• ❁Alchemic Scars [Editing]❁ •

Chapter 23 - Elicia's Special Day

(The video linked above does not belong to me! It's was done by Paul Davids, so please give all credit to him!

When the scene comes up - and you'll know which one I'm talking about when you get to it - you can choose any of these pieces of music to be played. I couldn't pick a good song that would fit it perfectly, so I'm giving you all options to choose from.

I'm a personal fan of no.19: County Roads, by John Denver, no.17: Blackbird, by The Beatles, and no.26: Here Comes the Sun, also by The Beatles - all childhood classics of mine and my family. What about you guys and gals? Which ones are your favourite(s)?

Enjoy~)

    It's around early afternoon by this time, and Winry, Maes and I are walking down the streets, juggling the many boxes and gifts we have clutched in our arms. I peer over the rectangular box I have in my grasp to look over at Winry. She waddles just in front of me to the left, holding a large stuffed bear. To the other side of me, also slightly ahead, is my father, with one hand holding three boxes stacked on top of each other, while he has a large, rectangular toolbox slung over his back; something he had offered to carry for Winry.
    "Um... Mr Hughes...?" Winry mumbles from behind the bear. The said man turns his head in the young girl's direction. "Why are you buying all this stuff?"
    Hughs smiles widely with a cheery reply. "So glad you asked! It's my daughter's birthday. She just turned three!"
    I look up to my father, eyeing him slightly. 'Is that today?' I wonder. 'I must really be out of it if that is the case.'

    Walking up to the front door of our house, Elicia comes rushing out with a happy smile. Mother comes out a moment later and grabs her youngest daughter by the shoulder kindly. The young girl smiles widely as she sees her family come up the pathway.
    "Welcome home, Papa, Sissy!" Elicia cheers.
    "Oh my." Gracia smiles. "What a cute guest we have."
    In a flash, Hughes picks up his little girl and squeezes her tightly against his chest. "Elicia, I missed you so much!" He brushes his stumbled beard gains the poor child's face. She screams and giggles in protest until he finally releases her.
    I place down my package as The male of the house makes the introductions. I eye Elicia as she smiles at the hidden gift. I place a finger to my lips, keeping the secret of the content. She smiles mischievously and clings back onto our mother's dress.
    "Thank you for letting me stay." Winry says.
    Gracia smiles wildly. "It's our pleasure, dear. Make yourself at home."
    Winry kneels down to Elicia with a closed-eye smile. "How old are you, Elicia?" She asks.
    The little girl hold up two fingers. "Tw..." She stops for a second to think.
    Taking a quick glance to see whether anyone is looking, I quickly hold up three fingers and show Elicia. She smiles and changes her finger count.
    "Three!"
    "Aw~~ How cute." Winry and Hughes cheer in unison. They wiggle back and forth like little worms with glee.
    "But is it really alright for me to be here during your daughter's birthday?" Winry asks, hesitating as she stands up.
    I walk over to her and place a hand on her shoulder. "Why wouldn't it be?" I ask in a slightly happier version of my normally emotionless voice. Mae's picks up his child and places her on his hip. I walk over to my adoptive family and stand beside them. I turn to Winry. "The more the merrier, right?"
    "Welcome to the family!" Gracia says.

