In Times of Peace

Chapter Twelve

Tad Turns Two

Pinako and Izumi had both arrived early to help out with the party. Sig and Mason would arrive with the rest of the guests tomorrow. The women, who had both claimed the boy as a grandson, were delighted to be involved.

Winry and Edward decided to announce her pregnancy today, so that the family officially knew but it didn't distract from Tad's day. Winry also was motivated by her grandmother's arrival. She wanted to tell Pinako in person. So, they met everyone downstairs for lunch, and waited until everyone had settled in and began eating before Winry cleared her throat to get their attention. "Everyone, we wanted to let you know that Ed and I are having another baby."

As expected, they received a round of excited congratulations. Yuery, with a thoughtful frown on his face added. "Mommy. You should have a girl. That way Trishy gets a sleeping buddy. It isn't fair she sleeps alone."

"That's a good idea Yu. Mommy doesn't decide if it's a boy or a girl though." Ed said with a smile.

"Then who does?" Yuery asked.

"Well, we won't know until they get here, but the baby is already a boy or a girl. When they start growing inside Mommy that's already decided." Ed said. "Did you want Trishy to sleep in your room Yuery?"

"Maybe. I don't want her to be 'lone." Yuery said with a frown. He couldn't remember everything about the time the bad lady took him, but he remembered how scary it was to be all alone. He didn't want his sister to be scared like that.

"Well, we'll work it out when we get home, okay Buddy?" Winry said with a smile.

"Tad can share with Trishy. 'Cause they're both babies and sleep early." William suggested.

"Right now, Tad still sleeps in Yeye's room. Trishy is sleeping in Daddy's room. We'll think about where to move them later." Riza said and the subject was dropped, but not forgotten by either boy.

"This baby and ours are going to be close in age like Trish and Tad." Al said with a smile. "That's going to be so fun."

"Do you have any name ideas yet?" Pinako asked, addressing both sets of parents.

"Yes." Ed said at the same time as Al said "No."

"No offense to Edward and Winry, however, I do not wish to name my children after dead relatives. Should they share a name, it must be someone living." Mei said calmly.

"Everyone has their own reasoning." Winry said with a shrug to show she wasn't at all offended.

"Plus, I'm pretty sure Ed's claimed like every name we know." Al said with a smile. "How many are you planning to have in all?"

"As many as we have." Ed said. "We haven't put a number on it, when we're done, we'll know."

"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" Al said. "I can not believe that Edward Elric hasn't planned ahead. You plan ahead for everything. Last week, you had your entire morning plotted out and the only thing on the agenda was spending time with the kids!"

"Occupational Hazard." Ed said, brushing off the comment.

"What will name the child Edward? If you don't mind my asking." Izumi said.

"Sarah for a girl, or Andrew for a boy. Yes, named after people again." Ed said.

"Well, I think we should start getting ready for this party, before we end up trying to rush through everything last minute." Pinako said before the boys could start squabbling. She raised these boys for the time after their mother died until they went into Izumi's care. She admitted she could have done better, but she did know them well. Roy was quick to agree with her.

Early Afternoon

They managed to get everything ready before people began arriving from Central, thanks partly to Ed's pointed reminders of the last time he and Roy were left to decorate for a party and his subsequent head injury.

Gracia and the girls arrived in the same car as Heymans and Alex. Then Sheska, Kain, Denny, and Maria. Jean and Rebecca arrived last, having come from the East, along with Sig and Mason who had met them at the train station to ride out with them. Remus Lupin and Severus Snape arrived together, walking out of the trees.

Yuery and William were greeting all of their guests as they arrived, William with the proud announcement. "Mommy's having us a new sister!"

Word got back to Ed and Winry fairly quickly that their sons were announcing the pending birth of a daughter. Ed was quick to explain that Yuery had gotten it into his head it was only fair for the baby to be a girl, and William as usual agreed with Yuery. He then pointed out Mei's pregnancy as well to distract from his sons' announcement.

It didn't take long for everyone to settle into the parlor, where Winry had set up a gift table and Riza had decorated with balloons and streamers. Tad was excited over the streamers more than the presents, until his mom helped him open the first gift, a teddy bear from Yuery.

After he realized that he was allowed to rip the paper and that there were gifts waiting below, he was quick to begin opening the gifts himself to his parents and brothers amusement. Several cameras had been produced from various purses and bags to capture the toddler's excitement.

After the presents Roy and Riza invited everyone to join them in the dining room, before shutting the door on the parlor to clean up later. The cake was already sitting on the sideboard, along with lunch in the form of sandwich quarters.

Maes wanted cake. He made sure every adult at the party was aware that he wanted cake. He refused a sandwich until Ed said that only children who ate their lunch got cake. Everyone laughed at the boy's indignant glare as he bit into his sandwich. "He looks just like you Ed." Pinako said with a smile.

"He sounds just like Brother." Al said, and Winry nodded.

"I don't know about that." Roy said. "I think he looks and sounds like himself. After all, it would be a shame to encourage the kid to try to follow in Edward's shadow. Even if we did fix that loophole, I exploited to get Ed in."

"Roy…stop killing the mood. This is your son's birthday party." Riza said.

"Yes, of course. Shall we have cake then?" Roy said as he snapped his fingers to light the candles.

After Riza helped Tad blow out his candles, and the cake was cut, Yuery turned to his grandfather. "Yeye, when are you gonna teach me fire?"

"I'm not." Roy said with a horrified expression. "No one else knows flame alchemy and it can't be taught."

"Oh." Yuery said sounding disappointed.

"Besides, you are destructive enough young man." Edward said. "AND you caught the curtains on fire just the other day."

"That was an accident and I called for help right away!" Yuery said.

"Don't care, no flame alchemy for you." Ed said. "However, if you're good, I'll teach you how to make a long stick."

"Ed, no." Winry said. "He doesn't need to learn to fight."

"Win, yes." Ed replied. "Evidence of the last seven years says he damn well needs to know how to fight as do his siblings."

"Damn." Trisha said happily as she shoved a bit of cake in her mother's hair."

"Edward Elric!" Winry said, and all the other adults laughed at the couple.

"I don't see why you bother Winry. He isn't going to stop." Al said. "Even if it is unbecoming of the leadership of our country."

"Ling says the same things Alphonse and you know it, don't fight with your brother." Mei said with a frown.

Soon enough the cake was finished, and the children cleaned up. The adults decided to head out to the garden to let the children run off some of their energy before most of them had to leave to get back to the city.