Birthday Present
Al remembers her birthday a full three months early, but he worries about what he will give her as much as if he had only a few days to prepare. He considers the normal things- shoes, chocolates, perfume, jewellery- everything Ed has slapped into the ever-broadening category of "girl stuff"- but decides that that sort of thing isn't really Winry's style. He debates over tool kits or automail equipment, but comes to the conclusion that as he himself has no clue about how to buy it or what she may need, he will be better off leaving that to the professionals. He even goes so far as to come into Winry's workshop a month prior to the day and not-so-subtly inquire what it is that she most wants. Her answer of, "Right now? A glass of water. Isn't it hot?" he thinks, however, does not really count as a genuine request.
It is strange, he thinks, that the better you get to know someone, the more difficult it is to buy presents for them.
So he frets over it, knowing that if he misses the mark with his present, it will be a terrible sign of ignorance on his part.
In the end he makes his mind up, just barely in time. He will make her something- something he happens to know she loves. Raspberry ice cream. It is summer at the moment, too. Perfect.
He goes to the market the day beforehand and buys the raspberries- boxes and boxes of them- along with more sugar and cream than he can comfortably carry. He gets everything home, somehow, and conceals it all at the back of the fridge. He has plans to make sure that she doesn't find it.
She is pleasantly surprised when he tells her not to worry about helping him with the dinner that night.
The morning of her birthday goes as planned. She opens all her cards and presents in bed- he has been kicked out in order to make room for the gifts. Ed, Al is amused to see, has followed his own advice and bought Winry earrings, something that most definitely counts as girl stuff. Pinako, who came to visit specially, has purchased an item that, despite Winry's gasps and the excited technobabble the two women exchange upon its unveiling, both brothers find completely baffling. They know that it went down well, however, from the way Winry's eyes lit up, the increasing pitch of her voice, the fact that the present is made of metal, and the knowledge that Pinako knows what she's doing in that area. There are other things, too, from Winry's friends, colleagues, clients and so on. Even Mustang has sent a little something- probably prompted by Hawkeye, Ed says wryly.
At last, breathless with excitement, Winry reaches the bottom of the pile and realises that there is nothing from Al.
He leaps in before she has a chance to be disappointed. "My present isn't right for this time of day. I'll give it to you later, Winry."
She understands- knows that Al, of all people will not have forgotten her birthday- and all of them talk in her room for a while. Soon, however, she slaps her knees and announces that she ought to get up. They all agree, if reluctantly, and gradually disperse, each heading their separate ways for the day.
Al goes straight into the kitchen. Winry had her breakfast in bed, so she won't be heading towards this part of the house. He knows that she will be impossible to dislodge from her workshop until lunchtime at least. He has hours in which to prepare.
---
Winry comes into the kitchen at half past one, sighing with satisfaction and streaked with oil. Auntie's present is perfect. She flops down at the table, tired but immensely pleased with herself.
And Al places a bowl of raspberry ice cream in front of her.
---
"Winry!"
He knocks on the door in a frenzy of worry.
"Winry, are you alright? I'm sorry!"
No response.
"Winry!"
She emerges finally, pale and slicked with damp sweat. Al is almost in tears. "I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry! I made you ill!"
"No," she says, weak but insistent. "No, it wasn't you. It . . ."
But nothing will reach him. Fists clenched, he apologises over and over. His present made her sick. What has he done?
She insists that it's not his fault, she has been feeling nauseous for a few days now, it tipped her over the edge, that's all.
But he knows that even so, there was nothing forcing her to eat it. "I'm sorry," he says miserably. "I couldn't even give you a proper birthday present . . ."
She is in bed for a few days, with "a bad stomach bug", Pinako says. Al tends to her every need, bringing her water, pillows, and what food she can swallow. He does it all silently, still ashamed of the disaster he has caused.
A few days later, as he is setting a tray of soup on her bedside table, she catches hold of his wrist. "Al," she says.
He looks at her.
She tugs on his wrist, and he sits obediently on the side of the bed. "I don't blame the ice cream, you know," she says quietly. "Not in the least."
He offers her a faint smile.
"I blame something else you did," she tells him seriously.
And she takes his hand and places it on her stomach.
He stares speechless at her smiling face, at her eyes brimming over with tears.
"Don't worry, Al," she whispers, leaning forwards and drawing him into a close embrace. "I think you gave me a wonderful birthday present."
Author's notes: Hands up if you saw that coming. And hands up if you noticed the Royai reference. If so, kudos.
This fic probably establishes me as one of the only people to write a pregnancy fic without once mentioning sex. -.-; Well, that's just me, I'm afraid. I'll write more about the pregnancy in future. Maybe one day I'll even write about the baby :D