I Will Return

Disclaimer: I do not own FMAB

Ok, sorry it's later than usual. I was at work and then was busy. So, I've made the decision that I will be changing my posting days from Saturday to Friday because I have more time on Friday afternoons to be on the computer and do homework than I do almost any other day of the week other than Sunday.

So, expect another chapter from me on Friday.

Enjoy.

April 22nd

Al had gotten his luggage fully packed and was heading to the train when his brother caught up to him.

"Hey Al, wait up for just a second." Ed chuckled as he stopped.

"I thought you were asleep brother." Al said.

"And miss saying have fun for a week?" Ed laughed. Al rolled his eyes at his brother.

"I just hope my child is born while I'm there." Al said worried.

"There's nothing like it, I can guarantee that." Ed smiled.

"I will be back." Al said as the last call went out.

"I know." Ed smiled.

"Probably twice as determined as I am now to get this war over with." Al smiled.

"I expect that much." Ed smiled. They fist bumped and then Al hopped on the train.

3 days later

May waited at the station, Shao May on her shoulder, watching as the trains stopped and left the station. Winry and Joseph were with her because she asked them to be. Winry was bouncing Joseph on her lap and giving him raspberries making the baby giggle at the noise. Joseph stopped and looked as a train stopped, which he had yet to do the entire time they were waiting. He looked perplexed, like Ed would when he was thinking about something. Al got off the train and just as if Joseph's hopes had soared, a sad and confused look came over the small infants face as he cuddled into his mother's chest for comfort. Al found them easily and walked over with a smile on his face before seeing his nephew for the first time and then his wife and sister-in-law.

"May, I missed you!" Al exclaimed as he hugged her, receiving a hug back from his tired and happy wife and a nuzzle from her panda companion. After they exchanged embraces and kisses Al looked over to Winry and his nephew, Joseph.

"You look tired." Al said solemnly.

"Go figure." Winry smiled.

"My god he looks like my brother." Al chuckled, getting close to his little nephew.

"He even has the antenna." Al chuckled as the one wild hair stuck up on Joseph's forehead.

"Yes, and I swear every now and then it twitches." Winry giggled. Joseph looked at Al closely.

"Hello there little one. I'm your uncle Al." Al smiled. Joseph tilted his head a little before reaching out and grabbing his finger. Al smiled at Joseph as he held his finger before letting go and smiling.

"He misses Ed." Winry said.

"I could tell by that disappointed look he had once I got off the train." Al replied.

"Yeah, but he does like you." Winry said.

"How can you tell?" Al asked.

"He smiles a big toothless smile." Winry said. They talked a little more as Al and May walked back to their home and Winry went on her own way.

"I've missed you so much Alphonse." May whispered.

"I know, so have I." Al replied.

"I mean, I'm ok during the day, but at night, when work is done and I'm here and it's just so quiet, it really sinks in." May said.

"I'll be here for the next week May." Al said earnestly. May smiled a snuggled into his chest before she squeaked in surprise.

"What?" Al asked, nervous.

"The baby kicked." May gasped, resting her hand on her stomach. Instinctively, Al rested his hand on her swollen stomach and smiled as he felt the small pulse of his child within her. They spent the day at home, catching up and enjoying their reunion, knowing they had limited time.

That night

Al couldn't sleep, despite that his bed was comfortable and warm, that his wife was snuggled next to him and their small panda companion was sleeping soundly in her little bed on the nightstand. It just seemed to quiet for Al, he was used to hearing the shuffling of the enemy. It smelled too clean to; a nice fresh washed clothes scent had replaced the rank scent of sulfur, smoke, and death.

"What's wrong?" May asked as she looked up, her eyes tired.

"I'm just not used to this." Al chuckled.

"What?" May asked groggily.

"I'm not used to having a comfortable and warm bed, nor am I used to the peace and quiet or the clean smell of home. It's just weird for me." Al chuckled.

"Oh, well… I can imagine that after what you've been through, it would be very different for you to come here." May said.

"Yeah. I don't know if I should get used to it or not, because I know that once I am used to it, I'll have to…"Al was stopped by May pressing her fingers to his lips.

"Let's just savor this ok?" May asked. Al nodded and lay back down and turned on his side, wrapping his arms around May's swollen stomach. Only then did he finally go to sleep.

3 days later, April 28th

May had been feeling off lately and she had brought this to Al's attention so that he would be on guard should she go into labor.

"How is it you can tell?" Al asked as they walked idly through the market.

