Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Seasons ❯ Winter: Memories ( Chapter 2 )

Warnings and Disclaimers: Any and all characters from the anime Fullmetal Alchemist do not belong to me. I only torture them for some stories. There may be some teenage content in the story but it is very limited. This story is set after the movie which means there are some spoilers and if you have no idea what any of this may be about, then don't come crying to me please. It's not my fault, I warned you *sheepish grin*.

 

 

 

Seasons

Winter: Memories

Chapter 2

 

By: RomanceFanFicLover

 

 

A beautiful woman looked down at her two children. Both were boys and both looked up at their mother lovingly. The eldest song revealed an alchemically made paper crane to his mother and she plucked it out of his hands with great care, a look of admiration and bliss passed over her face before she tucked it away into her apron for safe keeping.

 

 

“Thank you Ed, I love it. You're so talented. Just look at this lovely crane! Isn't that proof enough?” Her voice was sweet and melodic. Something about it made the whole image seem to ache with a twisting pain.

 

 

The woman's face itself seemed to twist and contort until an inhuman shape took form and glowing eyes appeared in a steaming, sickening darkness.

 

 

“You're so talented Ed” The same melodic voice came from the creature, but it was no longer sweet with its taunting tone, “Just look at what you've done to me, isn't that proof enough?”

 

 

With a sharp inhale of breath Ed awoke from his dream with his bangs plastered to his forehead and cheeks with the amount of sweat hanging off them.

 

 

`Just the regular dream, Ed, it was just a dream.' Mentally counting to ten, Ed relaxed slightly and tried to shift from his current position in order to feel less drenched. A blazing inferno of pain seemed to erupt in his right leg as he shifted it to the side. Without realizing it, Ed had screamed out loud in the shock of the pain. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, Ed lifted himself up on his arms and began his attempt to squirm his way to the other side of the bed.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

Winry awoke with a chilling feeling that something seemed wrong. She slowly pushed her sheets off of herself and swung her legs onto the floor before hesitantly bringing her feet to the cold floor. Shaking off the quick shiver down her spine, Winry got up and made her way towards Ed's room to check on him. As she made her way down the hallway, a pained scream came from Ed's door at the end of the hallway.

 

 

Cursing under her breath, Winry shuffled quietly to Ed's door and pressed her ear against the door. Thankful that she didn't hear crying, screaming or whimpering, but still suspicious of the shuffling she heard through the door, Winry creaked open the door to the sight of Ed crab-walking his way slowly across his bed with only his arms.

 

 

“Ed?” Winry couldn't help but let a little of her amusement slip into her voice.

 

 

Glancing up in surprise, Ed was distracted from his mission enough to have his arms buckle under his weight and fall before he could save himself. Another pained yelp emanated from the curtain of blonde over Ed's face and Winry raced to his side.

 

 

“Ed, I'm so sorry.” Winry's eyebrows knitted together in worry as Ed hastily pulled the covers over his face, but they soon relaxed as she heard Ed's frustrated and embarrassed growls drifting through the thin fabric. Giggling lightly Winry peeled the covers from Ed's sweating face and noticed the slight discoloration of his skin.

 

 

“Ed?” Worry hit Winry in the stomach full force again, and only worsened ten-fold as a strained voice barely whispered past Ed's lips.

 

 

“Winry…I think I'm going to be sick.” Ed curled towards the edge of the bed, but Winry reacted quicker and brought a bowl that was hidden under the bed under his awaiting mouth.

 

 

After expelling the contents of his stomach for the third time Ed was able to lay back on the bed.

 

 

“I'm so sorry Ed.”

 

 

“For what? You didn't do this.” Ed chuckled softly but stopped upon seeing the sick look on Winry's face. “Oh God, are you going to be sick as well?”

 

 

“No…” Guilt dripped of the word as if it had been soaked in it for hours before it came from her mouth.

 

 

“Winry? Is something wrong? What happened?”

 

 

After a few moments of being deep in thought, Winry came to the conclusion that she had better tell Ed the explanation of what happened now, or it would just be worse later on. Ed beat her to it though, and spoke first.

 

 

“Uh…Winry?” Ed began nervously. The encouraging look on Winry's face must have been enough to help him since he continued immediately after. “D-Do you realize that your in your uh…PJs?” Gulping down the suddenly large lump in his throat, Ed couldn't find himself able to tear his eyes away from the bare legs that he saw coming out from under the large tee-shirt she was wearing.