    Inside the Hughes family household, the whole family is gathered together to celebrate a special someone's birthday. We all gather around the table in the dining room and wish the little girl a happy birthday. We eat and mingle, and Elicia giggles and plays with her new presents. I stay out of most of the seeming chaos of the party, preferring to stay in my corner of the room. I just observe everyone else having fun.
    "You're his mechanic, right?" I hear Hughes ask Winry.
    "Yeah." The questioned girl replies. "We both grew up in Remebool and our houses were close to each other. We've always been together since we were little so he's kinda like a brother to me."
    "Knowing Ed, he must have caused you lot of trouble, huh?"
    "Not really trouble, but he does make me worry a lot. He'll come back every once in a while and his arm will be completely trashed." Winry stops for a second to bite her lip. "I came out here today to fix his arm - I didn't expect to find him hospitalised with severe injuries. And Al seems to have a lot on his mind, too... It was just two weeks ago... that I made that brand new auto-mail for Ed, and when I saw it today it was in really bad shape. Not only that but his whole body was covered with wounds."
    I get up slowly to move closer to the conversation. I still stay a bit away so I don't interrupt their conversation.
    "It makes me wonder what kind of lives they lead. But they never tell me anything about it. They didn't even tell me when they decided to leave town to get their bodies back. Maybe if we were a real family... they might have told me about their journey and about what caused his wounds." Winry hangs her head low as she finishes her little speech.
    Maes looks to the girl with a calming and measuring smile. "Its not that they didn't want to tell you so much as they didn't think that there was a need to tell you."
    Winry's head shoots up to the man who spoke. He takes off his glasses and begins to wipe them down with a small, white cloth. "They must have assumed you would understand without having to explain everything to you."
    "There are some things I need to be told in order for me to understand." Winry mumbles as she observes Elicia's cheerful bliss as she sits on the older girl's lap.
    "Thats just the way it is. Men express themselves through their actions more than their words. They would rather shoulder their pain themselves... than cause their loved ones to worry. That's why they won't say anything about it... Even my eldest daughter is like that, and she was since we took her in..." He looks over to me from the corner of his eye. I quickly look away, trying to pretend I am oblivious to their conversation. He smiles softly before turning back to Winry. "When they decide to tell you their troubles... that's when they'll need you to be there for them. Isn't that enough?"
    Winry looks down slightly, thinking.
    Seconds later, a small herd of boys rush toward Elicia, yelling her name and getting her attention. One in particular grabs her are as they argue over who will play with her. I have to hold myself back as I feel the urge to get up and split the group apart. But my father seems to have it covered as he cocks his gun quickly and threatens the boys.
    "Watch it, you little punks." He growls. His eyes turn sharp and vanes pop over his face, a devilish aura surrounding him. "Don't even think about putting your hands on my daughter!"
    Winry quickly shouts at the Lieutenant Colonel before he does anything else. "There's such a thing as being too protective, Mr. Hughes!!"
    I quickly get up from my chair, face as calm as I can make it, as I make my way over to the frightened group. I kneel down beside the bunch and pick up my baby sister.
    "I think that will be enough, Dad." I chastise, stepping in front of said man. "You're scaring the poor things half to death."
    I hear little Elicia giggle as she watches her father put his gun away with a guilty smile.
    "Besides, I think it would be time for me to start heading off. I haven't officially been discharged from the hospital yet." I mumble the last part, hoping that only Hughes is able to hear it.
    "But, big Sissy!" Elicia whines. "You can't go yet! You haven't played my favourite song!"
    "Elicia, you know I don't play while other people are around."
    "But- but- it's my birthday..." She pouts back.
    Hughes comes closer and places a hand on top of my head. "There's no harm in doing so. And it's been so long since you last saw your little sister." He quickly pulls out a guitar from behind his back and pushes it toward me.
    "You prepared?"
    "But of course. I would never miss an opportunity to hear my big girl play."
    "... Fine. But only one song. And I'm going to make it quick." I finally give in to my family's pleading. I put Elicia down on the ground and make my way back to my seat. I pull off my left glove to free my flesh hand. I keep my other glove on, however, as not everyone knows about my arm. I tune up the instrument and start to play quietly.

    I keep my eyes closed every time I play, so when I was done, I didn't notice the small crowd that had gradually gathered around me. Once I finish I quickly put the wooden guitar down and stand up. I pat Elicia on the head as she giggles and thanks me, and quickly hug my parents.
    "I will be off then," I announce to them. Elicia comes up one last time and gives my leg a tight squeeze.
    "Promise you will come home again, Sissy" She demands in a childish manner. I give her a hug in return.
    "Don't worry, little one. With a family waiting for me, why would I not want to come back home."    

Word count: 1644