So, I got this chapter done pretty quickly, we're chugging along slowly but surely… Also this is a big chapter, like an eventful one… I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA
Chapter 23
It was Saturday. The day after the operation. They wouldn't know if it had been a success or failure for a month… or until Ed started to show signs of pregnancy.
Ed laid on the couch, Greyson laid asleep on his chest. Ed gently stroked the baby's honey-gold hair.
"I just got the girls down…" Roy said stepping down the stairs quietly.
Ed nodded, just absently messing with Grey's hair.
"How are you feeling?" Roy asked, sitting by his husband's feet.
"I'm fine… just sore… and tired…"
Roy smiled and leaned over, placing a kiss on Ed's lips. "Is there anything I can get you?"
Ed shook his head, "I'm fine…" He took a deep breath, relaxing.
Roy sat silently at the other end of the couch. His knee bounced up and down.
"Is everything alright?" Ed asked hesitantly.
"Huh?" Roy smiled, "Yeah… everything is fine…." He trailed off, "Except well… I wanted you to be the first to know…"
"What?" Ed asked, now more attentive.
"I submitted my resignation paperwork on Thursday…" Roy rubbed the back of his neck. Ed recognized this as one of his nervous tells.
"Something bad happened?"
"Well…" Roy sighed, "The uppers are really pushing me to take this job."
"Haven't you explained to them?"
Roy nodded, "Yeah… they keep calling the house… I tell them I'm not interested in taking a job that separates me from my family… but they keep pressuring me."
Ed felt a pang of guilt. He saw the talent in Roy… as did the military. Now it was a tug of war between the two of them… and Roy was caught in the middle. "What do they say…?"
"They talk about how my family is flexible… and how leaving a family is a small sacrifice compared to all the good I'll do for Amestris." Roy sighed, "I don't want to keep talking to them…"
"Then don't… let them talk to me…" Ed said objectively.
Roy looked puzzled, "Really?"
Ed nodded, "I'll give 'em a piece of my mind…"
"Okay…" Roy said with a chuckle, "next time they call I'll give the phone to you…"
"Don't even tell them it's you…" Ed said.
Roy nodded an amused look on his features, like he knew, if Ed talked to them then they would have to leave him alone for sure.
"Can you take Grey… I have some work to do…"
"Oh… sure." Roy gently pulled their infant son off of his mother's chest and held him cradled in his arms. "How long do you need?" He asked.
"I should be done before the kids wake up…" Ed answered.
"Alright…"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed was sitting in the small office room. On the desk in front of him were papers and reports and books opened to obscure pages. Ed was giving himself a headache trying to draw conclusions but he just wasn't there yet. Frustrated he scrambled the papers up into a messy stack of disarray.
Amid his fit of frustration the phone on the corner of the desk began to ring. Quickly Ed picked it up, "Mustang residence."
"Mr. Mustang, I'm glad to have caught you… I wanted to talk to you a bit more about your promotion."
"I'm sorry… this is the colonel's husband."
The man was completely silent.
"Is there a message I can take for you?"
"Uhh. Yes." The man cleared his throat, "Please tell the colonel that we would very much like to have him down here… we can pay for the move and the house… we would just… really value his leadership and skill… I know… that he's turned down the offer a number of times… but if there is anything we can do for you…"
"Actually…" Ed paused unsure of whether or not he was really going to do this. He took a deep breath, "There is something… Could we meet…? I have some questions… I'd like to go over with you or someone… who can give me answers…"
"Of course… when did you have in mind?"
"How about tomorrow?"
"Sunday?" The man asked.
"Yes…" Ed replied
"Sorry sir… that just doesn't work… I'd need a day to get to Central… Monday is the earliest we could meet."
"I'd have to take a few of my kids with me… if that's alright?"
"Oh. Uh. Sure…" The man mumbled "I didn't even know the colonel had kids…"
The man was obviously talking to himself, so Ed didn't say anything. "Great. See you then…" Ed hung up the phone.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monday came. Ed convinced Roy to take Milo to work with him, which meant Ed had Oliver, Louisa, and Grey to watch at the meeting with the resource manager.
He spent fifteen minutes getting his kids ready and all their things packed. He put a diaper bag over his shoulder. The stroller was collapsed in the trunk of the car, which he told Roy he desperately needed to go grocery shopping later… insisting it'd be easier for him to go by himself with three kids than if they went together with all four kids.
One by one Ed buckled the kids into the car, before he got in and then drove off towards the city.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed held Grey in his arms, the girls sat in the stroller. Across the table sat South City's military resource manager, Lonan.
"Quite the brood." Lonan said nervously.
"Oh. Yeah…" Ed said with a kind smile.
"I see why the colonel is so hesitant…" Lonan began, "I believe the colonel thinks he can only have one or the other… the family or the job… but that's not true at all… of course you work for the military as well… so your job would transfer over just as easily as his… and there's a daycare center near headquarters."
