Role Change: Winry

Disclaimer: See first chapter

Mason drove the small car up to the front of the comfortable residence in a comfortable looking part of Central.

The snow was thick on the ground, and the two girls (well, semi-girls… Mason sometimes wondered with Winry and Sciezska being mostly metal) were watching the city go by in fascination.

It was Winry's birthday, and Colonel Curtis had conspired with Trisha to get them out of Tucker's house for the afternoon, along with his daughter Nina.

Trisha, thankfully, was not going to be doing the cooking. Mason shuddered as he remembered the case of food poisoning that happened the last time. Her husband would be- and the man was actually very good at it.

Major Trisha Elric had been on maternity leave for the past two months- she could have taken a desk job during that time but a bored Trisha was a dangerous Trisha. Especially when it came to matchmaking.

Mason shuddered. The woman had an unholy talent for understanding people and pulling their chains, and she adored trying to pair people up. Of course, she was utterly convinced that Sig and Izumi were meant for each other, and she just couldn't understand why they weren't married yet.

Mason shuddered again at the sparks Curtis has been making after that conversation.

The heavily pregnant Major was standing on her front stoop, with a coat slung around her shoulders and waving wildly.

"Hey, girls! You come on in! My snuggle bunny's been cooking up a storm! Come in come in!"

The two girls smiled- or rather, Winry smiled because she had a face but Sciezska gave the impression of smiling as they got out of the car, hauling Nina with them.

"Major!" Winry's eyes were bugging out as she stared at the woman in fascination. "I didn't realize- you were- when on- the terrorists on the train?"

Major Trisha giggled, and rubbed her middle. "Oh that? That was my last mission before I went on leave. I would have stuck around longer but Izumi had fits and my sweetie started getting worried. I can't say no to him, I swear." She gave a great sigh of despair.

"A man loses his arm to save your life and suddenly, your world revolves around him." Her hand went to her heart, but Winry was too busy staring at her gravid middle.

"Does it hurt?"

"This? Oh, its not very comfortable at times, but feeling my baby move…" She sighed, obviously thrilled. "Do you want to touch?"

Nina immediately took her up on the offer, hands patting along the taut skin, but Winry shied away before carefully putting her hands on Trisha's stomach.

There was a quiet moment as they oohed and ahhh-ed over the expectant mother before they came inside.

"And speaking of my little one moving," Trisha said, smiling a bit tightly. "This little one has decided to sit on my bladder again. My honey is in the kitchen; it's the warmest part of the house, and he hates the cold. Be back in a jiffy!"

The woman all but waddled down one of the halls, leaving the two older girls and one youngster to stare.

The house had little in the way of actual furniture- most of it was low divans or cushions on the floor. It seemed to resemble a tent.

A huge shadow appeared in the door.

"Winry. Sciezska. Nina."

"AHH!" they all screeched, simultaneously.

He was tall, body lean and powerful, with blood red eyes that peered at them in the dimly lit room. His dark face was puzzled underneath short white hair.

"Oh, love, don't scare the children like that!" Trisha's voice came back from the bathroom. The tall man stopped, smiling faintly and raising his voice.

"It's not my fault that they have poor manners, like all northern blasphemers," he answered, and Trisha could be heard laughing from the bathroom.

"You're just a scary Ishbalan barbarian!"

"Tsk. My son shall be raised to have true appreciation for culture and warmth!"

"Of course he will! He's my son!"

The younger people watched this extremely mature exchange go on, until Trisha managed to waddle back out.

"Well girls, let me properly introduce you to my husband, Michael Elric," she said, curling up against the tall man's side. It left the youngsters staring and blinking. Now that the light could properly show him, Winry noted that he had only one arm, and that he was swathed in robes- he looked like he was freezing.

"He's been cooking all afternoon and we need to show our appreciation for true Ishbalan cuisine!" the Major said, ushering them to the low table. Winry eyed it with trepidation.

That trepidation lasted until the first bite.

A/N: And if anyone is wondering, Trisha's husband is Scar. He's never given a name in the series other than Scar, so I made one up for him. I like the idea of him being a househusband to a looney Major. Go me.