The first item on Edward's to-do list was to build a crib.
Manual labor, grunt work, physical trials, chores – whatever the term may be, used to truly annoy and depress Edward. In moments when he was forced into chores by Winry or Granny (fixing the roof was one of them) he would miss his alchemic abilities most. At first, he was awkward with tools and would bumble even the simplest of menial tasks. As the years passed, things changed. Edward began to realize the value in building something with your hands – not just clapping them and manipulating the chemistry of matter, but actually crafting something with your sweat, blood, and brains. This new found respect had turned into, over time, a love of carpentry and making things himself. In a way, Edward believed that he was becoming more and more like Winry. But, he always applied the rules of alchemy even to building things with wood, nails, and hand saws. He even set up a small shop on the other side of the basement, adjacent to her work station. While she worked on automail orders from Rush Valley and other parts of Amestris, Edward worked on small items for the new house and for the soon to be erected Elric Academy of Civic Alchemy.
The new Elric house on the hill was only a few weeks short of completion. It was the first structure to be built in time for the newest member of the family. Only paint on the walls, fixtures in the kitchen and the bathroom, and a few other electrical and cosmetic orders were left unfulfilled. Within the month, Edward and Winry would move into the first floor, Alphonse and Mei (still in route from Xing) into the second.
They were busy. Deadlines to make both professionally and personally. Edward often travelled to Central and Creta recruiting both professors and students to his school. He was fully backed now, Brigadier General Mustang and the Armstrong family investing and supporting the cause with ample funds. As Edward gathered wood from the shed and rearranged his tools on his work table, he mused that his firstborn child (was it a boy or a girl?) would probably be a toddler beginning to walk around the time the school was finally ready to open. But the long wait and hard work would be worth it, in the end.
Now – to the crib.
He was building it from with mahogany wood and had bought, in town, brass knobs for the four posts. He was thinking of putting wheels at the bottom in case they wanted to move the crib around the house. At the thought he had a vision of working on lessons and wheeling (the girl or boy? Really, what IS it?) the little Elric into his study to nap close by. The vision made his stomach churn with excitement and pride. He thought that he loved Winry to the point of pain – and he did…but there was something about this little idea of a baby, a baby that came from himself…a true human transmutation and creation, that made him love it more than pain. He loved his baby beyond comprehension. Edward always liked to measure things in order to better understand them. This. This he could not measure.
He was nervous as hell.
Winry had just started to show in the past couple of days. For weeks she looked as she always had, slender and curvaceous. Now, there was a little balloon at her navel that was cause for the buttons of her pants to not fasten (easy access, Edward mused to himself). Winry commented that she would need to go buy new clothes, and soon. With this revelation, and a true study of his wife while she showered the morning before, solidified the reality that Edward was going to be a father. He was jittery all over.
Was this what Hohenhiem felt? Is this what his mother had felt when he was that still same small idea and presence not yet realized? Is this love that he felt now…and fear…the reason why Hohenhiem had left them? Edward, who thought he had come to understand, realized – he had not truly felt for his parents as he did now preparing to be one.
The best way to deal with these jitters…well, that was to take action.
Back to the crib.
Everything was assembled and he began working. Winry was in town with her grandmother shopping for maternity clothes so he was quite alone. He drew a quick sketch of what he wanted it to look like (the first draft having dragon and devil skulls embellished and engraved on the cribs rails – just for old times' sake) and did some schematic work to see how he would manage turning something two dimensional into the real world…without alchemy.
Edward loved a challenge.
As he worked, he daydreamed about the day he would hold his child. He had read a lot about pregnancy and the human body after childbirth a lot over the past three months. He played out the day of labor in his head and how he would prepare for it. Maybe he should go ahead and pack their suit case now so they wouldn't forget? Maybe it was too early. What would he do if it was a girl? Edward had no clue how to raise a girl. Well, he didn't know how to raise anything, but at least a boy he could talk to about manly things and teach how to fight. Well, he could teach a girl how to fight, but the thought of her NEEDING to fight made his chest hurt.
He was shaving down the posts now, he had to concentrate in order to get the spiral of the rails just right.
It was amazing to him that he as having a baby at the ripe ole' age of 21. He would be a young father and the logical thought was, was that he couldn't possibly be ready for it. Edward knew the truth though. He was an old spirit. The experiences of his life made him wise. He was always a head of his time – working a job most adults wouldn't be able to emotionally handle at 12 years old. A baby at 21? No problem.
