Hey all, thanks so much for all your kind reviews once again, really, I couldn't write without you guys.
Ami-the-water-godess: Hey there, thanks for reading. About the grammar thing like, ican'tgo. That isn't my fault. Fanfiction does screwed up things like that by itself, and randomly, other full-time posters will know what I am talking about. I do my best to prevent it though. I hope you enjoy the next chapters.
Kit Rose: Oh my hun! I would be sooooo flattered if you drew and EdxWin pic for me, I will worship you forever! Enjoy this chapter.
Well guys, I really hope you do like this chapter, cause I sure as hell don't :( I hope you guys do anyway! (Prays to sun god Leto)
Oh and guys, just because people don't want this fic to end, by popular demand, there may just be a few more chappies! See I accommodate your needs. It does need to end however… but I guess I can drag it out slightly.
Chapter Thirty-three: Troubling duty.
"Brother are you sure it's alright to leave Winry at home with that homunculus?" I asked cautiously as brother tapped his boots on the cement surface.
"Yep"
"But brother…!" I argued, not finding any logic in his answer, or the reason why I wanted to debate it.
"Winry can handle him, besides, Izumi is there." He replied casually, standing up on his tippee toes to see over the crowd.
"But I think she was upset that you wouldn't take her too central with you…" I told him, hearing him mutter about the time.
"Well she just has to deal with it, I'm not going to buy her birthday present and wedding ring while she is there am I?" He replied with anger and annoyance. I instantly grinned.
"So that is what this trip is about, I'm impressed brother, I thought you would have hired someone to do this dirty work for you." I chuckled. Also keeping an eye on the time, the train should be here any second.
"Shut up! I don't want to do it!" He snapped. Just as he opened his mouth to say something else the train came speeding down the tracks. The crowd immediately all began pushing to get onboard the obviously popular train. "Oi, state alchemist here. Make way!" Brother yelled dominantly, violently pushing through the crowd.
Once we managed to get a seat on the train brother instantly began whining.
"And I'm going to have to visit Colonel shit for sure!"
"BROTHER!" I gasped. The lack of respect he had for his superiors was definitely not inspiring.
"And what the hell am I going to do about this Winry stuff? I don't know what she wants!" He huffed and rested his head on his palm, his elbow resting on the window sill.
"Maybe we should take her shopping at Rush Valley for her birthday…" I suggested. Hoping brother was fond of the idea.
His mouth instantly opened in shock, and he rolled his eyes. "Are you kidding? I will be broke by the end of day… or hour… or minute!" He complained. "I can't believe that I am going to propose on her birthday… how lame can I get?"
"Brother is that what you are worried about? I think it's really sweet…"
"I don't want to be sweet!"
"Maybe she won't be pissed at you anymore for it though." I laughed. "You really pissed her off this morning."
"It's not my fault we both have the same taste in food! She didn't tell me she wanted the shit!" He disputed defensively.
"Brother, you could have bought more…"
"I didn't know! She just gets angry at the stupidest things."
"Well so do you! You went angry at her the other day for rolling her eyes at you." I chuckled "That was pathetic"
"I don't like being treated like a dumb arse!"
"Well you were kind of being a 'dumb arse'" I replied as nicely as I possibly could, turning my head slightly at the commotion around us, everyone was staring… couldn't brother keep his voice down?
"Oh shut up Al! I don't need this crap from you as well!" Brother sighed and returned to the window sill, gazing out it in a kind of day dream. "You better help me buy a ring; I wouldn't have a clue what she wants."
"Brother I don't think she really minds, I think she will be happy no matter what." I told him.
"Sure"
Time passed slowly. Brother and I talked about certain topics as the train ran along the tracks. The sun was burning brightly causing brother to dig his head into his arms. I sat there with a grin on my face as I watched him. He has all the same traits. He is still my brother after all these years.
"Al?" Brother suddenly lifted his head from his arms, and smiled slightly at me. "I never thought I would be buying Winry's wedding ring with you…" He turned his head to look out the window. "It's really nice that you are here with me." He held a smug sort of grin on his face, to hide the fact he was showing emotion for once.
"I guess you win after all." I laughed slightly, scratching the back of my head. Brother once again lifted his head with shock and gasped slightly.
"I win what?" He asked with a minimal amount of curiosity, but he knew what I was referring to.
"You get to take Winry as your bride." I said cheerfully. His face suddenly became overrun with guilt, and he turned away to look at the passing scenery with misery.
"Yeah…" He said softly, his voice mixed with many emotions. "I cheated though, all that time alone with her while you were gone… while you were amour… if everything was right you surely would have won." My eyes widened at brother's comment, did he doubt himself that much? I remembered Winry telling me of her crush on Edward a long time ago. "But I haven't proposed yet… you still have a chance." Edward smiled sadly. Was he trying to suggest that he would give her up for me?
