Okay! I am SO SORRY that this took forever, I've been busy with work, and I've been visiting my family which is nice, I've also had writers block for a month...(This chapter felt like forever)
Update on the Updates: the next chapter won't be out for a few weeks because I'm moving, so I'll be preoccupied with that. So don't freak out I'm not abandoning the story, how could I do that to you guys. (Plus I have way too much fun writing this!) Okay! That's all for now, enjoy the chapter. Sorry for any mistakes it's 5:30 AM I pulled an all nighter to finish this…
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA or any of its characters
Chapter 21
Meanwhile while Ed was out.
Everyone was seated at the table, save for the empty seat beside Roy. The older of the kids, including, Trisha Milo, Oliver, and Louisa, sat at the coffee table in the living room.
They hadn't started eating yet, they were waiting on Ed, waiting for him to come back… and he'd been taking so long Roy had half a mind to go and find him.
"So where'd he go anyways?" Winry asked finally breaking the silence.
Roy was spaced out, staring at his empty plate.
It was silent again and everyone's gaze fell to him, "Roooooy…" Winry said softly.
His head jerked up as he looked at everyone around him.
"Where did Ed go?" She repeated her question
"Oh. Well I'm not sure. I told him to go visit his mother…"
"Is something wrong?" Louis asked
"Well no. He's just been stressing a lot… he hasn't really gotten a break from the kids since Grey was born…"
"Where is said baby?" Al asked.
"Upstairs asleep… Ed will probably get mad at me… I doubt that little boy will sleep through the night…"
"I'm surprised you two sleep at all… with four kids… three being infants and one a toddler?"
Roy shrugged, "We figure it out… mostly we do shifts…"
"I wish I had that problem…" Oliver whined.
"No you don't…" Louis replied, "You sleep like a log… if we had a baby and that baby woke you up you'd be grumpy and agitated."
"Right… I'd just make you get up to take care of them!" Oliver chirped happily.
Winry smiled, "Well… I really hope it all works out for you guys… your experiment or whatever…"
Louis sighed, "As do I… we've been researching this over a year… and well… I think we've got a pretty firm grasp… of the science."
Oliver nodded in agreement.
"I hope it works out for you guys…" Al said, looking at Louis and Oliver.
"Yeah… so do we…" Louis said
"I just think it's a little weird… someone else is going to be carrying your baby…"
"It's… a little weird…" Louis said with a smile.
Roy was silent, he'd never actually given much thought to the idea. Ed was going to be pregnant with someone else's baby… Of course they were close friends… but the idea of his beloved husband pregnant, with someone else's child... He was happy enough, giving someone else the same happiness they'd by some miracle been able to receive.
His thoughts were interrupted by loud thumping. Everyone was quiet.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed stomped his feet on the stoop, knocking the snow off his boots. He opened the front door, it was completely silent. Everyone, Roy, Al, Winry, Louis, Oliver, and the multitude of kids, were staring at him.
Roy was the only one who got up, "Are you alright? You look freezing…"
"I'm fine…" Ed waved off his husband, pulling his coat off.
Roy made his way over to Ed, he ran his thumbs over his cold cheeks and chuckled, "I can see streams from your tears…"
Ed took a deep breath, "I'm fine… really… better now…"
Roy nodded, "I believe you… ready for dinner? We've all been waiting…"
"You guys didn't have to…" He hung up his coat.
"Mommy you look cold!" Milo said munching on a carrot.
Ed nodded, sniffling, "Yeah I am a little cold… you guys go ahead and start… I need to change… I'm all wet…"
"Greyson is asleep so be quiet…" Roy said.
"What? Why is he asleep? It's hardly eight…"
Roy shrugged, "He was whiny and fussy… so I put him down…"
Ed sighed, "Fine… fine…"
He turned away and ran up the stairs.
Plates clanked as everyone dished up.
"Roy… are you going to come eat…?" Al asked.
"Uh. Yeah… just give me a minute…" He went up the stairs following after his husband. He knocked very lightly on the door before pushing it open.
Ed was shirtless, pulling on a pair of pants. "Hey…" He said casually.
"Hey… so how was your walk?"
"Good…" Ed replied casually, "I saw my father…"
"Really? Just now?"
Ed nodded, "Yeah, he was visiting my mother too…"
"How was he?"
"Fine I'm sure… he mostly just offered words of advice…"
"About what?"
Ed dug through their bags looking for a sweater. "Oh… well I was crying and I felt guilty and whatnot—"
"Guilty?" Roy interrupted, "About what…?"
Ed sighed, "Grey…"
"Oh Ed…"
"You already knew that…" Ed said yanking a sweater out of one of their bags.
"I thought… you were over that…"
"Why do you think I was so defensive when it came to him… when people apologized or whatever for him being mute… that's when the guilt really hit me… and that's when I freaked out at them…"
"Ed…" Roy started.
