Author's Note: (2-22-08) Last chapter is updated! Hope you enjoy it! As I was reading this chapter I noticed some mistakes with the timeline, when it was set in the story, and some things that I hadn't learned as of yet. I've tried to correct all of them, but I have probably missed something. And I know there are things in the other chapters that I have missed. Like the mentioning of Riza's mom and her being alive. There are some things (like Riza's mother) that I will fix at a later date.
Sorry this is so late! Long story short: Didn't feel like writing, ended up reading more fan fiction than writing, got back in the writing mood and wrote half the chapter, got deadly sick for two weeks, came home for spring break, wrote the last half, then I couldn't update because it was .wps. So this was actually finished a week ago, but couldn't update it until I got to my own computer versus my mom's laptop like I wanted too, computers are absolutely wonderful!
Don't forget to
Review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist. I do own the idea to this story though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it.
Chapter 3: Metal Love
Roy stared down at the piece of paper that covered the report that he was supposedly looking at. That piece of paper was covered with doodles; Mrs. Roy Mustang, Mrs. Riza Mustang, Mrs. Fuehrer Mustang. He particularly liked the last one.
He covertly looked up at Riza, moving his eyes up, but keeping his head bent like he was continuing to work. She was working diligently on her reports, the scratching of her pen the only other sound in the office. Falman was reading a report on the latest security updates and Fuery was reading a journal article given to him from someone in the technology department about updates in radios. Havoc sat at his own desk with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a star-dazed, dreamy look that he had been wearing since Valentine's Day. And that was eight days ago.
"Colonel, please get back to work." Lt. Hawkeye said, glancing up and seeing Roy looking around the office.
"Yes, Lt." He replied, looking down at the paper he was doodling on and wrote one more down. Riza Hawkeye-Mustang, the woman that stole my heart. He then tore that part of the paper off; holding the other part over the trashcan he snapped his fingers and incinerated the damning evidence, put the small piece aside for a moment, read over the report, signed it, grabbed the small note, and took it back to Riza to turn in later with all of the other reports, placing it in the pile for her to find later.
"Thank you, Sir. How many more do you have?" Riza asked not looking up from the report she was reading.
"One more pile." Roy replied on his way back to his desk.
"You've been getting those done quicker, Sir, what's been up with that?" Breda said from where he was quietly working on a report.
"Something called Positive Reinforcement. I read about it in a journal." Roy responded a smirk on his face.
"Huh?" Breda asked.
"If I finish all of my reports for the day, on time, I reward myself with something positive. Like a date, or something that I want, a new book, or a night at the bar."
"I see." Breda said going back to his report.
"Has that been working, Sir?" Riza asked.
"Yes, actually, it has. I find it a very interesting concept." Roy replied, going back to his own work.
:---:
"Tonight at 8
o'clock, right?" Roy asked Riza quietly as they walked out of
headquarters. It was February 14, Valentine's Day. The ground was
covered with several inches of new snow, but it had stopped, and the
sky was clear now.
"Yes, Sir, I will be there at 8 o'clock."
She responded.
Roy nodded. He wanted to take her in his arms and twirl her around, be able to hold her hand or put his arm around her as he walked her home, show the world how much he loved this woman, just not to show her, or their few trusted friends. He wanted the entire country of Amestris to know. Just a few more years Roy, remember that; short term inconvenience for a long term improvement.
They quietly made their way to Riza's apartment, saying goodbye like any superior and subordinate would; Riza thanking Roy for the company and saying goodnight to each other as she unlocked her door and stepped inside. Roy quickly backtracked to Central's main street picked up Riza's chocolate covered strawberries and the flower bouquet that he had ordered and just as quickly walked back to his apartment to cook the meal the two military officers would be sharing, Riza's gifts in his hands, the other in his pants pocket.
:---:
Riza walked up to
Roy's townhouse door and knocked, then knocked again. 'Where in
the world is he?' Riza thought as she knocked once more. 'Usually
he answers right away.' She tried the doorknob and finding it
unlocked, let herself in. She took off her jacket, placing the bag
that she held in her hand down on the table that sat near the door.
