-1Give Guidance or Counsel

Door Handles

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

Rating of Chapter: T

Chapter 10 - A Stray Cat Trying to Commit Suicide

Fan site says Ed's birthday is Eleventh of October. So I am using that.

Saturday the 9th of October

On Saturday Ed stayed at home, trying to read through his chemistry text book (and this is why he's a boy genius) while his thoughts of the now very complicated relationship between he and Mustang continued to invade his mind relentlessly. He was still having trouble believing he'd thought the man who had (admittedly accidentally) killed his best friends parents as attractive. During their short car journey together, Ed was probably just about to admit to himself that Mustang was someone who he may, possible, have 'feelings' for. Yet, after the devastating truth had come out, he'd gone back to stage one: denial. Mustang was still the attractive, confident person Ed had become attached to, yet how could he feel tat way when he'd been the cause of death for Winry's parents? Still, Winry had forgive him… Ed subconsciously thumbed the page he was supposedly reading.

Sunday the 10th of October

On Sunday, his pattern repeated itself, while Ed had switched his book to his Computer Technology book, not really focusing on the size 10 Arial sprawled across the pages.

Monday the 11th of October

It was on Monday, when Ed woke up in the morning and reached for his physics book, that Al burst into the room, closely followed by Winry, carrying neatly wrapped gifts.

"Get up brother! I know we have school today, but we'll still celebrate!" gushed Al, depositing his present on the end of Ed's bed. Ed eyed the gift, and then his text book. He'd completely forgotten it was even Monday, which meant school, and also, his birthday.

"I forgot." he verbalised, putting his book back down next to his bed.

"You forgot your own birthday?" screeched Winry, also placing down her gift. "What on earth could you be thinking about so much you forgot your birthday?" she asked.

Ed refused to say Mustang, and yet, the answer to that question would be; Mustang.

And so, after quickly tearing open his gifts and finding he'd received two books on the ancient art of Alchemy (something Ed was interested in), from Al, and a cookbook, a new coat, and a promise for a free dinner from Winry and Pinako, he and his two friends got ready and power walked to school, since they were running late - again.

At break Ed got a 'happy birthday' from Rose, who was passing, and just remembered everyone's birthdays. And at Lunch, Winry brought a cupcake from the cafeteria, and stuck a candle in it, insisting he blow it out once she and Al had belted out 'happy birthday' like drowning rats. It was on his way to 5th class, from 4th, when Ed ran in to Maes Hughes. Big mistake.

"Edo!" yelled the man, resting a hand on each or Ed's shoulder so he couldn't run away. "How're you? How's school? It's been ages since we last spoke huh? I didn't get a chance to when Roy was pushing me out of the room! Oh well! He means well. Actually, I've been looking for him, he'd promised he'd celebrate with us today!"

Ed blinked twice, then;

"Celebrate what?"

"Elysia's birthday of course!" gushed the doting father in Hughes, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Will you be celebrating with us?" he asked, Ed shook his head quickly.

"I have my own birthday to celebrate." he explained. "I'd come along, but Al and Win would go nuts."

Hughes pulled out paper and pen from his pockets and quickly scribbled something down, very so often glancing at Ed to make sure he was still there.

"Nonsense." he said, once he was done. "Get Mustang to take you, and your friends - goodness knows his car's big enough - to mine after school. We can have a joint party. Gracia's (that's my wife) cooking is amazing!"

Ed tried to decline, but;

"And while your at it, could you give this to him? Thanks. Happy birthday Edo!" he finished, shoving the note in Ed's hands and leaving the boy to scramble to get to his next class in time.

At the end of class 5, Ed met with Al and Winry near his locker and dragged them off to Mustang's office. They shared a teasing smile, but left it at that; it was his birthday after all. Ed knocked softly on Mustang's door, and it was pulled open by a surprised looking Hawkeye.

"You have a meeting today? I thought he…" she trailed off, Ed blushed and shook his head. "Well, I was just leaving, so he's all yours." Ed just blushed harder. It seemed even the teachers had a thing about making him squirm. He watched Hawkeye leave before entering the office. Al and Winry took it upon themselves to stay outside, which just agitated Ed further.

Mustang was reading through what looked like a long and boring report, and seemed glad of an excuse to stop.

"Hello Fullmetal." he grinned, trying to keep the edge of awkwardness out of his voice. Ed tried as well, but he failed.

"Um… hi." he replied, "Hughes asked me to give this to you." he carried on, presenting the note. He had decided to skip over Hughes order to get Roy to take he and his friends to Hughes' home. Roy had groaned at the sound of his friends name, but took the note anyway and quickly read it through, raising his eyebrows. He spoke up as Ed was heading for the door.

"Happy birthday." he said quietly, Ed stopped with his hand on the door handle and turned to look at him.

"How did you…?" he trailed off as Mustang held up the note he'd received.

"Apparently I have an obligation to take you and two friends to a celebratory dinner at Hughes'." he explained, even though Ed had already figured out that Hughes had tricked him. Hughes had known Ed wouldn't look at the note, and that he wouldn't ask.

"That bastard…"

Mustang just chuckled.

"Maybe so, where are your two friends?"

Ed's eyes widened, how could he not see that it would cause a problem if Mustang and Winry were in a car together? It was too harsh on both of them. He bit his lip and looked at the floor.

"Al and Win are outside… but…"

Mustang grabbed his car keys and pulled on a jacket.

