I like it when Ed is called Mommy too :)
NSFW this chapter
Disclaimer: I don't FMA or it's characters.
Chapter 29
"Stop! S-stop!" Roy hissed tugging down on the hem of his shirt.
"Let me see!" Ed said pulling on his arms.
"I assure you, there's nothing to see." Roy objected.
"You are such a liar, what's the matter? You don't want me to help you feel better?" Ed asked, his tone flirt-ish, a pink blush rose to the apples of his cheeks.
Roy sighed, feeling his resolve wearing thin.
This whole thing started two days after the break-in. Ed thought Roy had come out of the scuffle unharmed, but about a day or so later, Ed noticed a bruise on his neck. Roy had been working in the office and Ed went in a tearful ball of hormones. He was upset that they had run out of milk.
"How could there be cookies and no milk?" He cried.
"Hon it's fine… you don't even like milk…" Roy said standing up. He wrapped his arms around Ed in a reaffirming hug.
"Yeah… but I want it…" Ed sniffled. "Or these babies want it…" He took a deep breath.
Roy placed a kiss on Ed's forehead, "I could run to the store…?" Roy noticed Ed's focus wasn't on him. His eyes darted around.
"What's that?" Ed pulled at the collar of Roy's t-shirt, revealing a yellow-brown bruise. He gasped, "d-did I give that to you?" He whimpered and a new set of hot tears began to spill over his cheeks.
"No… no" Roy chuckled, "You didn't, don't worry… How would you have even managed that?" Roy asked, still chuckling.
Ed shrugged and sniffled, he gently stroked Roy's neck before he pressed his ear against his chest, nuzzling into Roy. "How did you get it?"
"Barnabe." Roy answered simply
"Did he hurt you?"
"No." Roy cleared his throat, "Not badly anyways, nothing for you to worry about."
This event led to Ed's speculation. Roy refused to let him see him naked which had only furthered his suspicion.
"Roy if you don't take off your shirt, I'll— I'll—"
"What?" Roy asked with a smirk.
"I don't know! I'll call Oliver! Why is it such a big deal, we both know he was here! Pretending it didn't happen isn't gonna solve anything… and if you're hurt we need to have someone look at you!"
Roy sighed in defeat and stripped off his shirt.
Ed stared in horror. Roy had a big bruise on his left side. And one over his right pectoral that creeped up and connected with the one on his neck.
"What—How?" Ed asked barely able to form a sentence. He gently ran his fingers over Roy's side seeing if touching the purple-yellow skin would elicit a reaction, it didn't or at least not from what he could tell.
"He just knocked me off balance…"
"I-I can't believe he hurt you like this…" Ed whimpered.
Roy almost groaned, knowing that was the sound that normally preceded tears. "Shh. I'm fine, don't fret… just a couple of bruises…" Roy comforted. He pulled Ed close to his chest, stroking his head.
"I'm not… He's just… such a jerk." Ed sniveled
"Well he's gone now… and the kids are safe… that's all we could've asked for right?" Roy asked looking down at Ed, who returned his gaze.
"No." He said simply
"No?" Roy answered
"Well… I would've liked for this to have never happened."
Roy chuckled, and kissed his forehead, "me too… but, it's over and done with we need to move on… Do you not feel safe…?" Roy asked
Ed shook his head, "I just feel violated…"
"I know… it infuriates me to no end that he called Greyson his baby…" Roy gently placed another kiss on Ed's face. "But we need to keep level heads… it's being taken care of."
Ed frowned, "Like someone would ever have a child with that—that… filth!" His face was turning red with anger.
"Calm down…" Roy said, "take a breath," They both fell silent, in thought. "Come to think of it you might still be at risk for high blood pressure we should talk to Oliver about that…"
Ed groaned, "No. I refuse, I'm fine. I can calm down."
"That's beside the point." Roy said.
"Fine… fine-fine." Ed said with an annoyed sigh.
"You should relax, take a bath…" Roy suggested.
"Only if you take one with me."
"I'm supposed to be working…" Roy said
"You're already halfway undressed…" Ed retorted
Roy sighed in defeat. A defeat he was happy to accept.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How had it escalated so quickly? A simple bath to relax, before taking care of the kids somehow turned into Ed riding Roy in the tub.
They'd opted to use the downstairs bathroom since there was less of a chance the kids would wake up from the general loudness of the bath, they'd gotten carried away stripping each other of their clothing.
Ed groaned as he shifted up and down, barely able to move from the overwhelming pleasure, they hadn't done it for a solid week (and two days, Roy had been counting). He whimpered as the familiar ache in his lower back returned.
"Are you alright?" Roy asked, his hands squeezing Ed's hips, trying to keep himself from reacting naturally and ravishing his very fragileand very pregnant husband.
Ed was leaning against Roy, his belly pressed against his abdomen. He dropped his forehead to Roy's chest.
"My b-ack…" Ed managed.
"Is it bothering you again?" Roy asked, placing a kiss on top of Ed's head.
He nodded slightly, "just give me a minute…" Ed grimaced.
"Take as long as you need." Roy ran his fingers through Ed's hair.