I frowned slightly. "I don't like Winry that way brother, you should know that. We were just children back then; I didn't even know what marriage was." I laughed slightly and rested my hands behind my head. Edward let out a sigh of relief and turned his head to leer suspiciously at me. "W-what?"
"What about Nelly then?" Edward sniffed. "You two have been awful chummy lately, if you get what I mean." He raised his eyebrows and grinned widely. Shit.
"N-noo brother! I… we just look out for each other is all… she just wants someone to talk to!" I replied defensively, my face blooming a bright red.
"Sure, sure, that's why you have spent the night there about five times already." Brother held up his hands to count along his fingers and grinned with satisfaction. "Actually seven, and here I was thinking that I was an exaggerator."
"But! It was just like a sleepover, we are friends." I stammered, wringing my hands nervously.
"Okay then, we can drop it, if you're so self conscious about you're crush!" Brother grinned, expressing his amusement over the matter.
"It's not like that okay!" Brother shooed me and sighed. Silence once again came over us.
It wasn't long till the announcement was called. We could be arriving in central very soon. I could see brother was anxious, but about what, I wasn't sure. It was either the fact we had to report in to Colonel, or that he was buying his first wedding ring."
Once we stepped out onto the platform, the first thing brother did was check his pocket watch. "Shit! Mustang is going to have a fucking fit!" Brother yelled abruptly. He grabbed my hand and started dodging the hundreds of people on the platform as he sped towards them at an incredulous speed.
"Brother, running isn't going to do anything!" I yelled with franticness, as I also somehow managed to dodge the crowd of people.
"He said that he would leave something that caught my attention." He suddenly paused and began looking around frantically. I tapped him lightly on the shoulder, minor fear washing over my face. He instantly turned around and looked towards the direction I was pointing in. There stood Armstrong, waving proudly.
"It's him."
"What the hell do you mean?" Brother yelled, standing up from the couch in a fury.
"Now, calm down brother. Mustang is right." I told him, I motioned for him to sit back down cautiously, and I watched as he flung himself down and crossed his legs stubbornly.
"You were supposed to retrieve that stone, instead you used it on your brother, I could threaten you, and you are very well aware of this." Mustang sat at his desk, playing with a silver pen in his hands, as if none of this was even fazing him. I could understand why brother was upset, but he just didn't know what the word 'respect' meant.
"But I am not am I? I am as thrilled about your brother, as everyone else. All I ask is that you bring Kanou to me! Do you understand? That man is wanted, do you realise how many teenagers, young and innocent children he stole from the war? The dying mothers and their children, the people with no hope, the virgins who didn't know any better. He stole them all for the stone that brought your brother back, do you understand Fullmetal?" Mustang had now become a little hasher, his tone was becoming increasingly dominate and loud. I cringed at the thought of how that stone was made; I didn't even want to think about it.
"But he didn't use it did he? He learnt his lesson! I can't capture him when he is the reason my brother is sitting next to me on this couch." He glanced in my direction and flung me a nervous smile before turning back to Mustang seriously. "Get someone else to do it."
"It's an order, bring him to me Fullmetal, or loose your title." With that last line of torment, we were shooed from the room rather brusquely.
"He is only doing his job brother…" I said in attempt to comfort him as we walked down the street of shops, in search of one particular one.
"And his job would be making my life hell! He has plenty of other dogs he can get to do the job, and I will not be taking this man's life. I will talk to him about it however, and tell him to hide so I can't find him." Edward 'hmped' stomping forward through the streets. "Where was that damn jewellery shop…?" He muttered under his breath.
"But brother!" I whined. "You know how Mustang has eyes everywhere. Remember the time he knew that the stone was a fake in Lior."
"Yes…"
"And how we went a little off our course, and went to Xenotime to look for the stone?" I reminded.
"Yes Al,"
"He also knew about the red water incident, even though it was mostly an underground thing!" I added.
"Okay Al I get itt—"
"He also knew you had the hots for Clara, and asked if she really was beautiful!"
"OKAY AL YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT!" Brother huffed, jumping up and down in an attempt to shut me up. Was I embarrassing him? Well brother making a fuss doesn't make it better.
"Oh sorry…" I scratched my neck slightly and grinned. I watched as brother straightened his coat and took in a deep breath of air.
"I am just going to have to take my chances, no more arguments or buts! Now help me find this goddamn shop!" He hissed. I turned my head to the side to see the exact shop brother was looking for and shook my head with exhaustion. He however, was looking everywhere except the right direction in some kind of rage.
"You mean that?" I turned his head and pointed to the shop with a blank look on my face.
"Thanks Al!" He huffed sarcastically. I blinked with confusion as he went ahead. What's he so angry about?