"That's good, I need to talk to Winry anyway."

-

And that was how Ed found himself once again in Mustang's car (this time in the back), in dead silence. Winry was sat up front, reassuring Mustang that she wasn't angry or upset, while Mustang was acting like this was his driving test, and if he failed the car would blow up. Al was talking (as quietly as he could so Mustang didn't snap at him, which had already happened twice), on the phone to Pinako, explaining why they were going to be home late, and no, he wasn't 'deflowering' Winry.

After 6 traffic lights, 14 junctions, 2 roundabouts, a crossing lady and a stray cat trying to commit suicide on Roy's bonnet, (the man swore every cuss under the sun and took a good 15 minutes to calm down, while Ed tried to quiet his laughter and Al was feeling sorry for the cat), they pulled up outside a house with '4 today' banners taped across the door and windows. The four guests were welcomed into the house by Hughes, wearing suit trousers and a purple shirt.

"Elysia's in the kitchen with her mummy, why not go say 'happy birthday' huh?" he 'suggested', before forcefully leading them to the kitchen where a little girl was prancing around in a pink dress.

"Happy Birthday!" greeted Winry at once, a huge smile on her face. Her happy exclamation made the woman in a green dress and beige cardigan turn from her cooking and survey the three teens her husband had adopted. Gracia dawned a shocked expression, while Al gasped and Ed shouted;

"Oh my God! It's you!"

Gracia smiled.

"Well, what a coincidence! Maes, meet the boys that helped deliver out baby!"

A confused silence engulfed the room, before Winry broke it.

"Huh?"

Al and Ed gave identical embarrassed laughs, Al now playing games with Elysia and Ed standing awkwardly in the doorway, ruffling his hair.

"She's over exaggerating. All we did was run around screaming thinking she was gunna die."

Gracia giggled, and Mustang couldn't help the snort of laughter which escaped him at the image of the brothers doing as Ed had described.

"If Alphonse hadn't called a doctor, and you kept the water warm, and helped the doctor out, the Elysia may not be the healthy little girl she is today." said Gracia, "I owe you two a lot, and I'm glad Elysia gets to share her birthday with you."

"Wait…" piped up Winry, "What exactly happened?"

Ed gave a nostalgic smile.

"When he first came to Central, a year before you did, to claim Hohenheim's house, we got lost while we were trying to get some grocery shopping done. Gracia took us in, and put up with us for a whole day while we ate her food and studied her road map. Then, while she was feeding us dinner, most wonderful woman that she is, she want into labour…" Ed began the story, Al finished it.

"We panicked, I rang the doctor, and we tried to look after her… we weren't very good though." the teen laughed.

"Why wasn't Maes there?" asked Mustang, interested in the story.

""There was a blizzard that night." said Hughes, leaning against the counter, "I got stuck in a huge traffic jam, and by the time I got home Elysia had already been born and the doctor, and the boys, had already left. Gracia told me about two blonde brothers who had really helped out, but it didn't click that it was Ed and Al."

Mustang surveyed the two boys. Al, who was sitting on the kitchen floor with Elysia captivated by a story he was now telling her about a rabbit with bad eyesight, and Ed, who, embarrassed by the story of them helping with Elysia, was trying to get Gracia let him help out with cooking.

"Looks like the Elric Brothers are heroes." he announced to the room at large. Al laughed and Ed's ears went pink, which made Al laugh harder, and Winry shoot Ed a teasing look.

"They most certainly are," agreed Gracia, "And a birthday boy should not be trying to cook his own birthday dinner. Maes! Tell him to relax! It's his birthday!" she added, jokingly glaring at Ed, Hughes steered the party out of the kitchen, and sat them all in the living area.

"Uncle Roy! Uncle Roy!" squealed the little girl, tugging on his trouser leg, Roy looked down.

"What did you get me?" he asked innocently, Roy rose an eyebrow, and pointed to a large stuffed toy which had not been there before hand. Elysia squealed and attacked it, earning an amused smile from Mustang. Ed sat down on the sofa next to his counsellor, watching the four year old.

"Do you dote on her?" he asked quietly, checking that Al, Winry and Hughes were all engaged in conversation.

"Hmm." responded the dark haired man, "It's nice to be able to splash out on someone who doesn't go all awkward when you do."

Ed smiled, "You liked to spoil people don't you?"

Roy gave a non-committal shrug.

"You like to protect people." Ed pressed.

Again, he shrugged.

"I guess."

"Do you want kids? You'd probably make a good dad."

Roy gave Ed a searching look, wondering where this sudden willingness for conversation had come from, and stretched out in his seat. Ed coloured under the gaze, and determinedly watched Elysia play with her new bear. Roy sighed.

"I don't think having children would agree with me." he eventually replied, Ed glanced sidelong at him. "I lose patience too easily. I'd like someone in my life who I can dote on and protect, but I'd prefer that person to also be someone I can talk to."

Ed nodded.

"Like a girlfriend?" he asked. Roy gave him another searching look.

"Maybe… as long as she can think for herself, and actually try before asking for my help. That's what I hate about women."

Ed looked back at Elysia.

"You're pretty complicated Colonel. You'd never get a girlfriend with that attitude.

"Doesn't matter, I'm hot." All Ed's hopes that Mustang was an alright guy went out the window. "Besides, so are you - complicated I mean."

"I'm in counselling. What are you doing?"