...now all we can do is live."

•••

Iris was sure she was going to pass out sometime today. With her mind running wild, the heat making her dizzy, and now this? She doubted she could last much longer.

The four ran downstairs to see a pregnant woman struggling in bed, gripping her husband's hand like a lifeline.

"What should we do?" he asked, looking at the storm outside worriedly.

"What the hell?" Iris muttered, wondering how the weather could take such a drastic change so quick. "Literally this morning I thought I was going to die from heatstroke."

Dominic stepped forward. "I will go fetch the doctor from town."

"You better hurry, then!"

He nodded and shrugged on his coat. Giving the place a last look he headed out into the storm. The fast gallops of a horse were gone in seconds.

Satella's groans grew louder as she kept mumbling incoherently.

"What was that, honey?"

"It's..."

"Huh?"

"I said... IT'S COMING!"

They all nearly screamed.

"What do we do?!" Al exclaimed.

"I don't know!" Ed looked over at the girls.

"What are you looking at me for?!" Iris yelled. Paninya looked away, and Winry was strangely quiet.

"Ridel..." the pregnant woman moaned.

"I'm right here, don't worry."

"Ugh.. GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"

"Winry?" Iris hesitantly shook the blonde out of her trance. "What should we do?"

She clutched her fists and turned to the anxious party of teenagers.

Shutting her eyes she spoke, "We'll just have to do it! We'll... we'll have to deliver it ourselves!"

"Winry, are you crazy?!"

"What other choice do we have?!" She snapped, and it went silent.

She tried to regain herself. "Now, I need your help. All of you."

They were screaming inside, but filled with determination. They all nodded.

"Okay, I need some hot water, lots of towels, and rubbing alcohol."

"On it!" Ed and Al shouted, quickly saluting like soldiers on command. They scrambled away, searching the house for the supplies needed.

Winry turned towards the two girls in front of her seriously. "Iris, Paninya; listen to me.

"When we go in there, you have to do everything I say, got it?"

"Wait, we're going in there too?!" the alchemist freaked.

"I need your help!"

"Come on Iris, don't be a chicken!"

"I'm gonna pass out!"

"You can pass out later! Right now, I need all the help I can get!"

Before Iris could protest more, the brothers came back, everything demanded in hand. Winry motioned them to put it in the room and then get out.

Iris felt her hands trembling already.

"Oh Truth, I'm going to be sick."

•••

Outside the door, Edward realized he was scared. A full hour had already passed, and the two, having heard all the screams, cries, and curses, felt helpless to do something, anything.

'The time when it matters the most, and I'm useless.' Edward thought.

He could only hope that this would be over soon, for everyone's sake.

•••

"When will this end?!" Iris screamed, absolutely terrified. If this what's in store for her in 15 years, she wanted out! And judging by her choice of words, Satella wanted this baby out too!

Paninya wasn't fairing well either. Never in her life has she seen so much blood, and she was the one in a train wreck! She didn't know how much more of this she could take.

Winry, however, seemed to have the ultimate poker face. They didn't know how she did it. Being born into a family of doctors really had its perks after all. She seemed so cool, but inside, her thoughts raced, and worry filled her to the brim. She knew this was a matter of life and death, or maybe even more.

She knew she couldn't mess a single thing up. Yet still, this would take some time.

•••

Two more hours passed painfully, but Winry knew all of her hard work would be paid off soon.

Twenty minutes, and the door burst open, all three girls practically tumbling out of it, covered in sweat and blood.

Edward and Alphonse immediately stood.

"What is it?"

"What happened?"

The girls said nothing, but Winry shakily pointed through the open door.

The cries of a newborn filled the silence as the two loving parents held the child in their arms, beaming.

Alphonse gasped, and Ed grinned excitedly.

"Our baby," Ridel breathed. It felt unbelievable.

"Okay Iris," Winry panted, "you can pass out now."

She was already way ahead of her, asleep on the wood floor.

Al gently picked her up and placed her on the couch chair in the room.

"This is amazing," Ed marveled. It was astonishing to him; an actual baby.

"It's a miracle. And the storm is gone too," the other blonde pointed out.

"But seriously, this is awesome, awesome, awesome! A human making another human, something us alchemists could never ever do!" he rambled.

