Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist.
So here comes the second part to the other chapter hope you enjoy the rest of this story…. the rest?? OMG!! The first finished story ever. Yay!! Thank you for reading and reviewing it.
TenshiShanai.
Chapter 4: December 25th (2)
"Hey Edo!" He was greeted by Hughes and his camera. The teenager shot him a dead glare which made the older man froze. "Oh come on, Edo. You can't be still angry." Hughes pleaded to the boy who tried to ignore him and than suddenly stooped turning around. He poked a finger into the older man's chest.
"You were the one hiding in a dark corner trying to get photographs andyou were the one who made a photo of an intimidate moment between Winry and me and you were the one who called out loud that we kissed. So now tell me why I should not be angry at you?!" Hughes swallowed hard trying to avoid the intense glare of the boy.
"Okay, okay. I made a photo but I couldn't know that the others were listening. It was a coincidence. Everyone would say the same, Edo." The teenager gritted his teeth turned around and stamped away.
He flopped on one of the couches still fuming. He wasn't really angry just upset that they teased him about the kiss. The only thing he wanted from them was an apology. But maybe that was a thing he shouldn't hope for. He sighed and let his head fall to his chest thinking about the best way to get them to apologise to him and Winry. It was more for her as for him. He was used to their teasing. He couldn't think of one day Havoc didn't call him 'short', I mean he really wasn't, he would soon be taller than this blond chain smoker, at least, he hoped so. But it was kind of fun for him, too. He would get angry throwing a temper tantrum and than they would laugh about it. He liked it that they treated him like on of them, treating him like a normal teenager and don't pamper him for his past. He closed his eyes thinking of the times he was in his father's office playing with Breda chess or helping Fuery or Falman. His Mom would treat his father with her gun to get his work done and afterwards they would go with Hughes to pick Al up from Gracia and Elicia. He smiled to his memories.
Suddenly there was somebody holding a cup with hot chocolate under his nose. He looked up to see a faintly smiling Havoc standing next to him. He shot him a glare and looked away. Havoc sat next to him on the couch and sighed chewing on a toothpick as he wasn't allowed to smog in the house.
"You're stubborn. You know that?" Ed averted Havoc's gaze. The older man sighed and shoved the cup back under his nose. "I'm sorry for teasing you. Now drink before it's too cold." Ed took the cup from him and took a sip of his hot chocolate. He didn't drink milk unless one didn't taste it in there.
"Thanks." He muttered and sipped. Several minutes of silence past by before Ed took a look at the older man who sat on the couch with both arms on the backrest. "Why?" Havoc looked at the boy.
"Why what?" Ed rolled his eyes and took another sip.
"Why are you suddenly so nice to me? No short-joke, no teasing and you did indeed apologise to a stubborn teenager." Havoc sighed looking out of the window and scratched his head.
"You know, today is Christmas. And even I don't give a lot about the traditions I like the thought of this 'peace' staff." Ed nodded.
"So a jerk like you has really a heart." Havoc grinned to Ed's comment and ruffled his hair.
"Yeah. But don't think that it will last long. Just today sh…son." Ed gave him an evil grin.
"OH come on, you're not that old to call me your son." The boy snickered.
"Drink your chocolate." Havoc sighed and got up. He was stopped by a hand pulling at his dress shirt. He gave Ed a questioned look.
"You have to apologise to Winry, too and do it fast." The older man nodded and left the boy to search for the teenage girl. Since when exactly do I hear what a boy says to me??
Ed was left alone with his chocolate and his thoughts. Soon Breda and Armstrong came to apologise for the incident of the last night and promised to never tease the boy again.
"Let's just say you leave it for today. It's a day of peace and harmony, so somebody told me." The men nodded, Alex sparkling all over again with tears in his eyes. The last person who came to him was his father. He looked exhausted and sighed heavily. Ed looked at him at took a last sip of his chocolate finishing it.
"Thanks." He said softly and put the cup on the small table next to him. Roy looked at him not understanding what Ed was referring to. The boy stood up and walked into the dinning room where the last preparations took place for the large Christmas lunch.
Roy was still stunned by his son's comment. Thanks? For what? I didn't do anything. His mouth was hanging open as Riza stood behind her husband laying her arms around his shoulders.
"Don't think about it. Just be happy. It's Christmas Day today." He kissed him on his head. He sighed and leaned into the embrace.
"You got them to apologise, didn't you?" It was more a statement then a question. She nodded.
"Even if you would have tried, you wouldn't bring them to apologise to our son. No matter what you do." She laid her cheek on his head humming softly. He sighed.
"A great superior officer I am. I can't even control my staff members." She slapped him on the back of his head. "What was that for?" He rubbed the spot and looked at his wife.
"You are the best superior officer we could wish for and you know that those guys don't listen to you in our free time." She leaned closer and kissed the spot she had slapped before. "But that makes our team unique. They are loyal to you even if it doesn't look like that now." He smiled and kissed her lovingly on her lips as somebody took a photo from behind. They looked at Hughes who was giving them a broad grin. The couple looked at each other and sighed.
"Poetic justice I would say." She shrugged and gave him a small kiss.
"Poetic justice."
The lunch was pompous as everything an Armstrong does, was. Breda had eaten so much that Megan had to treat him for engorgement. It was than that Alex had made the suggestion to walk the meal off with a stroll. As most of the adults were too full just the kids went with their sparkling uncle. Soon the teenagers fell behind the group of Alex, Al and Elicia, walking their own path hand in hand as nobody would disturb them. It started to snow again slowly. The snowflakes falling softly from the sky, as the sun began to set.
"It's sad that we have to go back tomorrow." The girl leaned her head against Ed's shoulder sighing softly.
"Yes. It was really nice." He took a glance to his side. "And it still is." He kissed her on the cheek and started to blush. She looked up at him smiling and stopped.
"Nobody's here." The boy nodded and leaned forward to capture her lips. It wasn't as timid as their first time and lingered longer.
They got back seeing the others preparing for something.
"What are you doing here?" Ed asked as he walked over to his parents.
"We want to make a photo with all of us on it. It was Alex's idea." His father answered buttoning up his coat. The Teenage boy nodded. Soon everyone was out there even Breda who was still a bit green from his treatment. They stood there the kids and teenagers in front of the adults the snow still falling. It didn't take long and soon they could get into the house escaping the cold of this Christmas Day.
They sat together for some time in front of the heath listening to some Christmas songs – without Roy singing, they couldn't get him doing it twice – and drinking hot chocolate, coffee or punch.
At the end everyone said: "It was a pleasant party."
AN.: Thank you soooooooooo much for reading this story. It made me happy and hopefully it mad you happy, too. Christmas is soon.
Oh and yes, maybe you asked yourself: 'Why did Ed give Winry the earrings for Christmas?' The answer: The earrings Winry is wearing in the manga/anime are a present from Ed to her. You can read this story in an artbook.
Thank you for all the reviews I got so far. You are great
For all of you who are reading 'A second chance for a life': I'm going to update soon, maybe on Dec. 7th (Friday).
Thanks for reading and don't forget to review.
TenshiShanai.
Merry Christmas to all of you.