Several hours after giving birth, Winry took a nap and Edward held the baby in the rocking chair in the nursery. Al found Edward gazing at the infant who was sound asleep. Edward caressed the baby's face. Al came up beside him to look. "Aww brother, he's so cute."
"I know. I still can't believe that he's mine."
"Yeah, me neither. I wonder if he felt the same way when he held us." Al was speaking of their father.
Edward felt awkward. He had such anger towards the man but now Ed was a father himself and saw how his father must have felt when he held them. "Well one thing is for sure. I'm never leaving him like that. I may have to go on research trips but I'll always call and write."
"I know brother. You've learned from our father's mistakes." Al patted his shoulder and turned to leave the room. "I'll make dinner tonight so I hope you like it."
"Agh! Al, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to be our personal chef while you're here." Edward said.
"It's fine. I came here to help and this is the best way I can help. So relax." Al reassured him.
"Fine but I'm cooking tomorrow night. Winry is off cooking duty for a while." Edward said and Al went downstairs. The baby stirred a little. Edward looked down at him and spoke softly. "Hey, you waking up? It's about time you probably are getting hungry. Actually, I need to check your diaper. Let's do that now."
Edward set him on the changing table and undid the swaddle. He undid the pajamas and the baby started moving. Ben didn't like the new cold air on him after he was just in some warm blanket. Edward undid the diaper and saw the black tar. "Yep, just as the book said." Edward wiped the baby clean and it started to cry. "I'm sorry, I'm trying to hurry."
"Is everything okay?" Winry said as she walked in the room.
"Winry! What are you doing out of bed?"
"The nurse said I should walk around a little bit. Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he just needed to be changed." The baby was crying really loud. Edward put the powder on and a new diaper. He zipped the baby back in the pajamas and swaddled him. "I think he's hungry."
Winry and Edward went back to their room with Winry unbuttoning her top and getting into bed. Edward handed her the baby and she was trying to calm him down. She had trouble getting him to latch on and finally Ben latched on and started to suckle. "It was so easy the first time. I don't know why it was so hard now." She was frustrated.
"We can call the nurse."
"No, it's fine. She'll be by tomorrow." Winry sighed. At least the baby was eating so she shouldn't worry. When the baby was done eating, they decided to introduce Ben to Eva. Winry showed Ben to Eva, their dog. Eva heard him cry and ran around in circles in their bedroom. Edward and Winry laughed at the dog's reaction to a new baby.
Dinner was brought up to Winry and Al wanted to hold the baby while Winry ate dinner. Edward went downstairs and called his former teacher to tell her. "Hey Izumi!" It still felt weird to not call her 'teacher'.
"Edward! Is it the baby?" Izumi asked.
Edward wondered how she knew. "Yep. I hope you had your money on blue because it's a boy." Edward was so proud.
Edward then proceeded to agree to her about something. He hoped it was okay by Winry. He didn't think to ask her before he got off the phone.
"Hey Win, you don't mind if Teacher and her husband come by and visit, let's say in a week?" Edward was hoping it was okay because he already told Izumi it was okay.
"Yeah that's fine. We'll have to get the other guest room ready. Oh no! We'll have to move a bed from Grandma's house to over here."
"It's fine. Al and I will take care of it. You just relax, okay?" Edward said though he was glad she had thought of that.
Later that night, Winry nursed the baby and it seemed easier after a few times. Maybe she and the baby just needed practice getting used to this. She laid him in the bassinet around 10 pm. Her and Edward laid in bed and reflected on the day. They both couldn't believe Ben was here. They closed their eyes and rested for the night.
Winry woke up to hear the baby start crying. Edward got up and picked up the baby as Winry turned on the lamp. Edward looked at the clock. "He slept 6 hours. It's 4 am."
"6 hours! He's not supposed to sleep that long. Poor thing, he must be starving." Winry undid her pajamas frantically. Edward handed her the baby and he started nursing. He placed the pillow under Winry's arm to support her.
"Winry, he's fine. He's probably exhausted after yesterday."
"I guess." Winry was worried.
Edward got back in bed and watched the baby nurse. He closed his eyes and waited for the baby to finish. When the baby was done, he got up and put him back in his bassinet and him and Winry went back to sleep.
The next day, Edward took the baby downstairs. "Let's go see what Uncle Al is doing." Al was doing dishes. He was holding Ben on his chest with Ben's head resting on his shoulder. "Hey Al, does he look comfortable?" He showed Ben's face to Al.
"Yeah, he's just looking around." Then Al's tone changed to a high pitch. "Hey Ben, how are you doing?" Ben gurgled a little. Edward patted him on the back.
