Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Full Metal Alchemist Somewhere between Science and Alchemy ❯ Part Three- Moral Support ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

* Nursie Note*- I am getting ready to post part four… I went over part three and noticed a few places that needed edited. I’ve tried several times to edit and upload the next chapter but it doesn’t seem to want to let me do it!!! So, I decided to start over with part three and redo the whole thing. I didn’t rewrite it, there are a few things that I added and I went over it for misspelled words and such. I hope it works this time. I also hope you enjoy this part as well as the next part. I probably won’t add a note for the next part so I’ll warn you a head of time. The next part is the start of why I rated this fic the way I did. So please, no kiddies! Thanks for reading!!!

Part Three-
‘Moral Support’

It was just past noon when Alphonse entered the workshop practically dragging Winry with him. They found Pinako sitting at her work bench inhaling on her pipe and rubbing her tired eyes with her free hand. She hadn’t heard either of them as they approached but smiled with a hint of sadness in her face as she motioned for them to take a seat.

Her expression wasn’t surprised and she looked at the young adults as if knowing that they had something to share with her.

“It’s about time you got out of the house Winry. I should commend Al for getting you past the second floor. Are you feeling better dear?” She asked placing her pipe to the side.

“That’s what we’re here to talk to you about.” Al replied looking at Winry and giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Pinako’s eyes narrowed watching Al holding Winry’s hand. “And here I thought that I should be worried about your brother, Al.” She arched her brow. “You’re a little young for a real girlfriend.” Al could tell Pinako was teasing them but it was a bit of a hurtful comment. He liked girls just fine, there wasn’t anything he could have done about it in metal armor so he did have a bit of catching up. Actually a lot of catching up. Especially now after hearing about his brother’s relationship with Winry... ~Brother sure didn’t waste any time on that now did he…~ Al thought absently before shaking it off and turning his attention back to Pinako. He had to set her straight about one thing first though.

“It’s not like that.” He offered quickly. “I’m here for moral support.”

“Moral support huh? Now you have my attention.”

Al nudged at Winry, who stared at the concrete floor hard as if it would give her all the answers she sought. Finally, she looked up at her grandmother.

“Grandma… I… I…. don’t know how to…” She stammered trying to get the words out of her mouth but couldn’t get them past her tongue. She glanced frightened at Al next to her.

He sighed and shook his head closing his eyes. “Aunt Pinako, Winry needs to tell you something but she’s afraid of what you will say. I told her that she could tell you anything… that you would understand whatever it is that she needs to tell you. I’m sure once you hear what she has to say, you won’t be so confused about everything… I know I wasn’t but you have to understand that Winry’s scared. We need to assure her that we are going to help her in any way we can.”

“You’re a very perceptive young man Alphonse. Not at all as short tempered as your brother but why do I get the feeling this is more about him than anything.” She eyed the two of them.

“Grandma…” Winry whispered. Pinako looked over at her bending her head trying to see her granddaughter’s face through the mess of blonde hair.

“What is it Winry.” She asked calmly suddenly worried eyeing her granddaughter, at the same time wondering what it was that was so hard to say.

“I’m pregnant.”

Pinako dropped her pipe. “Oh Winry… are you sure?

Winry couldn’t speak but nodded.

“And it’s Edward’s child. I assume.”

When Winry didn’t answer, she looked over at Alphonse again. Her expression a little upset with her grandmother‘s words about Ed.

“Well, short stuff sure gave us quite a tall mess to clean up while he’s away.”

“You… you’re not mad?” Winry stammered out.

“How could I be mad.” Pinako stood placing a hand on Winry’s cheek, wiping away the tears falling from her eyes and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “We have a lot of stuff to do so that this all doesn’t look so bad but a baby is never a burden. They’re blessings. Besides, maybe it’ll help the tall one here figure out some way to get short stuff home.”

“Don’t call him short.” Winry snapped at Edward’s defense.

“Oh… I guess from the womb the baby wants to defend it’s father.” Pinako shrugged. “I suppose you should start with a shower Winry. Al and I have some business to discuss.”

“We do.” Al replied confused. He swallowed hard was he wondered what Pinako wanted with him. He expected that she would want to speak with Winry and that his work was done but shrugging he figured that he needed to help however he could.

“Oh yes Alphonse… I think you need to get on the phone as soon as I call the doctor over here, and get in to touch with that brilliant girl Cheska as well as Major Armstrong… maybe Mustang even.” She sighed. “Depends on if Cheska is as good as I think she is.”

