Week to Relax

Disclaimer: I do not own FMAB

Sorry for it being late, it's Halloween and I've been helping my parents with all of the little animals around the house while the kids come by.

Anyway, hope you enjoy.

The Next day

Ed awoke that morning finding the bed empty as was the crib. Getting up and out of bed he walked to the kitchen and smiled at the familiar smell of Winry's cooking and the sound of Joseph's laughter. Taking a seat at the table after getting a cup of tea Winry smiled at him.

"I'm surprised you didn't have nightmares." Winry murmured.

"Well, last night there was no reason for those now was there?" Ed smirked as Winry blushed slightly.

"But you didn't have nightmares when you came in for Joseph's birth either." Winry pointed out.

"Winry, I saw things at eleven that no man had seen before and had sporadic nightmares to follow for years. I learned how to shut it out for a while. And while some of my actions frighten me when I think about it, knowing I had to kill to keep the nation safe, to keep you and Joseph safe, still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but I usually find a way around it." Ed shrugged. Though he didn't say it, Winry knew he was referring to his drawing and handiwork around the house.

Ed very rarely used alchemy to fix anything that wasn't too difficult to fix around the house. Not only did it set an example for Joseph, but it also helped him focus on other things than what was in the back of his mind, and sometimes relieved the stress that he was too proud to say. She knew that when he would need to talk to her, she just needed to be there for him. After all, she wasn't perfect. They ate in semi-silence before Ed asked if there was anything that needed to be fixed around the house, which Winry started a list of things.

"You're lucky I love you." Ed smiled before going back to their room and changing into some causal clothes. The automail shop would be opening soon.

"I'll watch him today." Ed smiled.

"You'll do that and chores?" Winry asked, cocking her eyebrow.

"Yeah." Ed replied.

"You sure you can handle it?" Winry smiled.

"Pretty sure. I'll do what I can." Ed smiled as he picked up his now giggling son and walked outside with the box of tools.

"Be on standby?" Natalie asked.

"Yes, but have faith in him." Winry chuckled as she got to work. She looked out to see Ed was fixing the fence and Joseph was watching as he played with his stuffed dog. Just as Ed finished up three men happened to pass by before looking back and stopping.

"Hey Ed!" one of the men yelled. Ed looked up to see none other than Heinkel and Darius, along with Yoki.

"Heinkel, Mister Gorilla!" Ed laughed as Darius grumbled with a smirk.

"What are you doing in central kid?" Darius asked.

"Hey, I'm not a kid anymore." Ed scoffed.

"To me, everyone is a kid." Darius chuckled. Ed shrugged before Joseph made a whimper and Ed dashed over to his son who stared with slight fear in his big golden eyes at the three strange men. Ed picked up his son and held him as he walked over to the men, only for Joseph to squirm.

"No Daddy no!" Joseph cried.

"Joseph, I know them, they're my friends. It's ok." Ed said seeing his son settle a little.

"Ed, did he just call you daddy?" Darius asked.

"Yup, this is my one year old son, Joseph Van Elric." Ed smiled as Joseph looked out at the men.

"Do I really gotta ask who the mother is?" Heinkel chuckled.

"Oh yeah, we never invited you guys to the wedding. Oops." Ed chuckled nervously.

"No hard feelings kid." Darius snickered.

"So why's Yoki being so silent. Still pissed off at me from the mining town incident?" Ed asked.

"Yes, I am still mad." Yoki growled as he faced the man.

"You're just lucky I didn't turn you in." Ed said, rolling his eyes. Yoki noticed the stuffed dog in Joseph's hands and saw the gold and glittering gems.

"Is that real gold?" Yoki asked.

"My ancestors land was famous for it, and since my father was from Xerxes and I am half, I get certain privileges. But in answer to your question, yes." Ed replied.

"You gave your son gold on a stupid stuffed toy?" Yoki nearly shouted in outrage.

"Quiet dumb head!" Joseph shouted. Yoki stared at the defiant child.

"Now you listen here you little sprout..." Yoki started before receiving a punch to the face.

"Don't insult my son Yoki. Cut me a break moron, I just got home from a hell of a war yesterday. I had to miss my sons first birthday, which by the way, was when he got the stuffed dog, and I had to miss me and my wife's anniversary. So the next time you go and try plotting revenge on me, think about it like this, I risked my neck so you could sit on your ass all day." Ed nearly snarled.

"Seriously Yoki, picking a fight with a one year old? Low." Darius said.

"Not to mention pathetic." Heinkel added. Yoki huffed and turned on his heel only to fall flat on his face from a wrench whirring into the back of his head.

"Who the hell?" Yoki shouted before he turned and saw Ed smirking.

"Did I forget to mention that my wife is a no bullshit type of woman?" Ed snickered as Winry stomped out of the shop.

"Did you just yell at my son?" Winry nearly growled.

"Yes ma'am he did." Darius said.

"And was about to go full bore into him before your husband slugged him in the face ma'am." Heinkel.

"You traitors! How could you rat me out like that?" Yoki said.

"The smart man always sides with the angry woman." Heinkel said.

"Especially if she is a first time mother and military wife." Darius added. Winry walked up to Yoki and glared at him before picking up the wrench and holding it to his nose.

"You yell at my baby again, and I will castrate you with this wrench. And trust me, I know how." Winry threatened. Yoki gulped before fleeing.

"Right, so I'll get right on fixing up the roof and patching those spots in the chimney. But first, I think Joseph needs a nap, poor kid's nodding off." Ed chuckled. Winry smiled at him and walked right back to work.

"I take it the wife is pleased with you?" Darius chuckled.

"In more ways than one." Ed smirked as they walked into the large home and Ed put Joseph down for a nap.

"The boy never lets go of that toy." Heinkel observed.

"It's the first present I gave him." Ed said.

"Ah yes, you did mention that." Darius said. The men talked for a little bit, catching up, before the two dismissed themselves and Ed got to work on the rest of the chores around the house. The rest of the day went on without a hitch and soon enough they were setting up for dinner.

"I gotta say Ed, I'm quite impressed with how you handled the chores and Joseph today. It's like you weren't gone at all." Winry smiled as they ate in peace.

"Oh trust me, he was the handful." Ed laughed as he glanced over at his son. Before long, they were cleaning up the kitchen, locking up the house and tucking their son into his crib before they too went to bed.

"I can tell you one thing I enjoy most about you being back." Winry said in a sleepy tone.

"Hmm..?" Ed replied, looking down at her lovingly.

"The warmth of you next to me." Winry sighed. Ed smiled, leaned down and kissed her sweetly before they let sleep take them.

3 days later

There hadn't been a dull moment the entire four days Ed had been home, but he enjoyed it. Currently, they were at the local market, Joseph still in his stroller, though he protested greatly.

"Daddy, want up." Joseph grumbled.

"No." Ed said sternly. Joseph continued to pout and kick his little legs as they continued on their trip.

"It's going to be weird going back to work in the next couple of days." Ed said almost to himself.

"Yeah, you go back day after tomorrow right?" Winry asked.

"Yeah." Ed replied.

"Same hours?" Winry asked.

"More than likely." Ed shrugged.

"Same pay?" Winry asked.

"Hoping for a raise." Ed snickered. Winry rolled her eyes at her husband as they finished their shopping trip.

"Daddy, want up." Joseph said.

"We can play when we get home, promise." Ed replied. Joseph sighed, but nodded, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at everything that passed by on their way home.

Again, I know Joseph is verbally and physically developing faster than he should be, but this is where he'll flat-line for a little while, at least a few chapters I think. Anyway, hope you liked it. See you all next Friday, and until then, please R&R.