In Times of Peace

Chapter Four

Automail Repair

Once Winry was able to look inside the port, she knew she had been correct on the problem. One of the wires was loose. Not disconnected, which didn't surprise her since if it had come all of the way off Ed would have noticed, but loose enough that it had been rubbing against the scar tissue of his stump.

She was able to repair the wire quickly, while Ed was still out, before cleaning the entire area. Roy held Ed down while she worked, to ensure that nothing else went wrong, then she closed the access panel and gave Roy a nod to release his hold on Ed. "We need to wait until he wakes up before reattaching the leg. He should be up soon; the meds are wearing off." Winry said tiredly.

"Will he still be in pain from the infection?" Roy asked with concern.

"Maybe a bit, but this is Ed. He'll refuse further medication once he's aware enough to have a say in it." Winry said, frowning at her husband. "He can be so stubborn. Would you mind going to check on the kids? I'll need you back here in about a half an hour, or Al, to reattach his leg."

"Of course." Roy said. "One of us will return shortly. Try to take a nap, you look like you need it."

"Oh, I'm fine. I just tire easily in this weather." Winry said with a smile. "I think everyone does. The boys are probably getting stir crazy though, stuck in the house all day."

"I'm sure Riza found ways to keep them occupied, and there is always their studies." Roy said with a smile. He left before Winry could reply in hopes the girl would at least rest a bit.

Yuery and William had spent most of the morning with their books, Nainai had helped Maes with his own studies for a while, then he went to play with Trisha and Tad. Nainai had said Dad wasn't feeling well because of all the rain making his metal leg sore and that Mom and Yeye were taking care of him.

Uncle Al and Aunt Mei had come down for lessons but had missed breakfast. Yuery had been worried about it, but his brothers didn't seem to notice that something was wrong. Yuery knew that William knew though. Will just didn't say anything, of course, neither had Yuery beyond asking where they were.

Nainai seemed tired too. Nainai was acting like everything was fine though, so maybe everything was, and his bad feeling was just his brain being silly. Yeye came down just as Yuery began to worry again and fluffed up both Yuery and William's hair. Will grumbled about it with a frown, while Yuery just did his best to smooth it back down.

"Is Dad okay now Yeye?" Yuery asked as Roy sat down between them.

"Dad is still feeling a bit ill." Roy replied, then smiled as he added. "He's doing much better than earlier. Mom is taking care of him now."

"I made him a picture!" William announced as he pulled a sheet of paper from his pile. It had a stick figure with a grey leg and oversized smiling head with the words 'Get Better Daddy' written on the bottom. "Will you give it to him Yeye?"

"Of course, I'm sure he'll love it." Roy said with a smile as he took the art from the boy.

"Was Winry right about the problem?" Al asked as he walked back into the room, a tray of drinks in hand.

"Yes, there was a loose wire then it was aggravated by the weather. She repaired the wire and is waiting for him to wake up to install his leg." Roy said, as Al kissed the top of both boys' heads then sat between them across from Roy. "She said she would need one of us in about a half an hour."

"I'll go!" Yuery said, as he closed his books.

"No, sweetheart. Yeye meant either me or him." Al said with a smile. "I'm sure your Dad and Mom are grateful for you wanting to help but it's a big person job."

"I know it's going to hurt. I've seen Mom put on people's legs before. I'm not scared." Yuery said with a frown. "I want to help Dad. I'll just come hold his hand like I did for Mr. Morgan."

"We'll see. We can ask Mom what she thinks." Roy said, cutting off the argument, and ignoring Al's frown. "Before you argue he's too young Alphonse, remember he's already sat in on other reattachments and Winry was Yuery's age when she began training. All he wants to do is hold his father's hand through it. If Edward and Winry are alright with it, we will not interfere."

"I still think it's too scary for a child." Al said with a frown.

"It isn't your choice." Roy said. "And it isn't surgery, it's reattachment."

"But- "Al started.

"Alphonse. This has nothing to do with us." Mei said as she walked into the room, having overheard enough to understand the argument.

"Mei, I'm just worried about a negative impact on the child to see his father in that much pain." Al replied.

"I know it hurts, Uncle. I've seen it." Yuery said with a forceful serious tone. "I want to help Dad feel better and holding someone's hand can help. Mom said so and I've been helping her lots."

"It can be a lot scarier when it's someone you know and love though Yu. I just don't want you to have to see your Dad like that." Al said.

"He's seen Ed go through reattachment before, so has Will." Riza said as she came back into the room leading the younger three children.