She had opted for a pair of comfortable jeans, a white tee shirt
under a red silk blouse, and had her hair only halfway up, pulled
back with a red barrette with gold scroll work to decorate it. Roy
had given it to her only a month ago; to her it was hard to believe
that it was such a short time before.
She walked into the
apartment, watching for signs of Roy. In the kitchen, pots were on
the stove, sauce simmering away, and water waiting for spaghetti that
sat next to the stove on the counter waiting to be put in when she
got there.
'Must be having spaghetti,' Riza thought as she moved out of the kitchen and into the living-dining room.
She stopped
suddenly when she saw that there was a picnic, complete with blanket
and basket, in Roy's living room. The coffee table was pushed to
the side, a record player and several records sitting on it; while
next to the table on the floor was the blanket, water goblets, wine
glasses, plates, silverware, and several dishes covered with napkins.
On the edge of the blanket; behind the dishes and platters, stood a
huge bouquet of Orchids, her favorite flower, in shades of red
white, choral and salmon pinks, looking like a blazing sunset
A
few moments later she was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of
water turning off. 'So that's where he was.' Riza thought to
herself, now realizing that she hadn't even registered the sound of
the shower from the bathroom when she had come in. She turned and
moved down the hall, and turned into Roy's bedroom, taking the spot
on the windowsill she often occupied. It wasn't long before she
heard the door to the bathroom open, letting hot steam into the room.
She turned around just in time to see Roy come out with his towel
tied around his waist, and his hands in his hair drying it with
another, smaller towel.
"Riza!"
"Hello." She said
smiling slightly at the shocked expression on Roy's face. "You
didn't answer and the door was open. I turned the heat on under the
water." Riza said explaining while she got up from where she sat.
Roy looked at her sitting in his window. She looked absolutely
beautiful. "I just wasn't expecting you to be here yet."
"Why
not? It's a quarter after 8. I've been here probably ten minutes
or so." Riza replied tilting her head up as he came
closer.
"Sitting here?" He asked taking her hand and kissing
it gently.
"No, I heard the water turning off while I was
admiring the bouquet in the living room."
"Ah, I see. My
surprise is ruined."
"No. I was very surprised. Everything is
absolutely beautiful. How did you know Orchids were my favorite?"
Riza asked.
"Well…I remember visiting a certain flower shop
in a certain small town with a certain high school friend of mine,
who said something about how beautiful the Orchids were that were
sitting on the counter."
"You visited Grandpa, didn't you?"
Riza asked smirking.
"I did, but not because I didn't
remember that you loved Orchids." Roy responded pulling her into an
embrace.
Riza looked up at him with a curious look. "Then why
did you visit him?"
"He asked me too, and I had something I
wanted to discuss with him." Roy said kissing her jaw just below
her ear.
"What did you need to discuss?"
"We'll
talk about that later." Roy said kissing her. "Now, I need to get
dress…unless…"
"No." Riza said pulling away slightly, a
small smile on her lips. "I'll go finish dinner." She responded
kissing him once more before leaving the room.
Roy watched her leave, leaning against the windowsill, sitting there for a few minutes. He glanced over at his dresser where his keys, watch, and a small velvet box sat. 'I still have one surprise for you Lt. Riza Hawkeye' He thought as he started to get dressed.
:---:
"Riza, what are
you doing?" Roy asked as she stood up from where they were leaning
against the couch.
"Doing the dishes." She answered picking
up the plates and silverware, leaving the wine glasses if they
decided to have more.
"I'll do that later. Sit down."
"No."
Riza said simply walking to the kitchen.
"Why?" He said
standing and walking after her.
"If these sit you'll never
get them clean, how many times have I told you that?"
"Every
time I cook." Roy smirked, leaning against the counter.
"Exactly,
you think you would have leaned by now." She answered rolling up
her sleeves and filling the sink with hot water and soap.
"Maybe
I just like seeing you doing dishes in my kitchen." Roy said
picking up a towel to dry the dishes with.
"You
despicable."
"You're loved." Roy said easily leaning over
and kissing her cheek.
"Where did that come from?"
