Did You Ever?

Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist, or the songs featured here.

Summary: Who knew Edward could sing? Nicole certainly didn't.

Ed and Nicole strolled down the snowy street, waving at people who wished them a merry Christmas and said good morning.

Nicole laughed and took the small daisy a little girl and boy brought out to her from a nearby flower shop.

They smiled and waved, then ran back into the warmth.

Ed chuckled.

"Haven't we gotten popular?" He said, and she turned to him, laughing lightly.

"Things change when you make a giant ice castle pop up in the middle of a school yard." She said, and he chuckled.

"We have to get Roy a Christmas present." She said, and he turned to her.

"What? Why?" He said, clearly stating disapproval.

"Because! Think of what he's done for us, Ed!" She said, and he thought about it for a moment. Well, he had made them get out in the country to let flying mouths cool…

"Fine. After skating we'll drop by and do it." He said, and she clapped her hands happily.

"Thanks Ed!" She wrapped her arms around his middle quickly, before running ahead towards the small path that lead to the lake. He stood frozen, face red, before shaking it away and running after her.

By the time he reached the lake, she was already stumbling around on it, going a few slides before steadying herself.

"You've gotten better!" He called, and she turned, waving and smiling.

He glided out and she grabbed onto his sleeve, trying to stop.

"Whoa!" He cried, unable to take the added weight, and they fell.

When Ed came back to his senses, he closed his eyes in pain and didn't notice the added weight on him.

When he tried to sit up, he felt pressure on his mouth slightly.

Nicole groaned, and raised her head, eyes closed; trying to mentally soothe the burning pain in her lower leg, when the thing under her shifted and something warm pressed itself to her lips. Her eyes shot open, and she found herself staring into gold eyes, when it hit her like a flying saucepan full of dirty dishwater…

Ed's eyes flew open, and he saw himself reflected in Nicole's wide eyes, and just then did he realize what position they were in.

Nicole had landed on him, he was hugging her, and…their lips were pressed lightly together.

He rolled on his side, and she gently slid off, and they just laid there for ten minutes, trying to figure out what happened.

"I…I'm sorry." She whispered, and Ed shook his head.

"No…No it was just an accident, don't worry about it." He said, and sat up, grinning.

"I haven't fallen on the ice for a while." He chuckled, and she grinned.

"Well, I guess it wa- OUCH!" She tried to stand again, but ended up falling into a heap on the ice.

"Nicole? Nicole! What's the matter?" He crawled over, and she looked up at him, eyes watering in pain.

"My…My leg…" She whimpered, clutching the back of her lower leg.

Ed's eyes widened, and looked at the ice where she had been laying.

It was stained with blood.

He grabbed her hands gently, and pried them off her leg, before taking a quick look and putting them back.

"Keep pressure on it." He said, clapping his hands and dissolving their skates.

She did as she was told, and he stood up.

"I can't stand!" She said, and he bit his lip.

Nicole's eyes were stinging, trying to cry, but she wouldn't let them, and Ed took the blades off her shoes. He stood, and she tried not to look at the blood seeping between her fingers.

"I can't stand!" She said, and looked up at him. His eyes were filled with shock, and even…worry?

"This might hurt for a moment." He said, and she screwed up her eyes, but as she did so, some of the water in her eyes slid down her cheek, and then she felt herself being lifted, and her eyes snapped open, sending more tears down her face.

Ed had picked her up bridle style, and was now looking at her, worry evident on her face.

"I'm sorry! I didn't realize it would hurt that much." He said quickly, and she shook her head.

"No, no it's ok." She said, and he began walking fast across the lake.

She gasped at the movement and her clean hand wrapped around his neck.

When they stepped off the ice, he glanced at her then away again, before looking at her again quickly. She saw him stifle a gasp and he tightened his grip, before starting to run into the town, where people gasped and let them through.

He turned a corner, and she saw the Hospital.

She smiled weakly and felt herself get weaker, when her eyes started closing, and the last thing she heard was Ed calling for a doctor, before turning to her and repeating her name, his eyes filled with pure worry.

"Nicole! NICOLE!" Her world crashed in, leaving her in the dark.

Ed sat in the waiting room, his head bowed, elbows on his knees and hands clasped in the air in front of them.

"Full Metal? You can see her now." Ed's head snapped up, and he followed to doctor into a white room, with the window open, showing the grey sky and the tip of the Christmas tree outside their hotel room a couple blocks away.