"Just listen…" Ed said. "It got so bad… I didn't want any children"
"Too late for that…" Roy quipped
Ed shot him a look.
"Sorry! I'll shut up now…"
"Not having any more children…" Ed spaced out, a soft smile played at his lips, "My dad told me not to let it weigh me down… and that surely Grey didn't blame me, and neither did you…"
"Of course not…" Roy said, "Did you really think I blamed you?"
Ed nodded avoiding Roy's eyes. "I know you said you didn't… but… I couldn't help but feel it was my fault…"
"Well… That's idiotic…" Roy wrapped his arms around Ed's hips in a hug. Ed rested his head on Roy's shoulder. "I would never put that on anyone…"
Ed tried to force himself not to cry. He was so relieved. He wrapped his arms around Roy's waist, hiding his face in his husband's side.
They were both silent in each other's embrace until Ed heard it, the sobbing, Grey's choked huffing. He straightened up and turned to his son, pulling away from Roy.
Ed scooped Greyson up out of the crib cooing to him sweetly. "Oh Grey…" He said kissing his son's forehead and smoothing back his blonde hair.
"Great… now he's not gonna sleep at all…" Ed said with a groan.
"He was only out for half an hour."
"Roy it doesn't matter… half an hour, an hour… they're all the same in baby time… my point is, now that he's awake… he's not going back to sleep."
Roy sighed. "I'm sorry…. But he was really fussy if you'd have seen him then you'd have put him down to sleep too."
"It's fine, it's fine… but if he gets up in the middle of the night I expect you to take care of him."
Roy chuckled, "of course…."
"The girls are sleeping in here as well… so… you know that if one of them wakes up then the other two will wake up…"
Roy sighed, "Yes… I'm well aware…"
Ed smiled and kissed Roy on the cheek, "I'm joking… I'll help you if the kids get up…"
Roy smoothed over Grey's hair, his golden eyes gazed at his daddy intently.
"I'm going to tell Oliver and Louis that I'm ready to be their surrogate... whenever they're ready…" Ed said gazing down at their son lovingly.
Roy nodded, "I think you should…" He placed his hands on Ed's hips. "Whatever you decide to do, I'm behind one hundred percent!" He leaned down and kissed Ed sweetly.
Ed turned away blushing, he cleared his throat. "Okay… so dinner, let's go down to dinner."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
After dinner Ed and Al sat side by side admiring each other's newborns.
"Elaine… how'd you come up with that?" Ed asked staring at his niece who rested in his arms.
"I just… wanted a name that reminded me of you, brother… I thought we were having a boy… I wanted to name him Edward…"
Ed smiled, "That's sweet of you Al."
"Elaine was the closest thing To Edward that Win and I could agree on…"
The front door opened and closed, Roy and Winry stood in the doorway with two dogs and two bundled up kids stomping snow off their boots.
"Hey what did I tell you? Do that outside." Roy said.
"Sorry daddy…" Milo said sweetly. "Open duh door pease?"
"Roy don't make him go outside by himself… just have him take his boots off and shake 'em…" Ed said.
Winry started to help her daughter strip off the many layers she wore, protecting her from the cold. Roy unclipped Calces from her leash. The dog shook off and then bounded over to the couch where Ed sat. Ed patted her head, "Hey Calces…"
Roy began to peel off Milo's many layers of coats and scarves, hanging them up as he went. When he got to his boots he pulled them off Milo's feet and opened the door to shake the snow off outside. Milo ran excitedly to his mother's lap, burying his face in Ed's thighs.
"Your face is so cold baby…" Ed said, tousling Milo's curls
"Mommeee!" Milo squealed excitedly, "We build a snowman! Me an' Tish!"
"You did?" Ed asked, "Well I'll have to go see it tomorrow…"
"Now mommee!"
"Well Milo, your mommy has to take care of your sisters and brother… so he can't really go right now… but tomorrow you can take him and show him yourself…" Al said with a smile.
Milo nodded and crawled up on the couch, sitting between his uncle and mother. He looked at his little cousin in his mother's arms, "How old is she?" He asked curiously.
"Only a few days…" Al said, "But you're much older, aren't you?"
Milo nodded, his curls shaking. He turned and looked at his baby brother in his uncle's arms, "He came ou' of my mommy's tummy… because daddy give mommy lots o' kisses… so mommy had anuder baby…"
"Really?" Al asked sounding incredulous. He looked at Ed who chuckled and shrugged.
Milo nodded again. "So di' Oh-lee n' Luh-loo…"
"Did you come out of your mother's tummy as well?" Al asked.
Milo shook his head, "Noh."
"No? Then where did you come from?"
"Mommy n' daddy made me in uh oven…"
"Who told you that?" Ed asked laughing.
"Daddy said you made me in your oven…"
Ed started to laugh even more.
"Well, y'know what Milo, I remember when your mommy was pregnant with you…" Al said
"Preg-ant?" He asked.
