Okay, I got a bit of writers block halfway through this chapter, but that's okay 'cause I managed to push through it instead of having to start from scratch! This is an eventful chapter, a rather emotional one for Ed anyways. I'm really gonna try to get Winry and especially Alphonse into the story more, because I love Al, he's such a sweetie, so be looking forward to that over the next couple of chapters…
I don't own FMA or any of its characters.
Chapter 24
They stood outside their new house.
"It's big…" Roy said.
"And... secluded…" Ed added.
The house was painted an Olive green. The trim was white, matching the door.
Ed adjusted his hold on Greyson, he walked up the steps to the front door.
Roy was holding the girls in either arm. He set them down, taking their hands he led both of them up the stairs of the house.
"Mommy is this 'er house?" Milo asked climbing up the steps.
"Yes it is Milo…"
Roy pulled an envelope from his pocket. He opened it, a key slid into his palm. He unlocked the front door and pushed it open, he and his family spilled inside.
"Cal!" Ed called
The white dog came bounding from around the side of the house. She bolted through the doorway.
Ed stepped inside. "Woah… this is…"
"Really nice…" Roy said.
The kids at this point had scattered throughout the house, chasing after the dog.
Ed sighed tiredly. "This is going to be a lot of work…" he wandered around the living room. There were large windows which were open letting in fresh air, to dispel the paint-chemical filled air. There was a staircase leading up to a hallway.
Beside the staircase were two doors. Ed wandered over and opened the one on the left. There was a bathroom, complete with a sink, bathtub, and toilet. He opened the door on the right, revealing a large open room with windows lining the back wall.
"This looks like an office…" Roy said, looking over Ed's shoulder.
"It's quiet... closed off..." Ed added.
"I guess I'll be spending a lot of time here…" Roy mumbled.
"They're clearly encouraging you…" Grey began to squirm in his mother's arms. Ed cooed to him sweetly.
Roy pulled the door closed. The couple, and their infant son wandered down the hall. They could hear the kids and the dog down the hall, stomping and shouting.
There was an opening in the wall, they wandered into the kitchen. The floor was a nice dark grey tile. The walls were painted a pale green. A large window sat open, above the sink. White cupboards lined the walls.
"This is so open and airy, I like it..." Ed said.
Roy was leaning against the counter, in his hand was a sheet of paper.
"Roy?" Ed asked. "What's that?"
Roy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He tossed the paper onto the counter "It's a letter from the general… addressed to me…"
Ed tsked and held their son out to him. Roy cradled Grey in his arms, stroking his blonde hair. Ed picked up the letter and began to read it. It was about a required inaugural ceremony, he'd have to be in South City for three days doing paperwork and whatnot. It was Wednesday 4th; The letter said the ceremony would be on Friday the 6th.
"This… this…." Ed trailed off, unsure of what to say or think. He was sad, angry, irritated, worried, and scared all at once.
Roy just stared at his son in his arms, smiling and talking to him. Grey watched from his arms, blowing happy and excited huffs of air out his nose.
"You have to leave tomorrow?!" Ed cried.
"I guess… I do." Roy adjusted his hold on Grey and looked at Ed, "Hey. It's going to be fine."
Ed whimpered in response. His arms fell to his sides, he held onto the letter in his right hand.
"Ed. We'll unpack and get set up today as much as we can… and even if we don't get it all done, we have Al, Win, Oliver, and Louis to help now... Okay…?" Roy rubbed his shoulder comfortingly and pulled Ed into a hug.
"It's not that!" Ed whimpered, "I… don't want you to leave already…"
"I know… It's not like I want to go… but it's part of the job. As a military official it's my responsibility to make appearances with my comrades… especially right now… since I'm new to this office…" Roy said.
"I would go… except traveling with the kids for a whole day would be—"
"Hectic." Roy said, his eyes wide with horror just at the thought. "Besides… I'll only be there for a day…"
"Kind of a lot of traveling…" Ed mumbled.
Roy placed a kiss on his temple, "Anything to be home with my adoring wife and kids."
Ed's face turned red with fury, "I'm not your wife…" he said through gritted teeth.
Roy bust up chuckling, "I know… I know… You're super cute when you're pissed off."
Now Ed was blushing. He scoffed. The kid's distant giggles and babbling wasn't so distant anymore. It steadily grew louder and louder.
"Mommeee! Dahdeee!" Milo called. His thumping footsteps sounded down the hall with scratching from Calces' nails close behind.
"We're in the kitchen, Milo." Ed responded.
Milo started to yell a battle cry as he charged into the kitchen, "AHHHH" He ran to the first parent he saw. Roy was surprised when Milo latched onto his legs in a hug. He lost his balance—momentarily, almost falling over.
"Milo. Careful. I'm holding your brother." Roy chided.
