DISCLAIMER: Fullmetal Alchemist belongs to Hiromu Arakawa.

Pairing: Alphonse/ May

Prompt: A Growing Family

Rated: K

"Alphonse, can you go check on Van? I sent him out to play an hour ago and he hasn't come back in," May said somewhat absently, peeling potatoes as she cooked dinner. Alphonse had tried many times throughout their marriage to help her prepare food, but after a case of food poisoning he'd inflicted a few months back, he'd been banned from the kitchen.

He patted her shoulder as an affirmative as he moved past her, sauntering out the back door. He stuck his head out, his eyes searching for his small, dark-haired son. When the sight he was expecting didn't greet him, he called his name, coming around the corner of the house to check the bushes by the fence.

Sure enough, Van sat on the ground, his coat hanging half-off, facing away from him. The boy turned towards him with a large grin adorning his face. "Hi Daddy!" he whispered loudly, waving at him in broad movements.

Alphonse smiled, moving closer as he noticed there seemed to be something in his lap. "What do you have there?" he asked, motioning towards him.

"Come look," Van murmured, grabbing his hand and pulling him into a squat beside him.

On his lap was a small brown ball of fur, fast asleep, and by the looks of it was enjoying the treatment he was getting from Van's small hands. Alphonse bit his lip, knowing he was already in love with the thing and knowing without a doubt what Van's next words would be.

"Can we keep him, Daddy? I found him hiding in the front yard and he doesn't have a mommy."

Alphonse sighed. "What were you doing in the front yard? You know you're not supposed to be out there by yourself," he scolded halfheartedly, avoiding the question. Van ducked his head guiltily.

"I heard him meowing, so I crawled under the fence. But can we keep him?"

He scratched his head. "I don't know; your mother probably won't like it," he said, knowing that if it were up to him the kitten would already have a collar on. "But I suppose we can ask." He sighed, motioning for Van to hold on to the kitten while he scooped up his son in his arms, carrying him into the house.

May was still faced away from him as he came in. "Is he being good?" she asked, distracted, focused on her cooking. "He likes to climb that tree out there, and I told him not to do it unless you or I were watching."

"Mommy, I'm right here," the boy giggled, wiggling out of his father's hold. "Look what I found!" the five-year-old squealed, holding up the tiny animal for his mother to see.

She half-screamed when she saw it. "Get that out of the kitchen!" she yelled, shooing him with her wooden spoon. "In fact, get it out of my house! You have no idea what kind of diseases it could have. It might already have given you fleas," May scolded.

"Can I give him a bath?" Van asked, unfazed. He was deadset on keeping it, Alphonse could tell.

May shot a pleading look at her husband. "Back me up here, please."

Alphonse shrugged, a guilty grin on his face to match his son's. "You know I can't say no to that face…"

May tossed the spoon in her hand onto the stove, exasperated. "This family's getting bigger as it is, do we really need-"

Al stared at her as she stopped abruptly, face turning pink as she realized her slip. "Fine, do whatever you want, he can keep it," she mumbled, turning back to the kitchen counter. Van gave a squeal of delight, running towards the bathroom to give the kitten a good wash. Alphonse recognized dimly that he should probably not leave that to his five-year-old son, but he was too hung up on what his wife had just inadvertently laid on him.

"What did you say?" he asked incredulously, moving to stand beside her.

May sighed. "I was going to wait a couple more weeks before telling you, because I wanted to be sure, but I guess the cat's out of the bag." Taking a breath, she turned to face him, a small smile gracing her features. "I'm pregnant, Alphonse."

He continued to stare at her until it registered. May's expression warped into one of worry until he grinned, picking her up and kissing her soundly.
Alphonse laughed and spun her around before setting her down, still chuckling.

Van chose that moment to come running back in to ask for help, pausing when he saw his parents locked in their embrace. He wrinkled his nose when he saw them kiss again. "That's gross!" he complained.

Alphonse laughed, picking him up and squishing him between himself and his wife. "Sorry, kiddo, I only do it because I love her," he said softly, kissing her once again over his son's head, ignoring his son's noises of disgust. He couldn't help what must have looked like an idiotic grin on his face.

He was going to be a father.

Again.