It's him. You can't believe.… he really did it? He survived, against all the odds piled against him…
All you can do is stare at him in stunned silence, your voice as frozen as time seems to be.
Scar seems to be in a similar state, so it's Miles that starts talking first. 'I hope this answers your questions. I'm sorry if I worried you, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise.' Oh, and what a surprise it is. It's like the whole world has stopped just to watch this moment.
The silhouette turns around too, bringing the face of a stern-looking blonde woman into view, a smirk playing on her lips. 'Such a romantic, Miles. You're dismissed for now.' She turns to face Scar. 'I'll take my leave, too. Consider this a thank you for agreeing to work with us. Mustang's face when he finds out…' she walks straight past you and out of the room, Miles following at her heel.
For what feels like another forever, you and Scar state, both still unable to talk. So you take in his appearance for a while. While he looks as bulky as ever, you can see the outline of bandages underneath the vest he's wearing, which seem to suggest he was pretty badly injured in that last fight. Did the Major General treat his wounds, or at least ordered others to do so. If so, she may very well have saved his life.
Finally, Scar moves, approaching you slowly. 'Is it… is it really you? My love…' he reaches his hand out towards you, still so cautious…
You bring his outstretched hand to your face, encouraging him to cradle it as you finally find words again. 'You should know by now that it takes more than a late night disappearance to stop me finding you.' He seems to flinch at that, before internally debating if he should take his hand away.
To your relief, Scar keeps his hand where it is. 'Never again. I'll never leave your side again, especially not like that. The only times I'll leave you now are when I'm out providing for us. That is the only exception.' He brings his other hand up to your other cheeks, and wipes away tears you didn't even realise you'd shed.
You choke out a laugh. 'I don't expect you to stay with me at all times. I quite like peeing in privacy.' Probably not the best time to make a joke, is it? You blame your nerves; it's not every day you reunite like this.
Scar sighs. 'I suppose there are more exceptions. Would it be better if I promised to always tell you where I am? Where I'm going?' His forehead is pressed against yours now, and all you want is for him to take his hands away from your face and wrap his arms around you…
Still, you'll wait for him to make that move; for now, he needs an answer. 'I'll take that. I'll do the same. From now on, we'll be together, unless… what do the military plan to do with you now?' You'd heard the Major General mention something about an agreement, but you've no idea what that even means.
Scar tilts his head to kiss your forehead. 'Come to bed with me, and I'll explain it. I want to hold you again.' Well, looks like you'll have to explain something else first, least he becomes confused over the prominent bump over your abdomen…
You take both of Scar's hands in your own. 'Before we do that, I need to tell you something. The first night we made love, we… well, me made something else, too. A baby. I know you said you didn't want children back then, but I'm hoping you've changed your mind. If not, then… I don't know. Please tell me you'll at least consider the idea of being a father, because I don't want to raise him or her without you.' You could if you had to, but he doesn't need to hear that. You need him to believe that you're relying on him, because if he's okay with it, you will be.
Much to your great surprise and relief, Scar smiles at you, bringing his hands along with yours down to rest on the baby. 'I know. I've known for months. I overheard you talking with Marcoh. I know it was wrong of me to eavesdrop, but you had seemed so unwell. I only heard part of the conversation, but what I heard lead me to believe one of two things; that you were dying, or that you were pregnant. I was too afraid to ask which it was. If I'd found out you were dying… but as the months went on, and I began to notice the ways in which your body changed, and started to feel our child moving at night when I held you… I knew then that God had performed another miracle for me. First a loving wife, then a child… everything I could ever want. That's why I had to convince Cheng to take you to safety. I did it for both of you. Please forgive me.' He knew? He's known for months, and never said anything? Why?
You ask him as much, and he turns his head away. 'I thought you must have had your reasons for keeping it from me. I didn't want to force you into a confession. But now that I've heard you say it, I think I know what the reason was; a part of you was scared of how I'd react. As if I'd reject you both. My family. A family of my very own. It's more than I ever could have hoped for.' He wants you both in his life. You never thought you'd get to hear that…
You start crying. 'That was part of it. I was also afraid you'd feel as if God had failed you, giving you everything moments before your death…' Scar gently leads you towards the bed, crawling on first before encouraging you to join him. He cradles you into his side, your bump now big enough to rest on his stomach. He keeps an arm around you, but keeps another hand over the baby.
