Every Visit Counts | FMA

Chapter 2

Happy Birthday To You...Ed

Your POV

[Resembool, Amestris, you and Ed are 7]

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDWARD!"

The loud and merry voices around you were bursting with life, happiness filling the air to celebrate the day Edward was born. It was sorta funny.

You were now the same age, you having been born only a week earlier than him.

Yet he is surrounded by people he loves. Your family was dead.

Just last year, an epidemic came around. Wiped out everyone who lived in your household, except for you. You were left to be in grief, and to live with the Elrics.

Of course, you didn't complain about living with Edward. In fact, he helped you to move forward faster. If it weren't for him, you were sure you'd still be in that dreadful empty house, dying and weeping for the past.

Well, of course, you still cried now and then. But since Edward was with you, things weren't as bad as they'd normally be. He made you feel as if life would be okay again, sometimes all in one smile.

It was cliche, but at the time, you were only 7; the two of you are just extremely close friends for now.

Edward grins happily, eager at the prospect of shoving his face with cake. He looks over at you after pictures were taken, and you give him a small smile.

As cake was being passed out, Edward came and sat next to you. Despite all of his other cousins, friends, and brother wanting the birthday boy's attention, he really only wanted to hang out with you. 

"Happy birthday Ed," you greet, picking at your cake with your fork lazily. "You're finally as old as me. But I still win with height."

Edward swipes at your shoulder playfully, not unleashing his normal wrath on you. He normally held back for your sake, because knowing you, you'd probably cry. Either that, or worry about him for the next week.

"I'll catch up with you soon enough," he scoffs, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself. "Boys take longer to grow...and...uh...uh...."

"Sure," you smirk, taking another bite of the delectible cake. "You can keep dreaming."

Edward rolls his eyes at you, then returns to eating his birthday treat. You sigh and set your plate on the ground beside you, done with eating for the night. Edward glances at you, then at the cake.

"Can I eat that?" he asks bluntly. You sigh and push it towards him, then turn to look out the frosty window.

Edward sighs too, and sets the cake back down. You turn to look at him skeptically, as he very seldom passed up the chance to eat.

"Do you wanna see something cool?" he asks you, golden eyes alight. You were taken aback, but agreed to whatever it was he wanted oh so badly to show you. 

You both stood up, and began to walk outside. As soon as you felt the cool air touch your skin, you instantly wished that you'd grabbed a coat. Oh well, you didn't expect this to take long.

Edward drew a small circle in the snow, which was falling oh so gently. Each tiny flake was delicate, and you savored the sweetness of the winter sky. So cool. So beautiful.

You watched as blue light glowed from the circle, and marvel at how good at alchemy he's really become. Of course, you couldn't help but notice how he loved to show off to his mother, and how he didn't hesitate to do so. Just to see that expression of joy.

Just to see her smile.

That was most likely why he was so good. He did it often, for someone he loved. Eventually, it became a love for him as well.

A large bunch of red roses grew from the supposedly frozen ground, and you were taken aback about how beautiful they were. He thrusts them into your hand, not making eye contact with you, and you couldn't help but feel your lips curl upward.

"Thanks Ed," you smile, Edward mumbling in reply. It was strange, the way he came out to just to show you how to grow flowers.

Of course, you knew that he was only doing so as yet another attempt to make you feel happy. It must be because he always got happy reactions from his mom, and just assumed that he'd get the same emotions from others. It's not that it didn't make you happy-of course it did!

But it saddened you, in the tiniest way. You used to love showing alchemy to your parents, and Edward's enthusiasm towards the art brought you back.

Like you'd tell him how much pain it brought from the past.

Like you could ever ask him to stop.

Suddenly, the door to the house opens, and there stood Trisha. She was slightly flustered, some of her brunette hair falling out of her loose side ponytail. Her green eyes shone with affection as she saw you and Edward, outside, together, and alone.

"Well well," she smiles. "I finally found you two. Come on in! Edward, your little brother was looking for you."

You could barely make out the figure of Alphonse, clinging to Trisha's apron. He was blushing shyly, as he was definitely quite the sweetheart. Edward sighs in exhasperation, and you giggle a bit at the brotherly love that was being displayed.

"Ah, you don't even have coats on!" Trisha frowns. "That won't do, you're going to get colds!"

"Pfft, will not!" Edward denies, obviously attempting to dodge a bullet and not seem completely stupid for forgetting. You, too, felt stupid for not bringing one out, and you knew the whole time. Edward was oblivious, up until now.

"Okay, but when you do..." Trisha shakes her head fondly, then gestures for you both to come inside. You gladly ran inside, eager for the warmth to kiss your skin gently. Edward reluctantly followed, already beginning to sneeze.

Trisha was right. You both got colds the following week, and had to spend 7 days together, sneezing.