He sat on a chair beside her bed, and the doctor pulled the curtain around them for privacy.

"Nicole…," He started, and smiled weakly, "Next lesson is stopping." He said, closing his eyes and holding her hand tightly.

"That's probably a very good idea, Edward." A soft voice said, and his eyes snapped open, and Nicole smiled tiredly from the bed.

She tried to sit up, but then grimaced and fell back down again.

"Stay still! They had to stitch up your leg; I think when we fell, you cut yourself." Ed said, and she nodded, before raising an eyebrow.

"Where are Roy and Al?" She asked, and Ed resisted the strong urge to smack himself.
"Uh…I forgot to call them." He said, and tried to fight the red that crept up his neck.

She smiled a little, and squeezed his hand.

"So much for getting Mustang a present, hey?" He said, and she sighed, looking pained.

"Just great! I get myself stuck in the hospital and Roy can't even have Christmas gifts? URG!" She threw up the hand that wasn't being held in annoyance, and Ed thought for a moment.

"Well…I could call Mustang and then Al and I could go pick something up for him." Nicole stared, and then smiled brightly.

"Oh you'd do that Ed? Oh THANK YOU! Please tell Al to bring the list, he'll know which one." She smiled, and Ed ruffled her hair, let go of her hand and went out to use the public phone.

Nicole grinned as Ed trudged in, followed by Al and Roy.

"Nicole! What happened? Brother wouldn't tell us anything!" Al came over, and Nicole smiled gently.

"I'm fine Al. I just cut myself." She said gently, and Roy sat in the chair Ed had evacuated.

"How's you leg feeling?" Ed asked, sitting on the end of the bed by her feet.

"It's pretty much numb, but I can feel stinging every time I move it." She pulled the cover off her leg as much as she could, and they saw white bandages.

"I have the list, Nicole. Brother and I will leave now, we'll come back in a couple hours or so to-" Ed cut him off.

"Break you out of here!" He said, and Nicole giggled as Roy turned to him.

"You will do no such thing!" Ed was about to make a comment when Nicole shushed him.

"You two had better hurry on out of here if you want to get to the shops before they close." Nicole said, and Ed and Al nodded, leaving Roy and Nicole looking out the window.

"So how's the gossip in Central lately?" Nicole asked casually, but Roy knew the real thing she wanted to know.

"Jean has stopped on order, but there is still a buzz about the subject." Roy said, choosing his words carefully, and Nicole looked worried, but nodded all the same.

"We can't stay here forever, Roy. We only packed what we needed for a week and a bit. I didn't even bring pajamas, I've been using Ed's t shirt and some shorts." She said, and Roy raised eyebrow, and she crossed her arms.

"Don't make a comment. We're going to have to come home, rumor or no rumor. Ed wants to get back on the road." She said, and Roy sighed.

"Well, you'll have to come home the day after tomorrow then, how does that sound? I need to leave then." He suggested, and Nicole nodded.

"Sounds reasonable." They two passed the rest of the time playing cards that Nicole convinced Roy to buy at the Hospital Gift Shop.

Ed and Al finally came back, and it was snowing again, and the scene outside was a blur of Christmas lights and white. Nicole heard the hum of Carolers.

"We're back!" Al and Ed came around the curtain, and Nicole yawned, rubbing her eyes.

"Can we go back to the hotel now?" She asked sleepily. Ed chuckled and sat by her stomach, opposite Roy.

"I'll go get a doctor." Roy said, and left. As soon as they heard the door click on the other side of the screen, Nicole turned to the boys.

"Where are the presents?" She asked, and Al answered her almost immediately.

"They're at the Hotel. We wrapped Roy's, I wrapped Ed's while he wrapped mine in the closet, then we wrapped yours. We put them under the mini tree Ed bought." Ed turned pinkish.

"You bought a tree? Yay!" She clapped her hands in her happiness, even though it was just a little one, probably fake. Ed chuckled and Al laughed, when the Doctor and Roy came back in. The Doctor was pushing an empty wheel chair and Roy was handing her a clipboard and pen. She filled out the form and handed it back, then stared at the wheel chair.

"I don't have to use that, do I?" she asked wearily, pointing at it.

"I'm afraid you do, Ms. Anderson. We don't want the stitches to come out again." He said, and she sighed.

"Fine. Wheel it over." She beckoned to the side of the bed, where it was being pushed too.

She stared for a moment, before trying to move her leg.

