In Times of Peace

Chapter Fifteen

Summer Ends

Before they knew it, summer was over, and school would start the next day. Yuery was excited, Edward was nervous. He knew that logically he couldn't and wouldn't keep his son locked away. What kind of life would that be? It didn't stop his fear.

In addition, Edward had also had to speak to Dr. Braun, the Headmaster, about the unavoidable family trip that would be taking place when the new baby came. Winry and Edward had agreed to make this one shorter than before, about two weeks to give Winry some time to recover before riding for hours on the train.

Dr. Braun had agreed, although his expression gave Ed the impression if it had been anyone other than the Lt. Fuhrer (or Fuhrer) making the request, they would have been told no. It did help that Yuery surpassed all the tests they had him sit through to enter year two.

Yuery had his school uniform laid out, his backpack packed, his shoes polished. Ed had taken him for a haircut. William had come along for a haircut of his own, and to pout over having to deal with the tutor for another year. They were waiting their turn at the barbershop, Ed reading from a magazine while watching the room, while the boys sat on either side of him flipping through the books they had set out for children.

"Daddy, are you going to get a haircut too?" William asked.

"Nope." Ed replied as he turned a page. "I haven't cut my hair in years and I'm not changing it now."

"Why?" Yuery asked.

"Why, what, Yu?" Ed asked.

"Why didn't you cut your hair?" Yuery asked.

"Oh, I don't know, I'll tell you about it all someday." Ed replied.

"Grown up stuffs." William said with a nod.

"Kind of. Later boys." Edward said as they were waved over to find two chairs empty together. Edward explained that with school starting the boys both needed a trim, but he didn't think they needed anything major.

They then sat in the chairs as still as possible as the barbers trimmed their hair. Yuery really didn't see the point of a haircut, his hair went wherever it wanted whether it was trimmed or not, but Mommy and Nainai both suggested it. He wanted to grow it out like Daddy, when he brought it up Daddy said he could grow it out as soon as he went a whole month washing his hair and brushing it without a fuss.

Yuery had made it a week. He hated brushing his hair. William, whose hair was nearly as unruly, was perfectly happy to have it trimmed whenever Mommy decided it needed to be cut. Yuery and William were finished rather quickly, so they asked if they could get an ice cream as well.

Ice cream was something Daddy liked, even though it was made with milk. He had told them that all the time, along with cheese. He just didn't like plain milk, but then neither did Maes. Yuery could understand that, he hated eggs after all, but he loved cookies and they had eggs in them.

He and Will sat across from Daddy in the diner, Daddy facing the door so he could watch who came in like he always did. All three decided to have chocolate ice cream this time, Daddy always changed what kind he got, but Yu and Will preferred chocolate. Maes liked strawberry best, and Daddy said he was going to order some on their way out to bring him and Trisha.

"Are you ready to start school now Buddy?" Daddy asked as they ate.

"Yeah!" Yuery replied excitedly. Then he remembered their conversation earlier with a frown. "Daddy, is it later yet?"

"I guess." Daddy said with a sigh, as he set down his spoon. "After my mom died, I never wanted anyone to touch my hair. Granny agreed not to cut it, so it just kept getting longer. Then I went to train with Teacher. She told me what I've been telling you, Yu, if you want long hair you have to keep up with it."

"So, you haven't had a hair cut since Gramma died?" Yuery asked with wide eyes.

"Teacher trimmed it once, but I cried so hard she never did it again after I promised to brush it every day, so no, not really." Ed said. "My mom was the last person to properly cut my hair."

"What if Mommy wanted to cut it, would you let her?" Will asked.

"Mommy wouldn't ask. She knows all this; we've known each other our whole lives." Ed replied. "Come on boys, lets get the ice cream and head home. I'm sure Private Rogers has better things to do than wait around for us all day."

They all piled into the car and arrived back at the mansion quickly. Winry met them in the foyer, where she smiled at the tub of ice cream offered by Ed before telling the boys their hair looked great. Upstairs, Riza and Winry dished out small bowls for the other three children before Ed waved off the offer for more and told them to finish it.

He leads Yuery and William into his study, where he sat the down on the couch, and pulled out a book from the highest shelf. "I've been waiting for this, until I had these for both of you." Ed said as he sat down between them. "William, this is your first mom. I think you would want to see her; you got her hair." William leaned over to look at the handful of photographs Ed had managed to collect of Rose.

"Yuery. I have two sets of photos for you. This is your first mom." Ed said as he turned the page and a red haired woman with Yuery's large green eyes stared back up at them, before Ed changed the page again to a skinny black-haired man. "And this is your first dad. Mr. Snape found these for me and sent them recently. I'm sorry they have to stay a secret for a while longer Buddy. I just wanted you to remember, you have always been loved. Both of you. Mommy and I will always love you, but your first Mommies and Daddy loved you too."

"I look like them." Yuery said with wonder. "You always said I did, but I do!"

"Yes, you do." Ed said with a smile. He wasn't worried about this; he had spent years telling these boys how much he loved them and showed them in every way he could. He had been honest with Yuery completely, and mostly honest with William. He couldn't bring himself to tell William everything, he was too young, and Ed wasn't sure he'd ever tell him. Yuery however, needed to know the truth.

One day Yuery would be asked to choose. No matter how Ed would prefer to shield his son from that reality, it was Yuery's choice to make. When the time came. All Ed could do was prepare his son the best he could and assure the boy he had always been loved and wanted. He had been Edward's son from that first moment in Ed's arms.