***Birthday Plans***
Central, Amestris, February 1920
Night was gaining as the Elrics returned to the Hughes household through a light dusting of snow. Before leaving their new house, Ed and Al had made an inventory of all their current furniture, dimensions of each room, and drawn hasty sketches of their layout. Then the brothers had quickly said goodbye to the overly flirtatious Betty, and Ed had again promised to come see her tomorrow for furniture requests.
On their way back to Gracia's that night, they also stopped to pick up a few gifts for their pseudo little sister, Elicia's, 9th birthday tomorrow. Ed couldn't help spoiling the little girl who had been born on his birthday. After all, he had missed the last four.
Orange sky faded into deep indigo behind a myriad of grey clouds as Ed and Al turned onto the Hughes' street. Their bagged purchases filled their arms as they walked down the familiar snowy lane lined with winter stripped trees. The sight reminded Ed of the first time he'd felt the hominess of this neighborhood road.
"Hey Al," he spoke into their contented silence.
"Hmm," Al hummed, turning to face his brother.
"Remember my 12th birthday," he asked with a genuine smile pulling at his lips at the memory, "and Hughes brought us home with him?"
"Oh, yeah," his younger brother glanced up into the sky as he recalled the day. "He came to get us up from Tucker's house."
"Can you believe it's been almost nine years to the day?" Ed asked, looking down the darkened street as if no time had passed. "When he showed up that day, I thought it was weird that a guy I barely knew, except for saving him on that train, was bringing us home to meet his wife and throw me a birthday party." He chuckled to himself.
"Yeah," Al breathed, nostalgia filling the brisk air. "I guess time really does fly, huh, Brother?"
"I wish Hughes was here. He really was the best man I've ever known," Ed said solemnly, pausing in remembrance of their fallen friend. "Come to think of it, he still is."
It was true. No matter what world he was in, Brigadier General Maes Hughes was the standard. The man had sheltered him, cared for him, let him make his own way in the world, and helped him where he could. Hughes had been a model husband and father, a true military man, and a promising leader. Ed knew he would never be as good a man as Hughes had been, but he could try.
"Yeah," Al nodded his agreement as the wind brushed by them, as if to encircle them in a cool breeze, a cold embrace.
"You know what, Al?" Ed asked. Reawakened from his thoughts, he walked the last twenty yards and forward nine years to the little yellow and white three-bedroom house, determination filling him. "I'm going to do everything I can to be there for Elicia, and tell her what an amazing man her father was," he promised.
"Me, too," Al said resolutely with a smile, stepping in time to Ed's pace. "We'll let her know all about how her dad spent his life protecting others," he added firmly.
Thinking about it, Ed knew he would try to be the best big brother to her he could. It was the least he could do for his little sister.
"Hey Al? Can you go in and distract Elicia while I hide her presents?" Ed asked hopefully, reaching the door and stopping there.
"You got it, Brother," Al chimed happily as he held out the packages in an outstretched hand.
"If you keep her busy, I can even get one wrapped to give her after dinner, if it's alright with Gracia," Ed pushed, taking the bags from his brother. Not that playing with Elicia was a chore, but the energetic girl was definitely smart enough to figure out a ruse if given the chance.
"Yeah. Good idea," Al considered out loud. "Give her that one tonight," he pointed to the last bag he had transferred, "then she can sleep with it if she wants, but you have to be the one to tell Gracia we're moving out, Brother. She's been so nice to us; I feel bad about leaving."
"Ok, Al. It's a deal. She's been great, but I don't think she'd mind a little more space," Ed confided with a grin.
Decision made, they nodded to each other. Then Al opened the door.
"I'm back," Al called as he entered, leaving the door slightly ajar. Ed could hear Elicia's squeal of delight and Al's promised distraction.
"Welcome back, Alphonse," Gracia's melodic voice said, wrapping Ed in warmth, even from outside the doorway.
"Big Brother Al! Come play dollies with me," Elicia chimed in excitedly, and Ed could imagine the grin she would be wearing.