"Remember how I can sense the flow of chi in all living beings?" May asked with a smile.

"Oh…yeah. Alkahestry is for medical purposes so it would make sense." Al chuckled nervously.

"It's alright Al. I've been having occasional small contractions for the past few days, so that also kind of told me as well." May chuckled.

April 29th, 2 a.m.

May woke up in a panic.

"Alphonse! Wake up!" May said, shaking her sleeping husband.

"What's wrong May?" Al asked groggily until he heard her gasp in pain and a splash.

"The baby!" May shouted. Al was wide awake and in about ten minutes had gotten her, Shao May, and all the baby stuff in the car and was driving her to the hospital. They admitted her, but by then she had suddenly stopped crying in pain.

"She was experiencing a major contraction, obviously the cause of her water to break. She's only dilated to five, so it could take a while. The nurse will stay here to time her contractions and check her dilation and will alert me when the time for deliver is ready." The doctor said after they had gotten May settled into a room.

"You ready?" May asked.

"Nervous, but yeah." Al said.

4 hours later

May's contractions were coming faster and lasting longer, which was all the incentive the nurse needed to call in the doctor.

"You're fully dilated Misses Elric." The doctor said. Al offered May his hand and she took it nervously. The nurses and nurses' aides gathered in around the doctor.

"Alright, I'm going to ask you to push, the nurse will do a ten count, and then you can stop, alright?" The doctor asked, receiving a shaky nod from may in agreement.

"Alright. Now, push." The doctor instructed.

2 hours later

Five minutes ago the doctor had said that May was crowning. With all her might, May pushed to birth their firstborn child. She had reached her limit and just when she thought she was unable to continue she finally pushed the baby's shoulder and the doctor pulled the rest out, cutting the umbilical cord. The nurses got to work as May was still in afterbirth for a few moments. The cry of a newborn child filled the room as the baby took in its first breathes of air.

"Congratulations, it's a boy." The nurse said as she handed the baby off to May once they gave her clean sheets to lie on. Once the new parents and small infant were tended to the nurses left them alone.

"Al, could you please take him. I feel so weak and tired after delivering him." May said tiredly. Al nodded and carefully took his son into his arms and before he knew it May was sound asleep. Al studied the little bundle that soundly slept in his arms, his firstborn son. He had the lightly tanned skin like Al and Ed did, black hair like his mother, his mother's nose, father's ears, but what Al wanted to know was if he had the same eyes as him. Just then, his son began to stir, blinking awake with startling golden eyes.

"Hey there little one. I'm your papa." Al whispered quietly to his son. He reached out with his chubby little arms and placed his small hand on Al's face in fascination and wonder. Al talked to his now wide awake son who cuddled against him until May woke up about an hour later.

"Hey there sleepy." Al smiled at May.

"Hey, how is he?" May asked.

"Content." Al smiled as their son looked to his mother.

"Hmm…the Xerxesian eyes are very strong genetics, but he's such a handsome baby." May smiled to her infant son.

"Yeah." Al smiled.

"Can you bring him to me?" May asked. Al stood and walked the short distance from his place on the couch to the chair next to the bed and then placed their son in May's arms.

"What should we name him?" Al asked after a brief moment of silence passed between them. May looked at her son with inquisitive eyes before smiling.

"Kaio." May said. Al thought for a moment before smiling to his tired wife.

"I like it, now what about a middle name?" Al asked.

"No idea." May sighed.

"Ethan maybe?" Al suggested. May was quiet for a moment before smiling.

"Kaio Ethan Elric…I like it." May said with a smile.

The next day

Al helped May enter their home as Kaio slept soundly in her arms soundly. He hoped he would've had more time with his wife and son, but tomorrow he had to leave and go back to war, something he wasn't incredibly happy about. In the time that Al had been there they had bought a crib and stroller, a neutral color that would work for either boy or girl.

"Here Al." May said as she carefully passed Kaio to Al before she bolted for the bathroom. Kaio woke from his sleep and looked, actually looked, at his father. Al brought him close to his chest and kissed his forehead. Is this what my father felt when either I or brother was born? Al wondered silently. He had never understood what a baby could mean so fully until now. Sure, he had experienced joy when they helped deliver a baby in Rush Valley all those years ago, but it was different now. This small infant in his arms was of his blood and therefore a part of him. He was more valuable to any of the precious gems in the world.

"My God, how did brother manage to leave Winry and Joseph?" Al murmured aloud.

"He knew what he had to do to keep them safe, even if it nearly killed him to leave them." May said. Al looked up to her and smiled sadly.

