YAY 20 CHAPTERS I'M SO EXCITED! THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT I LOVE ALL OF YOU! Honestly, this means a lot to me… This is my first ever published fic and you guys all love it and give me praise… it makes me happy and boosts my confidence to what I'm sure is an unhealthy level (Not really… you can never have too much confidence) I never thought it'd get this far and I guess I just wanted to say thank you! Now, enjoy this chapter and please leave me your thoughts!
One more thing— I am publishing this at 2 am… I've edited this like one… two… I don't know how many times so I apologize for any mistakes… I hate it when I go back and re-read my chapters, only to find major fuck ups…
OKAY! I'm done rambling, enjoy!
NSFW this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA or any affiliated characters.
Oliver and Louis belong to me tho…
Chapter 20
Ed held Grey in his arms, rocking him gently. He yawned tiredly, it was nearly impossible for this one to go to sleep.
Roy appeared in the doorway of their newest room-turned-nursery, "How's it going?"
Ed shot him a glare as Grey turned his head at the sound of his father's voice. An excited wispy gurgle escaped his lips. The little baby's mother sighed in discontent. "Not well now that you're here…"
"Oh. Don't be cross… he just wants his daddy!"
Ed stood up, clutching Greyson close to his chest. Roy moved, now standing beside him peering at their miniature son. He smoothed over Greyson's blonde hair. His bright golden orbs twinkled at him. Greyson's arms stretched up towards Roy.
A smile stuck on Roy's face. He kissed each of Grey's hands and gently tugged him from his mother's grasp. "I'll put him to bed… you go have some free time."
"Okay…" Ed gently ran his fingers over the soft blonde fuzz covering his son's head. He leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. Ed smiled, he looked up, only to meet Roy's gaze. "What? Why are you staring?"
Roy chuckled and shook his head. He leaned in and placed a kiss on Ed's temple. "Will you wait up for me?"
"Who knows how long that's gonna be…" Ed said with a tired sigh.
"Not long…" Roy said, sitting down in the rocking chair Ed had previously inhabited. Ed headed downstairs and plopped down on the couch comfortably. He tossed his head back and rubbed his face. He heard the small jingle of a collar and a familiar pressure on the couch beside him.
Ed uncovered his face and patted Calces' head, "Hey Cal… how you doin' girl?" She inched closer to him wagging her tail excitedly. Her paws rested on his lap and Ed stroked her fur contently. She was a pretty dog, her fur was a cream white, looking nothing like Riza's dog, so she must've inherited her traits from her mother.
Calces panted beside him, letting her master shower her with attention. Eventually, Ed was unable to stay awake any longer, it must've been around ten. Getting Milo to go to bed had been a battle in itself and staying up with Grey, had really taken his last bit of energy.
Roy descended the stairs, seeing Ed sleeping, slouched over on Calces. He smiled and shook his head. As he approached Calces lifted her head curiously before settling back down comfortably nestling into Ed. Roy picked up his small husband and carried him upstairs to their bedroom, Ed didn't even stir once.
Calces followed behind, her collar jingling softly. Roy set Ed down in their bed and he rolled over tiredly. Calces jumped up and laid down on the foot of the bed. Roy pulled the covers over his sleeping husband's shoulders before walking around to the other side of the bed and crawling in. He switched on his bedside lamp and opened one of the numerous sign language books they had bought, picking up where he had left off.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When Roy awoke the next morning, he could hear excited giggling and Ed's stern voice scolding their oldest son. He groggily rolled out of bed, rubbing his eyes and heading downstairs.
"Milo, take this seriously… you need to learn…" Ed said holding open a book. Greyson rested in his lap, gazing up at his mother thoughtfully. The girls sat patting Calces giving her kisses and clambering on and over her.
"I knoooo!" Milo hooted.
"Try that again…"
Milo held up his hand, his fingers together.
"Hello." Ed said.
Milo put his hand up against his chest patting gently
"My name…" Ed said
Milo held one hand down cupped, and dug at his open palm with the other, signing for cookies.
"Your name isn't cookies Milo."
"Mommy I wan a cookie!"
"No. You haven't even had breakfast yet…"
Roy descended the stairs. He scooped up Oliver and Louisa in his arms, giving their beloved puppy dog a break from all the… enthusiastic… attention.
"Roy will you show him how to sign his name again?" Ed asked. He cradled Greyson, getting to his feet and carrying the tiny baby into the kitchen no doubt to get him breakfast.
He set the girls down and held up his hand in a small wave motion, doing the same signs Milo had just done. He put his hand to his chest. He lifted his hand placing his thumbnail against his forehead, his fingers spread out, signing "daddy".
"But your name isn't daddy… you have to sign "Milo"."
"Is hard daddy!" Milo whined.
"I know it is baby." Roy nodded, "But don't you want to be able to understand your brother when he starts signing?"
"He's not!"
"Not yet… but soon, he'll be able to sign a little, bit by bit…"
Milo huffed, "Daddy…"
"Mmm?" Roy asked, picking up his daughters once again. Ollie tugged on his hair and ears, Lulu placed wet kisses on his cheek, giggling furiously.
"I'm hungey!"
"Well go sit at the table, I'll get you and your sisters something." Milo skipped excitedly to the table and sat down.
Roy put the girls in their highchairs, giving each of them a kiss. Claces sat at the foot of the table, beside Ed who was feeding Greyson. "Cal go lay down." The dog did as she was told and wandered off to the living room, no doubt towards her bed.
"You've got her trained well… and you said you didn't want anything to do with her…" Roy chuckled, placing a kiss on Ed's lips.
