Don't know when it takes place but Ed still has his automail and Al is human, somehow the boys get back and all are in Risembool. I don't own Full Metal Alchemist or its characters, just wanted to write about them.

Before And After, and Somewhere In Between…

Winry had locked herself in the workshop doing the same mundane things over and over again without realizing it. She had cleaned the same parts four or five times before she stopped herself.

She opened the door to a dark house, looking up the stairs. Everyone had gone to bed, or so she thought. She sighed heavily, taking her hair down and walking up the stairs as she wiped her dirty hand across her brow. Her footsteps were heavy on the stairs, walking passed Ed's room where Al had taken refuge on the floor for the night and Ed seemed to be resting in his bed.

She continued her trek to the bathroom, washing her face and hands free of dirt before she heard a stirring from down the hall. Her head lifted to the mirror over the sink and Ed appeared, his gold eyes focused on her as she jerked a little.

"Ed, weren't you asleep?" Winry questioned.

"I…sure," Ed answered.

"Then what're you doing up?"

"I…heard you finally come out of the workshop," he responded as his eyes hit the floor. He was wearing a thin white tank top with striped boxers, Winry noticing as she stood up straight.

"Did…are…are you mad at me?" Ed asked sort of like a child. "Because I didn't do anything! I was just trying to help!"

"Ed, no," Winry laughed. "I know you were just helping, and I'm not mad at you."

"Then…why're you avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you," Winry replied.

"But…you're avoiding me since…since you were going to tell me something in the kitchen…"

"Not avoiding you, just the situation," Winry replied.

"What were you going to say?"

"Something that I shouldn't."

"Why not?!"

"Because! I—I just shouldn't! It makes things too complicated…and I don't want life to be anymore mixed up than it is."

"Do…do you hate…me Winry?"

Winry spun around in shock as the blonde alchemist's head was almost to the floor in guilt or depression.

"Ed, you idiot," Winry said urgently, "How could you think that? All I've done is wait for you to come back! All I've done is want to be a part of your life!"

"So…you…don't?" Ed asked, his head rising slightly.

"You know for a genius you're such a dumb ass," Winry grumbled. "Now get back to bed—"

"Then, what were you going to say to me downstairs?" Ed's curiosity and stubbornness had come out again. Winry had become uncomfortable with her only exit cut off and the golden eyes bravely staring at her. "Win."

"Can't we just forget about that?"

"No, because if you're going to be like this until you get whatever it is off your chest, you should do it now. I hate you when you're sad—I mean I hate it when you're sad."

Al stirred from the noise in the hallway, both Winry and Ed holding their breath as not to wake him from his sleep.

"Go back to bed before you wake up Al," Winry ordered.

"No! Now is when you get off what's on your mind!" Ed whispered harshly. Winry, fed up with the situation, pushed Ed back out of the bathroom and grabbed his wrist, dragging him behind her into her bedroom. Ed's nerves became edgy as she shut the door. He stared around the dark room, taking in the scent around him as her bed lay askew and auto-mail magazines covered some of the floor.

"What're we doing?" Ed questioned nervously.

Winry quietly stepped in front of his, his body rigid as she stared into his eyes.

"Win—"

There was a moment where Ed's heart stopped.

Winry…what was…

Winry's hands were pressed against his collar bone, her breath on his cheeks, her lips against his mouth.

Ed's body relaxed against hers, his eyes closing as he was suddenly lost in the kiss. Winry's awareness kicked in, her body pulling back from him as her mind came reeling back to reality. She blushed terribly, her head falling down from Ed as he still stood with his eyes closed. His cheeks red, he opened his own lids, watching Winry as she sulked slightly. Her mouth tried to open, she tried to speak, she felt nervous, she didn't know what to say. What had come over her?

"You should go," Winry said, that was all she could think of saying. Ed took a step, Winry thought towards the door, but his metal foot slid into her view of her own. An uneasy hand slipped through Winry's draping hair and fingers drawing against her chin and cheek.

"Winry…"

He tipped her face up from the ground; her bravery seemed to have gone into him.

