Fic - Strands of Nightmares update
Feb. 3rd, 2007 10:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessStrands of Nightmares
author-![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition. I don’t make a profit
Rating – PG-13
Pairing – Ed/Winry, Roy/Riza, Al/various
Time Line – manga based, future fic, based heavily on the dark future Riza predicted should Roy attain his goals. Spoilers for manga beyond #38.
Summary – It should have been a time of great happiness but fate is rarely kind
Warning – apparent character death
Author’s Note – Thanks tomjules and evil_little_dog for the beta. You can find previous chapters here
Chapter Three
“Please, Winry, let us in,” Al said, rapping on the door. He knew Winry was inside her room but she wasn’t talking to them.
Ed elbowed Al aside and turned the doorknob. “Winry?” He slammed the door shut again just before something clattered against the golden oak paneling. Exchanging terrified looks with his brother, Ed tried again. “Please, we want to explain but we can’t do that here in the hall. It’s too dangerous.”
Al heard the creak of the bedsprings and then the door opened. “Get in here,” Winry snapped, whipping around. She flung herself onto the flowered bedspread; the delicate peach roses a match for the walls. “He’s alive…I’m guessing she is, too.”
Ed nodded. “Mustang, Riza, Al and I, along with his men and Armstrong planned it. Pig’s blood, alchemy to explode the blood sacks, blanks in Riza’s gun and fast action to get them out of there.”
“Dr. Knox, the coroner, knew Roy from the war and he was more than happy to fake the death certificates,” Al said, leaning against the door.
“That’s why their bodies were stolen,” Winry said thoughtfully, sitting back up more decorously. She snagged the pillow, curling in on it. “But you should have told me. What was one more person in on the secret?”
Ed sat next to her, the soft feather tic mattress denting under his weight, and took her hand. Both Al and Winry stared at him, shocked that he would do that. “That wasn’t our choice. Armstrong, Breda and Mustang thought it too dangerous to let anyone but the inner cabal know.”
“You could have trusted me.” Winry slipped her hand out of his, turning her back on him and his brother.
Al was surprised to see Ed’s eyes mist over. Ed almost reached for her again but stopped himself. Al couldn’t talk but Ed managed to find his voice. “Winry, we trust you but our enemies know you. Your visible mourning – as hard as it’s been on Al and me to witness – kept you safe. No one seeing you would have doubted the truth of your feelings. If anyone doubted that Mustang and Hawkeye were dead, your sorrow could’ve convinced them otherwise.”
“There are people who would hurt you to get what they want, including proof that Mustang isn’t gone. Not just the Ishbalans or the Drachmians or even our own government but maybe representatives of all three. There are certainly others that supported Bradley. We aren’t sure we rooted them all out,” Al said, sitting on the cherry wood hope chest by the foot of the bed. He saw Winry’s face gentling. “Winry, no matter what you do to us, you couldn’t punish us more than we’ve already punished ourselves.”
Winry pulled Ed to her, hugging him tightly then got up and did the same to Al. She brushed away a few stray tears ensnared in her lashes. She leaned on the poster of the bed. “I’m still furious with you both but I forgive you. You did what you had to to keep them safe.”
“Do you want to stay up here for awhile longer or do you want to go back down with the rest?” Ed sprawled on the bed, relief creeping onto his face.
Winry sighed heavily, pushing him over so she could sit. “Give me a moment.” She rubbed her fingers over her swollen eyes. “Mrs. Liu…she has to be.”
“She is,” Ed interjected as Al got up and went to the bathroom to wet a towel for Winry.
She pressed it to her eyes. “Thanks, Al,” Winry murmured. “Does she live here in the hotel?”
Al shook his head, sinking back onto the hope chest. “There are two cottages on the grounds. Havoc has one, Gracia the other.”
“That might change,” Ed said, a devilish look gleaming in his sunlight eyes.
Al looked at him in shock. “I didn’t realize you noticed they were seeing each other, Brother.”
Winry dropped the towel, as surprised as Al. Ed looked at her sourly.
