December 7th

Ben 6

Lucy 4

Winry-very pregnant

Winry was eating breakfast with her children when the phone rang. She waddled quickly to the phone anticipating the news she had been waiting for. She answered the phone almost dropping it in the process. 'I swear being pregnant makes me clumsy,' she thought. "Hello?"

The smooth sound of her husband's voice came over the phone. "Morning beautiful. Did you sleep well?"

"Ed! How is Mei? Did she have the baby yet?" Winry ignored her husband's sweet comments. She needed to know.

"You're in such a hurry. Just relax."

"EDWARD!"

"Oh fine. It's a girl. She was born about an hour ago. Mei and her are doing very well."

Winry sighed in relief. "Poor Mei. She was in labor all night."

"I know. I'm going to make them breakfast and then I'll head home. I'm ready for some shut eye but Al was there for us when we had Ben so I figured I gotta do something for them. Sig and Izumi can handle it after that."

"It's fine. Ben will walk to school soon. But I still need you to keep an eye on Lucy. I have a patient soon."

Edward groaned. He guessed he wasn't getting sleep for a while.

Winry continued. "Oh just drink some coffee. Hopefully you can convince Lucy to take a nap with you."

Lucy yelled "NO NAP!".

Winry looked sharply at her. "Not right now!" She turned her attention to Ed. "So what's her name?"

"Kisa Trisha. I told them that it'd be okay if they used mom's name."

Winry's eyes teared up. "That's so sweet."

"Win, don't cry."

Winry sniffled. "They're happy tears so it's fine."

Edward snickered at her. "Alright. Happy tears are allowed. Anyways, I gotta get cooking. See you soon. Love you."

"Love you, too. Bye." Winry hung up the phone. She turned to her children. "Guess what? Aunt Mei had her baby. A little girl. Your first cousin. Her name is Kisa."

Lucy and Ben smiled really big. They were so excited and couldn't wait to meet their new cousin. Then Lucy exclaimed. "I knew it was going to be a girl!"

Ben scoffed. "Nuh-uh!"

Lucy pointed at Winry. "And that one's going to be a girl too!"

Ben was annoyed! "No way! Dad said it's going to be a boy!"

Winry yelled "Your father said that?! He's going to get it later. And you two! Why is everything a competition? There's no way to know if this one will be a boy or a girl. We'll just have to wait and see." Lucy and Ben were silent until Ben noticed he had to head to school.

A few weeks later…

It was New Year's Eve, and Winry felt like she was too pregnant to even celebrate. The kids were saying they were going to stay up until midnight to listen to the countdown on the radio. And even though Mei and Alphonse had been invited over, they declined. They were still getting used to a newborn's schedule. Izumi and Sig were fixing dinner. Winry felt really grateful to have them here. Since she was due soon, they moved from Al and Mei's over to Ed and Winry's to be there to help with the children because Winry was very pregnant. But now Winry was past her due date. This was the longest she had ever been pregnant.

Winry was sitting on the couch reading when she heard Eva, their dog barking at the window. Ben ran up to the window and looked outside. "It's snowing!"

Lucy ran up to the window "Let me see!"

Edward came up behind her. "Well, it is snowing." The kids shouted in glee.

"I want to build a snowman!" Ben yelled.

"Me too!" Lucy yelled back.

Edward sighed. "It's dark out now but tomorrow, we'll go play in the snow. Okay?"

"YAY!" the children yelled and went into the kitchen to tell Izumi and Sig the wonderful news.

They ate dinner shortly after, and Winry watched the snow come down turning the yard white. She suddenly felt a twinge. She grimaced a little. She had been having contractions but nothing steady for the past week. Izumi noticed. "Are you okay, Winry?"

"Yeah, just the usual." After dinner, Winry went upstairs to get a bath to help her relax. She got into her pajamas and felt another twinge. She sat on the bed and waited. 'This one was more painful.' Winry noticed. She waited a little longer and felt another one. 'Really? Tonight?' She didn't want to cause a false alarm so she waited and started timing them. She noticed they were still not consistent. She sighed and went downstairs.

