Chapter 4: The Truth
Anastasia was staring at her sister in shock. What did Maria do this time to get evicted from her last apartment. Anastasia's dogs, a black Pomeranian named Shvibzik and a tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Jimmy came running to greet her. Anastasia began to pet the dogs.
"Welcome home Ana, how was your day at work?" Maria asked. Anastasia gave her sister a glare.
"I'm guessing you did not have a good day at work." the blonde sister said with a sheepish smile.
"What the hell are you doing here Maria?" the younger sister asked coldly.
"I need a place to stay, I got evicted again..." Maria explained.
"Damn it... Isn't this the fifth time?" Anastasia asked as she face palmed.
"I think so?" the Maria said responding with a question.
"Papa has been sending us both money to help us make ends meet. There is no excuse for this." Anastasia said with a sigh.
"I know... I guess I forgot to pay my bills." Maria confessed.
"Then I guess it's a good thing that you're staying with me." Ana replied.
"So you're going to let me stay?" her older sister asked eagerly.
"Yes, but while I'm at work I need you to help me with the dogs and around the house. I no longer work at the bookstore and this job requires me to be there at six in the morning on the dot." Anastasia explained.
"Where do you work now?" Maria inquired.
"It's better if you don't know." the auburn haired woman replied.
"Anastasia, I'm your sister. Also your new roommate. If something is bothering you, I want to know." Maria said.
"What makes you think that something is bothering me?" Anastasia asked her. A glare was on her face.
"I'm your older sister. I know these things." the blonde responded.
"Okay, I'll tell you about what's stressing me out. It will shock you though." Ana said.
"Just tell me." Maria sighed.
"I'm working in a lab that's run by the Amestrian government. A lieutenant named Frank Archer hired me." the doctor told her sister.
"What is your job there?" Maria asked.
"I'm supposed to be working on finding a cure for hemophilia. Archer wants me to find the cure unethically." Anastasia explained.
"What would be so unethical about finding a cure for a disease that is making the lives of millions of people miserable?" Maria asked.
"I would think that causing great harm to other human beings isn't ethical for finding a cure." her little sister said.
"Who is Archer trying to have you hurt?" Maria asked with a serious look on her face.
"He wants me to hurt an Amestrian teenage boy." Ana said with a sigh.
"Why? What did that boy do wrong?" Maria asked.
"Maria... The boy is apparently pregnant." the younger sister told her. Maria's blue eyes went wide.
"Nastya, that is impossible..." the elder sister said.
"Apparently it's possible now!" Anastasia said slamming her hand on the coffee table.
"Are you sure that he isn't a girl?" Maria asked.
"He has male genitalia. You can tell that he has male genitalia." the auburn haired woman asked.
"The world just became a lot more complicated." the older blonde woman sighed. A frown was on her face.
"Indeed it did. I'm so torn." Anastasia stated as she sighed.
"About what?" Maria inquired.
"What to do about the boy. Medical ethics and half of me says that I have to save the poor boy and the baby. Another part of me says just to work towards possibly finding a cure." Ana explained.
"Is the boy a hemophiliac? Is there a history of hemophilia in his family? If he doesn't, then there is something much more sinister at work."
"You're right! Damn it I'm stupid! I'll ask tomorrow. What should I do if he does have it in his family?" the younger sister asked.
"Let him and the baby go. We'll find another way to help Alexei, and it will be better. It won't involve harming anyone and it will be more reliable." Maria responded.
"I'm scared, I don't know what to do. I found someone who used to be a servant in our household, but besides that I am isolated. I have no other allies." Maria's little sister sighed.
"You have me." Maria told her reassuringly. Anastasia's eyes grew wide.
"I can help from the outside! The boy has to have family or loved ones somewhere. When you go in tomorrow ask if he has any family we can contact. Also, let's see if we can find the father. I highly doubt the boy is reproducing asexually." Maria said.
"Ok, I'll do what you suggested. I'll also get him a pastry from the cafe. I'm glad the one near my building is open so early." Ana said.
"Alright! We have a plan! Now let's get some rest! You have a big day tomorrow." the elder sister exclaimed.
"Okay, but you are sleeping on the couch." Anastasia told her elder sister.
"I thought this was a two bedroom apartment?" the blonde sister wondered.
"It is, the second bedroom is my office." the younger sister explained. Maria rolled her eyes. Anastasia then went to her linen closet and got out a quilt, some sheets and a pillow.
"The couch is a pull out. Here is some bedding. I need to get ready for bed. Goodnight Maria." Anastasia told her sister as she gave her the bedding. Maria responded with something, but Ana wasn't paying attention. There was too much on her mind. She took a shower, reapplied the henna to her hair, changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. She then prayed that God would protect her, the boy, the baby and the ones she loved. For tomorrow, she would be putting all of them on the line.