Milo gazed up at his father. His black curls dangled from his head. His golden eyes were filled with excitement. "Sorry. Daddy." Milo said, smiling.
Roy chuckled, "You're so cute… how did you get to be such a sweet and cute boy?" He tousled Milo's curls
Milo giggled, "I dunno…"
Oliver wandered into the kitchen. She looked all around her at the ceilings and walls.
"Ollie, sweetie where's your sister…?" Roy asked.
There was a knock at the door. "Coming!" Ed called. He hastily left the kitchen almost running into little Lulu along the way. He ran right into her, almost knocking her over. Luckily he managed to catch her by her arm before she hit the floor. "You alright sweetie he asked?"
Lulu nodded her head, her dark eyes pooling with water.
Ed ran his fingers through her dark hair and picked her up, "Oh sweetheart it's alright…"
There was another knock at the door, this time this one was more frantic.
"Coming!" Ed called again. He adjusted his hold on Lulu and hurried to the door. Before Ed could even touch the doorknob the door opened.
"We were waiting!" Winry said irritably.
"I said I was coming…" Ed defended himself.
Winry laughed, and gave Ed a hug. Trish slid out from behind her mother's legs and skipped off to find her cousins.
"Hey baby girl…" Winry said, to Lulu. "And this is…. Oliver…"
"Louisa." Ed corrected.
"Gah." Winry sighed, "I can never get it right…"
"Well now that we're here… you can spend a lot more time with them… then you'll be able to tell the difference…"
She laughed and nodded "Hey little Lulu..." She cooed.
Lulu smiled from her mother's arms.
"Hey brother…" Al said happily. He held Elaine to his chest and gave Ed a quick one-armed hug.
"So this is your house…" Winry said.
"Yeah." Ed answered nodding.
"It's big." Al said.
"Yeah… almost too big." Ed said
Milo and Trisha ran out of the kitchen, squealing excitedly.
"Mommy we're gon' go play ou'side." Milo said.
"Alright… Trish, keep him out of trouble okay?" Ed asked his niece.
The little girl nodded her ponytail swaying behind her. They ran out of the house excitedly. "Take Cal with you Milo!"
"CALCES!" Milo yelled. The little white puppy skittered out of the house after her ward.
"I'm gonna go with them…" Winry said nervously. She followed the two children and the dog out the front door, "Wait for mommy Trisha!" she said as the door closed behind her.
Roy emerged from the kitchen holding Grey, Oliver clutched tightly to his pant leg.
Ed set down Louisa and she toddled to her sister.
"Hey guys!" Roy said enthusiastically.
"How are you?" Al said excitedly.
"Good. I'm pretty optimistic about work…" Roy chuckled.
"So… No progress on unpacking yet…" Al observed.
Ed shook his head.
"We could use your help… I leave tomorrow… and I'd like to have the house unpacked… before I leave…. Or at least most of it… so Ed doesn't have to deal with that."
"We can help with that no problem…." Al smiled at his brother and in-law.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Later that night.
Ed was downstairs pulling toys out of boxes and throwing into the children's toy box. He looked up at the sound of a door closing. Roy crept out of Greyson's room.
"Hey…" Ed said with a smile, "You finally got him to go to sleep?"
"Yeah… " Roy said with a sigh of relief. "You're still unpacking?" He asked, descending the stairs.
Ed nodded, "I want to get it done…"
Roy wandered over to Ed and wrapped his arms around him, kissing his temple, "it's been a long day… let's go to bed."
Ed shook his head, "I'm not tired…"
"I see those huge bags under your eyes…"
Ed shrugged, "That doesn't mean I'm tired… besides those are semi-permanent since having kids…"
"I know you're exhausted… We've been traveling for the past day. Then we get here and immediately set to work unpacking…"
Ed continued, ignoring his husband's attempts of persuasion.
"Ed… c'mon. Stop being so stubborn… Come to bed… let's get some rest."
Ed shook his head, "N-no…"
"I want to spend every minute with you before I have to leave…" Roy said with a smile. "So if you don't go to bed, I won't either."
"Roy you have a long day tomorrow… you need to go to bed." Ed said with a sigh.
"Not without you." Roy persisted.
"I'm not… I'm not going to bed with you…" Ed stuttered.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Ed said sternly.
"Doesn't sound like nothing…" Roy countered.
"You use that line on Milo… it's not going to work on me…" Ed mumbled.
"The reason I say it to you is because my husband and son happen to be equally childish…"
Ed sighed and gave in. "I don't want to go to bed… because when I wake up you won't be there…" His face was beat red. "And it makes me sad…"
"Hey… it's alright." Roy leaned down to kiss him. "I'm only going to be gone for three days... maybe four, max."
Ed nodded, "It's just really crappy timing…"
"Yeah…" Roy agreed. "It is." He hugged Ed, pulling him close.
Ed wrapped his arms around Roy's torso, and buried his face into his husband's chest.