He stayed unmoving, taking calming breaths, until finally he straightened up. Ed began to pulsate his hips ever so slightly.
The slow pace was almost unbearable to Roy, he bit his bottom lip in restraint. Keeping his composure for Ed's sake. "Babe think we can speed this up a little?" He asked.
"M' sorry…" Ed mumbled, a blush seemingly spread up his body. He began to make bigger thrusts, feeling Roy's member slide in and out of him. His moans got sweeter and water sloshed around them.
Ed whimpered again slowing to a stop once more. His hands flew to his lower back as he rubbed his aching muscles.
"We can stop if you're really hurting." Roy said. He began to knead his knuckles into Ed's lower back. "Is this helping?"
"Yeah…" Ed nodded, he began to move again.
Roy dropped his hands around Ed's hips again.
"No." Ed groaned, "put your… your… your—."
Roy began to massage with his knuckles, giving immediate relief to Ed.
"Thank you." Ed gushed, he was quivering as the ache began to subside and he could focus more on the pleasure he was feeling.
He held Roy's shoulders for support as he started to grind down on his husband's throbbing dick. Ed moaned out in desperation, a frantic need to get off, but unable to due to his physical limitations.
"It's no use." Ed cried, still rocking slightly, humping Roy to no avail.
"Keep going." Roy urged. He sat up, Ed readjusted without stopping his slow movement.
Roy continued to apply pressure to Ed's lower back, eliciting a moan when he pressed hard on his lumbar.
Roy's head dropped to Ed's chest, he started to kiss and nip Ed's nipples, He felt Ed jolt and squirm ever so slightly, before picking up his pace, whimpering as he went.
Water began to splash around them once again. "Roy." Ed called in a moan. "Roy." He repeated.
In response to his cries, Roy began to move too, trying to match Ed's movements. A bit of water spilled over the side of the tub with his added effort. "Roy…. Roy." Ed's moans were getting louder, his soft insides were almost too much to bear. Roy pressed his forehead to Ed's chest, panting. Roy rubbed Ed's back with less pressure, as he grew more distracted.
Ed groaned and Roy was almost frenzied with his movement, eager to give his husband the release he so desired.
"Roy…" Ed panted. He felt the heat buildup in his innards as Roy brought him closer to the edge. Ed moaned as He felt Roy's cock begin to swell inside of him. "Roy." Ed called once more before the two of them stilled. Ed came hard, whimpering as he felt Roy's heat shooting deeper inside of him. They stayed unmoving basking in the afterglow.
Ed's aching back was forgotten, as Roy gently ran his index finger up and down his spine.
"We should get out soon…" Ed mumbled into Roy's neck.
"We will." Roy agreed, his other hand stroking Ed's swollen belly. "Just let me hold you for a bit longer…"
Ed complied nuzzling into Roy, he placed a kiss on his neck.
"You're so affectionate?" Roy said with a smirk.
"I feel good." Ed replied with a smile. "Thank you…. And I'm sorry if I've been difficult to deal with… I know I'm an emotional wreck." Ed whimpered, "And I'm annoying and needy…"
"…Ed…" Roy said with a chuckle. He kissed his cheek and wrapped his arms around his back in a hug. "There's no need to apologize I know you can't help it…"
"I know" Ed whimpered.
"Besides, I'm happy to indulge you…"
They stayed unmoving for a few minutes, before a resounding cry rattled the stillness of the house.
Roy sighed, "Time to get out."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed liked cooking. It made sense to him, it was an equation. Like alchemy it obeyed the property of equal exchange.
He looked up from the cookbook, to check on Grey, sitting in his highchair which he positioned beside him, in-between himself and the fridge.
The little boy was given a few of his choices of toys as a distraction, Ed was ever paranoid he'd use his unreal ability to get into something he shouldn't.
"Mommah, I want to do the eggs!" Milo bounced excitedly, circling around his mother and where he was working.
"I'm not cooking with eggs…" Ed responded, he had to resist the urge to run his fingers through Milo's dark bouncy curls, as he didn't want to dirty the black curls with food.
"What are you makin'?" Milo asked, rocking back and forth on his heels.
"I'm prepping soup for dinner."
"Egg soup?" Milo asked.
Ed shook his head, "No eggs…"
"Can I crack uh egg?" He persisted.
"Honey, we're not cooking with eggs." Ed said, chopping carrots.
"I wan do it mommy!" Milo whined
Ed sighed and wiped his hands on a towel, he did his best to squat down to Milo's height, holding the counter for balance and support. "For the last time Milo, I'm not using eggs. I'm making chicken soup, and I don't have anything for you to do right now… but if I do I will call you alright?"
Milo nodded, looking sheepishly down at his feet, embarrassed.
"Now go and find daddy, maybe he'll read you an alchemy book."
Milo tottered away, to the office where his father was working.
He rose up to his full height and went back to chopping vegetables.
"Mommah loo!" Ollie said, holding up a drawing she had been working on. She and her sister were sitting at the table coloring.
"Oh yeah…" Ed said looking over his shoulder acknowledging her "That's very good sweetie, it's a lady bug right?"
Ollie nodded.