"I'll go ask Winry and Edward what they think." Roy said before standing up and Riza took his place at the table. Trisha climbed up into her lap, Maes sat next to Yuery and Tad sat with Mei.

"I- "Al started.

"The subject is closed Alphonse. William what are you working on?" Riza said and ignored Al's huff of irritation. She knew he was concerned about Yuery being upset, and she understood his concern. However, in the end it was Ed and Winry's choice and the boy had sat in on these before.

"Nerve clusters." William said with a smile. "I'm reading Mom's biology book this week."

"I'm learning circles." Maes said proudly. He held up his latest attempt at drawing a perfect circle. It was close, only slightly egg shaped. Mei and Al both cheered for the boy, while Riza congratulated him.

"I draw!" Tad said as he grabbed at the paper on the table. Mei handed him a sheet and a pencil, and he began scribbling on the page. Before she could ask, Riza handed Trisha some as well.

Before the conversation could continue, Roy reappeared in the doorway. "Yuery, come on now. It's time." He said with a small smile.

Yuery stood to join his grandfather, as William stared after them. Roy nodded to the younger boy, before William rushed to join them. Maes looked up in interest before returning to his attempts at a circle.

Roy leads the way back upstairs, both boys very serious as the followed behind him. They, like their siblings, had been watching their mother work most of their lives. Neither of them had ever seen a surgery of course, but they had sat with her while she builds arms and legs, and they sat in on more than one attachment.

Yuery had seen his Dad's leg repaired and returned to him twice already that he remembered, William once. Roy and Winry had been a bit concerned because it was bound to be a more painful attachment thanks to the infection and swelling making the nerves sensitive. However, Winry and Edward agreed to the boy's request. Ed had even gone on to say Will could join them if he wanted to.

Ed had years of experience hiding how badly it hurt, first from his brother, then his sons. He found it easier to deal with the pain when he was focused on them. They arrived back in the room, Winry had already cleaned the leg and the port and was ready to begin.

William climbed up on Ed's left side, Yuery on his right, and both took his hand. Roy was there in case Ed needed to be held still so he stood next to the bed poised to hold down his son if necessary. Ed had woken about ten minutes before, while he was still a bit groggy, he was aware of the situation.

Yuery offered his hand to his Dad solemnly, as his Mom lined up the leg and Yeye stood there ready to hold Dad down if necessary. Will hugged himself to Dad's side. "Okay Ed. We're ready now, on three. One," Winry said then turned the wrench.

Ed arched up slightly with a groan of pain. He was careful not to squeeze either of his boys or kick his wife or father, which helped him distance himself from the pain. He held still for another minute, it felt like the breath had been knocked out of him, slightly more painful than usual thanks to the recent injury but not painful enough to be scared.

Winry ran him through a series of tests to ensure she had repaired the wires correctly, everything from having him gauge his level of pain to having him wiggle his metal toes. Once she was satisfied, he was alright, she smiled tiredly before she began packing everything away. Yuery let go of his hand to snuggle close like his brother.

"Well. We can't seem to plan anything without something going wrong." Ed said once he felt his voice would be back to normal. "At least this time, we managed to get it out of the way quickly so we can just enjoy the rest of the vacation."

"Are you okay Dad?" Yuery asked with a frown, William nodding along to the question.

"I'm okay now Yu. Mom takes good care of me." Ed assures his son with a hug.

"Well, it helps you finally started listening too." Winry said as she smiled at them. "Aside from the wire, everything was in good condition and well maintained."

"How did that wire come loose anyway?" Roy asked with a frown. In all the time he had known Ed, and sighed off on his repairs, he couldn't remember ever hearing about a loose wire.

"I can't say for certain, though most likely it came loose during your training session the other day and since his pride wouldn't go for himself, and he didn't want to bother them about himself." Winry said as she finished packing everything away again. She was proud and relieved at how well he's taken care of himself since his last routine maintenance, the blame laid solely on it being a simple case of a faulty wire, which she had replaced.

" Dad. Do you need a nap? Mom always has the clinic people take a nap." Will said. "It's okay, we can stay in here with you and I'll read you the story we started yesterday!"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea boys." Roy said, as he helped get Ed more comfortable. "I'll go grab your book, and you can watch over Dad for a little while. Mom too."

Winry nodded tiredly and crawled back into bed and curled up against her pillow, while the boys tucked them in, then Roy brought them in the storybook, so the boys could read. "Now, Yuery, William, I need you to stay quiet and let them sleep. You may stay here to watch over them, but do not get into anything." The boys nodded in agreement so Roy left as William began the first story, intent on taking a nap himself.