GUESS WHAT!!! I have a job! It's just part time at a local pizza shop (Kenny's Pizza) but it's a job no less. Minimum wage, but really, with Dave working full time for $12 an hour, we really only need a little more income to pay for the thigns we want. (Cable, internet, booze...I mean...video games...yeah, games and sims expansion packs.)

Anyway, enough about me, here's the chapter. It's a little boring, but it's setting up for what will come.

Enjoy! XD

Chapter 8 – Face Forward

"Ah, so you're still in one piece. That's good." Al smiled at his bother coming down the stairs of central headquarters, seeming to be in a much better mood.

"Ha-ha, yeah. I told you, I just needed some air." He rubbed his temples. "From up there, I saw a coffee shop on the way to the station, we should stop there." He looked at his younger sibling who was smiling intently at him. "What are you so happy about now?"

Al shrugged. "I don't know, just the new look is surprising. Why did you decided to put the glasses on...and tie your hair back like dad?" He pointed at Ed's new look.

Ed got a bit of a scowl on his face and quickly pulled a few of his bangs out form the hold of the pony tail and allowed them to dangle in his face somewhat. "My hair tie broke, and my head ache isn't as bad with these things on...anyway, let's go."

He watched his brother walk past him, Al smiled again. "Sure brother."

"Oh, good morning Ed." Sheska said with a smile. "Well, it's actually the afternoon now, but you get the point." She had a few books piled up on the table beside her while she drank her tea.

"Same to you. Sorry about last night." Ed said with a whole load of shame being poured over his entire being. He had made Sheska go out of her way for his stupidity and lack of self control.

She seemed happy enough and gave him a smile. "Don't worry about it Ed." He expression became sympathetic and somewhat serious. "Though, from what Al told me, Winry might be sick...what was it that she said to you?"

Ed inhaled and glanced over to Al briefly, Al did the same. "Uh...mind if we sit down?"

Sheska immediately became worried. "Sure, go right ahead."

Ed sat down across from the worried Sheska and folded his hands around his second coffee for that day. "First off, I need your word that you won't repeat anything I tell you. If I have to, I'll make it an order." Throwing his rank around was beginning to become a habit, but it got the job done at least.

She nodded and leaned over the table slightly. "You don't have to worry Ed, it'll be safe with me."

Ed breathed deep. Equivalent exchange was a key factor in his life and it would have been hell if he decided to set off the balance. Telling Sheska, to him, would even things over for her having to carry him home last night. "Aaah..." He groaned. "It's not an easy thing to say..."

Sheska became more worried. "Is Winry going to be alright?" She asked staring intently at her tea cup.

Ed nodded. "Yeah, she's not sick..." He hesitated only long enough to hear a sigh of relief from the brown haired girl sitting across from him. "...she's pregnant."

Sheska's brain immediately broke. "Wha...what the...how...but..oh my God...Are you serious?" Sheska asked in a panicked hushed manner, she couldn't believe what he had just told her. "And...it's yours?"

Ed blushed. "Of course it's mine." He said, slightly offended.

Al snickered. "I had faith in you brother."

Sheska leaned back in her seat. "Ed, you're so young..."

He nodded. "I know...I didn't even tell Pinako or my father yet...I have no clue how they're going to react."

She thought for a moment. "Ed...I don't know why you decided on telling me, I guess it's because you're confused and scared...but if my advice can help any, it would be not to keep this a secret from anyone and to not be afraid to ask for help. At the very least, you have to tell your family...you're going to, right?"

Ed nodded. "Yes...it's just I don't know how to tell them...so I figured getting a little advice first would be a good idea."

Al piped up. "I say just tell them, what's the worst that can happen?"

Ed thought about it for a moment, and none of the outcomes were good ones, at least, none that involved Pinako. "It's granny Pinako we're talking about here...right? She'll kill me."

Sheska smiled. "I doubt she would. A new member to the family isn't a curse, it's a blessing. I can't do all too much for you, but for the next time you're in Central, I can have some books on parenthood ready. Nothing too big, but very informative. I've read them all, but I'm just so nervous around small babies that I don't think I'd be much help beyond the books themselves." She rubbed the back of her head.

Edward smiled. "Any amount of help would be great. Thanks a bunch Sheska."

"No problem...uh, how far along is she?" Sheska asked, now nearly fully calmed down.

"I'm not sure...I forgot to ask." Ed took a drink of his cooled off coffee.