"Mm… Well she took a liking to me… and she needed training…"
Roy pulled out some strawberries, chopping them into smaller pieces for the kids.
"Ooh! Seedberries!" Milo said, kicking his legs impatiently.
"Strawberries, Milo…" Ed corrected
"Seedberries, dey have cute li'l baby seeds on the ou'side!"
Ed chuckled and refocused his attention on little baby Grey whose arms flailed wildly. Ed pulled the bottle away and lifted his head onto his shoulder, he patted him on the back, trying to get him to burp.
"What else should I give them Ed?" Roy asked unsurely.
"Um… I don't know… cereal?"
"How do cheerios sound?" Roy asked, wanting verification before getting it out for his three children.
"Yeah!" Milo nodded, "And milk daddy! Milk ina bowl!"
"Milk for Milo…" Roy said opening the fridge and pulling out a carton. The phone started to ring.
"Can you get that?" Ed asked, still patting Greyson's back. He was getting fussy and uncomfortable.
Roy pulled the phone to his ear, "Mustang reside- Al?" Roy turned to look at Ed who stared back intently, knowing now his brother was on the other end. "Oh… he's… indisposed with Grey right now… Really?! Roy asked excitedly, congratulations! Of course. I'll call you back…" He hung up the phone.
"You two have become rather close… sound like a gossiping old woman."
"He's your brother… that makes him mine too… would you prefer I be a stranger to them?"
Ed shook his head, "So what happened?"
"Win had the baby!"
"Really?! Oh that's great!"
"It's a girl… they're naming her Elaine…"
"Elaine and Trisha… how beautiful…"
"Elaine, after you Ed…"
Ed blushed, "Really? That's so sweet."
"He was wondering when we could come and visit… So I told him I'd call him back…"
"Oh." Greyson fussed in his arms, chortled wispy cries escaped his throat. "Shh." Ed kissed his cheek and gently patted his back, trying desperately to get him to burp.
"When would you like to go?" Roy asked.
"Sometime before you're off leave." Greyson started to fuss again and choked sobs sounded the room. "Poor baby…" Ed said.
Roy continued to get the kids' breakfast ready, pouring cheerios into bowls and strawberries in another. He set the bowls down in front of the girls. They were about to dig in fist over fist. "Hey, Ollie, Lulu, try using your spoons…"
Ollie reached for her spoon holding it awkwardly in her fist. Lulu completely ignored her father and ate with her fingers.
Roy sighed and placed Milo's bowls in front of him.
"Daddeeeee! I wan milk!"
"Right sorry, I forgot…"
"Stop whining Milo…" Ed scolded, "You sound like an impatient brat…"
"I nah!"
"I know you're not. So stop acting like one, ask your father nicely."
"Daddy, 'an I pease have sum milk?"
"Of course…" He tousled his dark curls and poured milk into his bowl of cereal before finally having a seat at the table.
Greyson was still silently crying, making unusual noises. "Can you take him?" Ed asked, sliding their son into Roy's arms. "He's got gas that's why he's so fussy…"
Roy took Grey into his arms, resting the baby's head against his shoulder and patting his back. The chortled cries continued.
"Mommy, did Aunnie Win, have a baby?"
"Yes, she had another little girl named Elaine…"
"You ha' a baby too!"
Ed smiled and nodded, "Yes we both had babies around the same time…"
Milo looked fascinated, "I wan see Trish and Eee-ain!"
"Yeah?" Roy asked, still patting Grey's back, there were choked sobs and then silence. Roy stood up, "He just threw up on me…"
Ed started to laugh. Grey's crying had subsided and Roy held him out to Ed. Ed took their son in his arms, grabbing a towel and wiping his mouth off. "I bet you feel better, huh Grey?" The little baby stared contently up at his mother.
"I'm gonna go change…" Roy said standing up, and pulling off his shirt, trying to avoid getting any vomit on his skin.
Ed stared at his bare chest, completely zoned out.
Roy smirked and chuckled to himself, "Hey Ed…?" Ed's gaze didn't break, he was practically drooling. "Ed…" Roy purred.
Ed's eyes darted up to Roy's face.
"You doin' alright?"
"Mm. Yeah." Ed mumbled, looking down at their infant son in his arms.
Milo giggled, "Mommy wans a kiss from daddy… and Mommy wans Daddy to give him anuder baby!"
"No." Ed spat, "No more kids… for a while at least."
"That's something I can agree with…" Roy bundled up his shirt.
"Wait… Really?"
Roy nodded, "Anymore for the time being we'd be over our heads in children…"
"We're already in over our heads…"
"Agreed, but this is manageable…" Roy said motioning to their heard of kids.
Ed started to laugh, "Barely…"
"I'm going to go change, and then we'll talk about when we want to go."
"Today."
"We'll talk." Roy said leaving upstairs to their bedroom.
Ed sighed sitting with the kids. He stroked Greyson's blonde hair.
"Muhma"
"Huh?" Ed asked.
"I wan go to Rersembool to-day"
"Me too sweetie. We have to convince daddy." Milo nodded his head in agreement.
Roy came down the stairs and into the kitchen pulling a shirt over his head. He went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.
"So… can we go today?" Ed asked unsurely
"Well…" Roy looked at the calendar hanging up, "I don't think that's such a good idea…"
"I wanna go today." Ed whined.
"Geez, and you wonder why Milo is so whiny…"
"Daddeeee I wanna go see Aunnie Win and Unca Al an' Tisha!"
"They just had a little baby Milo, I'm not sure if bringing a pack of children to visit is what they want."
