(A/N) Sorry this story kinda died, but I'm getting back on it. Instead of going in order of the themes, I'm just gonna post them as I complete them. More is coming, I promise.
"Edward. It's for you." The kind old alchemist held the phone out to his assistant.
He accepted the receiver. Curious as to what Winry would reprimand him about this time.
"Winry-"
"Ed- I'm glad you're available." Her voice was full of relief, but still nervous.
"Win, you sound desperate. What's up?"
"Okay. There's just-something I need to tell you." His stomach dropped. His mid filtering through all the worst possibilities. "Just- promise you wont freak out."
"What? Is something wrong? Are you sick? Are you in trouble?"
"Ed! I told you not to freak out!" She took a deep breath. "I really wanted to tell you before you left, but- I didn't know for sure- And, I don't know when you'll be back next."
"Winry- Just spit it out." He angrily shoved down his nervousness.
"Ed- I'm pregnant." Her voice cut out. She was as nervous as he was. Dammit, Ed. Say something!
"Winry." He swallowed. Searching for words. "I'm really, really really, happy. And, amazed. Don't get me wrong. Don't ever think anything different-"
"But, you sound-"
"I know. I'm just, scared. I mean, look at this. I wont be around all the time, and my money is running 'll lose a lot of income on maternity leave-"
"Edward, dear, please. Just, don't worry about that." She only used terms of endearment when she was trying to suppress anger.
He bit his lip. Thinking angrily. "God damn it. I wish I was there now." He clenched his fist on the wall.
"I know." She sighed. He imagined her closing her eyes and pointing her elbows into her chest. Curling in her resignation. He'd only seen her like that when he snuck up behind her after weeks away.
In those moments, he saw his mother. Loose chestnut ponytail. Collapsing sadly.
"Ed, are you okay?"
"Of course. Don't worry about it."
"Please don't lie to me."
"Sorry. I- I'll try to be home as soon as possible. I can't guarantee to be able to be there for the whole pregnancy, but, I'll be there for the birth. I promise."
"I believe you."
"Call me when ever you need to. Your emotions go a tad haywire during pregnancy right?" He drilled through every word of every paragraph he ever read about human gestation. "Just, hang in there."
"Alright."
"I'll be seeing you. Okay?"
"Yeah. Edward...I love you."
Married for 3 months, still new at this. "Win...I love you, too." He closed his eyes in anguish. He missed her too much.
"See you soon,"
"See you soon."
He hung up the phone and placed his hands on the hallway table. Leaning in heavy stress.
"Edward?" Doctor Marx walked back through the hall. "What did she want to tell you? I could hear the stress in your voice."
"I'm gonna be a dad." He collapsed onto the table. His voice torn.
"Congratulations." He playfully clapped him on the back in a rather uncharacteristic zeal. Edward looked up at him with a mask of irritation.
"Mm."
"I'm sure that you'll be a fine father." Doctor Marx's smile was sincere. He was a gentle, compassionate man. One seemingly not suited for the harsh truths of Alchemy.
"I doubt it. I mean, already I'm gonna be gone a lot. That's just how it is. I don't want to put my son through what me and my brother had to deal with."
"You speak as if I'm keeping you here."
"No, Doctor, it's not you. It's me. I get fidgety if I'm not doing something. I kinda feel like I owe the world at least something good."
"Edward Elric. The only duty you have to the world is to love your wife and raise your son." He placed a hand on his shoulder. Ed looked back at him. "You can go home. Please. You must be there with your family. Spend all the time that you can with them." Ed saw the motion shift in the doctor's face shift.
"Doctor...If you don't mind my asking, do you have a family?"
"Once, long ago." He sighed, turning away slightly. Ed stood up, watching him. "I had a wife, and a daughter." Ed gulped. He hoped the story wouldn't go the way he feared. "I- just never spent enough time with them, and- I didn't keep very good contact. Because I was afraid, of how they would react to my work." He took a deep shuddering breath. Edward took a hesitant step foreword. "When, I returned, I found nothing. A military coup had devastated my entire town. It was a while ago, so we've had time to rebuild."
"Wow- uh-"
"No need to apologize, lad." He smiled. "So please, for the sake of me, and your loved ones, go. Be there for her pregnancy. I will not permit you to remain here." His gaze was startlingly stern.
"Yes-yes, sir." He replied, staggered.
Doctor Marx's face melted into another smile. "Don't be so uptight. Start packing. I'm sure she'll be surprised to see you."