In Times of Peace
Chapter Nine
Meddling Reporter
Shopping Center
Winry took William and Yuery with her when she ran into the small shopping area near the summer house. She thought it would do them some good to get out of the house for a while. Unfortunately, Winry was well known herself, as were her sons as often as they appeared in the papers with their father and grandfather.
She tried to shield the boys from their inevitable fame as much as she could, as did her husband, but they knew that eventually the children would become aware of it. Winry was not prepared for it to be today or anytime soon. Her sons were only seven and five! They should be given the same freedom as any child.
They had decided to stop at a diner on the way to the shops, Winry had even suggested the driver/bodyguard join them, though he declined assuring her he had recently eaten. So, she walked into the diner with just her boys, and knew that everyone inside recognized them. The crowded room grew quiet, everyone looking in their direction.
William hid behind her skirt, burying his face in her thigh. Yuery stood next to her, holding her hand as he looked around with wide eyes. When they went out in Central, this didn't happen. Of course, in Central they stuck to locations that were frequented by military families, who either were already familiar with the family, or had been instructed not to stare.
A waitress rushed over to seat them, as they walked passed the surrounding tables, Yuery overheard at least three people whispers variations of 'that's the Elric boys'. Once they had been seated, he turned to his mother and asked. "Mom why does everyone want to stare at us?" in a low voice.
"Because sweetheart, Mom fixes people, Dad and Yeye run the country, and Uncle is running a big school. They are probably hoping Yeye and Dad are going to eat with us." Winry said just as low.
"Well, that's stupid. Dad's on vacation. He only has to shake hands at work." Yuery said, semi-quoting his father. Winry winced at the child's comment. She doubted that Ed knew the boy had overheard him complaining about how people seemed to think they could randomly walk up to him and demand answers about the old leadership while he had been attempting to change Trisha's diaper.
Once the waitress had returned and taken their order the room seemed to have forgotten them for the moment. After all, they weren't doing anything especially interesting. Winry had begun to relax, when she felt a tug on her shirt sleeve. She turned, expecting a child, and was surprised to find a woman in her thirties instead. "Excuse me, aren't you Mrs. Elric?"
"Yes, I am Winry Rockbelle Elric. How can I help you?" Winry asked politely.
"Tracy Waters, Central Times." The woman introduced. "I have a few questions for you."
"I'm afraid now is not a good time, as you can see, I have my sons with me and would prefer to allow them to eat in peace." Winry replied.
"I understand. So, just one question." Tracy continued. "How does it feel to raise two children that were the result of your husband's wild youth?"
"Excuse me?! I don't think I like what you're implying." Winry said, turning red with anger.
"All I'm saying is it must be very difficult for a young woman such as yourself to be saddled with two unwanted children." Tracy said.
"I can assure you that all of our children are wanted Lady. ALL of them!" Winry said, anger clear in her tone.
"You can't tell me it hasn't been hard, raising these children who clearly take after their mothers. It's my understanding he even moved William's mother, a Rose Thomas, in with him while he was engaged to you?"
"I lived there as well; it was to help her back on her feet. My husband is a kind and loving person." Winry said. "He did not cheat on anyone, which is what you are implying."
"What about the rumor that William isn't his son at all?" the woman persisted.
"Okay, that's more than enough. I will be calling your employer about this harassment." Winry said. "Now leave my sons alone before I have you removed."
"I see I hit a nerve somewhere." The woman said smugly. "What did happen to Yuery's mother?"
The bodyguard had been alerted to an issue and appeared behind the woman then. He grabbed her by the arm to drag her away from Winry and the boys. Winry turned back to her sons, who were both staring wide-eyed at the woman. Winry sighed as she held open her arms to invite them into a hug. "Don't listen to that mean woman boys. Daddy and Mommy both love you very much." Winry said as she hugged them tight.
The waitress brought over their food then, looking upset herself over the incident. "I am so sorry Madam. The manager insisted this was on the house. We do not encourage harassment of any of our clientele."
"It's not your fault." Winry said as she coaxed the boys back to their seats to eat their lunch. "Both boys know they were adopted when I married their dad. We don't keep secrets from them. That woman's questioning was just her trying to cause trouble for us."
"I am very sorry." The waitress said again, and the manager joined them. "I know Lt. Fuhrer Elric is a good man, he helped my family eight years ago now. My brother and I were both trapped working for the train car factory, and he and Fuhrer Mustang were able to stop the mistreatment of the workers."
"Yes, I remember that case." Winry said with a nod.
"Dad saved a lot of people. Mom said so. Dad remembers them all though, he said." Yuery added in a quiet voice. "He helps people."
"Yes, he does." The waitress agreed. "One of the best things to happen in this country was for Fuhrer Mustang and Lt. Fuhrer Elric to come into power."
"My Mom loves me." William said with certainty born of hearing it daily.
"Okay boys, go ahead and eat. I think we may just head back to the house after and worry about the shopping another time." Winry said with a smile. Both boys nodded, so Winry thanked the staff once more and turned to her own lunch.
Yuery and William were far more subdued than usual as they ate their food, but Winry understood. That woman had hurt their feelings with her suggestions. Luckily, she hadn't told them anything Edward hadn't already told them. Well, except for the thing about Ed not being Will's dad. Everyone in the family agreed that Will would not hear about that. At least not from them. The boys were used to scary yelling reporters who gave Yeye a headache.
After they ate, Winry lead the boys back to the car. Heath, the bodyguard, looked surprised since Winry had originally stated that they would be buying the boys some new clothes. She shook her head, and he opened the door for them after both boys slid in she said in a low voice, "We'll have to try again another day. That reporter really upset them. I need to speak to the Fuhrer about it."
"Of course, ma'am. I apologize for allowing that woman to talk as long as she did."
"No, it's alright. Your job is to keep them safe from danger, my job is to keep them safe from normal stuff." Winry said with a smile.
Vacation House
Once they arrived back at the house, Winry took the time to get them settled before knocking on the study door. Luckily both Roy and Ed were in the room filling out paperwork. The younger children were with Mei and Riza in the living room.
She quickly and angrily recounted the conversation the reporter had started with her in the café. Roy frowned and Ed sighed. It wasn't the first time over the years someone tried to say things about his sons. It wasn't likely to be the last either.
Roy didn't wait for the other two to decide on how they should handle the situation, instead he called the newspaper's office and demanded to speak to the editor. They all sat in silence as they waited for the editor to come to the phone.
"Yes hello. This is Fuhrer Mustang." Roy said when the man picked up the line five minutes later.
"Good afternoon Fuhrer." The voice came over the phone.
"I wish it was a good afternoon, however, there was an incident in a café this afternoon that made it decidedly sour." Roy said.
"I'm sorry to hear that sir. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes actually. You can control your reporters." Roy said allowing a bit of his anger to leak into his tone. "My Daughter-in-law and two grandsons were harassed by one Tracy Waters while they had stopped for lunch today."
"That's strange, it doesn't sound like something Tracy would do."
"I assure you sir that it is something she would and has done." Roy said. "I suggest you have her issue an official apology and stay away from my family from now on."
"I will arrange it. I apologize again for your trouble sir."
Roy hung up after that and turned back to the others. "She shouldn't bother you and the boys again Winry. If she does, we will sue the paper for harassment, and this Tracy Waters for slander."
"Dad, we are all angry, but can we really sue for slander over it?" Ed asked. The unspoken truth of the adoptions and coverups hung heavy in the room.
"We can." Winry said fiercely. "She said the boys were unwanted and that I was forced to take care of them. That is enough of a blatant lie it should ease your concern. "