Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist ( Although some times I wish I did)
AN: Well now were coming to the end of the story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Maybe in the future we'll have to see what Mustang and Edward's kids are doing.
Here's what I'll leave you with to ponder on: There is no greater sacrifice than one man laying down his life for a brother.
Beyond the Portal Chap. 10
Edward had rebuilt Winry a beautiful two-story home with ten bedrooms and all were filled. It had been six years since the fire they started on that night and a lot had happened since then. Edward and Winry had been blessed with three more children Michael who was four now and the spitting image of his father with gold hair and gold eyes and also hot headed like Edward, and then the twins Trisha and Thomas who were two with blonde hair and gold eyes. Trisha was the caring one and Thomas was the take charge leader of the two.
Riza and Mustang had also been blessed once more with Allison Mustang now five who carried her fathers looks black hair and black eyes. She was Mustangs pride and joy an independent child and headstrong like him and an ego to match.
Edward and Mustang were standing by the river they had gotten together to celebrate their triplets birthdays who were turning six this year.
"You know General I feel as if my life has been completed now." Edward said looking at all the children playing.
Mustang smiled, "Yeah I know what you mean Fullmetal. I never thought life could be this good."
As they were talking they over heard Allison who was five and just like her father Mustang and Michael four who was just like his father Edward talking. They were discussing an ant they found on the ground.
Allison turned to Michael, "It's goin' to bite me, I need to fin' someting to kill it wiff."
Michael turned to Allison, "Why don't you twy your ego? Dat would kill anyting."
"You know I weally can't see you standin' on this side of dhe ant." Putting her hand to her forehead and squinting.
"Are you saywin' I'm small? I'll sow you small." Michael backed up and was about to clap his hands together when Edward and Mustang walked up. They both looked at their children and smiled because it was their relationship all over.
"Hey you two what are you fighting about now?" Mustang smiled at them.
"SHE TALLED ME SMALL!" Michael was jumping up and down.
"You know my teacher told me once all is one and one is all. It's like when Al and I figured out if a fox kills a rabbit and feeds it to her babies the rabbit becomes part of the foxes. So if you kill this ant and nothing benefits from it where is your equivalent exchange? It means you just killed it for no reason and everything is connected in the circle of life. Something has to be sacrificed for something else to survive." Edward kneeled in front of both of them " So you need to think about what your sacrifices are going to be and make them good ones."
Michael and Allison put their heads down, "Yes sir."
Allison tapped on Edwards leg, "Is dat how you wost your weg Uncle Edwar?"
Edward smiled, "Yes I tried to get something back that couldn't be done and I had to give something in return we all make sacrifices even if sometimes we think their for the right or-" He paused for a minute,
"Wrong reasons. Now run along you two and no more fighting."
"Fullmetal you explained it better than I ever could." Mustang watched as both children skipped off.
Edward looked at Mustang, "I don't know if they understand it know but I hope someday they will."
May Mustang the pin point aimer, leader of the pack; blunt, bossy child was in a tree when Jaden Elric the over emotional child was sneaking by. She took her aim with her slingshot and popped him in the head with a rock.
At the same time Nina Elric the protective older sibling of the three and Sara Elric the shy child grabbed their heads, "OUCH!" They both yelled.
Nina in turn clapped her hands together and touched the tree sending May flying through the air. Hugh the outgoing, rambunctious child and Leo the refined, mindful youngest of the triplets began to scream too as they were feeling the effects of their sister's flight.
Edward laughed and turned to Mustang, "I guess it will be later on when they figure out they are all connected to each other."
Mustang laughed, "All is one and one is all? I get it now."
Edward and Mustang walked back to the house just as Envy and Rose arrived, "Hey pip squeak where are those damn runts of yours?"
Edward looked at him, "Good to see you brother."
Envy and Rose had just got back from their honeymoon. Edward and Winry were taking care of Rose's son Joshua who was ten now a very happy, go lucky boy, while they were gone. Envy and Rose had a companion relationship they had connected to each other in a way most people couldn't understand. Edward thought it was good for both of them so he supported his brother. Envy had changed so much in the last six years. He had learned to control his human emotions but he still had his homunculus days. He had calmed the souls of the people used to make him by doing good things and helping people with his power.
All the kids saw him and came running, "Uncle Evy..Uncle Evy can you turn into dhe big gween monster?" All clapping and jumping around.
