Pulse: An EdWin Fanfic

1

She could tell he was alive.

He was breathing, his pulse was there under his pale skin beneath a layer of cold sweat.

"He'll wake up soon," the doctor had told her.

She didn't want him to have to wake up.

She wanted him to stay sleeping, peaceful and warm there in his bed when he did finally pass on.

But she couldn't live with herself if the last thing they had done when he was conscious and sober was fight.

Edward had only wanted to keep his family safe, nothing more.

She understood now.

He would have his wish, since the man who had threatened them all was now dead of his little brother's hand.

The man who had ended Ed's life had his own life taken shortly after, but for reasons private to Al and only Al.

She made up her own reasons.

Because he deserved it, because he hurt so many people.

Because he took her love away to slaughter.

It hurt so bad to watch him stir, a groan parting his lips and his left hand clenching tightly around the blankets, fisting them.

"Ed, love..." she whispered, stroking his hair from his eyes, watching him start to struggle to pull in a breath without it hurting him, another groan falling out of his mouth.

She took his flesh hand, holding it tightly, her thumb tracing every one of the familiar cracks and crevices of his hand. "I love you, Ed. Please wake up, just for a little while..."

His grip tightened on hers, his face screwing up in pain.

"Win... I... sorry..." he croaked.

She kissed his forehead, continuing to trace his hand with her thumb.

"Shh, shh... shh... it's okay. I love you."

A small smile graced his face, for just a flicker of a moment.

And then everything was still, and he was gone.