"Let's go upstairs, and we can play there until dinner is ready," Al coaxed their little sister into her room while Ed imagined Al gave Gracia a nonverbal greeting. His younger brother was too polite not to.
When the chatter was muffled by the upstairs door shutting firmly behind the duo, Ed snuck into the comfortable house and headed for the brothers' room upstairs. It had been Hughes' office once upon a time before being converted into a guest room some time ago. Ed thought about the man who had looked out for him like a father, and missed Maes Hughes even more.
Elicia's giggles from the next room over reminded him why he was here. Quickly hiding their other purchases in the closet, Ed wrapped the gift he and Al had bought. Once satisfied that the paper packaging wouldn't open on accident, he headed out to meet their host in the kitchen downstairs.
"Hi, Gracia. I'm back," he announced as he came in through the hall. She was busy making a delicious smelling dinner. It made his mouth water, all her food did.
"Oh, hello, Edward. I didn't hear you come in. Welcome back," she smiled a welcoming grin as she stirred the pot of stew; it was his favorite.
"I asked Al to distract Elicia so I could hide her presents," he confessed, leaning against the counter top. "We were wondering, since Mustang's team plans to take me out to for my birthday tomorrow after work, would it be alright if we gave Elicia one of her gifts tonight after dinner? I don't think we'll be back early enough to do it tomorrow."
"That sounds wonderful, Edward. It's so sweet of you to think of her," Gracia's eyes softened as she looked at him. "Help me set the table?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course," he smiled at his pseudo-mother while he lightly pushed off from the counter top. "I have a soft spot for the little chatterbox," he confided, "plus, I've missed so much of her life."
"That's alright, Edward. She's always had you here, even when you were gone," she told him with cheer in her eyes. "She would play 'Alchemist' and clap to 'transmute,' just like you do. She never forgot you." Gracia confided as she passed him a stack of six plates for him to lay out.
He felt his heart melt at her words, but couldn't say a word as he began to set the table for the Hughes, Rockbell, and Elric families, his family. He swallowed around the lump in his throat, and when it cleared, he continued.
"Al and I were just remembering the first birthday I had here. It was really something special. It's not every birthday that you get to watch a new life come into the world," he grinned at her.
"It really was a wonderful day, wasn't it?" Gracia smiled warmly at him as she remembered. She stirred absently as she handed him spoons and napkins to place out. "So how did your meeting with Roy go?" She prompted Ed, pulling the ladle out and blowing on it before she offered it to him as he walked back to her.
"I guess it was alright," he remarked, taking the silverware and cloths. He leaned in and tried a taste. "Wow. That's really good," he complemented, and she beamed.
"Glad you like it," she said affectionately.
"You make the best tasting food I've ever had, no matter what world I'm in," he told her honestly and was rewarded with a proud smile. It always warmed his heart to see her maternal smile, especially when it was for him.
"Thank you, Edward. You really are a sweet boy, but you're all grown up now, aren't you," she realized as innocent laughter played in the air from upstairs. "Not that you were ever really allowed to be a child."
Her sadness at the contrast wrenched at his heart. He didn't want Gracia to feel saddened at the loss of his childhood; that was another reason he wanted to be there for Elicia. This way his little sister would never have to grow up too soon.
"Naw. It's alright, Gracia," he lied with his fake smile. "I had Al, Winry, Granny, the team, Hughes, you and Elicia," he countered, walking around the edge of the table, placing the flatware and table linen down on it. Deciding to redirect the conversation he asked, "Did you catch the broadcast this afternoon?"
"Who didn't? It made quite the stir," she prompted him.
"Yeah, I guess so," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from her. "So, it turns out I still have a little over a year on my military contract left," Ed hedged, wondering how to bring up the move as he came back to her side.
"And they're holding you to it?" She demanded, getting angry for his sake. "Considering all you have done? That just doesn't seem fair!"