“I’m not blind,” Ed asserted and Al nearly argued but figured it wasn’t worth it. Ed missed his brother exchanging ‘sure you’re not blind’ looks with Winry. “The jackass lives at the edge of town in a big old house. I always thought he was just a cheap bastard, living like he used to back in the day, but he was putting away his state stipend, almost all of it. He knew the day would come where he’d have to go into hiding.” A hint of begrudging respect inched onto Ed’s face.
“And he bought all of this?” Winry asked incredulously. She took the towel back to the bathroom.
“Bought the cottages, the inn, the shop and the house and has plenty enough that he really never has to work again, which probably suits him just fine. He’s a lazy bastard.” Ed smirked. Al just rolled his eyes. Ed would never admit to liking Roy at least a little. Well, at least Al thought his brother might like the older alchemist at any rate.
“It’s remote here, pretty. I can see why they came here to start again,” Winry said, coming back into the room. “Armstrong is in charge of the military base, right?”
“And his scary big sister is in control of the whole region. General Armstrong is a little bitchy but she protects her people and this country,” Al said and Winry laughed. He raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you call anyone bitchy before.” She grinned, sitting back down next to Ed.
“She is,” Al said, thinking back on his experiences with the general, and Ed nodded vigorously. “Hard. She’s the opposite of Strongarm in all things except her desire to protect Amestris.”
“She even dislikes alchemy to a degree,” Ed grumbled, picking at a loose string in the quilting.
“Ed hasn’t forgiven General Armstrong for calling him a shrimp,” Al said to Winry in a stage whisper, bringing a smile to her face. Ed curled his lip at his brother.
“Al.” Winry reached for Ed’s hand, squeezing it. “Ro…Qiang seems to think you like his sister. Is there a reason you haven’t asked her out or was he wrong about you liking her?” Winry seemed almost afraid of the answer and Al couldn’t help but think if Ed needed any proof that she cared about him this was it; her worry that Al might like her as well.
“He can’t like her. Xue-Li really is the bastard’s sister,” Ed interjected, waving his hands frantically and Winry seemed to wilt.
“I haven’t asked her, Winry, because I’ve been seeing someone else,” Al said and watched his family’s faces mold into shock. “But I’m not sure it’s going to work out.”
“Are…are you sure that’s it, Al? Why won’t it work?” Winry asked, regaining her voice first.
“Who have you been seeing?” Ed blurted out.
Before Al could respond someone knocked on the door. He went over to the door and asked, “Who’s there?”
“Qiang.”
Al glanced over his shoulder at Winry questioningly. “Let him in,” Winry said with a nod, her chin firming. Recognizing that look, Al wondered abruptly whether Qiang’s healing alchemy would on himself.
Qiang slipped inside when Al opened the door. He paused, glancing at Winry then dropped his gaze as Al relocked the door. Qiang’s clothes were such a bright display against the subdued hues of the room. “The brothers told me how distressed you were over me and Riza. They didn’t tell you the truth because I didn’t think it was safe yet. I am sorry for the pain it caused you,” Qiang said softly, not meeting her eyes.
Winry came over and gave him a hug. When she let go, she slapped him across the face. The brothers stared, wide-eyed. “I cried for weeks.”
“Sorry.” Qiang rubbed his cheek. A red handprint stood out on his high cheekbone. “We do appreciate the sentiment, though.”
“I want to see Riza.” Winry shoved her fists against her hips. Her tone made Al withdraw a bit and Ed shifted around nervously.
“Eira.” Roy crossed over to the window seat and folded up on it. He pushed the gauzy white curtain aside, looking out. “That’s her name now. She’s at the market with Gracia.”
“Are you happy?” Winry asked, sitting back on the bed, shoving Ed over.
Qiang leaned back against the glass, a soft, honest smile playing on his lips. “Very. Happier than I’ve been since…oh, before Ishbal probably. I feel like the same idealistic boy who used to bother my mentors for more alchemy books to read.”
“That sounds familiar,” Winry said wryly, rolling her eyes at Ed. He scrunched his nose up at her.
Qiang laughed. “I’m sure. I’m learning more all the time right now. It’s quite exciting.”
