Letters
Disclaimer: I do not own FMAAB
Hello again everyone. So, my last week or so have been a little crazy, being out of state and working with horses and so on. Again, many thanks for your understanding that I would not be posting last week, But now I am back, and after some well deserved rest and relaxation, got back to typing, despite some computer malfunctions.
Hope you enjoy.
1 week later
Winry walked out of her large home that morning to retrieve the mail. The shop didn't open for another hour so she had time to relax a little. Her stomach, now being in her fourth, almost fifth, month of pregnancy was starting to show more and more. Skimming through the small stack of mail as she walked back into the home she noticed a thick envelope, and instantly recognized the handwriting on the front as Ed's. Taking a seat on the couch she carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the two page letter. Noticing the date, October of last week, she then continued on.
Winry,
I've written the date above to let you know how long the postage takes and to somehow act as an assurance that I am alive. Of course, the fact that men dressed in black military uniforms have probably not arrived to our home yet is also a factor, but I digress.
The war is going fine, though that's probably not what you want to think about; still I thought I should inform you. Only two casualties in my brigade of troops and they were honored for their bravery.
May told Al about her pregnancy, and his face was priceless, then followed by the adoration and gooey shit that usually follow, not saying that I'm not ecstatic, still, he doesn't need to get all dreamy over here…but who am I to talk? Speaking of that, how's your pregnancy going? You're not working yourself too hard right hun? Don't expose yourself to fumes for too long, you know as well as I do that's not good for the baby. You're not worrying too much right love? I know, stupid question, but I gotta try right?
I miss you, a lot. I wish I could be there with you right now and could see you and hold you. How often does the baby move?
Al and I still haven't mentioned it to anyone here, though that may be more difficult as you get closer and closer to delivering the baby. When do you think I should let someone know? You know so I could maybe come home to see the baby be born. I want to be there for that, really, I do.
I really do hope this war ends soon, but with that damn alliance going on, we'll be lucky to be done in a year. I know, not the most optimistic of things, but I'm a realist and an alchemist, occupational hazard I guess.
Wanna know what keeps be going through this? Thinking about what would happen if I failed and what that would put you through. I would hate for that to happen, but most of all, I would hate not seeing you again. I love you too much to ever want that to happen to you. Also, what keeps me going through in this hell on earth is thinking of your smiling face and what you could look like pregnant; Roy's told me that women seem to glow when they're pregnant. If anything, that's what keeps me going. That and knowing that if I did…well…you know…you would beat me until I came back to life only to beat me to death again…kidding babe, I love you. I miss you. I really really want to see you soon love.
Your Husband,
Colonel Edward Elric
Winry smiled, though tears threatened at the corners of her eyes. She took the paper to her room and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, before changing and getting ready to work.
"I'll write a response once I'm done with work." Winry said to herself before brushing out her hair and then leaving the room for work.
"Winry, why do you look ready to cry?" Natalie asked as Winry walked into the store.
"I just got a letter from Ed, that's all." Winry said as she gathered herself.
"Everything ok?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah, he's just checking up on me." Winry smiled before getting to work.
1 week later
Ed flopped onto his cot in the bunker, exhausted and ready to sleep. He was glad that he was alive at that point, both he and his brother. He had yet to receive a response letter form Winry and feared it may have gotten lost in the mail.
"Letter for Colonel Elric." Someone at the door called. Ed walked to the door, thanked the man and then went back to his cot from the letter.
Ed,
I appreciate the dates very much so and have kinda copied your idea, not for the 'I'm alive' aspect but for the 'this is when I wrote it' aspect so that maybe we can time the time it takes for the letters to send. Yeah, no men in black uniforms do help ease the mind a bit.
I don't mind hearing about the war as long as you're alive, I hear about it every time I turn on the radio. May they rest knowing they were honored.