"That's when your mommy has a big tummy." Roy said. He appeared behind the couch, leaning over the edge, he kissed the top of Ed's head and ruffled Milo's curls.
"Preg-ant…" Milo repeated.
Ed nodded, "yeah, I was pregnant with you, and Ollie and Lulu, and Greyson."
"Oh!" Milo nodded in understanding.
"Are you all tired out baby?" Roy asked,
"No." He shook his head.
"Well that's a shame… I think Trisha is getting tired, I think she's gonna want to go to sleep soon, so you'll have to sleep with me and Mommy…"
"No!" He hooted. "I wan' sleep wit' Tish."
Ed smiled, "Of course you can sleep with Trisha sweetie…"
"Yeah Milo, it's Trisha's bed time… so how about I put you both to bed…?" Winry asked.
"Winry you don't have to-" Roy started.
"Shh." She stopped him, "Where are his pajamas?"
"Upstairs… in the black duffle bag…" Roy answered.
"Okay… Say good night to your mother and father Milo."
The little boy gave each of his parents a hug and a kiss, saying 'good night' to both of them. He waved night to his uncle and went upstairs with his aunt and Cousin.
Ed sighed, resting his head on the back of the couch. He yawned.
"Getting tired?" Roy asked.
"Yeah…" Ed replied "How was your walk?" Ed placed a hand on Roy's cheek, feeling his cold flesh against his hand.
"Nice… the kids ran around getting rid of their energy… I don't think Milo will be a problem for Winry to put to bed tonight."
"Well that's good."
"Mhmm and Calces played around in the snow…"
"Did Den?"
"He mostly watched her… but she never left him and kept trying to get him to play with her."
"I knew she would like him…"
Winry walked back downstairs, "Hey honey do we have Trisha's nightie cleaned? She claims she can't sleep without it… and I thought I washed it earlier…"
"I hung it to dry but I don't think she can wear it. It's still wet, I'm sure."
Winry sighed and placed her hands on Al's shoulders, kneading softly with the pads of her fingers. "What am I supposed to do?" she asked.
"Don't give into her…."
"Oh yeah and how well does that go with me?" She asked dropping her hands to her sides.
"Well you take Elaine —er Milo…" Al sighed, "I mean Greyson. Please take Greyson… I'll put Trisha and Milo to bed…" Winry held the small blonde baby in her arms, as her husband brushed past her to go upstairs and put his daughter and nephew to bed.
Winry sighed tiredly, she ran her fingers through Greyson's blonde hair. The room was silent except for the gurgles coming from Oliver and Louisa who sat on the floor playing with some of Trisha's toys.
"Uh-oh." Winry said, "Grey is nodding off… I think it's time to put this little baby to bed…"
"Oh…" Ed stood up, "Here switch me kids…"
The two mothers awkwardly maneuvered so they could trade their children.
Ed kissed Grey's forehead, "Okay… well its bedtime… for little children…"
Roy scooped up his daughters, kissing them each on the cheek "Okay Lulu… Ollie, mommy says it's time for bed…"
The girls giggled and cooed back and forth to each other as they were carried upstairs by their father.
Ed went to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of milk. He ran it under hot water, heating it ever so slightly. He left the kitchen and started towards the stairs.
"Good night Winry…" Ed said.
"Night…" she replied with a smile.
Ed trudged upstairs exhausted from a long day.
Roy stood by the side of their bed, changing Oliver and Louisa. "Okay Ollie… now your arm…" He said as he slid his daughter's arm through the sleeve of her onesie. He buttoned it up. "Okay Lulu… let's start with your legs…"
Ed smiled and sat down on the other side of the bed. He set down Grey's bottle and gave both of his daughters a kiss. He tousled Lulu's hair and "booped" Oliver's nose. Making his daughter giggle.
Greyson began to squirm awkwardly in Ed's arms. His eyes closed and his mouth fell open, as snorts and chortles escaped echoing around the small room.
"Shh." Ed smoothed over his son's hair. "Shh…" Ed repeated gently rocking his son. He grabbed the bottle laying nearby and held it for Grey who immediately started to suck out the contents. His eyes fluttered shut as he began to nod off.
Oliver crawled beside her mother, tugging on Ed's shirt. "Oh hi baby…"
A smile stretched across Ollie's lips "Muwah" She said, puckering her lips.
Ed puckered his in response and his daughter leaned in and gave him a kiss.
"Thank you sweetie… now I think Daddy is going to put you to bed…"
She crawled back to other side of the bed.
"Where are the girls going to sleep?" Roy asked.
"Uh… the crib?" Ed offered
"No… there's only one… the three of them can't fit in the one crib… the girls would jostle Grey…"
Ed sighed, "I guess it's the bed then…" He looked down in his arms Grey's eyes were closed and his breathing was even, he continued to sip on the bottle.
"Okay girls… we have a couple stories to read… they're Trisha's so you haven't heard them before…"
Roy leaned against the headboard, Oliver and Louisa crawled over and sat beside him as their father read them stories.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roy closed the story, finished. Oliver and Louisa sat with their head's resting on their daddy's sides, passed out.