“I saw how you healed Havoc. I didn’t know you could do that sort of thing,” Winry said, her eyes alit with curiosity.
“My first mentor was from Xing and she taught me but she passed away when I was eleven. After that I was more interested in other things…powerful things. Always did like to play with fire.” He smirked. Al wagged his head at that while Ed snorted loudly.
“It sounds dangerous,” Winry said grimly.
“Kimbley always said it took a certain derangement to want to play with fire or explosives.” Qiang shrugged. Al made a face, thinking for the first time in depth what mastery of that sort of alchemy would entail.
“Guess it comes down to can you resist playing with fire now, because otherwise your disguise is very good. I didn’t recognize you at all, sir. The tattoo on your hand is very distracting. It takes the eyes away from your face.” Winry gestured to the design on Qiang’s hand.
Qiang rubbed the dragon and lotus tattoo. “I hoped it would. I had to cover the array I carved on the back of my hand. There’s no covering Riza’s tattoo but only a precious few even knew she had it.”
“I only knew after she told me about Ishbal. I’ve never seen it,” Ed said as Winry’s eyes widened, wondering what they were talking about. Ed had long ago filled Al in.
“If you had seen it, I’d have to gouge out your eyes for ogling my woman,” Qiang replied, his silken slipper clad feet rapping a warning against the oaken base of the window seat.
“I see you two get along just as you always have.” Winry sighed.
“Whatever,” Ed said, shoving his hand into the pocket of his coat which he hadn’t bothered to take off as per usual. His nose wrinkled and he withdrew a packet of herbs from the pocket. “Did you put these in here?” He shook it at Qiang.
“What is it?” Winry asked, peering at the packet.
“The aphrodisiac you whacked him in the head with. I thought you’d put them to good use, Edward,” Qiang replied, his thin eyebrows arching, giving him a decidedly devilish look.
“You’ll notice nothing’s changed. He’s still the same bastard Mustang was.” Oblivious to Winry’s blush, Ed hurled the packet at Qiang who caught it.
“I’d give them to your brother but I have my sister’s honor to protect,” Qiang said, narrowing his eyes at Al.
“It was your idea I date her to irritate Ed,” Al reminded him, flushing brightly. Ed shot Qiang a furious look as Al grabbed hold of his metal arm just in case. Winry just shook her head in disbelief.
“True. I suppose if you plan on carrying on with Xue-Li and Ran Fan at the same time, you’ll need the aphrodisiac,” Qiang said, waggling the packet at him.
“You know about that?” Al asked miserably, seeing Winry’s stunned look. He couldn’t look at Ed.
“Ran Fan! You’re doing what with Ran Fan?” Ed bellowed.
“What do you think?” Al retorted sourly.
“Alphonse! How can you keep some thing like that from me?” Ed asked, the hurt obvious in his eyes. He sat up abruptly, nearly knocking Winry from the bed.
“It wasn’t any of your business,” Al replied wearily, knowing he was in for a fight.
As the brothers fell to arguing, Qiang flipped the packet to Winry. “Here, maybe you can disable his leg so he can’t run off on you. Once he realizes it’s fun, maybe he won’t fight so hard.” Qiang smirked and Winry huffed at him but pocketed the herbs. Glancing outside, Qiang unfurled from the window seat. “My wife’s back with Gracia and more groceries than is reasonable. I’d better help the ladies bring them in.” Qiang was halfway to the door with Winry behind him before the bickering brothers realized they were being left behind.
“Where are you going?” Ed growled. “This is all your fault anyhow!”
“If you yelled less, you’d have heard him say Ri…Eira is back with Gracia. I want to see them,” Winry said sourly. “Ed, stop yelling at your brother. At least he’s living. Al, two women at once? Who are you trying to emulate. His old reputation?” She jerked a thumb at Roy. “Havoc?”
“Don’t take after Havoc,” Qiang said, wagging his head. “He has the worst luck with women.”
“He’s not dating Gracia now?” Al asked, letting go of the front of Ed’s shirt
“Yes, I suppose his luck has changed at last.” Qiang shrugged, heading down the corridor.
