READ, HOLDS RANTING AND IMPORTANT INFO! A/N: Meh, I know that last chapter was WAY too short T.T I was in quite a hurry, lots of things to do. Plus the fact that everyone was trying to kick me off of the computer.

But enough excuses! It's been too long since I updated! And yes, I went through all the trouble to PM everyone who ever bothered to read my fic, which is very annoying, yes I'm sure you're all annoyed at me for disturbing you. XD Anyways, getting to the point, it was only because gasp this is the very last chapter or WAW!

It's sad and I'm making a big deal out of it, I know, but I'm making it extra long! Yes, 9 whole pages of a chapter So enjoy it!

CHAPTER 14: LEARN, LAUGH, LOVE

The day after Edward was bashed up and booted out by Winry wasn't as happy as previously imagined. Things just didn't seem the same without the endless fighting and hotheadedness that usually took place in the cozy house. It was like the day was penetrated by an unusual sense of peace and quiet.

"Here Winry..." Al hesitantly handed her a large gift, brightly wrapped and topped off by a bright orange bow.

"Oh, thanks Al," Winry replied, trying her best to put on a smile. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a, in the eyes of a mechanic, beautiful automail arm. "Wow, thanks this is great! I really can't wait to take it apart."

Somehow she didn't seem as cheerful and enthusiastic as thought as she carefully set the package down with the other mechanical presents. She straightened the striped party hat adorning her head, setting out for the kitchen. "Cake anyone?"

It looked as if this year only one piece would ever be eaten, the rest gone to waste. Al couldn't eat and her grandmother was too busy smoking that pipe of hers.

And so with a dull look in her eyes, Winry cut herself a slice and took a seat on the confetti covered living room floor, wondering of what could've been.

xoxox Meanwhile xoxox

The day felt as if it would drag on for the rest of his life. Well, at least that's what Edward thought as he mindlessly twiddled with his bangs and played around with his mashed potatoes while Nelly frustratingly reminded him for the trillionth time to 'get his elbow off the table and eat already.'

"What's wrong with you? Usually you'd be devouring this like a starved puppy," the dark-haired girl said as she looked at Ed quizzically, as if trying to find how the hell he had malfunctioned.

"Mmmm, nothing. I'm just not hungry." he replied, slowly pushed his plate to the center of the table.

"Girl trouble?" Nelly asked snidely, absolutely glowing as if she'd discovered some valuable secret.

It wasn't really a question though, and she wasn't asking him in anyway. Kind of when someone asks you to take out the trash. It was a statement, a fact that, indeed, he was having a great deal of girl trouble.

"What?" Ed suddenly perked up and sat straight up in his chair as he gradually began to lean in closer to her and glare. Squint actually.

"Hmmm?" She stood up out of her chair and crept up behind him, leaning on the back of his chair for support, "I said you have girl trouble, and this time I'm not asking." A shiver ran down his spine as he heard the words up close.

"Am not..."

Nelly walked back to the other side of the table, placing her hands on her hips, "But you do don't you? You can't be too sure can you? Face it; you're just too scared to admit it."

She gave him a stern look in the eye before picking up his plate and tossing it into the sink.

"Hey, what're you doing?" Ed asked as he also stood up.

"Hmmm? Cleaning up, someone has to. Now, come over here and help me," she replied calmly in a complete change of demeanor. Well, despite the fact that she threw a pair of rubber gloves in his face.

So he slouched over and began scrub the while thinking of Nelly's words.

xoxox

Winry woke up at about noon. Ugh, she was so tired she could barely get up. She'd spent most of the time reflecting on what she'd said to Edward two days prior and yelling at herself about.

How could she just randomly attack him like that? Especially when he tried to apologize. Was she just being a selfish brat?

Winry sighed as she slowly got out of bed and stumbled downstairs. Her hair was a mess and her nightgown hung slightly off one shoulder as she made her way to the kitchen where her grandmother had breakfast waiting for her. She took a seat but something was missing...