"Ed… help…" Roy whispered.
"Okay… just give me a minute…" He replied, putting baby Greyson down in the crib. He turned to Roy and kneeled on the bed as he repositioned the girls' heads so they were resting on the bed.
Roy crawled off the bed and put pillows beside the girls and on the floor.
Ed stood watching him, arms folded over his chest.
"What?" Roy asked finally noticing his husband's lingering gaze.
Ed shook his head smiling, "nothing… you've just… adopted my habits…"
Roy wrapped his arms around Ed's hips and leaned down placing a kiss on his lips.
Ed broke away blushing. He cleared his throat and looked at his kids taking up all the space on the bed. Ed sighed, "I'm tired…"
"Well… there's the floor." Roy suggested
"I'm gonna go sleep on the couch…"
"And leave me up here with the kids… alone?"
"No… you can come and sleep downstairs with me." Ed pulled an extra blanket off the end of the bed and left their room, heading downstairs.
With a final glance at their children Roy left the door open a crack and followed his husband down to the living room.
Ed was settling into the couch.
"How are we both supposed to fit?" Roy asked
"It'll be tight… that's for sure…"
"Mm… well I'm used to tight spaces…"
"Don't be gross…"Ed threw a couch cushion at Roy's head, which he caught with ease.
"Are you comfy?" Roy asked.
"Uhh… yeah…" Ed replied, adjusting how he was laying, "Okay… now I'm comfy…"
Roy leaned over, putting his knee between Ed's legs, his arms on either side of Ed, holding himself up. "Now this feels vaguely familiar… wouldn't you say?"
Ed scoffed, blushing furiously, "no… now hurry up and lay down so I can fall asleep."
Roy lowered himself down. He wrapped his arms around Ed's waist, holding him tightly. "Mmm." Roy mumbled, "You're so cute..." He rested his head in the crook of Ed's neck, sucking and nipping gently at Ed's supple skin.
"We're in the living room…"
"Nobody is down here." Roy replied kissing his jawline and cheek.
"That's not the point…"
"What's the problem then…?" Roy mumbled, still strategically placing kisses.
"Well maybe the fact that we're on my brother's couch and there are five children asleep upstairs and if that doesn't convince you what about the fact that we have no protection, an—"
"That didn't seem to concern you earlier this afternoon…"
"That brings me to my last point we already did it this afternoon." Ed said
"I'm not satisfied…" Roy purred
"Then go jerk off in the bathroom" Ed mumbled, closing his eyes.
Roy pecked him on the lips, "goodnight… I love you…"
"Mmm…. L-love you too…" Ed's head lolled to the side and he fell asleep.
Roy spent a few minutes getting comfy. He finally settled, feeling comfortable enough to sleep. Roy's forehead rested in the crook of Ed's neck. He yawned tiredly before pulling the blanket over his legs.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Daddeeeee" Milo tugged on Roy's shirt.
"Hmm?" Roy asked, still asleep.
"Ghey-sin is crying"
"Mmhm… thass great baby…" Roy responded
"Mommy" Milo whined.
"Mmhmmm…" Ed mumbled.
"You're not waking up…" Milo said crawling onto his parents where they slept on the couch. Milo jumped up, landing on his shins on Roy's back.
"Milo!" Roy barked, awake now. "Aww fu-" Roy sat up rubbing his lower back, "That hurt…"
"What happened?" Ed asked, blinking tiredly.
"Sorry daddy…" Milo said sheepishly.
"He jumped on me…" Roy pulled the blanket off, he got up and hurried upstairs to retrieve their crying baby.
He picked up Greyson, rocking him gently. He kissed him on the forehead.
Oliver and Louisa were still asleep on the bed, completely unmoved from where they'd left them.
Roy came back downstairs, Milo sat in his mother lap, being rocked back and forth. Ed kissed the top of his head.
"Daddy I'm sorry…" Milo said sheepishly.
"It's okay Milo… just try to find a better way to wake me and your mother up…"
Milo nodded, "Okay daddy!"
Roy sat back down, holding Greyson against his chest. "It's freezing in here…" Roy yawned.
"Have some blanket." Ed put the extra blanket on Roy's lap.
They all sat quietly for a few minutes.
Milo gasped, "Mommy, Daddy look! Is snowing!"
"Oh yeah… look at that…" Milo crawled out of his mother's lap and rushed to the window he stood standing and staring at the snowfall in fascination.
Ed stared at their infant son, "did you change him?"
"…No… but I will go do that now."
"What time is it?" Ed asked.
"No idea…" Roy said as he disappeared upstairs.
"Baby why are you the only one up?" Ed asked, Milo.
The curly headed boy pulled his attention from the window and turned to face his mother, "I hear-ed Grey crying… so I got up… when I goes to fine you an' daddy you 'er not in bed so I look all over fur you!"