"Y'know… I said we should go to bed… but I didn't say we should sleep…"
Ed shook his head, and groaned. His hot breath seeped through Roy's shirt.
"Oh, c'mon. I'm gonna be gone for three days… we have a new bed… it's so cushy and soft." Roy pulled Ed away from him so he could look at his face. "It's our first night in the house… we should celebrate... I'd also appreciate a going away present from you… something to show me how much you love me and how much you're going to miss me…"
"You're beating around the bush…" Ed said
Roy chuckled, and pecked Ed on the lips, "Because if I ask you outright you'll get too embarrassed."
"I will not." Ed objected calmly. He tutted and shook his head.
Roy tucked his head into the crook of Ed's neck and began to place kisses. "Do you want to have sex with me?" He purred.
Ed could feel the heat rising to his cheeks. He tried to will the blush away.
"See. I told you…" Roy chuckled
"Oh. Shut up." Ed scoffed. He stood up on his toes and pulled Roy downward to meet him half-way. Their lips met in a kiss. It was soft and sweet. Passionate.
Ed broke away, "Let's have sex…" He whispered breathlessly. He hooked his arms around Roy's neck.
"Ahh, you've come to your senses," Roy smirked and placed a kiss on Ed's nose.
They slowly slipped out of each other's embrace and then headed upstairs to their bedroom.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed laid in bed, naked under the covers.
Roy came out of the bathroom, "What are you doing under there?"
"Turn off the lights…" Ed ordered from under the sheets.
"We've had sex with the lights on before…" Roy said, pulling at the edge of sheets.
"Not this bright before…"
"So what?" Roy asked.
"You can see everything…" Ed said, he was blushing now and still hiding under the covers.
"I have seen everything…" Roy chuckled. "Why are you so embarrassed about this?"
Ed whimpered and pulled the sheets down, until they were only covering his bottom half.
"That's better. I get to see your cute, blushing face now."
Ed blushed even more, "No I've changed my mind," He went to pull the blanket back up, but before he could. Roy grabbed the blanket, and threw it off their bed. Ed scrambled back against the headboard, covering himself with his hands, refusing to make eye contact.
"Ed, c'mon… what are you doing?"
"The lights are so bright in here… and now you've taken away my only cover."
"That's right… I have" Roy said, crawling up the bed towards his quivering husband. He pulled Ed's knees apart, leaving nothing to the imagination. "Still embarrassed?" Roy asked
"Of course, you idiot!" Ed barked, his blush seemed to have spread to his whole body by now.
Roy stared at Ed, his gaze unblinking and hard to read. Ed could only stare back.
Then his head bobbed downward and Roy wrapped his arms around Ed's waist. He pried away Ed's hands and then began to suck his dick.
"R-Roy." Ed gasped. He squirmed uncomfortably from the pleasure. "You know I don't…. I don't like it when you do th-this." Ed whimpered, and a fraction of a moan escaped his lips.
Roy didn't even waver, he kept moving his head in a bobbing pattern. His fingers began to wander lower, he slipped two fingers inside of Ed's ass. He gently massaged and stretched, working his fingers with precision.
Ed's back was arched and his mouth hung open. Moans and groans fell from his lips.
Roy was happy knowing he was making his husband unwind.
It took him a while, but Ed finally managed to regain control over his body. "R-Roy…" He panted.
His husband's eyes flashed up to meet his own. Charcoal met gold and Ed began to blush all over again.
"St—op" Ed mumbled. He pushed on Roy's shoulders. "That's… e-enough…" He squirmed and pushed Roy's head away.
Roy sat up, a smirk stuck on his features.
Ed laid unmoving, still trying to recover. His chest heaved with each labored breath.
"Are you alright?" Roy asked.
"Of course not you bastard!" Ed yelped, "That was… humiliating…"
"How? You don't need to be embarrassed…"
Ed shook his head, "You don't get it…"
"You're right. I don't get it. I don't get why my husband, whom I love very much and have many children with is embarrassed to let me, see him naked."
Ed blushed, "Well… you're not…" he paused, "You don't have to—" Ed stopped again and sighed, "You get… to dominate… I'm submissive… that's…. a bad analogy."
Roy chuckled, "I get it… you're the one who always receives."
"And I'd like to keep what little masculinity I still have, intact." Ed added, "It's embarrassing… comparing myself to you… you're so much bigger than I am."
"You're referring to my dick?" Roy asked, bemused.
Ed blushed brightly, "Forget I said anything!"
"What? Why does this even matter?"
"I said forget it…" Ed mumbled.
"I mean… I may be bigger, but that doesn't matter. You're only ever seen by me…"
"Roy drop it. You wouldn't understand…" Ed turned away.