Lulu looked on at her sister's paper, "You fo'go anten!" Louisa said. She took her green crayon and scribbled on some antenna.
"No Loo-eesa!" Ollie screeched. She dropped her head in her hands, sobbing and crying.
"Louisa, you can't do that… it was your sister's drawing not yours…" Ed dropped the carrot and knife he was using and turned to his children his hands on his hips.
She cowered, glancing between her mother and the door to the office where she knew it was just a matter of time before daddy came to sort things out, then he and mommy would decide her punishment.
"That's very rude of you…" Ed made his way around the table where his daughters were sitting side by side. Oliver continued to cry, Ed stroked her dark hair. He struggled to pick her up. He held her close in his arms, kissing her cheeks and forehead. "It's alright sweetie… Lulu just wanted to help… you can draw another picture of a lady bug."
Ollie shook her head, "da wa perfe… fo' Mio" She cried.
The door to the office finally opened and Louisa slid off her chair and onto the floor beneath the table.
"What's going on out here?" Roy asked, surveying the situation. Milo came out after him, struggling to carry a rather thick alchemy book.
"Oh. Just a little fight between the girls." Ed said, kissing Oliver on the cheek. He set her back down in her chair.
"Where's my little Lulu?" Roy asked, looking around the room for the culprit.
"She's hiding under the table." Ed turned back to continue prepping dinner. Grey shook excitedly in his highchair, smacking his hands against the tray. Ed smiled and cooed to him placing sweet kisses on his face. He chortled and huffed happily and Greyson went back to playing with his stuffed rattle and a water filled teething toy.
Ed continued to chop vegetables, listening to the conversation between his husband and kids.
"Sweetie, why did you have to draw on Ollie's picture… you have plenty of paper?" Roy was kneeling looking at Louisa. Her knees were pulled to her chest, and she guiltily looked away.
"I hep daddy." She answered shyly avoiding eye contact with her father.
"I know Louisa… but Ollie didn't want you to draw on her paper… you upset her… you need to apologize, that wasn't a very nice thing to do… you need to ask next time if she wants your help… okay?" He asked.
Lulu nodded and crawled out from under the table, she tugged on Ollie's dress from where she was sitting at the table, "I sor-eee Oll-lee…"
"S'okay." Ollie crawled off her chair, picture in hand. She hugged her twin and kissed her cheek, "Loo loo-k." She held out the picture showing a ladybug with green antennas and feelers, the latter of which she had added on herself. (Even though ladybugs don't have feelers).
"Mio! Mio." Ollie called. She toddled over to her brother.
Milo dropped the rather large and red alchemy book on the floor with a resounding thud.
"Milo!" Ed scolded from where he worked, chopping away.
"Sorry mommy." He apologized, examining the picture Ollie had drawn and Louisa had collaborated on. "Thank you girls!" He gushed, wrapping his arms around his sisters in a hug.
Roy chuckled and rose up to his full height. He made his way over to Ed and Grey. He picked up his infant son out of his highchair and held him on his hip.
"How's it going?" Roy placed a kiss on Ed's temple, so as not to disturb his work.
"Fine… I think..."
"You think?" Roy bounced from to heel to heel holding a smiling, gasping, and chortling Greyson.
Ed nodded, and brushed away a pile of carrot slices. He started on a stick of celery.
"Do you want any help?" Roy asked.
"Just with the kids." Ed said shortly.
"I'm sorry… I had work I needed to get done…"
"I know. I know." Ed said annoyed. "They can be a handful… Milo is begging to make eggs, Lulu and Ollie are arguing… and I have to constantly keep an eye on Grey."
"Why?" Roy asked looking at his son in his arms. "You're a good boy, aren't you little man?" Grey stared back at his father blankly, gold orbs wide and watchful. Roy smiled and kissed his gold-blonde head.
"I'm scared he's gonna get into something he shouldn't have."
"I think you're paranoid… He only does it when he's wants attention, or is trying to communicate…"
"Can never be too careful." Ed answered.
"Fair enough."
"So are you going to watch them?" Ed asked, still chopping.
"Yeah, I can do that… I'm…" Roy paused, then cleared his throat, "I think I'm going to teach them alchemy."
"No!" Ed protested, dropping the knife on the cutting board.
Roy sighed, "Ed. Our kids are smart and have abilities they need to learn to harness… put all your worries aside, it's for their own good."
Ed scoffed, "It's dangerous! They're tiny children."
"And how old were you when you started to learn alchemy?" Roy asked, "Before your dad left right? Didn't he start to teach you a bit?"
"That's beside the point—"
"I don't understand how, Milo is dying to learn—"
"Yes daddy please teach me alchemy!" Milo chirped excitedly.
"I think he's big and responsible enough to handle it." Roy said.
Ed sighed, "Fine." He said irritated, "Fine, do it, I don't care, nothing I say matters anymore." He whimpered and sniffled, wiping at his nose with his wrist.
"Ed don't be like that…" Roy sighed
"Like what?—You —You asshole?"
"I didn't mean anything… by it…"
"Oh fuck off."
"Stop with the language… not in front of the kids." Roy said.
Ed scoffed.