 

 

With a small `eep' Winry knelt on the ground and moved her legs out of Ed's vision. “Sorry about that. Um…Ed? I kind of have to tell you something important.”

 

 

“Winry, could you tell me in the morning? I'm pretty tired and I think I pulled something in my sleep on my leg, so I'm going to try to sleep it off. Is that alright?”

 

 

The guilty look returned to Winry's face as she nodded and muttered a quick “Goodnight, Ed.” before hurrying out the door. Leaning against the wall beside the door, Winry let out a small frustrated growl. She didn't even have the nerve to tell him that she injured him! With a sigh Winry headed back towards her room in the hopes of being blessed with dreams that would take her mind off the consuming guilt she was experiencing.

 

 

Safely tucked in under her covers Winry began to drift to sleep as a thought drifted across her mind. `He's going to kill me…'

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

The delicious aroma of rice and eggs drifted into Ed's nose and his mind slowly drifted up throw the haze of sleep as he got a grip of his other 4 senses. The first sense that awakened was smell, and once again the delightful smell of his breakfast drifted up to his nose. Smell was followed by taste and the bland taste of his mouth only made it water more in the though of breakfast. Hearing came next and Ed was delighted to hear his breakfast being brought to him. Touch rose up quickly and oh, how Ed wished it didn't. The pain in all his limbs was back, but his head and his leg throbbed much more evidently and painfully. Sight decided to make an appearance and Ed opened his eyes just as his bedroom door was opened.

 

 

“Good morning Ed!” Winry's overly-happy voice rang out through the whole room, making Ed wince in pain. “Oh, sorry I forgot.”

 

 

“Why does my head feel like it's splitting open, anyways?” Ed mumbled angrily as his eyes followed the bowl of steaming rice but quickly detoured to Winry's face as she ignored the question and fixed her faltering smile. “Winry…” The empty threat hung in the air as Winry slowly turned towards him.

 

 

Winry paused in the process of placing the tray of food on Ed's bedside table. “Ed…Y-You have a concussion.”

 

 

Ed blinked a few times. A concussion? He was hit on the head thousands of times before. Hell, he'd even been thrown onto his head by some of the homunculi, but he never got a concussion before. Ed lifted his automail arm to his head but found it difficult to find his head. No, that wasn't right. He was having difficulty finding his arm. “Winry! Where's my automail?! Someone stole it last night! I had it last night. I swear don't hit me, I'll get it back.” Ed hurried to get up before realizing his right leg was still injured and his left leg wasn't even there. “Winry!” Ed's panicked eyes looked up into Winry's laughing eyes. “Winry…” the empty threat in her name lingered in the air again.

 

 

Clearing her throat quickly and directing her attention to the pillows that suddenly needed fluffing, Winry ignored Ed's pressing glare.

 

 

Ed wasn't stupid, he was far from it, and not only that; he could read people exceptionally well. Winry was hiding something from him; he didn't even have to be smart to know that, he'd known her since…forever! Edward grabbed Winry's wrist to stop her from having an excuse to not answer and looked her dead in the eyes. He didn't have to speak, the question was there. She gulped visibly but looked away. Ed tightened his grip and Winry yelped in pain. A memory flooded his senses and Ed found himself thirteen years in the past.

 

 

Winry watched as panic filled Ed's eyes and he fell unconscious again. `He's probably hungry, I have to wake him up.' Winry grabbed hold of Ed's shoulders and began shaking him lightly, but he didn't react.

 

 

Winry sighed lightly. “Have a good nap, Ed.” She picked up the tray and closed the door with a soft click.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

Winry swung on the old wooden swing that he, Al and Winry always played at.

 

 

“Ed! Al!” She giggled happily, “Look how high I'm going!”

 

 

Ed looked up at Winry as she pushed herself to go higher, reaching her arm out to touch a flower that was just out of her reach. The happiness reflected from Winry's eyes to Ed's as that giggled and tried to reach the flower again. Determined to reach it, Winry leaning off of the swing slightly and reached out again. Ed watched in horror as Winry seemed to fall in slow motion and landed with a thud and a scream.

 

 

“Win!” Ed rushed over to her side. “Are you okay?”

