Gagging into the toilet one last time, Winry laid her head against the seat in defeat. Something was going on. She wasn't stupid, but she wasn't ready to accept it either. So, for now she just sat with her head on a toilet seat.
After a few minutes of wallowing, she finally got up and cleaned up as best she could. Checking herself out in the mirror, she couldn't look her reflection in the eyes. How could this be happening? What am I going to do? What are we going to do? Doing her best to ignore all the questions she tried to focus on going back to work.
Mr. Garfiel looked up at her as she crossed through to the workshop. "You don't look well dear." He clucked at her, nodding his head.
She groaned in agreement as she threw herself down at her stool. Another wave of nausea bubbled up her throat, but she bit it down. This isn't happening. This definitely isn't gonna happen in front of him.
"I hope you're taking good care of yourself," now he was being sly, giving her a knowing look, "You know I hate to see you sick."
She didn't even look up, but she was sweating through her coveralls. "I'll be fine, I think that's the rest of it."
"Mmmh, maybe for today." She ignored his remark and that was the end of it. They worked silently while Mr. Garfiel's phonograph played music through the room.
It wasn't until a couple hours later that Garfiel got up to make some sandwiches and tea for lunch and announced he was going to pick up a few parts in town. Winry wasn't paying attention when he left her some food and tea on her worktable. It wasn't until she heard him arriving back into the workshop and go upstairs that she noticed the plate by her elbow. Her stomach rumbled, and she ate the entire sandwich, leaving the tea that was cold.
She got up and stretched her back, twisting her neck around to work out all the kinks. Unzipping her coveralls down and tying it around her waist, she trudged upstairs into the kitchen for a fresh cup of tea. She noticed a white paper bag sitting on the counter that had her name on it. It was in long looped cursive letters, so she knew it was from Mr. Garfiel. Thinking it was a pastry, she opened up the bag to find a pregnancy test.
Winry was shocked. He must have picked it up from the drug store when he went out earlier. Her ears burned from embarrassment. They both knew what was going on, but she was too stubborn to admit it. So, he did it for her. She wasn't sure if she should yell at him or thank him.
Winry had been feeling funny for exactly 12 days now. She had been keeping track. Naturally, anyone who was working close to her would notice too. But, coming to terms with the possibility that she was pregnant was something she couldn't grasp yet.
Edward and she had been living in Rush Valley for a year. They moved in together after their wedding, though their lives were far from settled down. Winry and Mr. Garfiel were transitioning into a partnership, which was a huge step for Winry. It meant a lot more work, more clients, and moving into a new workshop. And Edward had recently left on a trip to Aerugo, or somewhere, she could hardly keep up. He was still researching and collaborating on projects with Al, which kept him a very busy man.
Neither of them is ready for something like this. Something like a baby. They just invested in a new home! How can they afford a baby?
Deciding there was no use in diddle dallying, she took a paper cup from the pantry they usually save for large gatherings and went straight into the bathroom with the test. Forcing herself to pee took some time and concentration, but she managed. And now it was time to wait.
Leaving the cup with the stick on the bathroom counter, Winry decided to make a new pot of tea. She couldn't sit and wait in there with the test. It was too much anticipation. So many things were going through her head, she couldn't keep up with all the scenarios.
She was sitting at Garfiel's small kitchen table when he walked back in. At least he had the decency to look sorry.
"Winry, please don't be angry, but you've been driving yourself, and me, crazy for the past two weeks. You need to know for both of our sanities."
"Well I already took it, so you can relax now." She snapped.
"And?"
"I don't know. It's in the bathroom, I haven't seen it yet."
"Oh, well then." He peered into the bathroom from where he was standing. "Do you want me to get it?"
"Sure." The last thing she wanted was to know what was on that test. What she really wanted was to throw that test out the window and go back to work like nothing was wrong. Forget today ever happened.
Garfiel came back holding the test out with a napkin. His face was puckered up like he was trying to hold back a smile. He held it out for her to take it.
"No! I can't do it!" She covered her face with her hands, "You look at it!"
"Alright, if you insist." He made a show of looking at it, as if he didn't get a peak in the bathroom.
"Well?" Winry looked from between her fingers, gulping down the giant wave of nausea. "What does it say?"
"You're not pregnant!"
"What? How is that possible?" She snatched the test from his hand. It read positive. Holy shit.
"Surprise!" Garfiel was giggling now, "I would break out the champagne, but you're not allowed anymore sweetie."
Winry just stared at the stick. Her eyes were stinging, and her head hurt from holding in her tears. She couldn't believe this, she was pregnant. What the hell. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my-
"This is good news sweetheart," Garfiel's tone was now low and soothing, he was rubbing her back now "You and Edward will make great parents."
She looked up at him and started sobbing. He cooed at her and let her cry on his shoulder.
"Ohhh, honey, it's ok. It's going to be ok." He kept rubbing her back and rocked her back and forth like she was a baby.
After a few minutes of crying all over Mr. Garfiel's shirt, she sat back and wiped at her eyes. He pulled a frilly handkerchief out for her and she blew her nose into it. Garfiel set a glass of water in front of her and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"What's the matter? Why are you so upset?"
"I don't know," she sniffled, "I don't know what to do."
"Oh well, you'll figure it out. Isn't that what all parents do?"
"Yeah, but, we're not ready! We're so busy, and," she paused heaving in a breath, "a-and we're so young! How am I going to raise a baby, and have time to work on my automail, and start a new business? This is the worst timing!"
Garfiel paused for a second, "Well, I'll help with any of the business and automail orders," he reassured her with a pat on her hand. "And besides, you know that Edward will be there too."
Winry was shaken by the mention of Ed's name. Of course she had discussed having kids with Ed before. She wouldn't have married him if they weren't on the same page. They agreed it was something they both wanted down the line when they were older and more settled down in their careers. But this? Ed had just turned 20 in February, and she was still 19. He had so much work he had to finish before he could properly raise a family. Not to mention he loved what he was doing, more so than when he was traveling to get back his and Al's bodies. She couldn't tear him away from that. It would kill her to know that she was the reason for his unhappiness.
"I... I can't do that to Ed." She said softly, Garfiel almost didn't hear her. "Things are going so well now, how can I expect him to leave what he loves for a life stuck at home all the time?"
Not really knowing what to say, Garfiel just kept rubbing her back. He knew Ed was a wild spirit and a passionate person. Sure, he loved what he did, but he also loved Winry a lot too. Garfiel remembers when Winry first came back to Rush Valley after Ed left to the west and Ed would send her letter after letter detailing his travels. And most nights Winry would wait downstairs, claiming to be working late on a rush order but was really waiting up for his calls. Then, one day Edward showed up on their doorstep a few months early from his trip to Creta. His reasons were because his automail was in need of maintenance but Garfiel knew. Edward was lovesick, and they were married in less than a month.
"I think you and Ed should have a conversation about this." He told her "And I believe you'll be surprised by what Edward would and wouldn't do to make you happy. Besides, this is a happy moment Winry! You're going to be a mother! How exciting is that! So, stop that crying." He dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief. "How exciting! I have so many people to call!" He got up and pranced down the hall where the phone book was.
"Hey! Wait a second! You can't tell anyone until I've told Edward!" She yelled after him, "He's already going to be upset that you found out before him!"
Looking down at the pregnancy test in her hand Winry felt a little better. Sure, this wasn't the best timing, but there never is perfect timing for this type of thing. Most of her unease about being pregnant was gone, but something was still bothering her. How was she going to tell Ed?