"They wouldn't have invited us had they not wanted us there…" Ed countered
"That is true…" Roy hummed thoughtfully.
"I have to get out of this house… I'm going crazy… please Roy…" Ed bit his lip and put on pleading eyes.
Roy stared at him, and glanced at little Grey in his arms. "Ed…"
"Nooo." Ed whimpered, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"You act like a child when you don't get your way…"
"I'm only twenty-one…"
Roy was silent, "I forget that sometimes…"
Ed nodded, "twenty one with four kids…"
"Wow…" Roy said. He sighed and rubbed his face, "I'm sorry…"
"Why?" Ed asked. "Milo wipe your face…" Ed placed a napkin in front of his eldest son, milk dripped down his chin.
"You've had to grow up so fast so young."
Ed sputtered with laughter.
"What? Why are you laughing?"
"Are you joking?" Ed asked still chuckling. "I've been grown up since I was like eight…"
"I know… but you've missed out on so much…"
Ed scoffed, "And what were you doing when you were my age? Fucking like a rabbit probably."
Roy blushed, "Well you're not wrong." He grumbled.
Ed nodded, "And that's what I've been doing… obviously… I'm just not… slutty."
"I wasn't slutty…"
Ed gave him a look.
"Okay… maybe a little bit…"
"Do you think I'm discontent with this life?" Ed asked readjusting his hold on Greyson, "Is that why you're asking all these questions…? Because if you're doubting your self-worth or what you bring to the table, don't…"
"Well I just wonder... if this is the life you wanted…"
"Why?"
"Well…" He glanced at Milo, who was stuffing his face with cereal and strawberries one bite after the other.
"It's not like he was exactly planned… and the rest…"
"You always do this…" Ed sighed, "you make yourself feel guilty…"
"But—"
"But nothing. Sure he was an accident, but I'm happy. We're together…" Ed blushed furiously, "That's all I really wanted… and I would've never thought it possible… but Milo brought us together…"
"Me?" Milo asked pointing to his chest, "I bought Mommy and Daddy together?"
Ed nodded, "That's right baby…"
Milo held up his hand in a fist, his thumb sticking out, with his other hand he pointed to it with his thumb and index finger. Then he cradled his arms, swinging them back and forth.
Ed cracked a grin, "That's right… you were the first baby… very good signing Milo."
The little boy smiled at his praise and went back to eating his cereal and strawberries. Lulu and Ollie sat gurgling back and forth to each other. Louisa had strawberry juice plastered to her face. Ollie had a cheerio stuck to her cheek.
"Momma… what's a—suuut?"
Ed was flustered, at a complete loss for words. "What—?"
"You said Daddy was a… a suut…" Milo turned to look at his father, "What is it?"
"It means… Uhh… Roy?" Ed asked, pleading for help.
"It just means I was with other people, people who weren't mommy."
Milo gasped, "You kiss people who 'eren't mommy?!"
Roy nodded, "Yes… but it was when mommy was younger… before we were together…"
"Before me n' Ollie, n' Lulu… n' Grey"
Ed nodded, "that's right… but I was only teasing daddy…"
"Teasing? He nah a suut?"
Roy sighed, "Milo stop saying that word please…"
"Okay daddy… buh, don' kiss anyone buh mommy… oh-kay?"
Ed smiled chuckling to himself.
Roy tousled his son's dark curls, "Of course not baby…"
"Roy… can we please go to Resembool?"
Roy stared at their kids, then back at Ed. "I really don't want to travel with all of them… and Grey is hardly three weeks old…"
Ed sighed and looked down at Grey, who stared up at him, golden orbs wide with fascination. He looked at Roy, "I'll suck you…" Ed said.
"Bribery now? Really?"
"I'm not above it…" Ed said with a smile.
"You want to go to Resembool that badly huh?"
Ed nodded.
"We'll go… you don't own me anything, don't worry about it…"
Ed stood up, clutching tightly to Grey. "Will you help me pack for all the kids?"
"Undoubtedly… but why not do it while they're down for their naps…? We'll leave after…" Roy looked at the train schedule they had pinned to the wall, "We can take the two o'clock train…"
"That's the slow one…" Ed said.
"Well it's that or the late night ones… or we can go tomorrow…"
"No… two is fine…" Ed replied hastily.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roy laid on his back, his legs hanging off the side of the bed. Ed came in carrying a large pile of clothes in his arms. He set them down on bed, beside Roy.
"You just gonna lay there? We need to pack while the kids are asleep…"
"I know..." Roy sighed. He remained unmoving, his eyes shut.
He only opened his eyes when he felt Ed, fumbling with the zipper of his pants. He sat up "Woah! What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna suck you…" Ed replied innocently.
"I thought you said we needed to pack…"
"We do…" Ed agreed, "But… we haven't done it in a while and I want to put your cock in my mouth…"
Roy was getting harder with each word that passed between Ed's lips.
"You're not normally so curt and… dirty…"
Ed shrugged and continued to unzip his pants and undo his button. He gently rubbed the bulge in his husband's pants, kissing through the thin fabric of his underwear.
Roy fell back into the bed, draping his arm across his face, stifling a groan.
Ed pulled his dick from his pants and gently stroked his member a few times, making his already hard dick, even stiffer. Roy shifted uncomfortably as Ed took his cock into his mouth, bobbing his head up and down, making his hard length go further and further down his throat.
Roy grunted and twitched, moving his hips ever so slightly, his eyes were still covered as he focused on the intense pleasure he was feeling. Only did he look when he heard Ed moaning, feeling his lips vibrate against his dick.