"I
haven't told you that nearly enough today."
"I love you
too, Roy." Riza said smiling at him.
It wasn't long before
they were sitting on the couch, reading and listening to records.
They had fallen into this quiet habit, spending nights cuddled
together on the couch reading journals or books, quietly talking and
listening to music. Roy leaned down and kissed Riza's forehead,
seeing that she had fallen asleep. 'I could stay like this
forever.' Roy thought looking down at her. He could feel the box
that was sitting in his pocket, waiting for the right moment to give
it to her. She had loved the strawberries, loved the flowers. She
loved him, would she love this gift?
As these thoughts went through his head, ruby eyes stared up at him. 'What's he thinking about that has caused his brow to wrinkle like that?' Riza thought. 'Winry used a word for that for Ed. She called it a…twinkle." Riza chuckled. 'Fits both of them perfectly. I wonder how their doing tonight.' Riza thought, getting lost in her own as Roy was also.
The feeling of
being watched brought Roy out of his reverie and he looked down at
Riza. She had woken up and was watching him. "Have a nice nap?"
"I
suppose. How long was I asleep?"
"Just a few minutes I
think." Roy responded.
"What were you just thinking about?
You looked so serious."
"You." Roy said. When she arched
one of her brows he chuckled. "Nothing bad, I promise Lt. Just how
much I love you, how strong you are, how beautiful you are."
Riza
looked at Roy for a few moments. "Roy? Is something wrong? You
don't sound quite right."
"I can't tell the woman I love
how beautiful she is?"
"Of course, but your voice…it's
different. It sounds strained, forced…like you're…nervous."
"What
would I have to be nervous about?"
"Nothing that I'm aware
of." Riza responded kneeling on the couch next to him. "You
aren't sick are you?"
"I'm healthy, Riza, don't worry.
Everything is absolutely fine."
"Are you sure?" Riza
asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry so much." Roy said
pulling her towards him. She came easily, accepting his answer. It
was the truth, he was healthy, and everything was absolutely fine.
The only thing on his mind was the present that lay in his pants
pocket. They sat in silence for a few moments, Riza returning to the
book she was reading, a historical romance set in another universe,
and Roy watching her, thinking.
'Do it now.' He heard a
voice in his head that suspiciously sounded a lot like Maes
Hughes.
'It's not the right time.' He answered back
'If
now isn't, when would be?'
'When I take her home?'
'I've
never known you as a coward, Mustang.' Hughes said.
'I've
never felt anything like this.' He answered
back.
'NOW.'
"Riza?" Roy asked kissing her
temple.
"Hm? What is it, Roy?" She answered turning her head
slightly, but not looking up from her book.
"You
know I love you, right?" He asked quietly.
"Yes."
"And
you love me, right?"
"Of course. I wouldn't be doing this
if I didn't." Riza said putting her book down.
"Would you
wait?" Roy asked reaching into his pocket and taking the box out,
sitting it down and opening it with one hand.
"Wait for what?"
Riza said her eyes going big with nerves. "Roy, what's going on?"
"For me. Wait for a time when I can put this on your finger,
and let the world know that you are the only woman I love, the
only woman I can ever love, the only woman I have loved for my entire
life." Roy said letting a necklace hang in front of her
face.
"Roy?"
"Will you wait for me? Will you marry me?
It'll be a long engagement, but as soon as soon as I become
Fuehrer…"
Riza stopped him with a single finger to his lips.
"Fuehrer this, Fuehrer that. It's always 'When I become
Fuehrer…' I told you I'd stand behind you, and support you
until you reached that goal, didn't I?"
"Yes…" Roy
started to say a question in his voice.
"Well, I promise you,
on the day you stand in front of Amestris as their new Fuehrer; I'll
stand next to you as your wife."
"I don't deserve
you." Roy said simply, bringing his hand to her cheek. "You're
too good for me."
"But you do, Roy, you love me, and I love
you, and that's all it takes." Riza said smiling, kissing him
softly on the lips. Roy deepened the kiss, bringing her closer.