"And you found us…" Ed said with a smile.
"Mommy is it gonna snow all day?"
"It might…"
Roy came back down the stairs, "Okay…" He said sitting down beside Ed. He cradled Greyson close to his chest and pulled the blanket over himself as much as possible.
Greyson stared up at his father with focused gold orbs.
Ed pulled his knees to his chest, "The girls aren't up yet?"
"No…its not even seven…" Roy replied
"Oh…" Ed groaned, "It's so early..."
"Two kids up… two more to go…"
"At least we know who'll be going to bed first tonight…"
"Daddy!" Milo squealed, running to his father, "I wan' to go play ou'side!"
"Not right now baby…" Roy said, running his hand through Milo's curls. "It's too early… I'm still sleepy…"
"They have a coffee pot in the kitchen you can brew a pot if you'd like…" Ed suggested.
"I might…" Roy said.
"Daddy!" Milo chirped excitedly
"Hmm?"
"Mommy said i' migh snow all day!"
"I hope not…" Roy mumbled tiredly
"Why noh' daddy?!" Milo asked sounding taken aback anyone would wish the snowfall stop.
"Well… if it keeps snowing so hard we might not be able to get on the train to go home in a few days."
"I don' want to go home!" Milo objected.
"Then keep wishin' for snow Milo…" Roy said with a sigh.
"If you're too tired you can go back to sleep…" Ed said.
"No… No… I don't want you to have to deal with this piece of work on your own…" Roy tousled Milo's mop of hair.
"Piece o' work?" Milo asked
"So many questions…" Roy said with a sigh
"But even when you work you don't get up until like eight…"
"True… but I've also been on paternity leave for a month and with four kids I'm up at all hours."
"Yeah… that's true…" Ed admitted
There was silence in the room. Roy blinked trying to keep his eyes open. Milo stood at the window once again staring out at all the flakes falling from the sky.
"Are you excited to go back to work?" Ed asked
"Of course not… I mean, I love my job… but I love being at home with my husband and babies… I feel like I miss out on so much…"
"Don't feel that way…"
They both fell silent.
"Ed if you feel restless… like working from home isn't really working for you… you can come back… and work again."
Ed was silent in thought… "What about the kids?"
"Milo, Ollie, and Lulu are old enough for daycare… and Grey would also have to go to—"
"No. No I'd rather not… working from home is just fine…"
"Eventually they're going to go to school… you're gonna have to let go sometime…"
Ed whimpered at the thought, "That's in like another three years… total… for Milo."
"Right…" Roy said looking down at Grey. He smoothed over his blonde hair and kissed his dinky nose. "But that'll be here in the blink of an eye… Milo's almost two… Louisa and Ollie are turning one… before you know it Grey will be off to kindergarten…. "
Ed sighed, "Are you trying to freak me out?"
Roy chuckled, "Of course not dear…"
"Dear?" Ed mumbled.
"I'm sure we'll have another baby by that time… it won't be so hard… we can probably start Milo, Lulu, and Oliver at the same time…"
"And take three of my babies away from me at once?"
"They'll just be gone at school for the day… it's not like they're moving across country."
"Yeah… but I spend every day with all of them… They're my babies…"
Roy chuckled, "And you say I'm territorial…"
Ed scowled, glaring at Roy, "What was that?"
"Nothing…"
"I carried them around inside of me Roy… of course I'm territorial…"
"And I am too… I'm their father… I love them to bits and pieces… but I want to see them grow. They're all already so intelligent… And if enhancing that means taking them to school for the day, then so be it."
Ed pouted, now feeling guilty and rather embarrassed, "It's not that I don't want them to grow—"
"I know." Roy said, wrapping an arm around Ed's shoulder, kissing his temple.
"But… I'm just gonna be lonely… which is selfish… I know…"
Roy smiled, "not at all…"
Ed sighed, "I shouldn't be concerned… when they go to school it'll give me time to take care of the other five children we'll have by then…" He muttered.
"What was that last part?" Roy asked.
Ed blushed, "huh?"
"You want five more children…? I was only thinking two more." Roy began to tease.
"Of course only two more… I was over exaggerating…" Ed was beat red, avoiding Roy's stare.
"If you want five more I'll give them to you… all five…"
Ed cleared his throat, and tried to stifle his blush. "I said I was over exaggerating!"
"Why are you so embarrassed then?" Roy leaned towards Ed, getting right in his face.
"Tch. I'm not… you're just… teasing me…." Ed turned his head.
"Only because I love you…"
Ed rolled his eyes, "Just give me Grey…" He pulled their son from Roy's arms and held him in his lap.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Baby you can't eat that…" Ed said with a sigh, pulling a pen from Louisa's fist. The little girl's charcoal eyes pooled with tears, she started to whimper. Ed sighed, "Lulu, you're fine."
Her dark head hung back as her wail pierced the air. Tears streamed down her rosy cheeks.
