February 2nd, 1930

Ben 11

Lucy 8

Sophie and Kisa 4

Shoyo 2

Heny and Hugh 11 months old

Edward and Winry were in their kitchen arguing. Winry was decorating her eldest son's birthday cake while all the children played outside except the twins because it was quite cold out. It had snowed and the children were building snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other.

Edward was watching Winry work on the birthday cake. It was birthday season in their house so it felt like they were constantly celebrating, which was exhausting. Sophie and Winry's birthdays were in January, Edward and Ben's were in February, and the twins were in March. At least Lucy's was in August.

"Winry, don't wear yourself out baking. You know we could've bought a cake from in town!"

"It's not the same! I've always made his birthday cake, and that's not going to change!" Winry yelled back.

"He wouldn't have noticed! What's the big deal?"

"Ugh! You just don't understand. He's the eldest, and I don't want him to feel like he's been pushed aside because he now has four siblings," Winry retorted.

"He doesn't think that. He loves his siblings. He just needs his space every now and then." Edward put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen, I just don't want you to wear yourself out. It took you a long time to recover from having the twins."

Winry relaxed. He was just chastising her because he was worried about her. "I understand but I do feel better. I'll take it easy after the party, okay? You're still making dinner, right?"

Edward nodded. "Yep, I'm making chicken and pasta with the white sauce."

She set the piping bag down and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "All finished."

Edward looked at the cake. "Looks good. Why did he want carrot cake?"

"That's what he likes. I think it's good too. Especially my homemade cream cheese frosting." Winry licked her lips. She couldn't wait to eat a slice herself.

"Weird kid. Nothing's better than chocolate. Wait, you're not making me a cake tomorrow too, right?"

A dark cloud appeared above her. "Well, it's your birthday tomorrow so I'm going to make a chocolate cake for you."

"Winry! You shouldn't be doing so much!"

"I'm fine! Really! I promise!" Winry told him. She took off the apron and hugged him. "It's sweet that you're worried about me. But let me do this. It's how I show my family that I love them."

"Alright."

They embraced each other for a long minute until Winry said "I'll gather the kids. Can you place the cake on the table? And get Hugh and Henry."

Edward released her as she went to put her coat on. He could hear her talking to the Hugh and Henry just before she stepped out. They were happily playing in their 'cage' that Winry had made so long ago.

Edward set the cake on the table with all the other trays of food that they had prepared. He went to the living room and stood over the 'cage'. "Hey boys, you ready for a party? Come here." Edward beckoned them to the edge. He picked up Henry and set him on the ground. Then he picked up Hugh and could smell the dirty diaper. "Oh no. Not now."

Edward could hear Winry coming with all the kids tracking in behind her. Edward looked at Hugh with his green eyes and told him "It can wait until we're done singing, right?" Hugh answered in his own baby language.

Ben ran in with his two friends, Cody and Aaron, taking off scarves and mittens. Lucy and Sophie and Kisa followed suit. Then Al and Mei came in with Shoyo. All had rosy cheeks from the cold outside.

Once everyone was at the table with hot chocolate that Winry had made in the slow cooker, Ben was presented with the cake and Edward lit the candles. They sang happy birthday to him and he blew out the candles.

Edward raced after Hugh saying "Come here you little rascal," as Hugh laughed trying to get away. Edward picked him and started heading upstairs.

Winry saw him "Hey Ed, we're about to do presents."

"Hugh needs to be changed."

"Ugh…. Have fun with that," she was grateful to get out of that one.

Edward took him to the nursery. He passed Lucy and Sophie's room, who had to share now because of the twins. Daisy, the white cat, was laying on Lucy's bed purring happily when she saw Edward. "You're glad you escaped the party, huh?"

Edward set Hugh down on the changing table. "Man, I'm so glad you two are the last. I'm tired of changing diapers. I've been doing this for…. 11 years. Well damn…that is a long time." Of course they had times when the kids were all out of diapers and then Winry would get pregnant. Well at least when these two were potty trained, they would be done with diapers all together.

Edward stood the baby up on the table and pulled his overalls back up. They had just recently started walking. It was amazing that they learned so fast from watching their siblings. He threw Hugh into the air and caught him. "All done, now let's get back to brother's party."

Winry made Ben wait to open presents until his father came back downstairs. Sophie came up to Ben with her gift that she made. She had made a horse with her alchemy that her father and uncle had been teaching her. So far Edward had one child interested in alchemy and she seemed to have a knack for it just like him.

Then Lucy gave Ben a painting of a dragon that she had been working on. Lucy is a bright child but was still having so much difficulty with reading. She had a talent for art and music. Winry was thinking of getting her music lessons.

Then Ben got to the last present which was from his parents. It was large, and Winry was so excited to watch him open it. His eyes glimmered as he yelled out "It's a tool box!" He pulled out the tools one by one and was enamored with them. He ran and hugged Winry, who he figured the gift was her idea. Ben was on his way to becoming an automail engineer, just like his mom, and she enjoyed having his help in the shop too along with her assistant.

Later that evening, after the babies were bed and everyone went home, Edward and Winry were sitting on the couch. Winry had a glass of wine and Edward had a beer. Winry reflected on the years that had passed. "I can't believe he's eleven."

"I know. It feels like he was just born but sometimes, it feels like an eternity."

"Remember what it was like before we had children?"

Edward pondered "Man, I don't. It feels like they've been with us forever."

Winry laughed. "Yes it does."

She clinked her glass against his. And then she became more somber. "I'm just glad that we're still here for them. Our parents were already gone when we were eleven."

Edward looked into his beer. He was thinking about his mom. And a little about his dad. He wished they could have seen this. "Yeah. I'm grateful that we can be here for them still. I always want to be here for them."

"Me too."

Edward and Winry knew that wasn't possible but they were very content that it seemed that life was letting them be happy. Their kids were healthy and growing like weeds. And their kids still had their parents to help them and be there for them.