You don't have room to talk about being all gooey and such over pregnancy, because, well, you just went against that you silly man. My pregnancy is fine, by the time you get this I'll be just about to my fifth month. I close the shop up an hour earlier and I open up about an hour later, therefore cutting my day down to six hours instead of eight…unless it's an emergency, but that has yet to happen. I probably just jinxed myself. I know not to expose myself to the fumes for long periods of time, that's why I keep a window opened. Worrying…no, not at all, my husband is off to war, as is my brother-in-law; I'm pregnant with my first child and running a business…no worrying here…
I miss you too, I wish you were here, but I know that there's this damn war that has to be won first, doesn't mean I have to like it at all. On your question about the baby moving, the baby moves a lot, actually, it's kicking right now. I have to move around three or so times in the middle of the night before they are comfortable enough to stop kicking my ribs.
Sometimes your realistic views can be annoying as all hell, but I do appreciate the honesty you give me. It makes it easier for me to cope with you not being here, knowing you should be home in a year or so.
Dammit, now you've made me cry because of that sweet testament. I miss you sooooooo much. I want you to come in to see the baby be born. Maybe if I can swing it I can send you a picture when I'm showing more.
You're absolutely correct, I would yell and beat you until you were alive and then hit you over the head for scaring me.
I love you too. I miss you more. I want to see you too. It's too quiet here, despite having Natalie here, it just doesn't feel quite like home until you're here. The shop hasn't been too busy and May is good with the bedside manner and healing people.
No dying on me ok, this child needs a father like I need a husband. Write when you can so I know you're still alive.
Your loving wife,
Winry
Ed smiled at her letter and started to write his reply to her. In these moments, when he was writing to his wife, the war didn't exist, the pain and suffering outside these walls and camp was not real, and the literal hell on earth was gone. The weight from his shoulders was briefly lifted as he wrote to his wife.
1 month later
The letter exchange between Ed and Winry was very common, the mail man stopped by Ed's bunker every week to either drop off or pick up. Ed had finally broken the news to his small group, his team, about Winry's condition. Al then followed suit.
That morning Ed was awakened by a knock on his bunker door.
"Hello?" Ed said.
"Letter for Colonel Elric." The man said.
"Thanks Aaron." Ed chuckled before taking the letter. Reading it over a smile spread on his face. Just then Al walked in.
"I take it Winry told you that May can sense a masculine chi from the child?" Al asked.
"I take it that's what you just found out?" Ed chuckled in response.
"Yes." Al said.
"Yeah, but she also told me that it isn't for certain yet until she's in her seventh month." Ed replied.
"True. Winry's almost to her last trimester correct?" Al asked.
"Yeah." Ed said. After a little more exchanging of notes and discoveries between the brothers, Al left. Ed then sat down and began to write to Winry.
1 week later
Winry was working like never before. She didn't want to read the letter from Ed until after work, his letters always made her so emotional and she could never focus while at work. The one thing that gave her comfort was that the letter proved he was still alive. Now being in her last trimester of pregnancy, her hormones were still wacky as ever.
"How is the baby?" her current client asked. It was a common question that people asked.
"Antsy." Winry replied.
"Where's the father?" he asked. Another common question.
"My husband is a Colonel and State Alchemist." Winry sighed as she screwed in the nuts and bolts, making sure the wires weren't damaged.
"Ah, fighting in this damnable war. Good man." The man said.
"I'd like to think so." Winry chuckled before a small kick from her stomach made her jump.
"Kicking?" The man asked.
"Yeah." Winry chuckled.
"I remember the first time my wife was pregnant with our daughter. Course, I was hardly ever home because I worked in a factory, but needless to say, there was never a dull moment." The man chuckled, his eyes far away in memory. From that point on the day flew by, client after client, and before she knew it, she was sitting in her living room reading Ed's letter; smiling at the parts that made her laugh and the touching little things he would say like, when should we start thinking of names? Winry read the letter and would either be smiling or crying by the time she was done.
"Damn my emotions." Winry said as she wiped her eyes so that she would be able to see what she wrote to Ed.
1 ½ months later
Ed was glad as ever that he would be able to leave for a week at Winry's nine month mark.
