Guess I lost everyone pretty quick after the rape scene. Anyway, I'm still posting.


Chapter Sixteen

Havoc walked out of the Central command center for his regular smoke break when he saw Ed standing there. She was leaning against a wall with a cigarette in her hand. She brought it up to her mouth and took a puff before breathing out the smoke with expertise.

"Chief?" Havoc asked as he walked closer to Ed. He brought out his own pack of cigarettes and took one for his smoke break. He only had so long to do it before Mustang would be out on his ass. Or send Hawkeye. "You smoking now?"

"Nope," Ed said. "Just pregnant." She had told Hawkeye that she was a girl when she was getting her wounds treated after the Promised day. She kind of figured Hawkeye would respond with how she knew the entire time. Ed asked Hawkeye to tell the others so she wouldn't have to see the looks on their face, and the Lieutenant obliged.

"Seriously?" Havoc asked. "Wow...I mean...Aren't you supposed to not smoke when pregnant?"

"It's calming me down," Ed said. "If I'm not smoking, I'm gonna freak out."

"Well, who's the father?" Havoc asked. He couldn't see Ed with another guy, honestly. Though, maybe that was just because Ed had been going under the persona of a boy for so long.

"A Homunculus," Ed answered. "That Xingese prince that I was with...when he was under the control of that Homunculus, Greed, he...I told him no."

"Wait, are you saying that he raped you?" Havoc asked.

"I don't know," Ed whined out. "I don't think I'm gonna have it."

"The baby?" Ed nodded.

"I'm seventeen," Ed said. "I just restored Al. I want to live my life and travel right now. Al and I have been talking about traveling the east and the west for more information and even starting up our own form of alchemy."

"You don't have to justify it," Havoc said. "You have the right to do whatever you want with your own body. But you should probably tell the father."

"Greed's gone," Ed said. "He was destroyed on the Promised day. Now Ling has his own body back and he left for Xing to take his place as Emperor. It's not even really his kid."

"Well, it's his DNA," Havoc said. "Even if Greed was using his body, that body still belonged to Ling. That's Ling's baby."

"I can't," Ed said. "I'd have to send a letter that would take too long to get there. By the time he would even get the letter and respond it would be too late."

"You do whatever you think is right, Ed," Havoc said. "But I really think you should tell him."

"I'll think about it," Ed said before taking another drag of her cigarette. She put it out on her boot and dropped it onto the ground. "Thanks for talking me through this. I gotta get back to the hospital for Al."

"Well, if ya need anyone to be there when you...take care of it..." Havoc trailed off. "Hit me up."

"Sure thing," Ed said before walking away from him.


Ed sat down by Al's hospital bed. She had been leaving Al's room every two hours to vomit, but at least now she knew it wasn't contagious to Alphonse.

"Sister..." Al trailed off as he watched Ed sit beside him once again. He had taken to referring to his sister as such now because everyone knew anyway. Thankfully she wasn't getting reprimanded by the military because Bradley knew the entire time anyway.

"Yeah, Al?" Ed asked. "Are you feeling all right? Do you want me to ask the nurse to get you another pillow?" Al had been complaining of pain lately because he had no fat on his body to protect his bones.

"I'm worried about you," Al said. "You smell like smoke and you've been feeling sick. I can tell. And you look pale."

"I'm managing it," Ed responded. "And it's nothing contagious, so you don't have to worry."

"I'm not worried about me," Al said with a sigh. "I'm worried about you. You look like you've lost weight and you're feeling sick."

"Don't worry about it," Ed said. "I'll be better in a week. I promise."

"What does that mean?" Al asked.

"Al..." Ed trailed off. She was having a hard time keeping this secret from her brother. They always shared everything. "The nurse said I'm sick. But...I made an appointment for me to get better. It's next week."

"What are you sick with?" Al asked. What could possibly be so serious that his sister would keep it from him?

"Just some girl stuff..." Ed said, her voice cracking slightly. She needed to keep herself together. "It's really nothing for you to worry about or anything."

"I can bug you all day about this until you tell me," Al said. "And I will."

Ed sighed, not sure if she could regret what she was about to say. "I'm pregnant and I'm not having it."

Al paused. What? He never even thought of his sister with a man to get pregnant. What had happened when they were separated?

"What?" Al asked.

"I'm pregnant," Ed repeated. "The nurse said I'm about three weeks along. I can't really get the surgery to get the port out of my arm unless I'm not pregnant, so I'm not having it."

"Who..." Al trailed off. He was so shocked he could barely get his words out. "Who's the father?"

"Greed," Ed answered. If she could tell Havoc that, she could tell Alphonse. The only reason she didn't want to tell Al about it in the first place was because she didn't want him to worry.

"The Homunculus?" Al asked.

Ed nodded. "He was taking over Ling's body when it happened. I didn't think I could even get pregnant."

"Sister, that's just silly," Al said. "Of course you can get pregnant. You're a grown woman." Though, Al couldn't think of it either.