"Really Ed? Alchemy talk, right now?"

"It's simply an observation!"

"Childbirth isn't alchemy, you know!"

"Exactly!"

Winry huffed. "Whatever."

"By the way," Ed mentioned, "did you get my watch back?"

The girl instantly frowned and looked at the floor under her. "Yeah. Yeah I did. But I need to talk to you."

"What about?"

She hesitated, but she couldn't back down now. The guilt was already settling in.

She swallowed. "I... The engraving inside your watch... I saw it."

Edward's eyes widened, and then a frustrated puff escaped through his nose. He crossed his arms and turned to face away from her.

Winry could sense his disappointment and felt it was right to explain. "Deep down I knew it was wrong, and even Iris told me the same, but I couldn't help myself."

He turned back around. "I haven't ever shown anyone that, not even Al. Why would you do that?"

"I don't know... maybe I felt out of the loop or something. You guys are always keeping secrets, and I just wanted to be a part of that."

"It's not your place to worry about it, Winry."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be so important."

He didn't respond.

They both sat there, not knowing what thoughts were going through the other's head. Before long, Winry felt tears trailing down her face. She refused to move and let them fall.

"What are you crying for?"

"You two won't," she pressed, "so why not do it for you?"

He huffed, then took off his glove to wipe away some of her tears. His hand was rough yet warm.

"Stop it. Don't cry."

She sniffled. "Sorry."

"Don't be."

He pulled away his hand and put back his glove.

Winry went to say more, but the door creaked open, making her stop.

"Hey you two," Iris said, her voice slightly strained. She then noticed her friend's tears and rushed over with concern.

"What's wrong?"

She put on a smile and wiped her face. "It's nothing, really."

"Oh-kay..." she replied, a little skeptical.

"Are you good now?" Ed inquired, lifting a dark eyebrow.

Iris rubbed her fingers on her temple. "Not there yet, but I feel better than before." Her body involuntarily shivered, remembering what had happened. "So much blood," she muttered.

"Good. Because you and I still have some business with Paninya." He scowled, cracking the knuckles on his left.

"Oh yeah, huh..." A mischievous smile formed on her lips. Ed returned the expression.

"Paninya!" he shouted out the door. "Where's my watch?!"

"And where's mine?!" Iris called after.

They both ran out in search for her, and it wasn't exactly going to be pretty when she was found.

•••

The next morning, it was as if everything became aligned. Ed and Iris got their belongings back, her sick feeling had subsided, and Mr. Dominic returned with a doctor who announced great news: the baby is 100% healthy!

"Who was the deliverer?" the doctor asked, looking at everyone in the household with curiosity.

"It was Winry!" Ed pointed, and said deliverer turned a shade of pink.

The doctor looked astonished. "The delivery was a perfect performance! It's a miracle you were there!"

Winry shook her head humbly. "I had help." She gestured at all of her friends. "I couldn't have done it without them."

Mr. Dominic picked up his grandchild and grinned. He stared Winry in the eyes. "Thank you, Winry. You truly have a gift."

Edward smoothly eased to the man's side with a sly smile. "Wouldn't you like to do her a favor in return? Like... making her your apprentice...? Hm?"

"No," he deadpanned. Winry let out a disappointed whine.

"But," he quickly added, "I suppose I can introduce you to another successful engineer." His offer made her shoot her head up.

"Yes, yes, yes! Please!"

"Alright, alright, calm down."

"Thank you!"

•••

That afternoon, the brothers were scheduled to leave Dublith.

"Make sure you take care of your automail," Winry reminded, but Ed shrugged her off.

"Yeah, yeah, you say that every time!"

"And yet you still never listen!"

Ed only huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Come on Al, let's go or we'll be late!"

"One minute!"he replied, turning his attention back to Iris when she hit his armor chest.

"Hey," she said quietly. "Be safe, okay? Both of you."

"We will. You too."

She nodded and smiled.

Alphonse caught up with his brother, and just like that they were both off. Before the train was completely out of sight, Ed turned his head halfway and smiled at them. The smoke from the train clouded them, and when it cleared, they had disappeared.

"Well, that's it, they're gone."

Winry had a faraway look in her eyes. "They'll be back. I'm sure of it."

...Iris could only hope so.