The chastised brothers followed him and Winry to the kitchen where Gracia was struggling in with a box. Al went to help her. Qiang leaned out the door and called. “Eira, leave that stuff. I have the Elrics with me. We can get the groceries.”
“I’m not made of glass, Qiang. Shouldn’t you be working, you lazy man?”
“Viivi is manning the shop,” Qiang said, heading outside to help. When he came back carrying two bags of groceries, Qiang was followed by Eira. Winry went to embrace the woman Riza had become but stopped dead. Ed and Al’s eyes popped.
Ed pointed at Eira’s belly. “What did you do?” he snapped at Qiang.
“Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Qiang dumped the groceries on the counter and wrapped an arm around Eira. A hugely smug smile settled on his face.
“And you may never do again if you don’t quit acting like I’m fragile.” Eira slapped his hand where it rested on the little bulge in her belly.
“Congratulations,” Al said, elbowing Qiang aside so he could hug her. “Being pregnant looks good on you.”
“I can’t believe you wanted to make another him .” Ed jerked a thumb at Roy. “But congrats.”
Riza grinned and ruffled Ed’s hair. “That means a lot coming from you.” She turned to Winry, opening her arms. The girl was in them instantly. Eira held her tight. “I’m sorry we made you cry.”
“It’s all okay now,” Winry said, resting her cheek on Riza’s shoulder for a moment then let go. “You look beautiful. This is so exciting.”
“I’m just excited that the vomiting phase is over,” Eira said wryly.
“Don’t get too excited. You’re moving into the having to pee every five minutes phase,” Gracia offered, bringing in another box of groceries.
“Oh, thanks for the preview,” Eira moaned, starting to unpack the box.
“There are more in the truck, boys,” Gracia said encouragingly and the brothers grumbled their way outside.
Once the groceries were all in, they set about to putting them up. “I can’t help noticing, Edward, you seem very put out. What did Qiang do to you now?” Eira asked knowingly.
“Take your pick, giving him aphrodisiacs or encouraging me to date Xue-Li,” Al replied and his brother made a face.
“I was trying to help,” Qiang put in before the ladies could say anything.
“You are a trouble maker.” Gracia whacked him with a sack of onions.
“Helping,” he insisted, rubbing his shoulder. “Tell me those herbs wouldn’t help relax tight-ass?”
Ed made a high pitched noise that would confuse bats and leapt on Qiang. Al slipped an arm around Eira, hustling her out of the kitchen with Gracia and Winry chasing after him.
“Fight it out, just don’t destroy my kitchen!” Eira screamed over her shoulder.
“They can use alchemy to fix it,” Al assured her.
“I’m beat. Who wants to go back to the tea house?” Winry asked, stretching her arms.
“Lovely idea. Jean,” Gracia called to the man as they entered the bar area of the hotel. He was busy getting ready to open for the late afternoon crowd. “When those two are done killing each other, have them clean up the blood and that kitchen had best be the way it was before they started.”
He laughed. “I’ll see to it.” Al lightly looped his arm around Winry’s shoulders as he walked the ladies to the tea shop. Winry’s arm slid around his waist. He listened quietly as they chatted about babies, just content to be there to share in it with them.
on to chapter four
author-
cornerofmadnessDisclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition. I don’t make a profit
Rating – PG-13
Pairing – Ed/Winry, Roy/Riza, Al/various
Time Line – manga based, future fic, based heavily on the dark future Riza predicted should Roy attain his goals. Spoilers for manga beyond #38.
Summary – It should have been a time of great happiness but fate is rarely kind
Warning – apparent character death
Author’s Note – Thanks to
mjules and evil_little_dog for the beta. You can find previous chapters hereChapter Three
“Please, Winry, let us in,” Al said, rapping on the door. He knew Winry was inside her room but she wasn’t talking to them.
Ed elbowed Al aside and turned the doorknob. “Winry?” He slammed the door shut again just before something clattered against the golden oak paneling. Exchanging terrified looks with his brother, Ed tried again. “Please, we want to explain but we can’t do that here in the hall. It’s too dangerous.”