"I
love you more than anything; you are the brightest sun in my life, my
savior from the darkness, my conscience, my everything." He
whispered as he broke the kiss, keeping her in his arms, he turned
her so her back was to his chest. Once she was settled, he took the
necklace that he had been holding, and opened the latch, placing it
around her neck.
"I bought a long enough chain that it would
be hidden under anything that you would wear." He said as he
latched the clasp.
Riza picked up the object that hung on the
necklace. "It's seems as if you've thought of everything."
The object was a ring, silver in metal with a small pearl in the
center with two rubies on either side of it. It was antique looking,
but the rubies shined and looked like fire. "Not to big, not to
small, and it looks like it's just my size. How long have you had
this?"
"Years actually, since I had been studying with your father." Roy responded smiling, remembering the day he had gotten it.
"Your mother gave it to me shortly after I gave you the locket
for Christmas. Knowing your mother, she saw right through me."
"I
know she saw how much I loved you, she asked me about it constantly."
Riza said smiling. "Is this what you spoke to Grandpa
about?"
"Yes."
"He was obviously happy about
it."
"Yes, although he did tell me that he would figure out a
way of letting us marry sooner."
"What did you tell him?"
Riza asked.
"What would you tell him?"
"That I love you
with all of my heart, but I would rather us do this on our
own."
"That's pretty much what I told him." Roy said
smirking. "He said he figured that, and that we're both too
stubborn."
"Hm, not the first time he's said it, along with
my parents as well." Riza said.
"Do you think they'd be
happy?"
"About us? Ecstatic." Riza said. "Mom told me
once that if we married before we went into the military they
couldn't do anything about it and they would have to let us stayed
married. But at that point I was off to the academy and you were deep
into your studies for the State Alchemy Exam."
"I wonder if
their reasoning would be correct." Roy said thoughtfully.
"I
don't know, I've never heard of two military officers coming into
the army married, probably because we're all so young when we
enter."
They were silent for a few moments before Riza broke the
silence. "Who should we tell?"
"Right now, probably Gracia,
but let's wait for awhile before we tell the others. Maybe this
spring."
"Okay. Think you can keep the secret that
long?"
"As long as you know, I don't care how long I have
to keep it quiet. Although…I feel like telling the world right
now." Roy said kissing her cheek.
"Me too, but we'll have
our moment someday." Riza responded, turning her lips toward
his.
"I can't wait."
:---:
Ed looked out the window of the train. 'It's only been six days, Ed!' He thought to himself. 'It's not like you'll never see her again, get a grip.'
"Brother, is everything alright? You look a little…weird." Al said from the train seat across from him.
"I'm fine." Ed ground out.
"Brother, it's not like you'll never see her again. Of course you don't know when that'll be, but we'll be near Resembool or Rush Valley again and we'll be able to see her.
"I know." Ed responded. 'How
does he know exactly what I'm thinking?'
"She said she was only going to help Granny for the first few months of the year."
"I know." Ed replied again.
"Well, I'll leave you
alone, since your not to talkative." Al said turning to look out
the window like his brother.
Ed leaned against the window of the train and continued to watch the scenery roll past, thinking of Winry and her face when she got her gift on Valentine's Day.
:---:
Winry woke up to
feel the sun's warm rays on her skin. 'Ed must have put me in bed
again last night and slept on the couch.' She thought as she rolled
onto her back and tried to wake up. Her last memory was sitting next
to Ed, both of them reading, Ed sporadically taking notes from the
book in his lap. Al had been sitting against the wall across from
them reading in some journal of some sort.
'That's strange,
there's no noise. Ed and Al are usually making some sort of noise
by now.' She getting out of bed and started to get dressed.
A
few minutes later she walked out into the living/eating area of the
apartment; she didn't see either of the Elric Brothers, but there
were flowers and a note sitting on the coffee table in front of the
couch. 'One bouquet isn't enough?' She thought, a smile
crossing her face. 'Yellow and red roses. Friendship and love.'
She picked up the note and read it. 'Winry- Happy Valentine's Day. I love you. Al and I had to go out for a few minutes, but we'll be back shortly. Love, Ed.'
