Blue Pain
Chapter 20
Rei: (is sitting in chair, holding her new baby.) Hey everyone. Sorry the update took so long, but my computer crashed and I've been offline for a while. Sorry, plus I've had the new little one. (Motions to baby) so I've been busy.
Envy: Hmm. (smile)
Serah: Creepy... (Shudder.)
Wolf: Hey guys!
KM, Serah, and Rei: WOLF! (Triple-glomp)
(In case you didn't know, which I doubt any of you did. Wolf has moved to Vegas since the last chappie...Its depressing...)
Wolf: don't worry, I'll always be here. In your hearts...
(CHEESY)
BUT WE LOVE HER ANYWAY!
Serah: Hey Rei. What was it you named the baby?
Envy and Rei: (look at each other, smirk, and then back at Serah) It's a secret.
Rei: Ill tell you later, after the chapter, but right now, I've an announcement!!!!
I don't know how many of you know this, but today, October 8th, is the year anniversary for this story! Can you believe it! One year ago I posted the first chappie. I've come along way since then, and it's because of you guys, my readers, without you, I would be nothing, I am truly indebted. (Bows) thanks...I have a special gift to you. It's a mini-fic I posted with this one. Look in my profile for the link thingy, hope you enjoy and give me many many reviews! (hint hint)
But for now, let's begin the chappie!
...xxx...
Ed inhaled deeply, taking in a lung full of cold morning air as he climbed out of the car. It felt good, but that confused him, he still didn't know how he should feel...
It'd been a couple months since Den was killed and Winry had been living with him ever since. After a while back at the apartment, he ushered Winry next door to the Hughes' and set upon the task of cleaning up a bit.
He took the scraps of sheets that was left and wrapped Den's body up in them, setting the creature by the farthest wall from the blood written message. Then he went through and picked out the few articles of clothing he could salvage and tossed them in a pile. He completely skipped over the ones that had blood on them, regardless if they could be saved by a run through the washer or not.
After that, he went through and eliminated all the evidence that Winry was there. Taking her school books, pictures, papers and all the other things that her name or personal information on them. While rummaging through a pile of papers by the upturned coffee table, he stumbled upon a torn sketch book. The first picture he saw, was one of what he recognized was him and the two dogs. The lines were soft and smudged, and the picture itself seemed to emanate a sense of happiness. But the offset of crinkled paper and specks of blood ruined it.
He made a mental note to himself to buy her a new sketchbook.
Everything seemed to be in order now, for the most part. Her apartment was still in shambles, but he would let the police take care of that.
Winry told Gracia a little of what happened; she left out the part about her father and just said that someone had broken into her apartment. She wouldn't tell why, but made Gracia promise not to tell anyone about her. If someone asked who lived there, make something up. Only after she assured Winry her secret was safe did she get the number to the Elric's. Just in case.
Winry's real name was never put on the lease, her work place was never recorded, and she always paid under the false name on said lease, so as far as everyone, save for the few that knew the truth (or at least part of the truth), knew, Amy Marlow, the tenant of apartment 7b, had disappeared into thin air.
They called the police from a nearby payphone to report what had happened, and then they went home.
Ed simply told his mom that Winry changed her mind about staying by herself. Weather or not Trisha believed this story was unknown, but she said nothing to make anyone assume otherwise.
Alphonse, who was still recovering from a fractured wrist, refused to look at Ed. It was beginning to irk the blonde, but he figured he deserved it. Things were pretty bad right now and it was mostly Ed's fault, Al had every right to be mad.
But Ed didn't think that was the whole story. He'd seen his mom silently crying to herself, and Al's quick careful glances. It was worse than anger...It was disappointment...
Ed sighed heavily and held the doors open, waiting for Winry as she brushed past him. She was just starting to show (just enough so you could tell, if you were looking) and the morning sickness had subsided. Ed figured she was entering the second trimester now, and he had no idea what to expect.
But he was glad she was still going to school. Hell, he was glad she was even staying. She had wanted to leave, start a new life in a new town, but Ed managed to talk her out of it. But he couldn't talk her out if quitting her job.
She insisted that she keep working, stating that Trisha couldn't afford another person now, much less two when the baby was born. She would simply take a maternity leave when she had to and take up shifts that revolved around the baby schedule.
Ed was less than pleased, but it was one of the few topics she refused to back down on. Ah well, can't win 'em all.
