"You better tell that fucking doctor that I want my arm and leg back!" Elysia heard Edward shouting as an orderly scurried out of the room in fear of his life.
Elysia smiled, happy to hear Edward was feeling like his old self. She had known he was prone to outbursts of rudeness but had never been witness to them before. Being so close to him for the last two weeks she got to see Edward as he really was. A rude, obnoxious, impatient person. But it didn't keep her from loving him as much as she did. In fact, it made her love him even more. She found that she liked that about him. It was part of what made him Edward and that's who she had fallen in love with. She didn't want him to change and she wouldn't even dream of trying to get him to. But she knew under all the rudeness he was really kind and gentle. She loved the brief moments they had together alone in the hospital room. He was constantly having visitors. Many of the Generals from the other headquarters had made special visits to see how he was doing along with a number of other officers. Plus Al, Havoc and Winry were always around too, happy to see him improving as each day passed. When they were alone they took advantage of it. They weren't able to do much, stolen kisses here and there. Elysia lying beside Edward at times as he slept, watching him, glad that he was there whole...well, except for the part of his automail having been taken away. But he was there for her to hold and touch.
Often when they were alone Edward would allow Elysia to read aloud to him. She knew he wasn't much for reading novels but she was glad he let her. She felt he needed something to help with his imagination. She had found it rather appalling to find that he had never read anything that didn't have to do with alchemy or military reports. As an artist she felt the need to open his mind to the wonders of the creative arts. He wasn't very receptive at first but eventually he gave in. Even though he didn't pay attention to the story line and got bored easily he still let her, liking the sound of her voice and just having her near.
Yes, she allowed him to maintain his reputation as the stern, dominant General whom all should fear, even when she was around. But if he got that way when it was just the two of them, all Elysia had to do was look at him and he stopped. She knew he would do anything for her and she could easily take advantage of it but she didn't. She liked that he reserved his gentleness for her and her only. So no matter how rude he was to the doctor, orderlies or Havoc she held her tongue when others were around. After, when they were alone she wanted to say something but he would always look at her with this glow and she found she just couldn't bring herself to. She soon learned that the others didn't take him too seriously so she left the matter of his lack of manners alone.
She had found it funny how they could match each other with their busts of anger. Edward was flashier but Elysia had a coldness to her own. They bickered a bit. It couldn't be helped when being cooped up for two weeks in a small hospital room. But Elysia didn't mind it. It didn't scare her that perhaps the bickering could lead to bigger arguments. It just made her feel more confident that Edward didn't hold back anything from her and that she felt free enough to let him know what was on her mind. They complimented each other. Elysia was content to spend the rest of her life with Edward. There was not one person that could convince her otherwise. Though they didn't talk about it, she knew Edward felt the same way. They didn't need words to know that they would be together forever.
However, she was no longer able to withstand sleeping on the couch in Edward's room, so she had slept in her bed for the first time in two weeks. She luxuriated in the soft sheets and being able to turn over without falling out of bed, as she had done many times on the couch. She woke up once on the floor with Edward looking at her with a smirk on his face, asking what she was doing down there. She really didn't want to leave Edward alone and Edward hadn't wanted her to leave him. He liked knowing she was always there for him. But he knew it was too much to ask for her to continue sleeping on the uncomfortable couch. She was still nursing a few bruises on her elbow from falling off. But Al said he would stay and so inherited the couch of menace. As Elysia entered the hospital room she found Al trying to calm his brother down.
"Edward, you shouldn't speak that way to people," Al was saying.
"I'll speak to whoever I want, however I want," Edward grumbled then smiled at Elysia as she came in and set a bag down.
"Hi Elysia," Al said then continued with Edward. "You've been in the military too long. You talk to everyone like they're one of your subordinates."
"Do I?" Edward asked turning to Elysia for an answer.
"Sometimes," she answered shrugging.
"Well, at least you have the backbone to call me out on it," Edward said. "You don't understand how frustrating it is lying here with nothing to do. And I know that damn Knox refuses to come in here to tell me to my face. He just gets some half-wit to tell me he has no idea when the doctor will approve getting my arm and leg back."
"Ed, you need to take it easy," Al sighed. "I swear you just like to be difficult."
"I've got shit to do. If I'm not around to make sure things get done, Havoc just let's everyone sit on their ass fucking around."
