A/N: Updates may be sporadic for a bit. Work 'sploded, and I'm going to be pulling some long hours for the foreseeable future... at least FFN appears to be cooperating now.

This is kind of a follow-up to "this time once again."

85. Parents

Truth apparently decided that Ed had suffered enough (or heard his threats of ripping down the whole gate with his bare hands; either way suited Ed), because Winry had just started her third trimester. She could hardly see her feet, her back had a constant ache, and she had a craving for pickle-flavored ice cream, but Ed had never been happier. Even her mood swings were welcome as far as he was concerned.

Ed only started to worry a little when Winry had been somewhat reserved and slightly blue for three days straight. He really started to worry when she spent the whole day without looking wistfully at her tools. He tried to ask her what was wrong at least five times, but she just snapped at him. Ed stopped asking, but didn't stray far from her for the rest of the day.

Finally, after a silent dinner and a very frosty evening, Winry finally snapped as they were going to bed.

"What if we're just like our parents, Ed?"

Slightly startled by the outburst, Ed paused in pulling back the covers. "Huh?" he asked.

Winry slumped against the headboard and cradled her stomach. "My parents were killed. Your dad disappeared. Your mom got sick. They all left us alone in the world. What if the same things happen? There's no Granny to take this one in! What'll happen if we-"

Ed cut her off by pulling her into his chest, where she allowed a few tears to leak out. "First off, there's no Granny, but there'll be Uncle Al," he said with a smile.

Winry pulled back and glared at him.

Ed let out a chuckle. "Winry, we're not going to die. I'm not leaving, you're staying healthy, and if you go wandering into anymore battlefields, you'll have a state alchemist in tow. We'll be fine."

"But you don't know I won't get sick-"

"Oh yes I do," said Ed, his eyes narrowing as he thought of his mother pining for her husband. He also pictured what he would do if Truth decided to develop an even bigger sense of irony. "We're tougher than they were, and we're gonna be here for this one-" he caressed her stomach "-and you're gonna be the best mother in the world."

Ed finished with a gentle kiss on her forehead. Finally, Winry smiled. "When did you suddenly get so optimistic?" she teased.