Roy wanted nothing more than to snap at Ed and put him in his place, but he knew this wasn't his husband. This was his emotions getting the best of him and if he lost his cool they would just argue and they'd both end up angry with each other. He had to take the high road.
"Ed, you said it yourself you're a prodigy, so it's natural our kids will be too. I just think with our knowledge and personal experience we'll teach them well enough. They'll be in a safe and controlled environment."
"Pody-gee mahma" Lulu hummed. She crawled back into her seat at the table.
Ollie and Milo were flipping through the alchemy book, sitting on the floor.
Ed crossed his arms over his chest and sighed, "You—" He sighed in defeat. "You're right." He wrapped his arms around Roy's midsection in a hug. Grey began to pat his mother's head, inadvertently pulling his hair. "Ow." Ed said.
Roy smiled and chuckled, placing a soft kiss on Ed's lips. When they broke apart Ed whimpered in protest he looked up at his husband with dazed eyes. "Do I have your permission Ed? To teach our kids alchemy?"
Ed nodded, "Of course I want to help as well… and have you been practicing their signing with them?" Ed asked
"Of course." Roy reaffirmed with a smile. He adjusted his hold on Greyson and looked at his blonde little boy. Using his right hand, hooked into a 'c' shape, he moved his hand down the center of his body. Grey was watching, enamored, recognizing this as the sign for 'hungry'. He looked up at his daddy with wide eyes.
"Actually, I think you should spend some time with Greyson…" Roy set him down in his highchair, he got into the cupboards pulling out a handful of cereal, putting it in a bowl. He poured some milk and then pulled Grey close to the table. He took a seat and spoon fed him the softened loop grains.
"I already told you I'm not going to research our son."
"You may not have a choice, in order to keep him safe we need to understand his abilities and there's only one person capable of doing so…"
"Again, with the flattery." Ed rolled his eyes and rested a hand on his swollen belly.
"Because I know it works," Roy smirked.
"Well, if you could take care of the kids while I finish preparing dinner, I'd really appreciate it."
"I can try…" Roy answered with a chuckle.
"Try?" Ed snickered, "You will."
"Yes." Roy agreed with a tired sigh. "Do you want me to take Grey too—or?"
Ed gave him a pointed look.
"Alright… alright." Roy fed him the remainder of his snack.
"I only need a bit more time and then, I guess I'll work with Grey see if I can get him to, transmute space or whatnot…"
"Good idea." Standing up, Roy placed a final kiss to Ed's lips and then pulled Grey out of his highchair.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Before we even start learning alchemy, you need to understand the basic concepts, we'll study and you kids will commit them to memory."
"I wanna transmute daddy!" Milo squealed.
"In time," Roy responded cooly.
"A long time." Ed called from the kitchen.
Milo sighed, propping his head up on his hand.
"Your mother is right Milo,"
"Dahdee, Gey do alkme." Ollie said
"Grey can do alchemy and I can't?!" Milo yelled angrily. He looked at his little brother, sitting contently in his baby bouncer. "Thas not fair Grey!" He got up into his brother's face.
"Milo." Roy scolded. "It's not intentional, Grey can't control his alchemy."
"How come he can do it an I can't?" Milo whined
"An aciden." Ollie said.
"That doesn't make sense Oliver!" Milo yelled angrily.
Ed appeared in the living room standing behind the couch, "If you're going to behave like a brat Milo you can go upstairs and your sisters and brother can learn from daddy."
"No! No Mommy! No I'll be good." Milo said frantically, tears began to pool in his eyes, "I'm sorry. I wanna learn. I'll be good for daddy!"
Ed nodded, "behave and listen to your father." He went back to the kitchen to finish the soup, he was almost done, just had to shred the chicken and put it in the soup so it could simmer until dinner.
Roy cleared his throat, he had the two books Al and Trish had worked on in front of him. "Now we've read these many times haven't we?" Roy asked.
The girls nodded their heads.
"Let's learn something new…" Milo said softly.
"Be patient Milo, we're going to." Roy smiled at his kids, two sets of gold and two sets of charcoal eyes watched him intently. He opened the book and the eyes snapped downward, looking at the page.
"I know this part daddy!" Milo said.
"What is it?" Roy asked.
"Competion, deconstruction and reconstruction."
"Comprehension." Roy corrected. "You're right Milo, very good. Comprehension, you need to understand the structure and makeup of your materials. Eventually, when you're older you'll know all about the elements too."
"Elemens?" Louisa asked.
Roy nodded, "They make up everything around us…"
"Structure like how i's built?" Milo asked.
Roy smiled, "very good."
Milo reveled in the praise.
"Deconstruction allows you to reshape the material. You must it break the material down into its basic form in order to reconstruct the material into your desired outcome"
"Reconstruction an deconstruction are kinda stuck together?" Milo inquired.
"Yes." Roy nodded, "You can't skip steps, in order to reconstruct you must deconstruct. Destroy in order to create."
Milo turned to the next page, ready to learn more.
"Hold on Milo." Roy looked between his children, "Do you all understand?"
Milo nodded, then each of the girls.
"Okay. Next comes the most basic law the fundamental rule of alchemy."
