Title: Surprise
Characters: Edward, Winry,Alphonse, Lust and Pinako
Genre: Slice of Reality/Angst/Hurt and Comfort
Type: AU or AR
Words: 3,821 (without AN or Intro)
Surprise:
(verb) to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness
(verb) to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly
(verb) to elicit or bring out suddenly and without warning
"Are you even listening to me?" Her tone was stained with exasperation, her voice raising and lowering in volume as she stressed the syllables. Orbs of aquamarine gazed directly at her grandmother; shadows of a hollow darkness invaded theirs depths.
"Of course I am. I always listen to what you say." Her grandmother responded to her quickly, her wrinkled eyes furrowed at the corners as she struggled to knot the yarn in her frail hands. "And honestly all I am hearing is nonsensical squawking."
Taken back by the insult, her face distorted with speechlessness and her tongue became lame. After a brief silence, she spoke again. "It isn't 'nonsensical squawking'. This is important to me."
At this reply, her grandmother did a full rotation of her irises, a scoff escaping from her thinned lips. Winery's mouth formed into a frown for she remembered she was the one to teach that move to her grandmother unbeknownst to her. "It's been three years and he still hasn't asked me. At this point, he either wants to marry me or not."
"And I am telling you you're rushing it. When he wants to get married, he will be dressed nice, get on his knee with a pretty little diamond ring and ask you to marry him." Satisfaction illuminated her aged face as she set down her knitting, and lifted herself to her uncharacteristically steady feet where she began to shuffle toward the kitchen.
With her grated and frayed nerves, Winery followed her grandmother to the kitchen with the agenda to continue the argument. "Let me reiterate that. It's been three years grandmother. Read my lips. Three. Years. If he doesn't want to marry me now then why would he be any more prepared five more years down the road?"
Her grandmother glared at her, cerulean orbs narrowed into slits, her lips tightened into a firm line, fury dancing darkly in the crevices of her irises. The glare was useless and did not in the least affect the state of her disarrayed mind. An inaudible sigh escaped her grandmother's lips and silently she spun her attention to the refrigerator.
"Would you listen to yourself? You are acting as if it has been two decades not three years. Look at Prince William and Kate Middleton. It took him eight years just to propose to her. They have five more years on you." Winery heard the shuffling of milk as her grandmother rearranged the first wire rack in the small fridge.
"And that has nothing to do with the fact that he is the prince of England and she will become royalty if she marries him." Her grandmother scoffed again, pausing in her search before she once more began to prod around for her desired object.
"Patience is a virtue for reason, my granddaughter. You should know better than any of us that men are not wired the same as us women. For a woman, once she falls in love and assures herself of his loyalty, it is only natural for her to conclude to the final step." Winery remained silent against the kitchen entrance and absorbed in her grandmother's words.
"But for men it's different. Marriage is an eternal commitment and sometimes a rope in which binds them. And when they are like your boyfriend who has been through the repercussions a painful divorce, marriage is a difficult step to take. So be patient. When he decides it's the right time, he will propose and it will be that much more special because it would mean he had decided to marry you and not just because you wanted it."
It was silent for a few moments, the time in which Winery used to register her grandmother' short little speech. Her grandmother, not known to her, softly gazed at her with a small smile lighting her face.
"Stop worrying about the future and help me make dinner." Her grandmother intervened, shattering the silence and the processing of her thoughts. After reestablishing her bearings, Winery fell into place by her grandmother, her true home. When she was younger this was the place she remembered most and when she was older it became a book of wisdom she read but couldn't understand. It was the shadow she chased and the heart she desired. It was her home.
X-x-X
"You're grandmother is old fashioned." Winery glared at her naturally bronzed tanned friend, disbelief tightening the corner of her eyes.
"She's seventy year old." Winery replied bluntly; the smallest hint of mental exhaustion lacing her tone.
A scoff escaped Lust's lips as they followed the normal motions of placing down their coffees and small lunches on a rounded table and settling themselves in the cushioned metal chairs.
"I've met eighty year old women more modernized than your grandmother." Winery paused in her chewing of her salad as the grimace shifted the features of her face.
"She just lost her husband." Winery defended her, stabbing a piece dressing lathered lettuce before placing it in her mouth.
"That was a decade ago!" Lust's voice rose sharply, attracting the attention of many other lunch goers. Her eyes narrowed in response in which scared away the onlookers, before she once more turned her attention to her best friend, her voice suppressed into a quiet whisper.
"I love your grandmother, you know that, but sometimes I believe the woman doesn't know what century it is! Men in this age are just not willing to get married and the rising divorce rates all over the country are not helping in the least. They need to be persuaded or at least assured that marriage is not as bad as they believe to be." During her little speech, Lust leaned into the table; an attempt to confined their conversation just to themselves. After her rant was completed, she fell to complete silence, her back rested against the metal back of the chair.