Scar's voice is soft when you finally stop crying. 'No more tears today. I'm not going to die anytime soon. I'm going to be there for both of you, for as long as I can. You both need me, and I don't think anyone would argue with me when I say that I need you even more.' You're glad he feels that way; you know you're still not planning to go anywhere.
As you snuggle in close, you remember your question from mere moments ago. 'You still haven't told me what the military want with you.' As long as it's not execution, you're willing to listen to them…
Scar smiles. 'Amestris is returning Ishval to its people. It will take some rebuilding, but we can go home. As an Ishvalan, Miles was given the task of helping oversee things in Ishval. I've been asked to assist him. I agreed without hesitating, but asked them if I could take you with me. If you're here, it means they plan to allow that. The three of us are going home, my love. We can raise our child in Ishval, as it should be.' You can't believe it. You get to go home? To start your family where it always should have been started? It doesn't seem real…
You're about to start crying again, but you manage to keep them in. 'I guess we'll have to hope Cheng was being serious about that house then. We'll need to put down routes fast.' You almost wish you'd managed to delay getting pregnant…
Almost.
Scar shifts nervously. 'There's a very real possibility you'll have to give birth in a tent. It'll be another month of so before we travel to Ishval, and given how far along you already are…' fair point. You doubt even Cheng could have a house built in a month.
You suspect that won't stop him trying, though.
A heavier sigh leaves your lips. 'You're probably right. Will you… will you be there to hold my hand when I have the baby? I know it's not traditional for the father to be in the room, or tent, but…'
Scar huffs. 'You think anyone would stop me if I told them I wanted to be your side?' Not if they value their life you suppose…
Still, you playfully nudge him. 'No threatening the midwife. I'd rather the person helping get the baby out wasn't terrified of you. Besides, you're not that man anymore. No more big, scary killer. Just a big, scary husband instead.' You can't say you find him that scary personally, but you're sure others would.
Scar chuckles, and he looks like he's about to speak, but he hesitates. You'd ask him why, but you can feel exactly why he's stopped.
The baby is kicking.
As soon as he realises, Scar's smile becomes wide and genuine, his hand softly caressing the place he feels movement. His gaze falls on the bump, and his voice becomes almost painfully tender. 'I'm not big and scary, I promise. Not to you and mummy. I'll always be soft to you and mummy. I love you too much to be anything else.
'I've been dreaming about you. Wondering what you'll look like, what your first cries will sound like. If you be a boy or a girl. All my life there's only ever been one thing I've wanted more than to hold you for the first time, and that's to marry your mother. You make my life seem complete. The moment you're born, I'll have everything I could ever want. I can't wait to meet you.' He's made you cry again. Your hormones must be wrecked.
You lean across to kiss Scar softly, pulling back with a smile. 'Do you think we'll have a boy or a girl?' You're expecting him to give you the whole 'as long as it's healthy I don't care' line, but it would feel wrong not to ask.
Scar hums thoughtfully. 'A boy. Men are far more common in my family, at least. I suppose there's every chance it could be a girl, and I wouldn't be disappointed if it was, but I think it'll be a boy.' Well, that's more definitive than you were expecting…
Still, that he's thinking about it is better than you'd ever thought possible. 'Alright, how about a bet? If you're right, then for the first week of our baby's life, I'll change all of his nappies.' Babies don't need changing too regularly, right? It's been years since you were around any…
Scar seems to think about it for a moment. 'Alright, that's fair. I suppose I'll be changing them if our baby is a girl?'
You smirk. 'Naturally.' You can already picture him, soiled nappy in hand, trying to figure out what to do.
Scar sighs. 'Very well. I'm fairly confident it's a boy though. He's going to have my eyes…'
You roll your own eyes. 'Given that we're both Ishvalan, I think red eyes are a given, unless you think I've been sleeping around.' You say it teasingly, making sure he knows you're not serious.
Scar's face is blank. 'I've seen the way you look at Yoki.' He deadpans.
You snicker. 'With utter disgust and a hint of nausea?'