"Here Winry." Pinako set down a plate of eggs and bacon which Winry thankfully gobbled down while she pondered what was missing from this picture...

"Hey, where's Al?" she asked as she swallowed and dropped her silverware onto her plate.

"Oh? He went to meet Edward at the train station they're leaving today remember?"

No, she didn't. "They're leaving today?" Winry practically shouted as Pinako took up her plate and began cleaning it.

"Yes, remember they said that—" Pinako was disrupted by someone knocking on the door. "Could you get that?"

Winry nodded and stood up, heading towards the door. Why did she feel so strange all of a sudden? As if something bad was about to happen...

"WHY DON'T YOU GUYS EVER ANSWER THIS THING!" yelled a stubborn, blond, teenager standing in the doorway. He had unexpectantly thrown open the door, resulting fatally as the door slammed into Winry's face, knocking her to the ground.

"OUCH WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DO...ing...?" A look of absolute horror spread across her face as she looked up to see Edward looming over her.

Her face turn a deep shade of crimson as she remembered how messed up she had looked and she quickly scrambled up to her feet and brushed off her nightgown and just stared at him.

"I was wondering if Al was ready to go," he looked over at Pinako, obviously wanting her to answer and avoiding Winry all together.

"He left already. Said, he'd be meeting you at the station," the old woman replied as Winry just stood there idiotically.

"Thanks," he said as he walked off and closed the door behind him.

"So..." Pinako lowered her glasses and looked at her granddaughter sternly.

"Hmmm? What?" she asked, returning from her own little world.

"It looked like you wanted to say something."

"I don't have anything to say to him."

"Now, now, no need to be denying things so early into the conversation. Whatever it is I'm sure he won't mind hearing it."

"Well I..."

"Do what you want Winry," the old woman walked back to the kitchen, tidying up slightly.

"I don't know." Winry gazed timidly at the door for a moment before glancing back at her grandmother.

"Well, don't say I didn't..." but before she could finish Winry had rushed out the door and towards the train station, "...Warn you."

And she smiled. 'Ah Winry, when will you learn?'

xoxox

Edward sighed as he walked towards the station and onto the platform. She hadn't even said goodbye. Nelly was right, he did have girl problems.

"Brother!" A hulking suit of armor walked up to him, "Hi brother. Ready to head back to Central?"

"Yeah..." Edward replied hoarsely as Al boarded and took a seat. This was one of the worst trips to Resembool he'd ever had. It was a bad way to end things.

Maybe he could never fix it and they couldn't be friends any longer. 'I wish I could erase everything,' he thought as he grabbed up his suitcase and started walking into the line, Al ahead due to Ed's short moment of thought.

"Edward!" A familiar voice sounded from behind which hurtled Ed into a world of slight shock and confusion. And before he could whip his head around and stare in confusion (which everyone in the station was already doing) a pair of slender arms wrapped themselves around him as if he would never be able to pry the damn things off of him!

"Uh, hi...?" he replied weakly, as she was squeezing the living daylights out of him. "I...can't...breathe..."

"Oh, um, sorry," she let go of him, resulting in a few dramatized deep breaths from Ed. He turned around and looked her up and down.

She, Winry, was a complete and total disaster. In fact the spunky mechanic looked no better than when she first woke up which could be compared to a hobo—only cleaner and without holes in her clothing.

"So..." Ed made a desperate attempt at starting a conversation which died slowly and painfully, ending with him scratching the back of his head in one last fatal effort to create

some sort of movement.

"I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, I'm sorry. I guess I just didn't want to ruin my friendship with you like this. I really do care about you, I guess I just wasn't feeling that great," Winry blurted out. And with that she turned on her heel, turning back once to smile and say a polite, 'have a nice ride.'

And all he could do was stand there and watch as she left, "Wait..."

