A/N:So, i updated in the "or so" of "a day or so". But hey, at least I updated. You know the drill for reviewing by now, I hope. ;D Enjoy!

Chapter Three

"Milestones"

About 1 Year Later

Winry Elric felt as if her head was going to explode. Her 11 month old son, Sam, was crying his head off, Pinako was out picking things up at the store, Ed was nowhere to be found, and she felt sick to her stomach. It was just too much for her to handle in the morning. She stumbled over to her son. She figured he was crying because Den knocked him over again, and he fell. She sat on the floor, and helped him up. The little boy stopped crying as soon as he saw her. His golden eyes widened and he clapped his hands, and started to make "words" Winry couldn't comprehend. She sighed, brushing his equally golden hair away from his forehead, only to see a large cut from where he had obviously hit it against the coffee table next to them.

"Ed! Edward, where are you!" she shouted, startling Sam a little.

"I'm up here!" he called from upstairs.

"Can you come down here please?" She waited for a response. "Now!"

"Alright, alright…" she heard him come down the stairs, and looked up at him when he finally came into the room.

"I thought you said you were going to watch him while I slept in?" Winry frowned.

"I did. And I was watching him… I just had to go get…" Ed began.

"Look, Edward! Look at your son's forehead!" Winry pushed back the boy's bangs. The cut wasn't bleeding too badly, but it was enough to make any mother angry.

"He did that in the two minutes I was up there?" Ed grumbled. "Geez, Sam… Why do you enjoy getting me in trouble with your mom so much?"

"Daddy!" Sam giggled, putting his little hands out towards Ed.

"Ed, you know I haven't been feeling good these past couple days… All I ask is for one day…"

"I'm sorry, Winry…" Ed knelt next to her. He picked up Sam, who was begging for his attention. "Hey, do you think you might be—"

"Don't say it." Winry glared at him. "I'm not ready for another baby."

"Another one wouldn't be so bad. By the time it's born, Sam will be two." Ed grinned. Winry didn't respond, she looked like she was counting something on her fingers. "Winry?"

"Quiet Edward! I'm thinking!" Winry snapped. Suddenly she looked at her husband. She looked like she had just realized something big. "Oh crap. Ed, I'm late."

"Wow, I'm good, huh?" Ed looked at Sam, who happened to be drooling.

"I mean really late… I've just been so busy; I guess I didn't notice…" Winry began talking faster.

"Hey, Winry, calm down…" Ed mumbled. "Maybe it will be a girl this time."

"A girl?" Winry suddenly seemed to perk up.

"Yeah."

"Do you want a girl, Ed?" Winry looked at him.

"Sure, I'd like to have a girl in the family. It would even things out."

"I would like a girl too…" Winry smiled faintly. "We could name her Genevieve…"

"Genevieve? You already have a name picked out?" Ed looked at his wife in bewilderment. "I thought we decided we would be doing that together?"

"For Sam… I've wanted to name my first daughter Genevieve since I was little. It's always been my favorite name. And we can call her Gen or Genny for short!" Winry's smile grew.

"Genevieve Elric…" Ed looked at Sam. "What do you think buddy? Does that sound good?"

The boy didn't answer. Ed didn't expect him to.

"Of course it sounds good." Winry said plainly, as she stood and walked into the kitchen. Ed stayed sitting on the floor with Sam. He grinned at his son.

"Looks like you might get a little sister." Ed laughed. The smile on his son's face faded immediately. A large frown appeared in its place. "I guess you don't like that idea…"

Alice looked down at her son in the stroller. This was his first time to the city, even though West City could hardly be called a city. It was more like a well-populated suburb. Still, it was his first birthday, and Alice thought they needed to celebrate. She had taken him to West City to find an outfit for his birthday party later tomorrow. She wanted something she couldn't find at the small tailor shop in Edan. She was also mailing a picture of him to Riza Hawkeye, as she had promised she would do.

"Everett," Alice smiled down at her son. The boy looked up, his big eyes still trying to take in all the news sights around him. "What color do you think you should wear for your party?"

"Daddy." Everett giggled.

"No, dear, daddy isn't a color…" she laughed. "How about green?" Everett didn't seem to like that idea. "Yellow?"

"No." Everett said, looking around absent mindedly. 'No' had recently become his favorite word, since the only other word he was saying was 'Daddy'.

