Notes: For the 2013-2014 FMA Big Bang from Livejournal. Thanks to sonajade for her great betaing and thanks to cornerofmadness (LJ) and ladynorbert for brainstorming with me on some plot ideas.
Chapter One
Business at Winry's shop had been booming the past several months, which she was grateful for as competition tended to get stiff at Rush Valley. That meant more money set aside for expenses, like buying more advanced automail parts. There were instances she had to pull an all-nighter to get a prosthetic fixed, but seeing a client's wide grin was always worth it.
This morning, she worked on fixing a leg with Joseph, a teenage apprentice she took under her wing four months ago. He got interested in automail at a very young age and moved to Rush Valley to gain more experience. Winry thought he was an intelligent young man and would become an excellent mechanic.
"Is there anything else we need to do with that leg?" Joseph asked as the pair looked at the blueprint together. The leg they finished wiring was set aside on the work table.
"Only thing is new fiberglass plating." Winry took a quick glance at the clock on the wall to see that it was nearing one o' clock. Ed would probably come inside the workshop to announce lunch very soon. Looking back at Joseph, she said, "We can go get that later, it's almost lunch time."
Joseph stretched his arms, grinning at her. "Good, my stomach's growling!"
That made Winry chuckle. She and Joseph left the workshop and headed toward the kitchen. Inside, Ed was next to the oven, stirring something on a pot, while their three children sat and waited for their meal. The spoons and glasses of lemonade were already set on the table.
"How much longer do we hafta wait?" Jane, the youngest child, asked with a pout expression on her face.
"Yeah, we're all starving!" Henry whined dramatically.
"It's just about done." Ed looked over his shoulder and smiled at Winry and Joseph. "I'm making beef stew today. You guys go ahead and grab a seat!"
The both of them settled into their seats. Shortly after, lunch was ready and Ed handed everyone their bowls. Winry immediately chewed a piece of beef, letting out a satisfied moan. She glanced around to see the others looking just as pleased.
"You always make great stew, Dad!" Esther said. Her siblings nodded in agreement.
Ed grinned. "Glad to hear that, Esther."
As everyone ate their stew in silence, Winry thought about how Ed enjoyed fatherhood a lot and was more than happy to look over the kids while she worked. The past year Ed taught Henry and Esther the concepts of alchemy, even though he couldn't use it anymore, and loved every moment of it-Ed had told her how they were very fast learners. Winry was certain her husband wouldn't trade this for the world.
"You know, Winry," Ed said, interrupting Winry's thoughts, "it's been a while since we had a family vacation."
Winry was about to devour another piece of beef, only to have her spoon stop midway when she heard that. She wondered why he brought that up all of a sudden.
"Now that you mentioned it, our last vacation was before Jane was born."
Ed nodded and drank some of his lemonade. "Well, you had been working very hard for a while and I think all of us could go somewhere for a few days."
Winry considered her husband's suggestion a moment. Indeed she had been very busy in the workshop, but she didn't mind it at all and appreciated Joseph's help very much. Of course, it was always good to relax time to time. She was due for a well-deserved rest and it was generous of Ed to say that.
"You're right, the whole family should take a vacation," she said and smiled. An idea then came to her. "Joseph can come with us, too!"
At that instant, Joseph laughed nervously while waving his hands fanatically. "I don't think it's a good idea. This is supposed to be a family vacation, you guys don't want me to trouble you."
"Nonsense! You did a lot since becoming my apprentice, so you also should take some time off."
"If you don't want to join us, you can go visit your parents at East City," Ed said. "I'm sure they'll love that."
A low gasp left Joseph, but he smiled after. "Perhaps I'll do that, then." He then went back to eating his stew.
"Let's go to Xing again!" Esther said. "Emperor Yao's palace is amazing and I want to meet Lan Fan again."
Staring at her, Henry said, "Xing is too far, though! How about Creta? We can go fishing!"
Esther glared back. "I don't like the ocean and I'm scared of sharks. Xing instead!"
"No, Creta!"
That prompted Esther and Henry to exchange shouts of "Xing" and "Creta" to one another. Jane blinked in confusion while Joseph chuckled. Winry heard her husband sigh and she felt the same way.
"All right you two, that's enough," she said in a stern voice. Instantly, Esther and Henry stopped their arguing. "I'm thinking we should go somewhere within the borders as it'll take a few days through train to go either of those countries."
"I agree," Ed said. "We don't need to go to another country. If you want, Henry, there's a lake a short drive from Central."
Henry gave his father a disappointed look. "But the ocean and sharks are more exciting."
"Your sister doesn't agree with that, though." Winry giggled and stretched her hand over his son's head, messing his hair. "Going to Central isn't a bad idea, actually. Maybe I'll talk to Ms. Hughes and ask if she knows any events going on soon."
Later that night, Winry decided to go to the bedroom to call Ms. Hughes. It had been several days since their last conversation, so it was great talking to her again. She eventually told her about what she and Ed discussed earlier that day.
"Oh, so you, Ed, and the kids are deciding to take a vacation soon?" Ms. Hughes asked, sounding very interested.
"Yup! We aren't sure where to go, though."