Al heard the creak of the bedsprings and then the door opened. “Get in here,” Winry snapped, whipping around. She flung herself onto the flowered bedspread; the delicate peach roses a match for the walls. “He’s alive…I’m guessing she is, too.”
Ed nodded. “Mustang, Riza, Al and I, along with his men and Armstrong planned it. Pig’s blood, alchemy to explode the blood sacks, blanks in Riza’s gun and fast action to get them out of there.”
“Dr. Knox, the coroner, knew Roy from the war and he was more than happy to fake the death certificates,” Al said, leaning against the door.
“That’s why their bodies were stolen,” Winry said thoughtfully, sitting back up more decorously. She snagged the pillow, curling in on it. “But you should have told me. What was one more person in on the secret?”
Ed sat next to her, the soft feather tic mattress denting under his weight, and took her hand. Both Al and Winry stared at him, shocked that he would do that. “That wasn’t our choice. Armstrong, Breda and Mustang thought it too dangerous to let anyone but the inner cabal know.”
“You could have trusted me.” Winry slipped her hand out of his, turning her back on him and his brother.
Al was surprised to see Ed’s eyes mist over. Ed almost reached for her again but stopped himself. Al couldn’t talk but Ed managed to find his voice. “Winry, we trust you but our enemies know you. Your visible mourning – as hard as it’s been on Al and me to witness – kept you safe. No one seeing you would have doubted the truth of your feelings. If anyone doubted that Mustang and Hawkeye were dead, your sorrow could’ve convinced them otherwise.”
“There are people who would hurt you to get what they want, including proof that Mustang isn’t gone. Not just the Ishbalans or the Drachmians or even our own government but maybe representatives of all three. There are certainly others that supported Bradley. We aren’t sure we rooted them all out,” Al said, sitting on the cherry wood hope chest by the foot of the bed. He saw Winry’s face gentling. “Winry, no matter what you do to us, you couldn’t punish us more than we’ve already punished ourselves.”
Winry pulled Ed to her, hugging him tightly then got up and did the same to Al. She brushed away a few stray tears ensnared in her lashes. She leaned on the poster of the bed. “I’m still furious with you both but I forgive you. You did what you had to to keep them safe.”
“Do you want to stay up here for awhile longer or do you want to go back down with the rest?” Ed sprawled on the bed, relief creeping onto his face.
Winry sighed heavily, pushing him over so she could sit. “Give me a moment.” She rubbed her fingers over her swollen eyes. “Mrs. Liu…she has to be.”
“She is,” Ed interjected as Al got up and went to the bathroom to wet a towel for Winry.
She pressed it to her eyes. “Thanks, Al,” Winry murmured. “Does she live here in the hotel?”
Al shook his head, sinking back onto the hope chest. “There are two cottages on the grounds. Havoc has one, Gracia the other.”
“That might change,” Ed said, a devilish look gleaming in his sunlight eyes.
Al looked at him in shock. “I didn’t realize you noticed they were seeing each other, Brother.”
Winry dropped the towel, as surprised as Al. Ed looked at her sourly.
“I’m not blind,” Ed asserted and Al nearly argued but figured it wasn’t worth it. Ed missed his brother exchanging ‘sure you’re not blind’ looks with Winry. “The jackass lives at the edge of town in a big old house. I always thought he was just a cheap bastard, living like he used to back in the day, but he was putting away his state stipend, almost all of it. He knew the day would come where he’d have to go into hiding.” A hint of begrudging respect inched onto Ed’s face.
“And he bought all of this?” Winry asked incredulously. She took the towel back to the bathroom.
“Bought the cottages, the inn, the shop and the house and has plenty enough that he really never has to work again, which probably suits him just fine. He’s a lazy bastard.” Ed smirked. Al just rolled his eyes. Ed would never admit to liking Roy at least a little. Well, at least Al thought his brother might like the older alchemist at any rate.
“It’s remote here, pretty. I can see why they came here to start again,” Winry said, coming back into the room. “Armstrong is in charge of the military base, right?”