"Mmah… Mmuh-mah…" Ollie whimpered, tugging on her mother's shirt.
"What baby?" Ed picked her up. "You're probably freaking out because Lulu is crying…"
"Mumah…" She whimpered again.
Louisa continued to cry. "You don't have to cry just because your sister is…" Ed spoke softly to Oliver.
His words had no effect, Oliver gave a few more whimpers before she erupted into cries.
"Is everything alright?" Winry asked entering the room. She held Elaine, rocking her gently in her arms.
"Huh?" Ed asked over the screaming children, "Yeah… we're just… going through a meltdown…" He said with a sigh…
"A meltdown?"
Winry sat down on the floor beside Louisa… "Why are you crying little Lulu?"
"She was chewing on something she shouldn't have…"
"Maybe she's teething…"
"I'd never considered that…" Ed kissed Oliver, "It's okay sweetie you don't need to cry…" Ollie's cries quieted to sobs as she gradually calmed down.
"Where's Roy?" Winry asked.
Ed sat down on the floor, where Louisa was sobbing uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face. "Okay Ollie…" Ed said, "Get off my lap please sweetie… I need to look at your sister…"
Oliver did as she was told and crawled off her mother's lap. She sat beside her sister, gently patting her leg.
"Ed…?"
"Yeah? Oh… he took Milo and Grey over to the clinic…"
"Oh…"
"Yeah we thought it'd be too much if we had all three kids and the new baby over while trying to do checkups."
Winry nodded in understanding.
"Louisa sweetie…" Ed pulled her into his lap and smoothed over her dark hair. "You don't need to cry… honey… I just took the pen away because I didn't want you to ram it down your throat."
Lulu quieted and looked up at her mother.
"See sweetie… you don't need to cry… Mommy is right here."
"Mommuh" She gurgled.
"That's right honey… I'm right here… will you let me look at your mouth…?"
Lulu nodded her head, her long hair swayed with her movements.
"Oh good… now open wide…"
The little girl did as she was told.
Ed held onto her chin as he examined her mouth. He gasped.
Louisa drew back, afraid at her mother's sudden outburst.
"Sweetie you have a tooth!" Ed said excitedly. A small white tooth barely poked out of her gums, on her bottom jaw.
Ed prodded it gently with his finger. "I bet your mouth has been hurting, huh, sweetie?" Ed asked.
Lulu stared at her mother, her fingers resting protectively outside her mouth.
Ed stroked her dark bangs out of her face, "poor girl…" He kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Oliver sweetie, it's your turn…" Ed said, motioning for his daughter to come near.
She crawled into her mother's lap and looked up at him expectantly. Her mouth opened and Ed held onto her chin as he moved her head around, peering into her mouth.
"It doesn't look like you have any teeth yet sweetie…"
Oliver closed her mouth and continued to stare up at her mother with awe and wonder.
"So how are you and Roy, Ed?" Winry asked, staring at her nieces who sat before her.
"Huh? We're…. fine… why do you ask?"
"Nothing… he just… he seems very… touchy lately…"
"Yeah… well I think he's… just anxious… I'm sort of like a stress reliever to him…" Ed smiled to himself.
"Oh is that what you call it?" She joked
Ed rolled his eyes… "I mean in other ways… he just likes being around me… he worries, y'know… and when I'm with him… I ease his mind…"
"Well you're certainly speaking highly of yourself…" Winry teased.
"No… I mean…. That's not…" Ed sighed.
"I'm only teasing Ed…"
Ed managed a small smile.
"It's good that the two of you provide stability and support in each other's lives…"
"I've never looked at it like that…" Ed said softly, while parting Oliver's hair.
"Yeah… well…" Winry smiled and took a deep breath, "you're good for each other…."
Ollie gripped onto her mother's shoulder and forearm and began to pull herself up until she was fully standing. Lulu watched her sister from the floor.
The front door opened and Calces began to bark.
"SHH." Ed snapped and the dog quieted.
Milo sniffled clumsily taking off his snow gear. "Is me Cal!" He said excitedly. Calces sniffed at his face and then licked happily, making the little Milo giggle.
Ed stood up. Ollie stumbled to grab hold of her mother's leg. "How were the checkups?" Ed asked eyeing his bundled up infant son in Roy's arms.
"Good… Everyone is healthy… Grey met all his milestones… looking from side to side… y'know, the usual…"
"How much has Milo grown?" Ed asked as the child in question wrapped his arms around his mother's legs in a hug.
"He's two feet and six inches…"
"Wow that tall!?" Ed asked excitedly
"Actually, Oliver said he's a bit short for his age…"
Ed's expression fell. "Well, he can still hit a growth spurt… when he's older…"
"Mm. He probably has your genes. Roy smirked and snaked his free arm around Ed's torso in a hug, pulling them closer together. Two of their four children were mangled between their legs, while one sat on the floor and the other was being held snugly against his father's chest.
"How was he… did Greyson cry at all?" Ed asked, pulling their baby into his arms.
