Nine months later she had given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Edward and Elysia had been married for almost two years when Elysia discovered she was pregnant. Edward was ecstatic. He was with Elysia during the entire ordeal. He hated seeing her in such pain. When it was all over he was so proud of her when she had no strength to keep pushing yet she still managed and it amazed Edward how strong she was. He didn't mind the fingernail marks that were left on his hand. It was a badge of honor since it was the only thing he could do for Elysia. Whatever helped her through the pain of childbirth he would do and bear.

Elysia slept as Edward sat in a chair holding his daughter. Despite Elysia looking pale and exhausted with bags under her eyes, Edward saw her as an angel as she slept. He almost couldn't believe he had a family now. That the tiny being lying in his arms was a part of him. That she was something he had helped create without alchemy. He laughed at himself. He always had alchemy on his mind no matter how much trouble it had gotten him into in the past. But he much preferred this way of creating new life than the alchemical way. They had not discussed any names during the pregnancy and as he sat marveling at his beautiful daughter, holding her tiny, pink hand, he had a name for her suddenly. Erika Elyse Elric.

When he had told Elysia the name he had chosen she wondered why both first and middle name had to begin with the letter 'E'. Edward didn't think anything wrong with it. He liked the letter 'E'. But Elysia had to admit she liked the name too. Edward was glad because once he had Erika's name down in the family registry it would be too late for Elysia to change her mind. Especially when she found out, a month later, that Edward had gotten the name from a girl he had been with a long time ago. Little Erika was on her back, lying on a blanket in Elysia's studio. Edward had been stretched out next to her watching her sleep as Elysia painted.

"Edward, you have zero taste!" She had exclaimed but kept her tirade down to a minimum since Edward kept Erika near knowing she wouldn't yell at him so much with the baby around, but Elysia's outburst still woke her up. She was in the middle of painting and ruined it when Edward told her where the name Erika came from. A dark black streak now ran across the canvas.

Elysia started rubbing off the paint with a rag rather vigorously. She was irritated especially since she now had to start over and she wasn't exactly sure about how angry she should be. She liked the name, it suited their daughter. But the fact the name was from an old girlfriend of Edward's was rather annoying. She had known about his past, had ignored it knowing she was the one he was in love with. But it just didn't seem appropriate or in good taste to name a daughter after an ex-girlfriend.

"Look you woke her up," Edward chided and Elysia rolled her eyes. "Poor little Erika can't get any sleep with mommy being so loud. Look at mommy," Edward said as he lifted Erika into his arms. "Doesn't she look cute when she gets fired up and mad. I think she's a little jealous too." He looked over at Elysia and smirked. She shot him a dirty look.

"Fine. If we have a son I'm naming him Jol."

"You are not," Edward replied disgusted.

"Well, it's the same thing," Elysia fired back.

"Erika's namesake is nowhere to be found. Jol lives here in Central!"

"Sometimes I wonder why I even married you." Elysia said exasperated turning back to her painting. But she couldn't stay mad at Edward for long. Especially when he had started talking to Erika. She thought it was adorable the way he would do that. He was always talking to Erika. He'd have whole conversations as if she answered. Elysia tried very hard not to smile, still wanting to be upset with Edward.

"Because I'm irresistible."

"Please! You mean I am irresistible. You wouldn't leave me alone unless I married you!"

"So true," Edward said as he leaned over to kiss Elysia. "Anyways, if we do have a son, I figured we just name him after your father."

"Really? Why not your father?"

"Hell no! I'd never name a son of mine after that asshole."

"Well, I'm sure it hasn't exactly been easy for him. He hasn't exactly had a normal life."

"Who cares? He's a fucking bastard."

"Edward, watch what you say in front of Erika. Those are going to end up being her first words."

"And what's wrong with that? Like father like daughter," Edward said smiling down at Erika and tickled her stomach.

"We didn't have a daughter so you'd have a little mini-you to corrupt."