“And his scary big sister is in control of the whole region. General Armstrong is a little bitchy but she protects her people and this country,” Al said and Winry laughed. He raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you call anyone bitchy before.” She grinned, sitting back down next to Ed.
“She is,” Al said, thinking back on his experiences with the general, and Ed nodded vigorously. “Hard. She’s the opposite of Strongarm in all things except her desire to protect Amestris.”
“She even dislikes alchemy to a degree,” Ed grumbled, picking at a loose string in the quilting.
“Ed hasn’t forgiven General Armstrong for calling him a shrimp,” Al said to Winry in a stage whisper, bringing a smile to her face. Ed curled his lip at his brother.
“Al.” Winry reached for Ed’s hand, squeezing it. “Ro…Qiang seems to think you like his sister. Is there a reason you haven’t asked her out or was he wrong about you liking her?” Winry seemed almost afraid of the answer and Al couldn’t help but think if Ed needed any proof that she cared about him this was it; her worry that Al might like her as well.
“He can’t like her. Xue-Li really is the bastard’s sister,” Ed interjected, waving his hands frantically and Winry seemed to wilt.
“I haven’t asked her, Winry, because I’ve been seeing someone else,” Al said and watched his family’s faces mold into shock. “But I’m not sure it’s going to work out.”
“Are…are you sure that’s it, Al? Why won’t it work?” Winry asked, regaining her voice first.
“Who have you been seeing?” Ed blurted out.
Before Al could respond someone knocked on the door. He went over to the door and asked, “Who’s there?”
“Qiang.”
Al glanced over his shoulder at Winry questioningly. “Let him in,” Winry said with a nod, her chin firming. Recognizing that look, Al wondered abruptly whether Qiang’s healing alchemy would on himself.
Qiang slipped inside when Al opened the door. He paused, glancing at Winry then dropped his gaze as Al relocked the door. Qiang’s clothes were such a bright display against the subdued hues of the room. “The brothers told me how distressed you were over me and Riza. They didn’t tell you the truth because I didn’t think it was safe yet. I am sorry for the pain it caused you,” Qiang said softly, not meeting her eyes.
Winry came over and gave him a hug. When she let go, she slapped him across the face. The brothers stared, wide-eyed. “I cried for weeks.”
“Sorry.” Qiang rubbed his cheek. A red handprint stood out on his high cheekbone. “We do appreciate the sentiment, though.”
“I want to see Riza.” Winry shoved her fists against her hips. Her tone made Al withdraw a bit and Ed shifted around nervously.
“Eira.” Roy crossed over to the window seat and folded up on it. He pushed the gauzy white curtain aside, looking out. “That’s her name now. She’s at the market with Gracia.”
“Are you happy?” Winry asked, sitting back on the bed, shoving Ed over.
Qiang leaned back against the glass, a soft, honest smile playing on his lips. “Very. Happier than I’ve been since…oh, before Ishbal probably. I feel like the same idealistic boy who used to bother my mentors for more alchemy books to read.”
“That sounds familiar,” Winry said wryly, rolling her eyes at Ed. He scrunched his nose up at her.
Qiang laughed. “I’m sure. I’m learning more all the time right now. It’s quite exciting.”
“I saw how you healed Havoc. I didn’t know you could do that sort of thing,” Winry said, her eyes alit with curiosity.
“My first mentor was from Xing and she taught me but she passed away when I was eleven. After that I was more interested in other things…powerful things. Always did like to play with fire.” He smirked. Al wagged his head at that while Ed snorted loudly.
“It sounds dangerous,” Winry said grimly.
“Kimbley always said it took a certain derangement to want to play with fire or explosives.” Qiang shrugged. Al made a face, thinking for the first time in depth what mastery of that sort of alchemy would entail.
“Guess it comes down to can you resist playing with fire now, because otherwise your disguise is very good. I didn’t recognize you at all, sir. The tattoo on your hand is very distracting. It takes the eyes away from your face.” Winry gestured to the design on Qiang’s hand.