"Yeah, well, contracts are contracts," he blew off her concern, keeping his fake smile in place to keep her from overly worrying about him. She began handing him glasses to add to the table as he continued. "Anyways, I get to keep my State Certification until I'm reassessed next month, so they gave me housing. That's where Al and I were earlier, but I don't want to tell Elicia until after her birthday."
"Yes, she might not take it well that her big brothers are moving out for her birthday," Gracia aptly reasoned. "We can tell her after her party Saturday. You do know that you and Alphonse are still expected to come to family dinners at least once a month, right, Edward?" She said with a love and affection he had missed for so long.
"Wouldn't miss it," he promised with an honest grin.
"But you were saying…" she urged him to continue. "You got a house?"
"Just signed for it today," Ed recounted. "We picked out a place close to Central Command. It's right near the center of town. That way, when Al decides what he wants to do, he'll be close to everything."
"That was generous of Alchemic Affairs," she ventured, and Ed could tell she was unsure she'd like the strings attached to her pseudo-son's status. "And what do they expect of you now that you're home?"
"I'm not exactly sure. Mustang ordered me to figure out my living situation and report back tomorrow, so I guess I'll find out then," he supposed. "Of course, Grumman offered to make me an ambassador, if I wanted," he submitted for her thoughts on the idea.
"I'm sure you would do a marvelous job," she beamed at him like a proud mother, "but didn't you just get home? Seems sort of heartless to send you away again," Gracia mused. A knock at the door stalled their conversation. "Edward, would you be a dear and get that while I finish up? Should be them; they're right on time, but I'm not quite done yet."
"Sure thing." Seemed they'd have to shelf their discussion until another time.
"Alphonse, Elicia, wash up for dinner," she called up the stairs. She turned back to the stove as Ed left the room.
Sure enough, Winry and Granny Pinako were waiting for him at the door, ready to eat. The two automail mechanics had told him over the weekend that they would be staying in town until this upcoming Sunday morning so they could celebrate his and Elicia's birthdays while on their vacation. They were not in a rush to get back, especially since Granny was getting older and traveling was becoming harder on her if it wasn't spread out enough.
"Hey, Win, Granny. Come on in. Dinner's almost ready," Ed waved them in with a welcoming smile. He loved seeing them, knowing they knew him, grateful they cared for him.
"Hi, Ed," Winry chimed as she stepped in out of the cold air.
"Edward," Granny greeted him with a firm nod, but her pleased smirk was pulling at her lips as she entered the foyer.
"Have fun shopping?" Ed asked as he helped them out of their coats then led the way down the hall.
"Oh, Ed! I got some awesome tungsten wrenches! They can handle all the torque I can give 'em. And the new micro joint suspension rods…" his oldest friend gushed next to her placating grandmother.
He had stopped listening as soon as she said 'wrenches,' having been it hit over the head one too many times with her beloved tools. Yet, he enjoyed the sound of her enthusiastic voice, letting it wash over him. He had missed her babble, and it filled him with a sense of calm and rightness with the world. She really was more like a younger sister to him, and that thought made him smile wider.
Her excited chatter followed him down the hall. Its walls were tastefully punctuated with framed photographs. Some were of Maes and Gracia or the trio of Hugheses. One even featured himself, Al, and Elicia, but mostly they were of his smiling youngest sister in her adorable pigtails and giant Hughes smile.
Once they reached the wood trimmed white walls of the dining room, Ed plopped down along one side and indicated for his second youngest sister and grandmother to sit.
Looking around the table as it filled, he was grateful anew. His second to youngest sister, Winry, was still gushing about her day's haul next to Granny as Al and Elicia nearly bounced to join them at the table. Gracia brought up the rear, placing the hot serving bowl in the center before taking her seat. He was back home with his family: Grandmother, second mother, younger brother, and two younger sisters. His heart swelled, even if a small ping let him know something was still missing. It was fine. This was more than he ever thought he would have.
"…so she said we should meet you tomorrow around 5:30." Winry was saying.