He gave Rose a kiss and walked to the middle of the yard, "Watch out you pissants here it comes." He turned into the green monster form and put his head to the ground. All the kids climbed up his head and started sliding down his back. A few held on to his hair as he swung his head around," Wheeeee!"
Mustang turned to Riza, "It's amazing what entertains children."
Winry walked out with the cake and looked at Envy and the kids and thought to herself 'Now that doesn't look strange does it? Children on a big green monster?' She shrugged her shoulders "No I guess not."
Everyone had started to show up Sig was the first he spent a lot of time with the children they were like his grandchildren. Edward was glad to have Sig around because he was like a father to Edward and Al. Since Winry and Edward's parents were dead Sig was the only grandparent they knew since Pinako past away a year ago and he was proud of it.
Major Armstrong showed up and of course threw his shirt off and started chasing kids around the yard trying to give them birthday hugs.
Maria and Denny showed up with their two-year-old Faith they had gotten married three years ago.
All the Generals men showed up with girlfriends and wives and small children of their own. Edward sat back and looked at everyone. He wished Alphonse could be here but he was in Xing studying Alkahestry he had been gone two years now and Edward missed him.
All of a sudden Edward heard, "BROTHER! I MADE IT." Edward looked up to see Al now twenty walking down the road with a black haired beauty on his arm.
Edward ran to meet him, "Hey little brother glad you made it." He looked at the girl on Al's arm.
"Brother I'd like you to meet May Chang I've been studying with her for the past year." Al was proud to show her off. " She happens to be a Xingese princess."
Edward put his hand out, "Nice to meet you May." Then he noticed her bag was moving, "What's in your bag May is it alive?"
May laughed and put her hand in the bag, "Oh that's just Shao May my friend." And she pulled out a little panda. All the kids came running ooing and awing over Shao May and she loved the attention.
Edward led Al and May back to the house and introduced May to everyone. Al laughed as he saw Envy letting the kids run all over him. He had explained to May about Envy and what had happened so that she wasn't shocked when she saw him.
Winry yelled to the kids it was time to blow out the candles and all came running. The two sets of triplets sat on opposite sides of the table. Mustang snapped and the candles lit as everyone sang happy birthday and the triplets blew out the candles.
Al walked up to Edward," Brother I'm thinking about asking May to marry me."
Edward turned to his little brother, "She seems like a great girl Al." He elbowed his brother," Does that mean you'll be a prince?"
"I guess so I never really thought of that." Al laughed.
Envy walked up, "Royalty? Does that mean we have to bow to you human?" as he bowed and swiped his hand in front of him.
Al looked up, "You? Yes I think so."
Envy stood up, "Your still a pissant."
Winry yelled, "TIME TO CUT THE CAKE!" as Edward walked up she took the knife from him.
"What are you doing?" He shot her a look.
She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Where having another baby." Edward's face went pale as he fell face first into the cake.
"BROTHER!" Al picked him up with help from Envy as they sat him in the chair.
"No not the cake!" Breda pouted, "I love cake." He walked over and licked Edwards face, "Aw, it was chocolate too." Everyone was starring awkwardly at Breda.
Edward was mumbling some weird stuff, "House not big enough….did he just lick my face?…Seven?…diapers…mood swings….many wrenches to head…fuzzy slippers….cravings."
Envy smacked him, "Snap out of it you damn fool."
Edward was brought back to reality and looked at Winry who was glowing in the sun, "Well I guess I'll get started on the new room tomorrow." He wiped the cake from his face and smiled, "Seven?"
She shook her head yes and smiled, "Are you sure you're ok?"
Edward shook his head yes and sarcastically, "Two more and I'll have my own baseball team."
As the months went by Winry had a hard time with this pregnancy. It was a beautiful spring day when she gave birth to Gabrielle Elric who was the twin to her brother Michael and her father with gold hair and gold eyes.
The doctor told Edward and Winry both that this should be their last child because the pregnancies were getting harder for Winry.
Winry looked at Edward, "I'm sorry Edward." She put her head down, "I'm sorry I'm not strong enough to give you more children."
Edward pulled her chin up, "Winry you gave me an arm and a leg to stand on when I lost mine. You gave me seven beautiful children." He smiled at her, "Seven is good." A tear rolled down his cheek, "I couldn't live without you. I would give up my life to bring you back."
