Array of Consequences

By joyfulmusic

Summary: Everyone assumes Alphonse Elric was killed. Two years later Edward gets married. What happens when the seal containing Al's soul is discovered? Naturally Ed tries to fix his armor, but something goes terribly wrong. What will the consequences of this new array it cost Edward?

I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

Author's Note: IT'S DONE! *sings* It's done! It's done! It's done!

That's right, I've actually finished this story! I just have to finish editing the last few chapters and get them uploaded! Which is a good thing because I'll probably back offline again soon.

Anyway PLEASE for the love of an author REVIEW! And fav, I like favs too. :D


Chapter 29

"Do you think it will ever stop raining?" Noba sighed as she glanced out the front door into the pouring rain. "I don't want to have to travel during a deluge. Maybe we could call the doctor and tell him that we've decided to have a home birth. Wouldn't that be…" But she turned to see Winry frowning.

"Doctor Hill wanted you to give birth in the hospital because this is your first baby." The mechanic reminded, tugging her sister away from the door and closing it firmly. "And you shouldn't be standing in the wind like that. What if you get sick this close to the baby coming?"

"It would be perfect timing since you're making me go to the hospital anyway." Zenobia stated sarcastically, moving to sit beside the window, her finger doodling on the foggy glass. "I don't see what the big deal is. Women have been having babies at home for years. Why shouldn't I?"

"Because your husband asked you not to." Edward answered as he entered the room, carrying with him two suitcases. Glancing out the window, he frowned. "It does look pretty bad out doesn't it?" The rains had continued for a full week, shifting from light showers to full thunderstorms with no break in between.

"We think we should stay home." His wife implored, her hand gently stroking her expectant bundle. "It wouldn't do the little one any good for her mother to get all wet trying to get to the train station. What would we do if I got sick this close to the baby coming?"

"That's exactly what I said." Winry pointed out, frowning as she realized her sister was onto something. "Ed we need some way of getting her to the station without letting her get all soaked. Do you think I should phone into town for Mr. Sparrow? He's got a wagon with a cover on it."

"We'd miss our train by the time he got here." Alphonse considered as he carried his own suitcase into the room. Glancing at a beaming Noba, he added, "But that doesn't mean we couldn't catch the next one." When her face fell, he smiled. All the tension between them had vanished as his features changed. Now, when he looked in the mirror, it was obvious he was not his brother. However he still didn't look much like himself either.

"I could make a cover to go over the wheelchair." Edward offered, and without waiting for anyone to answer he left the room. A few minutes later he returned with the wheelchair, a wooden stool, and a plastic tarp he'd found in the workshop. Clapping his hands together, he failed to notice how his wife cringed.

Turning her head away from the alchemic reaction, Zenobia closed her eyes tightly. Gentle fingers grasped hold of her shoulder and she turned to find Alphonse watching her. Smiling sadly, he soothed, "It's alright. Brother was just making you a covered chair to ride in."

"I know." She breathed, shaking her head. "I just don't care much for alchemy. Strange thing for the wife of a state alchemist to say isn't it?" Glancing around her brother, she smiled weakly toward her husband who seemed to be trying very hard not to notice her embarrassment.

"Come have a seat." He offered, pulling back the curtain that surrounded the chair. When she frowned, he insisted, "It's for your own good Noba. I don't want you walking through that slick mud. You already agreed to ride yesterday remember? Now come on or we'll be late."

Turning her attention back toward the soaked landscape, she sighed. "This kid sure has some timing doesn't it? Well come on little one, your father has spoken, and he thinks he's right." With a groan she stood, allowing Alphonse to help into her jacket and across the room into the tent of a chair. "I'll look stupid." She pointed out.

"You'll look dry." Edward countered, closing the curtain so that she was completely incased by the canopy. "You've told me more than once you don't like getting wet." He reminded, thinking back to their second date once more, thankful she had survived.

Zenobia simply huffed, wrapping her arms around her growing child. "Your father is overprotective." She warned, "He's pushy, and always thinks he's right. I don't know how you'll survive my little one. He'll probably never even let you play in the rain. My poor dear."