"Hey kid? Are you okay?"
Ed snapped his attention back to the scene at hand; the one where he was supposed to be going to school. They were in the hallway, right in front of his first hour class. Winry stood in front of him, blinking in slight confusion at her boyfriend, who was staring out into space.
"Wha? Oh, oh yeah, I'm fine. How bout you?"
She glared at him. "Kid, we've had this talk before...I'm pregnant, not dieing...Calm down." she growled, Ed sweatdropped and laughed nervously, but said nothing. He just couldn't help but worry about her; he loved her
She shook her head and tugged on his sleeve. "Come on, we'll be late if we wait for your ship to land." she said playfully, pushing open the door. Ed dutifully followed.
...xxx...
(Later that day.)
The three teens sat together at lunch. Al not talking and pouring all his attention into his chicken sandwich. Winry putting the last minute polish on an essay that was due next hour and Ed reading quietly while swirling the secret flavor pudding he wasn't brave enough to eat.
All in all a steady hum of silence filled the air; interrupted only by the constant scribbling on Winry's part and the occasional soft flip of a page. But tenseness hovered over them as well.
It really bothered Ed that Al didn't speak much anymore. Al was bothered by the fact that he couldn't talk to his brother without feeling shame. He knew Ed didn't do anything wrong, it just hurt that he had felt so alone by it. He wasn't upset with Ed now, he was upset with himself. He should be able to handle his own troubles right now, not pile them on Ed when his brother had so many of his own.
Winry could feel the mixed feelings between the blondes and felt unnerved by it. She didn't like seeing family act like this and couldn't help but partially blame herself. But still, there was nothing she could do short of smacking their heads together and telling them to sort it out. And no matter how much she wanted to, that was not an option.
Sighing, she turned her head and stared out the large window on the far wall. It was mid January now, the trees were still covered in snow, but it wasn't pretty anymore. It was the slick, wet kind of snow that would freeze over and become crunchy and slippery when the weather dropped, then turn to mush when it warmed up. The first snow was always her favorite, after that though, it wasn't so grandee.
Then she remembered; Al's birthday was this Saturday.
Ah, that gave her something to break the silence with.
"So." she said abruptly, both boys jerked out of their semi-trance like state and looked up at her. "Alu, what do you want for your birthday?"
He blinked several times; almost like he'd forgotten. "Oh, yeah...you don't have to worry about it. It's not a big deal..." he said, his voice was soft and wary and he smiled weakly.
She shook her head furiously. "Don't say that Alu! Your birthday is very important!" she cried, shaking her finger at the blonde. He smiled again, but this time it was more believable.
"Isn't that right kid?" she asked, casting a half glance at him. Come on kid...this is your chance to get back to your brother. Say the right thing!
"Uh, yeah, I guess..."
Agh!
Al's smile faltered, but he said nothing, he just lowered his gaze and stared at his tray.
Ed noticed Winry glaring at him from the corner of has eye and glanced over. She gave her head a ghastly shake and turned back to Al, her smile back in full swing.
"On second thought, don't tell me, I'll surprise you." she winked at him, shot another glare at Ed, and returned to writing.
...xxx...
(After school)
"Bye Al!" Winry called, as said blonde crawled out of the car. He looked back at her as he straightened up.
"Aren't you guys coming in?" he asked, shifting his weight. Winry shook a negative.
"The kid and I are going shopping." she grinned, "and it's not for your birthday either."
Al smiled. "Okay, have fun not shopping for Me." he said, waving at her as he turned and walked back up the sidewalk. He didn't give Ed another look.
Arriving at the mall, Winry pulled Ed through the huge revolving doors and smiled at him.
"Okay! So you go that way, and I'll go this way. We can shop on our own and meet back here in an hour. Kay?" she said, though it was hardly a question, as, soon as she said it, she had turned and bounced on down the strip, leaving a staring blonde in her wake.
She really wasn't planning on saving time by them splitting up; she just really wanted to be alone.
Ed was always with her now, if he wasn't, she was in school or work. Honestly, it wasn't as if she minded, she loved him, so he didn't bother her, but she just really wanted some alone time, which she missed since moving out of her apartment. And yeah, she wasn't really alone, but at least she didn't have to talk to anyone or look at them for that matter.