"Wait." Ed called from the kitchen. "I want to teach them about the law of equivalent exchange."
Milo was perked up looking in the direction of his mother's voice.
"What daddy?" Milo asked looking back at his father. "I thought you were gon' teach us?"
"It's very important you understand this rule and your mother wants to make sure you all have a firm grasp on the subject. Besides, mommy will be teaching you too, but he's busy right now…"
The kids idly chit-chatted until their mother sat down beside their father.
Ed held the book up, glancing down at the delicately colored page. It was sketched by Alphonse, clearly, but his daughter definitely colored it in. It was of their childhood home, or what Al remembered of it at least. The shingles were scribbled blue, the roof was red. There was a clothes line, and Ed never noticed, a woman's dark silhouette against the horizon.
Ed cleared his throat, choking back emotions that were flooding his senses. "The law of equivalent exchange is very important." Ed started. "In order to create, something must first be given."
"Lie daddy sai' deonstru-tion." Ollie chirped
"It's a little more complicated than that sweetie, y'see what you break down must be equal to what you're trying to recreate."
"I don' understand." Milo said
"Think of it like cooking Milo. In order to make a cake you need all the right ingredients. If the cake is missing something, it's not going to turn out right… because that ingredient is missing. You can't create something from nothing… Make sense?"
"You can't have uh egg without an egg."
Ed thought for a moment, "Right, you can't cook an egg unless you have an egg. That's the law of natural providence, which falls under the Law of Equivalent exchange."
"You gotta crack i' open an' then you can cook it into what you want."
"Right" Ed nodded, "deconstruction and reconstruction."
"Do you understand Louisa? Oliver?" Roy asked looking between his daughters.
They both hesitantly nodded.
Ed smiled at his girls, "Good."
"Again kids, mommy and I are simplifying this lesson, so you can understand, but in order to do alchemy, you have to know these basic rules very well." Roy said.
"And some of you might not be able to do it… it just depends." Ed said.
Milo's eyes began to water, he looked to his daddy, "I migh' not do alchemy?" He asked.
Roy shook his head, "Milo, I'm sure you'll be able to, your mother and I both have a natural affinity for it… it runs in our genetics, I don't think you have to worry."
"Don't get to excited though Milo, it was harder for Uncle Al than it was for me… and it took him a while before he could do anything more advanced…"
"Ed." Roy said impatiently, he was only upsetting their son more, and he really didn't want them to be discouraged doing alchemy. "Why don't you and Grey go work in the office? Or our room?"
Ed picked Greyson up out of the bouncer and he took him upstairs to his and Roy's bedroom.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roy continued with the children. He reiterated the laws and rules answering their questions and trying to pound the information into their heads.
Meanwhile Ed and Grey sat on carpeted floor of the master bedroom. Ed was sitting three feet away, in between the two of them were a few of Grey's favorite toys. Milo's red train engine, a teething ring and a little stuffed monkey he'd gotten as a gift from his cousins.
Ed sat with his legs tucked beneath him, he held the clipboard on his lap as best he could, his belly took up most of the space and he was growing more and more frustrated with his size by the day.
"Okay Grey." Ed said with a smile, "Do you want one of these toys? Can you get one of these toys?"
It'd been as simple as that before. Grey wanted something he transmuted it through space so he had it… but he wasn't focusing. He smiled at his mother, a toothless grin. He blew spit bubbles excitedly.
Ed held up his stuffed monkey, making it dance, trying to catch the attention of his son, Grey chortled and huffed shaking excitedly. "I know you can get it Grey." Ed said
His little boy's golden eyes bore into him intently. He gurgled and a glob of drool fell to his chest.
Ed fought the urge to wipe his face. Grey made a muffled shriek from the back of his throat, making his mother laugh in response. Grey began to reach towards his mother.
"That's it… whatever you want Grey…" Ed cooed gently.
Grey sat back cocking his head to the side, watching his mother.
Ed stayed silent, realizing that he was distracting his son.
Greyson sat still… his focused gaze bore into his mother, they watched each other in silence.
There was a soft knock on the bedroom door and before Ed could respond Roy was pushing open the door.
"How's it going in here?" Roy asked
Grey gurgled and blew spit bubbles down his chin excitedly. He reached his arms towards his daddy.
"It's not…" Ed said with a sigh.
"I didn't mean to interrupt… I was just thinking that you might have better luck if you try to get him to come to you…?"
"What do you mean?" Ed asked
"You're not gonna like this… but… when he was scared, he transmuted himself through space to you… you're his mother, there's no one in the world who can make him feel as safe as you do…"
"Well you—" Ed started.
"Not me." Roy shook his head, "Not yet anyways… when he's older I don't doubt he'll feel the same security with me."
"You can't be sure he doesn't already," Ed objected.
"Well sure, but when he was scared, he chose you."
"I don't like where this is heading, Roy— I'm not going to intentionally scare our son."
"Of course not!" Roy said angrily, "I can't believe you think I'd suggest such a thing." He cleared his throat, "I was only going to suggest that you leave him alone for a few minutes… see if he appears anywhere else."