He propped himself up on his elbows, so he could assess the situation. Ed was kneeling, his ass sticking out tantalizingly. His pants were lowered, riding on his hips as he fingered himself, groaning and moaning.
Roy came right then and there, no warning. He rarely got to see his husband in such a sexy state, completely overwhelmed by pleasure.
Ed sputtered and pulled his dick out of his mouth. "Nnh." He grunted, "Roy." Ed whimpered. "I want you… I want you to take me right now…"
Ed was pleading, he held onto Roy's thigh with his free hand, pulling himself up towards him in a desperate attempt to get his husband to fuck him.
"You really are deprived aren't you…?" Roy chuckled and pulled Ed's chin up to his own, placing a kiss on his lips.
Ed whimpered, "Just stick your dick in me already…"
"Well. We need a condom first…"
"I don't care." Ed said, rocking his hips back and forth impatiently.
"Well I do… we don't need another kid right now…"
"Mmm." Ed hummed, "This… coming from you… the one always trying to knock me up…"
"You said it yourself… we have too many kids."
Ed shook his head, "I don't care what I said… just fuck me…"
"Ed… you're caught up in the heat of passion right now…"
"N-No… I'm fine…" He huffed, "Think of it like this… we're not trying for a baby… but we're not not trying for a baby… right?"
"I…. guess?" Roy said confused.
"Besides… I just had a baby… it's very unlikely I'll get pregnant again at this point… now— just… give it to me…"
Roy pulled Ed up onto his lap. His hands wrapped around Ed's waist. He wasted no time with foreplay as they were both eager to get to it after weeks without sex.
Roy turned Ed over, straddling him on the bed. He pulled up his legs, placing them over his shoulders.
"Be G-gentle…" Ed gasped between breaths.
Roy nodded while slowly easing his cock inside of his husband. Ed moaned, writhing in pleasure as he felt Roy's hot member pulsing at his entrance.
Roy kissed his neck, stretching Ed's legs, contorting him into a position he could never manage when pregnant. He gently pushed himself further inside Ed, feeling him tighten around his member. Ed squirmed, moving his hips. He whimpered, "more…"
Roy planted a kiss on his lips, silencing his begging husband, "I'm not even all the way inside of you yet…"
Ed blushed, "I-I know th—at… Unless your dick shrunk…"
Roy chuckled and pecked him on the lips, once, twice, and a third time. Ed squirmed, tossing his head to the side. Roy pushed himself in a little deeper, "You okay…?"
Ed nodded, biting his lip. "Move…" Ed writhed on his husband's cock, feeling him throbbing inside of him, he could hardly bear the insatiable heat. He wanted to be pounded, back and forth over and over again.
The bed squeaked beneath them, creaking loudly the head board was gently tapping the wall.
"q-quiet…" Ed said. "Uh… the…. The bed…" he panted.
Roy continued, ignoring his cautious reminder. "Hon… it'll be fine…" Roy said, while continuing to thrust, he lifted Ed's legs higher and Ed's moans got sweeter and sweeter.
"W-wait, Roy… s-stop."
"What?" Roy asked, completely dazed and caught in the throes of passion.
"Shh…" Ed whimpered, he grabbed onto either side of Roy's face, making him come to a stop "Hear that?" There was whimpered sobs. "Who is that?"
Roy buried his head in Ed's neck, sighing. "Can we finish?"
Ed nodded, "Y-Yeah…"
Roy's arms hooked under Ed's knees and pulled up thrusting vigorously. The sobbing continued, seemingly getting louder
"Mm… Hurry…" Ed moaned, reaching the edge of his climax.
Roy sped up even more as he felt himself about to come. "I'm going to pull out…" Roy panted
"No… in—inside… Come inside…"
Roy thrusted a few more times, before shooting his load inside of his small husband, hoping his seemingly strong swimmers wouldn't impregnate him. Ed came with him, going limp as pleasure overtook his body. He was thrumming with satisfaction.
"I'm gonna go check on the kids… see who's awake…" Roy said, propping himself up and pulling out. He buttoned his pants and zipped the zipper. He tugged on his shirt and left the room.
Ed laid still, catching his breath. He took a moment to compose himself. He pulled on his pants and removed his soiled shirt.
Roy returned to their room holding Greyson.
"That was him?" Ed asked in disbelief.
Roy nodded.
"He was so loud…"
"Yeah, he was, like hooting… and sobbing, you know how he does…"
"I just… didn't realize he could be so loud…"
Roy shrugged, "Just because he's mute doesn't mean he can't be loud… when he sobs, he's pretty loud…"
Ed held out his arms, reaching for his baby. Roy rocked the little boy gently back and forth, staring into Grey's focused golden orbs. He kissed the little baby on the forehead, "I love you Grey…" He said. The little baby smiled and blew spit bubbles down his chin. Roy kissed his cheek before handing him off to his mother.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Hurry Ed, we're gonna miss the train!" Roy yelled upstairs, he cradled Grey in his arms.
"Well hold on!" Ed yelled back down. He emerged from the nursery, a diaper bag slung over each shoulder. With this many infants god knows they needed both.
They shoved their luggage in the back seat of the car. Calces ran out, standing beside the car door.
"Oh Cal…" Ed said, rubbing her ears, "I wish we could take you… you could run around to your heart's content… and you'd love Den."
"Ed get in the car we need to get going…" The kids were buckled in the backseat. Roy held Grey in his arms, waiting for Ed to get in the car so he could hold him for the duration of the car ride. Ed stared into his puppy's eyes. She looked at him longingly "Get in Cal…" Ed sat down in his seat, his dog jumped up and sat between his legs.