I entered the small jewellery shop, hearing the tinkle of the bell as I did. Brother was already talking to the store person, so I took the time to look around myself.
"Wow… this store is really small, but it has some beautiful stuff." I whispered to myself. I wonder how brother knew about it? I admired the glistening jewels when a grinning brother called me over.
"What about this one?" Brother pointed to the one in the man's hands. It was beautiful I had to admit, white gold (Winry's favourite) with small diamonds framing the beautiful shining one in the middle. Brother was transfixed, and a distant look came to his eyes. It looked expensive.
"Well it is really nice brother, but do you think this is the type of decision you should rush?" I asked hesitantly.
"I asked him what the best one in the store was; he said it was this, no point in looking at the others." Ed said, suddenly snapping out of his dream.
"But maybe there is something that will have more… significance to Winry… you shouldn't just get the most expensive one!" I argued.
"But Al! It's just a chunk of stone, how could Winry think any of these were close to her heart? She will like whatever I buy her, because it's her wedding ring, and I will buy her the best." Brother argued. Fair enough.
"Fine brother." He grinned and turned to the store clerk who looked very pleased over his sale for the day. I know if I had a woman, I would spend my time picking the perfect ring, I guess brother and I had different values. Although I guess that ring was the most beautiful in the store… If only he picked it out himself.
We returned home a little after sunset, and I knew brother was nervous about the scene he and Winry were going to have as soon as he stepped onto that porch. Brother looked extremely satisfied, or exhausted. "She will have a fit." He sighed as we approached the house on the hill. "I mean, I was out all day."
"I don't think you give Winry enough credit… it's just like when she didn't tell you about the baby." I murmured, turning my head to the side slightly.
"THE BABY?" Ed lifted his head with shock and took a deep breath before collapsing on the ground. "That's right we're pregnant aren't we…" He muttered from the ground.
"Yeah, Winry is." I laughed. He sat up and scratched his head, brushing the dirt from his golden hair.
"Man," He grunted, finding it difficult to stand up. But he did and we approached the house steadily.
"I thought you were happy about it…"
"I AM!" He yelled viciously. "I'm just not ready, oh god, oh god, oh god!" He started chanting. "Only 33 weeks! How am I supposed to prepare for this in 33 weeks? Everyone knows I can barley take care of myself." He sighed heavily. "I can't believe this is happening, I don't know how to raise a boy… I mean, we were absolute hell for mum sometimes…" Ed sighed. "If only it was a sweet little girl."
"Brother you still don't know the sex of the child…" I reminded him, this was becoming tiresome. He snapped and turned his head irritably.
"I am the father, I think I can just tell what it's going to be, and it's going to be a boy exactly like his father!" He took that last step onto the porch when Winry opened the door furiously.
"EXCUSE ME?" She hollered, shaking the whole house with her infuriated voice. I peeked past the two lovers and looked inside to see Wrath sitting grumpily on the couch, still acting as stubborn as ever.
"Um, Hey Winry…." Ed backed away a little nervously and waved slightly.
"It will be a girl! JUST LIKE HER MOTHER! WE AGREED THE OTHER NIGHT!" Winry bellowed. I rolled my eyes. How many times were they going to have this conversation?
"Okay, okay Winry!" Ed brushed passed her quite crossly and placed the bags on the ground. I instantly saved them and re-located them to the top cupboard while they were fighting. Her wedding ring was in there for god's sake!
"DON'T WALK PASSED ME EDWARD ELRIC! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN ALL DAY?" She placed her hands on her hips and huffed. I sat next to Izumi and greeted her as she gazed longingly at her son. Or whatever he was… He had not yet accepted her as his mother, we had discovered as much this morning when he told her to leave him the hell alone. "You're not my mother!" He had told her repeatedly.
"Look I got caught up at central, that bastard called me in for a mission!" He replied with annoyance, flopping down onto the couch.
Winry suddenly sobered and gasped slightly. "Are you going away again…?" She asked softly. Letting her arms fall to her sides.
"No, goddammit!" He yelled back heatedly. She turned away slightly with a sniff of sadness.
"Sorry… I just thought you might have been…"
Brother sighed and stood up reluctantly. "It's okay…" He wrapped his arms around his wife to be and patted her back. "Are you going to welcome me home?" He chuckled.
"Welcome home, Edward, Al…" Winry smiled, wrapping her arms around him without protest.
"Now come here!" He lowered his head to her stomach and kissed it hello. "So how's my lil' man going?" Winry's eyebrow twitched before her fist came down hard on his head.
"Lil' woman!" She corrected.
"Guys, can you just stop fighting about the sex? You don't know yet!" I cried with desperation, I was sick of seeing bruises all over my brother's body over it, and I was sick of seeing Winry drawn close to tears over it.