When it grew quiet on the other line, Winry assumed Ms. Hughes was pondering over where she and the family should go. A few more seconds passed until she spoke again.
"I know! Why don't all of you come to South City for the upcoming summer carnival?"
"Summer carnival? Oh right, that comes every year but I've never been to one yet." For a while Winry always wanted to go to South City for that, but she then got busy focusing on her automail engineering career and starting a family with Ed.
"Elicia and I are going to South City to visit my relatives, but we'll be checking out the carnival this year, too. It will be great if the whole family is there."
A smile curled onto Winry's lips. "That would be very nice, indeed. When is the fair?"
"It starts Friday next week and will last for over the weekend. That should be enough time to get prepared."
Winry considered having the family vacation be at South City. There would be lots to do and see at the carnival. She also wanted to meet Elicia and Ms. Hughes after not seeing them for a while. She wasn't sure if Ed and the children would approve, though. The vacation should be something the whole family could agree on.
"Let me talk with everyone about this first," she said after making her decision. "I'll let you know if we'll come or not."
"That's fine, dear. Looking forward to hearing from you again."
"Me too. You have a good evening." Winry had put the phone back on the nightstand after she hung up.
"Were you talking to Ms. Hughes?"
Surprised by the voice, she twisted over her shoulder to see Ed stepped inside the bedroom while holding Jane against his chest. Their youngest child had her arms around Ed's neck. Winry offered them a smile.
"I was. She told me about the upcoming summer carnival at South City."
"A carnival, huh?" Ed sat down beside Winry and had Jane seated on his lap. "It does sound like something fun for all of us."
"Mommy, what's a carnival?" Jane asked as she titled her head.
"It's a festival where everybody goes to have fun and relax," Winry said. "There will be lots of games, rides, and food."
Her daughter's face lit up in excitement. "Oh, like that one bedtime story you and Daddy told me!"
Winry nodded and chuckled. "Yes, exactly like that."
Before she could explain more, Henry and Esther quietly stepped inside the bedroom. Both siblings looked at their parents in anticipation.
"Are we really going to a carnival?" Esther asked, beaming.
"We're discussing that right now," Ed said.
"Can we?" This time Henry asked. "I want to play some games and see the fireworks!"
Winry stayed quiet, waiting for Ed's response. She gazed at him while he thought hard over this. If he decided against it, she was certain that would break the children's hearts. Fortunately that wouldn't be the case when a wide grin stretched across his face.
"All right, we can go to South City for our family vacation!"
There was a sudden burst of celebration in the bedroom. Jane cheered as she raised her arms up high. Henry and Esther let out joyful shouts as well and rushed towards their mother for a hug, which she gladly accepted. Now she was just as excited as her children and Ed over their upcoming trip.
xxx
Most nights before bed, Daria Cireno would read something out of enjoyment.
Many times it would be a novel, adventure stories being her favorite. She always loved the different settings and fast paced action that kept her turning to the next page. Often though it would be history books and books on real-life archeological accounts, several of them were from her late father—he gave them to her when she had revealed her interest in archeology to him long ago. Those books were just as exciting.
Tonight she was in the living room and settled on a couch, reading a book on one of the archeological findings in the 1800s from Xing. Several of Emperor Yung Cho's priceless possessions were discovered deep in a mountain cave where he hid them. Years later, the artifacts were put in a museum at Xing's capital. Daria thought that particular event was interesting.
"You're still up late, dear?"
Upon hearing her husband Norman's voice, Daria tore her eyes off the page and looked up to see him grinning at her. She offered him a smile in return.
"I was just reading some of my father's books," Daria said as she slowly closed the book, putting it on the coffee table. "Xing always have interesting findings."
Norman chuckled. "That country does have its share of surprises."
A moment of silence stretched between them. After Norman sat down next to Daria, his smile faded into a frown. She wondered if there was something upsetting him and if so there was anything she could do.
"I want you to be careful on your trip," he then said.
A stunned gasp left Daria's throat. A while back, she told her husband about a trip she planned to take fairly soon. Now that she had almost everything prepared, Daria decided to set off in two weeks. She found it strange, as Norman usually wasn't worried whenever she was away.
"I've been through many archeological expeditions before."
"I know, but this one is more personal and I can't help but feel worried."
Daria dragged in a heavy sigh and jerked her automail arm, which replaced the one she lost long ago. It was understandable he would be concerned for her over this particular trip. This one she was going to find something out for herself related to her father's past expeditions. Still, it shouldn't be different than the other times she traveled. She gazed back at her husband.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
A few seconds passed until a soft smile tugged onto Norman's lips. "All right, I trust you."
Daria responded by giving Norman a quick kiss on the cheek. She was very glad to hear that from him.
"I just thought of something. Why don't we go to the upcoming carnival together? We hadn't gone out to relax in a while."
Since their move to South City over three years ago, they haven't gone to the yearly carnival due to their busy schedules. Daria thought this might be a fun thing to do while they still have some free time together.
"That's a great idea, actually," Norman said. "When is it again?"
"In two weeks. We go to the carnival and then I leave for my trip."
"It's a date, then," he said and squeezed Daria's flesh hand gently. She looked forward to that.