Edward laughed. "I hope she does turn out to be a miniature version of me. I'll teach her how to kick those rotten boys' asses when they start coming around. Won't I?" Edward asked directing the question to his daughter as he lifted her in the air, her little legs kicking.

"You're already thinking about that?"

"Of course I am, look at her. She's beautiful. Can't have her marrying a jerk like you did."

"I didn't marry a jerk. Just a foul-mouthed fool," Elysia said giving him a sly grin.

"Funny."

Elysia had not been able to go to sleep later that night. She was wondering about the women Edward had been with in the past. Especially this Erika. She didn't think Edward had been particularly attached to the Erika in the past. The mention of her name didn't create any unusual reaction from Edward. But she wondered if there was something about Erika that would have made Edward remember her name out of nowhere after all these years. As they lay together in bed Elysia turned to face Edward. His eyes were closed but he wasn't breathing deeply so Elysia knew he was still awake.

"Tell me about Erika."

"What do you want me to tell you about our daughter that you don't already know?" Edward said without opening his eyes to look at Elysia.

"Don't get smart with me. You know who I'm talking about."

"Why do you want to know?" He asked still not opening his eyes.

"I'm just curious. Did you love her?"

"That curiosity of yours is going to get you into trouble someday. No."

"Where did you meet?"

"It was during the Drachman war," Edward sighed knowing there was no way out of telling Elysia anything once she set her mind on something. He rolled over to look at Elysia. "There were a lot of people displaced during the war. A lot of women followed the troops around. They were mostly looking for protection, shelter and in exchange for that they would attach themselves to soldiers. I guess it worked out in everyone's best interest. The men had female companionship and the women had something to eat and a warm place to sleep. Seriously, Elysia, do you really want to know about this?"

"Yes," she insisted. "I know I probably shouldn't but I just want to know what you were like before we were together. I want to know about the things you've been through."

"Well, I met her when I was seventeen. I had only been at the front lines for a couple months and I saw her a few times for almost two years. Then she left."

"Was she the first?"

"Yes and I did not name our daughter after her because of that. I honestly haven't thought of her since she left. The name just came to me and I thought it was nice."

"I know," Elysia said smiling at him. "Don't get so defensive."

"You ask the weirdest questions. I don't think most wives would ask the things you do."

"Well," Elysia said moving closer. She got up to straddle Edward, gently forcing him back onto his back and started kissing his neck. She knew he was particularly susceptible to it. "I thought that was part of the reason you fell in love with me. For not being afraid to say what's on my mind."

"You're a little too open with what you're thinking at times," he said enjoying the feeling of her lips as he slid his hand up her thigh.

"Why did she leave?"

Edward, exasperated lifted Elysia and gently threw her back onto the bed and pinned her down by her arms. She let out a yelp of surprise and they both started laughing, trying unsuccessfully not to be so loud.

"Shhh, Don't be so loud. You'll wake the baby," Edward said. The baby was just next door in her nursery but they had been pretty loud.

"Well don't surprise me like that."

"Well don't ask questions like that when you're coming on to me."

Elysia giggled and lifted her head to kiss Edward. He met her halfway.

"But seriously, tell me. Why did she leave?"

"I don't know. I guess she was tired of following the troop around."

"She was probably in love with you."

"You think so?"

"Who wouldn't fall in love with you?" Elysia teased.

"Only fools like you."

"Did she say anything when she left?"

Edward thought back. It had been so long ago. It almost felt like it had been part of someone else's life, not his own. He was so different then. A child pretending to be a man, he thought. He barely remembered that last night they were together but he did remember the one request Erika had made before she left.

"She made me promise that I'd survive the war."

Elysia looked up at Edward thoughtfully. Any playfulness she had been feeling was gone. She felt she should be jealous of this girl Erika but she couldn't. She was grateful. She had a feeling Erika had a greater impact on Edward than he realized. But none of that mattered now. Edward belonged to her now. All the women in the past stayed there. She was Edward's present and future.

"I'm glad you kept your promise."

"Me too."