It was after 10 pm and Lucy had already fallen asleep on the couch. Winry sighed at her daughter. She grimaced and felt the pain more this time. Ben who was sitting next to Lucy noticed. "Mom, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. Just go get your father, okay?" Winry said as she sat down. Ben ran to the kitchen to get Edward.

Edward came in and saw Winry bent over as much as she could in pain. "Winry!" Edward sat next to her and she grabbed his hand. She let out a breath and relaxed when it ended. "Should I call the doctor?"

"No. They're not very consistent."

"But that was really strong."

"I don't want to call him yet. What if these are the practice contractions?"

Edward raised an eyebrow. "What if it's the real deal? What if it's time?!" He was raising his voice.

"Shhhhh! Lucy's asleep!"

Izumi and Sig came in from the kitchen after hearing Edward yelling.

Winry explained that she was having contractions but they weren't consistent and Edward said he wanted to call the doctor. Then Winry had another contraction.

Winry grabbed his hand. Edward rubbed her back. He told her "Remember to breathe." Winry started breathing. She didn't realize she had been holding her breath. She relaxed when it ended but she still demanded not to call the doctor yet. Edward was frustrated. "Fine, we won't call but I'm going to start timing these contractions." Edward grabbed his pocket watch and sat with Winry, writing down the times until Winry could see for herself that they were getting consistent and closer together. It was around 11:30 when she agreed to have the doctor called.

Edward looked outside and noticed the snow and wind had picked up. It was like a blizzard. They hadn't seen this much snow in a long time. He called the doctor but the doctor was said it might be a while due to the snow storm outside.

Izumi helped Winry upstairs and started getting the room ready with Winry helping in between contractions.

Edward went into their bedroom and helped finish setting up. Winry was walking around the room and felt a splash on the floor. "Oh my god. My water broke!"

Edward got a towel and cleaned it up. "It's clear so that's good, right?" Winry nodded. Now she knew the baby was coming.

Winry laid down on the bed and the contractions were getting stronger. She was starting to cry out during them. Edward sat next to his wife and held her hand. He reminded her to breathe and that she was doing a good job.

Sig came upstairs and noticed Ben sitting in the hallway just outside the room. The adults had been so preoccupied with the new arrival, they hadn't noticed the countdown was already done with on the radio and the new year was officially rung in. "Ben, are you okay?"

"Papa Sig!" Ben ran and hugged him. "Is mom going to be okay?" He looked up at him and jumped when he heard his mom cry out again.

"Yes, she'll be fine. It's painful to hear this part but it'll be worth it. Every mother goes through this."

Ben nodded, and Sig put him to bed after reading a story to him.

Edward looked at his watch. "Where's the doctor?! It's been over an hour!"

Izumi looked outside and the storm was worse.

Winry's eyes enlarged. "It's time! I feel it! Like I have to push!" Winry was sweating bullets at this point. Her contractions were very close together. Edward and Izumi looked at each other with eyes enlarged. Edward was feeling the panic inside him building. Izumi saw it too. Winry yelled "One of you is going to have to deliver it!"

Now Edward was terrified. He looked to his teacher, who had a stern look. "Edward, we're going to have to do this."

Edward calmed down. "Right, let's get some towels. And hot water."

Winry yelled "And antiseptic!"

Izumi and Edward gathered their items. Izumi informed Sig of the situation, and he went out to brave the snowstorm to find the doctor. Edward and Izumi then agreed that Edward would catch the baby and Izumi would assist.

Winry would push, and Izumi would count for her. Edward stayed and watched for any progress. After a few pushes, Edward saw the head. Edward put his hands on the baby's head and waited for Winry to push. "Winry, I see the head. You're doing great!" Fortunately, this wasn't his first birth that he had attended.

Winry pushed a few more times until the baby slipped out into Edward's hands. He laid it on the towel, and it began to cry. Winry felt relieved. It was breathing! And the mood lifted in the room. Winry gave them the instructions to cut the cord and tie it. They also needed to save the placenta for the doctor to inspect.

Winry then realized something. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Edward looked down at the wailing infant. "It's a girl!"