"Blue?" Alice suggested. When she didn't hear a 'no' from her son, she looked down to see him smiling. She wasn't even sure he knew his colors yet, but the only color he seemed to like was blue. "Everything you own is blue…"

Letting out a sigh, she continued pushing the stroller, and only stopped to look at a window of a clothing shop. She noticed a woman smiling at Everett.

"Oh, isn't he adorable!" the woman grinned. "He looks just like you!" she said, before continuing on her way.

It wasn't the first time Alice, or Ben, had heard that. Were people really that oblivious to see that the boy had black hair and brown eyes, something neither of them had? Well, Ben had brown eyes, but not quite the same color as Everett's. She supposed it wasn't a bad thing, people thinking he looked like them. No one was allowed to know who Everett's real parents were anyway.

Though, Alice did have a strong feeling that he was going to start looking a lot like his biological father as he got older. Hell, he was only one, and she already saw General Mustang in him. Keeping his adoption a secret would be a lot harder once Everett realized he didn't take after either of his parents.

But right now, Alice was the only mommy Everett had ever known. Ben was his only father. He was their only son. They were a family, and adopted or not, nothing was going to ruin that.

They stopped at a café for lunch, and Alice gave Everett a sippy cup of milk. As she enjoyed her much needed cup of coffee, she couldn't help but hear the radio that was being played inside. She was hoping to hear news about the recent illness that had been sweeping their neighboring country of Creta. She was right on time for an update on it.

"There has been more news on the epidemic sweeping the country of Creta, to the west of us. The death toll has now reached over 12,000, and seems to be growing. We have been asking for a comment from Fuhrer Grumman about a possible evacuation of the towns in the west, but he has yet to respond. Although, we doubt that the illness with reach Amestris anytime soon. As a reminder, the symptoms of the epidemic are shortness of breath, high fever, weakness, rapidly developing pneumonia, and coughing up blood. If anyone has these symptoms, please see your doctor immediately. This is West City Talk Radio… " Alice couldn't hear the rest of it as a truck went by.

Alice looked down at her son, who was happily drinking his milk. She knew she shouldn't be too worried. If it crossed the border, she knew the government would take care of it. If it came down to an evacuation, they would just stay with her younger sister; Evelyn in the Eastern town of Doyer.

"Alright, Everett. We should probably get going." Alice smiled, leaving money on the table for the waitress, and picking up the bag of clothes they had bought. She pushed the stroller towards the street she had parked the car. A three hour drive home awaited them.

In East City

Riza placed the pile of mail on her table. She had just gotten home from a long day of watching over Roy to make sure he actually did something. He had been more proficient ever since he took on the job of rebuilding Ishval, as well as most of the East. But he still had a way of procrastinating. She was about to go take a nice, hot shower, when an envelope caught her eye. The return address was one she recognized. She slowly reached down to grab it, as if it would get spooked and disappear somehow. Once she had it, she carefully peeled it open, pulling out a letter folded around something.

Dear Riza,

We thank you and General Mustang every day for the miracle you gave to us. I know I'm not supposed to tell you his name, but it must be driving you crazy, not knowing. I know it would if I was you. We named him Everett August McCay. He is one now, but I'm sure you already know that! The only words he knows are "Daddy" and "No". He has yet to say the one I want to hear the most… (Mommy). He's a very bright child, and also very stubborn. But we love him so much, he couldn't do any wrong in our eyes. Thank you, Riza. I can't say that enough. As promised, I've sent you a picture for the locket I gave you. I hope you have another year of good health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Alice Marie McCay

A small, locket sized picture fell out of the letter, and floated to the floor. Riza picked it up gently. Turning it over in her hand, she saw the most adorable toddler she had ever, and probably would ever see. But maybe that was because she knew he was hers. All mothers think they're children are the cutest in the world.

His big toothy smile nearly melted her heart. She could certainly say that Everett was his father's son. He already took after Roy so much, and she had only seen a picture of him. He looked so happy. It actually made her feel so much more relaxed than she had in the past year, knowing that her son was happy.

Everett. She repeated the name several times in her head. It was perfect. She didn't come up with any names for him when she was pregnant, knowing she would have to give him up. But Everett seemed to fit him perfectly. She couldn't have done better herself.

For the first time in a year, Riza slept peacefully and uninterrupted.

A/N: There was something I wanted to mention, but I forgot what it was. Review please! :D