Yes, Edward had a very big girl problem and now he was going to get rid of it once and for all.

xoxox Nelly's house, one day prior: 10:47 PM xoxox

"So, you really think I have a girl problem huh?" It was a pretty sudden comment on the grounds that they had been washing dishes in silence for about the past hour or so.

"Hmmm?" Nelly set down a plate mid-wash to glance over at Edward. "Well, yes. I would think so."

"Really..." he trailed off to look up at the ceiling for some reason or another.

"Yes, really," she replied in a slightly annoyed manner as she began to pry off her

rubber gloves and set them beside a dish. And then, out of the blue, she started to make coffee. "When it's done pour two cups. Wouldn't want you to fall asleep during our session."

Ed looked at her uncertainly for a moment before setting aside his own work and pouring two cups full of the dark liquid, searching the cabinets for the sugar and grabbing the cream out of the refrigerator.

Nelly then walked into the living room and plopped down in a chair, picking up some reading glasses her mother had left on the table and setting them on the edge of her nose. She grabbed a notepad in the process.

"Okay, sit down Mister. Elric," she motioned to the couch, "I'm Nelly and will be filling in for your usual wrench-basher for she has... kicked you out of her house?" She shot him a look of curiosity as he just stared at her in pure horror.

"WHAT THE HELL? I DON'T NEED A PSYCHIATRIST! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?"

"Now, now, no need to resort to yelling Mister. Elric, you'll spill the coffee. Besides, I really wouldn't want to resort to the form of "helping you" Miss. Winry used. Though, I don't have a wrench in hand so I'd have to use other tools such as pliers or a jack-hammer."

"A jack hammer?" Edward grumbled as he slowly calmed down. "What the hell do you need a jack hammer for?"

"Yes a jack hammer and I guess it would be for straightening you out, yes?" She replied as she began to write out some notes:

-Arrogant jerk. Smart ass. I can see why Winry threw him out after a few minutes of his attitude

"Hey, what're you writing?" Ed leaned over in an attempt to look at the notepad but Nelly quickly set it face down on her lap and straightened her glasses.

"Now, why do you think Winry kicked you out of the house?" she asked which was followed by a great deal of mumbling.

"Uh, well I told her that her biggest dream was..." he winced, "...stupid...?"

"I see."

- Self centered and perhaps now a little guilty?

"So, how does that make you feel?"

"Um... bad...?" He took a sip from his coffee. This was one of the worst things he'd ever experienced. Plus it was stupid!

- Feels "bad" Has a hard time admitting his "feelings"

"Alright, and would you care to explain what this dream of hers was?"

"meherandalallsittingattherivertogetherhavingapicniclikewhenwewerekids," he mumbled quickly, trying to get this over with as soon as possible.

-Note underline "Has a hard time admitting his "feelings"" three times. I see through that stupid disguise of yours nitwit! I swear if you ever said that to me I'd bash your head in with the jack hammer and then...

She was now writing furiously and had to shake her pen a few times before the ink started to run again. Ed just gave her strange looks as she suddenly stopped and composed herself while also taking a deep breath.

-...Anyways he obviously cares about Winry, is in denial. Maybe the slightest crush? Or maybe as a sister—but that wouldn't make sense in why he's in denial so it would have to be the first one?

Hmm... I always thought they were a cute couple. Ever since that one time when we were six and—

She quit writing as soon as she felt his warm breath on the back of her neck. He was reading over her shoulder!

"Um..." She quickly tore out the pages and handed them to him. He'd read them already anyways. "Your evaluation...?"

"Mmmm," he just stared at the papers, not even reading them.

"I have cake." Ed was silent. It wasn't like him but... maybe? "C'mon shrimp! I have cake and we can make cookies! What're you waiting for?"

"WHO YOU CALLING A TINY GRAIN OF RICE!"

xoxox

"What?" Winry walked back over to him. What did he want from her? They were friends again right?

"I..." What the hell was he supposed to say to her?