"I am the mother, and I can just tell!"
That's what Ed said…
"Grr! And I am the father and I know it's a boy!" He growled, walking away from her to open the fridge. She followed furiously and bashed him across the head.
"BUT I'M THE ONE CARRYING YOUR CHILD!"
"OW!" He took a step back with the jug of water in his hand and glared up at her as he was slightly cringing pain. "What the hell was that for you savage?" Edward asked with shock. "Haven't you abused me enough?"
"NO! NOT TILL YOU SAY IT'S A GIRL!" She argued, pressing her hands against her hips to seal the comment.
"Fine fine, you think it's a girl, good enough?" He mumbled.
"It is because I have to finish this auto-mail inspection, but we will be talking about this in bed tonight, EDWARD!" She stomped away from him back to where we were and gave us a small smile. Edward just poked his tongue out at her and turned to pour himself a glass of water.
"Look Izumi… after everything you do, I will be happy to do this at a small price, and I'm sure Ed is willing to pay for that." Winry grinned. I laughed at brother's reaction and watched as Izumi grinned.
"Is that so? Well at least he will be putting that hot money of his to good use, dog!" Izumi glared in Edward's direction. He had just spat out all the water in his mouth with shock and surprise.
"WHAT? WINRY YOU CAN'T MAKE ME PAY FOR THAT!" He yelled angrily, running over to the couch to look at her in disbelief and mortification, I was quite mortified myself… how was it we always got into these messes?
Winry just shut her eyes and grinned. "Sure you can, Mr. State Alchemist!" Winry side glanced him evilly, causing brother to gulp down his water with fear fear. He turned away with a sigh.
"Well if you and Wrath will go down to your rooms, the repairs should be done in no time at all!" Winry held up her fingers in the 'ok mode' and stood up to lead them down the hall. Once she returned I looked up at her, then towards brother who was sulking in the kitchen.
"Winry that was mean to make brother pay…" I exhaled; I was trying to stick up for brother even if it was really funny.
"He'll get over it!" She walked into the kitchen; I followed, as I was quite hungry indeed. I looked inside the fridge for some suitable food and grabbed out the necessary items for a sandwich. I once again heard their voices start to rise to roof level.
"FUCK OFF! I'LL PAY FOR IT, BUT I WONT FORGIVE YOU, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SUCH A BITCH?"
"OH SHUT UP YOU BIG BABY; YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR MONEY."
"THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN GO OFFERING MY PAPER TO ANYONE YOU WISH!"
"SHE IS YOU'RE MASTER! IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND I FELT RUDE MAKING HER PAY!"
"YOU ALWAYS MADE ME PAY!"
"SO? YOU WERE RICH!"
"AHHH! AND TO THINK I WAS GOING TO TAKE YOU SHOPPING FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!"
"Huh?" Winry suddenly stopped and inched closer to Edward suspiciously. I just rolled my eyes and buttered the bread.
"Nup, not now I'm not!"
"Where?" She raised her eyebrows with sudden delight.
"Rush… valley…" Edward managed to get out.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH REALLY!" She jumped at Edward with glee and almost knocked him over; I turned with worry to make sure brother was okay when he bashed his head against the cupboard.
"HEY! I ALREADY SAID I'M NOT GOING TO NOW!" He replied back, wrapping his arms around her, so the young woman wouldn't fall.
"You're the best ever! I love you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much." She exclaimed with happiness.
"Oh no, but brother isn't taking you anymore…" I chuckled adding the lettuce and tomato. Winry instantly dropped from my brother and frowned.
"What…?" She asked. Her eyes suddenly became full with grief. Yep, my work here is done.
Brother instantly blushed three shades of red and looked away with guilt. "Well maybe if you're good…" I chuckled at his comment. Score.
"Does being good mean being very bad?" She grinned and stepped closer to Edward suggestively. So close she had him leaning back over the counter just to escape her kiss. I placed the final piece of bread over the top and began packing up. Better hurry.
"W-winry!" Brother blushed, looking away stubbornly. "I'm angry at you!"
"I know, and it makes me want to kiss you!"
"NO!" Brother argued, I heard them get into a battle in which brother tried to fight the temptress off. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" He giggled as she tried to get her hands free from his tight grip.
"Edward, how can I kiss you like this?" She huffed heatedly, trying to get to his lips with violence. She suddenly dropped her hands and sulked. "Fine then!"
"Oh so you're angry at me now?"
"YES!"
"Awwwwww!" He said sarcastically. "Come here, silly…" He pulled her into a hug and took her lips in a hungry kiss, in which she returned without a concern. It was obvious that she was tricking him… but brother never saw that. I placed the butter in the fridge and scuttled out of the kitchen as fast as I could. Long night ahead of me.
Saturn Stars