"Stop." Ed said
Lonan was silent.
"I don't care about daycare… I need to know why it is you need Roy down there so badly."
"Well… the colonel has always been of interest to the higher-ups at the military… I believe it was their intention to promote him as soon as possible… our branch happened to need someone of the colonel's skill… it just happened to work out."
There was a long silence between the two of them.
"Neither of us really want to live in South City…"
The man's face fell. "There's a dilemma…"
"But… I was thinking since you want him down there so badly… we could come to an agreement…"
"What is your proposition… Mr. Elric?"
"I would like the permission of South City… to inhabit Resembool."
"That's not even in the southern district…" Lonan said, astounded. "While under employment at South City… you want to live in the East district?"
Ed nodded. "Yes…"
"Well Mr. Elric… that is… a rather unusual request… and I must say quite an inconvenient one…"
"Nothing is set in stone this is still negotiable… I must also speak to my husband about this…" Ed said.
"The colonel has no idea of your proposal?"
Ed shook his head, "No… so I'd appreciate it if you didn't call his office…"
The man nodded, "alright…"
Ed looked pleased, "I'd like you to call me, with your answer or a counter negotiation…" Ed paused, "Oh! One more thing… I'd like to continue working directly under my husband's orders… so if he is promoted, I'd like to answer to him and not the colonel."
"You wish to get orders directly from the brigadier general?"
Ed nodded.
Lonan inhaled sharply, "Those are very big requests Mr. Elric…"
"Yes… well moving across Amestris is also a very big request…"
"Fair enough…" Lonan agreed. He held out his hand to Ed, "Until next time sir. A pleasure meeting the fullmetal alchemist…"
Ed nodded, "The pleasure was mine…" He shook Lonan's hand. "Please contact me as soon as possible."
"Of course."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed drove to headquarters and parked, waiting to pick up Roy and Milo from work. Finally Ed saw them emerge from the building. Roy carried Milo in one arm and his coat in the other. Roy was pointing to the car and talking to him.
Ed clambered out of the car.
"Hey hon…" Roy said, he leaned down and kissed Ed.
Milo groaned, "Daddy…. 'das gross…" he pushed on his father, trying to break away his parents.
Finally Ed broke away from Roy, he chuckled. "I missed you Milo!"
Milo smiled and reached for his mother. Ed took him in his arms while Roy opened the door to the backseat. His daughters wailed excitedly at the sight of their father.
"Hey girls…" Roy said with a smile. He unbuckled Grey and pulled him out of the seat.
Ed put Milo into the seat and then buckled him in. He took Grey in his arms and went around the other side of the car and got into the passenger seat
"We need a bigger car…" Ed complained.
"So… a funny thing happened today…" Roy started driving, completely ignoring Ed's comment.
"Oh. What's that?" Ed asked cooing to Grey who laid awake in his arms.
"I got a call."
"Mhm." Ed said, his attention, clearly elsewhere.
"It was from the general at South City."
Ed's face paled, "Oh-Oh yeah?" He said unsurely.
"Yeah… and he told me that the request I made was a demanding one, but he said they would be granted with renegotiation. The funny thing is, I don't remember making any negotiations…"
"Maybe you accidentally filed the wrong paper work…?" Ed knew that excuse was a stretch.
"Yeah maybe, except when I asked who had made the request, they informed me it was 'Mr. Elric-Mustang'."
"Huh. That's strange." Ed said
"What did you do?" Roy asked.
"Technically I didn't do anything… They did it for me…"
Roy looked annoyed, "Out with it already… what did you do?"
Ed sighed, "I asked if it was possible for you take the job and take up post in Resembool…"
Roy's jaw almost dropped, "You scold me for keeping big decisions from you…"
"Well… I thought I would get to talk to you about it before they did…"
"And you made the decision to live in Resembool?"
"Well… I know how much this job means to you… how badly you want it… so I took matters into my own hands. I asked that we be stationed in Resembool… and I requested I get to remain working directly under you…"
Roy shook his head, "I can't believe you…"
"What?" Ed whined, "I couldn't stand the thought of you turning down an opportunity like this because of me… just because I don't want to live in South City… I was trying to make it right with a compromise…"
"You want to live in Resembool?"
"Well… I like it here in Central… but if we have to live closer to South City… then I'd prefer… if anywhere, Resembool…"
Roy was stoic, He said nothing. He pulled into their driveway and parked the car.
"Is that okay…? Do you want to live there?" Ed asked unsurely.
Roy wrapped his arms around Ed's midsection in a tight hug. "Thank you…"
"Oh…" Ed patted Roy's back awkwardly. "You work so hard… you deserve to advance…"
"This really means a lot to me…" He let go of Ed, smiling. He stroked Grey's blonde fuzz and kissed his forehead. "Let's go inside…"
Ed got out of the car he held Grey in one arm and then in other, the diaper bag.
