This story is in the process of being revised; it may or may not actually come out being revised, since some of mine just can't be fixed and I have to delete all the chapters and start over. Anyway, that's why this chapter is so short; I'm trying to get things going again, which means that I have to post a short chapter. I will hope to post a much longer chapter next time, but unfortunately, you're just going to have to bear with me on this. I've been trying to revise pretty much everything I've written in the entire year of 2010 to 2013.
Thanks for reading
This chapter has been revised!
Ella was taking a nap. It had been three months since she had begun the high school equivalency program, and she was definitely showing now. There was no hiding it, and everyone noticed. Everyone also stared, though Winry had told her to just ignore them.
Trisha hadn't given much reassurance about her bump. All she had said was that pregnant people were supposed to have large stomachs, though would say nothing about people looking. Ella knew that her mother thought that if she didn't want anyone to look, she shouldn't have gotten knocked up.
A knock on the door roused Ella out of her sleep and she groaned. "Go away." the mumble was muffled since Ella had already put her head under her pillow by that time. The door opened anyway. Ella didn't look up to find out who it was.
"Mom said I had to bring this in here," Alphonse's voice sounded the room. Ella moved the pillow and sat herself up to see her younger brother holding the bassinet that both of them had slept in when they were born. "Where do you want it?"
"You can put it by the wall," Ella said. She had just recently cleaned her room since she would have to make room for the baby, but didn't anticipate any preparations happening so soon. "Why did she bring that out?"
"For the baby," Al laughed a little. "So, my little niece is gonna be here in three months, right?" When Ella was four months pregnant she had her visit with the doctor, who was thrilled to announce that she was having a daughter. Trisha didn't act very excited, but Ella knew she was just as excited as her, if not more so.
"Definitely," Ella smirked. "Guess we're gonna have to go baby clothes shopping." she sighed.
"Winry brought a box of baby clothes from Ian; she said they were gender neutral. They're downstairs, and mom said something about taking you shopping for her this weekend. You decided on a name yet?" Alphonse asked.
"No clue. I figured I would just kinda name her when she came out, ya know? I heard a lot of people do that; Winry did." Ella said.
"Remember how mom feels about comparing yourself to other people." Al warned.
"It's like she either doesn't want me to be a slut like them or doesn't want me to imply they're sluts like me." Ella sighed. She pulled herself out of bed, capturing her reflection in the picture frame that held her and Roy's picture. Her cheeks were chubbier, her hair was a bit longer, and she had definitely gained weight. Trisha was right when she said she wouldn't be able to fit back into her old clothes. Ella couldn't even imagine getting skinny again; it almost felt like she would be this big forever.
"Mom said she has some other baby furniture in the attic that she wants me to get, but I don't know if everything's gonna fit in your room." Alphonse admitted.
"Nonsense," Trisha interrupted, as she walked into her daughter's bedroom. "Ella had that room with you when your baby stuff was in there, and the only thing that has changed since you two separated rooms is that there's now more space in her room. There's plenty of room for the baby stuff, now please do this, Alphonse."
"Yes, mom." Alphonse said, walking to the stairs that lead to the attic and walking up them to get the rest of the furniture."
"So, Ella, I was thinking that when we go to your appointment tomorrow we could go into town and get some baby clothes for my granddaughter. I don't want her to have hand–me–down's, I want her to have her own clothing." Trisha explained.
"Sounds good to me. Can I go take my nap, now?" Ella asked.
"Alright, but don't forget to take your pill today." Trisha reminded, like she did constantly, before leaving her daughter alone to continue with her chores. Ella laid back down onto her bed, and felt like sleep was begging for her. Now, though, she was too wrapped up in her thoughts to even consider sleeping.
Standing, Ella opened her nightstand drawer. She took out the letter Roy had written her that was crumpled up three months ago. He had sent letters since then, though in order to spare Ella the pain, Trisha had kept them locked away as soon as she infiltrated the mail. Ella knew about this, it wasn't a secret. The Elric woman promised to give them to her after the baby was born. The sadness wasn't good for the baby, she had said.
Dear Ella,
It's Roy. I mean, I guess you knew that. I'm getting settled in college well, and I hope you're having a good senior year of high school. Hope we can talk soon. I would call you, but dad's being picky about the long distance. I don't have a dorm room, so I'm staying at home, that's why he even cares. Dad said I can call you once a month, and I plan to.
Love, Roy.
Ella didn't know whether to throw it back in the nightstand like she had done before or actually try to reply. Well, she chose the latter and began to write her response.
Dear, Roy,
I know it's taken a long time to write you back. Three, to be exact–but I have a good reason. I'm pregnant. With your baby.
