Title: Flawless
Couple: Ed/Winry
Rating: K
Genres: Romance/Family
He was beautiful.
The effort was traumatic. Edward had never felt so frightened in his life. One disaster after another occurred whilst she wailed in agony. The baby wasn't cooperating like it should. There was minimal chance for survival – mother included.
He ran from doctor to doctor. Did as he was told. He was desperate. Almost tearful. His heart thumped against his chest violently, and he was afraid it would burst. He couldn't lose her. No, not after all this time. How could his own flesh and blood destroy her? No! She would survive this.
She fell unconscious for a moment. Ed jarred his teeth and shook. A doctor told him the baby was suffocating itself. He swallowed a cry. Held her hand tightly, begging her to wake up. She had to wake up and help the baby survive. She was strong enough.
Her eyes fluttered open. He died a little inside when her face scrunched up in pain. Her scream broke his heart. This wasn't happening. How could birth be so horrifying?
When the midwives panicked, Ed couldn't breathe. The baby had to escape her womb otherwise it wouldn't survive. The procedure needed to be quick.
So he encouraged her. He – out of everyone in the damn room – was the calmest. He whispered into her ear (lovingly) to push. To release their offspring. Ed held her hand firmly, and she hung onto him, obeying his gentle commands. This was killing her. And all he could do was watch.
The baby's heartbeat was slowing down. She was exhausted. Her body shouldn't be able to handle this amount of pain, but she kept going. Edward had never loved her so much for trying this hard.
And then– 'You're so close now! C'mon, you can do this! Look. . . Can you see the head?' A gasp. 'Keep going!'
Ed remained focussed on her. He held her, whispered soothing words. He wouldn't leave her. Not like he had done so many times before.
She had to stop. She was forced to stop for a moment. Sweat glistened over her forehead. She breathed heavily, moaning a little, eyes closed.
'Winry.' He smiled. 'We're almost there.'
Their eyes met and in that single moment he was the happiest man alive.
One last push and it was over.
A wonderful yet agonising scream echoed his ears. Made his heart flutter in glee. He beamed, and turned to the noise.
Wrapped in blue, the baby fit neatly in his arms. Almost by magic it was soothed and looked up at him in awe with the largest, but most magnificent blue eyes he had seen. 'Hi,' Ed croaked.
The newfound father faced his defeated wife and showed her what perfection they had created together. She managed to pull a smile. He smiled back at her, and laughed almost childishly.
'Can I hold him?' Winry said quietly.
Him. How did she know?
Ed passed her the little boy and the moment they touched she had become a mother. The realisation hit him like bricks. It was painful. Their childhood – everything – was nothing compared to this.
Then the pain dissolved into acceptance. Edward didn't give a damn. This child was everything. He wouldn't swap him for the world.
'You wanna name him?'