“What are you planning Aunt Pinako?” Al asked as Winry lingered to hear what they were saying.

Pinako glanced over at Winry. “Go get cleaned up. The doctor will have to examine you.”

Sulking, Winry slowly found her way out of the workshop.

“Well?” Al asked.

“No one but the three of us know about Winry’s condition right?”

“I had to drag it out of her so I’m pretty sure we are.”

“Good. Did Ed account for all his time between the time he left here and when it happened.” Pinako asked gravely.

“No, brother never told Mustang everything he did. I seriously doubt that Ed would tell him anything about what happened between him and Winry. He didn’t even tell me!” Al said realizing that Ed had kept him in the dark about his feelings for Winry as well.

Pinako nodded her head then rummaged through some drawers containing various auto mail parts. Pulling out a round nut that looked almost like a ring she held it up to show Al.

“So, how are your alchemy skills these days boy?”

“They’re about as good as ever if not better. I do have to pass the state exam in two months.”

“Do you think you can manage a fake gold band?”

Al sighed and smirked. “As long as you don’t tell anyone… it is forbidden after all.”

“Young man, there are going to be several things discussed today that won’t leave this house until Ed comes home. Now… can you do it?”

Al clapped his hands together. “Got anything you want to add to this?”

Pinako thought a second, then reached into her apron pocket, pulling out a simple necklace with a small diamond. “You can use this.”

“Aunt Pinako… it’s beautiful. Whose…”

“It belonged to Winry’s mom. I think it would make a beautiful wedding set.”

“Wedding set?” Al eyed her skeptically. “But who’s getting married.”

“Nobody is getting married Al. We’re going to make it look like Ed married Winry the night he left.” She sighed. “It would make things a lot easier on my granddaughter as well as give the baby a proper name.”

“True.” Al mused. “Plus she’ll get all of Ed’s military benefits. But how do you plan to get everyone to agree to all of this. And how do we tell Edward when he does come home.”

Pinako sighed. “Alphonse, I’m not doing this incase Edward does come home.” She paused. “If the military decides to declare Edward dead… I’m doing this for Winry and his child.”

Al nodded. As much as he hated to admit it, there was always the possibility that the military would declare Ed dead as well as the fact that it might take him a bit to get Ed home. Silently, he agreed to Pinako’s plan. He clapped his hands together, much the same as his brother could do, seeing blue light glow from his palms and touched the metal piece and necklace.

Opening his hand, Pinako saw the most beautiful wedding set she’d ever seen in all her years emerge from his hand. She looked up at Al in awe.

“If you can do that child… I’m sure you’ll find some way to reunite my granddaughter and your brother… it’s such a beautiful ring.” She took it from his palm.

“It was the least I could do. It’s almost the same as the one my dad gave our mom. I figured Ed would like that.”

“I’m sure he would.” Pinako agreed smiling at him.

******

Winry stepped in front of her mirror. Eyeing herself, she held the white cotton towel to her body and bit her lip nervously. She had never been examined by a doctor like she was about to be and she all but admitted that it frightened her. Her long blonde hair laid in wet strings against the small of her back as she ran a brush quickly through it then pinned it up with a clip. Her eyes kept wandering back to her reflection. It had been since Ed left that she had paid any attention at all at how she looked. Her blue eyes narrowed on the paleness of her skin and she definitely looked as if she lost weight… so why wasn’t her pants wanting to button this past week. She checked the door nervously before striding over and turning the lock.

Finding herself once for in front of the full length mirror, she cautiously allowed the towel to fall from her body and pool at her feet. Her hands found their way to her abdomen just under her belly button and she caressed the small bump forming.

Looking intently at her stomach, she stared as her hands roamed the area, feeling the unfamiliar bump where just inside her womb the tiny life that Edward and her had created was starting to grow. She found it odd that the normally flat area was now so intriguing to her now. She turned sideways trying to gauge if she poked out any at all yet. Pushing in, she noticed the hardness of her abdomen, her eyes welled up.

“Look Ed… look what we did.” She whispered. “You’re growing inside me. No matter what… I will always have this piece of you that’s growing inside of me.” Realizing for the first time that her tears were happy, she hugged her shoulders. “You may never be able to touch me like that again but I’ll never forget that you did. This is the best thing you could have ever left me besides yourself.”