"I know love, but it just seems so much more difficult than that." Al replied.

"Your brother has always been better at not looking back and keeping his sights ahead. You're almost the same, only, unlike your brother, you don't mind disclosing some of your feelings, whereas your brother will only do that when he feels the need to tell, and luckily, Winry can understand and read between the lines." May said.

"If you think I'm going to desert the army you're wrong. I'm going back, whether I want to or not, I know it's my job as a soldier to beat our enemies, I'm just saying, my brother has more strength than I knew possible. To leave his firstborn son and wife and go back to war takes a lot of confidence and guts. That's why I look up to him." Al smiled. May nodded with a small smile on her lips.

"Promise you'll come back." May said.

"I can't promise that, but I can promise I will do what I can to keep you and this country safe." Al said. May smiled a little, tears starting in her eyes.

"You are like your brother. He said something similar to Winry." May said. Al smiled to her before they went to bed. They both knew the next day would be trying on both of them.

The next day

Al packed his bags and got them placed by the door before May joined him.

"I'm not leaving yet May." Al said. She still looked a little weak from the other day.

"I know, but why don't we go for a walk before you go?" May asked. Al smiled and then nodded before they got Kaio ready to go. The day was bright and sunny as they walked with a light breeze blowing from the west. It was always nice weather in Central during the spring time. Somehow they wound up at Ed and Winry's place and could hear the sound of a busy little shop. Walking into the shop they saw about six people in line waiting for their turn.

"Hmmm….Winry has been busy today." Al pointed out.

"And by the looks of it she will be for the most of the day." May said as she cuddled Kaio to her chest.

"If that's the case, then who is watching Joseph?" Al asked. As if answering his question, Winry's apprentice, Natalie, walked out holding Joseph in her arms.

"Hush, your mom's almost done." Natalie said to the crying infant. Al walked over.

"May I?" Al asked as he extended his arms out towards the baby.

"Does the mother know you?" Natalie asked defensively.

"I'd hope so, considering I'm her brother-in-law." Al laughed.

"Oh…oh, now I recognize you. Alphonse Elric, the Soulseal alchemist, brother to Edward Elric, the Fullmetal alchemist." Natalie said before she handed Joseph over, who almost immediately stopped crying once in his uncle's arms.

"Hello there nephew, want to meet your cousin Kaio?" Al smiled before walking over to May and Kaio. The two infant boys looked at each other before giggling happily. Winry walked out of the operation room.

"What were you saying Natalie?" Winry asked before she looked over and saw her son and now new nephew.

"I was just going to say that Joseph was getting fussy, but that's been handled." Natalie giggled.

"Yeah, I can see that." Winry smiled before she saw the forlorn look on May's face and recognized that look all too well. It was Al's last day here. After a little bit of visiting Winry had to get back to work and Natalie had to get back to babysitting duty and helping Winry when she could. Taking that as their cue, Al and May took a long walk back home, trying to spend what little time they had left together to make it to the fullest. But soon enough, they reached home and found the military men waiting there for them.

"Just give me a moment to get my luggage and I'll be with you shortly." Al said. The men saluted him and waited as he unlocked the door to his home and grabbed his bag before he, May, and their child all went with the men to the car. They were silent throughout the ride to the train station. Once they arrived they walked through the crowd and found where they needed to be. Al turned towards May and Kaio, leaning down and kissing his son on the forehead.

"Be good for your mother. I'll be back when I can." Al said before he looked back up to his wife, leaned in, and kissed her sweetly.

"I will be back May, just hang in there a little while longer ok?" Al asked.

"I will, I have this little one to look after." May said as she lightly bounced Kaio on her hip. Al smiled before turning and getting on the train.

3 days later

Al walked to his tent, the smell of sulfur and gun powder choked the air as the hot southern sun beat down on them.

"Welcome back to hell Al." Ed said wryly. If he thought is brother had the eyes of a killer before, it was even more prominent.

"Where the hell do they keep coming from?" Al asked.

"No clue, but it's our job to make sure they stop." Ed said with a heavy sigh. Al nodded in agreement, knowing that the next day would be like starting all over again.

Ok, so I know this was mentioned before hand about the speediness that Winry and now May out of the hospital. I do realize it takes longer than a day, but also, I did that for times sake in the story so that both the women would not be stuck going home to an empty house and having no help for at least a day or two.

Anyway, hope you all understand that. So, again, my new posting days are Friday. So until then, please R&R. Thanks!