So instead he pulled her into a quick hug. "Well, I guess this is goodbye," he said awkwardly. Why was he hugging her again? A slight blush crept up his face.

"BROTHER! THE TRAIN'S ABOUT TO LEAVE! STOP HUGGING YOUR GIRLFRIEND!" Al teased as the locomotive began to take off.

"AL! SHE ISN'T MY GIRLFRIEND!" He yelled started running towards the train, eventually catching onto the side and edging along towards the door where Al helped him inside.

"Right brother," Al snickered as Ed finally made it inside and they debated the whole way back. And she just stood and watched them fade into the distance.

For now all she could do was hope that the two would return home safely.

Besides there was always more time. Right?

xoxox 3 months later xoxox

"Damn! Where the hell did I put it?" yelled a frustrated blonde, head hidden under bed and items thrown in random directions all around her.

Pinako had been making some automail for a customer that had come by earlier when she found that she needed her special screwdriver which was extra small and used for only the tiniest screws.

Ironically Winry had, months and months ago, been taking something apart and "borrowed" it. She then, when finished, stuffed it under her bed to make her room seem cleaner with all the other crap that had been scattered across the floor.

"Aha! Found it!" she exclaimed as she pulled out the tool and tossing the paper bag that had been over it across the room just for fun. It made a sort of thumping sound and thus Winry walked over to examine it.

It was heavy and the bag covering whatever was in there looked about to rip.

She carefully pulled out a rectangular object covered in brown paper and what seemed to be bubble wrap which explained the bulkiness. Winry also shook the bag to see if anything else came out.

Coincidentally a card of some sort floated out. It was twisted and maybe even torn in a few places from being smashed and buried with no protection what-so-ever.

Winry carefully turned the card over to reveal an elegant floral background and the words Happy Birthday tastefully embellishing the cover.

"Hmmm? A birthday gift?" Maybe it was one of the presents Pinako and Al had bought but had forgotten to wrap. Or maybe someone sent it as a package and Winry had carelessly thrown it under her bed, thinking it was just a paper bag.

She threw the card aside. Whoever it was from, it looked like a pretty nice present. May as well open it. Winry quickly opened the package and flung the brown paper and bubble wrap out-of-the-way.

"It's beautiful." Though Winry had always had a great love for all things mechanical she did have a girly side. A small part of her had always loved the color pink and fancy jewelry even though her more tomboyish side dominated.

There was a lot more to Winry Rockbell than mechanics. People are more complex than that.

And so she marveled at the delicateness and craftsmanship of it. How carefully the diamonds and other pastel-colored jewels had been placed so that the wings of the dragonfly looked as if they actually shimmered. Even how thick the frame was and how beautiful the sapphire colored velvet covering the back was.

Yes, this had to be the most beautiful picture frame she'd ever seen, girly as it was. And, she had to admit, she'd been spellbound with it for months as she watched it from its store window. But, even more important than the frame itself was the picture that it contained.

She nearly wept as she ran her fingers down the polished glass. Sitting inside was a picture that was obviously old. It was faded and worn but nonetheless it looked like it belonged there.

They must have been only four or five years old. It was a very nostalgic picture that had always remained close to her heart and she had always had a strong sense of affection for it.

Trishia had taken a picture and so had Pinako, they were all at the river together, having a picnic.

And somehow she didn't need to check the card for whoever bought her this was because she just had a feeling it was him.

Looking back at that picture reminded her that people change but we all learn, laugh, and love and somehow it makes growing up just a little bit easier.

A/N: So that's it! I hope you guys enjoyed it but don't fret! I'll be writing more EdWin filled goodness so check out my username every now and then I'm so sad it's over but this is one fic I'll never forget! Thanks to all of you who reviewed! You all mean so much to me and I read every single one of your reviews! Thanks to all of you who believed in me and urged me on to keep writing! You guys rule!

-Phyco girl