:---:
"Do you think
Winry will be up?" Ed asked Al as they approached the door to their
dorm.
"Probably." Al said looking down to Ed. "Are you
nervous?"
"Possibly."
"I can't believe you. You and
Winry have known each other all of your lives."
"We've only
been dating for a month in a half! And we've hardly seen each other
during that time."
"I had thought you two would have gotten
over that in the last couple of days."
"It has, but I'm
just getting nervous about her gifts. What if she doesn't like
them?" Ed said as they stood in front of their door.
"She'll love them. Just go in." Al said giving his brother a shove.
:---:
"Is that you
Ed? Al?" Winry called from the bedroom.
"Yeah, we're back!"
Ed called out, stashing the metal box under the couch before she came
out. 'That was easier than I thought.'
"I'll be out in a
moment; I'm finishing something up in here." Winry said as she
put the finishing touches on Ed's gift. 'Perfect.'
"What
were you up to?" Ed asked from the couch.
"Nothing, just
some work." Winry said sitting down next to him. "The flowers are
beautiful, thank you." She said kissing him on the cheek.
"Welcome." Ed responded smiling.
"What are you two
planning for today?" Al asked
"Yeah, what do you have
planned?" Winry asked.
"Hm…not telling. Just be read at 6
o'clock for dinner."
"Dinner? Hm. Formal or
casual?"
"Formal." Ed said smirking.
"Okay. Hm, I'll
need Gracia's help, I'll be back later." Winry said kissing him
once more and standing up.
"You wanted her out of here, huh?"
Al asked once Winry had left for the Hughes' house.
"Partly, I
need to make dinner."
"What are you planning?"
"A
picnic." Ed said. "But first I have to plan everything out. I
might need some help Al."
"Okay, just let me know."
:---:
"We're going to
need Riza's help with this you do know." Gracia said looking at
Winry who was sitting in the Hughes' living room with a cup of tea.
Winry had arrived a half hour ago explaining that she didn't have
anything to wear for Ed's surprise that evening.
"Hm, yes, I
do see that. Would we be able to get her away from the office
though?" Winry asked.
"I'm sure she could figure something
out to tell Roy. Anyways he'll let her do anything she wants, well
more so today than any other day." Gracia said.
"Wait! I
have an idea!" Winry exclaimed standing up. "How about we go out
this morning and look around, then have Riza and Scieszka meet us on
their lunch break for the final selection!"
"That's an
excellent idea Winry! I'll call Riza and tell them to meet us at
the café on Main St. around Noon."
"Okay. Do you want
me to get Elysia ready to go with us?"
"Yes, do you
mind?"
"Not at all!" Winry said smiling. "Elysia! Come
here, you're going to help me pick a dress out!" Winry said
moving into the front hall of the Hughes home.
"A dress for
you?"
"Yes, I need a fancy dress for my date with Ed
tonight." Winry said sitting down next to the girl to put her own
shoes on.
"Where is he taking you?" She asked said grabbing
a shoe to put on.
"I don't know. He said it was a
surprise."
"Wow! That's really cool!"
"Yes, it is.
What color of dress should I get?"
"Red! Or maybe pink!"
"Hm, we'll have to see what's available."
"Riza
said the she and Scieszka will be able to meet us at Noon at the café
for an hour."
"That should be plenty of time. We might even
have time to get something to eat with them."
"If we get a
resounding yes on one dress, yes."
"Let's get going! I
want to help make Winry look pretty for Edward!"
"That's right! Let's go!" Gracia said smiling at Elysia.
:---:
Ed stood in a
secluded part of the park that was just outside the center of the
city, a small bag next to him filled with supplies. A group of trees
partly surrounded the area; there was a picnic bench there already as
well as a stoned in area that had a fire pit in the center for
bonfires during the summer. The trees had protected the area from the
snow that had fallen recently, so there was just enough to cover the
ground.
'This place is great. Winry will love it.' Ed thought as he started getting to work. The first thing he did was get a piece of rope out of the bag that he had bought at the hardware store on his way to the park. He tied it to the trunk of one tree and then walked to the other side of the opening and tied the other end to another tree. He then walked around the grove and placed the other supplies at the bottom of trees and around the stone that held the fire pit. 'There, everything is ready for later.' Ed thought as he looked at what he had done and left the grove.