"She's at least one month if a pregnancy test came up positive...and it's been two weeks since the test...so...probably close to two months." Al stated.

Ed looked at him. "And how do you know all that?"

Al shrugged. "I read it somewhere before, I can't remember where. So don't quote me on that." He smiled.

"Have you told Gracia?" Sheska asked.

Ed shook his head. "After I talk to Winry and tell the dad and Pinako, I'll give her a call. She's really good to us and let's us stay in her house whenever we visit. It's the least I can do to let her know."

He felt better. Sheska didn't harshly judge him, she only offered what she could to help him. That made a world of difference in his mind. Ed sat back and looked out the window of the train. "Do you think dad will be mad?" He asked solemnly.

Al thought about it for a moment. "Nah. He doesn't seem to like conflict all that much. He might be upset, but he'll probably get right over it. Ed, you really shouldn't worry so much."

Ed sat right back against the soft cushion of the train seat and huffed a sigh. "You're not going to get struck with a hard blunt object by Pinako. You have nothing to worry about." He sighed again. "But, all joking aside, I'm worried more about Winry. She seems really distraught about the whole thing. I mean, I don't have to give birth, she does. Maybe that's what's bugging her."

Al nodded. "Child birth is a painful process. At least from what I remember from Elecia's birth."

Ed smiled. "You remember that?"

"Of course. That's one of my most vibrant memories...probably because it was so traumatizing." He rubbed his eyes. "But that does make sense. Winry must be afraid she won't be able to deal with the pain."

Ed lowered his gaze. "There's not a whole lot we can do for her there is there?"

Al shook his head. "There really isn't..."

The two days on the train passed slowly. Much like taking a trip to the beach; the trip there was a long one, but the way back just seemed to fly by. Though it was the opposite in this case; Ed knew he had to grow up, and fast, but he didn't think he was going to be ready to be there for Winry. Not that he didn't want to, but he wasn't confident in his own abilities. But that was part of growing up, becoming stronger.

"You're pregnant?" Hohenheim asked in disbelief.

Winry could once again feel those tears well up in her eye; she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes..."

The older man stood there, stunned for a moment. He reached for a chair that was sitting beneath the kitchen table and he sat down. "Was that what the doctor told you?"

She nodded. "Yes..." She repeated again.

Aria placed a sentimental hand on her shoulder. "Winry..."

"How far along?" He asked as he folded his hands and rested the bridge of his nose against them.

"Two and a half months..." She folded her hands together as well, only to break them apart and wiped away her tears.

"Does Ed know?" He asked another question, his tone unchanging, disbelief, pure and simple.

"We just got off the phone with him...he sounded sad, maybe a bit scared." Aria spoke for Winry as she wiped a tear off her cheek.

Winry sobbed. "I'm sorry."

Hohenheim looked up at Winry. "There's no need to apologize. You haven't done anything bad."

Winry stopped her crying and looked at him. "What? You're not mad?"

He shook his head. "I'm a bit upset that you didn't wait till you were older, but I'm not mad. Of all the years that I've lived, I've never once become a grandfather. I'm just glad I got to live long enough to see my first grandchild."

Winry and Aria both knew about his past and his actual age, so that bit of information was quite shocking. Winry piped up. "Really? I'm still worried..."

He stood up, walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "This makes you family. I'll be here for you as best I can."

Winry smiled and hugged him. "Thank you."

Slightly shocked from the gesture, he placed an arm around her.

Aria's eyes were all watery. "So touching." She sniffled.

Hohenheim looked distressed. "Don't you start now. One's enough." He really didn't know how to deal with crying.

Winry released her grip on the older man. "Do you think you could tell granny for me?"

He shook his head. "Uh...How about we let Edward do that?"

She nodded. "Sure." Winry smiled.

"Winry?" Aria spoke in a quiet voice.

"Huh?" She snapped out of her flashback. Hohenheim reacted in a way that made her feel a whole lot better, not perfect, but still better.

"Their train's here." She pointed to the corresponding car that they were riding in. "Are you ready?" She placed a hand on her knee and patted her hand. "You'll have to face him sometime. This time, try not to cry."

"I know, I'll try." She stood up and walked toward the train. The doors split open and standing right there in their opening, was Edward, with Alphonse standing close behind him.

Ed stepped off the train and into the seemingly deserted train station. He glanced around and saw Winry standing about twenty feet away. "Winry." He dropped his bag and walked toward her.

