Official
Disclaimer: I do not own FMAB
So, as I promised, here is chapter 5 a day ahead of schedule. I'm going to start as of this week posting chapters on Friday nights instead of Saturday. I'm done with school *happy dance* for the summer, so hopefully I will have more work hours and time to type.
Anyway, I'm rambling.
Enjoy!
The next day
Ed blinked awake at the sun that shone through the window and then smiled when he looked down to see Winry sleeping peacefully. Ed stood and stretched, remembering that it wouldn't be until the next day that they would leave for Central, and knowing that, Ed couldn't stop the light smirk that graced his features. What better time to do it? Ed thought with a smile. Winry woke a few moments after Ed had stood, feeling the lack of warmth and sudden lightness around her stomach.
"Morning Winry." Ed chuckled as she sat up. Winry smiled sleepily and Ed couldn't help but stare at her beauty.
"Morning." Winry said as she rubbed her eyes open. Ed stopped staring, knowing it might make things a bit awkward. Once she stood they both went downstairs for breakfast with the others. Today will be the day I make it official. Ed thought as he ate his pancakes.
"Something on your mind brother?" Al asked, though he already knew.
"A few things, the exam in a couple of days, personal stuff, you know." Ed said casually earning a knowing smile from his brother.
"And you?" Ed asked as he drank the juice.
"Just wanting to heal faster and what it'll be like for me when I join. I won't be in the action as much because of my leg." Al said.
"True, but seven months fly by in no time, who knows, you might heal faster once you're allowed out of that damned wheelchair." Ed said, elbowing Winry gently.
"No matter how much you whine, it's not going to happen" Winry giggled.
"We know Winry." Both brother's responded monotone. Winry smiled, trying not to laugh.
"Ed, wheel me outside, I want some fresh air." Al said.
"Got it." Ed replied. Ed took the handles of his brother's chair and wheeled him out to the porch. The day was warm and the heat felt nice for both men. They sat there and spoke little, mostly talking about alchemy.
"I know she's not happy about it, but I just hope she understands why." Ed sighed.
"So you gonna make it official today?" Al asked, smiling to his brother.
"Yeah, I have it all prepared." Ed said with a confident grin. The door creaked open as Winry went outside.
"Hey, you two mind going with May and me to the market?" Winry asked as she walked outside.
"Why do you need to go to the market, you were there earlier this week." Ed said.
"I need the ingredients to my version of stew." Winry said catching both men's attention.
"What's in yours that is not in Pinako's?" Al asked.
"Garlic, chives, oregano, onion, parsley, pork, celery, green beans, lentil, peppers, and…"Winry began before Ed placed a finger on her mouth.
"Stop, you're making me hungry. Yes we'll go with." Ed said, Al nodding. May giggled as they started walking to the market, May wheeling Al there.
"There are a few ways to a man's heart, food is a big one." May chuckled.
"Only second to another I hear." Winry said, making both men go wide eyed and blush slightly.
"True." May laughed. After ten minutes of walking with occasional talk they reached the main town area and found the market. The men from the previous night were there as well, and the way they stared at Winry, right in front of their girlfriends, made the bile rise in the back Ed's throat. Absentmindedly, Ed took her hand in his. Winry almost pulled it back but left it, smiling a little as she picked out the food.
"Can we get some?" May asked as she ran over with the biggest, reddest apples she could find.
"Oh yeah, it's apple season. Get as many as you can." Winry said with a light laugh. May smiled and then pushed Al with her over to the barrels.
"Why do I get this sudden feeling we'll have more apples then we can eat?" Ed laughed as he grabbed some celery.
"Apple pie, apple crisps, apple juice, apple strudel. You'd be surprised with what I can make." Winry said.
"There you go making me hungry again." Ed chuckled. Once they paid for the ingredients they started their walk back. Ed caught the faint sound of footsteps behind them.
"We have company." May hissed looking over her shoulder. Ed and Al looked back to see the group of ten or so.
"What do you want?" Ed growled.
"You and your brother." The girls replied with a smirk.
"The blonde chick and her friend." The men replied.
"And yet you chicks call me a slut when you go right around and flirt with other guys in front of your boyfriends." Winry said in disbelief.
"We decided to stop dating and just be benefits." The girls and guys all replied. Winry and Ed rolled their eyes while May and Al glared.
"So what do you say?" The men asked getting closer.
"I'm engaged, and that's not about to change." May hissed before Al gave them a menacing look.
"After the shit you tried, I would rather jump into a pool of lava then fuck you." Winry growled, her eyes igniting with anger. Ed couldn't help but grin at her choice of words.
"What's so funny Ed?" Winry hissed.
"You when you swear." Ed laughed.
"Come on girl, you know you want to." One guy insisted. Winry glared but then a wicked idea popped into her head. I hope Ed goes with this. Winry thought just as she reached up, placing both hands on his face and pulling him down into a heated kiss, catching everyone off guard. Clever Winry, clever. Ed thought as he relaxed into it, knowing her idea and just because he wanted to. Once they broke apart to catch their breath.