She drifted through the mall, glancing at the mass of stores as she passed and looking for one to go into. She spotted a book store and headed towards it, but stopped short and looked straight ahead of her.
The bright pink and blue door seemed to taunt her. Waving her over with its colorful banners and large flashy price signs.
She glanced around her- right, left, and behind- to make sure no one was watching, then she took a few quick steps forward and popped inside the luring door of a clothing store. But not just any clothing store, a baby clothing store.
She silently slid into one of the isles and started looking around.
Everyone else in the store was older, mid twenties to thirties, some with husbands and boyfriends, and some without. They were all pretty far along, as in they were showing more than her, and they all looked happy. They had that "Motherly Glow" she'd heard so much about.
Self-consciously, she slid her hand over the slight roundness of her stomach and rubbed gently. She certainly didn't feel all glowly. She felt sweaty and gross. Her head hurt and she still felt nauseous occasionally, and she was irritable most of the time. Not at all like all the Moms here.
A hand touched her shoulder and she nearly screamed, but instead, she jerked lightly and spun around, staring straight into the face of the perpetrator who dared to touch her.
It was a middle-aged woman with light brown hair and cheery brown eyes. She smiled at Winry and waved her hand shyly.
"Sorry dear, didn't mean to scare you. Just thought you might need some help." she said, still waving her hand in front of her face and laughing like she had sad something hilarious. Winry could feel her eye twitch at the sheer perkiness of the woman.
"Oh, um, yeah, I'm just looking for now." Winry said, hoping the conversation would end. She wasn't so lucky.
"Ah, I see. Where are you at?" she asked. Winry stared at her.
"Um, the mall?" she said, not entirely sure what the lady meant.
She laughed again. A high pitched shrill laugh that made children run to their mothers.
"Oh no dear! I dint mean literally. I meant how far along are you? When's the baby due?" Winry stared at her again, and then glanced down at her nametag. Her name was Gladys. Very suiting.
"Second trimester, should come sometime in mid-July." Winry said, turning and running her hand across the fabric of a bright pink frock.
"If you don't mind me asking," Gladys said, her voice in almost a whisper. Obviously, she didn't want the other customers hearing. "How old are you?"
Winry didn't like what her tone suggested, but managed to keep her own voice even as she responded. "I'll be seventeen in May." she didn't move her eyes from the shelf in front of her, but she could pretty much guess the look on Gladys' face.
"OH, still a baby yourself. But don't worry, I'm sure whoever gets hr will love as her own." she said, voice still low.
Winry lifted herhead, her eyebrows knit together. "What is that suposed to mean?" she asked, louder than he previous talk.
Gladys' face fell slightly and she sent quick glances around, before leaning in closer to Winry. "Oh, didn't mean to upset you, it's just most girls cant handle the reasonability of a child at such a young age, so they give them up in favor of a better life, I just meant that-"
"That I wasn't able to take care of my own baby?" Winry asked, voice rose to above an "Inside voice". A couple of heads turned and Gladys flashed red.
"Please, keep your voice down." Gladys said, casting fretful looks at the other couples.
"Please," Winry said, volume staying the same, "Don't judge me by some stupid stereotype when you know nothing about me." Winry said, and she turned quickly, marching out of the store, leaving a flustered and embarrassed looking Storekeeper behind her.
Upon leaving the store, she bumped into someone, falling flat on her butt.
Looking up, she saw it was a man. He was in his forties. With dark-blonde hair and beard and square glasses. He glowered down at her, whispered something under his breath and kept walking. Not even bothering to help her to his feet.
Standing back up, she stared after him. Tears welling up in her eyes. Why? Why did she feel like she was less of a person now? Why did other people treat her as such? it wasn't fair.
Quickly, she swept into the bookstore she'd been heading to earlier and busied herself with reading book titles. She ran her finger lazily along their spines, mouthing the titles to herself and thinking. She couldn't help but feel weird now. There was something so familiar about that man, something she didn't like.
She sighed. Wishing she'd just come here to begin with, it would have saved her so much trouble.
...xxx...
Meanwhile, Ed was sifting through an art supply store, trying to make amends with his brother by buying him a lot of helpful stuff that al would get a good use out of.
