Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick.
Winry stared at the clock. How long had she been laying in her bed for? Quickly she wiped the tears that she cried each night placing her bare feet against the wooden floor. She rubbed her stomach feeling the urge to tear up again. The baby had started to move yesterday making it real for her. Ed had stayed in his room after he had raped her as he had been doing recently until he realized that she in fact pregnant. Every moment he was with her it seemed making sure she didn't do any strenuous labor or hardly anything at all for that matter.
Winry had pushed the assault to the back of her mind and had told no one. To everyone else, her grandmother included, teenagers would be teenagers and make stupid mistakes. What everyone didn't know however was Edward whispered to the fetus calling it Alphonse. Telling it all the things that they would do once they were reunited. Winry tried to talk to Ed, tried to tell him that this wasn't Al, this was a new person; 'Alphonse cant be brought back Edward! Haven't you realized you can't bring back the dead yet?' Her words and pleas fell on deaf ears however. Ed completely ignored her, she felt as if she were just some vessel to use to fulfill Edwards ludicrous plan.
Clink, clink, clink.
The familiar sound of metal hitting metal as her grandmother worked busily downstairs. Winry sighed feeling horrible that she wasn't able to help her elderly grandparent, they had already been backed up as it was and now it seemed as if there was no end in sight. Winry walked to the mirror and lifted up her nightgown staring at the stretched skin of her abdomen. It looked like it should have been painful but it wasn't in fact she hadn't even realized it was happening until the baby kicked. A small smile crept across her face as she felt fluttery movements within her. She placed her palm flat against her stomach where she guessed the baby was and caressed it lovingly.
The door opened quickly slamming into the wall. Winry dropped her nightgown and turned quickly on her heels startled. Edward stood in the door frame a scowl on his face.
"What were you doing to Al?" He asked narrowing his eyes as he did so. Winry felt her heart pump in her chest loudly as a small wave of fear gripped her.
"Ed I…the baby it's moving." She said knowing it was pointless to argue with him. Ed's eyes grew wide as he walked briskly over to her and placed his flesh hand flat against her stomach.
"Where I don't feel anything." He said sounding annoyed. Winry took his hand and moved it slightly to the right.
"There, it was right there a minute ag….see there." She said softly as it moved again. Ed's eyes softened as he felt the small movement under his hand. If he hadn't been paying attention he would have missed it entirely but it was there. Al was alive, he would be fine. Ed smiled happily rubbing the spot. Winry watched him intently and for a moment she saw the old Edward. For a brief second she thought that maybe Edward would look at her. That Edward would apologize to her for what he'd done. That he'd sink to his knees sobbing maybe even beating his fists against the floor apologizing to his dead brother for what had happened. Winry would embrace him, he would acknowledge their child as not being Alphonse and they would be together.
Edward did sink to his knees however it wasn't in apology. He placed his face against her stomach and sighed deeply.
"Alphonse everything will be alright now, you'll see little brother. This time it will be different I swear it." He said softly dashing away Winry's hopes in a heart beat. "Al's hungry." Ed said standing after a few minutes had passed. His tone came out cold as if he were only speaking to her out of necessity. He grabbed her wrist pulling her behind him. He sat her at the kitchen table and began gathering breakfast things.
"Lets see how about some pancakes today Alphonse, I know how much you like those and I'll even make you some chocolate milk." He said with a slight grimace but a laugh accompanied it; another fluttery movement as if in response. Winry placed her hand against her stomach. Edward turned his back to her as he grabbed a frying pan and began warming it over the stove.
Pinako walked in from the basement seeing Edward attempting breakfast. She smirked at the way Ed had been fussing over her granddaughter since the unexpected arrival. She had been slightly disappointed at first seeing how the two were so young but in the long run she figured maybe a baby would be best. Perhaps a baby's love would heal them all. Her gaze trailed to the kitchen table where her granddaughter sat looking somewhat bewildered. Pinako felt her heart race at the way Winry stared at Edward fear written clear across her face.
"Edward would you mind going into town for me. There are a few things that I need to finish up this job." She said walking to stand between Ed and her granddaughter. Ed shook his head once.
"I can't I'm making breakfast for A…for Winry." He said softly.
"I'll finish its not trouble Edward now please I'm just not as spry as I used to be." She said keeping her tone light as not to put the situation in any further distress. Ed sighed clearly annoyed.
"Fine then I'll go." He said throwing his hands up in the air. He opened the kitchen door and slammed it behind him. Pinako watched him walk down the dirt path from the window before pulling up a seat next to Winry. She didn't have to say anything. She placed a hand on top of the girls and she burst into tears. She sobbed and sniffled unable to stop her tears.
"There baby there. Tell me what's wrong sweetheart." She soothed. Winry took a few deep breaths knowing she had to tell her grandmother what was wrong, what Edward had done and what he planned to do.
Edward wasn't stupid. He was genius for crying out loud! He knew why Pinako had sent him out so he waited until he was sure she wasn't watching him anymore and ran to the left of the house. He snuck underneath the open kitchen window and sat. He knew he would be able to hear everything that was being said. 'Remember when we used to listen to the adult conversations under this window Al?'
"Granny, Edward has gone completely insane. He thinks he can bring Al back and what's worse is that he's going to use the baby to do it." Winry said. Pinako clutched her granddaughters hand tightly.
"Winry are you serious? When did he decide this?" She asked alarmed. Winry adverted her gaze elsewhere.
"The night that he….raped me." She replied softly. Pinako gasped and quickly made her way to the phone picking it up.
"That boy needs help that's for sure and I'll be damned if he stays here any longer than what's necessary." She said placing the receiver up to her ear. Her intention was to call central headquarters, speak to colonel Mustang or one of his subordinates. Someone who knew the situation well; they would be able to help Edward. At first her mind didn't process that there was no dial tone but when it did he felt her heart beat louder. She placed the phone down. Her head whipped in the direction of the window quickly as she thought she caught a flash of something but realized it was just the sun hitting the window.
"Winry I'm going out for a moment I'll be right back. If Edward comes back act normal understand?" She asked. Winry nodded her head slowly and watched as her grandmother opened the front door and walked out.
Edward saw Pinako step off the porch and knew it was time to make his move. He ran quickly behind her wrapping an arm around the old woman's waist and firmly clamping a hand over her mouth dragging her behind the house.
"You won't take Al from me do you understand you old bat? No one will keep my brother from me!" He whispered fiercely into her ear tossing her roughly to the ground. She hit it hard knocking her glasses off upon impact. She made an attempt to crawl away but Edward was soon pushing her onto her back. He straddled himself over her placing his hands against her throat. The world seemed to dim yet at the same time become bright as flashes of white passed across her vision. She felt herself slipping away as she stared up at the crazed boy sadly. 'I delivered you when you were born Edward as well as Winry, I had hoped I would have done the same for your child…..'
"I thought I told you to stay where I put you." Winry turned away from the stove quickly.
"Ed I just was..." She stammered as her body began to tremble. Ed eyed her carefully before grabbing her wrist and redirecting her to the table. Winry sat down heavily as Ed resumed cooking. He placed a plate in front of her and sat in the chair next to hers. He placed his hand against her stomach with a smile on his face.
"Don't you worry Al no one will take you from me. I've made sure of that." He said. Winry dropped her fork and stared at him her eyes wide. "I wont let anyone take you away from me, I don't care who tries it."