"Oh come off it. You're perfect…. Every inch of your body is perfect…" Roy purred. "Tailored just for me…"
"You're only saying that to make me feel better." Ed muttered a pink blush slowly rose to the apples of his cheeks.
"No. I mean it, I love everything about you…" Roy murmured into his neck. He pulled Ed into his lap. Ed was blushing all over again. "I love your eyes. I love the slight curve of your hips. I love the scar that gave me my babies…" Roy gently ran his finger over Ed's scar. "I love your short legs…" Roy's hands slipped down the inside of Ed's thighs.
"They're not… nnn" Ed quivered, "they're not… not that short!" He objected angrily.
Roy chuckled and leaned down to place a kiss on Ed's lips. When they broke away Roy was smiling stupidly, "I love you're feisty personality…"
"Okay!" Ed interrupted, his face covered in a blush. "I get it… I don't need to be embarrassed…" He stretched upwards and planted a kiss on Roy's jawline.
Roy chuckled and rested his head on Ed's shoulder.
"Can we still do it?" Ed asked, shifting uncomfortably where he sat.
"Of course…" Roy smiled.
"Can I have the blanket back?...Please?" Ed asked politely.
"Nope." Roy said simply. He laid Ed back, placing kisses on his face until he got comfortable.
"Take off your clothes." Ed commanded.
Roy straddled Ed and then pulled off his shirt. Ed ran his hands up Roy's abs, until they reached his pecks. He curled his fingers, making his hands into fists he just felt the firm muscle beneath his knuckles.
Roy leaned down placing a sweet kiss on Ed's lips. "I love you…" Roy said.
Ed blushed, "I love you too…"
Roy sat up again and pulled down his pants, eagerly tearing away his last layers of clothing.
"R-Roy." Ed stuttered.
"Hmm?" He answered absently, still fumbling with his pants.
"I don't want you to leave…"
"I know… but I have to… let's put it out of our minds… it's ruining the mood."
Ed bit his lip nervously, what he was about to say was so unlike him, "I want… I want you to m-make love to me like it's the last time we'll ever get to have sex…" Ed blushed, and looked away, he felt Roy's heavy gaze lingering on him.
"Alright… I hope you don't regret saying that…" Roy pounced on Ed, placing kisses in a flurry.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The next morning
The house was completely silent, and it felt eerie to Roy. The house was never this quiet and Roy didn't like the idea of getting used to silence, especially when the silence was due to the absence of his kids. It was early, around 5:20 in the morning. He was already dressed, a bag packed for his short trip to South City. He sat on the edge of the bed, admiring his husband. Ed's long hair hung over his shoulder, covering part of his face.
Roy smiled and ran his fingers through Ed's hair, brushing away the strands that covered his face. He froze as his husband's golden eyes blinked slowly, they were still glazed with sleep.
Ed smiled dreamily, "There's the oven…" His eyes closed and he was asleep again.
Roy chuckled and leaned in close, placing a kiss on his sleeping husband's temple. Quietly he left their room and headed across the hall to Grey's room. The little baby was asleep in his crib, his room still mostly empty.
He watched his sleeping son, softly stroking his head so as not to wake him. He stared at his son's chest watching and listening for each breath. It was a reassuring sound. He sighed sadly and left the nursery.
His next stop was to see his daughters. They had upgraded the girls to beds, which they loved, and even though they each had one to themselves, they preferred to share and sleep together.
Roy opened the door a crack. He saw his daughters, their limbs tangled together, fast asleep in their bed. He chuckled and quietly entered their room. He pulled the covers up over their shoulders. He tousled Oliver's hair and then Louisa's. He pressed his lips against each of their heads, feeling soft silky black hair beneath his kisses. He left their room, as silent as a shadow.
Lastly was Milo's room. He gently pushed open the door, revealing Milo lying in bed, holding a book on his chest, examining pictures. When the little boy saw his door open he lowered it.
"Daddy?" He asked.
"What are you doing up so early Milo?" Roy asked, stepping further into his son's new room.
"Mmm." He hummed thoughtfully, "Mommy says if I get up too early you don' wan' to be woken so I look at books."
Roy tsked and made his way to Milo's bedside. He sat down on the floor, "Y'know… you don't have to sit in here and read Milo you can come wake me up…"
"Daddy you never wake up!" Milo said with a smile and a giggle.
Roy chuckled, "I woke up this morning… didn't I?" He asked his toddler, smiling happily, but Milo's expression quickly grew somber.
"Daddy?" He asked.
"Yes?" Roy answered.
"Are you leaving?" Milo asked sadly.
"Yes, but on—"
"Are you going to come back?" Milo asked, trying to suppress tears.
"Of course I'm coming back why on earth would you ask such a silly question?" Roy pulled Milo into his lap. He ran his fingers through his dark curls.
Milo's golden orbs gazed up at him, tears pooling, he sniffled, "Is that why mommy is sad?"