The next morning, Anastasia woke up at 4:30 a.m. She struggled to get up. She put on her clothes and brushed her teeth and hair. She then put her hair in a low ponytail, put on some black cheery scented lotion and quietly made it into the kitchen where she wrote down a list of things for Maria to do such as chores and taking the dogs out for their walk. She said a quick goodbye to her sisters and dogs and went out to face her day.
"Heart don't fail me now. Courage don't desert me." she thought as she made it to the cafe. She got a breakfast sandwich and some coffee and quickly ate. She bought the boy an eclair before she walked out, she wrapped the pastry in a napkin, and put it in her purse. As she walked out with a second cup of coffee and in hand, she saw Scar.
"Good morning Annette, you're up early." Scar said as she passed him by. Anastasia ran back to him.
"I'm sorry Scar, I can't talk today." She said quickly as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and ran off. She saw him slightly blush and give her a bewildered look. Anastasia then ran from him towards her new workplace.
'Oh shit! Why did I do that? Why did I kiss his cheek? Why couldn't I just say what I needed to say? Oh my God, my accent slipped! Am I somehow subconsciously comfortable with him?' Anastasia wondered as she face palmed while running. She didn't watch where she was running and ran into a stop sign, dropping her coffee. She landed on her ass, and when the auburn haired woman saw the spilled coffee, she groaned. She pulled herself up, and continued onward.
She managed to get to work on time thankfully, and quickly made it to the lab. She saw her assistants waiting for her. She cleared her throat, and took off her coat.
"Good morning ladies." she said as she hung her coat up.
"Good morning Dr. Rochester." the assistants said in unison.
"Today, I'm going to find out more about how the boy conceived. I'll also find out his name. I will be leaving once I put my lab coat on." Anastasia told them. The assistants whispered excitedly to each other.
"What did I say about whispering?" the doctor asked as she put her lab coat on. The whispering ceased immediately. Anastasia then got the eclair for the boy and put it in her pocket. She then quickly walked out of the room and toward the boy's cell. She heard footsteps behind her. She quickened her pace until she could no longer hear the footsteps.
She reached the boy's cell, cleared her throat and knocked on the door. "It's Doctor Rochester, may I come in?" she asked.
"I can't refuse you." he sighed. Ana entered the cell, shutting the door behind her.
"Good morning, how are you and the baby?" she asked with a sympathetic smile. She pulled out the eclair and gave it to him.
"Okay as we can be. I'm so scared.." the blonde teen said as he took the eclair. He looked at it as he unwrapped it.
"It's an eclair. I bought it to give you something nice, and to let you know that there was someone that cares about you in here. I promise it isn't poisoned." Anastasia said gently. The boy then began to eat the eclair eagerly.
"Since we are going to be around each other a lot. I would like to know your name." the auburn haired woman asked.
"My name is Edward Elric." he replied as he swallowed the last bite.
"Elric, I've heard that name before." she responded.
"I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist. They used to call me the hero of the people." Edward explained to her.
"I remember now. You joined the military when you were only twelve years old. You were the one that discovered that Shou Tucker was performing illegal experiments on animals, right afterwards you had the strength to bring Barry the Chopper to justice. You also saved the people of Youswell from that corrupt officer and his young assistant. If only I could remember their names. What I'm trying to say is thank you. Thank you for your service, when Barry the Chopper was a big deal, I was in medical school. It was quite terrifying walking home alone at night knowing that there was a serial killer on the loose." she told him sincerely.
"Oh, thank you." Edward said with a sigh.
"Is there anything else I can do?" Anastasia asked as she grabbed his hand.
"I don't know... I just want out of here! I want my brother! I want my lover!" the blonde said as he threw his arms around the doctor.
"It'll be okay. What's your brother's name? Tell me what he looks like." the doctor said soothingly as she rubbed his back.
"His name is Alphonse. He's a suit of armor. He has a flamel sign on his left shoulder. He's basically a walking and talking suit of armor. You can't miss him." Edward said as he relaxed in her arms.
"Okay, can you tell me about your lover? I take it your lover is the baby's father?" Ana asked as she continued to hold him.
"Please don't hate me or call me a slut." Edward said as he tensed up.
"Edward, I have no reason to hate you. Why would I call you a slut?" the doctor said.
"My lover is the father of my child. He is also my commanding officer Roy Mustang." Edward stated. Anastasia's eyes grew large. Roy Mustang? Womanizing Colonel Roy Mustang?
"Tell me more about your relationship with Colonel Mustang." she said trying to hide her surprise.