But why was he so scared and so happy all at the same time?
When he felt like he might panic, he let his thoughts float to Winry. She was so calm and collected – as if Motherhood was her calling. She continued to work and act normally. She was practical. Yes, there were times she got a little emotional, but overall, pregnancy suited her. She literally sucked all the air out of the room when she entered it. Edward, even as an immature 15 year old, always know Winry was a beautiful girl. But something was different about her now. She was holding a life in her body and it made her electric with beauty.
It was also entertaining, as cruel as it sounded, to hear her reactions to the physical toll of the pregnancy. She craved the oddest foods at all hours of the night. Edward was surprised he even found the energy now to work on the crib, seeing as he was woken up 2 separate times in the middle of the night with the strangest requests. Recently, her craving for green olives wrapped in slices of white cheese were the talk of conversation.
She would have waves of nausea in the evenings (which was odd, because Edward had always heard it called "Morning sickness.") Edward tried to be there for her and pat her back but it turns out he always got swatted a way like an annoying fly. She was always so cute when she was annoyed…well, even when she was throwing up too.
Edward mused how they had discovered the baby's existence. She had thrown up three nights straight and was having trouble standing without feeling wobbly. It was funny now, but at the time, Edward was truly concerned. What if he lost her? What would he do? Could he endure that pain. He was pretty sure he couldn't.
But then, as they both were sat in the Doctor's office, expecting the worst, the truth behind the nausea was revealed.
And then he did something very embarrassing in front of everyone….he had cried.
Far from tears now, he sanded the baseboard that would be the support of the crib and heard the basement door open and clothes and familiar footsteps climb down the stairs.
He looked up from his work, and their she was. He little round belly just barely protruded from her whit tank tube, and the extra material of, what Edward assumed was a new blue skirt, cradled the round basin of the bottom of her tummy. She was four months along and glowing. His baby was in there.
"I see you started the crib. It looks great!" She remarked as she went straight to her work bench to check on the items she had left behind. She gave him a warm smile as she fingered through some tools. Edward began sweeping up the stray strands of wood that had littered the floor as he worked. He could smell Pinako starting dinner upstairs.
"I should finish it tomorrow. How was town?"
"Bustling as always. I found a few things for me and the baby!" She said happily.
He set the broom down and came over to lean on her work bench, his legs crossing in front of him and his arms bent back to support his weight. "Baby clothes?" He asked.
"Yes. I also found a perfect soft pink blanket for her."
"HER? PINK? WHAT?" He jumped with a start.
"Gotchya! I knew you wanted a boy." She giggled and came to face him, her mischievous side out to play.
"Devil woman." He muttered, resuming his relaxed pose. They stood and stared at each other for just a moment, slight smirks dressing their faces in a hint of a laugh.
"I feel incredibly horny tonight, Edward. I think it's the baby."
"That's…weird." Edward remarked his eyebrow arching.
"I don't understand it either. I've felt it all day. I think my hormones are all out of wack. I have been on the brink of tears one minute, and wanting to find you and fuck you the other." She crossed her arms and sighed. "It was that sort of attitude that got us in this pickle to start with.
"Hey now! What do you mean pickle!" He demanded with a flash of anger.
Winry smiled and leaned in for a brief peck on his lips. "I am just playing with you, Ed. Stop being so jumpy."
"Well, maybe if you're good, I can help you out with your problems."
"Define good?"
\\
After Dinner, Winry went upstairs to take a long bath. The hours of shopping on her feet had made her sore and tired. Edward helped Pinako clear up dinner and took a brief walk around the hill to see the latest construction on the house. He lazily strolled through the ground that was being cleared for his school and enjoyed the view of the sun sitting behind Rizembool like a phantom.
Yes. It had been worth it.
When he made it upstairs to find his wife, she had already left the bath and lay in bed reading an automail manual. Edward closed the door behind him and joined her, spooning her in the cradle of his arms, relaxing into the soft feeling of her skin. He let his left hand lay softly on the small bump of her stomach. He couldn't feel anything moving their yet, but soon, the baby would be developed enough from him to feel kicking and maybe even the heartbeat. He nuzzled Winry's neck and sighed.
"Did you ever imagine we would be like this, when we were kids? She asked softly in the low light of the room.
