Slipped Away

This is a little story I got the idea for while listening to Slipped Away.

Rated: PG13

Series: FMA

No pairings.

Slipped Away

Note: blahpresent day events, blahsong, blahreminiscing

WINRY’S POV

I look around at the people gathered here today. Most are from the military, consisting of officers who what to pay there respects. The rest include friends, which Ed had made during his and Al’s journey for that stupid stone, and our family. Everyone has a look of sadness; none of them are able to meet my eyes. Al is beside me, struggling to keep from crying as he watches the speaker talk about Ed. I feel the same as Al, wanting to cry, but no tears come. My sadness goes far deeper than that of crying my eyes out. I somehow know crying will not do anything to help the pain and anguish I fell inside of me, so it is useless to cry.

Na na na na na na na
I miss you, Miss you so bad
I don't forget you, oh it's so sad

Ed left me that day with the promise of coming back with everything right again. He broke his promise. I knew this the moment I set eyes on Al’s ten year old body, walking up to the house a few weeks later without his big brother at his side. My heart nearly stopped when I looked into Al’s eyes. That look in his eyes told me that it was true. Ed was dead.

I hope you can hear me, I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away, was the day
I found it won't be the same

The speaker had finished and was asking if anyone would like to give a few words. I saw Roy Mustang walk to the center right next to the casket. I couldn’t hear what he was saying as his mouth moved. My ears just sort of shut out all sound other than Al’s muffled crying next to me. I saw Roy and everyone else look in our direction. I got the impression that he was saying something about us, but I didn’t bother to try and listen to what he had to say. Al’s crying only increased as he took hold of my waist with his small hands and hugged me. His tears were absorbed through the black material of my dress as he buried his head into my side.

Na na na na na na na
I didn't get around to kiss you, goodbye on the hand
I wish that I could see you again, I know that I can't

The day after I had found out about Ed, I started feeling sick. I would get up in the morning and have the urge to vomit. The weird thing was I had a bigger appetite that normal the rest of the day. I thought it could be my body’s way of handling the loss, but I soon realized I might be pregnant. I asked Grandma to take me to the doctor to see for sure what was behind all of my symptoms. She waited with me as the doctor came in and told me the results. My mind froze, but the realization hit me full force. I grabbed onto Grandma as my body shook with my sobs. She seemed to be thinking the same thing I was. Ed would never be able to be there for his child.

I hope you can hear me, Cause I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away, was the day
I found it won't be the same

Only a select few know about me carrying Ed’s child. Everyone else doesn’t know that Ed and I bonded the night before he left me forever. Everyone went up to Al, Grandma, and me to give us their sympathy for our losses after Ed was put into the ground, not realizing the fact that he will never meet his child. They didn’t know the amount of grief the now broken family would have for the rest of their days because of the little reminder growing inside me.

Oh, I've had my wake up, won't you wake up?
I keep askin' why. and I can't take it, it wasn't fake it
it happened you passed by

The moment Grandma and I cam back home from the hospital, Al rushed out to give us a big hug. He didn’t want us to disappear from his life like Ed did. I took his hand as I led him back inside. I had to tell him that I was carrying his nephew or niece. His eyes teared up as I told him. I could see the same realization come to him as it did me. He gently touched my stomach with his small hand and told me he would be there for me and the baby every step of the way. He was willing to do that for me and take his place as the uncle for this child. I realized then that Al had the same determination as Ed had, even though Ed had been seventeen.

Now you're gone, now you're gone
There you go, there you go
Somewhere I can't bring you back
Now you're gone, now you're gone
There you go, there you go
Somewhere you're not coming back.

As everyone left to go back to their everyday lives, Roy and Hughes stayed behind to make sure we were fine in getting back home. I nodded and hugged both of them. I had told them both the day before that I was pregnant and they handled the news well. They talked with us a little bit more before they too went back to their lives. Before Roy went, however, he gave me one last hug and gently patted my stomach as he told me he will personally take care of anything I needed for the baby. I thanked him and he left.

The day you slipped away, was the day
I found it won't be the same
No, the day you slipped away, was the day
I found it won't be the same

All I can do now is take care of this wonderful gift Ed gave me to remember him by. It will be hard, but everything will be fine. He will be able to watch and I from above and make sure no harm will come to us as he watches us grow. I will think about him everyday, but when I sleep he will always be there telling me that everything will be fine.

Oh...na na na na na na na
I miss you