"Roy and I have been together for two years, or I like to think it's two years." he replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Anastasia inquired.
"I've always had feelings for Colonel Mustang. I first met him when I was nine years old. When I saw him I thought he was the handsomest man I had ever seen. I had small crushes on boys and some girls in my class, but when I saw Roy it felt stronger. When I turned twelve I became a State Alchemist, and when I saw Roy again my attraction to him grew stronger. After the situation at the Tucker household, I felt traumatized and I wanted to seek comfort in him. I couldn't bring myself to do it, and he seemed to push me away. That plus my grief over Nina made me walk out on the military for a while. It was then I went after Barry the Chopper. When I turned thirteen, I kissed Roy for the first time. He rejected me and told me I was too young." Edward said.
"Well the age of consent in this country is fourteen years old." Anastasia responded.
"I know. When my fourteenth birthday came around Roy took me on a date. We then made love for the first time. We then started dating and it was perfect. In September, I found out I had conceived. My brother and I went back to our hometown of Risembool. A farmer and his Ishvallan wife let us stay with them. A few months later Roy found me and found out about the baby. He was so happy! He stayed with me for a couple of days, but then he had to leave for work. He said that he'd come back the next weekend with an engagement ring. That Tuesday, however, I was kidnapped by that soldier and his cronies. All they have done is neglect me and call me a slut." Edward explained. Ana could tell that he was crying, but she felt no tears come out of his eyes and on to her coat. He was that dehydrated. This made Ana concerned.
"Do you have any water sweetie?" she asked him.
"Only a little bit, and it's dirty." Ed responded.
"I'll get you some clean water in a little bit. I have a couple more questions." the doctor responded.
"Ask away." Edward responded.
"What are the names of the people you and your brother stayed with?" she asked.
"Their names were Samantha and Jonah Horst. Samantha wouldn't come to Central. She's so paranoid about someone discovering that she's Ishvallan. She changed her name to Samantha from her birth name. She dyes her hair with indigo and henna to make it look black. She wears sunglasses when ever she leaves the farm, which is rare, she is prone to getting panic attacks when she leaves her property. Samantha is afraid that someone will see her, find out she's Ishvallan, call the military and then have the military murder her. When people ask her why she wears the sunglasses she says she has eye problems." Edward explained.
'Well this isn't too good. I have to send Maria to look around for a walking and talking suit of armor and to try and convince an agoraphobic Ishvallan woman, who more than likely suffers from severe PTSD and her husband to come and try and rescue a kid they have only known for a few months. Also what the fuck is wrong with this boy? What child at the age of twelve tries to seduce a man? Did this little mother fucker not realize that the age of consent in this nation is fourteen years old? Did he not care? Damn, these little Amestrian kids think they're grown.' Anastasia thought.
"Dr. Rochester, are you listening?" Edward asked.
"Can you repeat that dear?" she responded. Edward sighed.
"My body changed the night my brother and I tried to bring our mom back. Not only did I lose my arm and leg, but my genitals changed. I still have my penis, but my hips are wider. The stupid gate gave me a uterus. I don't think I can reproduce like other men can." Edward explained.
"So you have both sets of parts, but as far as you know only the female set works." Anastasia said to make sure she understood what Edward had told her.
"Yes ma'am." Edward responded.
"I can imagine that the situation that you are in makes you question who you are as a person." Anastasia said.
"Yes actually, I would find myself wondering if I should find a doctor to make me female because it would make my life easier. In society, if someone sees a female with a baby or a child people just assume that they are the child's mom or babysitter. If the same people saw a guy with a baby or a child, they are more likely to assume that the guy with the kid is kidnapping the kid before assuming that the guy was a relative. I don't feel like I'm a female in a male's body, I know I'm a guy and that's how I want to stay. I don't mind having both sets of genitals, it's now a part of who I am now. I guess biologically I'm inter-sex, but I would like to be referred to as a guy." Edward explained.
"I will respect that wish. You're my patient after all." Anastasia replied as she let him go.
"Will you respect my wish to leave with my child? I'm sure as a Drachman that you'd have no problem springing me loose." the blonde teen said.
"Drachman? Edward don't be silly, I'm an Amestrian." she lied as she put on a false smile.
"Don't play dumb with me! I can tell that your accent is fake, you did a good job with the accent I'll give you that. Also I know what henna looks like in people's hair! Who are you?" Edward said giving her a glare. Anastasia sighed.
"Very good Edward, I am from Drachma. As for my name, it is Anastasia Rostov." she said in her true voice. Edward's amber eyes went wide.
"Anastasia Rostov? Grand Duchess Anastasia Rostov?! The last pictures of you and your siblings the world saw were six months before the Ishvallan war in 1901! What are you doing in Amestris?" the teen asked her in a shocked voice.
