131Holidays Are Heavy (Formerly Holidays Are Hell)
Author: MoonStarDutchess
Chapter 12: Epilogue to All
Disclaimer: Full Metal Alchemist and all its characters are the property of Hiromu Arakawa. No profit was made from this fanfiction. The only things that I do own are the OC's if any. This is a work of fiction. The author holds exclusive rights to the overall course of the plot. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
The fuehrer's mansion was crowded with people that had gathered for the Christmas festivities Grumman was holding. As Maes looked around the room, his eyes landed on newlyweds Alphonse and Mei. He laughed as they tried to dodge the questions from Grumman about having children. They were now working as ambassadors and had become close to the fuehrer. Close enough that they weren't shielded from his nagging. He no longer had Riza and Roy to annoy about marriage and children so he'd started with them.
Even though many people had made it to the party, a few had still yet to arrive. Ed and Winry had wanted to come but they were snowed in at Resembool. Havoc and Rebecca were staying with Roy and Riza in their house, so they'd be coming with them. The rest of the group was there with their families.
At first, he'd been hesitant on changing up the routine that he, Gracia, and Elicia had every Christmas. It wasn't only because his wife and daughter liked going away, but also because he hadn't been a part of the group in so long. He should've known he'd be treated no differently than he'd always been. Elicia and Gracia had been excited to spend Christmas with so many people, and it was still considered going away since they no longer lived in Central.
He looked out the window at the snow-covered ground and felt a longing to move back. He'd discuss it with his family after the holidays. Grumman walked over to stand beside him and stared out at the environment as well. "Roy, Riza, Havoc, and Rebecca haven't arrived yet. I hope they'll be able to make it before it gets worse out there."
As if on cue, the wind picked up, throwing large snowflakes against the glass. "Want me to try calling them?" Maes asked.
"I already did. There's no answer."
Another cue. The phone in front of them rang. Grumman picked it up. "Hello?"
Maes could make out Rebecca's voice over the line. The woman's voice would carry to Xing if she spoke loud enough.
"Fuehrer Grumman, sir, sorry for not calling earlier," Rebecca said. "Things have been frantic around here."
"Is something wrong? Are all of you alright?"
Everyone in the room came closer to the phone when they heard the alarm in Grumman's voice.
"Yes, sir. I'm afraid Roy and Riza won't be able to make it to the party," she said. "And Havoc and I won't leave them. Riza is—"
"Are they alright? Lieutenant, I order you to tell me what happened?"
Rebecca laughed. "Calm down, sir. Riza is fine. You're grandchildren were just born, so I think you should probably find a way to get here. She had them here at the house. Thank God Doctor Knox and his son don't live far from here. They got here quick."
"Wha…" His face stretched with the wide smile that came upon his lips. "I'm a great grandfather!" His face fell. "Wait . . . Rebecca, did you say children? Plural?"
"Yes, sir," she said, clearly trying to stifle a laugh. "Twins. A boy and a girl."
"Riza had twins!" Cheers flared up amongst the partygoers. "I'll be right there, come hell or high snowdrifts!"
He hung up the phone. "Guess we should move this party there, right?" Maes said. "Before the snow gets too terrible."
"That we should," Grumman replied.
Everyone packed up and headed toward Roy and Riza's house, looking forward to meeting the new additions to the family.
-/-/-
Riza huffed then laughed as Roy rested back in the rocking chair beside the bassinets where her babies slept. If she weren't sure she'd gone through having two six-pound babies pulled from her vagina, she would've sworn he was the one who gave birth. Babies. Two babies. There'd been no indication that she'd had twins inside her. She'd only thought that the numerous kicks were of the baby turning.
Labor wasn't quite as bad as she thought it was going to be. She figured after having her back burned, being shot, and getting her throat cut, pain was something she was used to. She looked at Roy's bandaged hand. Okay, maybe I wasn't so used to it.
A vaginal twin birth at her age had been risky, and that hadn't been what she'd planned, but she'd had no choice. There had been no time to get to the hospital. She was thankful labor had been quicker than what she was told it would be and that the Knox doctors were amazingly skilled.
Everything had been worth it. When she saw them, it was love at first sight. She hadn't cried like she'd heard other mothers did, but surprisingly, Roy had.
She pushed herself to sit up, the room spinning but not enough to make her sick, and tried to look over at her babies. She cringed as her lower body tightened then stretched near the stitches they had to put in her skin.
"You okay?" She looked at Roy who was now awake and looking at her. He motioned toward the babies. "You want me to bring them to you?"
She shook her head. "Let them sleep."
"You should sleep too."
"I can't. Not right now." She patted the bed next to her. Roy carefully got in that side and she leaned against him as he wrapped his arms around her. "We're parents."
Roy nodded. "Yes."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For giving me a family and happiness on Christmas again." She leaned up and kissed him. "Holidays aren't hell anymore."
AN: This isn't the original ending I had from the old version that used to be up. I wanted to make things come a bit more full circle and give it a stronger (but no less cheesy) ending. I truly hope you enjoyed this story and thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you have the time. They're always much appreciated.