She wiped her eyes and quickly went over to her dresser. Taking out some undergarments, that she knew just by touching her belly would not fit much longer, she dressed in silence. The next thing would be to find something to wear that wouldn’t be too constricting or show that she was pregnant. She settled on an oversized sundress and pulled her hair back into a braid much like Ed would wear.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and prepared herself to greet the doctor.

She entered the living room a few moments later. Her grandmother was sitting on the sofa and she noticed that Al was in the kitchen talking on the telephone.
“Grandma?” She asked quietly taking a seat next to the older woman.

“Sit down dear. We should probably talk.”

“Ok.” Winry answered a little unsure but before Pinako could start the conversation, Winry had started rambling about being sorry that this all happened but that she was glad that it did.

Pinako silenced her granddaughter with her finger and insisted that Winry slow down and catch her breath.

“Winry… you shouldn’t be apologizing for loving someone. I know this is not what you intended to happen. However, if you had known that Edward would not be returning with Al, you wouldn’t have changed a thing. I know that. Don’t be so hard on yourself. This maybe a bit tricky, but it’s nothing we can’t get through.” She leaned in and hugged Winry. She pulled away from the small girl, looking up into her face and smiled. “I have something for you.”

“For me? But Grandma… you are doing so much as it is.”

“Well, I must say that I didn’t do this. Al deserves the credit for this.” She pulled the set of rings out of her apron.

“Al made this?” Winry asked her voice wavering as her emotions threatened tears yet again. “I don’t understand… why do I need a wedding ring? Edward’s not here. I can’t marry him.”

“No, this is true but… “ Pinako started to answer but her granddaughter cut her off once more.

Winry’s heart skipped a beat as she thought about what her Grandma was saying. Panicking a bit as the words sunk in, she knew she had to tell her grandmother that she wasn’t about to go along with what she thought that she was planning.

“I know Al means well. He said he’d do anything for me but I can’t marry Edward’s brother. It wouldn’t be right.” She shook her head. The gesture was sweet but she couldn’t see herself marrying just to make everything appear normal.”

Pinako chuckled. “That’s not what we have been planning Winry. And you aren’t going to marry Al. What we are trying to do is make it look as if Edward married you already. Before he left.” She held out the rings to her granddaughter.

Tentatively, she picked up the rings from Pinako’s palm. With a reassuring nod from her grandmother, Winry placed them on her left ring finger then held her arm away from her to see what they looked like.

“How are we going to do this?” She started to ask when Al hung up the phone and entered the living room.

“Cheska and Armstrong will be here first thing in the morning. From what I gather, all we will need is the witnesses… That would be Cheska and you, Aunt Pinako and Major Armstrong can sign the certificate dating it back to the night Ed left. With the doctor’s examination of Winry and his estimation of how far along she is… that should be all we need. If there is any question, I can get Colonel Mustang to do whatever it is that needs to be done. We’ll need Cheska to recreate a license and certificate. But I don’t think anyone could tell her work from original certified copies.” Al sat down beside Winry and smiled as he watched her admire his handy work. He shrugged. “I hope you like it Winry. Brother always did like the one our mom had. This is almost an exact replica.”

“It’s beautiful Al. Thank you.”

Al blushed and scratched the back of his neck. “ugh… it was no big deal.” He paused. “So when’s the doctor coming. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.”

“He should be here within the hour.” Pinako answered. “Both of you need to remember what we’ve discussed. You are not Winry Rockbell anymore. You’re Mrs. Edward Elric.”

With that, Pinako stood pulled out her pipe and inhaled long and slow. “I think I’ll have some tea before he gets here. Mrs. Elric, would you care to join me?”

Winry watched Pinako start towards the kitchen. As her grandmother disappeared around the corner, she smiled timidly up at Al. “I hope I don’t blow it. I’ve wanted to be Mrs. Edward Elric but I sorta wanted a real wedding with Ed… at least being there.” She sighed sadly. “I guess this is the next best thing.”

“Think of it this way Winry… Brother would have married you if he had known he wouldn’t return right away.” Al answered as he stared into space.

“Yeah… maybe… but all of this… All it does… I mean if they decide to… It just makes me his widow. So instead of an actual bride… the military is actually just a widow maker.”

Her words snapped Al out of his daze and he watched her get up slowly and walk into the kitchen joining her grandmother.

To be continued…