Chapter 2: Surprise and Tears

The two boys sat at their mother's bedside. Alphonse broke into tears as her eyes slipped softly shut, a content smile on her face, and the vice-like grip she had on their hands released. Edward just went quiet, refusing to accept the truth.

Their mother was dead.

"Mom!" Alphonse cried, immediately embracing his mother's corpse tightly, wishing that just his hug would return her. But she remained unresponsive.

"Granny Pinako, can you go and take Al to get something to drink and calm him down please?" Edward mumbled quietly, expertly removing Alphonse's grasp on their mother, and passed the younger boy to his best friend's grandmother. Winry sent him a soft smile, and then followed the pair from the room, closing the door behind them.

Edward turned back to his mother's paling body. He reached out and clasped her hand, bringing it to his face, caressing it against his cheek, feeling the softness of his mother's touch once more.

Now the tears finally came. He crawled into the bed alongside his mother and curled into her, trying to retain the warmth she was quickly losing.

"Mom…please don't be dead," he whispered, succumbing to the emotions that he desperately didn't want to feel.

Then, suddenly, his mother inhaled deeply. He gasped, sitting up and gazing at her face. Her eyes fluttered open, and she glanced around the room. As her eyes fell on him, a surprised but ecstatic smile adorned her face. He mirrored her expression.

"MOM!" he cried, gripping hold of her. She returned the gesture to equal measure, so utterly pleased to see her son, still whole and still innocent. She stroked his soft blonde locks, tears escaping her eyes.

"I love you so much, Ed," she whispered.

"Love you too, mom," he replied, curling closer into her.

Pinako, Winry and Alphonse had heard the euphoric cry from the next room, and had immediately sped in there to ensure Edward was okay.

Then, when they had entered, a beautiful sight met their eyes.

Edward was lying on his mother, being embraced tightly by Trisha, both in tears of joy.

"Mommy!" Alphonse exclaimed, attracting her attention.

"My baby Alphonse!" she replied, holding her arm out to embrace him. Her youngest son sprinted across the room, leaping into her awaiting arms. Winry and Pinako smiled at the sight, but Winry did feel a little sad. Her friends had been lucky enough to have their mother returned to them…but she would never get to hold her parents' hands again; be embraced in their strong, comforting arms; or be told that she was loved by them ever again.

"It seems you have made a miraculous recovery, Mrs Elric," the doctor concluded, stepping away from Trisha on the bed. "But you must remain in bed for the next week, to ensure that you are completely healed."

"Of course," Trisha smiled, and glanced at her sons outside. They were running around the fields surrounding the Rockbell house, with Winry close behind. They were obviously playing a game of tag, as Winry leapt on the boys, sending all three to the ground in fits of laughter. She smiled at the sight.

The doctor bid his farewells and exited, heading back off to his surgery. Pinako came in shortly after, with two mugs of steaming tea in her hands. She passed one to Trisha and took a seat. She followed Trisha's gaze outside, at the three innocent children playing in the field, tickling each other.

"I don't even want to think about what they would have done without you," the granny stated. "I already saw how Winry reacted, and desperately didn't want to see your boys go through the same thing."

"Neither do I," Trisha replied. "They are so precious, and I want to protect them from all the dangers of this country." She sipped her tea.

"Yes, like the military. Such a vile organisation. They would use your boys, especially Edward. I've seen how talented he is at alchemy, and that horrible organisation would most definitely abuse his talent. We'd better keep an eye out, because when they discover that your husband had children, they will come searching," Pinako growled at the thought.

"I agree. We will keep the boys hidden if they ever do come knocking," Trisha agreed. She then returned to gazing at her boys and their friend, smiling at how she was so lucky to have been granted a second chance to see them grow up. She didn't want to think of the consequences of her decision just yet, though.

A/N: Hey, me again! I think this is the fastest I've ever updated a story so far! I promised I'd try to update regularly! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review, with any constructive criticism you have; I sincerely welcome it! I can use it to help me improve in my writing!

Next time – She had been a fool to think that the future would not take its course just because she altered the present. Now all she can do is try her best to prevent it from completely claiming her children.