This tugged at Roy's heartstrings, "No… mommy's not sad… he's excited, he gets a new house to live in with us… he gets to be closer to Uncle Al…"
Milo sniffled and wiped his eyes with his wrist. "Daddy… I don't want you to go… I don't want mommy to be sad."
"I know." Roy said hugging Milo. "It makes me sad to have to leave… of course I want to stay with you and your sisters and brother… your mother too… but I have to go to work... so that way I can take care of my precious children."
Milo shook his head.
Roy nodded, "Yes, Milo… don't you want to be taken care of?"
The little boy shook his head again, curls rustling.
"…well I need to go so I can at least take care of mommy."
Milo nodded his approval, "Daddy. Don't worry. While you're at work. I'll take care of mommy."
"You will, will you?"
Milo nodded again, smiling wide, his cheeks and eyelashes were still wet from his tears. Roy wrapped his arms around his eldest son in a hug.
"Daddy? How long are you going to be gone?" Milo asked.
"Only about three days"
"Dis many?" Milo asked holding up four fingers.
Roy pressed one down so it curled back into Milo's palm, "This many, this is three." Roy counted each of his fingers, "One, two, three."
Milo leaned back into his father, "Three days… then you'll be back?" Milo asked
Roy nodded, holding Milo's hand in his own, he ran his thumb over his son's tiny fingers.
"Daddy what is your job?" Milo asked, breaking the sliver of silence.
"I'm the brigadier general of the Southern military base."
"What does that mean?" Milo asked.
"Be patient, I'm getting to it." Roy cleared his throat, "I get to command a brigade."
"Like soldiers?" Milo asked excitedly.
"Exactly. But there's no war or conflict right now."
"Sooo…?" Milo asked
"So that means Daddy stays safe in his office…" Ed said, standing in the doorway.
Even though he'd just woken up he looked as beautiful as ever to Roy. His hair was tied up messily. He was wearing one of Roy's baggy t-shirts, it hung down his thighs. He was squinting due to the dim light coming from Milo's bedside lamp.
Ed slowly made his way over to where they sat and he sat down, leaning against Milo's bed, he was adjacent to where Roy sat.
"Good morning. You look ravishing." Roy almost purred.
Ed yawned and stretched. "Were you planning to say bye or were you just going to slip away into the morning like my lover does before you come home…"
Roy scoffed, he knew his husband was only joking, but it still made him jealous, his possesive animal instinct swelled inside him. "It's not like I'll be gone forever…"
"It's going to be different though… only once have you ever been away the kids for more than a day…"
"When?"
"Well… our honeymoon... two, nearly three years ago…? We left Milo with my brother for three days…"
"I remember the trip well." Roy said with a smirk.
Ed sighed with discontent, "anyways… it'll be the first time… I'm without you… and you're without me…"
"We've been apart lots of times… and again, like I said, it's only three days." Roy said
"Not really since we've been married… we've pretty much been side-by-side since then… it's gonna be weird when you don't come home at night…."
Roy smiled, "Don't worry about it… I'll be back before you notice."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roy left the house for the train shortly after Ed had woken up. He left his husband and son at the front door of their new house.
"I'm going to miss you." Ed said leaning up to wrap his arms around Roy's neck in a hug.
"I'll miss you too." Roy said. They pulled away, just enough to look at each other. Ed stared up at him with large golden eyes, almost exactly the same as his sons'. He leaned down, placing a firm and passionate kiss on Ed's lips. Something to tide the two of them over for the three days they would be separated. As the kiss deepened, Roy pulled Ed, closer, wrapping his arms around his waist, and hooking his arms behind Ed's back in an attempt to lock him in place.
Ed's arms tightened around Roy's neck and he pulled himself up closer to his husband's height, their kiss continuing.
Milo tugged on Roy's pant leg, "Daddeee." He called softly. He tried again, "Daddy." His parents continued to kiss despite their son's pleas.
Finally they broke away. Ed's cheeks were rosy, his eyes were glazed with lust and he looked dazed, like he was lost in a daydream. Roy chuckled, "I love you."
Ed blushed, "I-I love you too." He stammered.
Roy gave him one last peck on the lips before he crouched down to his son's height. "Milo." He said, "I'm gonna need you to be an excellent big brother and give mommy lots of help while I'm gone… do you think you can do that?" Roy asked
Milo nodded. Roy smiled and tousled his dark curls. "I'll see you when I get back." And with that, Roy stood up and left his family in their new house, half-way unpacked.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed was managing the kids about as well as he always did. Milo ran around the house playing with Calces. He had draped a scarf over her neck and was pretending she was a horse.
Lulu and Ollie followed their mother around the house, toddling as quickly as their little legs could manage.
Greyson, meanwhile, hardly left his mother's arms. Ed scrambled to keep his children entertained and fed. It was hard with four children, even harder with four children while he only had one hand free.