:---:
Winry was
changing in the dressing room of the shop where she, Gracia and
Elysia had found three possible dresses. Gracia, Elysia, Riza and
Scieszka stood in the entrance of the dressing room waiting for her
to show them the first dress; a black cap-sleeved dress that had a
pattern of pink Cherry Blossoms falling along the one side of the
dress that went just past her knees.
"What do you guys think?"
Winry said stepping in front of the mirror.
"Pretty!" Elysia
said.
"It's nice, but I don't think it's quite right."
Scieszka stated as Riza nodded her head in agreement.
"I agree,
next!" Gracia said as Winry turned and went back to the dressing
room.
The next dress was strapless in a soft green color that
went to her knees in the front and a little longer in the back. There
was no detailing on the dress, making it simple and very elegant.
"Very nice. I love it!" Riza exclaimed when Winry walked out
of the dressing room for the second time.
"The color is
excellent on you, Winry." Scieszka said as Winry turned around.
"Why don't I show you the last dress and we'll see which
one you like the best." Winry said.
"Sounds good, what's
the third dress like?"
"It's a similar style, just a
different color." Winry said as she walked back to the dressing
room. She quickly changed out of the green dress into the sapphire
velvet dress that had white piping along the bodice and edge of the
dress with white buttons down the back.
"Well…what do you
think?" Winry said stepping out of the dressing room for the last
time.
"I think I like that dress the best." Riza said. "It
matches you eyes perfectly."
"I agree, Ed won't know what
hit him." Gracia said as Winry turned around in front of the
mirror.
"I liked this dress the best myself, so I believe my decision has been made."
:---:
"Al, do you
remember what we did in Leore to out the Father?" Ed said coming
into their dorm.
"Why? And do I really want to
remember?"
"It's to help Win, I need to get music into the
grove that I chose at the park for our picnic."
"What do you
need me to do?"
Ed and Al spent the next half hour discussing how to get the music from their dorm to the grove. It was a large distance to cover and took a lot of planning. During their conversation on how to cover the distance, Ed started preparations for the meal. He wasn't a great cook, but he knew he would be able to pull off the simple meal he had planned.
:---:
"Winry, a
messenger brought this for you." Gracia said coming into the room
she had placed Winry in to get ready for the evening.
"Thank you, Gracia." Winry said taking the note.
Winry--
I
figured you're at the Hughes' house getting ready. I will send a
car to their house to pick you up to bring you to the meeting spot at
5:45. I can't wait to see you.
Love,
Ed
Winry smiled and
looked at the bedside clock 5:05. She didn't have long to get
dressed. "Gracia! I need your help with my hair!" Winry called
down the stairs. "Ed's sending a car to pick me up at 5:45."
"We better hurry up then, shouldn't we?"
:---:
"Are you almost
done?" Al asked from the living room. Ed was getting dressed in the
bedroom.
"Yeah, how do I look?" Ed said coming out in his
black pants, a deep red shirt and a black suit coat.
"Good, how
long do you want me to wait?"
"Give me twenty minutes. I have
everything set up, I just need to do the alchemy."
"Sounds good. I'll start getting everything ready here." Al said as Ed walked out the door.
:---:
Ed smiled as he remembered the look on Winry's face when she came into the grove. 'It was so perfect…' He thought as he heard the food trolley coming down the walk way.
:---:
"5:50" Ed said
taking out his pocket watch. "First thing is to set the table."
Ed said to himself as he got a tablecloth, two candles, two
candlesticks, plates, silverware, and glasses out of the picnic
basket he had brought with him. Then he placed the food in between
the two places he had set and got the lighter out and set it next to
his place so that he'd be able to light the candles later. He then
clapped his hands and touched each of the food containers to warm
them up.
Ed saw the blue flash from the dormitory and worked to
set up the speakers from his end, transforming several garbage
reciprocals available into speakers. Suddenly light music came out.