Roy unbuckled the kids one by one they toddled after their mother.
Inside, Ed laid Grey down on his stomach to practice holding up his head.
Calces followed him around the house excitedly and the kids followed after the dog.
Roy came inside and after hanging up his coat and went straight to the phone.
Ed sat down on the floor beside Grey and was swarmed by children. Louisa was trying to force her way into his lap. Ollie tugged on his bun and Milo was talking up a storm. To make matters worse Grey was getting agitated… angry huffs of air escaped his nostrils.
"Shh." Ed hissed loudly, "Kids. Quiet, you're too loud." Roy was laughing on the phone. Probably talking to Al. He gently scooped up Greyson in his arms and cooed to the baby.
The kids were silent. The three of them just stared at their mother blankly.
"Mommuhhh" Ollie whimpered.
"What is it sweetie?" Ed asked, running a hand through her dark hair.
She signed the word hungry.
"You're hungry baby?" Ollie nodded.
"Me too Mommy!" Milo declared.
"Moomeee" Lulu whined.
"Okay." Ed said, "Girls no whining… it's going to be your birthday in a few days and you need to have manners… or else we won't have a party at all."
Ed stood up and made his way to the kitchen, a small pack of children following behind him. Ed handed Grey to Roy, who was still on the phone.
"Okay, kiddos… what are you wanting for your snack?"
"Seedberries mommy!"
"Okay… Milo want's strawberries... Ollie, Lulu… how about some apples?"
The girls began to wail excitedly "Okay." Ed said. "Sit at the table…" All the kids clambered onto seats while Ed prepared their snacks.
Roy continued to talk on the phone. Ed heard Grey beginning to huff irritably. "I gotta go Al… okay…" Roy hung up the phone.
"How is he?" Ed asked setting down a bowl of strawberries in front of Milo and then setting down two more bowls of apples for the girls.
Roy adjusted his hold on Grey. "He's excited… they want us to move there…"
"Of course they do…" Ed said with a smile. "Don't forget the general said they wanted to renegotiate… it might not be a deal we want…"
Roy gave him a look.
"Well… they might request something outlandish…"
"Yeah." Roy paused, "Yeah, they might…"
Ed smiled. "The girls' birthday is in a few days… let's focus on that..."
Roy nodded in agreement, and stole a strawberry from Milo's bowl.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed was sitting on the couch. He held Greyson in the crook of his arm, and in his free hand, he held a bottle for Grey. The infant was slowly nodding off.
Roy was kneeling by the coffee table. The girls stood on either side of him, an expanse of presents before them.
Hughes sat in Roy's chair, Gracia stood behind him. Elicia and Milo sat by Ed's feet, with Calces. Oliver and Louis sat on the couch with Ed.
"Okay girls you tear at the paper." Roy said, imitating gestures.
Ollie stared at him blankly.
"Daaahduhh?" Lulu asked.
Roy chuckled, "Don't you want to open your presents, girls?"
"Daddy! I can help!" Milo said excitedly.
"Okay sweetie… show them… but you only get to help with one present…"
"Awww…" Milo groaned. Still he sat beside his sisters taking a present into his lap. "Luh-loo! Oh-lee! Watch me, okay?" Milo said. He teared at the paper and threw it aside, revealing a toy. Both of the girls squealed loudly.
"It's… a baby doll?" Milo sounded taken aback.
"They're not presents for you Milo…" Ed chided.
"C'mere and sit with me, Milo." Oliver said. Milo toddled over to his uncle. Oliver pulled him into his lap.
Roy placed a pair of matching presents into each of the girls' laps. "Okay girls. These ones are from Auntie Winry…"
Lulu began to pull at the paper until it ripped.
Ollie placed the edge of the small package at her lips and sucked on the paper.
A little dress unraveled out of Louisa's present. It was blue and striped. It had a bumblebee flying around the hem.
"How cute…" Gracia cooed. "I bet Ollie has a matching one in her parcel…"
Roy tore a piece of the paper on Oliver's present. Ollie curiously tugged at the torn paper until a dress fell out. She gasped. "Mommuh! Mommuh! Mommuh!"
"Oh yeah, look at that sweetie… a dress!"
Ollie held up the dress. "Dahduh! Dahduh!"
Roy held the dress, "Look at how cute it is baby… and your sister has a matching one!"
Oliver turned to face Louisa and they began to babble back and forth to each other in baby talk.
"Do they talk much…?" Oliver asked.
"To each other… they don't say much more than our names…" Roy answered.
"Milo knows what they're saying…" Ed added
"How cute… they won't talk to their parents but they'll talk to each other…" Hughes said.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed gathered up the plates, and began to wash the dishes.