Ed glanced at the clock as he handed a bag of cheerios to Ollie. She and Lulu immediately dove in fist after fist, spilling round loops of grain onto the grey tile. Ed sighed, yet another thing to clean up.
It was noon, and he knew Roy wouldn't reach South City till night time, but he was expecting a call and didn't know when exactly to expect it, so he kept an open mind, and a rather hopeful one at that.
Ed was sitting at the table, his children surrounding him. It was lunch time. Greyson sat in a high chair right beside his mother. Oliver and Louisa sat in booster seats, and Milo sat in his father's seat at the other end of the table. The kids munched on their lunches. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with strawberries and milk.
Ed's hands were folded in front of him resting on the table. A jar of baby food was open on the table, a rubber ended baby spoon stuck out. He had tried to feed Grey some mushed peas and carrots, but the little boy wasn't having any of it.
"Mommy." Milo chirped excitedly between bites of sandwich.
Ed looked up at his son, "huh?"
"Do you need a kiss to feel better?" He asked.
"Why do you say that baby? I feel fine." Ed smiled.
"You're sad because daddy's gone… and you always seem better after daddy gives you a kiss…"
Ed chuckled, "I would love a kiss, Milo."
Taking a last bite of his sandwich, Milo slid off his seat and walked over to his mother wiping his hands on his shirt, still chewing.
Ed tsked, "Milo, your shirt isn't a napkin." He pulled a napkin from the table and wiped Milo's face and hands.
Milo finished chewing and put his hands on his mother's thighs, he leaned up puckering his lips.
Ed smiled and leaned down, kissing his son. "Thank you Milo, I do feel better."
Milo smiled and then went back to his seat.
They all sat at the table, the kids eating and Grey watching and listening silently. Lulu, Ollie, and Milo babbled in their child tongue that only they understood.
The phone began to ring and the kids fell silent, looking to their mother, who shot up and rushed to answer it.
"Elric-Mustang residence…" Ed said
"Hey Ed, I just wanted to check in…" Roy's low booming voice was a comforting sound to Ed.
"Are you in South City already?" He asked excitedly.
"Ah no. I'm at a station waiting for my train… it's running a little late."
Ed sighed, feeling like time was wasting… every minute wasted, was a minute Roy could've been using to get back home sooner.
"Can I talk to the kids?"
"Who wants to talk to daddy?" Ed asked, turning to the kids.
"Ooooh!" Milo hummed, "Me. Me. Me."
"Dah. Dahdee." Ollie cooed.
"Dah. Dha. Dah." Lulu chanted.
Ed glanced at Grey, he was spreading a mess of baby food goop. "Oh no, Grey!" Ed gasped. He gave the phone to Milo and rushed to his baby's side to clean up the mess he was making.
"Hi daddy." Milo said sweetly.
"Hi Milo." Roy said with a chuckle.
Ed wiped down the high chair tray and removed the jar of baby food. "How did you even reach this?" Ed mumbled to Grey.
"Daddy here's Louisa." Milo said.
He held the phone to Lulu's ear, "Dah, dah, dah. Dahdee." She squealed.
"Hi sweetie," Roy said excitedly.
Milo took the phone again, "Daddy, it's Milo again."
"Yes. Hello Milo." Roy said.
"Okay. Um. Daddy. Ollie wants to talk to you too." He held the phone to Oliver's ear.
"Daddhee." Ollie gurgled.
"Hi Ollie." Roy said.
"Hi daddy." Oliver cooed back through the phone.
Ed gasped hearing Oliver's first word other than her parent's names. He was excited.
"Wow, Ollie!" Roy said excitedly, "You have such a beautiful voice… will you talk some more to me?"
Ed was on his knees on the ground next to his kids, "Talk to daddy." Ed encouraged her.
"H-Hi dhadee…" she repeated.
"Hi." Roy said again, still excited. The whistle of a train sounded, signaling the arrival of his train. "Okay sweetie, can I talk to your mother now… my train is here…"
"Twaaain!" Oliver cooed to her father.
"That's right Oliver!" Roy said, "I need to talk to mommy now."
"Mommee" Ollie cooed.
Ed gently took the phone from her hands, "Hey." He said with a sigh of relief.
"She was speaking!" Roy said excitedly.
"Yeah" Ed agreed, "She's probably excited to hear you over the phone… so she spoke…" Ed trailed off.
"My train is here now."
"Oh. Okay." Ed said, "Call me when you get to South City."
"I will." Roy said.
"Safe travels!" Ed chirped nervously.
"Of course Ed, I'll talk to you soon." Roy hung up.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It was the second day Roy had been gone. He was in South City, Ed had received a call from him late the previous night, and now he was exhausted after waiting up so late.
Ed sat on the couch. Grey was on the floor on his tummy, holding up his head. Milo was sitting right outside Roy's study, looking at the pictures in the multitude of books. Oliver and Lulu played together with dolls and toy cars, making sound effects.