"Well you reacted better than I expected." Winry whispered as the group glared in anger and shock while Al and May held back their laughter.
"You little…" One of the men growled as he stomped towards them, anger in his eyes. Ed smirked, clapped his hands together and then transmuted a spear. The man faltered and then started to retreat. He kept forgetting that Ed was a highly skilled and deadly alchemist that could easily hurt or kill him. Ed, Al, Winry, and May all turned and continued walking towards Winry's home, Winry smiling the whole way.
"You're in a good mood." Ed chuckled.
"Go figure." Winry said sarcastically, gently hitting him on the arm. That only confirmed Ed's idea, making him smirk slightly as they walked up to the home. As Winry prepared dinner Ed went up to his room and made sure everything was in its place. He planned to present the ring last, for obvious reasons.
As he walked down the stairs, he heard Roy and Riza's voice echo from the top of the stairs, followed by the small giggle of a child. Once he reached the bottom if the stairs Ed was attacked by the toddler.
"Ok, what are you up to?" Ed chuckled. James began to trot off with Ed's box. Ed nearly panicked and attacked the child.
"James, give that back." Riza said sternly, making James cower and return the box and Ed sighed in relief. James sniffed the air and smiled.
"Momma, something smells yummy." James giggled.
"Winry is making stew." Riza said with a smile and James licked his lips.
"It'll be done in about ten or so minutes." Winry said as she walked out from the delicious smelling kitchen, the smell lingering on her for just a moment longer. May walked out after her.
"I'm making tea." May said with a smile. Ed felt his stomach knot up but calmed himself down.
"Hey Win, you know how we told you we traveled all over Amestris?" Ed asked.
"Yeah." Winry said with a look of curiosity. Ed again calmed himself.
"Well, we also went to the ruins of Xerxes, just to explore and see what could have been there had it not been destroyed." Ed said solemnly.
"And while we were there, we saw a small village on the outskirts, mostly market places." Al added, smiling slyly to his brother. Ed smirked at his brother before looking back to Winry.
"Ok…" Winry said, utterly confused. Ed pulled from behind him a box.
"Ed…" Winry said.
"We found a jewelers market. Apparently, Xerxes was popular for its gold, diamonds, and red tiger-eye gems." Ed said as he opened the box. Winry's mouth dropped at the necklace that was intricate with the gems placed ever so carefully, the bracelets that had divots of diamonds and the red gems, and the earrings which had the gems placed on them and few that were slightly hanging. Next thing Ed knew was Winry was hugging him tightly.
"Do I even want to know how much you spent?" Winry asked.
"Like I would tell you anyway?" Ed laughed as he handed her the box and helped with the necklace. It was then that Winry noticed a small area that looked like it was for a small box.
"What was in that area?" Winry asked as she pointed to it. Ed smiled shyly before reaching into his pocket and dropping to one knee. Winry suddenly understood and then Ed opened the box to the most magnificent ring she had ever seen. The diamond was at least four carats, and it was flanked by two of the red tiger-eyes on a gold band.
"Winry, I know I technically asked this in an alchemical way, but would you marry me?" Ed asked with a nervous laugh.
"Yes!" Winry said, jumping on him and kissing him.
"It's about time Fullmetal!" Roy laughed. Ed slipped the ring on her finger once they broke the kiss and they both stood. May looked to the clock with a smile and then stood.
"Winry, we need to go check on the food." May chirped.
"I'm coming." Winry said chasing after May. Moment the two girls left Al patted his brother on the back with a smile.
"Well done brother, well done." Al chuckled. Once dinner was ready and dished up they all continued to sit talk as they sat around the table, Pinako poking fun at Ed, who would return it right back.
"Is this common?" Roy asked.
"Yeah, it's their strange way of bonding." Winry laughed.
"Whatever granny, I'm taller than my father was, so you have no right to call me a pipsqueak!" Ed shouted annoyed.
"Still took you forever, so you were always a shorty and so you always will be in my books." Pinako sniffed.
"Mini-hag." Ed growled before they stopped.
"Well, we will be by tomorrow morning to pick you up Ed." Roy said.
"Ahem." Winry said, clearing her throat.
"And you too Winry." Riza added, knowing what she was getting at. Ed also had a feeling she would do that.
"Night everyone." Roy and Riza said, James sleeping on his mother's shoulder. Ed, Winry, Al and May started for the stairs.
"Winry, wait a moment please, I would like to talk to you." Pinako said. Winry walked back over to her grandmother as they others continued up the stairs.
"What did you want to talk about?" Winry asked before her grandmother hugged her.
"It's about time that spineless pipsqueak asked for your hand properly." Pinako chuckled.
"So you're really ok with it?" Winry asked.
"Are you joking dear? I have seen it since the day he first came back for a tune-up when his arm was destroyed. That boy's fallen hard for you, as you have for him, and it does this old woman good to see a new life beginning." Pinako said with a kind smile. Winry blushed at her grandmother's statement.
"So you've known this whole time?" Winry asked shyly.
