Title: What's in a name?
Author: miss_auto1621
Series: Post Manga
Prompt: Pets
Word Count: 499
Rating: K
Disclaimer: Arakawa owns FMA and that's that.
Characters: Ed x Winry, kids
Summary: Post 108. In which the kids want pets.
Warnings: Minor spoilers, I guess.
A/N: It took this challenge to get me to write this idea. Also, I love the (RIP) names!
Part of Livejournal's fma_fic_contest
The kids dragged their parents to the animal shelter. They could not forget about Den, but the kids wanted some company after the canine's absence.
They visited the birds first, but Maes's couldn't tolerate the screeches.
They visited the cats, but Nina disliked them and turned her head when one hissed at her.
They visited the dogs. The kids were friendlier with them because of their experience with Den.
Maes came out with a pup tailing him. Its tongue stuck out as he scratched under its left ear and a smile spread across his face as he approached his parents. They were alarmed when they found a dog instead of his sister beside him.
"I like this dog," he said, disregarding his parents' expressions.
"What did Nina think?" Winry asked.
Maes shrugged. "Dunno. But she'll like him." He smirked afterwards.
Ed scanned the dog that was leaning into his son's hand. He almost looked like Alexander….
"Mommy, Daddy!"
Nina came rushing to her parents before halting herself.
"Oh, doggie!" she gushed as she began to mimic her brother's action and scratched under its right ear.
"Did you want to show us something, kiddo?" Ed asked with a smile. His daughter could get distracted easily.
"Bunnies!"
"No bunnies!" Maes began, furrowing his eyebrows.
"But they're cute," Nina countered in a soft voice.
"Maes, let your sister choose, too," Winry said as she followed Nina.
"You'll like 'em, Mommy," Nina said. "One looks like candy."
"Really, sweetie?" Winry asked as if she had no idea what fur colors rabbits could have.
Ed and Maes came to where they were after Winry and Nina chose the one that looked like candy.
"I like this bunny."
"But we're getting the dog," Maes pointed out matter-of-factly.
The kids had a stare down.
Ed and Winry smiled. It didn't matter. The kids would be the owners, but the parents would be the ones that would feed them, after all….
"Take both of them," Ed said to avoid further arguments.
Their faces lit up.
So after Ed and Winry signed the legal papers and let their kids pay for their pets (they asked for the money), they came down to naming.
Nina came up with Caramel, after she asked her parents for suggestions about candy names. When Maes chose the dog's name, it became a big deal.
"Rutch's not a name!" Nina said in an adorably angry tone.
"Yes, it is!" Maes shot back.
Nina looked at the pup. The tongue that stuck out of its mouth made her soften her tone. "I like…Alexander."
"Sweetheart, you chose your bunny's name. Let Maes choose for the dog," Winry advised as the little one backed off and let her brother win.
As the family walked home with their new pets, Ed and Winry thought about the names. Winry had thought of Den, but no pet could replace her. Ed thought of Alexander and agreed with his daughter's suggestion. He was glad he signed both names for the dog.
Ooh, Ed, you sneaky person, you! XD He spoils his kids too much, but that's okay. R/R,plz! Support is love!
-Auto-