"Ed! Watch your language," Al said exasperated looking up at Elysia.
"Don't look at me. I can't control him anymore than you can," Elysia said
"I've got a headache just listening to you," Al said getting up. "I'll go see if I can find Dr. Knox. See if I can get your arm and leg so you'll be quiet."
"Thank you," Edward said reaching over for Elysia's hand.
"Winry, I'm sorry!" Al exclaimed as Winry nearly fell into the room when he opened the door to leave. "Are you okay?" He asked as he helped her regain her balance.
"Yeah," Winry said clutching a heavy box in her arms. "I'm just glad I didn't drop this. I could hear you all the way across the hospital Ed," Winry said and gave him a disapproving look. She walked to a table and opened the box. "Dr. Knox was tired of you scaring all the patients and gave these to me." She took out his automail arm and started to examine it.
"It's about fucking time," Ed said with relief. "I'm tired of sitting here like a helpless cripple."
"Well, I'm going to look them over first and get them cleaned up. There's a lot of sand and grime in the joints," Winry explained as she inspected the arm.
"Well, just hurry up," Edward grumbled and was suddenly barraged by all three of him regarding his manners.
"Edward, don't boss her around," Al exclaimed.
"It's not going to kill you to wait a while longer," Elysia told him sternly.
"I'll take as much time as I want, Ed!" From Winry.
"Okay, everyone just gang up on me," Edward said in his defense. "I am after all the one that got shot two weeks ago. No sympathy for the poor invalid."
"Please," Al said. "First you don't want to be a cripple, now you want all of us to feel sorry for you. You just be patient for once in your life."
Edward couldn't help but smile. It felt good to have his brother and Winry around. It was like old times. And to have Elysia jump in like one of the family made it even better.
"I'm going back to my hotel," Winry said putting the arm back in the box. "All my equipment is there so I'll have them ready for you tomorrow Ed."
"Thanks," Edward said as Winry lifted the heavy box and started for the door.
"Sure, no problem," Winry said looking at Edward holding Elysia's hand thinking how cute they looked together. She couldn't help but note how much more at ease Edward seemed when he was with Elysia. During and after the war Edward had seemed like a completely different person, like a stranger. He eventually returned to the Edward she knew but Winry couldn't help but notice there was still something that wasn't right. Like he was missing something. But with Elysia he seemed whole. Any sadness that lingered behind Edward's eyes vanished when he looked at Elysia.
"I'll see everyone later," Winry said then stopped and looked back at Elysia. "Elysia, why don't you come with me? It might be a good idea if you learned how to take care of Ed's automail since he never does."
"Okay," Elysia said. She didn't really want to leave Edward after just coming in but she figured she'd been with him at the hospital enough already. It'd give her a chance for some girl talk with Winry than to have to listen to Edward and Al squabble over every little thing.
She walked along with Winry and the two of them chatted on about everything and anything. Elysia had been worried about what Winry would think of her and Edward. But the night Winry came to Central they had dinner together as Al had suggested. Afterwards Winry and Al came over to visit with Gracia. After Al left for the night and Gracia was too tired to stay awake much longer, Elysia and Winry were able to talk.
Elysia was nervous telling Winry about her feelings for Edward. She always thought of Winry as an older sister and really needed to talk to her about the whole thing. She felt horrible about it considering Winry's feeling for Edward in the past. But Elysia was not feeling comfortable about talking to her mother lately and there was nobody else in Central that Elysia trusted. She really needed to talk to someone. Plus, she needed to know if Winry was alright with it. She had Edward's side of the story but not Winry's and she just wanted to make sure herself that Winry wouldn't be hurt by their relationship.
Elysia was right to talk to Winry, who put her at ease, saying that Edward was right. That she too realized it wouldn't have worked and that she was happy for Elysia and Edward. Winry said that if she hadn't moved on then she never would have fell in love with her husband and had her beautiful daughter.
As they made their way down the hallway, Elysia realized she had forgotten her wallet in the bag she had left in Edward's room. Telling Winry she'd catch up to her Elysia made her way back. As she approached the closed door to Edward's room, she heard raised voices and stopped herself from knocking. She put her ear to the door ignoring the questioning look from the guard. She knew she shouldn't be listening in on the brother's conversation but there was something about the tone that stopped her from going in.