Free Falling

Chapter 9: Baby Boom

After a few minutes, Ed let go and so did I. He gave me one of those cute, small smiles. Kinda like a smirk. But it wasn't. I smiled the same way back. He was still a jerk, but at least he tried to make it right again.

"You know Ed, you really are lucky." I told him. And cue the gasp. There it was. "You had a loving mother. You still have a loving brother. You have friends. I don't. I didn't."

"Well, you just received three friends starting today officially." He said smiling wider.

"No." I said firmly.

"No?" He asked confused. 

"You heard me. No." I repeated. 

"Why not? You said you've never had friends before. Why not have them for the first time?"

"Because I don't want any friends." I told him firmly again and closing my eyes.

"Why not!? Everyone needs friends!"

"Not me." 

"Why?"

"Because friends equals emotions. Emotions equal feelings. Feelings equal pain. I don't do friends. Or family. Or anything in between." I explained briefly. Ed sighed.

"So you're afraid to get hurt because of having friends?" He asked. I nodded.

"You could put it that way. If I have the amount of pain with friends, how much would it increase?" I asked him turning my head to look at him.

"Or how much would friends decrease that pain?" He asked.  "If you don't try, how are you gonna know?" 

"If just know alright. I'd rather not talk about it if you don't mind."

"But you don't know." Ed kept going. "You have to find out what it's like to have good friends."

"If know what it's like to have so called good friends. They create more pain within my life."

"People have hurt you. You don't know."

"Fine. I don't know. But I don't want to find out."

Ed sighed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. I looked forward again with saddened eyes. I sat by a wall while Winry and Paninya made a deal to take us too her mechanic in the mountains in exchange we drop the matter.

I really don't give a shit. I just followed behind. Until Winry stopped and waited for me. Then she started walking with me.

"Okay I believe you about being from another world." She whispered. I sighed in relief.

"But you can't tell anyone. I'll tell the guys when I ready." I whispered back. She nodded.

"So do you know what happened to their mom?" Winry asked slightly concerned. I sighed and nodded.

"Yes. She died of a disease she had been fighting for awhile. Ed and Al preformed Human Transmutation to try and bring her back but failed." Winry but her lip and grabbed my arm. I looked at her with a surprised look as she spoke.

"Ed told me about you not wanting us as friends." She said. "And I know it's scary to have new friends-" I cut her off.

"I've never had friends. Everyone hated me. My family. I don't know if Ed told you or not but, my parents beat me." I looked at her and her face gave a fearful look. "They kept me for their pleasure. Other kids my age, simply hated me. I've never had friends and I don't want any either." I explained. Her face then turned serious.

"Well that's too bad because I'm gonna be your friend weather you want me or not!" She said determined as she linked her arm with mine. I sighed.

"Whatever." I muttered looking away again. Something hit my head. Winry's damn wrench. "Ow! What the hell Winry!?" I yelled grabbing the wrench from her hands. She snatched it back.

"That's for being such an idiot!" She yelled back, gaining the full attention of the three ahead of us. "Were offering to be your friends and you're turning us down! That makes no sense! If you want all this pain to go away you have to at least try!" She was now inches from my face with a totally pissed off look on her face. 

My mouth hung open in shock. My eyes widen too.

"Are you gonna at least try?" She asked lending away with the still determined look on her face. I snapped my mouth closed and forced my eyes to close for a brief second. I nodded.

"I'll try I guess..." I muttered turning to the path again and walking.

"Great! Here!" She pulled out an extra wrench from her pocket. How the hell did she keep it there without anyone noticing!? She pulled my hand put of my pocket and placed the tool in my hand.

"What's this for?" I asked confused.

"For when Ed's being a jerk and I'm not around." She explained. I looked ahead once more and saw the three had kept going.

"Thanks Winry." Ed was gonna be in a world of pain! I mean he's gonna be in pain if he's being a jerk...

Yeah. That's what I meant.

When we got to the small house, a younger man opened the door with a smile.

"Paninya! Great to see you again! Who're your friends!?" Ridel asked with a grin.

"Hey Ridel." Paninya said with a slight wave. "They want to meet Dominic.

"Correction, Winry wants to meet him." Ed spoke up.

Soon, we were in the house and I had snuck Jay out of my bag to stretch.

"No talking." I said sternly to him. He nodded jumped around quietly. Ridel's wife Satella, was expecting her baby in about two weeks. I stayed away from them and pet Jay behind his ear while he hid behind the couch. 

Alrighty. Three. Two. One.

"I've made up my mind!" Winry yelled. "I've want you to take me in as your apprentice!" 

"No." Dominic said in a deep voice.

"Why not!?" Winry asked loudly. Man, she had a pair of lungs too. I ignored the argument until Dominic told us too get out and opened the door.

"After the storm, you're out of here!" He said calmly yet firmly. Cue the crash. I stood up and jogged over to the kitchen where Satella was on the floor in what looked like sheer pain.

"The baby... it's coming!" She cried. I knelt next to her and helped her up. 

"Let's go." I said calmly as the rest started to freak out. Dominic had went to get the doctor but came back saying the bridge was out. Ed went to go try to repair the bridge which I know, would fail and Dominic went back to town the long way.

Paninya was freaking about Satella bleeding water and I told her it was her water breaking meaning the baby was about to be born.

"Ed hot water. The more the better." I ordered. "Al. Towels. Lots of them. Paninya three sets of gloves. Winry three aprons." I order pulling of my hood and unzipping my sweater. I took a hair elastic from around my wrist and tied up my hair. I pulled my sweater off and tossed or onto the back of a chair.

They got what I needed.

"How do you know how to do this?" Winry asked confused.

"I don't." I said. I could say from my world but, I couldn't say that with Ed and Al here. And the other characters! 

"You what!?" Ridel yelled.

"If you want your wife and child to be fine you need to trust me Ridel." I said firmly. He nodded.

"Alright." 

"Good. Winry! Paninya! Get an apron and gloves on!" Ii ordered get my own on. They did as I asked. 

"What are we gonna do to help?" Paninya asked looking like she was gonna barf.

"I need both your help. I can't do it alone." I explained. "Let's deliver a baby." I said seriously and flipping my black hair over my shoulder.