"No… he's fine… totally relaxed…"
"Maahmah even wen da' cold circle hit 'is back…" Milo said still tangled in their legs.
"He's a quiet boy isn't he honey…?" Ed replied to Milo.
"So I guess the girls' will be next?"
Ed nodded, "I figured we could take them in a day… give Oliver a break."
"He was asking about you and the operation again…"
"He was?"
Roy nodded.
"What did you say?! What did he say?"
"Kids go play… let me and your mother have some free time…"
At the command of their father, the children scurried off to play.
Ed and Roy sat down on the couch.
"They were telling me about the risks of the operation…"
"And?" Ed asked.
"And… there's nothing… particularly threatening…"
"Oh good…" Ed said with a sigh of relief.
"But it's still not a guarantee that you'll be able to carry the baby… there's a lot of biological factors as well…"
Ed was silent.
"You want to do this?" Roy asked.
"Of course." Ed answered.
"Then I am behind you one-hundred percent!"
Ed smiled and stared down at their son in his arms. "Greyson…" He cooed lovingly. He kissed his sons' cheeks.
The tiny baby boy's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Honey…" Roy took hold of Ed's hand, stroking gently, "This operation takes a lot of preparation and planning…"
Ed stayed silent, hanging on his husband's every word.
"And this means that we'll have to really hope… that you can control yourself around me."
Winry snickered from where she sat on the floor with the kids.
Ed's jaw almost dropped, "Me? Are you kidding me?!"
"You're the one who always comes onto me…" Roy said.
Ed scoffed, "I thought you were being serious… you asshole…" Ed held Greyson tightly against his chest. "I was actually worried…"
"Oh come on… I was joking…" Roy reached a hand towards Ed in an attempt to wrap it around his small husband's shoulder.
Ed brushed him off, "You're always so mean to me."
"Oh…" Roy said with a smile, "I tease you because I love you." Roy leaned in close, so his lips were almost pressed to Ed's ear, "I do really love you Ed…" Roy placed a kiss on Ed's jawline.
"I love you too…" Ed mumbled, "Even though you're a big jerk."
Roy began to chuckle, as he placed kisses on Ed's temple and cheek.
Ed sighed, letting his husband pepper him with kisses.
"What's wrong?" Roy asked.
"I'm nervous Roy… what… if…"
"Don't even start thinking like that, don't put any pressure on yourself… this isn't on you… besides the operation isn't for a month or so… right? That's what Oliver said?"
Ed nodded.
"Then you have nothing to worry about…"
Ed sighed and leaned into his husband. He stared down into his arms at his son's rosy cheeks and blonde hair. His golden orbs intense.
Ed fell silent, as did Roy. They both stared at their infant son. Greyson yawned and then blinked tiredly.
"I can't get over how much he looks like you…" Ed said, "like… your spitting image except for his hair and eyes."
Roy chuckled looking at their son. He smoothed over Greyson's blonde hair. "I guess… he does take after me a bit…"
"They all do…" Ed said looking at their other children who were scattered over the house. "Dark hair… the eyes… their faces…"
"What can I say?" Roy asked
"Nothing… You can't say anything to make me feel better about this…"
"I can't help that my genetics are dominant…"
Ed pressed his lips to Grey's forehead, leaving a kiss. Grey's eyes were heavily lidded. "Oh someone's sleepy and ready for a nap…" Ed said, his gaze fixed on Greyson.
"Mommy is i' naptime?" Milo asked rubbing his eyes.
"Are you sleepy baby?" Ed asked
Milo nodded, his curls bouncing.
"Okay… then… you wanna take a nap with me and Grey?"
"Yeah… Mommy…"
"Okay…" Ed said, "Lets go upstairs… Roy could you warm up a bottle of milk for Grey?"
"Yeah, sure…"
Ed held onto Milo's hand and in his other arm he held Grey. The ascended the stairs up to their designated bedroom. Ed laid down on the bed, Milo curled up next to him.
"Mommy?" Milo chirped.
"Shh…" Ed stroked his hair.
"Does daddy have to go back to work?"
"Shh… don't worry about that now Milo…"
The bedroom door opened.
"Daddy…" Milo said tiredly
"Hey baby…" Roy said. He sat down on the edge of the bed. He handed the bottle to Ed and then gently tousled Milo's hair.
"Daddy do you have to go back to work?"
"Milo…" Ed groaned
"Not for a while sweetie…" Roy kissed Milo on the forehead, "I love you baby…" Roy stood up,
"Daddy…" Milo started, "Can you lay with me an' mommy?"
"No baby… I have to put your sisters down for a nap too."
Milo groaned.
"Milo, sweetie, go to sleep…" Ed said.
"Okay Mommy!" Milo said. He closed his eyes.
Roy smiled, staring at his kids and husband. He closed the door quietly, and went downstairs to round up his daughters and put them down for a nap.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A month later
Ed sat downstairs on the couch. The kids were all asleep, now he was just waiting for Roy to come home.
