We are coming ever closer to the end, but I added another piece of drama in just as a celebration as the end being in sight. This one does have a cliffhanger, and not a nice one I'm afraid. I guess I'm just cruel that way. Even now FMA isn't mine.
'Grace will you come and help me!' she called again.
Grace closed her book and scrambled off her bed. Mother had been calling her for a while now but she had decided reading would be more fun. Time went quicker that way and she really wanted time to pass at the moment.
At five years old Grace had learnt to say no to things. It was never out of spite, she just believed there was something better she could be doing. Usually that meant finding something to read for once she had learnt she didn't stop. There weren't too many books in the house she could read but Shezka sent her a bundle each month.
Winry at the time was in the kitchen mid way through making a cake and a large one at that. It would have to feed five people comfortably for she never knew who else would turn up. Grace strolled in without a sign of rushing even though Winry had been calling her for half an hour. Her child was a dreamer which made her seem distant at times. She would always look beyond things as if trying to grasp that magical world, far away, that her father had told her about.
She did look more like Ed than Winry bar the colour of her hair. Her character was most like Al unless she was in a strop. The mixture of both her mother and her fathers temper sometimes cascaded into a screaming fit. That was very rare though and she hadn't even cried for the past two months.
'Could you stir this mixture for me honey?'
It finally clicked. Mother wanted help making a cake and she only ever made a cake for one reason. Daddy and Uncle Al were coming home.
Edward Elric was now in his early twenties but had the wisdom of someone much further on in years. His curiosity for alchemy had never died and he spent his days learning all he could in an effort to help others. His ever faithful brother remained by his side as he always had done. Together they reunited with all the people they had met while in search of the Philosophers stone and met a many more alchemist. The military had begged to get them back but neither had any interest in going back. Ed had a child to think about and that child was happy living where she was.
Grandma Pinako had given Edward the house on his 21st birthday. She was getting on in years and was relieving herself of the hassle, or so she said. It remained an auto-mail shop as Winry was capable of taking over the business from her Grandmother. She had kept the shop name as Rockbell Auto-mail, but Winry was now an Elric. She and Ed had married a few years ago in a small church in Rizembol. It had to try and seat many more people then expected. Thos who didn't make it to the wedding had turned up to the after party, bestowing their blessing on the couple.
Winry had looked so beautiful that day, standing in the spring breeze in her silky white dress. She could no longer be called anything but a woman with all the responsibilities of an adult upon her shoulders. She was a mother, a wife, a housekeeper, worker and shop owner. It never showed on her young face however and she took it all in stride.
He felt guilty for being away for months at a time but it had been her decision for him. She wanted the world to benefit from his gift and was willing to give him up at times for it. Whenever he got home she would be standing in the doorway waiting for him as his daughter ran into his arms, telling him of the book she had just read.
Al for the moment lived with them and spent his free time helping out around Rizembol. Give it a few years and Al would want to take a wife of his own for he was that kind of soul. Grace simply adored her Uncle as he did her.
'I bet she reads this in a week,' Al beamed, holding up the book her had bought for her. It was about alchemy but for a child. Ed chuckled, recalling how Grace loved to learn about alchemy but had no interest in doing it herself. Why should she bother when she had daddy and Uncle Al to show her everything?
Ed also had a gift for his little girl. It was a necklace holding a pendant of the symbol he used to carry on his back. Grace was fascinated by it and he was sure she would love it. She could wear it all the time and have a part of him with her.
For Winry he had a dress, a nice figure hugging velvet dress in midnight blue. Riza had helped him pick it out as he was hopeless at buying clothing for Winry. She always loved whatever he bought for her and even if she didn't he wouldn't have known. Her eyes glowed at any parcel he put in her hands.
He warmed inside as the train pulled into the station. He could see nothing for miles and it was a beautiful sight. He could swear even from there he heard his wife and child calling for him.
Grace leapt off the steps, ran down the path and threw herself into her father. Mother had tried to keep in a surprise that he was on his way home but the cake never lies. After she had thoroughly squeezed the life out of her father she pounced on her Uncle. Winry waited in the doorway of their home no matter how much she wanted to follow her daughter and throw herself at him. He carefully pecked her on the cheek and took her hand as they walked inside.