There was a loud knock on the door. Ed shot up and rushed to the door. Oliver stood, straightening his glasses.
"Hullo Ed." Oliver said with a smile.
"Hi… Oliver… how are you?" Ed asked.
"Oh good. Good." He trailed off.
"Where's Louis?" Ed asked, sticking his head outside, looking around for the platinum blonde man's lover.
"Oh. Who cares where he's at…" Oliver spat.
"I came do your check-up… today's the day we find out…" Oliver said excitedly.
"Oh. Yeah." Ed said, "Shouldn't we wait for Louis?"
Then Ed heard him, "OLIVER!" Louis yelled from outside, he appeared coming down the path. "You can't just walk away when you don't want to argue."
"Well. I did." Oliver replied snarkily.
By now, the two of them had caught the attention of the children. The girls and Milo clutched to their mother's legs, watching the scene before them unfold.
"Can you please come out here so we can settle this privately… and not in front of our friend… and his very impressionable children?"
Oliver huffed with irritation before he went outside and closed the door behind him. The kids scattered, resuming what they'd been doing previously. Ed sat on the couch.
A few minutes later, the front door opened quietly and in stepped Louis and Oliver, side by side, as if nothing had happened.
"So. Ed." Oliver said. He cleared his throat, "Todays the day we find out if the insemination was a success."
Ed nodded.
"What do you think?" Oliver asked.
"Well… I think… whatever happens will be…. Unexpected…"
"You should be… about six weeks along…" Oliver said.
Ed already knew he was pregnant. He also knew he was pregnant with his and Roy's child. He just didn't know how to say it, or how to say how he knew.
Oliver smiled. They ran through the usual routine, Ed laid down, Oliver asked him questions. Then finally what they'd all been anticipating, Oliver pulled out a stethoscope. He put the prongs in either ear and then hesitantly pressed the drum to Ed's stomach. His face lit up almost immediately.
"He's pregnant?" Louis asked, he held Ollie in one arm and Lulu in the other.
Oliver nodded, he looked to be on the verge of tears, his eyes were glassy and tears pooled threatening to spill over his cheeks if he couldn't calm down. Oliver chuckled, a sort of joyful nervousness… like a chuckle of relief. He took off his glasses and put them in his pocket. He wiped his eyes.
"That's great!" Louis said.
Ed felt a wave of panic rising up, about to crash down on him.
Oliver looked between Louis and Ed, he was speechless. He threw his arms around Ed's neck in a hug and then he had to practically jump to give Louis a kiss.
"Mommy yer, gon' have a baby!" Milo squealed, He looked between his uncles, "daddy left me to take care of mommy."
"Is that so?" Oliver asked enthusiastically. Milo nodded, his curls bouncing. Oliver smiled.
"Mommy! We should tell daddy!" Milo said excitedly.
"Oh. No. We shouldn't sweetie…"
"Yeah. 'Er gon' have my brother, Roy's son!" Milo added.
Ed felt like lightning had struck and now he was on fire, "Roy? Don't call your father Roy…" Milo blushed, "Daddy would be so upset by that… second of all… this baby is Uncle Louis and Uncle Oliver's."
Milo blushed even more now. Dropping his gaze embarrassedly.
Ed started stroking Milo's curls as his son's head began to lower into his lap.
Then Milo's head shot up suddenly, "Mommy, you know… and I know—"
"Wait what? What Milo?" Oliver asked
"Well, my brother is in there… but mommy says it's a sister…" Milo shook his head, "Not a brother… OH!" Milo leaned in close to Oliver to tell him a secret, "Don't tell daddy… mommy told me not to tell him."
Oliver looked at Ed confused. He cocked an eyebrow.
Ed sighed, "Milo, you weren't supposed to tell anyone."
"Sorry mommy…" Milo mumbled, crawling onto Ed's lap.
"It's fine sweetie…" Ed said, running his fingers through Milo's dark curls.
"So you know the baby is yours…?" Oliver asked.
"Well… no."
"No?" Oliver repeated, he sounded concerned and rather baffled.
Ed scoffed, "It's…. I mean, I can't be certain…"
"I'd like to hear…"
Ed sighed, "Alright," he began, "It was just a stupid dream… but it seemed so real… I was in a hospital room… with Roy and a baby… I was holding her… and Roy was apologizing… for something… he felt guilty about something, then he started to—" Ed stopped himself.
"Started to what?" Oliver asked.
"It's not important." Ed shook his head, "But… there was a baby… and it felt… so…. real… I can't explain this feeling I have…"
There was a long silence before anyone spoke.