"That's— I don't want to scare him…"
"If you're not having any luck you need to coax him to use his ability by other means… you have a timeframe you need to work within, Ed if you don't impress the general with this report… I don't know who you'll be working under."
Ed sighed, "You know I can't stand it when the kids cry."
"I know." Roy said sympathetically, "it's not like you'll really hear him though…"
Ed stared at Grey, his son was staring up at his daddy.
"It's also for his own good, Ed… we need to understand what he's capable of…"
Ed struggled to get to his feet until Roy offered his hand and pulled him up, he stroked his round belly gently.
"How have you been feeling?" He asked.
"Tired." Ed sighed.
Roy smirked and kissed his forehead, "S'pose that's my fault."
Ed blushed and shook his head scoffing.
"Maybe after we finish working with the kids, you could go rest." Roy suggested.
"Stop worrying." Ed sighed.
"I'm not… This has been a really stressful month and you just so happen to be pregnant… I'm worried about you and those babies… I don't want you to get preeclampsia… "
"Well… order more medicine from that doctor in Central! I don't know… don't put me on bedrest…"
"Until the medicine gets here Ed… I'll send the prescription in the mail today but it'll be a week before it gets here I'll bet."
Ed rolled his eyes, and looked to Greyson, who sat watching them.
"Don't pay attention to him." Roy said in a hushed tone.
"Roy, I don't like this." Ed said.
"It's for his own good."
"I know… I know… you keep saying that." Ed sighed
"Let's go… you can wait for him not too far away… maybe in his room?"
"Will you wait with me?"
"I have to go teach the kids."
"If I hear his… noises I'm gonna give in…"
"Alright…" Roy said, He glanced a final time at Greyson, who already looked like he was about to cry. His bottom lip was quivering. Closing the door behind him, he led Ed to the nursery.
Ed sat in the rocking chair and Roy wandered around the room tidying toys and clothes.
They waited, eventually they could hear faint chokes and gasps.
Ed groaned, "poor boy, there's no reason for this, he's probably scared."
"That's the point." Roy made his way behind the rocking chair, he massaged his shoulders and leaned over pecking kisses along his jaw. "He's fine babe…"
"What is it with you and the nicknames?"
Roy shrugged, "If you don't like them I can just call you Ed, or Edward instead."
"No." Ed shook his head, his cheeks reddening ever so slightly. "It's fine…"
"Are there certain names you don't like?" Roy asked, he was satisfied with the kisses along Ed's face, and began to move down his neck.
"Mm. I don't like honey…"
Roy chuckled, "Why not?"
"It makes us sound like an old married couple…"
Now Roy was really laughing.
"What?" Ed asked blushing. He felt stupid, why was he embarrassed? He only answered Roy's questions.
It took Roy a few seconds to recover from his fit of laughter. "No… it's nothing, just I am old."
"You're not." Ed said, "Thirty three? That's not old…"
Roy sighed and shrugged, "Maybe it's because you're so young?"
"I hate it when you say that." Ed hissed.
"Shh." Roy placed a final kiss to the top of Ed's head. They were both silent. "I don't hear Greyson…" Roy said.
Ed had to practically heave himself up. He crossed the hall pushing open the door to their room. Greyson was not in it. Or at least not where they'd left him. Roy gently pushed Ed aside, and he walked around the room looking for their baby.
"I don't think he's in here…"
"But… he's not with us…" Ed said, his voice choked as he fought tears, his mind instantly racing to the worst conclusion that Greyson had somehow disappeared forever.
"Calm down, he's here somewhere…" Roy left their room and headed downstairs.
Ed continued to look in their room and went so far as to check their bathroom.
"Ed! He's with the kids!" Roy called from downstairs.
Ed picked up Grey's toys and made his way down the hall, descending the stairs, he could see Grey sitting in Milo's lap.
"Milo, what happened?" Ed asked.
Roy mumbled something about Ed not wanting to study their son, which resulted in a jab in the ribs from Ed.
Milo shrugged, "alchemy mommy…"
Ed nodded, "I know sweetie, but, I need details, was Grey crying when he 'popped' in your arms so-to-speak?"
Milo nodded, "He was, but when he saw me n' Ollie, n' Lulu he calm down quite a bit."
"Did he make a sound?" Ed asked.
"Not Grey, but the alchemy, there was a lou' pop!"
Ed nodded "Hmm."
"What?" Roy asked
"Well… when he transmuted things to himself there wasn't a 'pop' sound… I wonder if there's a reason for that?"
"Maybe because he's living, or the size of the object he's transmuting…"
Ed hummed in consideration, "it may be the latter, because when we were breaking you out of prison—"
"Daddy you were in prison!?" Milo asked, his tone filled with question and curiosity.
"It wasn't real Milo." Roy answered, "It was an alchemy slave camp. Your Uncle Louis was trapped there for what? Fifteen years? I was only there for a couple of months…"
"What did you do?"
"Not now Milo, we can talk about this another time…?"
"Mommy how did you get daddy out?" He asked his mother, respecting his father's wishes of talking about it another time.
"Transmutation of Molecular Space, which is the ability Greyson seems to have, and something I've been studying since before you were born." Ed answered.