"Ed…" Winry half whispered as his face moved closer to her. "Do…do you want…to do this?"

His eyes were watching her lips, before he replied,

"Yeah."

Winry settled against Ed's shoulder, her body seemingly tired as her mind was lost, swimming in almost a numb kind of pleasure and calm. Ed was calm as well, staring up at the ceiling as his hand rested against Winry's warm shoulder. His heart was still thumping deep in his chest, but it felt as if the world was lighter, as if a great big weight had been taken off of his shoulders. For the first time in a long time, he felt that this was where he was supposed to be.

Winry pressed closer to him, fitting her shoulder into his underarm and wrapping her arm around his ribs, surprising Ed a little bit but the scent of her hair next to his cheek made him relax again.

"Winry?" Ed questioned suddenly as her body began to warm up against him.

"Hm?" She answered sleepily.

"I—I'm sorry," he said gently.

Winry looked up at him, her nose against the side of his chin.

"Sorry? For what?"

"For leaving for so long," Ed stated. "I never, I didn't know what I was doing to you. I didn't mean to hurt you…"

"It's not your fault, Ed," Winry half whispered. "I didn't tell you how I felt when I should've."

"I don't know if it would've made a difference…Win," Ed replied. "I had to get Al back to normal; that was the only thing on my mind. I would've hurt you more than I already have…"

"Ed," Winry said in a graceful tone, sitting up from Ed's shoulder and lying over him. "You've given me all I've ever wanted tonight…and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I don't care what did or didn't happen, I'm just glad I'm here, now, with you. I love you, Ed, I always have."

"Winry," Ed began to say, swallowing nervously. Her head shifted to the side, glancing at him with a questioning look. "I—I love you too."

She smiled at Ed, his heart relaxing in his chest at the sight of it. His metal hand reached up and combed through Winry's dangling hair. Winry looked at his arm, examining it carefully.

"I'm gonna have to tighten some of those screws tomorrow," Winry stated calmly.

"Auto-mail freak," Ed replied with a small laugh. "You love this arm more than you love me."

"I have a different kind of screw in mind if you keep your mouth shut," Winry said seductively. "Alchemy nerd."

"I'll let that one slide."

Ed swiped his hand behind her neck and pulled her lips on top of his.

Winry laid back on the grass, looking upwards at the sky again as Ed looked down at her. Ed pouted a little again, scooting closer to Winry and fell back hard on the grass as well.

"Did…did you want to leave because of last night?" Ed questioned nervously.

"Ed, you're more sensitive then you let on," Winry replied. Ed turned to her and gave her a furtive look.

"I just want to know," he snapped. She laughed happily. "Don't laugh at me!"

"C'mere, Ed," Winry said gently, sliding her arm under Ed's neck and pulling his head against her shoulder.

"What d'you want?" Ed whined but settled his head against her.

"Stay with me?" she asked lightly as she stared up at the sky. Ed's eyebrows frowned as his eyes traveled away from her face.

"I'll try, Win," Ed responded.

"That's all I want," she said in a calm tone.

"Brother!" Al's voice called out from a long ways. "Winry! Breakfast is ready!"

"Granny's really got him trained," Ed stated, leaning up off of Winry's shoulder and standing up, stretching. Winry pushed herself up as well, looking to Ed before shoving him over again.

"Race you!" She yelled as Ed began to try and get up.

"Hey! No FAIR!" Ed yelled disdainfully, tearing after her as fast as he could. He caught up to her as she raced over another grassy hill, darting passed her quickly and spitting his tongue out at her, until she jumped onto his back and clung to him around his neck. Ed almost lost his balance, but instead of throwing her off he took both of her legs under each arm and lifted her onto his back, running forward again as Winry laughed and hung on for her life.

"Granny Pinako!" Ed called out. "We're hungry!"

"Get in here, short stack! Otherwise I'm giving Den your portion!"

"Who you callin' SHORT STACK YOU COULD PUNT KICK ACROSS THE YARD, OLD MAID?!"

End part 3----Fin

Hope you enjoyed it!