"YES!" He exclaimed excitedly pumping his hand in the air
when the music system worked on the first try. "Now, to make this
place a bit more…festive." Ed said as he walked over to where the
rope was strung between the trees, envisioned what he wanted,
concentrated, clapped his hands and touched the two trees on either
side of him.
A blue light flashed, a velvet rope appeared in
front of him while the Christmas lights at the base of each tree
wound themselves up the base of the tree and through the leaves,
lighting themselves.
"Ed?" He heard behind him.
'Crap,
she's here already!" Ed said taking his watch out and seeing the
hands right at 6:00.
"Right on time, hm? That's good." Ed
said. "Wait right there for a moment, okay?" He asked as he moved
to the table, placed the picnic basket under the table and picked the
lighter up to light the candles.
Winry waited patiently as she
watched Ed move around the grove. 'It's absolutely beautiful. But
he hasn't even looked at me yet!'
Ed took a deep breath but
didn't turn around yet. "You didn't see everything did
you?"
"I saw you transform the grove. The music I heard and
saw the blue flash from a far way off, that's what told me where
you were." Winry said placing her hand on the velvet rope. "Ed,
why don't you turn around?"
"I don't know. I guess I
didn't want to see you until this was completely finished, but now
that it is, I'm nervous."
"Just turn around silly, and let
me in, I don't know how to unhook this rope from the tree."
Ed
took another deep breath and turned around. Winry stood on the other
side of the rope resting her hand lightly on it, surrounded by the
sparkling lights. It seemed to make her…glow, to take his breath
away, quite literally.
"You're beautiful." Ed said taking a
look at her. She wore a black double breasted wool coat and a cream
colored scarf over her dress, which he could see was navy velvet from
where it peaked from under her coat.
He walked over to where the
rope separated them, Winry let out a squeal of surprise when he
picked her up by the waist and lifted her over the rope, keeping her
against him as he let her feet touch the ground once again.
"Every
time I see you, I think I fall a bit harder. I love you so much,
Winry." Ed said as he kissed her gently.
"I love you too,
Ed." She said wrapping her arms around his neck. She laid her head
on his chest, hearing his heart beat, moving her arms to rest around
his torso.
"Winry?" Ed asked his chin resting on top of her
head.
"Hm? What is it, Ed?"
"As much as I love
standing here with you, and I do, don't get me wrong, could we eat?
I really didn't get any lunch, and I'm starved." Ed asked
smirking slightly.
"Dinner?" Winry asked looking up at him.
"You cooked?"
"What? You expected take out?" Ed said
pulling her towards the picnic table.
"Either that or having
Gracia prepare something for you."
"Nope, I cooked. Although,
I did get the recipe from Gracia, I should give her partial credit. I
had no idea how to cook what I was going to cook before I talked to
her this morning while we were out."
"So that's what you
were doing while I was sleeping."
"Yeah, Al and I had to go
to the headquarters building once more too. Questions about the
report I just turned in to Mustang." Ed said helping her into her
seat.
"Rice?" Winry asked.
"Don't worry, there's
more." Ed said opening another container.
"Chicken…sweet n'
sour chicken!" Winry exclaimed as Ed opened each of the containers
in between them.
"Egg rolls, those I did buy, green beans,
cheese wontons, and fried shrimp as well." Ed finished.
"Xingian!
Oh! I love it, I've been so hungry for Xingian lately. Ed, you
really fixed all of this?" Winry said lifting her head from the
spread for a moment.
"Pretty much. Gracia helped me, like I
said." Ed answered smiling at her reaction. "Well, go ahead, or
do you want me to serve you?"
"Do you mind?"
"Not at all." Ed said taking a serving spoon and dished some of each dish onto Winry's plate from where he stood next to her.
:---:
Winry watched as Ed
stood from where he had started a fire in the fire pit and turned to
her.
"May I have this dance?" Ed asked holding out his hand.
She moved towards him, placing her hand in his. He brought her
close to him, encircling her with his warm arms.
"Cold?" He
asked as they swayed to the music that had changed a few moments ago.
"A bit." Winry said smiling up at him. She had removed her
coat but kept the scarf around her shoulders so that she would be
able to mover her arms better.