"Ick!" She grunted, stopping and her hands made fists, clinging to the blankets.

"Here…" Ed picked her up bridal style again, blanket and all, and put her in the chair.

"There you go! All comfortable. You're lucky to have such a caring boyfriend," The doctor smiled, when Nicole and Edward started to protest, "Don't worry about the blanket, Colonel here told me you have to go back to Central, so just mail both the chair and the blanket back when you don't need it, ok? Merry Christmas!" He left, leaving the two pink faced teens, an amused Mustang and a giggling suit of armor.

"Well, I think its bedtime." Roy said as Nicole yawned again.

"Where are you sleeping?" Nicole asked, sounding tired herself.

"I have a room." He said, and she nodded, and Ed started pushing her out of the room.

"Merry Christmas!" Al said to the sky, which was dark with white snowflakes.

"Hehe!" Nicole stuck her tongue out and a flake landed on it.

Ed chuckled and stuck his tongue out too. Roy chuckled and Al laughed.

They made it to the hotel, and they had a hard time getting Nicole up the stairs, but eventually they managed to have Al pull it upstairs and Roy carry her up.

"Aww!" Nicole cooed at the little tree that sat in the corner of the room, glinting with shiny garland and gold baubles. Presents sat underneath, and the stocking were bulging with little candies and other unseen things.

"There." Ed picked her up and put her on the bed, and she smiled.

"Thank you Ed." She said, before she looked down at herself.

"Oh that's right…" Ed trailed off and Roy inspected the tree with Al.

"I'm fine, just help me get my jacket off; I'll deal with getting changed tomorrow." Nicole sighed, and Ed helped her lean forward and unhook it from her arms.

"I'll see you in the morning, you three. Merry Christmas." Roy said, and Nicole waved from the bed, echoing his last statement with Al. Ed just gave a sloppy salute before putting both his jacket and Nicole's on the back of a chair.

"Goodnight Al." Nicole said as Al got onto his bed.

"Night Nicole." She heard him say sleepily. Ed sat on the end of the bed, looking out the window, and Nicole didn't feel him move, even after the light went out.

"You're not planning on peeking at your stocking, are you?" She asked slyly, and she heard him chuckle.

"No."
"I know you can't sleep with me on the bed, and not with Al, but why don't you just take some pillows, put a blanket over them, and use it as a mattress? You'd be more comfortable." She suggested, and Ed nodded.

"I'll do that." He got off the bed, and Nicole though he had went to sleep…but he was still awake, trying desperately to do that.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Ed and Al jerked awake, and Nicole giggled. She was sitting up on the bed, laughing.
"NICOLE!" Ed growled, before tickling her mercilessly.

Al got up to answer the door only he heard was knocked on.

"Merry Christmas Colonel." He said politely, and let Roy in. Ed was now kneeling by her, apologizing furiously, while she clutched the blanket, eyes watering.

"They held, but they huuuurrrtttt." She whined, and Ed picked her up, transferring her to the chair beside the tree.

"Merry Christmas Roy!" She waved at him holding her arms open, expecting a hug, which he supplied. He was used to that by now.

"Stocking first!" She said, and Roy took his, which had 'Flame Alchemist' and 'Roy Mustang' on it in black, the stocking was red with yellow flames on it.

He dug out candy and chocolates, as did the other three.

"Here, Al first, he's youngest." Nicole said, and Ed nodded.

"Does that mean I go last?" Roy said, sighing from his position on the floor. Ed smirked, nodding.

Al opened the sticker book.

"Oh Nicole! Thank you!" He said, and she hugged him, bending over to do so, smiling.

"Nicole next (1)." Roy said, handing her a blue package.

She undid the knot of Roy's present and took off the paper, revealing a delicate hair ornament, blue with a pink paper mache flower on it. She smiled, and hugged him.

"Oh it's beautiful! Thank you!" She squealed, putting it on the table beside her.

"Ed." Al slid hi present over, and Ed received two new books on Alchemy.

"Thanks Al!" Ed and Al did a high five.

"Here Roy." Nicole handed him the present that was supposed to be from her.

He undid it, and an expensive looking pen set fell out onto his lap.

"Thank you very much Nicole." He said, smiling and gave her a one armed hug.

"Well, Al, you're next." Roy passed him a green box, and Al opened it, squealing as he picked up a stuffed animal.

"Thanks Colonel!" He said, and hugged hi before putting it down beside him.

