Hohenheim's Mistake 4
Hohenheim picked up a giggling Edward. "Daddy! I mith you!" Edward squealed then laughed when Hohenheim nuzzled his face, tickling him with his beard. "Now pipsqueak, I wasn't gone that long." Hohenheim said, putting him on his hip only for Edward to shriek "Daddy no! You icky!" Edward said showing him his hand. It had chunks of oatmeal on it. "Daddy! Take bas! Now!" Edward demanded, waving his hand in his face. Before Hohenheim could say anything back, Trisha, coming out of the kitchen, said "I think you should take one as well dear, did you have a fight with the food? If you did, it certainly looks like you lost" Alphonse giggled and waved from his perch on her back. "Well Trisha, I don't think anyone could beat your cooking" Hohenheim said smiling and leaning in for a kiss. Trisha stopped him by putting a hand on his chest. "No no mister, you're setting a bad example for the kids, being so dirty, now go take a bath" She said as Alphonse grabbed his beard and yanked some of the hair out. Hohenheim flinched a little. Why did all his children do this to him at some point? Was his beard just that pullable? He thought then nodded "of course Trisha." He left the three of them where they were, in the hall, in front of the basement door, next to the living room.
"Mommy! Can we thee Winry now? I wanna play!" Edward said tugging on her dress. "In a little bit dear, but right now, mommy has some things she has to do first. Would you like to help me?" she asked as Edward nodded rapidly and said, eyes bright "Yeth mommy! What we do?" "Me too! I wanna halp!" Alphonse added loudly. "I want you and Alphonse to hide. I'll tell daddy to look for you once he gets done with his bath, ok? It's really important that you do this for me" she said, crouching down to their level, looking them in the eye after she set an enthralled Alphonse down. Edward nodded, looking serious, Alphonse looked at his brother and mimicked him. "Yeth mommy! Come on Al!" Edward said grabbing his little brother's hand and pulling him unsteadily to his feet. Trisha watched them toddle off for a few seconds before walking over to the bathroom and entering. Hohenheim was just getting dressed when she walked in. He looked at her in surprise.
"Now Hohenheim, are you going to explain why you got in a fight with my food? It appears to have really done some damage to you" she said, touching a forming bruise on his jaw. Hohenheim cringed a little "Well, you see dear, I slipped…and fell…off the stairs…and the bowl spilled on me. The floor made an acquaintance with my face, specifically where you are touching." He said hissing the last part. If William could see him now, he'd be so happy…. Trisha pursed her lips in concern. "Do you think you might have broken it? It is bruising rather quickly. We can always ask the Rockbells to look at it." She said, removing her hand from his jaw. Hohenheim shook his head "It'll be fine, I'll be fine. You know me" Trisha gave him a worried but, slightly angry look. "If that's what you think is best….However, you have two little boys hiding somewhere in the house, waiting for you to find them. I'd suggest you'd hurry and find them, before they do something naughty" she said, opening the door then looking back at him with a mischievous smile.
Hohenheim chuckled and stood up, following her. "Whatever gave them the idea to do something like that?" He asked as Trisha shrugged "I don't know, maybe they're just two little boys who want their Father's love and attention" She said cocking her head when Hohenheim seemed to flinch at her last few words. "Dear? Are you alright?" Trisha asked he shook his head and smiled. "I'm fine dear. Now, there's two little boys I need to find and catch" he said, sliding past her, a small glance toward the basement door, unnoticed by Trisha.
Edward giggled, holding Alphonse's hand as they hid behind the couch. Daddy will never find us! He thought giggling aloud, Alphonse now giggling along with him. Edward put his fingers to his lips "Shhh! We hiding!" he said in a loud whisper. Both could hear Hohenheim calling out their names and asking them to come out, wherever they were. . Both little boys giggled again. Daddy won't ever see us! Edward thought just as Hohenheim peaked around the couch, smiling at them. "I've found you" he said, reaching towards them.
Alphonse squealed and rushed into his arms "Daddy!" Hohenheim threw him up in the air then catching him as he came back down. Alphonse was enjoying every minute of it. "Me too! Me too!" Edward shouted, holding his arms up to Hohenheim so that he could be picked up as well. He chuckled and sat Alphonse on the couch so that he could pick up Edward and do the same unto him. Edward shrieked in laughter as he went up in the air "Again again!" Edward said every time Hohenheim caught him. Alphonse crawled to the edge of the couch and said "Again! Again! Again!" Hohenheim smiled down at the two, earnest faces of his children. He picked up Alphonse with one arm, holding both of his children. Trisha walked in there, holding a platter of cookies. "Are any of my boys hungry?" She asked, smiling at her husband and children. "Me! Me! Cookies!" Edward squealed and bounced in Hohenheim's arms. "Calm down pipsqueak" he said laughing as Alphonse began to mimic his brother. Hohenheim carefully put the both of them on them on the ground, smiling.
Edward instantly rushed over to his mother and began to tug on her apron. "I wan cookie!' He said as Alphonse, making his way over to her slower than his brother said "Me! Me too!" Trisha laughed and handed both of them half a cookie. Both of them cheered, running off with their treats "I lub you mommy!" both said at the same time. Trisha smiled at their retreating backs, wishing they could both stay like that forever but she knew, that they would become angsty teenagers. She'd probably love and hate every minute of that as well. Hohenheim reached for a cookie but was swatted by Trisha. "I said my boys. You're not one of them" She said, placing a cookie in her mouth. Hohenheim chuckled then kissed her "I get other privileges don't I?" he said, snatching a few cookies off the plate. Trisha rolled her eyes "Act badly and they'll be revoked" Both heard a sudden crash and their sons crying. "I'll go see what it is. Hohenheim, go put some ice on that bruise, it's getting worse" she said running off, to go see what the problem was. Hohenheim shook his head, laughing, and watched her go, his expression one of love.
Sound travels. The basement was not sound proof.
Thank you to all the people who are reading and reviewing. It's very much appreciated. Please no flames. Helpful criticism for better writing and content.
