On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Six Geese a-laying

"Well," Gracia said, standing up, "I suppose it's time to put the children to bed." The three adults looked over at the tableau of childhood friends: Ed sprawling across the couch, one arm crossed over his eyes and the other flung above his head, stomach exposed; Winry sitting half upright on the floor, her cheek pressed into Ed's knee, snoring very softly. Al sat to the side of the couch, seeming to be asleep as well, but startled her when he rose to his feet at her comment.

"It's the eggnog you gave them," the tinny voice explained. "Brother liked it, because it's so sweet, I guess he didn't realize drinking so much of it would make him sleepy." The suit of armor reached one leather hand over the sleeping girl to gently pull his brother's shirt back down over his stomach without disturbing either blonde.

Maes drained his own mug and stood up, coming to stand behind his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Alphonse, you take very good care of your brother," he told he huge metal suit that was a fourteen-year-old boy.

A laugh came from inside the form, and the lights in the helmet that served as eyes seemed to twinkle. "That's what younger brothers are for," he said merrily, turning to look at his brother and his friend. "Don't they look cute like that?"

Colonel Mustang ladled the last of the eggnog into his own mug, and glanced over at the two sleeping teenagers. She's laying on his metal leg, he realized. That couldn't possibly be comfortable! Perhaps Fullmetal wasn't joking when he said his mechanic was in love with his metal parts. Roy yawned, realizing how late it had become, and looked around his best friends home fondly, warm and glowing and decorated for the holidays. "Thank you for the evening, Maes, Gracia," he said, standing up. "I should be going. Alphonse, I'd be happy to take you and your brother back to the dorms tonight, it's on my way." His eyes fell on the sleeping blonde mechanic.

Gracia smiled. "She's spending the week with us," she explained. "She's been sleeping on the couch, so really, Edward has fallen asleep in her bed," she explained, looking down at the girl.

Winry's eyes began to flutter, and she turned, lifting her head from Ed's knee and sitting up fully. "Um?" she mumbled sleepily.

"We're leaving now, Winry," Al told her.

"Huh? M'kay, bye, Al," she said, closing her eyes again. "Happy Christmas."

Gracia laughed softly. "So, do you want to wake him up," she said to Al, "or should I?"

As she spoke, Ed turned on the couch, rolling over and curling his knees up, and Winry laid her head back down on the edge of the couch.

"Maybe I should just carry him to the car," Roy suggested.

"I'll carry him," Al cut in. "He's my brother."

Five golden rings

four calling birds

three french hens

two turtledoves

and a partridge in a pear tree