"Nicole Next!" Nicole smiled, and accepted the gift from Al.

"It's so soft! Thanks Al!" She wrapped the blue scarf around her neck, and gave Al thumbs up.

"Edward!" Roy smirked, handing him a yellow box.

"It had better not be…ROY!" He pulled out a pair of pink and white boxers with yellow hearts on them.

Nicole and Al burst into laughter, and Roy chuckled as Ed's face turned into a thermometer, gaining heat.

"Ok, calm down there blonde. It's Roy's turn." Al tossed him a black package, and Roy received a bright red scarf.

"Al's turn." Ed passed him a brown parcel, and Al received another stuffy, this time a dog the size of his arm.

"Awww!" Nicole and Al petted the toy, and Ed grinned, Roy shook his head chuckling.

"Roy, you've been forever patient, you go next." Nicole said, and Edward passed him the present, smirking.

Inside, Roy pulled out a pink t-shirt that had 'Anti Paperwork' written on the front.

Nicole giggled, And the Elric brothers laughed as Roy shook his head again.

"Nicole?" Ed asked, but she shook her head.

"Here." She passed him one of the last presents under the tiny tree.

He took the wrapping off, and stared for a moment.

"Al took the picture…And I couldn't think of anything else to get you…You're so damn confusing…" She trailed off, and turned light pink.

"Thanks Nicole, it'll be a nice moment to remember." Ed pushed the small frame into his suitcase, wrapping it in a shirt carefully.

Roy raised an eyebrow.

"Here." Ed pushed a small flat box towards her, and she picked it up, taking off the brown paper that was put on haphazardly and was covered in tape ("I can't wrap tiny things!") and opening the little green velvet box.

"…" She stared at it.

"Uh…I take it you don't like it?" Ed tried, looking at his sock.

"Not…Like…It…? HOW COULD I NOT?" She exploded, smiling. "Thank You! Thank you thank you thank you!" She cried, taking out the necklace. It was a silver chain with a silver heart on it, big enough to hold a small cut out of something.

"Oh it's so pretty!" Al smiled, waiting for her to open it.

"Here." Ed got up and put it on, and she shivered.

"It's cold." She grinned, before picking the heart up.

"We'll have to get some pictures to put in it." She said casually, and Ed looked over her shoulder.

"Are you sure there isn't some already in there?" Al asked.

"Wha?" She opened it and both teens turned a million shades of pink. One side was a picture of Nicole, her eyes were closed, and obviously asleep, and the other was of Ed, who was also asleep.

"When…Where…" They looked up at Al, who was trying to hold in laughter.

"On the train!" He managed, before erupting into giggles.

"What now?" Nicole looked at her roommates.

"How about skating?" Ed asked, and Al scoffed in disbelief and Roy looked at him as though he were a couple stick short of a bonfire.

"…You do realize you're partner is in a wheelchair, Right?" He asked, and Nicole scoffed.

"Huh! I will NOT be held responsible for the fact I can't skate!" She tried to stand, only to fall back.

"Edward, can you help me into the wheel chair?" She asked, and he picked her up again, setting her down on her chair.

She reached for her suitcase, heaving it onto her lap and pulling out a black sweater and a pair of jeans.

Without another word, she wheeled herself into the bathroom, closing the door with a snap. A second later he head popped out again.

"Can one of you be a dear and pass me my brush?" She smiled sweetly and caught the airborne brush, closing the door again.

Ed shrugged, picking up one of his new book and Roy tried out his pens, while Al pet his stuffed animals, when she came out again.

"There!" They stared. The locket was overtop her turtleneck sweater, glinting brightly and she managed to he the jean pant leg over her cast.

"Now, Ed, get dressed. We're going skating." She said, and Roy opened his mouth objects. "Don't even think of arguing with me, Roy." She said, and reached for her new scarf, wrapping it around her head as a warped earmuff.

Five minutes later, Ed came out, hair in a braid and such.

He pushed her out into the hall, Al and Roy following.

They reached the stairs.

"Duh duh duh!" Nicole laughed, and Ed picked her up, carrying her down the steps as Roy and Al followed with the wheelchair.

"Urg, I feel like the wheel chair, having to carry you all the time." Ed grunted, and Nicole raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Then Roy can do it next time." She said, and he looked at her.

"Did I say I minded?" He asked, and she giggled, and then looked around at the tug at her sleeve.