"Yes dear I have." Pinako said smiling.
"I still don't know how to feel about him going back to the military." Winry said.
"It's his choice and his alone. He'll make a great amount of money, so he can support you. I guess the hard time will be if we're ever drug into another war." Pinako said, knowing that was Winry's real fear. The two continued to talk for another thirty minutes before deciding to go to bed. Winry walked into Ed's room, since hers was still trashed, and found Ed sleeping already. He was topless and his hand was resting on his stomach, mouth slightly open and hair still back in his braid, his arm was behind his head. Winry walked over and the floor only creaked once, but that was enough for his eyes to snap open and look towards the sound.
"You still have those damn instincts." Winry said as she finally reached the bed and sat down.
"Hard to break once you have them." Ed admitted embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it, I understand." Winry said as she lay down next to him. He pulled her close to him, making her let out a small squeak of surprise.
"Ed." Winry hissed. Ed smirked and kissed her neck, making her breath hitch.
"Yes Winry?" Ed chuckled suavely.
"Nothing. Let's just go to sleep, early train in the morning." Winry said quietly as her heart was beating loudly.
"Alright." Ed said with a smile, resting his head on the pillow and nuzzling into the crook of her neck. The warmth that Ed brought was incredible and soon enough Winry was lulled to sleep by the feeling of such warmth.
The next day
"Are you ready yet? We're only going to be there maybe five days." Ed said as he waited outside.
"I'll be just a minute." Winry said as she ran up the stairs. Roy smirked over at Ed before walking over.
"Just wait till you two have kids." Roy said making the young man blush.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ed asked.
"For every kid, allow twenty minutes to get them ready." Roy said, looking to his own hyperactive son.
"You were still on time." Ed said.
"Because we woke up half an hour earlier." Roy smirked. Ed rolled his eyes as Winry walked down the stairs lugging a heavy suitcase.
"Again, only five days." Ed said.
"And knowing your luck, you'll somehow manage to mess up your automail, and don't try arguing with me, you know I'm right." Winry said with a smile. Roy couldn't help but laugh at the situation as they left the house. They arrived at the train station and loaded up.
"See you in five or so day's brother." Al shouted as the train took off.
"Yup." Ed replied, sticking his head out the window.
"And don't' forget to maintain it while I'm gone and to go easy on it. May, beat him up if he doesn't." Winry said. May smiled and nodded and Al paled. James toddled over to Winry and grabbed her leg smiling.
"Play." James said. Winry smiled and picked him up, placing the small boy on her lap.
"What do you want to play?" Winry asked before James covered his eyes. Ed tilted his head confused.
"Where did James go?" Winry giggled.
"Boo!" James said pulling his hands away from his eyes.
"There he is!" Winry said smiling. Roy and Riza took their seats and smiled at their sons antics. James then was staring at the shiny objects Winry was wearing. Roy then looked at them and his eyes went wide.
"Ed, what were those gems called again?" Roy asked, panic in his tone.
"Relax Roy, their called red tiger-eye gems. I thought they were the stone also, but when I looked at them more carefully, the white lines don't move in the gem. Win, can I see a bracelet of yours please?" Ed asked. Winry took off a bracelet and handed it to Ed who showed it to Roy.
"See." Ed said as Roy looked at it. Relief flooded his face.
"Thank god. I was scared for a moment there Ed, but you will tell no one that, understood." Roy chuckled.
"I'll keep it in my back pocket." Ed said with a smirk, remembering when Roy spoke those words to him. They continued to talk until dinner and soon enough Riza, James and Winry were asleep, leaving Roy and Ed to talk.
"By the way, I caught the smile you had while Winry was playing with James." Roy smiled making Ed blush.
"So." Ed said ungracefully.
"Not one of your most graceful comebacks. It's only natural for you to want a family, now that you're engaged and that your family life wasn't the best." Roy said.
"Yeah." Ed said bowing his head slightly.
"Being a military man will take you away from your family for long hours of the day, but at least you get long vacations every month. It'll be difficult, but once they're old enough to understand, they accept it. I'm grateful that my son understands already, having both his parents in the military, though admittedly, Riza gets more time off." Roy said.
"Well, she's a mother." Ed said.
"I know." Roy said as he looked to his small family.
"What's it like holding that small life for the first time?" Ed asked. Child birth had always fascinated him; the whole concept of pregnancy had always been so wonderful to him.
"Like you're holding the most precious gem in the world. You feel your soul lift the moment they open their eyes and look at you with such innocence in the world. I can't even imagine what it's like for the mother's." Roy said with a smile before finally deciding that sleep was needed.
"Night Ed." Roy said before falling asleep. Ed smiled and then looked to Winry, now longing to see her pregnant with his child. Someday, and hopefully soon, that will happen. Ed thought before falling asleep.
Hooray for fluff! Yes, I intended that after the last chapter, there should be some light fluffiness. Hope you all enjoyed it. So remember, I will be posting on Friday's now, not Saturday's, so until then R&R please and thank you!