"Edward what are you saying?" But she knew what he was saying. She sat up and in a stern voice, "I'm not going anywhere and neither are you."
Later that day Edward sat on the porch, the warm breeze blowing through his hair he watched his children in the yard playing. Then he saw Envy and Rose playing ball with Joshua. He turned his eyes towards the river and there were Al and May walking along the side of it. Then he realized all the sacrifices that he and his brothers had made and smiled to himself and thought ' Sacrifices are what we make them. We make sacrifices in our lives for those we love. Parents sacrifice their lives for their children. Teachers sacrifice their time for their students. Those who are superiors sacrifice their jobs for the men under their command. Friends make sacrifices to help their friends. We make sacrifices everyday and if you can make it through those sacrifices then it only makes you stronger. But there is no greater sacrifice than one man laying down his life for a brother. And if I had to I would do it all again.'
Edward took a deep breath and walked off the porch to where his kids were playing. And he began to play with them. They were all playing tag when Al and May joined in the fun. Then Envy, Rose and Joshua walked over and began to play too.
As Winry watched her family from the bedroom window she knew everything would be ok. She had seen them grow up before her eyes. She saw the changes in all of them they had all grown into good men. She laughed to herself as she watched her husband face plant it to the ground and all the kids jump on him at once. She was proud of her family and everything they had went through to get here today. She got herself dressed and walked downstairs to the porch and sat down. As Edward came up off the ground with kids flying in all directions he saw her and smiled at her.
May was out of breath as she walked up the stairs and as she sat down, "Wow I feel a little lightheaded and I could use a nap. I been really tired lately I thought it was maybe because of the different climate here."
Winry turned to her " Maybe you should have the doctor take a look at you. "Then she smiled a big smile, "Sounds like you might be pregnant."
May shocked, "You think so?"
Winry laughed, "With the Elric's you can never be to careful." then she looked at May, "We'll take you by the doctor tomorrow."
May not knowing what to say, "Ok."
Edward walked up and kissed Winry on the cheek, "What are you guys talking about?"
Winry being Winry, "May might be pregnant so I'm taking her to the doctor tomorrow."
Edward knowing Winry was still weak, "Don't you think Al should do that?"
"I guess you're right." She smiled.
The next day Al and May came back from the doctor as they walked in the house Edward knew that look his brother had on his face all to well.
"Congratulations guys." Edward walked over to them.
Al smiled, "Thanks brother, It looks like we're going to have another wedding. May is two months pregnant and we want to stay here till the baby's born."
Edward sighed with relief because he didn't want them riding around the countryside, "Well then we'll just add another room to our list. This house will be full and happy just like it's always been."
As the years went on the Elric house was full and happy. Kids grew up and went their own ways and Edward and Winry lived a beautiful life together. As they grew older Envy stayed the same not aging but he knew his family was all he wanted. So he quit eating philosophers stones he didn't want to be in a world without Rose or his brothers. He passed away a few months after Rose happy for the life Edward and Al had shown him. Al and May had four children together and their children now were running her clan.
Roy and Riza Mustang were bonded to the Elric family when their daughter Allison married Michael Elric. They had four children together each was a set of twins.
Edward and Winry's children had given them nineteen grandchildren between all of them. They cherished them all as miracles of life as Edward called them.
During their lives the Elric brothers had a bond that was unbreakable. Now the many generations from them are a force to be reckoned with.
As Edward sat next to Winry's bed that night he knew they were almost at the end of they're journey together. Even though he loved her more than life itself he knew this was one sacrifice he would have to give to God.
So remember what Edward was saying "All is one and one is all and sacrifices are made everyday." We are all connected and part of everything. So the next time you see the shy kid and want to make fun of them, or you see the kid that acts strange by your standards. Maybe you're the bully that picks on other kids, maybe you're the kid that has an idea and wants to act on it because someone hurt you. Every action has a sacrifice behind it even though you don't physically see it that doesn't mean it's not there. We are all one part of each other and each of us makes up the one. It's the flow of life and you may not see the ramifications of your actions right now but the flow of them might come back on you later.
So next time make that small sacrifice of the muscles in your face and instead smile and say hi. The equivalent exchange of a friendship is worth the sacrifice.