HoS: First Day of Spring

[bard_linn]

First Day of Spring

Ichiro, Riza reflected, she would spare. She leaned back over the toilet removing the very last bit of liquid in her stomach. Morning sickness was hell.

Masuta carefully helped wipe the vomit from her mouth and passed her a glass of water to rinse the taste from her mouth. “Roy’s making your herbal tea.”

Oh good. The stuff always settled her stomach. It also explained why Masuta was here instead of Roy. The Flame alchemist could make tea if he was careful. Yes, she would spare Roy and Ichiro. Al and Ed, however, had yet to make an appearance this morning. They were still on the people-to-shoot list. In fact the Elric brothers had vanished from bed long before the others even awoke.

Riza allowed Masuta to help her down the stairs to the living room. She accepted the cup of steaming liquid from Roy and gratefully sipped it. The back door opened. “And just where were you two?”

Ed and Al simultaneously hid something behind their backs. “Better tell her you two if you value your skin,” Roy warned.

The pair exchanged glances. “Um…” Alphonse glanced at his brother. They both revealed bundles evergreen branches, fresh flowers and long thin sticks. Al passed his bundle to his brother.

Ed combined the two piles and quickly began weaving them together. “There’s a country tradition that on the first turning of season, a pregnant woman is to be given a garland,” Al explained. “Usually it’s done by the father of the child but…”

“First turning of season?” Riza frowned.

“The first season change. Fall to winter, spring to summer.” Ed set the garland on Riza’s head.

“It’s the first day of spring.”

Riza, Masuta and Roy looked surprised they hadn’t noticed. “It’s supposed to guarantee the health of the mother and the baby,” Alphonse put in. “It’s a little silly but…”

Riza pulled them both into a hug.

Maybe she wouldn’t kill them after all.

Comments

[hallidae.livejournal.com]

It is indeed German tradition. My dad did the same. Mama said my uncle gave her something too, since my grandmother decided to enforce some really obscure Irish tradition where it's the siblings who give the pregnant woman something (gratitude for ensuring the family line, or something like that). I just wish I could remember what she said he gave.