Roy balled up the trash and stuffed it into a trash bag, he wandered into the kitchen leaning against the counter beside where Ed worked. "We should be packing up these dishes." He said.
"We haven't even closed negotiations…" Ed said putting down the plate he was washing.
"I know… but… I'm just… excited…"
Ed nodded. He continued scrubbing the plate.
"Are you excited?"
"Yeah… I mean." Ed cleared his throat, "Yeah…"
"What's wrong?"
"Well… I'm a little bummed… it sounds like I won't be working under you…"
"There's only so much we can arrange…"
"I know… but… with you, you know what's going on with me… and I feel like if someone else was my boss… they wouldn't be so lenient…"
"Sweetheart that's called nepotism." Roy placed a kiss on Ed's nose.
"I know… but I just… I really don't want to… work for anyone but you…" Ed pouted.
"I'll see what I can do…" Roy said.
"Thank you!" Ed fawned.
"Sleeping with your boss really has its perks wouldn't you say?" Roy purred.
Ed scoffed, "That's appalling…"
"I'm joking" Roy's arms snaked around Ed's hips. "I think that's what they're worried about…"
"Well if I'm married to my boss… sleeping with him is inevitable…"
Roy slowly rocked back and forth, he pressed his lips to the back of Ed's head. "Sweetheart… you might have to meet some new people… work for someone else…"
"But I've been working under you for years… don't you think they can look at our work history and see that even after we got married our work relationship stayed the same…?"
"I can bring that up to them…"
"No… send them the records to show them… they won't listen otherwise." Ed said.
"Ed, honey, you're being ridiculous… we should really take what we can get…"
Ed dropped the dish he was cleaning and turned off the water. He turned in Roy's arms so he was facing him. "You get your job… I want mine…" Ed placed his hands on either side of Roy's face. "If I had a boss who wasn't you… think of all the inconveniences… with the kids… our schedule…"
Roy sighed and nodded, "Okay… I'll try to get you a position under me…"
"Thank you…" Ed stood on the tips of his toes. He pulled Roy's head down to meet his own and they kissed.
Roy's arms tightened around Ed's waist. Ed's fingers tangled in Roy's hair. They moved closer, their bodies pressing into each other.
Finally Ed broke away breathlessly. A blush covered his face.
Roy smirked and hummed, thoughtfully. "Where'd that come from…?"
Ed shrugged, "I just… love you."
Roy leaned down and pecked him on the lips. "I love you too."
Ed smiled and went back to washing dishes. He felt Roy's cold hands sliding underneath his shirt. Ed shuddered.
Roy chuckled and kissed his neck.
"Hey…" Ed objected. He jutted his hips out trying to push Roy away, but instead Roy began to grind on him.
"C'mon…" Roy purred, he pressed himself against Ed's small figure. "I'll carry you upstairs…"
Ed was silent in consideration, "okay…" He mumbled.
Roy picked him up and placed a kiss on his lips, then carried him upstairs to their bedroom.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Mommeee…"
Ed blinked, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Mommeee…"
Milo sat beside his mother, gently poking his face. Ed sat up and pulled the covers up over his chest. "Milo what're you doing in here…?"
"Mommy are you naked?" Milo asked, tugging on the blanket.
"Yes… So don't look, okay?"
Milo nodded.
Ed looked beside him. Roy was passed out, snoring. "Sweetie… I thought daddy and I told you that you had to stay in your room in the mornings."
Milo fell forward face planting into the bed.
"Baby… We need our sleep too… Why don't you go look at a book?" Ed gently massaged Milo's curls.
"Mommee." He whined.
"I know it's boring baby… but daddy and I are really tired in the mornings… why don't you go downstairs and look at the alchemy books. Then when daddy gets up he'll read to you…? How does that sound?"
Milo nodded and then slid off the bed. He left their room, Ed slunked back into the bed.
Roy rolled over and wrapped an arm around Ed's waist. "Was that Milo?"
"He wanted us to get up…" Ed mumbled.
Roy kissed Ed's cheek, "Today is the last day of negotiations…"
"When are they going to call?" Ed asked
"They said around eleven…"
"Can you handle it or do I need to?"
"I can do it…"
Ed took a deep breath and settled into the bed.
"So… I have to go read to Milo?"
Ed nodded "mmhmm" he mumbled.
Roy got up and slid on pajama bottoms and a shirt.
"Wake me if you need help with…" Ed took a deep breath, "Kids…" He said, obviously falling back into sleep.
Roy chuckled and placed a kiss on Ed's lips before he put clothes on and headed downstairs.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The phone call finally came, and of course when it did chaos ensued. Ed was still sleeping—he'd had a pretty late night after all. That left Roy alone with the kids.