"Ed..." She picked up the pace and ran right into his arms. They stood there in the embrace, not caring who saw, they held one another. Just the feeling of being close was enough to make both of them feel better. "You're not mad are you?" She asked in a quiet tone, loud enough for only him to hear.

He shook his head. "Not one bit...I'm here for you." He hugged her tight, his face buried in her hair almost completely.

Aria walked past them, a smile on her face. She stood right in front of Al. "Welcome back." She smiled.

Al smiled in return. "Good to be back." Following suit, he hugged her tight but only for a few seconds. Breaking the hug, he looked at her. "We should head back now." He said referencing Ed and Winry still standing there.

She nodded. "Right. You two can catch up." With that said they both walked out of the train station and left Ed and Winry alone.

Al sighed as he stepped down to the ground of his hometown. "They'll be alright. They've--" Aria quickly snuck up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. He blushed. "Hehe, what was that for?"

She smiled at him. "I missed you."

"I've only been gone for a week." He smiled in return and then pulled her into a kiss. It wasn't very often that they got to spent time alone, even when he was home, so they enjoyed the sweet kiss for a few moment's longer.

"Break it up you two." Ed smirked as he and Winry came out of the train station building. Al and Aria both blushed and parted.

"So much for getting a head start, you made it to the end of the stairs." Winry snickered.

Al rubbed the back of his head. "It's just..." He had a bright red blush on his cheeks.

Aria nudged him. "Come on Al, let's go."

"Right." He smiled.

The four of them walked down the road toward the house. Winry smiled as she walked alongside Ed. She piped up. "Your father knows."

Ed's heart dropped into despair. "How did he take it?"

She smiled. "He was actually pretty happy about it. He said he was never a grandfather before, he's looking forward to it."

He sighed. "Oooh...that's good to hear...it's still going to be awkward though." He paused and thought. "What about old lady Pinako, what did she have to say?"

Winry shrugged. "Don't know, we decided to let you tell her."

Fear possessed him then. "Why do you hate me?" He slumped his head down.

"Granny...You in here?" Ed said as he sheepishly poked his head in the garage.

"Yes Ed, come in." She said in a calm voice.

It seemed as though she was in a good enough mood, so telling her then would have been perfect. "..."

"Come on, what is it?" She said as she took another drag on her pipe.

"You see...Winry and I...have been dating for about three months now, probably a little less..." He got stuck on his words and paused.

She smiled. "Well, I gathered that much. You two always go for walks by the river. I figured you two were together."

Ed nodded. "I see...and uh...we've...been together too...like...more than dating...and walking." He was really failing at this whole speech thing. Pinako may have been old, but she was a force to be reckoned with.

"Really?" She then knew what he was trying to tell her, but she remained calm, he looked as though he was a bomb, set to go off at any given second. "What are you trying to say Edward?"

"Granny...Winry's pregnant." He cringed and awaited his well deserved beating.

"So do you think he's dead?" Hohenheim piped up.

"Dad?! Don't say things like that." Al snapped at him. "I'm sure granny Pinako will be ok...she might yell at him...but...she...wouldn't...yeah, he's probably dead." He remained defeated. Knowing full well that Ed wouldn't really be dead, he at least expected him to come out with a huge lump on his head.

The door creaked and it slid open. Ed walked out of the garage and stood in front of everyone that was crowded around. "..." He stood up against the closed door in silence.

Aria was the first to speak. "So...how did it go?"

Ed had a very vacant look on his face as he stared at the ground. "She didn't hit...she didn't yell at me...hell, she didn't even scold me. She just said 'Oh? I guess I should take my pipe outside then; it's not healthy for unborn babies.' And then she left out the back door."

They all exchanged glances. Hohenheim spoke. "I guess she took it well then."

He frantically shook his head. "No...she's messing with my head. She's getting me thinking that she's ok with the whole situation, and then, when I think everything's going to be alright. BAM! No more me, dead as a nit." He rubbed his left knuckles with his automail hand. "Mark my words, I'll be dead by the end of the week." With that said, he walked into the living room and proceed to wrap his arms and legs around one of the big couch cushions. "I'll just wait here quietly."

Winry sighed. "I think you're overreacting just a little."

Ed looked up from where he was sitting. "No I'm not..."

Ed's just a little paranoid right now. He'll be doing fine soon enough.

Tell me what you think! XD