Edward thought a moment. "I don't know what I thought as a little kid. I guess I thought about this stuff when I was a teenager though. Never admitted it to anyone though."
She hummed happily, shifting slight to rest her head on his elbow and pushing her backside to fit more securely in the cradle of his hips.
"Will we be good parents?" she asked.
"I hope so. I think so. Our baby has a lot of people to support and love them."
"I love you, Edward."
"I know." He squeezed her tight to his chest. He let his hand rub comforting circles on her belly, then her waist. She took the moving hand into her own and placed it on her breast. Edward chuckled. "I feel weird doing it now that I know there's a little kid in there."
"Get over it, softy."
She turned to face him and planted a wet, heated kiss on his lips. There was a brief struggle for dominance, but as usual, Winry won and pushed her husband flat, straddling his hips and holding his arms down at his sides – a little too rough.
It had been almost two weeks since they had last made love due to being so terribly busy – and Winry being so nauseated in the evening. She felt fine tonight though. She trailed hot kisses down his neck and rubbed her hands up and down his torso and arms, relishing the feel of him.
"You looked so gorgeous building that crib." She mused against his lips.
"You think so?" He remarked, amused.
She pulled at his pants – he helped her remove them.
Winry knew Edward was dead tired (waking up at all hours of the night to get her food and working all day) but he still had the energy to be completely hard as a rock and ready for her.
She liked it.
She took all of him into her mouth – as comfortable as anything. She lazily sucked and played with the reason for her current condition and gloried in the soft sounds he was making from above her. His eyes had closed and his head was tilted back. Winry realized that he probably needed this just as much as she did.
She quickened her pace, and he brought his long hands into her hair and rubbed her scalp – encouraging her further. He whispered her name, and that anxious and wet feeling she had been feeling all day between her legs intensified. Winry loved it when he said her name.
He was coming undone now, she could feel it in how tense he was, and the arch in his back was widening – his breathing rough. He was so incredibly sexy. Winry remarked how powerful he seemed in these moments and how surreal it still felt sometimes that he was hers.
She pulled up and they locked eyes again – lust for lust. He sat up and took her face in his and kissed her soundly. Winry turned with a wink. "We better get used to doing it this way – soon I'll be too big for anything else."
Edward nearly came right then as he watched turn on her hands and knees and stick her ass right in the air, opening up for him.
He knew there was a reason he married her.
He steadied himself and placed both hands on the small of her back – he entered her slowly, slightly afraid of hurting her r the baby (though he knew there was no physical way that could happen)…It felt so god damn good.
"Oh. Winry."
She bucked her hips and met him thrust for thrust. He fell forward just a little and rested his torso lightly against her back, bringing his hands to fondle her breasts from behind. He was mesmerized by the muscles along her spine and shoulders that seemed to pulse with every thrust he beat into her.
She called out his name – she moaned. She m ust be liking it to.
Soon he was losing control, and could no longer maintain a slow and even pace.
"Pull my hair." She shrieked – and all he could do was to obey. He took the long gold silky strands in his hands and gently yanked as he let himself go.
\\
Later, they lay comfortably in their afterglow, limbs, sweat, and hair intertwined in one massive heap. Winry felt sated, and surprisingly full of energy – Edward, on the other hand, felt his eyes drooping and he tried to fight the urge of sleep that tugged at his consciousness. He wished he could just lay there and watch the slow rise and fall of his wife's belly as she breathed. But he felt so dang heavy.
"Keep me awake." He whispered hoarsely.
"What shall we name the baby?" Winry asked? Grazing her fingers down the line of his jaw.
"I like Winry." He said sleepily.
She laughed. "Ed – that's MY name. It would get too confused."
"Oh."
"I thought you wanted a boy anyway."
He thought for a moment, pulling her into the crook of his neck and snuggling her close.
"Maes for a boy. After General Hughes."
"I like that too. It would be a great honor to his memory…Gracia and Elecia will like that I think."
"Yeah. I think so to."
"And for a girl?"
"Do you like Trisha?" he asked tentatively.
"Of course I do."
Edward sighed happily. He felt like he couldn't fight it anymore – his body was giving into the fatigue and dreams were forming behind his half closed eyes.
"Ed."
"Hmmm."
"I'm really hungry. Will you go grab me some olives and cheese from down stairs…"
He snapped to attention with a slight snort. "Right. Olives and cheese. Anything else?"
"Do you think we have any watermelon?"