Milo sat beside his little brother, who was sitting up, alert. Only being around four and a half months, Grey was still wobbly and uncoordinated, he couldn't sit up well, but practice makes perfect. Roy bounced from foot to foot, holding a screaming Louisa. Oliver had done something to upset her.
Amid all this, Roy was on the phone. He could hardly hear over his screaming daughter. "Sir, I know… it doesn't seem—Right… but if you'll just look over the records…"
"What was that colonel?" The general asked. On his end of the phone he mostly heard screaming.
Roy cooed to his daughter, trying to quiet her. "If you just look at the records sir, our work relationship has been strictly—"
"The thing is, we can't say it won't affect future decisions… especially you being a brigadier general… managing a state alchemist… is… It's… unorthodox…"
"Sir, I realize us asking this sounds bad… but really, Ed prefers to do his own thing… We're adjusted to this lifestyle. Ed does his research and reports back to me on a monthly basis… and if that… structure disappeared, our home life would crumble… we'd have no time for our kids—"
"Colonel." The general interrupted.
Roy was silent, Lulu was still crying, then there was a loud thump. He didn't see it, but Greyson must've lost his balance and fallen over. He laid on his back, huffing and panting, he began to cry, his breathing became unsteady and choked. Roy, frantic, dropped the phone. He set Lulu on the couch and picked up Grey. "Poor Grey." He cooed, "Don't cry, you don't need to cry…" Roy wiped away his tears, "Grey, you're alright."
The baby's breathing began to even and he looked up at his daddy, calmly.
"Daahdee" Lulu cried.
"Louisa, knock it off. I'm tired of your screaming."
Roy scrambled back to the phone and picked it up, the house was finally quiet. "I'm sorry sir, what were you saying?"
"Is everything alright colonel?"
"Oh. Yes sir. My son, hurt his head. He was crying…"
"Ah. Alright then, hope the lad is alright…"
"He's fine… thanks."
The general cleared his throat, "as I was saying, we can grant you, the fullmetal's jurisdiction, as a trial period… a period of two months… before your first summons."
"Summons?" Roy asked.
"Yes. Since you'll be living in East district. Once a month you'll be summoned for seven to twelve days. In that time you must report to South City and work."
"Will Ed be summoned as well?"
"No. As a state alchemist… he has far more freedom. If we are to give this position to you, colonel, I need to be sure I can rely on you."
"You can sir," Roy answered.
"Good." There was a lull in the conversation, the general cleared his throat, "colonel I will see you in a few weeks."
"Yes sir…" Roy answered. There was a click and the line went dead. Roy hung up the phone and sighed with relief. He went and sat down on the couch beside Lulu who was now sitting contently, watching her sister.
"Daddy?" Milo asked.
"Yes, Milo?"
"When is mommy gonna get up?" He asked.
"I don't know sweetie… Mommy needs rest…"
"Yeah! Because the op-rasion he had"
Roy nodded his head, "That's right sweetie… Mommy had an operation earlier this week… didn't he?"
Milo nodded, "An now he gon' have another baby?"
"…Yeah…" Roy said absently.
"I'm excited to have another baby… another brother…"
"Well… sweetie… it's not mine and mommy's baby this time…" He trailed off, getting caught up in his thoughts. He got to thinking about Ed and the potential surrogacy. They wouldn't know for a few more weeks. Roy felt his stomach tie into a knot. There was a lot he had to juggle all at once. Pregnant husband, new job, new house, and the move. His head was so clouded he didn't notice his husband descending the stairs.
"I might not even be having a baby, Milo…" Ed placed his hand on Roy's shoulder. "I can take Grey off your hands…"
Roy placed Greyson in his arms. Ed sat down beside his husband. Milo jumped into his father's empty lap. Ollie stood up and clumsily clambered onto the couch. Lulu crawled across her father's lap to sit in her mother's.
"Have you gotten the call yet?" Ed asked, kissing Louisa's head.
"Yeah… I did…" Roy said, "and… they've decided you can work directly under me… for a trial period of two months."
"That's great!" Ed said enthusiastically.
"Yeah…" Roy was silent.
"What?" Ed's face fell.
"Well…" Roy rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "They're requiring me now to go to South City for seven to twelve days a month…"
"That's almost two weeks…"
Roy nodded, "I know…"
Ed fell silent. So did Roy.
Neither of them really knew what to say.
"So…" Ed trailed off.
"Is… that alright…?"
"Oh—yeah, of course…" Ed said, "It'll be hard… with you gone… but I can manage…"
"They said seven to twelve days… I can do all my work in seven days and then come straight back home…" Roy added.
Ed nodded, "yeah…"
"I know we're both giving up a lot… you especially… I appreciate it…" Roy leaned over and kissed Ed, causing him to blush.
Milo pulled on Roy's arm, "Daddy…" He whined, "Stop kissing mommy… 'is gross."