"Well I guess there's a congratulations in order to one of us…" Oliver said. He gave Ed a hug, "Thanks for letting me poke and prod at you…"
Ed nodded, "Do what you've gotta do… and I'm sorry… that I might've messed it all up…"
"Oh Ed…" Oliver waved him off, "that's ridiculous… you've done exactly the opposite… eventually… we'll find out whose baby that is… In the meantime I suggest you call Roy and tell him the news…"
Ed nodded, he led out Oliver and Louis and tried to go about his day normally. A curious sort of nervousness rose in his body. Ed didn't know how to feel about the fact that he knew the baby was his. And he was absolutely clueless when it came to telling Roy, he didn't even want to mention the subject of babies to him.
Ed sighed tiredly and sat on the couch. He pulled Greyson into his lap from down on the floor.
Now was not a good time for a "happy accident" Roy was already stressed as it is, he'd be torn up if he found out they were expecting another baby and he had to leave Ed with five kids for two weeks at a time.
"Mommy." Milo said calmly. He clambered onto his mother's lap clumsily.
"Yeah." Ed said.
"Is your baby." He stated.
"How do you know…?" Ed asked unsurely.
Milo shrugged, "I just know… I know my brother."
"Brother?" Ed asked
Milo nodded, "Yes. And I'm so excited to meet him!"
Ed sighed again.
"Mommy?" Milo asked "are you feelin' okay?"
"Yeah…" Ed said.
"Should I call daddy?"
Ed chuckled, "Why would you call daddy?"
"To talk about the baby?" He answered simply.
Ed shook his head, "Daddy and I will talk about that later… you don't need to worry about the baby… alright?"
Milo nodded.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ed was sitting at the table, everyone else had gone to bed no problem. Except for Greyson. It was a battle of wills when it came to this baby, and that's why Ed normally let Roy put him to bed.
Ed was sitting beside Grey, feeding him a concoction of mashed fruit. "Mm." Ed hummed as Grey took a bite. The baby wiggled excitedly, excited huffs whistling from his tiny nose.
The phone began to ring and Ed set the jar of baby food on the table, so it was out of Grey's reach.
"Hello. Elric-Mustang residence."
"Hey baby…" Roy purred
Ed couldn't help but blush, "H-hey…" He muttered, "How are you doing? How was the ceremony? Your colleagues? Just tell me everything!"
"Well." Roy began. "The ceremony was huge… everyone was there, alchemists, academy students…. Just everyone"
"Well you're kind of a big deal now…"
"Not really… I'm just a brigadier general."
"You're being to humble…"
Roy chuckled, "perhaps… but if you were here you'd probably agree all this is… ridiculous…"
Ed was smiling, just happy to hear his husband's voice. He turned around so he was facing Grey. The little boy was reaching for the baby food, with no such luck. "Are you in the barracks?"
"Yeah, In my room. I hate being away from the kids… it's… unnaturally quiet…"
"Oh. I bet. Meanwhile the girls keep calling for you, Milo's been begging to call you on the phone and Grey of course has been having trouble sleeping without you…"
Roy was chuckling, smiling, lost in thought of his kids. "I miss you Ed."
Ed was blushing, he cleared his throat, "I miss you too. I can't wait to see you… Only one more day… the kids and I will all meet you at the station tomorrow night."
There was silence on the other end.
"Roy? You still there?" Ed asked
"Ed… sweetie… I don't know how to tell you this… but… I'm not coming home tomorrow."
"What?" Ed gasped.
"They want me to start on my twelve days while I'm here… so I don't have to travel twice in one month…"
Ed was shaking his head, trying to keep his emotions in check. "That's fine…"
"I'm bummed about it too Ed… but I'll be back before you know it… tomorrow why don't you take the kids over to your brother's house for a while…"
"Mhm." Ed mumbled, barely able to keep from crying.
"I'm so sorry about this Ed… I miss you… and I love you…"
Ed didn't say anything he was too choked up, tears dripped down his cheeks.
"Ed?" Roy asked.
Again Ed didn't say anything.
"I know this sucks… I want to come home… but this is… something I have to do… don't worry though… this will all get better…"
Ed nodded, "…yeah." He whimpered.
"Don't cry…" Roy tried to comfort.
"I'm not…" Ed sniffled
Roy chuckled, "I wish I could be there to hold you right now and comfort you."
Ed shook his head, "doesn't matter… Roy, I'm… gonna put Greyson to bed now…"
"Alright… I love you."
This made Ed erupt into tears all over again, "I… love y-you too…" Ed hung up the phone and sat down in a kitchen chair. His shoulders slumped and his head fell into his hands as he sobbed.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Okay! I'm excited about these next couple of chapters! It's gonna be good! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I tried to get it done in a timely manner… but that didn't happen. Thanks so much for reading and for your support! I love you all so much, please leave me a review! Again, I was able to finish this chapter after receiving several lovely ones in my email this morning(I'm so happy about it btw)! You guys are my motivation! See ya next chapter!