit him and he felt anger swirl quickly
within him.� �That ass has brats he doesn�t even know about, which means�� He
stared at Winry, �He never comes back here!�� Edward growled, �Just when I
start to feel sorry for the bastard he does something else to make me hate him!
He hurts my friend, I knew he�d do that to her, it was only a matter of time!�

�We don�t
know the circumstances, Brother.� We don�t know why he never came back here.��
Alphonse really wanted to hug Winry, to take away her worry and heart ache.�
�We can�t judge him; we don�t have any of the facts.� It makes an ass out of
you if you just assume things.��

�I don�t
care what it makes me!� Edward looked away from his brother.� �Look at her,
she�s a wreck!� You should hate him!�

Trisha
worried for Edward, but she was sure that he did understand. �It�s all right to
be angry at Mustang, Edward, but hate is rather harsh.� I know that Winry
doesn�t hate him, even after all of this.� If you ask her about what happened
and how she got to this point, I have no doubt she will still say positive
things about him.� I know to all it seemed Winry hated him at one time, but she
was just hurt and suffering in her own way.� Hate is severe.� Winry is not the
type to hate so completely.�

Alphonse
nodded, �It�s true!� I don�t hate him, Brother.� There was never any reason to
hate him so I don�t know why you do.�

�Because�
he�s an ass! That�s a good enough reason.� Edward paced back and forth, he
wanted to know why Mustang broke his promise.� Just as he thought that, there
was a flash of bright light and the scene changed.� He and his brother found
themselves in a room.

Mustang
was sitting up in his bed, there was a black patch covering almost half of his
face, Hawkeye was seated by his side and staring down at her task of peeling
and apple for him.

�What�s
the frown for?� He asked her.

Riza
glanced up, �The plan was perfect, you did your part but I should have gotten
there sooner to protect you.� Guilt poured from her tone, �If you had died, how
would I have been able to explain what happened to Winry.� �You haven�t even
tried to talk to her. I call her a few times a week to tell her of your
condition.� This is my fault.�

Roy tilted his head a little. �Nothing�s perfect.� The world
is not perfect but it�s there for us, trying the best it can.� He reached over
and touched Hawkeye�s hair, the color reminded him a bit of Winry, sure her
hair was longer, but it was so reminiscent of a fiery blonde.� He knew that
once Hawkeye had met Winry when Winry was a young girl, seeing her long, pretty
hair that was when Hawkeye started growing hers out as well.� Roy smiled a little,
�That�s what makes it so damn beautiful.�

Smiling
a little herself, Riza shoved an apple slice against his lips, �just shut up
and eat.� Save your flirts for someone else.�

Roy ate the apple slice, �I wasn�t flirting.� I was speaking
my thoughts.�

�Well
talk less and eat more, you need to regain your health so you can go back to
Winry, just like you promised her.� Riza sliced another piece of the apple and
held it out to him, where Mustang lifted his hand and pushed the slice away.�
Why did the air feel suddenly cold and foreboding?� �Did I say something wrong,
Sir?�

�I�m not
going back.� Roy said, he found Hawkeye staring in disbelief.� He couldn�t face Winry
like this.� He was barely a shell of who he was before he went after Bradley.
�I�m not going to see her anymore, never again.�� He felt he was way too
damaged, in more ways than one.� He couldn�t risk tainting her with his dark
sins.� She would never see him the same way again.� She was much too good.� He
will never see his goal complete since the state returned to the old
government.� So many people lost so much all because of that damned Philosopher
Stone, he had helped Bradley unknowingly, his despair added to the suffering.�
He was useless, even now that small boy that he couldn�t save.� A child,
someone so innocent� and he failed.� How could he ever hope to protect Winry?�
He would only drag her down and he couldn�t do that to her.� The best thing to
do was to stay away from her, to let her go.� He was no good for her, he could
never be the man she would need.

Riza
couldn�t believe what she was hearing, �Sir, but you promised.�� She noticed
that Mustang turned his head and glanced out the window.� He never told her
anything important, why was that?� �Sir, I know I�m not Maes, but I do think
that you and I are friends, so why not tell me what you�re thinking.� Why won�t
you go back?�

�He
didn�t want to talk about it.� Roy leaned back against his pillow and continued to stare
outside.� He could only see out of one eye! His throat seemed to close up, with
knowing what lie beneath the patch over his face.� He would disgust Winry, he
knew he would.� What he would give to be able to get up without assistance, to
walk amongst everyone.� Sure, it would take months for him to be able to again,
but at least he wasn�t paralyzed.� He thought about Winry and he knew this
would probably hurt her, this decision was hurting him as well but this was for
her own good, for the best.� �I�m sorry.� And he closed his eye.� �I�m
tired, Hawkeye.� was the last thing he said.