"I like kissing mommy." Roy said. He pecked Ed on the lips a few more times.
"Ew…" Milo contorted his face into a look of disgust. "Mommy… make daddy stop…"
Ed chuckled, and pushed Roy away, gently. "I like getting kisses from daddy though…" His face was practically glowing red.
Milo scowled and crawled off the couch.
"Grow up, Milo…" Roy joked.
"I am daddy." He said angrily. He then stormed away, climbing up the stairs to his room. He turned and looked through the bars of the banister at his parents. "I not coming out until….um. Un-until… until I'm grown!"
"Okay sweetie, see you then." Ed said casually. He cooed to Grey who watched from his arms.
Milo stuck his tongue out and then went to his room, slamming the door behind him.
Roy was up in a heartbeat. He hated that. He absolutely detested when a door was slammed. He especially hated it when his son did it.
"Milo!" Roy shouted, he was up the stairs in a flash.
Ed remained unmoved on the couch. Oliver whimpered beside Ed.
"Oh sweetie… what's wrong?" Ed asked.
"Dahduh…" She whimpered.
"Daddy's just upset with Milo right now…"
"Dahduh…" She cried again.
Roy stood outside Milo's door. He took a deep breath and then knocked on the door. "Milo." He said sternly.
"No. Daddy!" Milo cried. You could hear the little boy was in hysterics.
Roy pushed open the door. Milo stood in the doorway, under one arm was his stuffed puppy. With his free hand he rubbed his eyes. "Daddy… I'm sorry…" He sniffled, "I won't slam the door…." He sniffled again.
Roy crouched down to his height. He patted his mop of curls. "Thank you for your apology Milo, but you know how much I hate it when you slam the doors."
Milo nodded, avoiding his father's gaze.
"Please don't do it again, or I will punish you..." Roy said sternly.
"Oh-kay" Milo said, still not making eye contact.
"Okay." Roy repeated back to his son. He wrapped his arms around Milo in a hug. "You don't need to cry baby…" He wiped the tears out of Milo's big golden eyes.
Milo sniffled and wiped his nose, "I nah daddy, I naht…" He mumbled. He wiped his face with his sleeve.
Roy chuckled, "glad you're feeling better…"
"Daddy pick me up?" Milo asked, wrapping an arm around his father's neck.
The colonel picked up his son and carried him back downstairs. He sat down on the couch beside Ollie. Milo was in his lap.
"Oooh Daddeee! Dadeee!"
"Yes Milo?"
"Will you read to me?"
"Go pick out a book. Remember the red ones are—"
"Beggings" Milo said.
"Beginners…" Ed corrected.
Milo crawled off his dad's lap and wandered towards the bookshelves, gazing thoughtfully at the spines of the red books.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A couple months later.
Ed and Roy had been packing up the house over the last week and a half. They were both excited to go to Resembool, but rather nervous about the whole thing at the same time.
"I wonder what the house looks like…" Roy said
"Well… at least we still have a house… I thought the military was going to yank that out from under us…" Ed said while draping numerous coats over his arm.
"Yeah… well they really want us down there…"
"They really want you." Ed corrected.
Roy's arms wrapped around Ed's chest. He kissed his temple, "Thank you for coming with me…"
"Of course…" Ed smiled, "It's gonna be fun…"
Roy chuckled and gave him a kiss. "Yeah, it will be."
Ed nodded. "I jus—" The phone rang, cutting him off.
"Hold that thought…" Roy said. He kissed Ed again and then left him to answer the phone.
Ed put the coats he was holding into a box, then he began to place other various outdoor wear they had in the box; shoes, hats, and gloves among other things. He could only hear bits and pieces of what Roy was saying… but it sounded formal so Roy must've been talking to the general.
Then he heard it. A high pitched squeal. The kids were up. He sighed, now they weren't gonna get any more packing done until the kids went to bed for the night. He went upstairs and opened the door to Milo's room.
He wasn't there. Ed moved the girls room, he pushed the door open and saw Milo standing outside the crib. Oliver and Louisa were standing at the railing and Milo was tickling them, playing with them.
"Hey Milo… Ollie, Lulu… how're you doing?"
"Good Mommy." Milo said.
"Mahmuh!" Ollie squealed.
"Muuummeee" Lulu hummed.
"Did you wake them up Milo?"
The little boy shook his head.
"Okay." Ed said. He picked up Oliver and gave her a kiss, ruffling her hair. "Hey sweetie…" He said, setting her down. He pulled Lulu out, giving her a kiss as well. Lulu giggled and placed a kiss on her mother's cheek. Ed smiled and put her down "I'm going to go check on your brother, Milo watch your sisters… don't let them go down the stairs…"
Milo nodded. Ed left to check on Grey. He gently nudged open the door, Grey was still sound asleep.
Roy was downstairs holding one of his daughters in each arm.