Pulling back the curtain, Ed laid a hand over hers. "Your mother is a little over dramatic." He informed in a gentle voice. "And she hates to get wet. But don't you worry, your father is going to protect you and make sure that you both arrive at the train station safe and sound."

"Although maybe not on time." Winry added, grasping hold of two suit cases. "If we don't leave now we'll have to wait for the next train. So let's get going!" With that said, she started out the door, obviously expecting them to follow close behind.

Edward gently stroked Noba's cheek before placing a kiss on her forehead. "You heard Aunt Winry. Time to go." Closing the curtains once more, he took up place behind the wheelchair. Waiting until Alphonse had left the house, he followed after, pausing to lock the door behind them.

The roads were a soggy mess, and before long the wheelchair became bogged down in the mud. Zenobia cringed as she felt her husband try to dislodge the chair. "Try pulling backwards!" She offered, gripping the handrails tightly and feeling the unease of their unborn child rise with hers.

As Edward tugged against the handles, he frowned. "Wait up!" He called to the others, who had failed to notice his problem. As soon as they realized, they hurried back to him. "We've got to do something. These wheels are just bogging down in the mud. They're too narrow."

Sighing heavily, Winry considered, "Maybe you should just carry her? If we don't hurry we'll be late." Before he could counter, she added, "Staying out in this wind is going to be just as bad as getting wet. Did she remember to put on her coat before we left the house?"

"Yes!" Noba called from her enclosure. She wanted to argue that they could just go back to Winry's. They hadn't gone very far after all. But at the same time she worried that perhaps if the weather persisted the doctor wouldn't be able to come when she needed him. "Edward, just carry me! Please!"

Groaning at the idea of having to relent, Ed retrieved his wife from under the canopy. "Fine, but we need to hurry. I don't want you out in this rain any longer than possible." She nodded, snuggling into his arms and closing her eyes against the reality, and taking in the feel of him. He smiled, knowing full well what she was doing.

Tucking her coat more tightly around her, he began the long trek to the station. Part of him wanted to run on ahead, but he knew that jostling Noba in her current condition would do more harm that good. Still he pressed on, easily outpacing both Alphonse and Winry.

"We'll catch up Brother." Al told him as he struggled with the suitcases. Ed simply nodded and continued on, arriving at the shelter of the station before the others. He stood beneath the overhang, not bothering to set his wife on her own feet.

Noba's hand reached up, finding her husband's smooth cheek a comfort. She tried not to tremble as the wind blew around them, instead focusing on the feel of his skin beneath her fingers. "You don't even need a shave." She noted, smiling when his lips caressed the tips of her fingers.

Chuckling, Edward pointed out, "It's just an illusion remember? I'm still just an empty suit of…" But he could see her brow crease, and quickly moved a hand to her lips to stop her rebuttal. "You know what I mean. But you can go ahead and dream. Believe me, I don't mind."

Opening her eyes, Zenobia found herself cradled in arms of metal. Tugging his gauntlet away from her mouth she retorted, "I don't think it's an illusion. I think something happened in that cave. But if you want I can keep my eyes open. I love you either way Edward."

Sighing, he stroked her cheek. "With eyes wide open you can't feel this." He noted, leaning down and pressing his cold metal helmet against her mouth. Ed knew the moment her eyes closed, because her lips began moving in time with his, and reality was lost to him.

The past few days had been amazing. To have her hands running through his hair again, her fingers massaging his back to relieve the pent up stress. Even the release of sleep had been a welcome comfort he hadn't expected to gain back so soon, if ever. If this were an illusion, he wished he could give up reality forever.

"You two do remember you're in public right?" Winry murmured under her breath, bringing the couple out of their trance. She smirked when Noba blushed. "No, I didn't think so." With a heavy sigh, she sat down the bags she'd been carrying and took a seat on one.

"The train should be here soon." Alphonse noted, trying and failing to hide the smile in his eyes. Something was changing with his brother, the same as it was changing with him. Though he didn't say anything, he was holding out hope that they would both regain their bodies with time.