"And how do you suppose I go about persuading my boyfriend to marry me?" Winery inquired, her interest flaring dangerously.
"You see I would tell you but I don't think you entirely believe me."
Winery glowered at her friend, a look that clearly did not need interpretation much less a spoken response.
"Do I need to remind you that because of your persuasion skills, you lead your fiancé's younger brother to end up feeling forced to get you drunk at some bar and have you commit adultery before you even walked down the aisle?" Lust's face shaded with anger, her lips pursing unattractively.
"So I don't lead the ideal example, scold me. However there are many women in this country who have convinced their husbands to get married and they have been married for decades." Winery tried to grimace, attempted to twist her face into a gruesome snarl however a smile invaded her lips, twisting the corners, laughter spilled delightfully from her lips.
"Why is it you always know how to make me laugh?" It came out as a soft squeak, her giggles gaining in volume. Lust just shrugged her shoulders idly.
"I am just an entertaining person." Winery nodded her head in agreement, calming her pants to smooth breaths.
As Lust was about to open her lips and speak once more, a familiar blonde passed by the two women's small café table; thoroughly, catching the attention of the two conversing women. Plastering a smile on her face, Lust called out for the blonde.
"Riza!" The woman turned toward the table instantly, indifferent amber eyes calculated the situation. Winery and Lust knew better to be unnerved by the searching stare and continued to encouragingly wave her over.
She listened to their beckoning and came to a halt at the edge of their table. Lust, with a mischievous gleam in her eye and a curling smile, patted the blond comfortably on the shoulder.
"Do you think our dear Winery should wait for Ed to propose for her or should our dear friend take matters in her own hands and convince him to marry her?" Riza gave Winery a sympathetic glance, understanding spiraling in the depths of her amber irises.
"Honey, you need a lot of help." Then she promptly turned around and walked away.
Winery shifted her focus back onto Lust. "How did your method go again?" A grin threatened to split Lust's face in half.
X-x-X
Nurses waved at her as she traveled silently down the hallways, the occasional doctor nodding before they rushed to their next emergency. Ashen faces rolled past her on portable beds, the perfume of flowers barely masking the smell of death, urine and blood.
She turned the corner, journeyed down another long hallway before she came face to face with the door she was searching. She briefly glanced at the gilded plaque engraved with the words Dr. Edward Elric; a small involuntary smile winding its way across her face.
Collecting a deep breath of air, she opened the door, a series of rusted creaks echoed soundly around the room. In front of her stood a quaintly decorated room, a huge oak desk the center of attention settled in front two closed windows. Sunlight seeped through the open blinds, splashing a crown of golden hair, the body of her husband bent over the desk. His glasses were on and he was studying a manila folder with engrossed interest.
"I am just reviewing my patients for tomorrow. I will be ready in a minute." Winery leaned against the door, a conditioned response. Her husband was planner, one who felt safety in preparation for the worst. It was one of the attributes that made him a good doctor but sometimes it was the reason she didn't see him till late at night.
"Who do you have tomorrow?" She inquired to her husband.
"Mrs. Kennedy. Poor woman, her lungs are not expanding properly and I am worried she is going to develop pneumonia." He didn't raise his head to answer, his eyes scanning the page before closing the envelope.
"Is she still taking those antibiotics you prescribed her?" Winery watched as he stood from his chair, his arm stretched to the coat rack where he grabbed his worn coat before he slipped it on.
"Yes and I am afraid to give her any more medicine. Who knows how much her immune system can take before it comes to a crash."
He pushed his chair, his eyes rising to hers. "But enough of this work talk, don't we have reservations."
A small smile curled Winery's lips. "I thought you would have forgotten by know."
A deep chuckle escaped his mouth. "Do you think that little of me?"
Her eyebrows rose in disbelief at the question. "Honey you forgot our dog's name."
He struggled to keep his façade of indifference. "And what difference does that make?"
"You're the one who named him."
X-x-X
"The nurses missed you today. They wouldn't stop howling "where's that beautiful girlfriend of yours?"." Edward's face twisted into a grimace, his voice rose to a high octave as he mimicked their nurses.
"They still ask even though I've been doing this for years?" Winery questioned, stifling a giggle.
Her boyfriend sent her a glare. "Apparently without you I am an "agitated workaholic idiot who likes to ruin everyone's happiness"." Winery considered the notion for a moment.
"That sounds just about right." Ed scowled deeply, turning away from Winery as he made the choice not to respond. After that they remained silent for a while, a peaceful quietness as they strolled through the park, both admiring the scenery.
"Winery there is something I have to tell you." Ed stated, shattering the peace of the silence. He surprised Winery, her mind not full digesting his words at first.
