Look, I don't know whether or not Christmas exists in the FMA world, but I don't Cheetoing care. I'll assume that it's real.
Note: FOR THE LAST TIME I DO NOT FUDGING OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
Trisha approached Izumi, who was sitting in her armchair, reading the newspaper. She clutched the white fabric crumpled in her hand and heaved a deep breath before she spoke.
"That was pretty clever, the tunnel," Trisha muttered with her head bent. Izumi said nothing. "Thank you for making me a new apron." Izumi turned the page. Trisha bent her head lower, hair covering her face. "Sig told me that you tried to bring back your baby," Trisha muttered. Izumi froze. She set down her paper and spun her head around, looking at Trisha.
"He told you?" Izumi whispered, face pale. Trisha nodded.
"He told me everything," Trisha mumbled. Izumi turned around.
"So you know," she sighed. "You know that you're the only one who gets second chances." Trisha gulped.
"I'm sorry," she whispered under her breath. Izumi sighed and placed her forefinger and thumb on her forehead.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," replied Izumi. "I was too selfish to look at the fact that you didn't choose to die or be resurrected. I treated you as an animal or something."
"Izumi, it's not your fault-"
"Do you know what today is?" Izumi interrupted.
"P-Pardon?" Trisha asked in confusion, lifting her head up.
"What is the date?" Izumi repeated.
"I don't know, December 24th, I think," Trisha replied.
"It's Christmas Eve," Izumi stated. "We always go out on Christmas Eve." Trisha blinked. She hadn't known it was Christmas. With everything going on, she hadn't even thought about Christmas. "It's not very late," continued Izumi. "You're not too full, are you?"
Carols rang through the small cafe and the aroma of barbecue floated around the air, into every customer's nostrils. A sense of happiness seemed to be in every spirit, despite the day's past events. The waitress set the hamburgers in front of the Elric/Curtis clan. She spun around and turned her head, winking at him and giving him a cocky smile. Izumi glared at her, eyes glowing red with anger. Even aside from this, the atmosphere was... happy, playful. Trisha giggled a little as Edward and Alphonse restrained their own laughter, Al obviously much better at it. They had just proceeded to eat when Ed spoke.
"Hey, Mom, you're getting along with Teacher pretty well," he said. "Why is that?"
"Oh," replied Trisha, smiling. "I don't know. I guess we just became friends after that whole Devil's Nest incident." Sig looked at her and smiled. It was a decent lie. But it would be a long time before Trisha told her sons what had really happened. Until then, the truth was between Trisha, Izumi, and Sig.
The three Elrics stood at the train station on Christmas morning, turned away from the tracks, facing Izumi and Sig.
"Goodbye," said Izumi.
"Stay safe," added Sig. Then, the train rushed to a stop behind them.
"Bye!" Ed and Alphonse called in unison, hoping onto the train. Trisha didn't move or say anything.
"Goodbye," she whispered before walking forward and hugging both of them. "Thank you for everything." The two Curtis's hugged her back before pulling away instantly once the train whistled.
"Bye!" Trisha yelled, before jumping on the train to Resembool a split second before it moved.
The path to the Resembool house was pretty much the same. It had the same bumpy rocks and steep hills. It had the same aroma of apple trees and the same sense of home. But one thing, one thing was out of line. There was snow. Snow, for the first time in 11 years. The white fluff was not unfamiliar to the Elrics, but unfamiliar to the civilians on Resembool, making it all the more beautiful. They treaded through the snow until they reached the Resembool house. Edward walked forward and knocked on the door three times. Winry quickly opened it, dressed in Christmas apparel.
"Ed!" Winry exclaimed. "Come in! We have a seat for you!"
"You have a seat for us?" Ed asked.
"Yeah," Winry said. "We save a seat for you guys every year." The four were silent as they walked inside.
"MY AUTOMAIL!" Winry cried. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Ed yelped as a wrench went in contact with his head.
"Calm down, Winry," Pinako sighed. "It's Christmas." Winry glared at him before facepalming.
"I should've known you'd only come back for an automail check," she sighed. "The damage isn't too bad. It should take me thirty minutes. I have the missing parts with me." And with that, Winry disconnected his arm and went into her room. Thirty minutes later, she waltzed into the room holding a fully repaired automail. Once the nerves were connected, the presents were exchanged.
Trisha opened a bottle of perfume. "Thank you!" she exclaimed. Next, Ed opened a maintenance kit for automail.
"So that you'll do your maintenance for once," Winry had replied. Then, Al opened some oil for his armor. After that, Trisha pulled out some small presents for them from her pocket that she had come with in advance. They weren't wrapped, but they were better than nothing. She passed Pinako some tobacco and Winry a screwdriver.
"Thank you!" Winry exclaimed, examining the tool.
"Ah, and I was just running out!" Pinako boomed happily, taking the tobacco in her gifts had been exchanged and meals had been eaten, the Elrics decided to stay in Resembool for the night.
"Bye, Ed. And Al, Trisha," Winry said groggily. She stood on the porch in her pajamas, waving to the Elrics, who were a few feet away.
"Bye, Winry!" Ed and Al exclaimed in unison.
"Goodbye!" said Trisha. "We'll drop by tomorrow before we leave." Winry nodded. And with that, the Elric clan turned and walked down the path to their old house.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for longer?" Pinako inquired, standing at the train station.
"No, thank you, Granny," Ed replied.
"Figures," Pinako sighed, "I can't get you three to stay in one place. Trisha might not mind, though."
"I wouldn't!" Trisha laughed. "Some one has to keep these boys in line, though!" Pinko then spoke, but it was drowned out by the train whistle. Startled, the three travelers clambered onto the train and sat down.
"Wait!" cried Pinkako as the train started moving. "Where are you going?"
"To Central," Trisha yelled back. "There's something I need to do there."
All right, all right, it's not a very long chapter. Not much happens, just a bridge between plotpoint to plotpoint. Plenty of Christmas fluffiness, though! Oh, and speaking of Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY HANUKKAH AND KWANZAA AND OH MY CHEETOS HAPPY FREAKING EVERYTHING! :D Tell me, what have you gotten so far? What are you hoping to get? Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading!