Milo was playing with Calces, showering her with compliments and kisses.
Ed made his way downstairs, "Who was on the phone?" He asked.
"Oh… that was the general… he was talking about some sort of inaugural… ceremony?"
"You sound unsure…" Ed said.
Roy sighed, "Yeah well… I'd really prefer not to cause a big scene…"
"That's unlike you, colonel…" Ed mumbled.
Ollie grabbed at her father's nose. He shook her off and then set both of the girls down.
"Grey is still asleep?" Roy asked.
"Yeah…" Ed answered. Louisa tugged on his pant leg.
"Mommah" She mumbled.
Ed picked her up. He sighed, "I knew we weren't gonna be able to get any packing done…"
"Relax" Roy said with a smile. "We have a few more days…"
Ed almost whimpered in distress, "We've hardly packed up the house… there's still the kids' rooms… and the kitchen. Our bathroom…" Tears were pricking at his eyes, luckily he was facing away from Roy. He blinked the tears away and set down Lulu.
"We'll be fine Ed. We have plenty of time… a lot of our things we're getting rid of… so you don't have to worry."
"Yeah… yeah… you're right." Ed said with a hefty sigh.
"Don't worry about it we'll be fine…"
"This is just such short notice…"
"Well it's not... we procrastinated... but if we go now, we'll be in Resembool for the summer… the kids would love that…" Roy wrapped his arms around Ed. He was bent over so he could rest his chin on Ed's shoulder. "And just think, even when I'm gone for a week… you'll have Al, Win, Oliver, and Louis to hang out with… and I'm sure any of them would be willing to help with the kids…"
Ed nodded, "Yeah… but I want your help..."
Roy tried to console him. "Ed. It's really gonna suck… but in order to live our lives with the freedoms we've come to appreciate… we have to make a couple of sacrifices."
Ed nodded, now he was choked up. He sniffled.
"Are you alright? Roy asked
Ed nodded, "It's just all a little overwhelming." Ed's voice was wavering.
Roy kissed his temple, "It's gonna be great… just take it one day at a time…"
"Okay…" Ed said.
"How have you been feeling?" Roy asked.
Ed shook his head, "fine... I guess..."
"Any signs of pre-"
"No." Ed cut him off sharply. "It's too soon to tell, really…"
Roy chuckled.
"What?" Ed was practically snarling.
"Nothing…" Roy shook his head.
"I know what you're thinking… just say it…"
"It's been about seven or eight weeks… don't you think these mood swings are evidence of—"
Ed shook his head, "No… no, no…"
"Ed…" Roy tried.
"I don't need this right now…."
"Ed…" He tried again.
"I can't worry about this… the house is hardly packed…"
"Ed."
"There's so much to do… and… and… I don't want to go…" Ed said tearing up. He dropped his head into his hands and sobbed.
"Edward…" Roy pulled his hands away from his face. "You need to calm down…"
Ed nodded, and wiped his eyes with the sleeves of his sweater.
"Remember… one day at a time…"
"…Okay…" Ed whimpered.
Roy chuckled and pecked him on the lips. "You're fine… we'll get everything else packed in the next few days. Then we'll get on the train and go to Resembool. Your brother, Winry, Oliver, and Louis will all help us get the house set up."
Ed nodded and sniffled.
"Do you want to call Oliver and Louis?"
"And tell them what exactly? That's there's a possibility I'm pregnant…"
Roy sighed, "I just figured, their excitement might reassure you…"
"What if I'm not… I don't want to get their hopes up…" Ed said.
Roy gave him a quizzical look, cocking one of his eyebrows.
Ed scoffed, "Like you would know…"
"I really think I would…" Roy said with a cocky grin. "Ed… I've seen you through three pregnancies… you really think I wouldn't recognize when my own husband is on the fritz."
"That's rude… I am not "on the fritz" when I'm pregnant..."
"Mhm." Roy said nonchalantly.
"Really!" Ed objected. "Maybe… I'm more… emotional… but—"
Roy interrupted him, "Is there anything I can get you? Hungry? Thirsty? Maybe some milk..."
"Oh, sure, I-" Ed caught himself, "you think you're so sly…"
Roy smirked and wrapped his arms around Ed's waist, pecking soft kisses from his mouth.
"Congratulations…" Roy said with a smile.
Ed shook his head, "Congratulate Oliver and Louis… it's their child…"
"I will then…" Roy straightened up and went to the phone.
Ed watched from a distance.
After about a minute, Roy hung up. "They're not home… They would've picked up sooner… Guess they can wait…"
"Guess so…" Ed said. "I mean, they're gonna have to wait for eight more months… what's the rush?"
Roy chuckled, "such sound logic."
"Dahdee!" Milo said, running to his father.
"Yeah?" Roy asked, picking up his eldest son.