"And what would that be?" Anticipation bubbled in her blood, the excitement glowing in the depths of her aquamarine orbs. Ed grimaced, turning away before coming to a still, clutching Winery's hand in his.
"Al has lung cancer." Cracks of despair tore at her heat, the agonizing pain twisting the features of her face. She wavered on her feet, her complexion paled, her eyes widened in understanding. Unaware of what to do, Ed stepped closer to her.
"Look I know you had plans, marriage, children-" Winery paused his lips with a finger, aquamarine orbs in sharp clarity.
"What stage is he?" She questioned, tears threatened to fall from her eyelashes. It was a pained look, one with hollowed shadows, a look in which made him fear the worst.
"Stage three." Her chest heaved as she inhaled a sharp intake of air.
"As I was about to say-"Ed continued but was once more interrupted by his girlfriend with her piercing aquamarine orbs.
"Then why are we still here?"
X-x-X
A cough slipped from his throat, scratching against the irritated lining, his breaths taking a sharp intake. "What are you two doing here? Don't you have dinner reservations?"
"We just finished eating." Winery answered as she strode toward the visitors chair and placed her pursue on the poorly cushioned seat.
Noting his brother's girlfriend's behavior, Al turned his attention to his older brother. "Did you ask her?" His face was marred with disappointment as his brother shook his head no in response.
"I couldn't." Al glowered at his elder sibling. Ed turned away from his gaze so instead Al refocused his attention on his should to be sister-in-law.
"Obviously he told you about my condition." Winery's gaze was all the conformation he needed. "Why did you want to see me?"
For a period she was silent, seeming to contemplate the question. Slowly she gaited toward him with grace, leaning close to the side of his bed, her mouth next to his ear and her hand entangled with his.
"I am not getting married to your brother if you're not the best man."
X-x-X
6 months later…
"How's the treatment going?" Winery asked. She was seated at a small table in the cafeteria, the nurse settling beside her in the adjacent seat. Aquamarine orbs gazed around the room, a cold indifference masking her pain as she saw the suffering family members of patients crying over their situation.
"Surprisingly well. We killed a surprising number of cancer cells and there is no sign of spreading." Winery nodded her head, taking in the information with relief.
"Answer truthfully, how is he doing?" Winery shifted her focus on the nurse, her hands gripping her jeans tightly.
"Better than most. He is truly fighting the disease unlike other patients." A small smile curled Winery's lips.
"He's always been a fighter." It was a thought that was to remain in her head, however it was accidently slipped from her tongue.
The nurse chuckled to herself. "Isn't that the truth?" Bursting through the entrance doors another nurse assigned to Al's case entered the large room. She shuffled to their table and paused at the edge.
"They are…fighting again." She stated as she tried to gulp refill her depleted lungs with oxygen.
Winery realizing she was needed lifted her form out of the chair. Completely forgetting the existence of her paid lunch, she followed the stressed nurse to where she belonged. By her boyfriend's and his brother's sides.
X-x-X
1 year later…
"You're in remission." Relief flooded each of their souls. It was over. It was finally over.
Alphonse glanced at the faces of his brother and future sister-in-law and for once in a long time truly smiled.
X-x-X
"Where are you taking me Al?" Winery inquired with her arm hooked underneath Al's. They were strolling in the local park, admiring the view of the quiet trees and whispering leaves. However, somewhere in the long stretch of silence, Al's calm demeanor became shaky and feverish. And in that deliriousness he led them off the main road and through a roughish beaten path through the forest.
"It's a secret." He answered as his eyes flickered in their sockets, scrutinizing the path and the trees surrounding them. "Alright turn here."
Winery followed his directions, guiding him in the direction he had commanded. For at least ten minutes they struggled to escape the grips of long branches before reaching an opening. In the waning moonlight, a large hill jutted out from the horizon line, on its crest stood an elegant villa. Built from white marble, the villa stretched across the entire crest, its dome gleaming under the weak rays of the moon.
Speechless, Al lead Winery down the slippery slope and toward the magnificent building. It was a good hike before the entrance came into distance, grassy hills forming into paid sidewalks. At the large painted ornamental doors, they were greeted by a waiter, each panting from their steep walk.
They were quickly hustled by waiters down barren hallways, completely unable to gaze at the paintings that lined the walls. At a set of two large doors, they were separated by two more waiters, each holding a strange bundle.
For Winery, her bundle consisted of a ballroom dress in what was surprisingly her size, a gorgeous mask that complemented the dress and high heeled shoes. The dress was sewn from silk, the identical hue of her irises. It was strapless with a corset type bodice, flaring out at the waist into a pleated skirt. The mask was painted the same shade of her dress, at the edges dusted with gold glitter and swirls. White heels adorned her small feet, nail like heels raising her to a towering four inches higher.