"You can't bring the dog…"
"I'm going to… who's gonna watch her?"
Roy sighed, he had no leverage at this point, and he just wanted to make it to Resembool in one piece. He knew it was going to be a long trip… for all of them, especially since the kids already had their naps. They'd be up for the whole ride. The girls—being ten months old would need some form of entertainment, and Roy was hoping Calces would be that distraction.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roy toted the bags upstairs. Ed sat holding Oliver and Louisa in his lap while Winry held Grey, cooing to him lovingly. Milo and Trisha played with Calces and Al held little Elaine, who slept peacefully in his arms.
"So we're having family dinner tonight… Louis and Oliver are coming over around six thirty." Winry said
At the sound of her name, Little Ollie's head whipped in the direction of her auntie.
"Not you sweetie," Winry said with a smile, "Your Uncle Oliver…" She said, unsure whether or not her little niece understood her.
Winry plopped down on the couch beside Ed, "So…" She began.
"Yes?"
Win looked at little Greyson in her arms, "He's mute… what does that entail exactly… like does he make noise when he cries…?"
"Mm… sort of… it's kind of raspy… and like choked sobs… pretty much the only sound he makes is his hard breathing."
Winry smiled, "I can't believe he's blonde. He looks like a little angel."
Ed cracked a smile, "he is pretty adorable." Ed said, kissing the top of his daughters' heads. Ollie squirmed trying to get to the floor to play, Ed set her down and she crawled to Calces where her brother and cousin sat playing. Lulu sat contently in her mother's lap transfixed by her baby brother in her Aunt's arms.
"You're kids are all so cute Ed…" Winry whined.
"Like yours aren't?" Ed asked with a chuckle. He bounced Louisa on his knee gently, she giggled as she shook up and down.
"Well of course they are… but y'know… you can go a little crazy at times and suddenly your baby's not so cute…"
"I know what you mean, Win." Roy said, appearing behind them, leaning against the back of the couch. "Maybe we should switch sometime…"
"No! Trisha yelled, I love my mommy and daddy."
Al chuckled, "Trish, Uncle Roy was just joking…"
She blushed profusely and went back to playing. She stooped down beside Oliver and talked to her, patting her head affectionately.
Roy stared at Grey in Winry's arms. He looked at Lulu in Ed's lap. He tousled her hair affectionately, "I just can't believe this one's got blonde hair and golden eyes…" Roy said gazing at his children.
"He still looks like you…" Ed said.
Roy nodded, "I think more so than the others…"
Winry smiled and cooed to the baby. He cracked a grin at her. She looked at the other children, "I love having you all here… we're just one giant family…"
"It's a bit chaotic…" Roy said.
She shrugged, "That's to be expected when you have children, no matter how many… and obviously the more the merrier!"
Milo skipped over to where his auntie sat. He crawled up her lap sitting between his mother and aunt. He peered at his brother in her arms. "Aunnie, I sign!"
"You sign? Like your name?" He nodded, "Okay let's see it!"
Milo held up his hand, doing the sign for hello. Then he held up his hand doing the sign for 'a' he held his fist beside his head and shook it back and forth gently.
"That's very good Milo." Roy tousled his hair.
"What?" Winry asked confused.
"He signed 'hello auntie'" Ed said.
"Oh oh oh! You mean sign language… I thought he meant like writing! That's so good Milo!" He smiled. And hopped off the couch.
"You're teaching them to sign?"
"Of course." Ed replied, "Or else they wouldn't be able to understand Grey… when he starts to sign…"
Winry cooed, "Oh that's so cute! I s'pose we should learn some too Al." Winry said turning around.
"huh? Oh… yeah… that'd be good…"
Roy straightened up and stood beside Al. He looked at little Elaine, asleep in his arms. "she's a cutie…"
Al nodded, "She looks like Winry."
Winry groaned on the couch, "Ugh. Stop lying… Trish and Elaine both look like you."
Ed chuckled, "I feel your pain Winry…"
"It's like our genetics don't even matter."
Ed stroked Louisa's hair, combing it back with his fingers. She chewed on her fist turning her head to look at her mother. Ed smiled and kissed her on the cheek. She giggled excitedly.
Roy and Al talked quietly to each other while Ed and Winry sat in silence, watching the kids. Milo crawled on top of Calces, laying across her back. Trisha giggled as she stroked the puppy's head affectionately. Oliver was entertained trying to pounce on the dog's wagging tail.
"So… I wanted you to cut Milo's hair…" Ed said.
"Really?!" Winry asked excitedly.
"Yeah…" Ed almost cringed, "It's getting really long… he doesn't really like wearing it up…"
"Oh my gosh! I've been waiting to hear those words out of your mouth!" Winry got up still holding Grey. "Roy can you hold—" She paused seeing him holding her baby daughter. "Al will you hold Greyson? I have a haircut to give!"
"You don't need to do it right now…" Ed said
"It's happening now!" She said rushing into the kitchen, "Milo honey c'mere."
Milo crawled off Cal and ran to the kitchen. "Can you sit down in this chair for me?" Milo did as he was asked and scrambled onto the chair. "Okay… I'm gonna be cutting your hair, so it might tickle a little bit… but don't squirm okay?"
Milo nodded, his mop of curls bouncing.
Winry pulled out a pair of scissors and Ed fully grasped what was about to happen. "Wait! Wait!" He yelled. He set Lulu down on the floor and she crawled towards her sister and cousin. Ed nearly sprinted to the kitchen. "Not too short… not too short…"
Winry sighed and rolled her eyes, "I know…"
"Just… just a trim so he can see… so his bangs aren't in his face."