Scar maintains his cool façade. 'I hear some women like that.' His voice is still so serious, but as you continue to stare and him, his façade breaks, and the two of you start howling with laugher, so much so you're concerned someone is going to rush in at any moment.
No sooner than you've thought that do you hear a faint commotion coming from down the hall.
Scar immediately sits up, positioning you behind him. 'Whoever it is, they'll have to get past me first.' Who is it though? A relative of one of his victims out for revenge? How would they know he's even here? Maybe it's a reporter who's caught wind of something? It could even be a disgruntled soldier, angry at the treatment Scar's been receiving. Are people still so hateful towards your husband?
The voice becomes clearer the closer it gets, and you relax slightly, almost certain you know who it is.
As the door to the room opens, three figures fall in; two soldiers, who had apparently been stationed as your guards, and a man you're all-too familiar with.
Cheng.
You have to resist the urge to put your head in your hands.
Before even bothering to look at who's in the room, Cheng starts ranting. 'How dare you arrest a pregnant woman like this?! Ooo, when Scar comes back, and I tell him about the shit you've pulled…' He looks around the room, and sees you and Scar on the bed, his face suddenly becoming very red indeed. 'Ah. I think I may have made a slight miscalculation. Umm… well Scar, here's your wife back, safe and sound! She definitely wasn't taken away because I had to relieve myself right after helping to gather the wood. That definitely never happened, I promise! I'll just be… I'm glad you're okay. Truly I am. I'll tell your master for you. You two have a nice, happy reunion, and forget what I said about pregnancy. Cheery bye!' He darts from the room as fast as he'd entered, the two bewildered-looking soldiers leaving again shortly after, closing the door behind them.
Relaxing again, Scar lets out another heavy sigh. 'Our friends are strange indeed. At least he came after you, I suppose. I can't fault him for that.' That's… probably the nicest thing he's ever said about Cheng.
You smirk. 'Aww, I knew you loved him really!' You playfully nudge Scar's shoulder, expecting him to smile back.
He doesn't.
Instead, his voice is serious. 'I owe him everything. I shall never be able to repay him for what he's done, yet he is not the kind of man who would ever ask me to. I'm happy that we have someone like him in our lives. If my brother was still alive, I would have encouraged him to settle down with Cheng. The two of them would have been amazing Uncles. As it is, our baby will only have the one, but that's so much better than nothing. Also, never tell him what I've just told you. He's never let me forget it.' Now you're properly laughing. He's acting like a petulant younger brother! Which you suppose he is in a way…
When your laugher is finally spent, the two of you settle down again, doing your best to hold each other despite your awkward shape.
You feel like you're about to drift off, but Scar's voice keeps you awake, his words sounding almost urgent. 'I owe you everything too.'
Curious, you make a little humming noise, urging him to continue. 'You could have given up on me so easily. You didn't have to aid me in the camp, but you did. You definitely didn't have to follow me, but you did. At every turn or event, you could have walked away. I almost wanted you to walk away. But you didn't. You stayed with me through everything. You gave me your heart so willingly, and I was terrified of taking it because I was convinced I would break it. Yet that never crossed your mind. You knew I could be trusted with it. I've put you through so much, yet you've never once faltered. I don't know if I'll ever be worthy of you or you love, but as long as you're by my side, I will do my best to make sure that I am. I love you, and all that you are. You have given me something to hope for, and that is something irreplaceable. Thank you, my love, for everything.' He kisses your forehead, and you relax even further, so content in his arms.
Before you can sleep though, you have something of your own to say. 'Thank you for letting me in. I couldn't have loved you so fully if you hadn't invited me into your heart. Love works both ways. I could have given you my love, but if you hadn't opened up your heart for me, it would have all been in vein. You'll always be worthy of my love, because you were brave enough to accept it at a time when your heart was so well-guarded. You showed me your vulnerability despite everything. Our love bloomed because I got to see the real you. So thank you, love, for taking a chance on me, even when you felt like the whole world was against you.' You feel something wet against your head, and you realise Scar is crying.
His voice almost breaks as he speaks to you, one last thing before you drift off into sleep;
'We are both worthy of each other, then.'
You can't wait to see what the future will bring.