Winry smiled. She would be happy either way. Edward didn't care at this point either. The baby seemed fine, and that's all that mattered. He handed the infant wrapped in a towel to Winry, who cooed at the new baby girl. "Hello little one." The infant started to calm down after hearing Winry's voice.

Sig arrived with the doctor who was impressed with how well they handled the situation. He inspected the mother and infant girl, and found them in good health. He reminded them that the infant needed a bath very soon. Izumi went to warm the water in the basin, and Edward brought the little baby in, and they scrubbed her down. The baby did not like the bath and started crying.

Eventually, Edward brought her back to Winry in a warm pink outfit that she had picked out. She was bundled in one of Lucy's old pink baby blankets. Edward sat next to Winry and felt exhausted but exhilarated at the same time. He had delivered his own daughter! He smiled as he watched Winry feed the infant.

When the night finally seemed calm, people started going to bed one by one. The doctor even stayed in one of the patient's rooms. Edward helped Winry into some new pajamas as the other ones were sweaty. Winry told him as they turned off the lamp "I can't wait to see the kids' faces tomorrow morning when they meet her."

Edward chuckled "Yeah. It's going to be awesome!"

The next day..

Lucy was downstairs with Sig, who was up early, making breakfast. Ben joined them and started to remember the events from last night. "Papa Sig, is mom okay?"

Lucy was worried. She didn't know anything but Sig reassured them. "She's fine. And the baby is fine too."

Lucy's mouth dropped. "Mommy had the baby?!"

Ben asked hurriedly "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Sig held up his hands in surrender. "Hold on! I think your parents want to tell you that." Ben and Lucy sighed. It was hard to wait.

About 30 minutes later, Edward came downstairs. He yawned as he walked into the kitchen but was met with an ambush. "Daddy!" "Daddy" "We want to see the baby!"

"Okay! Okay! Come on up. Your mom's ready. She just finished feeding the baby." Edward told them and they bolted up the stairs. Edward raced after them.

Ben ran in with Lucy right behind him. Winry was giggling as she heard the fiasco running up the stairs. "Hey you two. Come over here."

Ben and Lucy went up to the side of the bed and looked at the baby.

Ben yelled "It's a girl?! Ugh!" He noticed the pink blanket and clothes. Lucy squealed with delight.

Edward went to his side of the bed. "Well Ben, we can't choose the gender. It seems like the girls are winning though."

Lucy wanted to touch the baby so Winry took her hand and put it on the baby's cheek. Winry told them "It's amazing, she looks just like Ben when he was born." She had golden eyes and golden hair just like her brother and father.

Lucy asked "What's her name?"

Winry answered "Sophie. Her full name is Sophie Isabelle Elric."

Lucy was excited to have a sister. Ben came to terms with it shortly after when he remembered what Edward had promised last night. "Hey Dad! When are we going to go play in the snow?"

Edward sighed. He was so tired but he knew these kids were dying to go out and play in the snow. "After breakfast." The children ran out as fast as they had ran in leaving the parents and their new addition alone. They looked at each other and smiled tiredly. Edward kissed her forehead. "You did great Win."

"So did you. I'm surprised that you delivered her. I'm glad you did though."

"Yeah, it was awesome. Not sure I'd want to again though. That was a lot of pressure."

"I know! I remember falling down on my knees."

Edward and Winry laughed a little at the memory. Edward looked at her. "Need anything?"

"Coffee."

Edward went downstairs and got a tray ready with Winry's breakfast on it. He brought the tray up to her and took his newest daughter and held her lovingly until the children reminded him that they were getting their clothes on.

Edward put the baby down in the bassinet and went to get dressed himself. He and the children played outside. He taught them how to build a snowman, and participated in a snowball fight where the children ganged up on him. Edward yelled in a playful manner "No fair! Two against one?!"

Eventually Winry came out on the balcony to see their snow creations. Edward waved at her and the children saw their mom holding the baby with one arm. They waved at her. Ben yelled "Mom! Look at the snowman I made!"

"And I helped!" Lucy said. "I'm going to make my own now!" Ben offered to help Lucy with her snowman.

Winry looked at Sophie. "That'll be you one day running around playing outside but for now let's head inside where it's warm." The baby yawned in response. "Life is good," Winry told Sophie.