"You are Golden

You are a golden child

Don't let go,

don't let go tonight"

SHADOWS

"Ed? Do you need anything?" Winry opened the door to Ed's dark room. He often insisted on being alone, much to the worry and dismay of Al, and Winry. It had already been a week since the accident. Since Ed's eyes lost all the fire, all the drive that they once had. Since Al's existence became cold and empty.

The two boys were shrouded in a shadow. A shadow that took it's refuge in Ed's heart. It sucked his life away. Kept him from even looking at the ones he loved.

"No, not really." He croaked weakly. She was able to make out that he was sitting upright in his bed. He even turned Al away. The younger Elric would spend most of his time helping granny with the Automail business, while Winry devoted all her time to Ed's care. She secretly drew up Automail schematics in hope that he would find a reason to walk again. And she was always keeping fresh bandages and water near her, for when she would walk into his dark cave.

"Ed, those bandages are dirty, and you sound parched. You should take care of your self." Her lighthearted tone fell dead in the broken air. She stood still at the door. "It can't be good for you to sit in the dark so much. Let me turn on some lights." He only grunted as the darkness was chased away by blinding lights. She walked up to the squinting boy. "See what that does to you?" Her hands found his shoulder, and began working the bandages from the damaged flesh. He didn't even wince anymore. It hardly seemed like he was alive. Her wide blue eyes scanned him over, searching for any sign of a response. She wanted to believe that her friend was not completely gone.

"Ed, You know, Alphonse doesn't blame you." No response. "He still wants to spend time with you." Silence. "Ed, I thought your brother meant something to you!" Anger flooded his dead eyes. Comments about his bond with his brother seemed to strike a nerve. She sat next to him on the bed, trying to keep her hands from trembling. When the anger left, he looked weaker still. "Ed! Why wont you answer me? Why are you giving up like this?" He turned his face away. It didn't even seem like he was listening. "Why are you so intent on making yourself miserable. I can understand feeling remorse about this for a while, but you need to keep living. You're still alive, and we're still young." Her words shot out, far beyond her years. The both of them had seen far more than what their years could account for. They were adults in children's skin. The world weary and desperate. Asking why.

"Edward..." Her voice grew shaky. His body tensed at the sound of tears threatening to fall. "Edward, Alphonse doesn't blame you. So please stop blaming yourself, stop trying to kill your self. I know that you haven't been eating much. I've found the food you've hidden, and I can tell when you feed it to Den."

"It's none of your business whether I eat or not..." He grumbled. Finally something.

"Yes it is! When it's a matter of your life!"

"Why do you care so much about me, huh?" His question took her aback, she drew away as if she had been shocked. She grew angry. "Why is that a bad thing? Why do I have to have a reason to care for you! You're in need, so I help you, and-" He relaxed a little. She continued the work on his shoulder.

"Ed, I don't understand why you think you're so unworthy of everything. Unworthy of happiness, of love, of...life...Ed, You're hu-"

"Just shut up Winry!" His tone was dark. She couldn't speak.

"Wha-"

"I said shut up."

"Why should I?"

"Because it's true! I'm not worthy of anything after the mistake I made, after what I did to my brother." His remaining fist clenched.

Winry tied the final knot on his arm tightly.

She couldn't think of anything to do to make him see that she cared about him. That he was still worth anything.

Her body moved on it's own as she tackled the weakened Ed flat onto his bed.

"What the hell are you d-" She cut him off, pressing her body flat to his. Winding her arms around his misshapen torso. Tears soaked in the blanket next to his head. Into his hair.

"I'm trying to show you that I care. You deserve to be cared about, it was just a mistake-"

"No Winry, I knew the risks!" He tried to push her away but she clamped even tighter, crying harder.

"You just wanted to see your mother again. I understand! When mom and dad died, I would have done anything-"

"Stop trying to compare yourself to me! You're nothing like me!" He writhed even harder, but his chivalry and fatigue stopped him escaping.

"Stop trying to cut yourself off. Your just another human...Ed.." Her tears conquered her words.

"Stop crying...I can't stand to see you cry over something so stupid."

"Maybe if you stopped thinking that you are a "Stupid" reason, than maybe I would cry less." Her tears dried, as she let her self relax. She propped her self up. Locking her gaze with his. Willing for there to be a spark in those golden eyes.

Forcing down a blush, she helped the crippled boy back into a sitting position. Cradling him. He looked like he could break apart. But was held together by sheer force of will.

"Let me do your leg now."

"Mn, right."

Her hands worked quickly, diligently, skillfully, and purposefully. She had to put him back together. These dripping, glittering fragments of regret and pain. They could be assembled again. If only she tried hard enough.

I will support him always. I will help him walk again. He's strong. Somehow, he'll find a way to smile again.

She smoothed out his bandaged leg, massaged the sore spots delicately, He grimaced, but she persisted. She placed a cup of water to his parched lips. He seemed to accept it with more...vigor, was it? More purpose...? And she could swear she saw a flicker.

"Ed...Good night..." She began to walk away when he snagged her dress with his hand.

"Wait, Winry..."

"Yeah?" She said suppressing her surprise at his forwardness.

"Uhm..." He blushed red, searching for words.

"Yeah?" She pried wryly.

"Thank you." He grumbled.

"You're very welcome." She took that opportunity to plant a solid kiss on his forehead. Leaving him wide-eyed and blushing.

Anything was better than dead-eyed, she decided.

I wanted to make sure that I could still write in third person, so I started a series of one-shots while on a 36 hour ferry ride. This will mostly deal with EdXWin-ness that dosen't appear in the canon story. So all the time-skip stuff. Not just post,

I hoped you liked this chapter.

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