"Winry and I should be done shopping by then, so it shouldn't be a problem, right Brother?" Al asked, bringing him back into the moment.
"Huh?" Ed said stupidly. He hadn't really been paying attention, being lost in his sense of contentment and familiarity.
"Tomorrow. Al and I are going to meet you after you get off work at that bar, R&R, so don't skip out on us," Winry dictated, pointing her spoon at him. "I know you don't like to make a fuss, but…"
"Yeah, yeah," Ed rolled his eyes, but knew he'd be going. He'd already planned it with Gracia.
"I wanna go," Elicia whined, crossing her arms and pushing out her lower lip in the most endearing pout Ed had ever seen. Hughes was right. She was just so precious, their little Elicia.
"A military bar is no place for little girls," Granny began, and Ed could see her antimilitary flag waving.
"I'm not little. I'm almost nine!" Elicia denied the old woman her point.
Stunted laughs flittered around the table, probably because they all remembered Ed's rants about not being short when he was younger. Well, whatever. It was kinda nice that she took after him, even a little.
"And while that's true, dear," Gracia soothed her daughter, "your big brothers and sister here are going out with Edward's friends. I'm sure he wants to see them for his birthday. After all, we have been keeping him all to ourselves…" Gracia smiled a secret grin with their youngest.
"But… it's our birthday. We should spend it together!" Elicia cried, frowning more into her pout.
"But we will," Ed said, an idea forming quickly in his mind.
"We will?!" she nearly squeaked, she squealed at such a high pitch.
"Yeah, we'll have birthday pancakes tomorrow morning," Ed proposed, "and then we have your party this Saturday, right?"
"Pancakes?!" she squealed even higher, clasping her hands in front of her as her bright green eyes grew into jade saucers.
"Yup," he said, glad that she looked so happy.
"And, you'll be there at the party?" She asked hopefully, holding out her pinky finger. "Promise?"
"Promise. I wouldn't miss it for the world, Lici," Ed swore, mimicked her, and entangled his new metal digit with hers. "Will there be cake?" he asked, knowing that, just like Winry and tool shopping, asking Elicia about pretty things would keep her distracted.
She was off to the races. Elicia's exuberance filled the room with cheer as she prattled on over the details for this weekend. After everyone finished their meal, Ed helped Gracia clear the table. With Elicia still preoccupied, he took the opportunity to climb the stairs and return with a brown paper package.
Everyone had relocated to the living room for after-dinner tea by then. All the adults smiled at him as he studied the babbling almost-nine-year-old sitting on the floor in front of the warm fire. She was in the middle of describing what kind of dress she was going to wear at her party.
"Elicia," he called, requesting her attention. When she turned to him, she saw what was in his hands, and he was rewarded with her full focus. "Since Al, Winry, and I won't be seeing you on your and my birthday tomorrow night, we wanted to give you one of your gifts tonight. What do you think? Is that equivalent exchange?" He queried in a mock serious tone, then smiled at her.
"Uh-huh," she said, her eyes transfixed on the paper covered box, but she nodded.
"Good," Ed approved. He leaned over and handed her the present before sitting in the empty seat on the couch.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She squealed while ripping the wrapping to shreds.
Her green eyes sparkled as she looked at her new toy. When Ed and Al had seen it in the store, they knew immediately it'd be perfect. There in Elicia's arms was a miniature replica of the little girl herself; it was a girl doll with green eyes, light brown hair, fair skin and a party dress.
"Oh, wow! She looks just like me!" the little girl cried, jumping up off the floor to throw her arms around Ed's neck and squeezed. Then she repeated the process for Winry and Al.
Ed noticed she hugged their brother more gently than she had him or Winry, but with plenty of vigor. Al didn't flinch at the tight embrace, which meant he was improving. Good. Hopefully Al wouldn't need too much longer to recover from aging four years in an instant.