"I'm just trying to figure out how to hold him."
"Well he seems content."
Edward walked around showing Ben his home. Then the baby started to fuss. Edward looked at the time. 'Yep, just like clockwork. It's been 2 hours so he's probably ready to eat again.' He made his way upstairs to wake up Winry.
Winry was sitting at her vanity brushing her hair and putting it up in a ponytail. She turned around when she heard the door open. "Oh you're up," Edward said relieved he didn't have to wake her up. "I think he's hungry again."
Winry got back in bed and unbuttoned her pajamas and Edward handed the baby to her. Then he put a pillow under her arm to support her arm. She positioned the baby across her chest and he started suckling. Edward sat next to her and watched Winry feed him. It was peaceful until the baby started grunted and kicking.
Winry looked at Ben. "Calm down, there's plenty." She chuckled as he grunted more.
"I don't remember him doing this yesterday."
"Well he's serious about his food today." Winry said.
Edward put his arm around her. "Need anything?"
"Some coffee but wait a little while. I like using you as a pillow," Winry leaned back onto his arm. Edward was okay with this arrangement.
When Winry finished feeding Ben, Edward went downstairs to get coffee and some breakfast for his wife. Al came upstairs and checked on Winry. She called him over. "I need a favor from you."
"What is it?" Al was wondering why Winry was whispering.
"It's Ed's birthday today. I ordered a cake and I need you to go pick it up from the baker."
"Oh that's right! His birthday is today." Al put his hand to his forehead. He couldn't believe that he forgot but it had been busy with the baby arriving. Al went and got the chocolate cake from the bakery. Winry and Al surprised Edward later with the cake and Edward was surprised because he had forgotten his own birthday.
"Wow, thanks guys," Edward said sitting at the dinner table looking at the chocolate cake. Winry had ordered the cake because she knew she didn't feel like baking a cake at 9 months pregnant and now she had a newborn so she really didn't feel like baking. Edward spoke to the baby in Winry's arms. "No cake for you. Not for a while." He sliced up the cake and they enjoyed his birthday at home.
Later that night, Winry had fed the baby at 10:30 and put him in his bassinet next to her side of the bed. 'Maybe he'll sleep good tonight, too.' Winry thought as she turned out her lamp and laid next to Ed, who had fallen asleep already.
Ben started crying around 12:30. 'Two hours on the dot.' Winry got up and fed him. After he was done eating, she laid him down. Then he was up again at 3 am. Edward heard him and brought him to Winry. Winry sighed 'Ok, now it's every two hours. I guess we just got lucky our first night.' She fed him and placed him back in the bassinet but then he started crying again. Winry picked him back up and sat in bed to pat him. 'Maybe he needs to burp a little more.' He seemed to settle down so she put Ben back in the bassinet. She was laying down for a few minutes and he started fussing.
Edward got up and picked Ben up. Ben's eyes were wide open and he didn't look like he was going back to sleep. Winry sighed "I just fed him. I'm not sure why he's not going back to sleep."
"He doesn't look tired. I'm going to sit with him in his room."
"Are you sure? I can do that."
"I've got him. Try to get some rest." Edward said as he took the baby into the nursery. He sat in the rocking chair, and rocked the baby, hoping he would fall asleep but that didn't look like it was going to happen. Ben was wide awake and gurgled a little. Edward yawned as he rocked the baby. "You're not tired, are you?" The baby made some cute noises. The baby finally went back to sleep about 2 hours later after he ate again.
The next morning, Alphonse woke up to see Edward asleep on the couch with the baby sleeping on him. Al stared at the father and son. Edward's eyes slowly opened. Al crossed his arms. "Morning brother."
"Is it morning, already?" Ed said really tired. The baby had gotten up again so he had to rock Ben again. "The baby was up half the night," Edward groaned.
"So I should make some coffee?" Al offered.
"Do you have to ask?" Ed said and the baby squirmed causing Edward to quiet down. He didn't want to wake the baby. Al made breakfast that day but Edward did lunch and dinner so Al could take a break from cooking. Instead Alphonse got to hold his nephew while Edward did the cooking.
Author's note: I tried to make this experience as real as possible. A newborn's first bowel movement is like a sticky black tar substance. And for whatever reason, a baby's second night is awful. I was even warned by a nurse with my infant. They are usually up and fussy all night. Anyways, it's still exciting having a new baby. I always got a surge of energy after having my kids but the sleepless nights do catch up to you. Also, please review if you are enjoying this story. Or if you have an idea for a family moment, let me know in a review.