"Better?" Ed asked brining her
closer
"Much." Winry answered him setting her head against
his chest.
After dancing to several songs he sat Winry down on
the stone fire pit. "Stay right there, I want to give you your
other gift now."
"Ed, you've really done too much…"
Winry stopped when he had turned around and gave a 'shut up'
look.
"I couldn't help but get you this." Ed said carrying
a box towards her.
"Ed…It's a metal box." Winry said when
Ed knelt down in front of her, holding the box for her to
open.
"Yep. Look inside, there's something more."
Winry
looked at him, puzzled. "The engraving is beautiful." As she
traced the heart with her finger.
"Thank you."
"You
really know me too well."
"Well, you're such an automail
freak…" Ed trailed off as she opened the box.
"Oh
my…"
"Think you can eat them all?" Ed asked smiling.
"I
might need some help, we'll see." Winry said taking a look at all
the sweets, then came to the center. A smaller heart was in the
center, engraved similarly to the top of the larger heart. "What's
in here?"
"Another gift. I hope you like it." He said
setting the larger box down as she picked up the tiny box.
Inside, resting on sapphire velvet sat a pocket watch and chain, engraved just like the locket that he had given her for Christmas. Two wrenches crossed in the center with an alchemy circle surrounding them.
"Ed…It's…beautiful."
Winry said tears starting to fall down her cheeks quietly.
"Win…
Winry, don't cry, I didn't mean to make you cry!" Ed said
taking her into his arms.
"I'm happy that's why! I love
it!" Winry said throwing her arms around his neck causing them to
fall backwards a bit.
"I thought you might. You've always
wanted to take mine apart. Succeeded once, actually."
"Oh,
it's so wonderful, Ed." Winry said sitting up and helping Ed up
as well.
"Why don't you take a look at it?" Ed suggested as
he leaned up against the fire pit next to her, placing his arms
around her.
Opening the lid to the watch, Winry saw that the
side opposite the face had something engraved on it. 'I love you,
Winry. Ed. 14 February.'
"Thank you, Ed. I'll never forget
this, I'll always have it with me.' Winry said kissing him on the
cheek.
"Your welcome. I just wanted to give you something
special." Ed said.
"Here, hold on a minute. I have something
special for you too." Winry said standing up and moving towards her
coat and taking something out of the pocket.
"I hope you like
it." She said when she sat down next to him a moment later.
Ed
looked at the box he held in his hand. He carefully opened the lid to
look inside. On red velvet he couldn't believe what he saw. "Did
you make this Winry?" Ed asked.
"Mm-Hm. It took awhile, but I
was able to finish it." Winry said smiling.
"I love it! Thank
you so much!" Ed said taking the watch chain out of the box and
looking at it more carefully. On the clip there was an engraving. 'I
love you, Ed. Winry. 14 February.'
"Al made the engraving
for me with some Alchemy." Winry said as Ed unhooked his old chain
from his watch and clipped the new chain on. On the end where the
chain hooked to the watch two charms dangled. One was an alchemy
circle, the other was two crossed wrenches.
"I love you." Ed
said. "Thank you so much, I love it."
"I love you." Winry
responded smiling. "And thank you, it's perfect."
"It was about time you got your own."
:---:
Ed smiled as he pulled out his watch, letting the chain slip through his fingers. 'I love you, Winry.' He closed the lid to the watch and turned to watch the scenery pass by in a blur once more.
:---:
Winry wiped her forehead with her arm as she finished putting Luke's leg back on. "There you go. Try not to work it so hard, okay? It'll help with the maintenance." Winry said turning around to clean up the shop as Luke got up and got used to the changes in his Automail.
"I'll get you the bill, just get it to Granny Pinako whenever you can." Winry said slipping her pocket watch out of her pants pocket.
"Thanks a lot, Miss. Rockbell. You've sure done a great job."
"Thank you, Luke. Have a good afternoon."
Winry looked down at the watch and smile. 'I love you, Ed. Come home soon.' She closed the lid and ran a finger over the top, pocketing it once more and moving on to her next job.