Ed had noticed Al was slightly uncoordinated since they'd woken up from their return through the gate. Ed had a feeling his younger brother had been downplaying his pain during their sequestered stay at the secure location Mustang and his team had set up after moving them from the hospital. So he was glad to see evidence that Al was getting better.
"Alright, I think it's time for bed," Gracia said after another half hour.
"Aww… do I hafta?" Elicia whined, turning puppy dog eyes on their mother.
"Elicia…" Gracia started to reprimand, but Ed cut her off with a quick wink.
"Well, not really, but the sooner you head to bed, the sooner we get to have birthday pancakes…" Ed said nonchalantly, "but if you don't want them…"
"No, no! I want them!" she chimed.
"Then say, 'goodnight,'" Gracia chimed in, smiling to Ed for his help.
"Goodnight," Elicia smiled wide to the room, then took her mother's hand and they headed upstairs.
A chorus of 'goodnight,' 'night,' and 'sweet dreams' followed the two.
"Well, kids, that's our cue to head back to our hotel," Granny said once Elicia was out of ear shot.
"It is getting late," Al agreed.
"Edward, call an old woman a cab, would you?" Granny asked him.
"Sure thing," he said, standing. He flexed his automail and natural joints, then remembered something. "Oh, yeah!" He exclaimed over his shoulder before he called a car.
"What?" Winry asked, following his movements with her eyes from her spot on the couch.
"I know you two said I could pay you back later, but there are benefits to being a military dog," he smiled at them with his fake smile, knowing their opinions on his employer. "Looks like I'll be able to pay you back for my arm and leg sooner than I thought."
"Is that so?" Granny asked as if she had known all along he would pay them in full, no matter what it took.
"Yeah. I'll bill 'em tomorrow," he smiled, glad that he could pay them for their excellent craftsmanship sooner rather than later.
"Both sets," Winry chimed in, an evil grin in her voice.
"Both?" Ed and Al said together.
"Of course I'll charge them through the nose for this set and the ones I made you two years ago. Seems only fair since the military is claiming responsibility for your saving the country." Winry reasoned, her eyes gleaming with malicious glee. Obviously, she had caught the press conference, too, and was not happy with the way things had worked out.
"Ah," Ed nodded, acknowledging her logic before he put the call through to the operator.
When Ed hung up a few minutes later, Gracia had returned.
"Is she asleep already?" Al asked, surprised yet indulgent of the younger girl.
"Seems so, but she did take her new favorite doll to bed with her," Gracia told them, giving Ed and Al a kind smile.
They grinned big, Elric smiles at their second mother.
"Ok, then. We'll see you in the morning for breakfast," Winry promised with a wink at Ed.
"It'll have to be early," he gave them an easy-out, letting them off the hook if they didn't really want to participate. It was just pancakes.
"Precisely why we will be here to celebrate," Granny chided him, as she held her pipe to her mouth, ready to chew on it.
He had promised Elicia the treat for their birthday, but he hadn't expected Winry and Granny to come over early enough to partake, as well. Obviously, he knew Winry was coming over tomorrow. She had been only too happy to volunteer during dinner to help Al spend what was left of their funds tomorrow while he was at the office, but getting to see them all together again on his birthday was the perfect gift.
"The more the merrier," Gracia added with a smile for the departing women.
"Well, see you in the then," Winry called as the Rockbells entered their cab.
After paying Winry and Granny's driver, Ed and Al wrapped Elicia's remaining gifts and put them back in the closet. Before going to bed, the brothers decided on the furniture changes they were going to request. In their new work spaces, they'd need to remove the beds and side tables, replacing them with desks, chairs, and bookshelves. In the living room, they also wanted to add a few bookshelves.
For the first time in his career, Ed was excited to have a place to keep his very own books. Now, if he could handle tomorrow's birthday 'celebration' with the team, he might just survive anything.
A/N:
Hey everyone, I'm back! Thanks for being so patient with me during the move from Southern California to North Dakota! As promised, please enjoy two chapters and comment away!