Winry tugged gently on one of Milo's ringlets.
"Mommy I get hair cuuut!" He said, kicking his legs excitedly.
Ed nodded, "I know… but don't move okay…" Ed said holding Milo's thigh so his legs were still.
Roy stood by the dining table, Al beside him, they both watched from a distance, holding their newborn children in their youngest children in their arms. Winry grabbed the scissors. Ed groaned.
"Relax Ed… it's just a little hair."
"It's his perfect curls…" Ed whimpered. She lifted the scissors, holding out a strand of hair, "I think I'm gonna cry…"
"You ready?" Winry asked.
Ed shook his head, "No wait… don't." He said.
"Ed…" Winry sighed, "His hair is out of control.
"Mm. I don't want you to cut it…"
"Honey, don't watch." Roy said
"Mm…" Ed groaned
"C'mere…" Roy beckoned him over.
Ed very hesitantly made his way over to his husband. Roy adjusted his hold on Greyson, cradling him in one arm. Hewrapped his arms around Ed, pulling him close, Ed's hands covered his face and he pressed his body into Roy's, hiding his face in his chest. Roy stroked his hair, "Go ahead Winry…"
There was the sound of snipping and Roy gasped loudly.
Ed looked up at Roy too scared to turn around and see his son's hair. "What?!" He asked.
"She butchered it…"
Ed looked horrified, he heard more snipping. He turned around, Milo giggled, curls still intact. "You jerk, Roy!"
Roy was laughing, Ed smacked his chest, "Ow… that hurt…" Roy rubbed the place of impact.
"Nn… you kinda deserved it Roy…" Al piped in.
"Thank you Al…" Ed said. He pulled Grey from Roy's arms.
"I was joking Ed…"
"You're mean…" Ed rocked Grey cooing to him. "Daddy's mean…" Ed said to their infant son. The little baby drooled down his chin.
"Don't' tell him that." Roy said.
Winry smiled, still snipping Milo's hair. "Okay all done…" she ruffled Milo's hair. "Now shake your head." She said. Milo shook his head back and forth, like a dog drying it's coat.
"There better… you can see now…"
"Tanks Aun'eee"
"No problem Milo… and make sure that if you want a haircut you tell your daddy… not your mommy…"
"Yeah… Mommy will cry…" He said smiling.
Winry laughed, "Probably… now go ahead and go play with your cousin and sister… I'm gonna clean up."
"Milo…" Ed called him over. "Let me see." Ed brushed his bangs out of his face, "Better now? You can see?"
Milo nodded his head. "Can I have a kiss?" Ed asked. Milo puckered his lips and kissed Ed. "Thank you sweetie… go play…"
Ed straightened up.
"Not so bad having his hair cut… right hon?"
Ed nodded, "Yeah… it's fine…" Roy rested his hand on Ed's lower back, gently rubbing. Ed looked up at him, Roy smiled and leaned down to peck him on the lips.
Grey started to squirm in his mother's arms, he chortled and sobbed. "Oh baby what's wrong?" Ed asked rocking him gently.
"Is he crying?" Al asked.
"Yeah…" Roy responded
"He's quiet…" Al said.
Ed gave his younger brother a look, "He's mute…"
Al blushed, "I know… but."
"He's giving you a hard time Al. Don't worry about it…"
Ed continued to rock Grey. His face was contorted in discomfort. Tears pooled in his eyes. "Oh baby…" Ed said. He kissed his forehead. Ed began to walk around the room, trying to calm his son. Grey sobbed, the only sound being his choked breathing.
Ed felt a hand on his hip. "Let me have him…" Roy said. Ed put Grey in his arms and Roy took him upstairs.
Ed sat down on the couch. Calces sat in front of him tail wagging ears perked up. He patted her head affectionately. There was a knock on the door.
"Could you get that Ed…?" Al asked, "It's probably Oliver and Louis…"
Ed answered the door, Milo and Trisha stood behind him. "Hey guys…"
"Ed!" Oliver hugged him. "How are you holding up with the new baby?"
"Oh… it's…" Ed took a deep breath and sighed, "…tiring… but great nonetheless."
Oliver smiled and let go of Ed, Louis gave him a hug. "It's nice to see you…"
Ed smiled, "And you guys… what have you been up to?"
Louis slid his coat off and hung it up. He held onto Oliver's coat as he pulled his arms out and hung it up for him.
"Oh… research…" Louis said.
"Research? Researching what?" Ed asked, gently stroking Trisha's head. Milo reached his arms up and Ed picked him up, holding him tightly. Milo rested his head on his mother's shoulder.
Oliver and Louis both stared at him, as if he was supposed to know.
It took Ed a few seconds before he gasped in realization, "Oh! Right… insemination…" Ed felt his stomach tighten with nerves, the memory of his and Roy's heated afternoon flashing back to him. Milo squirmed and Ed set him down, he and Trisha ran off to play.
"I was almost afraid you'd forgotten…" Oliver said.
Roy walked downstairs, carrying a content baby with him, "Okay, all changed and better now." Roy said.
Ed turned around looking at Roy. He bit his lip anxiously. Roy recognized his look of distress.
"Roy!" Oliver said excitedly, "Oooh! And this must be the newest Elric-Mustang…" He reached for the tiny baby.
"You caught him in a good mood." Roy said placing his infant son in his friend's arms.
"Oh… even if he wasn't I wouldn't mind…" Oliver said with a smile,
Louis stared at the baby over Oliver's shoulder, his arms wrapped around his boyfriend's waist.
"So cute… and what's his name?" Louis asked.
"Greyson…" Ed replied.