"Well, I didn't think I would," Ed said. "But...I made an appointment to take care of it...at a clinic."

"Are you sure?" Al asked. Ed nodded. "Have you told Ling?"

"Why does everyone want me to tell Ling?" Ed asked. He wasn't the father! Greed was! And Greed was gone.

"Because even if Greed was taking over Ling's body, it's still Ling's DNA in there," Al said. "You should tell him. Even if you don't let him have any room in the decision making, you should tell him."

"So I can tell him and still have an abortion anyway?" Ed asked.

Al nodded. "It's your decision, sister. It's your body."

"Oh..." Ed trailed off. She just assumed that if she told Ling she would have to keep it. She didn't want it. It was made of a night of horrible feelings for her. She had been angry at Winry and hadn't even wanted to have sex with Greed. It made the night feel awful and the pregnancy gave her awful feelings. "I'll send him a letter."

"Not in person?" Al asked.

"What do you want me to do?" Ed asked. "I can't just hike through the desert. Crossing the desert with automail sounds hot."

"Well, maybe after you recover from your surgery you can do it," Al suggested.

"I'm not leaving you to go to Xing when you're still recovering," Ed said. "I'll send him a letter. It'll be too late for him to do anything whether it's a letter or in person, anyway."

"All right, sister," Al said. "I'm gonna take a nap now. You should get some rest too."

"Sure thing." Ed nodded. She wouldn't, but she would watch over her little brother for the time being.


"Is today the day of the appointment?" Alphonse asked as he watched his sister stand in front of a mirror squeezing her breasts over and over again. It was...odd.

"Yeah," Ed answered as she continued to squeeze and unsqueeze. "I'm getting ready to go now."

"What are you doing?" Alphonse asked.

"My tits are swollen," Ed answered. "They hurt. My bra doesn't even fit anymore."

"Well, after today it'll all be over," Al said.

"Actually, no," Ed said. "I talked to the lady on the phone to make the appointment and she said this was just a consult."

"Huh?" Al asked.

"Basically they're gonna confirm that I'm knocked up, look at the thing, and then make a whole other appointment to get rid of it," Ed explained.

"Do you know when that'll be?"

"Nope," Ed said. "But I'll let you know when they make the appointment. It should be soon. Wouldn't wanna wait too long to get rid of it. I heard the longer you wait the worse off the recovery is."

"Recovery?" Al asked. He didn't want his sister to be hurting because of it, but he also wasn't sure about her having a baby. He knew she was making the right decision for her.

Ed nodded. "It shouldn't be that bad." She rubbed Al's hair. "Try to eat your lunch while I'm gone, okay?"

"All right," Al said. "But you try to eat lunch too."

"I'm gonna head to the Command Center after," Ed said. "Fuery's gonna stop by and eat lunch with you." With that, Ed headed out the door to the appointment.

After everything had been checked out and it was confirmed that Ed was indeed expecting, the nurse looked through the calendar to make an appointment.

"We have something for you next week," the nurse said.

"Next week?" Ed asked. "By then I'll be five weeks."

"Look, we don't allow appointments to be before a week after the consult," the nurse explained. "I'm sorry, but it's really not our rule. It's Central city's rule."

"Seriously?" Ed asked with a groan. "Fine, make it next week."

She grumbled as she left the clinic, but perked up when she saw the Command Center. While Resembool was her home, Central Command felt like it too. She had grown up there and Mustang's team really felt like her family by now.

"Ed!" Havoc cheered out when Ed walked through the door. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm good," Ed said. "Kinda hungry, though."

"Well, we're just about to go out to lunch," Breda said. "We were planning on taking our lunch break when you come, so let's get out of here."

"Edward," Riza said suddenly, and Ed snapped to the woman. "You look...different."

"Oh?" Ed asked. Could Riza see through her? She had only told Alphonse and Havoc that she was pregnant. Had Havoc spilled?

"You're...glowing..." Riza said in an unsure tone.

"Oh," Ed said. "Thanks. Let's get our grub on now." The others walked out hastily, but Ed pulled Havoc back for a minute. "You didn't tell anyone, did you?"

"No," Havoc answered. "Why?"

"It seemed like Hawkeye might know something," Ed said.

"You really can't get passed the Hawks eye," Havoc said with a shrug. "I thought your appointment was today."

"It was just a consult," Ed answered. "The real deal is next week. Let's meet up with the others before they get suspicious and think I'm macking on you or something."

'That's gross," Havoc said, but he grinned and laughed a little when Ed had said it. The two made haste in catching up with the others.

"The black hold is in action once again," Breda commented when he saw Ed devour a dozen donuts in one sitting. "We were all getting worried there. The Colonel and First Lieutenant said that you'd lost weight recently."

"Just stress," Ed said, though she had read through pamphlets at the hospital when Al was resting that said women often lost weight in the beginning of their pregnancy due to morning sickness. "But I'm fucking starving now."