Qiang rubbed the dragon and lotus tattoo. “I hoped it would. I had to cover the array I carved on the back of my hand. There’s no covering Riza’s tattoo but only a precious few even knew she had it.”
“I only knew after she told me about Ishbal. I’ve never seen it,” Ed said as Winry’s eyes widened, wondering what they were talking about. Ed had long ago filled Al in.
“If you had seen it, I’d have to gouge out your eyes for ogling my woman,” Qiang replied, his silken slipper clad feet rapping a warning against the oaken base of the window seat.
“I see you two get along just as you always have.” Winry sighed.
“Whatever,” Ed said, shoving his hand into the pocket of his coat which he hadn’t bothered to take off as per usual. His nose wrinkled and he withdrew a packet of herbs from the pocket. “Did you put these in here?” He shook it at Qiang.
“What is it?” Winry asked, peering at the packet.
“The aphrodisiac you whacked him in the head with. I thought you’d put them to good use, Edward,” Qiang replied, his thin eyebrows arching, giving him a decidedly devilish look.
“You’ll notice nothing’s changed. He’s still the same bastard Mustang was.” Oblivious to Winry’s blush, Ed hurled the packet at Qiang who caught it.
“I’d give them to your brother but I have my sister’s honor to protect,” Qiang said, narrowing his eyes at Al.
“It was your idea I date her to irritate Ed,” Al reminded him, flushing brightly. Ed shot Qiang a furious look as Al grabbed hold of his metal arm just in case. Winry just shook her head in disbelief.
“True. I suppose if you plan on carrying on with Xue-Li and Ran Fan at the same time, you’ll need the aphrodisiac,” Qiang said, waggling the packet at him.
“You know about that?” Al asked miserably, seeing Winry’s stunned look. He couldn’t look at Ed.
“Ran Fan! You’re doing what with Ran Fan?” Ed bellowed.
“What do you think?” Al retorted sourly.
“Alphonse! How can you keep some thing like that from me?” Ed asked, the hurt obvious in his eyes. He sat up abruptly, nearly knocking Winry from the bed.
“It wasn’t any of your business,” Al replied wearily, knowing he was in for a fight.
As the brothers fell to arguing, Qiang flipped the packet to Winry. “Here, maybe you can disable his leg so he can’t run off on you. Once he realizes it’s fun, maybe he won’t fight so hard.” Qiang smirked and Winry huffed at him but pocketed the herbs. Glancing outside, Qiang unfurled from the window seat. “My wife’s back with Gracia and more groceries than is reasonable. I’d better help the ladies bring them in.” Qiang was halfway to the door with Winry behind him before the bickering brothers realized they were being left behind.
“Where are you going?” Ed growled. “This is all your fault anyhow!”
“If you yelled less, you’d have heard him say Ri…Eira is back with Gracia. I want to see them,” Winry said sourly. “Ed, stop yelling at your brother. At least he’s living. Al, two women at once? Who are you trying to emulate. His old reputation?” She jerked a thumb at Roy. “Havoc?”
“Don’t take after Havoc,” Qiang said, wagging his head. “He has the worst luck with women.”
“He’s not dating Gracia now?” Al asked, letting go of the front of Ed’s shirt
“Yes, I suppose his luck has changed at last.” Qiang shrugged, heading down the corridor.
The chastised brothers followed him and Winry to the kitchen where Gracia was struggling in with a box. Al went to help her. Qiang leaned out the door and called. “Eira, leave that stuff. I have the Elrics with me. We can get the groceries.”
“I’m not made of glass, Qiang. Shouldn’t you be working, you lazy man?”
“Viivi is manning the shop,” Qiang said, heading outside to help. When he came back carrying two bags of groceries, Qiang was followed by Eira. Winry went to embrace the woman Riza had become but stopped dead. Ed and Al’s eyes popped.
Ed pointed at Eira’s belly. “What did you do?” he snapped at Qiang.
“Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Qiang dumped the groceries on the counter and wrapped an arm around Eira. A hugely smug smile settled on his face.
“And you may never do again if you don’t quit acting like I’m fragile.” Eira slapped his hand where it rested on the little bulge in her belly.