With a
sigh, Riza sat the knife and half eaten apple on the small table beside the
bed.� �I�ll come back later then.� And she stood, heading for the door.� �I
think you�re making a big mistake by not keeping your promise.� And she left
the room.

�That
coward,� Edward spoke softly, but there was venom in his words and tone.� �He
really is one.�

Alphonse
looked between his brother and the General and noticed wetness on Mustang�s
face.� This decision was hurting him, the man never showed emotion to anyone.
�He should have gone back to Winry, it�s true.� She heals all aspects, inside
and out.� If only the General would have realized that now.�

****

�She
doesn�t look to good.� Trisha commented, gesturing to Winry.

Both
Edward and Alphonse cringed and looked away from Winry, it was too disgusting
and it made their stomachs jump in discomfort.

�Did we
have to see her tossing her cookies?� Edward felt her face turn green,
�Sometimes I think this world or whatever it is likes us to suffer, that it gets
some sick, twisted pleasure out of it.� Now seeing someone throwing up� it�s
beyond cruel!�

Winry
held her stomach, breathing hard and leaned away from the toilet seat.� There
was a knock on the bathroom door.

�Winry,
are you all right?� Rose asked, pressing her ear against the door.

Standing
weakly, Winry reached up and pulled the chain that would flush the toilet and
the water took away morning�s breakfast.� She turned on the sink and washed her
face then rinsed her mouth out.� Steadying her self on the sink she gripped the
porcelain and looked at her reflection.� Her face was pale.� Drying her hands
on the hand towel there, she walked the step to the door and pulled it open.�
�This is the third day in a row I have felt like this. I�ve obviously caught
some kind of bug.�

Rose
followed Winry into the living room where she watched her sit down and lean the
back of her head on the soft cushion.� �It might not be what you think.� She
had an inclining of what it could be that Winry was sick with and glanced over
at her child that was asleep in the playpen.� �I have had some experience of my
own with what I think you might be sick with, Winry.�

�Oh
yeah? What then?� Winry lifted her head and saw Rose nod towards her child.�

�When
was your last�you know?� Rose felt her cheeks heat at asking something so
personal.

�Her
last what?� Edward asked, proving her really knew very little about women.

�You
know, Edward, a girl�s period.� Trisha said as easily as if it was talking
about the weather.� She saw both her sons� cheeks heat in embarrassment and she
laughed lightly.

Winry
sat up, pulling her legs to curl into her, �Why it was� it was�� When was her
last monthly visitor?� Sapphire eyes widened extremely large and her face paled
even more.� �No, you don�t think�� She put her hand to her mouth in shock.�
�No, no I�� Winry felt ill, but this time for another reason, hearing
footsteps, she turned her head to see her grandmother walk in.

�Hello,
girls, what are you up to today?� Pinako asked pleasantly, then noticing the
look on Winry�s face.� �What�s wrong?�

Rose
quietly moved to her child in the playpen and picked him up, silently leaving
the room.

Winry
placed both feet on the floor and leaned forward, her heart was racing and
sweat was gathering at her hairline.� �Grandma, I think I have something to
tell you.� She turned her head, her eyes full of fear and tears.� Pinako walked
to her granddaughter�s side and sat down, ready to listen.

�What�s
the matter, Winry?�

Closing
her eyes, Winry took a deep breath.� �It�s very possible that I might be�Rose
thinks that I could be�� Nerves prickled along the back of her neck,
�pregnant.�

Pinako
stared at her granddaughter for a moment, �I see.� Do you know for certain?�

Winry
shook her head, �No, but I can�t even remember when my last�you know was, and
I�ve felt ill the past couple of days.�� What was she going to do now? If she
really was pregnant, this was going to mess up everything.� She was unmarried
and sixteen.

Edward
wanted to hold her hand, to make her feel better to let her know that
everything was all right, even if she was having a bastard�s children. �I wish
I could do something to help ease her worry.� He could see how unsure and
scared she was.

�Same
here, Brother,� Alphonse said with a sigh.

�You are
good young men,� Trisha said, �It�s hard for a woman who�s married, and you
have to remember that she is unmarried, that is quite a struggle all on its
own.�

Standing
up and starting to pace, Pinako folded her hands behind her back.� �If you are,
I take it the father of this child is not Edward, is it?�� She knew exactly who
it was.