"Glad to see you're feeling better, Fullmetal," Mustang said. "The Lieutenant and I were worried you would continue to lose weight with Alphonse in the hospital."

"He's getting out soon," Ed said. "Fuery's with him now and the doctors are trying to wean him off of his NG tube. Once he's off, he'll be allowed to come home."

"Where are you planning on taking him?" Havoc asked. It was no secret that the Elrics didn't really have a home. Ever since Ed was fourteen she didn't like staying in the military dorms. She would always be placed with the men and she found it uncomfortable to stay there for more than a few days. They often had hotels.

"I was thinking about renting out an apartment until he's healthy enough to travel," Ed said. "Something close to the hospital in case something happens."

"That's a good idea," Hawkeye said. "The Colonel can you help you look for something. He lives nearby the hospital."

"Yeah, I'll help you," Mustang agreed.

"Sure," Ed said. She suddenly felt a twinge in her bladder and stood. "Be back, gotta take a leak." She swore she was peeing every five minutes lately. She couldn't wait to get this thing taken care of.

"Even though Ed admitted she's a girl, she still talks like a damn guy," Havoc commented with a laugh. It was true, but that's just how Ed always was. The team didn't expect her to change.

"Havoc," Riza spoke suddenly. "May I speak with you in private?"

"Uh..." Havoc trailed off. "Sure." The two stood from the table and walking away, leaving the table in silence as they wondered what the soldiers were talking about.

"You know what's going on with Ed, don't you?" Hawkeye asked. Havoc nodded. "Is she pregnant?" Riza was a woman and knew the signs.

"Ed doesn't want anyone to know," Havoc said. "But yeah. She's not having it."

"Really?" Hawkeye asked with her eyebrows raised. She hadn't expected Ed to come to such a decision. Though, maybe she did. "When is she planning on that?"

"She said something about next week," Havoc said. "Don't tell anyone. She trusted me with the information and I really wasn't supposed to tell anyone."

"Don't worry," Hawkeye said. "You have my trust." The two returned to the table, and no one dared ask what they had spoken about. After a moment, Ed returned as well.

"Are you all right?" Mustang asked the teenager, who returned looking sickly.

"I'm fine," Ed snapped suddenly. The team was confused. Well, everyone but Havoc and Hawkeye. They could see mood swings for what they really were. Ed had always been moody, but in a surly teenage sort of way. Not like this.

"Ed," Riza said suddenly, yet softly. "Come with me for a minute." Breda, Falman, and Mustang watched on as Hawkeye and Ed left the table. They were just as confused with Ed being taken to talk with Hawkeye as when she had spoken with Havoc. Were they next or something?

"I know about your situation," Hawkeye said.

"Damn that Havoc," Ed growled out, though Hawkeye stopped her.

"Hold it," Riza silenced Ed. "I guessed and Havoc confirmed. Any woman from a mile away can see what's going on with you, Ed."

"Really?" Ed asked. Hawkeye nodded.

"Are you taking care of yourself?" Hawkeye asked.

"Does it matter? I mean, if you guessed, Havoc must have told you I'm not keeping it," Ed explained.

"I didn't ask if you were taking care of the clump of cells," Hawkeye said. "I asked if you were taking care of yourself. I know you have a lot of stress in your life and I don't want you to wear yourself out."

"I'll be fine," Ed said with a sigh. "My appointment is next week and after that I can focus on Al and me. I need to look for apartments and stuff too. We might just get a hotel until I can find an apartment."

"You know that if you ever need help, you can rely on me," Hawkeye said. "This whole team thinks of you as our family. We don't want you to burn yourself out right now."

"I know," Ed said. "Havoc already asked if I needed him to come to my appointment and stuff. I know how you guys feel."

"Is he going?" Hawkeye asked. Ed shook her head. "Is anyone?" Another shake. "Ed... You shouldn't go through this alone."

"Would you...?" Ed asked. "I mean, if you're not busy and you don't think it's weird or anything. I know Havoc already offered, but I'd feel better with a girl there, ya know?"

"I'll go with you," Hawkeye said. "I'll even come and get you from the hospital. I have a car and I'll drive you. After the procedure, you'll want to get a lot of rest. Don't push yourself back into stress. You could get sick."

"You know a lot about this stuff," Ed commented.

"I have experience with it," Hawkeye responded. "So listen to me when I give you advice about this, all right?"

"All right," Ed said with a slight smile. It felt good to have a feminine support system. Maybe she should have called Winry. Ed gave the details of the appointment before heading toward the door of the mess hall.

"I've got to get out of here, but I'll see you then?" Ed asked.

"I'll be there," Hawkeye said. "And remember what I said about not getting stressed out. Stop smoking."

"You knew about that?" Ed asked. Hawkeye nodded. "All right, I'll stop. See ya!" she headed out with a sudden burst of energy.