Time line: ~12 years after the promised day

Outline: Edward is hesitant to tell his children about his mistake.

Winry looked out the open window in the kitchen to where her husband and their children were playing. It was a beautiful day and the children were restless so outside seemed the best way to go.

At that moment, Kaitlyn was running after her father while Elias held up a stick as if it were a steel sword. It wasn't until Elias found the right opening to lightly tap his father's shoulder that Edward fell to the ground in a dramatic death.

"You got me! How dare you slay the magnificent wizard of the east!" The children giggled and ran to jump up onto their father's stomach. Ed let out an oof with the impact and played dead, his mouth open and his tongue hanging over his lips.

"Daddy? Where did your real leg go?" Kaitlyn asked. That caught his attention and his head jumped up to look at his daughter before shifting to the automail.

"A dragon gobbled it up" he lied as his hands made way to tickle his daughter. She giggled on instinct and tried to get away.

"But really, dad, why do you have a metal leg?" This time it was Elias who asked.

"A wizard zapped it out of existence!" He lied again and reached for his son. Once in his arms, the three collapsed back onto the ground. "I'm pooped. I'm not as young as I used to be."

"I tried to tell you" Elias smirked

"Oh great, apparently my traits have been passed on" Ed laughed at the irony. "Come on you punkos, let's go see if mommy will make us a snack" and together, they got up and walked inside.

Later that evening, Winry tucked Elias into his bed, knowing Ed was doing the same with Kaitlyn.

"Hey, mom?" Elias asked quietly, avoiding her gaze.

"Yeah?" She asked

"Why doesn't dad tell us what happened to his leg?"

She hesitated for a moment, "I guess that's because he doesn't want you to be disappointed in him"

He looked up to her now, his eyes pleading as he said, "I won't be! I know people make mistakes. I just don't like it when he lies because he knows we know he's lying"

Winry smiled wryly at him, "…When your father was a little older than you, he and his brother attempted human transmutation to bring his mother back. It rebounded and he lost his leg and his brother lost his whole body"

"But I thought uncle Al was his only brother"

"Right. He then gave up his right arm to transmute uncle Al's soul to a suit of armor. They spent nearly five years trying to get their bodies back to normal. And when they did, it cost dad his ability to use alchemy"

"Is that why he can't teach me?"

She nodded.

"So he didn't tell us because he thought we'd see him different?"

Again, Winry nodded.

"I guess I do see him differently." Elias said, looking down at his feet. "I mean, not in a bad way. Dad is really brave to try to fix his mistakes like that. And he actually did it! That's really cool"

Winry smiled at him, "time for bed" she bent down to kiss his forehead then turned of his bedside lamp and made way for the door. "Goodnight" she whispered one last time before closing the door completely.

The sniffle behind her had her turning abruptly to see Ed standing just outside Kaitlin's door. He was leaning against the wall and his hand were tucked behind his back. His head down to stare at the floor. The way he stood told her he had heard her.

"I'm sorry. I know you didn't want him to know. He would've found out someday anyway. You can't keep it a secret from him forever. He deserves to know. It will serve as a remi-"

She was cut off when Ed pushed off the wall and wrapped his arms around her. She returned the gesture and he let out a choked sob.

"He called me brave." He whispered and his voice cracked. "Me of all people"

Winry smiled and rubbed soothing circles on his shoulder blades. "I think you doubt your kids too much"