"Finally a blonde, huh Ed?" Oliver asked, completely focused on the child in his arms.
Ed felt a pang of guilt and worry hit him hard. They looked so cute with a baby… they wanted a family so badly… and Ed might've caused them to put it off for another year.
Roy leaned down and kissed Ed's temple, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. His lips brushed against his ear and Ed twitched at the ticklish sensation. He kissed gently, he was about to whisper something but Oliver held out their baby to him.
"I have a lot of other little children to visit with."
Roy took Grey and held him cradled in his arms. He kissed his son's dinky nose, making him smile.
Louis stood staring at his two friends and their baby. "I don't think I ever congratulated you…"
Ed shrugged, "Oh don't worry about it…"
Louis cracked a smile, he looked at Oliver, sitting behind them on the floor next to Calces and all the little children. He was talking with them cheerily.
"He's really excited…" Louis said.
"For what?" Roy asked.
Ed looked terrified and Louis had a look of amusement cross his features. He shook his head, chuckling, "Don't tell me you both forgot…"
Ed looked up at Roy, "The surrogate plan… how I'm gonna carry their baby…"
"Oh yeah…" Roy trailed off.
"Geez, the two of you forgot… let's hope you're not already pregnant again, huh Ed…?" Louis started to laugh.
"Louis! Come and look at the girls! They're so big!" Oliver said excitedly. Louis smiled and made his way towards Oliver, taking a seat beside him.
Roy, grabbing hold of Ed's waist led him to a quiet corner of the house. "What's wrong with you?"
Ed groaned and rubbed his face, "I forgot… about the surrogacy…"
"And? What's wrong?"
Ed blushed furiously, "Do you not remember earlier this afternoon… I was-"
"Hot…" Roy offered with a smirk.
"Roy!" Ed whined, "I'm being serious… what if…" He stopped himself, "Oh I feel sick just thinking about making them wait another year…" Ed glanced back at the two of them. Milo crawled on Louis' back. Lulu sat in Oliver's lap while her twin sister sat in Louis'.
"They look so happy…"
"I thought you said you wouldn't… couldn't…"
"I don't know!" Ed shrugged. "I'm not a doctor… how should I know when I can get pregnant or not?"
"Honey… calm down…" Roy said, trying to console his husband. Grey stared up at his daddy thoughtfully from his warm arms. "I know a doctor… and I know a man certainly qualified to be a doctor."
Ed glanced at Louis and Oliver, "No. I can't tell them… I don't want them to even know it's a possibility. They'd think I'm selfish."
Grey squirmed in Roy's arms. Ed glanced down at their son, his bright and alert gold eyes stared back at his mother.
Roy sighed, "Well then… I guess the only other option is to sit silently and wait…"
"Wait for what?" Ed asked.
"Wait to find if you are in fact pregnant, and for them to discover it on their own accord, which I'm sure would be much more of a letdown than you actually telling them.'"
Ed sighed and dropped his gaze. He turned his head watching his family.
"Hey guys…" Al said, sitting down in the armchair, the bundled up Elaine in his arms.
"Oooh is that little Elaine?" Oliver asked, "How's she been doing? Did she finally learn how to nurse?"
"I'm not… really the one to ask about that…" Al said, "But if I had to guess I would say yes…"
Winry appeared in the entrance to the kitchen, "Oh yes. She's gotten the hang of it just fine now…"
Oliver nodded, "Good… good." Lulu crawled out of his lap. "Ooh. You're leaving?" Lulu turned her dark haired head, looking at him she gurgled in response and kept crawling. She spread out on top of Calces.
"Hon… have confidence…" Roy rubbed his back, "When we go back home we'll get a pregnancy test… put your mind at ease… but remember it's been hardly a month since you had Greyson… I highly doubt you're pregnant."
Ed sighed and nodded in agreement.
"Now stop worrying about it and lets go spend time with our family."
Ed nodded. "Okay…"
Roy rubbed his shoulder and leaned down to kiss him. Ed wrapped his arms around his neck in a hug.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Milo called. All the attention in the room shifted to them. Ed blushed and pulled away from Roy, breaking their kiss.
"Why are you guys standing in the corner?" Winry asked.
"Were you arguing again?" Al teased.
"Something like that…" Ed said taking a deep breath.
"Milo, why don't you get off of Uncle Louis now… I think he's tired of being a jungle gym." Roy said.
Milo whined before crawling off his Uncle and sitting down in front of him, playing with Oliver who still inhabited his lap.
"So… I figured I'd start dinner now… is that… alright? Everyone's hungry?"
"I'll help Win." Roy said.
Ed took their infant son into his arms. Roy and Winry disappeared into the kitchen. Ed sat down on the couch. He held Greyson in his lap so he was sitting up and leaning up against his chest.
"So Ed." Oliver began, "How's this little guy been?"
"Oh. Fine. He's… a baby…" Ed kissed his son on the cheek.
"You haven't noticed any… unusual behavior or developments…?"
Ed shook his head, "Just that he's mute…"
"Hmm." Oliver hummed thoughtfully.
Ed looked nervously at his son, "What does… does that mean something?"
"Stop it dear, you're obviously scaring him." Louis chided.
"Oh don't worry Ed… nothing to be scared of… I'm just running over information in my head… there's nothing wrong with your son."
"I know that!" Ed said defensively.
A silence fell over the room, "I'm sorry…" Oliver paused, "I didn't mean to… upset you…"
Roy peeked his head out of the kitchen amid the awkward chaos. "Hey Ed…" He nodded his head, calling him over.
Ed got up, cradling Grey. He entered the kitchen.