"The bomb… it made a popping noise and that thing was—big."
"Big enough to blow up the wall of the fortress." Roy agreed.
"A bomb?" Milo asked in awe and fascination. He was beginning to think there were a lot of stories his truly amazing parents weren't telling him.
"Your Uncle Oliver designed it." Ed answered again.
"What other cool stories do you have?" Milo asked.
"They're not as glamourous as they seem Milo. When this happened your mother was about six or seven months pregnant with you… It was very dangerous… and very scary…"
"Scary?" Milo asked.
Ed nodded, "Scary, but not in the way monsters are scary, in a way where you're scared for the other person worried sick almost… daddy didn't want me to go because he was worried about me and you… but I wanted to go because I was worried about daddy."
"So wha hap-en?" Louisa asked.
Roy sighed, "Your mother went anyways. Despite my begging and a threat from your Uncle Al."
"You were in there, I was out here." Ed responded, "It's not like there was much you could do to stop me anyways."
"Never really has been…" Roy agreed.
Ed laughed, and looked at his kids, they were all gazing up at their parents in wonderment. "Thank you, for taking care of your brother… when he appeared here… with you… Milo I have some more questions for you later, but right now go ahead and finish your lesson with daddy."
The little boy nodded and Ed took Greyson out of his arms.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A day later…
"Wow Trisha is going to school already?" Ed asked
Winry nodded, "Yeah, she's five Ed, that's generally when kids start going to school."
Ed refilled her cup of tea and sat down opposite of her at the table.
"Milo will be ready to go soon enough… two more years till he's five… Roy added from where he stood leaning against the counter.
Ed shook his head, "I'm going to start him late."
"Since when?" Roy asked, "This is the first I'm hearing of it and don't you think that's a decision we need to make together?"
"I want to start him and the girls at the same time…" Ed countered.
Roy sighed, "I don't know where you come up with this stuff…"
"Plus the schools here in Resembool aren't the best…"
"What do you mean?" Winry asked, "We all went to school here…" she said.
"Al and I only did for a short time… I never felt challenged… neither did Al… and then we went away to Dublith with teacher…"
"I remember." Winry said with a sigh, "I was so angry at you guys for leaving me… I felt betrayed."
"I'm sorry…?" Ed offered.
She waved him off.
"Regardless of the schools and their inability to challenge gifted children, we won't know how our kids are doing until they actually attend now will we?" Roy asked.
"I s'pose." Ed mumbled. He took a sip of tea, his hand instinctively rested on his belly he could feel soft kicks.
A knock on the front door interrupted the silence. Calces started to bark.
"Sh." Roy snapped. Too late. A single cry echoed throughout the house interrupting the silence that was supposed to be nap time.
Ed got up, "Are you expecting anyone?" He asked Roy.
"No…" He shook his head.
Roy went to answer the door and Ed went to identify which of their children were crying.
Ed found Oliver sitting up in bed sobbing, softer now than before when she woke up.
"Hi sweetie." Ed cooed softly.
"H-hi mommeee." She hummed, She was desperately wiping at her charcoal eyes.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded and Ed picked her up, "Just didn't wake up feelin' too good?" She nodded again, tears pooling in her eyes.
Ed rubbed her back and she curled around her mother as best she could with his large belly. Ed carried her down the hall, he could hear voices, Roy, Winry, and… it couldn't be?
He rounded the corner and started down the stairs, seeing Hughes seated on their couch. He was in casual clothes, Ed hadn't seen him like this—or at all for a while.
"Hughes!" Ed said excitedly.
Everyone looked up at him. Roy was somber, his good mood seemingly gone, but Ed couldn't imagine why, considering his oldest friend had come to visit. Hughes looked anxious, Winry worried.
"What's the occasion…?" He asked. Ollie sniveled in his arms.
"Come sit down Ed." Roy said quietly.
"What's going on? What's wrong?" Ed asked, sitting on the couch between Roy and Hughes. Ollie smiled at her daddy and stared at Hughes, a man who seemed vaguely familiar to her, she didn't feel scared.
"Hi…" Ollie chirped softly, looking at the tall man.
He looked down at her, a small smile tugged at his lips. He stroked her hair, "Hi sweetie, I haven't seen you in a while? Have I?" Hughes pulled her into his lap. "You're Oliver aren't you…?"
Ollie nodded her head hesitantly, unsure as to how he knew her name.
"How are you Hughes…? It's been awhile..." Ed smiled.
"Babe…" Roy said softly taking Ed's hand in his own. He laced their fingers together, squeezing tightly.
Ed whipped his head around to face his husband, "What?"
"About twelve days ago Roy called me asking to look into a one Colonel Barnabe." Hughes started.
"When did you—?"
"When it was your checkup. I told you I was talking to Maes." Roy answered simply.
"Anyways," Hughes continued, "There are no previous records of a Colonel Barnabe or a lieutenant colonel even… He just appeared out of nowhere."
"How is that possible?" Ed asked.
"It's not" Roy said.
"Unless the Southern military base is keeping records concealed, which would be illegal." Hughes said.
