Chapter Twenty-Five

Ed and Julia had arrived in Resembool on Winry's due date. However, there was no baby to be found. There was no sign of labor even in the next few days, and granny said that Winry was so young that she might be a couple weeks late to give birth.

"How are things?" Ed asked early in the morning. She had been getting up early for the past few weeks, and it was great, because Al and Winry were up early all the time too from Winry's discomfort.

"Things are things," Al answered from the kitchen as he made Winry a cup of tea. "I don't know whether or not to look forward to Winry having the baby."

"Why not?" Ed asked.

"When the baby's born, we're still not going to get sleep, but at least Winry will be comfortable," Al said. "But then our baby will be uncomfortable because we won't know how to help her."

"I don't think that's what you should be worried about," Ed said. "I mean; you've always been great at nurturing things. Just...think of it like the cats you always wanted."

"A baby is a lot different than a cat," Al spoke in monotone.

"But you were always ready for the responsibility of a cat," Ed explained. "A baby's hardly any different. I mean, you just feed it and change it, right?"

"The baby books say different," Al said. "They say these times are critical bonding points in a baby's life. And did you know the baby can hear everything going on?"

"Really?" Ed asked. "They can hear everything?" She wondered about her own previous pregnancy. Had it been able to hear? No, it wasn't possible. It had only been a clump of cells.

"After so long, yeah," Al answered. "It's crazy. Winry's been playing it music, but I don't think she's playing the kind of music the books had in mind."

"That's my girl," Ed said with a grin. "I'm hoping she pops the thing out soon so I can see what it looks like. What're you naming it again?"

"Madison," Al said. "Madison Lee Elric."

"Cute," Ed commented. "I'm gonna call her Maddie." Al shrugged. It wasn't like he could stop his sister from doing it. "Planning anymore later?"

"Nope," Al responded. "Not yet, anyway. We haven't even had this one yet and there's a long time to plan future kids." After a moment Al asked, "What about you?"

"What about me?" Ed asked with wide eyes.

"You've been with Julia for a long time now," Al said. "And you two live together. Do you ever think about tying the knot? Starting a family?"

"I... I think about marriage sometimes..." Ed trailed off. "Julia's been thinking about a family lately. She hasn't said anything, but I can tell she wants one."

"What do you think?" Al asked.

"I don't know." Ed sighed. "I mean; I've always been worried about having kids because I didn't want to make the same mistakes as dad. We made up in the end, but there was all that lost time, and I still don't respect his reasons for leaving."

"You would never do something like that," Al said. "You're different. You seem to take responsibility for things."

"I'm a drifter," Ed said.

"Not anymore," Al retorted. "You've been living in Creta for almost a year now with Julia. You two have lives together. I think mom would've wanted grandkids."

"She's getting them from you," Ed said. "Maybe you need to brush up on your basic human anatomy. Girls can't have kids with other girls."

"I'm talking about adoption," Al said. "There are plenty of kids to adopt. Hell, I bet there's more to adopt in Creta than there are in Amestris."

"Hm..." Ed trailed off, actually thinking about it. It wouldn't just be them starting a family, but they could actually help a child in need. She hadn't thought about that before. Taking in a child with no family. Just like the Rockbells had done for them.

"Oh, did I actually get you thinking?" Al asked with a smile.

"No way!" Ed exclaimed. Suddenly Julia ran into the room. "What's going on?"

"Winry's in labor!" Julia exclaimed. Al nearly dropped the cup of tea he had been holding, but Ed caught it quickly.

"Go to your wife, Alphonse!" Ed shouted, snapping Al out of the daze he had fallen into. The youngest Elric ran to his and Winry's bedroom where Winry was lying in bed, gripping her stomach.

"Are you all right?" Alphonse asked hastily.

"I'm doing fine," Winry reassured. "I'm just feeling the contractions; that's all. Everything is going to be all right."

"I don't know if I'm ready for this," Al managed out.

"You will be."

The birth had gone by relatively quickly. Granny said she was shocked because usually with new mothers as young as Winry, it takes several hours. But soon enough, there was a healthy baby girl wrapped up in a green blanket that Winry, Ed, and Alphonse had all been wrapped in after their births.

"She's beautiful," Julia gushed. She had taken an immediate interest in the baby. Al almost said it was a girl thing, but Ed had glared at him for a minute and stopped the thought immediately. "What do you think, Ed?" Julia asked.

"She looks like a Maddie," Ed answered.

"Maddie?" Winry asked with a raised eyebrow. She had not permitted a nickname for her daughter.

"That's what sister wants to call her," Al said. "Is that all right with you?"

"Does it matter?" Winry asked, having the same thoughts as Al earlier. They could not stop Ed from speaking a name to their daughter. If Ed wanted to call her Harry, they couldn't stop her. "I don't care what you call her. She's perfect."

"Don't all mothers think that, though?" Julia asked.

"Yeah, Shelly said she was terrified that her baby was gonna be ugly and it was," Ed said with a laugh. "And she thinks it's gorgeous!"

"That's mean, sister," Al said. "Shelly's baby will grow into her ears."

"Whatever," Ed responded. "But your baby looks fine."

At least, Ed felt comfortable about the baby until nightfall. When it started screaming. And it didn't stop.

Lily (Guest): "Aw ed and Julia live together that is so cute"

Yep, they made the big decision to get it together and move in with each other. I thought it was about time Ed stop traveling all over the place. Gotta settle down eventually.