Later that afternoon Grace was buried in her new book, absent-mindedly tugging at her new necklace. Pinako was marvelling at her new pipe from Ed and the quality tobacco Al had got hold of. They weren't happy she still smoked but it was a guilty pleasure they allowed her. After all, it didn't seem anything could beat down Grandma Pinako.
Winry received her gift as she was undressing for the night. She did look beautiful in it and he teased the clip out of her hair. She always wore her hair up but it was so glorious against the dark velvet.
'There is a small problem with this though Edward,' she sighed and she twirled.
'If the style is wrong blame Riza. I wouldn't even try to…'
'No no,' she laughed taking his hands and twirling him around with her 'The dress is fine, perfect even, but I won't be able to wear it for a while.'
Riddles, she was good at this. He calculated in his head why she couldn't wear it. It was summer; perhaps it would be too hot. There weren't many occasions she could were an evening dress. Did blue not suit her at this time of year? Unless she was planning to gain weight he couldn't…
'Winry,' he gasped, 'Are you…'
She smiled up at him and his heart beat with exhilaration, 'It's a good thing we kept the cot.'
He laughed out loud before pulling her off her feet and spinning her around. He was going to be a dad again. He was going to have another daughter or a son. He could be with Winry during her pregnancy and be there when she gave birth. He would see his wife heavy with his child. In nine months from now the world would be blessed with another Elric child.
Grace sat between her Uncles legs looking out across the fields of barley. No matter how much he tried to make her smile she remained still. She was scared and it was a fear he knew himself. Poor Grace had found her mother on her knees in extreme pain and didn't know what to do with herself now. She had watched her mother swell for the past nine months meaning she was able to do less each day. Now the new baby was making her mother hurt and she hated it for doing so.
Al had taken Grace away from the house at Ed's request. It hadn't been easy as Grace wanted to seek comfort from her daddy. With some encouragement she had agreed to go with her Uncle for a few hours while mother was having the baby. Now she sat peacefully looking out across her homeland urging time to speed by.
Ed was far from calm as he paced back and forth outside her door. The doctor had told him to wait outside for the moment but he wanted to be by her side as he had promised. At least she was no longer groaning in pain, a sound that ripped through him.
His mind shifted to his little girl and he knew she would be feeling betrayed. He tried not to mention the baby in front of her for fear she would believe she was no longer wanted. Any child will feel jealous when a new baby comes into their lives. However this was not the place for Grace at the moment, she would not want to see her mother in agony.
'Please come in now Edward,' the doctor called.
He calmly walked in and found Winry how he had left her. She was lying on the bed, belly swollen with his child, glowing with the pain that spread through her. She held a hand out and he rushed over to take it. She looked so fragile as she smiled weakly up at him. She opened her mouth to speak but suddenly cried out in pain.
'The baby is coming now Winry, breath deeply,' the doctor ordered.
Winry didn't need to be told, she had given birth before. She knew if she wanted the pain to go away she would have to push. Even if it caused her more pain only she could do it. The difference was that this time she had a firm hand to grip onto and she took advantage of that all she could.
Edward bit down on his lip as his hand was crushed. He had been warned a woman could grip like a clamp when giving birth but he never believed Winry was capable of such strength. All the same he was to witness the birth of his second child. He could do things right this time around.
'Ooooooh it hurts,' she cried.
'You'll be okay Winry.'
'This is your fault Edward!'
'Yes Winry.'
'You will never come near me again!'
'Okay Winry.'
He smiled nervously at the doctor. The doctor had heard it all before and of course and it was a good sign if the woman could complete a sentence.
Suddenly Winry began to scream in agony and could no longer speak. Ed whispered in her ear and stroked her hair but she continued to cry. Something was wrong but he couldn't do anything.
'What's happening?' Ed demanded.
'It's the cord,' the doctor replied, sweat dripping from his forehead, 'it's caught around the baby's neck.'