"Pregant is wen… mommy's tummy gets real big?"
Roy nodded, "In simpler terms… yes."
"So he naht?"
"He is… but the baby is still very small." Roy showed him how small with his fingers. "Over time it will get bigger… and take up more room inside mommy…"
"Ooh!" Milo squealed, "Anuder baby!"
"Well it's not our baby, sweetie…"
Milo squirmed in his father's arms. Roy set him down and Milo toddled to his mother. He pressed his ear up against Ed's flat stomach. Then the palm of his hand. He gazed up at his mother thoughtfully, "Mommy? 'Re you sure is nah yer baby?"
Ed nodded, "Yes…" He paused remembering his dream. He cleared his throat, "I'm sure…"
Milo looked at his father. He scurried over to him, "Daddy… up, please?"
Roy picked him up. Milo leaned in close and whispered in his father's ear.
"Really?" Roy said aloud. "You're kidding!" He added.
"Daddy, I not!" Milo said defiantly.
Roy chuckled, "I know baby…" He kissed Milo's nose. "I'm teasing you."
Milo crossed his arms and huffed.
"Oh, come on Milo, don't be like that…" Roy chuckled, "You're just like your mother." He set Milo down on the ground.
"What did you tell daddy that you won't tell me?" Ed asked.
Milo shook his head, "I won't tell…"
Ed groaned, "Roy."
Roy imitated locking his lips.
"Now that I know you won't tell me, it's really gonna bug me…"
Milo crawled onto his mother's lap. He gazed up at Ed with thoughtful gold orbs.
Ed stroked his thick jet black curls.
Milo smiled, "I love you mommy!"
"I love you too Milo!" Ed gave him a kiss.
Milo smiled again at his mother, before sliding off his lap and running off to find Calces.
"Oh!" Ed pushed himself up and rushed upstairs.
"What? Ed? What's wrong?"
"I just… Grey's probably awake…" Ed rushed into the nursery and sure enough, Grey was lying awake. He had managed to roll over onto his stomach.
"Hey, Grey… how're you doing baby?"
Huffs of air escaped his lips as his legs flailed excitedly at the sight of his mother.
Ed pulled him out of the crib and held him close to his chest and cooed to him.
He sighed tiredly, "Grey… I… think you're gonna have another sibling…"
"Ed!" Roy called from downstairs.
"I'm coming…" Ed replied.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
With a lot of effort and little sleep, Roy and Ed managed to pack up the rest of the house. They shipped their non essentials to the address of their house, which from Winry's assessment was big and beautiful. Some contractors employed by the military were there the last week building their house.
Ed slumped over towards the window. He held Greyson in his arms, the little infant looked out the window.
"Ed…" Roy cooed.
Ed sniffled and sat up, alert. He rubbed they sleep out of his eyes, "Sorry was I falling asleep again?"
"You can go back to sleep… I was just gonna ask if you wanted me to hold Greyson… so you don't drop him if you fall asleep." Roy said softly. Louisa's head rested in his lap, she was passed out. Oliver sat on the other side of her father and looked out the window.
Milo laid asleep on the floor with Calces. He used her as a pillow.
"No… I'm fine…" Ed said… "I'm up now…"
Roy chuckled.
"Daahduhh!" Oliver said excitedly.
"What sweetie?" Roy asked, running his fingers through her hair.
She pointed her tiny finger at the window and then looked up at her father expectantly.
"What? What are you pointing at…?"
Oliver opened her mouth as if about to say something, then her jaws clasped closed. She went back to staring out the window.
Ed yawned, "How much longer?" He adjusted his hold on Grey. The little boy gasped excitedly and pounded his hands on the window.
"Shh… Greyson… that's loud. Your brother and sister are sleeping." Ed said, catching his son's little hands. Grey looked up at his mother, his watchful golden eyes wide.
Grey opened his mouth, and hushed wispy gurgles escaped his throat.
"What are you trying to say baby?" Ed placed a kiss on his forehead and smoothed over his blonde hair.
Grey cracked a smiled and small huffs and chokes escaped his throat.
"Aww." Ed cooed to his son. "I think he's laughing..."
"Greyson…" Roy called to his son.
The little boy's head snapped towards his father in recognition, either from his name or Roy's voice.
Grey smiled a toothless grin, he huffed and panted excitedly, squirming in his mother's arms.
"Here…" Ed held their son out to his husband.
Roy cradled Grey in his arms, he smiled, "Hey baby…" Grey huskily chortled and huffed.
Roy pressed his lips to Grey's forehead. "He's getting so big…" Roy looked to Ed, who was now asleep again. Ollie stared at her brother in her father's arms.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you for reading, please send me your thoughts, or a review PLEASE! Another chapter soon to follow! Again, thanks for your support and I'm sorry for my long absence, I'm glad to be back though!