Awkwardly, she wobbled in her heels to a vast ballroom. Windows
were draped with fine silk curtains; the marble floors reflecting the crescent moons of candle light. Tables created rows at the sides, each adorned with a white lace table cloth and a bouquet of red roses. Musicians stood on a platform, the classic sound of the violin dancing softly across the air, the notes singing in her ears.
The ballroom was crowded with swirling couples dancing in colorful colors on the dance floor. She tried seeing if she could recognize any familiar faces but the masks did well to hide their features.
From the side of her, Al entered the room, instantly catching her eyes. He was dressed in black velvet suit with the collar, lapels and cuffs sewn from charcoal silk. Pointed shoes, which would have been popular in the 1920's, adorned his feet. His unruly cinnamon tresses were slicked, the stubble of his beard cleanly shaved and even his eyebrows were plucked.
"How do I look?" Al questioned, spinning on his toes to give her the full view of his outfit.
"Not bad. Who knew you could clean up so well?" Winery commented.
Al, immune to her teasing, smiled calmly and replied with an air of easiness.
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." Winery thanked him, finding his indifference uninteresting, turned her attention once more to the dancing crowd.
"This is a beautiful place. How did you find it?" Winery questioned as her eyes wandered to the floor of dancers.
"I had to research it for a paper." Al casually responded, tucking his hands into his pocket.
"What was your opinion of it?" Winery inquired, tilting her head in his direction and gazing at him in curiosity.
"I feel the current designer's strayed too far from the original purpose of Palladio's. It wasn't meant to be a social gathering where petty people showcase their wealth but rather a simple home to collect your thoughts."
As she was to answer, the crowd parted like the red sea, dresses rippling as they would in a pond. The dancing crowd was like a two rows of restless waves, hovering in place. From the center walked Ed, dressed similarly to her future brother-in-law. He strutted uncomfortably between the crowds, traveling the distance to halt in front of her form.
Charmingly, he bowed his head and placed out his hand. "Would you like to dance, my lovely?" Winery giggled into her hand.
"So you do have manners. I was starting to wonder if you had them or not." With his temper short, he took her hand sharply and dragged her to the center of the dance floor.
It was awkward at first for them; Ed couldn't remember the dancing form, and this was Winery's first time formally dancing. After a few of minutes of struggle, they settled into each other's arms and began to sway back and forth.
They were a truly remarkable pair. Each step matched each others; every twirl executed perfectly and their rotations in harmony with the surrounding crowd. Around them was a quiet elegance, a beauty in which seldom appreciated.
When the music slowed, they came to a halt, their breaths fanning the other's cheeks. Slowly, Ed leaned in further, gripping Winery tighter while placing his lips next to her ears.
"I met a woman." He quietly whispered as they began to dance to the rising music.
"Mmmhmm. Should I be jealous?" Winery teased, nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck.
"Maybe. She is very beautiful?" Winery's smirk widened.
"What does she look like?" Ed took a deep breath, contemplating his answer.
"Well she has these beautiful platinum locks and these amazing eyes the exact shade of blue topaz." His lips traced the cell of her ears, nipping at her earlobe. "Not to mention her rocking body."
Winery giggled. "She sounds pretty." Ed kissed the crook of her neck.
"She's beautiful." They twirled around in a circle, barricading their form behind an exuberant couple.
"I was thinking about asking her to marry me?" His forehead rested against her, giving her the perfect angle to peer into his golden orbs.
"Why haven't you asked her yet?" Winery questioned, tilting her head so their lips were almost brushing each other.
"She might reject me." Ed whispered, his breath heating her soft pink lips to the hue of strawberry. "She is perfect and I don't think I am enough for her."
Winery grinned, her eyes reflecting the lights of the diamond chandelier. "I know she would say yes."
"And why would you think that?" Ed questioned as he turned her in a circle.
"Because she would be stupid otherwise." Winery touched her lips with his, a sweet chaste kiss shared as they slipped into their little world.
They parted from their lungs cry for air, Winery's cheeks flushed rouge. "Should I get down on my knee?" Ed asked as he rediscovered the need for his lungs.
"No. I quiet like you up here. Besides, you can show that pretty little ring in your pocket when I make you beg to marry me tonight." And Ed couldn't help but looked forward to what his mischievous little devil had in store for him.
Author's Notes: I hate this drabble so much. As you can see it was a beast to write and not only that but it proved my belief that I can't write a set of good dialogue without it being awkward. Well there is my main complaints. So I told you guys I would give you a happy drabble. This was it. Yeah I know what you are thinking: how in the world is this happy?. This drabble has taught me many things I need to improve on but also that I am very much an angst writer. As my friend so kindly pointed out to me, I always have Al sick or dying. Not because I hate him or anything. So please stop listening to my completely biases remarks and tell me what you think.
P.S These are just a few notes. Winery's grandmother is referring to the divorce of Ed's parents.