"Mile! It's nice to see you. Where's your family?" She asked, and Mile hugged her arm, before turning and waving at someone.

"I FOUND HER!" She cried, and three people came over, two looking worried.

"Oh what did you do to yourself, Nicole? Felce said he saw Edward carrying you into the hospital!" Tanbrea hurried over the threshold of the room.

"I'm ok, really. I just have a cut, that's all." She tried to say, but Felce interrupted.

"It was gushing blood! All the way down the street!" He said, and Tanbrea's eyes widened.

Nicole turned to Ed, who was shaking his head.

"I'm fine; I just had to get some stitches." She said, and Mile looked at her bulging pant leg.

"You simply must come have dinner with us!" She fussed, before noticing Al and Roy.

"Merry Christmas Alphonse. Who is this?" She looked at him.

"Roy Mustang Ma'am." He said, shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you. You all must come have Christmas supper with us." She said, and Mile nodded eagerly.

"Please?" She tugged on Ed's sleeve.

"I think it can be arranged." Roy said, and Felio laughed, before taking Ed's place behind Nicole's wheel chair.

"Come on!" Mile and Felce each grabbed one of Ed's hands and started pulling him down the street, Nicole, and Al started laughing, while the adults just chuckled.

They finally arrived at the house, and Ed, Mile and Felce were all in the yard, having a snowball fight.

"Here dear." Tanbrea helped her sit up straight and Roy picked her up, Al and Felio took the wheel chair into the house, then Tanbrea, then Roy and Nicole, Ed at her head, shivering.

"You look cold." She giggled, and he pointed to a wet patch on the back of his jacket.

"They stuck snow down my jacket!" He accused, and said children laughed, taking off their scarves, mittens and jackets.

"ERG!" Mile's cheer suddenly dropped, and she pouted. "Stupid string mitten!" She crossed her arms and Nicole beckoned her over.

"Here…there you go, all done." She took the coat off and righted the mittens, and handed it back to the glowing child.

Ed looked at her face closely.

It was motherly, and she looked so natural at taking care of children… 'Her children will be lucky to have a mom like her.' he thought, then his face lit up, and he took off his jacket too. He stepped forward and gently tugged the scarf off Nicole's neck, hanging it up with his jacket.

"Thank you Edward." She smiled, and he nodded, before Tanbrea led them into the living room.

"Dinner is almost ready." She disappeared into the kitchen, and Ed wheeled her into the warm living room, and sat on the sofa beside her.

Al went into the kitchen to help Tanbrea.

Roy and Felio started chatting, but Ed and Nicole didn't catch a word of it, because Mile appeared.

"Nicole! Guess what I got for Christmas?" Mile climbed up on Ed's lap, in an effort to get close to Nicole.

Ed raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything for once. Nicole leaned over the arm of the wheelchair.

"What did you get?" She asked, smiling, and Mile held a cloth doll in her face.

"Oh she's pretty! What is her name?" Nicole asked, and Mile leaned against Ed, thinking.

"Huum…I know, I know! Nicole!" She cried, and Nicole smiled.

"Oh, now where have I heard that pretty name before?" She laughed, in mock thoughtfulness, her hand reaching up to play with the locket subconsciously. Mile laughed, then saw the silver heart.

"Oh that's so pretty! Did you get it for Christmas?" She asked, and Nicole blushed, and Ed felt himself go pink.

"Uhm…Yes I did." She said quietly, and Mile was just about to say something when Felce popped up on Nicole's other side.

"I got army soldiers!" He produced a handful of brightly painted toy soldiers.

"Very nice. Maybe if you ask nicely, Ed'll help you put them into actual marching squadrons. Right Edward?" She looked at him, and he nodded, moving Mile off his lap, and getting onto the floor with him.

"I also got clothes for her; do you want to play with me?" Mile asked, and Nicole smiled, showing her whites.

"That sounds like fun." Mile jumped off the couch.

In a matter of a few minutes, Roy turned away form his conversation for a moment to see his two youngest Alchemists playing with toys like small children.

Ooh, he whished he had a camera.

End Chapter

Author's Note:

(1): Ok, now some of you are probably thinking 'Why isn't Ed next? He's the second Youngest!' but that's not true. He may be the youngest person to be a state alchemist, but he's older than Nicole. How so? Even though their both 15, Nicole is younger by 7 months. He's still the youngest state alchemist, because she became a state alchemist when she was 13, not 12. Kapish? Kapoosh.

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