"You need to calm down…"
Ed sighed, "I know… I'm just…"
"Very protective of your babies… I know… I get that…" He paused smoothing over Greyson's blonde hair. "They are friends… Oliver was asking a question he meant no harm by it."
Ed sighed, "I know… I guess I'm just paranoid that everyone is going to treat him—"
"Ed nobody is going to look down on him… especially no one here… this is our family… they all love him as much as we do."
"I'm just defensive… when it comes to him…" Ed stared down his baby in his arms.
"Why don't you take a break?"
"A break from being a parent? There's no such thing…"
Roy chuckled, "No… go for a walk, clear your head…" He took Greyson from his arms, "Go visit your mother…"
Ed stared longingly at his baby. "Okay…"
Roy placed a hand on his shoulder, "It'll be good for you… you haven't really gotten a break since Grey… arrived."
Ed nodded.
"Just… make sure you come back for dinner this time…"
Ed smiled and nodded, "I will."
"Say… twenty minutes." Roy leaned down and pecked him on the lips.
Ed nodded and left the kitchen. He stood by the front door slipping on his shoes. He slid on a coat.
Milo ran to him, "You leaving mommy?"
Ed squatted down beside him, stroking his curls, "Yes… but I'll be back."
"Where you goin'?" He asked curiously.
"I'm going to go and see my mother…"
"Er mommy?" Milo asked pointing to Ed.
Ed nodded, "I'll be back."
"I wanna meet Gammah!" Milo said excitedly.
"Next time Milo…" Roy said from the kitchen, "Do you want to come help me and auntie?"
"YAH!" Milo ran excitedly to his daddy, hugging his leg. With Milo distracted Ed slipped out the door. Oliver gave a little wave of goodbye and Ed smiled kindly in acknowledgement.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The snow crunched beneath Ed's feet. He pulled his jacket around himself tighter, he walked up the small hill to where his mother was buried. It was getting dark out and Roy had said twenty minutes until dinner… but he wanted to take his time.
Ed gently brushed the snow off the top of the tombstone. "Hi mom…" Ed was silent. He sighed, "So… I know it's been a while… but last time I was here I was expecting twins… and I kinda broke down…" He fell silent again. "The girls are getting bigger… they're going to be a year in two months… It's really amazing how time flies…" The wind blew and snow sprinkled down from the tree branches above. "Actually mother… I've had another child as well… so that makes four."
He fell silent for a long while, the white snow covering everything in sight, it looked peaceful, calming almost and gave Ed a moment to think.
"You'd love them… Milo… he's… he's a character that's for sure, but he's so smart and he picks up on feelings… a lot like Al… Oliver and Louisa… my girls… the twins… they're little clowns, always giggling and smiling."
Ed couldn't help but smile thinking about his children, "Though I have to say, Lulu is a bit more… stern than her sister, and then there's Greyson…" Ed paused, "He was born a little over a month ago… and he was early…"
Ed felt overwhelmed with guilt just mentioning his son. Tears pricked at his eyes and Ed began to cry, "Mother… it's all my fault… that poor boy… he'll never be able to talk… all because of my stupid… ignorant… stubborn—UGH!"
He sniffled, his tears froze to his cheeks, his nose turned red. "It's all my fault…" Ed shook his head and fell to his knees. "I should've listened… to Roy…" he sniffled, "That's a parent's job isn't it? T-To keep their babies s-safe? I'm the one who's caused Grey all this trouble…"
Tears fell to the ground, making the snow melt slightly. "I can't… I can't have another baby… not my own… not as a surrogate… I can't do it… What if… W-what if there's something wrong with the next one?"
Ed dropped his head into his hands sobbing softly. "Mother… it's so painful… everytime I see my son I'm reminded of my mistake… overwhelmed with guilt… That's… that's why I'm so defensive… when it comes to him… 'cause I blame myself…"
"You shouldn't…"
Ed turned around seeing none other than his father, Hohenheim.
"Wh-what are you doing here…?"
"I like to visit her a few times a year…" He sat down beside his son, taking no mind to the cold wet ground.
They were both silent. "Edward…" He took a deep breath… "I know how it feels as a parent… feeling like you've failed, like you're no good… That's how I felt all the time… it was only your mother who reminded me who I was… who I was supposed to be to you and Alphonse."
Ed stared at the letters on the tombstone.
"Your mother wouldn't want you to blame yourself… and I'm certain your husband doesn't blame you… the only one dragging you down is yourself… Don't end up like me… I doubted my abilities so much… Questioned myself so much I'd convinced myself my children would be better off without their father… and when you needed me most I wasn't there for you…"
Ed was still silent.
"I know I'm probably the last person you want parenting advice from… but trust me when I say it isn't your fault… certainly your son doesn't think so… and he's gonna need you to show him… to help him, you can't do that if you're filled with self-hate."
They were both silent for a long time, "Thanks dad…" Ed said quietly.
Hohenheim smiled, "Of course…"
Ed stood up, brushing snow off his pants… "We're all having dinner at Al's house… would you like to join us?" He asked awkwardly
He shook his head… "No no… I'm fine… besides… I have some catching up to do with your mother."
Ed nodded staring at his father a moment before he began his walk back to the house. He felt much better now, much more confident… like a weight tied to his neck had been cut off, like he could finally breathe.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WOAH! GUYS THIS CHAPTER IS 8,133 WORDS! That's cause to celebrate! The 20th chapter and the longest yet! Anyways, this felt like a good enough place to stop… didn't want it to go on for too long!
PLEASE review I love it when you guys review… leave me your thoughts…