"Package for Colonel Elric." The postage man said.
"Package?" Ed asked as he walked over and took the small nearly flat box. There was a folded up letter inside but what caught his eye was the leather picture holder. Opening it a smile broke out on his face. It was a picture of Winry seven and a half month pregnant with that beautiful as ever smile on her face. Her hands were resting on her swollen stomach and she had a glow around her in his opinion. After looking at the photo a little while longer he then opened the letter.
Edward,
I hope you like the picture I sent you. I remember in one of your letters that you wanted a photo of me and that I would send you one when I was showing more.
Things are going well at the shop, and luckily clients understand if I can't make three appointments in a day unless it's an emergency.
The war effort, by what I hear on the radio, is going well, but there's still a long way to go. I hope I get to see you in the next month or so.
Natalie is getting the basics of the automail industry and can almost do a whole fitting on her own, which of course lessons my work load, which I am sure makes you happy.
Anyway, write back to me when you can and let me know if you want any other photos.
I love you. I miss you and I want you to come home soon.
Your loving wife,
Winry
Ed smiled before sitting down and constructing his own letter.
1 week later
Winry,
I got you letter and picture. I love it. I can't help but look at it and smile, only ironing my will and determination to do everything I can to get this war done and to stay alive for you and our child.
Yes, the war effort is going well and the Aerugo forces are pulling back, but because of that damn alliance, we sometimes get Creta soldiers in the mix, so that always puts a spin on things.
It's good to hear that your apprentice is getting the hang of things and yes it does make me happy that your load is lightened, as I'm sure it probably makes you happy, or if not happy, helps you focus on the task at hand without having to worry more than necessary.
I will be able to see you, that much has been verified by one of the Generals here. I'm not going to miss the birth of our firstborn child, I swear I will be there for you.
I love you too Winry. I miss you and I will see you soon.
Write when you get this.
Your Husband,
Colonel Edward Elric
Winry smiled at the letter. Short, sweet, and to the point and yet it was more comforting than any of his much longer and in depth letters.
"When that man makes a promise, he always keeps it." Winry cooed to her swollen belly, receiving a punch as her child's response.
"Don't worry little one, you will meet your father. He promised to be here and no force in heaven or hell can make him break a promise. The only thing that could stop him would be the grim reaper, but I think even that would be a task." Winry chuckled. She knew her husband well, he was a stubborn man and would do whatever it took to keep his word. That was an admirable trait of his, he always kept his word. She stood and stretched before she headed off to bed, knowing that in the south near the border, her husband was fighting for his life and country to be safe.
"I'm proud of your father. I just want him to come home." Winry said as she changed. Crawling into the large, cold bed she was only comforted by the nudging of the life that grew within her, the life she and Ed had created. If he were to die on the battle field, she had their child to hold on to, she had a piece of him that kept her calm and warm in this big cold quiet house in the even bigger city of Central.
1 month later
The last letter she had received from Ed was that he would be getting ready to come into Central in the next few weeks all the while fighting in the war. He would call her when he was on the train. Winry was just a few days from her nine month mark and May had said that the baby would be born later in her ninth month.
"How late?" Winry had asked.
"Within the third week." May had replied. So of course May had told Ed and he planned to leave near the end of the second week of March. Winry was nervous, as any first-time mother would be.
"Winry." May said.
"What?" Winry asked as she paced the room.
"Pacing will only make you dizzy and tired. You need to try and calm down, stress is good for you or the baby." May said. Winry plopped on the couch with a heavy sigh.
"I know, but still, a lot can happen in a few weeks." Winry said.
"I know, but you gotta have faith in that he and his brother and his men will do their best to stay alive out there." May said.
"I know." Winry replied sadly. The next few weeks would feel like years to her.
So, I know some things are a little stretched beyond what most military's do, but again, this is a fiction and a different kind of world, and Grumman has his favorites, though he'll never admit to it, and Roy can pull strings. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, and until next time, please R&R.