"I came to this spit of land called Amestris so I can become a doctor. The universities here are better than in Drachma. My dream is to find a cure for hemophilia." Anastasia explained.
"That's right, your brother, the crown prince of Drachma has hemophilia." Ed realized.
"Yes, if I found a cure. Then I'd be able to get rid of Rasputin. He's no longer a help to the royal family. He is a menace, and a danger. He has outstayed his welcome in my opinion, and I'm not alone." Ana said. Edward noticed the tone of her voice become angry when she talked about Rasputin. The auburn haired woman sighed.
"Edward, how old are you?" she asked.
"I turned fifteen this past February." he responded.
"Alexei was around your age when I left home." Anastasia said with a sigh. She then rose from her seat.
"I'm going to get you some clean water. I'll be back in a while." she told him sadly.
"Oh okay. Your highness, are you alright?" Edward asked.
"I'm fine Edward. Also please refer to me as doctor Rochester until we get you out." the woman said as she picked up the water bucket. She walked out of the door and shut it.
"Grand Duchess Anastasia Rostov." Natalie's voice said from behind. Anastasia jumped and turned around.
"Were you the one following me?" Ana asked.
"Yes, I knew there was something off about you. I thought you were some kind of attention whore doctor who was sleeping with Lieutenant Archer for more fame and that the pregnant boy was a hoax. This story, however, is even better than the one I planned on writing." Natalie said with a giddy tone to her voice.
"You wouldn't dare." Anastasia said her anger rising.
"Oh I would, but I think I'll tell Lieutenant Archer who you are first. I'm sure he'll want to know that there is a Drachman trying to infiltrate the military." the assistant said in a malicious tone.
"I won't let you." the grand duchess said in a determined voice. Natalie then shoved Anastasia to the side and went forward. Anastasia then began to chase her. Little did both of the women know that they were headed right for the traps that guarded the lab.
"Do you realize the kind of damage you are going to do if you publish that kind of information?" Ana inquired.
"Do you honestly think I care?" the traitorous assistant asked back.
"You bitch!" the Drachman grand duchess exclaimed angrily. Anastasia then made a couple of strides towards Natalie, who began to back up quickly.
"You don't scare me princess." Natalie said in a defiant tone. Anastasia then tossed the dirty water in Natalie's face. Natalie then got a deadly look in her face and lunged at Anastasia. The Drachman woman then hit her over the head with the empty water bucket. Natalie then stumbled backwards. While she was stumbling, the former assistant stepped on a cement block, and the floor behind Natalie opened up.
Before Anastasia could do anything about it, Natalie had fallen into the pit. The sounds of bones breaking and the squishing of organs. Anastasia went up to the edge of the pit and looked down. In the pit, she saw Natalie's impaled corpse. The Drachman backed up, and began to scream out of terror. After a few minutes, two soldiers appeared.
"What happened?" a blonde soldier said. Anastasia cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
"My assistant didn't watch where she was stepping and she fell in the trap and died! There was nothing I could do!" Ana said in her Amestrian accent.
"Oh shit! Don't worry, I'll get Lieutenant Archer! You just stay here miss!" the blonde soldier said as he ran off.
"It's alright miss. Is there anything I can do to help?" the brunette soldier asked as he closed the death pit.
"I'd like to know about all of the traps and how to disable them so I can protect my assistants." the doctor said.
"I can do that for you!" the soldier told her eagerly.
"You would do that for me?" Ana asked.
"Yes ma'am! From what Lieutenant Archer has told me about you, you're doing something great for Amestris! I'll be happy to show you have the traps work!" the soldier told her.
"Thank you so much sir! You have no idea how much I appreciate this." she replied. This was actually turning out to be a great day. If she knew how the traps worked then getting Edward out would be a piece of cake.
A/N: This took a lot longer than I wanted to, but yeah. I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm also considering writing prequels to this particular fic (Samantha's early life, how Roy and Edward got together, Edward's pregnancy before he was kidnapped by Archer). So I'd like some input on that. I've noticed in other mpreg fics that they don't talk about gender or they only touch on it briefly and don't really talk about any of the possible internal struggles the pregnant guy would be facing. I know if I were a dude who had somehow gotten knocked up, I'd be questioning my gender. There's something I'd like for you guys to look at. If you go on my dA, and go to the description for this chapter there (if you're on dA then look in the description) and I'm going to have a link to a go fund me thing. It's for a dear friend of mine, and it's to help him transition from female to male. I might get a lot of shit from people in the reviews, but this campaign means a lot to me. Even if you can't donate, just spread the word.