The front door opened and then closed very quietly.
"You're home… finally… it's about time…"
Roy jumped, like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have. "Sorry… I got caught up doing some paperwork…"
"It's two in the morning…" Ed retorted.
"Mhmm." Roy mumbled dropping his things by the door. He leaned in towards Ed, about to give him a kiss.
"Ugh." Ed groaned, pinching his nose. "You reek of alcohol."
Roy was silent.
Ed just looked at him, his eyebrow cocked questioningly.
Roy's face was blank.
"Where were you really?" Ed finally asked
Roy sighed, "At the bar with Riza and Hughes…"
"So while you were out getting plastered I was here worrying about you…"
"I'm sorry Ed…"
"You should've called, I don't care what you do… but… I was afraid I would have police knocking at the door telling me my husband is dead."
"I'm sorry to make you worry… I'll call you next time…" Roy said, wrapping an arm around Ed's waist. He pulled him closer and leaned down to give Ed a kiss.
"It's fine… it doesn't matter now…" Ed said waving him off.
"I thought you'd be asleep by now… With the operation being tomorrow and all…"
"Don't remind me…" Ed said.
"You're nervous?" Roy asked. He held Ed close, resting his chin on his smaller husband's shoulder
"Worried sick…"
"It's gonna be fine… you're in capable hands… Oliver and Louis know what they're doing and if anything goes wrong you'll be at the hospital…"
"Can we stop talking about this now?" Ed asked, clearly agitated. "Ugh. How many drinks did you have? Your breath stinks…"
"Only a few…"
"Did you drive?" Ed asked.
"Pfft. No. I'm too drunk for that… Maes drove me home…"
Ed pinched the bridge of his nose, "How am I supposed to get to the hospital tomorrow morning if we don't have a car?"
"Hughes is coming by to watch the kids… we'll take his, we can get ours back on the way from the hospital…"
"There is no way I can drive… I'll be too drugged up…"
"Oh yeah…"
Ed chuckled, "Not the best plan, huh? Those drinks had quite the effect on you…"
"No…" Roy protested. His hands rested on Ed's lower back, he rubbed gently. "I'm totally fine…"
"Are you now?" Ed asked
Roy nodded, "Kinda tired…"
"Yeah well… you go ahead and go to bed…"
"You won't be coming?" Roy asked, kissing Ed's neck.
"I'm too worked up to sleep…"
"If you're this nervous about the operation… maybe you shouldn't do it
"No… no… I'll be fine…"
"I'm kinda nervous too…" Roy mumbled. "You're going to be pregnant with other men's child… children? What?" He asked, confused by his own jumbled speech.
Ed was silent, listening to his husband's drunken confession.
"Yeah… I mean… it's kinda like my worst nightmare coming to life… I mean… I guess an variation of my worst nightmare."
"Yeah?" Ed asked "And what would that be?"
"Seeing you with another man…" Roy said, "before Milo… back when we would just have sex… I knew it wasn't possible to be with you… but I didn't want to see you with anyone else… I was always so afraid of that… afraid of you leaving me… 'cuase you see I'm a piece of trash."
"Roy… you're not…" Ed said.
"I am…"
"No, you're not… you're my husband… and a father to our children… a pretty great one at that…"
"No… because now what I worked so hard to keep from happening is happening…"
Ed sighed, "I'm not leaving you… I'm just using my body to give our friends a baby…"
Roy sneered, "Yeah… but you're mine… why can't they have their own baby?!"
"Well that's what they're trying to do…"
"Not with my husband!" Roy said.
"Okay… you're getting too worked up Roy… quiet down… the kids are sleeping…"
"I'm so jealous…"
"We have our own children… and plenty at that…"
"Yeah… but after you suffer through nine months of pregnancy… you get…. What? A nephew… but you get nothing else? I hate thinking about how sick you get… It makes me…. Sick." Roy let go of Ed and rushed to the bathroom.
Ed could hear him throwing up.
Eventually he reemerged, "Hey… let's go to bed."
"Yah." Roy said in agreement, "Will you help me upstairs?"
"Of course…" Ed said He wrapped an arm around Roy's waist while one of Roy's arms draped over his shoulder. They trudged up the stairs to their bedroom, where Ed helped his drunk husband get situated and comfortable.
"Good night…" Ed said. Getting into bed beside Roy.
"Aww no sexxx?" Roy asked,
"You're too drunk."
Roy groaned, "See ya in the morning babe… maybe you'll be up to sex in the morning…"
"Yeah, but you won't…" Ed mumbled to himself
"I heard that!"
"Good night." Ed repeated, this time more stern. He laid awake in bed until he heard Roy snoring beside him. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Well! That's the end of the chapter! I apologize again for this taking so long! Ooh family drama… what's gonna happen next? Thank you for reading, I love all of you. Please leave me your thoughts! I'll see you next chapter