Ella crumpled her response letter, throwing it into her nightstand along with Roy's letter before anyone could catch her trying to write the letter. Someone would end up talking her out of it. This time, that person happened to be herself.
"Come on, Ella! We're going to be late for your appointment!" Trisha called from down the stairs. She sighed, walking up and opening Ella's bedroom door. "Ella?"
The teenager was laying in bed, her forehead pale and sweaty, obviously in pain. Trisha came to her side immediately, removing the blanket off to her to see a patch of blood surrounding her daughter's maternity jeans."Oh my god, Ella!" Trisha shouted out.
They rushed to the hospital where Ella was immediately admitted. Trisha had left Alphonse at home, but he went to Winry's house and they went to the hospital to meet up anyway. Trisha was left sitting in the waiting room without her daughter for an hour before someone came up to speak with her.
"Miss Elric, your daughter was experiencing a preterm labor, which is why there was blood," the doctor said. Trisha interrupted.
"You gave her medication to stop the preterm labor, yes?" the worried mother asked.
"Yes, we have, have you been through this sort of thing before?"
"When I was pregnant with my daughter the same thing happened to me. Nothing much has changed?"
"Well, we put her on medication to stop the preterm labor and she's required to be on bed–rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. If she doesn't follow these instructions, her water could break, and after that we can't do anything about preventing the labor." the doctor explained.
"Thank you. When will she be alright to take home?" Trisha asked.
"We'll monitor her for the remainder of the day and probably release her tomorrow if nothing goes wrong. You're free to stay with her in the hospital room." the doctor said. He lead Trisha, Winry, and Alphonse to Ella's hospital room before leaving them alone to socialize in peace.
"Is my baby okay?" Ella asked.
"He didn't tell you what was going on?" Trisha asked. Ella shook her head. "You were going to have the baby, but he stopped it because it was too early," Ella then nodded. She looked absolutely exhausted. "Get some rest, baby. You're going to need it." No one needed to tell Ella twice before she was fast asleep.
Trisha stayed by her daughter's side the entire time she was in the hospital, though when Ella woke the next morning, she was not in a good mood.
"Can I get up yet?" Ella asked for what seemed like the millionth time that day.
"No, Ella, you have to stay in bed for the rest of your pregnancy," Trisha answered once again. She sighed, reading through her book that she had Alphonse bring for her. "Why not get some studying done? Alphonse brought your materials."
"I don't want to study. I want to move around." Ella complained.
"I know, sweetie, but this baby wants to come out too early," Trisha said. "Think about your baby. Why not go through the baby name books that I bought you?" she suggested.
"I told you I'm not deciding her name until she's born, which could be now." Ella said.
"It's too early." Trisha spoke once again. Ella sighed, going through her school books. There was nothing else to do but sit in boredom, or read the baby book. While she figured that she could read the baby name book to get an idea of what to name her future daughter, the studying seemed more productive.
The next morning, the doctor told Ella that she was permitted to leave the hospital as long as she stayed in bed for the remainder of her pregnancy. She was in bed for an hour before she was complaining. Her mother's words, though, think about your baby, rang through her head. She had to do this, for her baby girl. Roy's daughter.
Rose and Noah had their babies prematurely that week, and they were long gone to Liore, so Ella's only entertainment during the day was her mother, brother, and occasionally Winry would come over with Ian if she had time on a weekend.
When she was seven months, the doctor told her that it was safe for her to move around a bit more, though she was not allowed to go on long walks, and she was to cut her school days short. She didn't mind; at least she got to go to school. Her whole six month, Ella had to have her study materials delivered to her. Luckily, Izumi would come by and teach her if she had the time; after the Thomas twins were out of school for the day.
"How's my niece today?" Alphonse asked after walking through the front door. Ella was laying on the couch today, her shirt rolled up to show her stomach, and sweat pants. It was Christmas Eve, and while cold for the locals, it never snowed in Resembool. Well, it hadn't snowed since Ella and Alphonse were little kids.
"She's fine. Wanna feel her kick? It's really cool." Ella asked with a smile. She pulled Al's hand toward her belly, placing it on the spot where her baby was kicking the most; on her right side.
"Whoa!" Alphonse grinned like an idiot when he felt the baby's hand push up against him. "It's like she was actually touching my hand, I could feel her fingers!"
"Told you it was really cool." Ella laughed a little.
"What's going on in here? Are you alright, Ella?" Trisha asked while walking in. She had heard the commotion from Alphonse and was naturally worried; as any mother would be.
"I'm fine, Al was just feeling the baby kick." Ella explained. Trisha chuckled.