“Congratulations,” Al said, elbowing Qiang aside so he could hug her. “Being pregnant looks good on you.”
“I can’t believe you wanted to make another him .” Ed jerked a thumb at Roy. “But congrats.”
Riza grinned and ruffled Ed’s hair. “That means a lot coming from you.” She turned to Winry, opening her arms. The girl was in them instantly. Eira held her tight. “I’m sorry we made you cry.”
“It’s all okay now,” Winry said, resting her cheek on Riza’s shoulder for a moment then let go. “You look beautiful. This is so exciting.”
“I’m just excited that the vomiting phase is over,” Eira said wryly.
“Don’t get too excited. You’re moving into the having to pee every five minutes phase,” Gracia offered, bringing in another box of groceries.
“Oh, thanks for the preview,” Eira moaned, starting to unpack the box.
“There are more in the truck, boys,” Gracia said encouragingly and the brothers grumbled their way outside.
Once the groceries were all in, they set about to putting them up. “I can’t help noticing, Edward, you seem very put out. What did Qiang do to you now?” Eira asked knowingly.
“Take your pick, giving him aphrodisiacs or encouraging me to date Xue-Li,” Al replied and his brother made a face.
“I was trying to help,” Qiang put in before the ladies could say anything.
“You are a trouble maker.” Gracia whacked him with a sack of onions.
“Helping,” he insisted, rubbing his shoulder. “Tell me those herbs wouldn’t help relax tight-ass?”
Ed made a high pitched noise that would confuse bats and leapt on Qiang. Al slipped an arm around Eira, hustling her out of the kitchen with Gracia and Winry chasing after him.
“Fight it out, just don’t destroy my kitchen!” Eira screamed over her shoulder.
“They can use alchemy to fix it,” Al assured her.
“I’m beat. Who wants to go back to the tea house?” Winry asked, stretching her arms.
“Lovely idea. Jean,” Gracia called to the man as they entered the bar area of the hotel. He was busy getting ready to open for the late afternoon crowd. “When those two are done killing each other, have them clean up the blood and that kitchen had best be the way it was before they started.”
He laughed. “I’ll see to it.” Al lightly looped his arm around Winry’s shoulders as he walked the ladies to the tea shop. Winry’s arm slid around his waist. He listened quietly as they chatted about babies, just content to be there to share in it with them.
on to chapter four
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Date: 2007-02-04 04:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-04 05:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-04 05:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-04 05:23 am (UTC)-liz
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Date: 2007-02-04 05:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-04 05:36 am (UTC)“Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
*dies* you just made my royai happy ending come true
did i tell you how much i love this story ? if not i'm telling now ^^
i can say for sure that it's one of my favorites ever !!!
congratulations .. i hope you uptdade soon !!
the royai part is absolutely cute !!!
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Date: 2007-02-04 05:52 am (UTC)I'm enjoying working on it
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Date: 2007-02-04 07:58 am (UTC)I was hoping you hadn't forgotten about this! It's all lovely lovely fun.
It's a little odd that Roy's not more upset over Al two-timing his sister, but the rest of it is all kinds of wonderful.
More please? O:-)
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Date: 2007-02-04 02:49 pm (UTC)Hee, Roy's actually exaggerating to get a rise out of Ed (which means next chapter Al needs to address this). He knows Al isn't dating his sister. That didn't come across quite as clearly as I had hoped.
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Date: 2007-02-05 05:47 pm (UTC)I am SO loving this story! tell me... Is Maria Ross gunnoa show up? *gives the Puppy-Eyes of DOOM*
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Date: 2007-02-06 04:28 am (UTC)Glad you're enjoying it
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Date: 2007-02-06 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 03:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-08 11:26 pm (UTC)It maketh my happy.
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Date: 2007-02-09 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-09 11:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-10 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-19 01:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-19 03:08 am (UTC)oh and don't worry I never tire of feedback
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Date: 2007-02-21 03:42 pm (UTC)More, more, more!!!!
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Date: 2007-02-21 03:52 pm (UTC)I'm so glad you're enjoying it