 

 

“Ed…my arm…it…it hurts…get help.” Winry struggled through the statement as she fought against the pain.

 

 

Stumbling to his feet, Ed ran into Winry's yard. “Auntie! Mom! Hurry! Winry's hurt! Al! Someone?!” Feeling helpless at the lack of response Ed ran to the back of Winry's house.

 

 

Pinako was working loudly with some automail and Ed rushed up to her. Pulling on her sleeve frantically he rushed a quick explanation and they hurried to get Winry together.

 

 

Ed stirred slightly, but only long enough to furrow his brow in concentration as he focused on the memory.

 

 

A young boy, about 6 or 7 years old, swung higher and higher on a wooden swing as he reached out towards a branch of the tree. He golden eyes blazed with concentration and confidence and his golden bangs flopped in the self-made wind. His small hand reached out and managed to touch the petal of a deep red flower in the tree.

 

 

The young boy grinned in self-confidence as he rose higher into the air and reached again, he touched more of the petal.

 

`It's so soft, no wonder Winry wanted it.' The young boy reached again and grabbed hold of the flower's stem and yanked with the added force of gravity pulling the swing backwards.

 

 

A woman stood off to the side of the tree and her eyes glittered happily as the triumphant yell exploded from her son.

 

 

The boy jumped of the swing and landed on his feet. Before he could even notice the woman behind the tree, he ran towards a house that was situated atop a hill, just a little bit off in the distance.

 

 

He quickened his pace and fought against the slight burning in his lungs as he fought for enough air to keep him moving.

 

 

A loud knock on the door was the homeowner's only warning as the young boy barged through the door, kicked off his muddy shoes and raced up the stairs.

 

 

“Ed! Have manners!” The woman chuckled lightly and took a puff of her pipe before hearing a “Sorry Auntie Pinako!” coming from upstairs.

 

 

Ed cradled the flower in his hands as he burst through the door on his right and raced to the side of the young girl in the bed.

 

 

“Ed? What are you doing here so late?” The little girl looked at him with wonder.

 

 

Ed proudly thrust his outstretched arms under her nose and carefully opened the cage of his hands to reveal a beautiful red flower. The little girl looked up at Ed with admiration and squealed in delight before timidly asking, “Is it for me?”

 

 

“Yup.” Ed couldn't keep the goofy smile off of his face as he watched her eyes sparkle in the dim light of her bedside table.

 

 

Suddenly the light seemed dimmer and the little girl's face became slightly deformed. Ed panicked and the smell of rotting flesh reached his nose. “Well I don't want it. You caused this. You caused me.'

 

Ed took a step back in fear and the smell became even worse. His stomach churned as the form of the girl bubbled and shifted towards him. The bile rose into his mouth before he could stop it, and he retched onto the floor.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

Ed groaned unhappily as his stomach ached and protested at its lack of contents. He felt hot, very hot. It was supposed to be winter, why was it so hot? A cool cloth was placed on his head and Ed sighed in contentment.

 

 

“Winry…” he whispered the name absent-mindedly and fell back into unconsciousness.

 

 

Pinako looked down at Ed, her face blank. A mischievous smile tugged on the edges or her lips as she put down the cold cloth and left the room.

 

 

Making her way down the stairs, Pinako let her still-sharp hearing lead her to her grand-daughter.

 

 

“Winry!” She shouted through the door, trying to be heard over the sound of hammering. The insistent thudding stopped and Pinako heard a stool being pushed backwards. Moments later, Winry stood at the open door with a look of bewilderment on her face.

 

 

“Yes Granny?”

 

 

“Ed wants you.” Pinako tried to smother the laughter she felt bubbling in her throat at the sight of Winry's obvious surprise.

 

 

“But isn't he sleeping Granny? And I have work to do.” Confusion laced through ever syllable she spoke but concern still edged it's way into her tone.

 

 

“Apparently, he still wants you. Also, you have new work now.”

 

“New work?” Winry repeated the statement dumbly.

 

 

“Yes, you are now Ed's caretaker. I'll get Al to help me with the automail shop until Ed is better.” Pinako hurried away before more questions were asked, and began to search for her accomplice in matchmaking.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

A/N: So far so good, two chapters in two days. If the story seems fuzzy and doesn't make any sense, tell me so I can clear it up. Criticism and comments are welcomed!

 

Xoxoxoxox!!!!