Stuff like manuscript paper, coloring pencils, pens, paints, and other artsy things. Plus, he'd gone to a novelty store and picked up a cat clock like Al had when they were younger. Ed had broken it and it hadn't been replaced. Hopefully Al would remember and it would bring up some good memories, like they used to have. Expense was no problem. He would spend his whole life savings if it would get thing back to the way they used to be.
HE was getting ready to check out, checking his watch and seeing his hour was almost up, when he spotted a stack of dark blue sketchbooks.
His mind flashed back to the one he'd found in Winry's apartment and he picked one up. That was one more thing he could check off his list. He'd been meaning to buy her one anyway.
Walking back to the meeting place, he saw Winry was already there. Holding two small bags on one arm, her purse on the other. She looked slightly dishelmed and smiled awkwardly at him, but he decided not to ask. She was like that a lot lately and she never had a reason she wanted to share before.
"You ready?" he asked when he reached her. She nodded and he offered her his arm, a coy smile on his face.
She grinned and locked their arms and they both walked out to her car.
...xxx...
Rei: Well! that was fun! any guesses to who she bumped into? lemme know in a review! Even if not, leave me a review anyway! Cuz you love me and i need the love! if not out of love, feel for me and leave one out of pity! PITY ME!
Wolf: Shut up...
Rei: (glare) You're as sweet as ever i see...
Wolf: (smile)
rei: (twitch)
Envy: hey rei! Can we tell them yet? the babies name i mean.THe suspence is killing me.
Rei: Eh, okay. (takes Envy's hand)
Envy and rei: THe babies name...is BUTTWHEAT! BUTTWHEAT SANDWICH!
Other Muses: - Buttwheat...sandwich...?
REi: Yes, that's Envy's last name. Sandwich...And Buttwehat was my Grandpa's idea...it sounded perfect. (Dreamy eyed)
KM and Lee: (poke envy) Your last name is saandwich???
Envy: Yup, no one knew though, but Rei.
Rei: (Smiles) Isnt it amazing..?
(Suddenly, a large crash sounds from the left. they all turn to see Doughnut Boy standing in all his Glory)
Rei: GAsp! DOughnut boy! Oh no! (Glances around, then jumps into a phonebooth that magically appeared out of nowwhere.)
Super Noodle: (Pops out of afore mentioned phonebooth, cape flowing) Egad! What on Rei's green earth are you doing here Doughnut boy?! I thought i beat you back in Zimbobway? at the dance compitition.
Doughnut boy: So you thought Super noodle! But i will always be back! like a bad case of herpes!
Super Noodle: Not something i would compare myself to and then brag about, but what eever! I will beat you Doughnut boy! I vowwed to little Billy!
Doughnut boy: yes, but i know your weakness Super Noodle! and i shall beat youy with my perfected doughnut RAY! (Shoots doughnuts out his eyes)
Super Noodle: (Thinks quicklya nd grabs KM, using her as human sheild)
KM: (Blinks)
Other muses: ...?(Shakes heads)
(SADLY, THIS IS NORMAL FOR US)
(As the battle goes on. Dougnut boy stops shooting doughnuts at KM, seeing as she just eats them and was so adrable, he couldnt help but sucumb to the cuteness. but, the battle was far from over)
Doughnut Boy: I figured you would pull something so deviously underhanded super Noodle, so i came prepared! (pulls out vile and throws it at Super Noodle. it hits her head, but bounces off.)
Super Noodle: OUCH! You jerk! that Hurted!!!! (throws KM back to crowd of muses and rubs head)
Doughnut Boy: Oh, sorry bought that. (shuffles over and picks up vile, dusts it off and smiles) it was supposd to dothis! (THrows the bottle again, staright down at floor. it tinks silently but does not break.) Crap! (Stomps on bottle, it still doesnt break) That is the last time i use diamonds to make a vile with! (Starts jumping up and down, the bottle finally gives in and cracks, sending a could of pink smoke up and surounds both of them.)
(when the smoke claars, they are both gone.)
Serah: OH NO! Rei!
Muses: WHAT HAPPENED! SHE'S GONE!!!!
(To find out what happened, check out the aniversary one-shot i posted, its my special gift to my readers! YAY! ONE YEAR OF BLUE PAIN PEOPLE! WH00t!!!!!!!!)
SEe ya!\
(wow, this is like the longest An's ever...hehe...)
Oh, and that little mini-fic i posted, is not so mini, its longer than the chapter..hehe, oh well...love you guys!
REI OUT