Ed rubbed his face in concentration. "What does this mean exactly?"
Hughes shrugged, "We can't be sure. The South City military seems helpful enough, I don't think there's any potential danger or threat that anyone there has conspired with Barnabe… but we can't be sure.
"So you came all this way to tell us this."
Hughes shook his head, "The Military attorney prosecutor of East City has called and asked me to testify against him, as I uncovered quite a bit of information that hadn't been brought to light.
"Unfortunately Roy's been suspended from work… so he's not able to get the records…" Hughes said. "So I'm left with the task."
"I'm sorry…" Ed said.
"It's my job..." Hughes answered.
"We've caused so much trouble…" Ed whimpered.
"Like I said it's my job in the investigation department… If there's corruption we need to weed it out."
Ed nodded, "I just feel bad we're the ones making you run all over."
Hughes shrugged, "I'm getting paid for travel time and whatnot."
"It's his job Ed." Roy said quietly.
"We weren't asked to testify in against Barnabe…" Ed said.
"Actually… we were, but I turned it down."
"What?" Ed asked.
"This whole thing makes me feel uneasy, Ed… and I didn't want to go, and I didn't want to leave the kids… I didn't want to take them with."
Ed shook his head, "It's alright… I didn't want to go… I was hoping we'd get to turn it down."
"Of course Roy's given me his written testimony which I will present to the lawyer… if you wanted to give me yours as well Ed, I could deliver it…"
Ed shook his head.
"Why not hon?" Roy asked, rubbing his back gently.
"Ed if you want to put him away for good…" Winry spoke up for the first time.
Ed's face flushed "I do… I do… but I won't—can't give my testimony… Roy did you…?"
"Of course, those pictures were personal property…" Roy answered.
"You didn't include them?" Ed asked frantically.
Roy gave a hesitant and slight nod. He grimaced, seeing Ed's face fall.
"I thought that… I thought you destroyed them?"
"What?" Winry asked
Ed shook his head, "Roy?" He whimpered.
"I'm sorry Ed… but those pictures are the reason he and I got suspended… I want him gone for good, out of our lives… that's evidence, if people see and know what he did, then they'll be more likely to take our side."
"Not that they won't already, they hear a family with four children has been constantly harassed by this man… I'd say he's pretty much nailed." Hughes placed a kiss to the top of Ollie's head and she turned to look up at him.
"Unless they find out who we are…" Ed said softly
"Why does that matter?" Roy asked
Ed gestured between the two of them, "Some people think that gays are evil… if they find out…"
"I would assume that these people would put that aside and incriminate Barnabe even so. Besides your relationship is not what's on trial, I'm sure they're going to make sure the jury is impartial towards your situation… Your marriage is no one's business." Hughes said.
Ed felt panic grip him and he suddenly found it hard to breathe. What if Barnabe wasn't found guilty? What if he was let go? Surely he would come back to torment them some more. "What does he want from us?" Ed whimpered, tears pooled at his eyes.
"I don't know." Roy comforted, pulling Ed close. He patted his back, "But we're gonna be okay… I'm not gonna let him near you or the kids…"
"I'm sure he'll be put away…Winry comforted.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hughes ended up staying the night. Ed made up the office for him. Roy had brought in a futon and some warm blankets. They sat around talking until the kids woke up, then they all headed over to Winry's house to visit Al, Trisha, and Elaine.
They ended up staying for dinner, by the time they left two of their four kids, (Milo and Oliver) had conked out. When they got home Ed and Roy put the kids to sleep and Hughes retreated to the office.
It was dark now; pitch black. Ed laid awake, unable to fall asleep. He was uncomfortable, no matter how he laid, something ached. He didn't know what time it was and he didn't dare turn on the light for fear of waking Roy. He sat up in bed and very carefully and slowly got out of bed to leave their room.
Ed needed to clear his mind. He tip-toed downstairs. Hughes' snoring came rumbling through the closed office door. Ed flipped the light switch and the living room was illuminated.
He found his coat and slipped his arms in, even though it was so warm he probably wouldn't need it. He kicked on his shoes and then very quietly began to unlock the front door as if he were a teenager sneaking out of the house.
"Where are you going?"
Ed nearly jumped five feet in the air. He turned around seeing Roy descending the stairs.
"I just… I need a walk…" Ed said. "I need to get away from my thoughts…"
"Mind if I join you? I'd like to think I'm one thought you don't really want to get away from." He teased.
Ed smiled, "yeah… I just… I didn't realize you were awake."
"I thought you got up to go to the bathroom and then you left our room, so I apologize… I was a bit worried." He made his way to the front door and he slipped on his own shoes.
"Ready?" Ed asked opening the front door.
Roy leaned over and stole a sweet kiss from his lips, "Ready."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter finished! Yay! Okay so Hughes is now involved with the story again, I missed him. Thanks for all your support, I love and appreciate each one of you. Also, I'm really stuck on this name, tell me what you think in a review: Sawyer, I think it's cute for a boy or a girl (Since I'm not sure what they're having yet…) Please leave me a comment with your thoughts as I say all the time when you leave reviews it's like a burst of energy for me… See you lovelies next chapter!