"It really is a miracle. Someday when you have your own child, Alphonse, you might be able to understand how amazing it is. Of course, you'll never be pregnant, but maybe your wife will explain it to you," Trisha smiled. "and you better be married when you have your baby, understand?"
"I understand, mom." Alphonse laughed a little.
"Let your sister rest and help me with these Christmas gifts. It's almost time," Trisha said. She settled some of the Christmas gifts beside the tree before fiddling with the fireplace. With Ella having her stomach exposed, she wanted to make sure it would be warm. Alphonse sat beside Trisha and began to help placing the gifts under the tree. "Open one, Alphonse."
"Open one?" Al asked.
"Yes, just one. It's Christmas eve, so you can open a gift. Any of your choosing." Trisha ordered with a smile. Alphonse didn't wait for another order and grabbed a gift, opening it. The gift ended up being a book on genetics in biology that he had been wanting since Ella said she was pregnant. He didn't even remember saying anything to Trisha about it.
"Thank you, mom!" Alphonse grinned, wrapping his arms around his mother. Trisha chuckled.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. You can go read it now if you want; after you clean up this wrapping paper, of course," Trisha said. She didn't have to say anything before her youngest was cleaning his mess and running off to his room to read. "Your turn, Ella."
"Help me up?" Ella asked. When she was smaller and couldn't get off the couch quite right, she would just roll, but lately her stomach was becoming so large she worried about hurting the baby by doing that. Thus, asking her mother for help. Trisha was immediately up and helping her to the tree.
Ella grabbed a gift and opened it up. Before she was pregnant, it was so much more exciting to open a Christmas gift. It was always what she wanted. Ever since she had found out about her daughter, though, Ella wasn't exactly sure what she wanted. To be honest, the teenager hadn't thought much of Christmas at all, even with it's upcoming arrival. The gift was revealed as a camera.
"Wow, mom, thanks," Ella said with a smile. "I really love it. God only knows I'll be needing it with the baby coming." She hugged Trisha, though her mother separated quickly.
"Wait, Ella, I've got another for you to open." Trisha said, grabbing another gift.
"Mom, I thought you said only one." Ella protested.
"I said only one for you and your brother; this one is for my granddaughter." Trisha smiled. She handed the wrapped gift to her eldest, who opened it up a bit more eagerly than when she had opened her own gift. It was a baby album.
"Oh my gosh, thank you, mom!" Ella shouted out excitedly. Trisha chuckled as she was grabbed into an even tighter hug before. This time she stayed for the remainder of it. The next hug they shared probably wouldn't be for a very long time.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. Now you can take pictures with your camera, and put the ones of the baby in her album." Trisha explained.
"Thank you so much," Ella thanked once again. "The baby will be so grateful, too."
"Enough with the thanking," Trisha laughed once again. "Go back to resting, I'll clean up the wrapping paper." The mother helped her daughter back to the couch before moving on cleaning up the paper and placing the rest of the gifts under the tree.
Ella looked through the baby album to see what exactly was in there while she rested on the couch. There were certain spots where you wrote information about their first word, when their first steps were, the parents names, the grandparents names, things like that. There was a spot for her first tooth, and many picture slots. She flipped to a page to see an envelope sitting neatly in a large picture slot.
Looking at her mother, Ella took the letter and opened it. She saw Roy's handwriting, and knew it was from him without having to check the envelope for a name.
Ella,
I guess you're pretty mad at me for leaving. I dropped out of college, and I wanted to let you know that I've enlisted in the military. The program is really cool, and I'll get to fight in the Ishvalan war! Isn't that awesome? Then you can say you have a boyfriend who is brave and strong. That is, if we're still together..I'll visit as soon as I can.
Roy.
Ella read the letter over and over to make sure that she had read it right. The military, she was familiar with them. The boys that lived in Resembool would enlist if they saw their lives past farming. It was just what was done. Ella always thought Alphonse would do it if he was tougher, but she knew he couldn't think about leaving Ella and Trisha alone.
The father of her baby was going to go to the Ishvalan war; the war between Ishval and Central city was dubbed as the Ishvalan war, as if it was Ishval's fault.
"Mom.." Ella trailed off. Trisha was there in an instant, hugging her daughter.
"It's okay, baby, I know it's bad." the mother said, stroking Ella's hair–which was mostly lain loose against her back these days–softly.
"What if he never comes back?" Ella asked. "What if my baby never knows her father?"
"Then it's for the best, sweetheart," Trisha spoke softly. "It's best if it's just us."
This chapter sort of jumps around a bit; I'm trying to get it finished quickly because I'm so excited about my ideas for the sequel! :)
