Draped in Wires
by. Poisoned Scarlett

Theme 065: Home

It was not as big as she hoped it would be. She had hoped her memory would be wrong and it'd be bigger. But the reality was she never knew just how many things she had for her baby until she tried to stuff them all inside of Edward's apartment in Central. By the time they managed to fit everything inside, the apartment gave a full-feeling – it was not necessarily bad, as his apartment had given off an uninhabited feel before the move, but it was still something Edward and she weren't used to.

She had always had enough space in Resembool, by moving here she'd sacrificed that luxury.

But it was something that she came to appreciate. It was cozy, his apartment, everything within distance and nothing too far away that she could not see by leaning over. The crib was always within sight, the kitchen and living room were connected, the front door was always in sight, too, and even the short hallway to the bathroom could be seen if she shifted enough.

"See? Told you it wasn't a bad idea!" Edward triumphantly stated.

"I guess," Winry rolled her eyes at his smug smile. "But it's still going to be weird to live in Central! I know it's just for two months but it'll be really different. Do you think I'll get used to the traffic at night? It's always been so quiet in Resembool…"

"You'll get used to the noise in a few hours," Ed assured. "I got used to it in two days. You'll adjust, by the end of the week you'll be sleeping like a baby!"

"I hope not!" Winry laughed.

"Pfft," Edward chuckled. "Not like Nick, anyway, that kid doesn't sleep!"

"Oh, he just can't get enough of his daddy," Winry teased and smiled brightly when Edward reached over to embrace her. "It'll also be weird not having anyone over all day!"

"It'll be a relief," Edward snorted. "I could use some quiet time."

Winry scooted closer to him and closed her eyes, agreeing with him. Nicolas was in his crib, taking a nap, it was only the two of them and the rushing city noises that came from the cracked-open window. It was a pleasant grace period. Winry had just been falling asleep herself when suddenly a knock was heard.

"Who could that be?" Ed frowned and stood up to answer the door.

Winry stifled a yawn and blearily watched Edward open the door and subsequently slam it closed. She blinked, "Who was it, Ed?"

"No one important," he replied crisply.

"FULL METAL!" A rough pounding came afterward. From the bedroom, she heard Nick rouse and she hoped he wouldn't start crying. "Open the damn door! I want to see your short son!"

"HE'S NOT SHORT! SAY THAT AGAIN AND I'LL BREAK YOUR THUMBS!"

"Sir, shut up," Riza's clearly exasperated voice came from behind the door, muffled.

"Riza?" Winry gasped. "Then that must be Brigadier Mustang! Ed, why did you shut the door on them? You idiot!" She smacked him and opened the door for them, surprised when she found Havoc and Fuery right behind the two bearing wide grins.

"Ah, hello Mrs. Elric," Roy winked and Winry pinked but beamed back. Riza smiled in greeting.

"Hey, Winry!" Havoc greeted jubilantly. "How's it going?"

"Hello, Winry, I hope you don't mind us dropping by like this! But when we heard you were coming over to live with Ed, we couldn't help ourselves!" Fuery laughed, sheepishly.

"I'm not living here permanently," Winry laughed. "I'm just here for the rest of my maternity leave! I have a house in Resembool!"

"Well, for the time being," Roy smoothly cut in, taking out a bottle of champagne from inside his coat. Riza narrowed her eyes at her superior but he merely shot her a shining smirk. "This calls for a housewarming celebration!"

"Dammit, Mustang, is this all you came here for? To get wasted?" Ed growled, peeking from over Winry's shoulder. "We have a kid, for your information!"

"That, too! I want to see this new pipsqueak!"

"My foot – get out! Hawkeye, Havoc, Fuery, you guys can come in!"

"Now don't be stingy, Full Metal, remember who signs your paychecks!"

"Not you!"

"Ed, stop being such an ass! You can come in, too, Brigadier Mustang!" Winry smiled pleasantly at him and ignored Ed when he gave her a surly look. She shut the door behind them and turned to find them all settled comfortably in her living room already – Riza snatching away Roy's bottle, ignoring his whining, and Fuery and Havoc eagerly awaiting the arrival of tiny Nick as Ed walked inside the bedroom to get him. Although this was not the type of guests she had anticipated, they were guests none the less, and she felt she could call this place home now as she went to tend to her guests.