Shaking
her head again, Winry�s heart continued to pound in her breast and her stomach
flipped out of control.� She squeezed her hands together tightly, �I�m sorry,
I��

�Shhh,�
Pinako sat at Winry�s side again.� �It�s not important how it happened, Winry.�
Don�t be sorry.� I know this was not a plan for you yet, but it�s not so
terrible.� It�s nothing that we can�t handle as a family.�

�I�m
supposed to leave for Rush Valley tomorrow.� Winry rested her forehead in her hands.� Roy would still be
healing for many months yet, so there would be no reason to wait around here
for him, putting her life on hold.� She was sure he would be back so there was
nothing to really worry about and she could wait for him in Rush Valley.

Pinako
stroked Winry�s hair, �So you leave for Rush Valley as planned, but you come back here when you are going to
have your child.�

�Nine
months is pushing it for an apprenticeship, but I can probably handle it.�
Winry let out a long breath.� �I can�t believe it, I�m going to� Edward�s gonna
kill me!� She grabbed at her face.

With a
smirk, Pinako snorted. �I don�t think it�s you he will kill, but rather
Mustang.�

Winry
squeezed her eyes shut tightly, so her grandmother did know who the possible
child�s father might be.� �How should I tell him?�

�Tell
him when he comes back, it would be an interesting surprise.� Pinako thought
with a smirk.� �I can just imagine his face when you tell him.�� She saw Winry
smile.

�Damn
straight! When I catch up to him, Mustang�s a dead man!� Edward raged, �He
never comes back here, leaves Winry to take care of his brats by herself.� What
a rotten ass!� I was an idiot for thinking that there was a decent bone in that
body of his.� He hurt our Winry.�

�Now,
now, Brother.� You�re overreacting.� Winry never told him about the children.�
And I can understand why.� I met the children once; they were about two years
old and so adorable!� Alphonse said.� �Winry�s a good mother.�

�She
would be.� Edward said proudly, �But you still should have told me that she had
kids, Al.� He was still angry about that.

Alphonse
shrugged, �What would have been the point, Brother?� I didn�t think we could
ever get back home again.�

�I
know.� Sighing, Edward glanced at Winry.� �Mustang doesn�t deserve her love.�

�So you
admit that she loves him?� Trisha asked.

Edward
nodded, �It�s something that is hard for me to admit to or see.� But she does
and I can�t ignore that fact.� As much hurt as it causes me, it was what she
wanted.� She deserves to be happy.� She loves him whether I am there or not,
maybe if I had been there more it could have been be, but Al and I were always
on the move and looking for a way to put our bodies back together.�� Mustang
was there, and for some reason they had been drawn together.� I may not like
it, but I can accept it because it�s what Winry wanted and her being happy is
important to me.� I have no idea how she feels now, it�s been years since she�s
even seen Mustang.� But maybe there is a chance for me now, I won�t leave her
this time.� I�ll stay.� All she wanted from any of us, Al and I, yes even
Mustang was to stay with her, not to leave her alone.� But all of us were
selfish and treated her less than she deserved.�� We all should be ashamed of
ourselves for not even thinking of her.

Trisha
smiled.� �I am glad to see that you understand that, Edward.� It�s not easy for
you to admit that Winry loved Mustang, you are looking at the situation with a
giving heart and that is important.� Love is giving, it is not selfish.� Always
remember that.�

A flash
of light blinded Edward and Alphonse, when they were able to see clearly, two
tall amethyst doors were directly in front of them, they slowly started to
part.

The
three of them headed to the opening doors.

Edward
and Alphonse both turned to face their mother.� It was time to move on
already?� It was too soon.

�Mother?�
Edward swallowed a hard breath of air, �I wish we could have had more time
together.�

Trisha
stepped closer and hugged both her children to her, �I know, me too.� Take care
of each other.�� Her heart ached as she released them.

Alphonse
wiped his eyes, �thank you for helping us.�

Placing
her palm against Alphonse�s cheek, she smiled sweetly.� �Good luck,� she
replied and took a step back as her two boys turned around quickly and raced
out the doors.� �Take care of Winry, too.� She�ll need your help when you get
home.� She said to their retreating figures, knowing that they most likely
didn�t hear them.� The doors started to close taking her from her boys a second
time.� �Good bye, my darlings, until we meet again.�

=======

Well that�s it for this chapter/episode.� I hope you all
enjoyed it.� It�s sad what happens with Bradley�s son in the series.� Poor kid.�
I hope it seemed my added scenes weren�t too outrageous or far fetched that
they could have been in there, but ended up edited out and on the cutting room
floor haha.

Thanks for reading,

Ryoko Blue
- 8
- 9
- 10
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When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom