Hello! I've returned to finish the last few chapters of the story. If you want a spoiler, then go read "It's Time." It has the same characters and sheds light on what Edward and Winry and their children are doing when they are older.

February 1928

Ben 9

Lucy 6

Sophie and Kisa 2

It was a chilly afternoon in Risembool. The grass was still brown. Winry had just finished working for the day, and had paid the babysitter for watching Kisa and Sophie. They were napping upstairs and Winry was hoping to get a hot shower before they woke up. Edward had been travelling for three months and wouldn't be home for another two weeks. He was traveling far in the west where there was a desert. She was impressed by his last photo in his letter that showed him riding a camel.

She got upstairs and saw the two little girls sleeping. She smiled sweetly at them. They slept in the same bed. Alphonse and Mei had a baby boy a month ago. They named him Shoyo and he was the spitting image of his father with golden hair and eyes. Kisa had the gold eyes but rich black hair like her mother. But Kisa had slept better than Shoyo so Winry had Kisa over a few days of the week which kept Sophie occupied.

Then Winry heard the front door open and hit the wall. She cringed and quietly closed the girls door. She went downstairs angry that her two oldest were making such a racket coming home from school.

Lucy cried out "Mommy! We need your help!".

Winry made it down the stairs steaming but then she saw Lucy with tears in her eyes and her eldest looking pensive. Winry calmed down some.

"What's wrong?" Winry asked.

Ben unwrapped something in his arms. "We found it by the road. It's so weak."

Winry looked in his arms. Winry saw a tiny white kitten. It was meowing weakly. "Oh dear." Winry said. She took the kitten and noticed how cold it was. "Lucy, go get some clean towels. Ben, go warm up some water for the hot water bottle."

Lucy brought her a towel and Winry wrapped the kitten in the towel and sat next to the fire with it trying to warm it up. Ben brought the hot water bottle and Winry placed the water bottle in a towel and put it next to the kitten.

Lucy sat next to Winry. "Mommy, is it going to be okay?"

Winry cringed. "I'm not sure. We'll do our best to help it. I need to call the vet."

Ben brought her the phone careful not to pull it out of the wall. She called the vet and the vet said she would stop by later today but to try to give the kitten corn syrup. Winry gave the kitten to Lucy to hold by the fireplace while she got the corn syrup and slowly fed the kitten. The kitten started meowing more and seemed more alert.

Eva, their dog that they had gotten from Riza, came over to see the commotion and sniffed the kitten. The kitten hissed at it. Eva backed away and put her head down and wagged her tail. Winry laughed. "Eva, she's not trying to play with you."

Ben found a box to put the kitten in with the hot water bottle. Ben and Lucy did their homework next to the kitten's box so they could be near it in case it needed something.

Winry welcomed the vet inside and she inspected the kitten. "It's a girl. Looks like she's old enough to go on regular cat food. I brought some over until you decide what you're going to do with her."

Winry sighed. Lucy held the kitten lovingly. She was already getting attached. Winry couldn't blame her. The kitten was adorable.

The toddlers woke up and were excited to see a new animal in the house. Winry reminded Sophie and Kisa to be gentle with the kitten. She was making chili when Alphonse and Mei showed up to pick up Kisa. Mei had Shoyo in a sling in front of her.

"Daddy, look!" Kisa said and she dragged Alphonse over to the box.

Then it was his turn to be enthralled with the new kitten. "Awww.. she's so cute. Too bad we can't take her. Our cat, Bella, would be very jealous." Kisa was sad that the kitten wouldn't go home with her but Alphonse promised her she could come back and play with it.

Winry saw the baby. "Has he gotten on a schedule yet?"

Mei sighed. "We're getting there. He just wants to use me as a pacifier all the time. He won't take anything else."

"Oh that's a shame." Winry said.

Mei explained "Well the first one was so easy that she tricked us into having a second one."

Winry laughed. "Yeah my first two were easy and then there was Sophie. At least she sleeps better now. Dinner is almost ready. Do you want to stay? There's plenty."

Alphonse and Mei agreed to stay for dinner. It was nice to have a big family together eating a meal. Especially while Edward was away.

Later on that night, Lucy was allowed to bring the kitten to her room, and the kitten escaped its box and made it on to Lucy's bed. Lucy was so happy that the kitten had chosen to sleep with her.

Winry checked on them and saw the sweet scene. The white kitten curled up next to a sleeping Lucy. The sound of the kitten purring.

'How am I going to tell Ed?' Winry thought before she went to bed.

A week later….

The phone rings in the evening just after dinner. Winry had made a stew since the cold weather had decided to remain. Ben was helping wash the dishes, and Winry went to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey beautiful."

"Ed, it's you! Are you back in the country?"

"Yep. I'll be in Central for a week to present my findings and then I'll be home. And I've got a surprise for you."

Winry smiled coyly. "Oh really."

"Yeah, you'll see it when I come home. It's in my suitcase along with a few things for the kids." Edward told her.

Winry got nervous. She figured she should tell him now so he had time to calm down before he got home. "Well Ed. We have a surprise too."

"Really?" Edward was surprised.

"Umm… well it's not for you but it involves the whole family. We got a kitten." Winry said.

The phone was silent for a little while.

"Ed, are you still-"

"WHAT?! A CAT?! IN OUR HOUSE?!"

"YES! Lucy and Ben found it on their way home from school. And we couldn't just throw it back outside. It's cold right now."

Edward groaned and rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe this!"

"Well Lucy has grown really attached to it. And she named it Daisy. And it's really cute. Can she keep it?" Winry pleaded.

Edward shook his head. "I'll think about it. Lucy really needs to focus on school. She's been struggling with reading. And I don't want any distractions."

Winry stomped her foot. "I know Ed. But she's also been down because of school. And this kitten really cheered her up."

Edward sighed. "I'll see what I get home about her keeping the kitten."

Winry shouted "Well fine!"

Edward shouted "Fine!"

They both paused on the phone not wanting to end the phone call in an argument.

Winry gave in. "Be safe. I love you."

"I love you too. Tell the kids I said hi, and I'll see them soon."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

Ben saw his mom. "Can I talk to Dad?"

Winry gave him an exasperated look. "He already hung up. He's not happy about the kitten."

Lucy looked up from the table and tears started forming in her eyes. "I don't want to lose Daisy."

Winry knelt down in front of her. "I know. But Daddy isn't sure yet. So you need to convince him that the kitten won't distract you from school work. Okay? I think you can do that."

A week later…

Edward walks into his home. The smell of apple pie and stew filled the air. Winry was trying to soften him up for the inevitable decision about the kitten. Edward was filled with peace and then he was attacked by Ben and Sophie. He hugged them back just as ferociously.

Edward told them "I missed you guys so much."

Ben began telling Edward "Dad, you have to see what I made in Mom's shop."

"Daddy! Daddy! Pick me up!" Sophie yelled while Ben was talking to him. Edward pick up Sophie and bounced her.

Ben went on as if Sophie wasn't interrupting. "I helped Mom build an arm for one of her patients and I started making one of my own." Edward stopped and looked surprised. His son had chosen to do automail instead of alchemy. He felt his heart break a little.

"That's great Ben," Edward said trying to not show his disappointment.

Winry came out of the kitchen and greeted her husband. They kissed quickly and hugged which Sophie was in on. Ben refrained. He was getting older, and didn't feel the need for such sappiness.

Then Lucy appeared carrying Daisy. She had a cute pout on her face. Edward set down Sophie and knelt down to see Lucy and the kitten. The kitten meowed.

"So this is her, huh?"

Lucy nodded. Edward petted the kitten and it meowed happily. He saw Lucy's face. It was filled with desperation. Edward felt his heart break again for the second time that day.

"Fine. You can keep her. But school comes first, okay?"

Lucy's eyes brightened along with the biggest smile. "Thank you Daddy!" She hugged him tight and the kitten squirmed.

Winry panicked. "Don't squish Daisy!"

Lucy put Daisy down and hugged her dad.

Edward watched the kitten go to Eva and curl up next to her. Even the dog had betrayed him, and liked the kitten. Edward sighed but was so happy to be home, especially since dinner was ready.