Alchemy Proposal - FMA

Dinner had just finished.  All of my siblings were here, as well as my in-laws.  I always found it weird that a 17 year old would have in-laws.  I can’t complain though, I get along really well with them.
I follow my mother into the kitchen with all the dishes.  I faintly hear my dad telling my siblings a story about his adventures as a State Alchemist.  My younger siblings especially loved the stories.  My dad had a way of “animating” the story.  He loved to use hand gestures and sound effects.  I remember listening in awe to all of them, imagining my dad as some kind of super hero.
My mom sighed.  “Not the one with Scar again.  How many times has he got to tell the kids I was kidnapped?” I laugh, while turning the tap on and waiting for the water to warm up.
“He puts so much emotion in the story, of course they want to hear it again.  Plus,” I start putting soap on a sponge to start washing the dishes.
“It’s always funny watching him get mad when he talks about the plan you came up with.” My mother laughs, agreeing with me.
I look over my shoulder, watching my older sister cuddle up to her husband. I smile, remembering when they were dating.  My dad was (and still is) super protective of his kids.  I’m surprised he even let my 3 older siblings get married.  I remember when I was 13, my dad told us a story about how he met the Emperor of Xing.  I remember looking at a picture of him and thinking he was pretty cute.  Admittedly, I still think he’s attractive.  My dad then went on a whole rant, saying how much he drove him nuts.  I just laughed.  That memory still makes me laugh.  After that, I would joke around with him about all the guys I liked.  His answer was always just ‘No’, followed by a very amusing rant.  I actually got my mom to play along, making my dad even more mad.  My mom found it absolutely hilarious.
My dad had finally finished his story, as I finally finished the dishes.  I grab a handbook on automail and walk over to one of the chairs.  I was half listening to my family talk, half reading about the hydraulics in an automail limb.  Suddenly, my eldest sister mentions, “Hey dad, did you ever tell us the story of how you proposed to mom?”
Of all things, this caught my attention.  I look up from my book, eyeing my dad.  He looks at my mom, then back at me.
“I don’t think you did, dad.” I say, causing all of my siblings to look at me surprised. I heard my twin siblings whisper, ‘when’d she come in here?’, causing me to smirk.
“Oh, well it’s not that interes-“
“Oh come on Ed,” My mom smirks, walking over to him.
“Winry…” My dad groaned, causing all his children to laugh.
“Oh, this outta be good.” My older brother laughs, throwing his arm around my sister-in-law.  My youngest brother pats the carpet beside him, signalling me to come sit beside him. I roll my eyes smiling and walk over to my brother.  He still had the innocent, 6 year old look in his eyes.  He’s by far the cutest sibling I have.  All my other younger siblings drive me mental.
My dad groans, mouthing ‘fine’.  My mom gives him a kiss on the cheek, and smirks as she walks to a chair.
“Okay, well, we were 18.  I was just about to get onto a train to do some more research.” My dad continues explaining, in great detail I might add, about how he couldn’t stop thinking about how to ask my mother to marry him.  Or at least date him.  Finally, he pauses.
“And then I…I, uh…” My dad started to blush, causing my mom to burst into laughter.
“Then you what?” My younger sister said.
“What’d you say?” My older sister said right after.
My dad sighed.  I’m a little confused.
“I shouted ‘Equivalent Exchange! I’ll give half of my life to you, if you give half of yours to me!” All of us gasped.  I was the only one who sighed after gasping.
“Did you seriously use alchemy to propose to mom?” I said, crossing my arms.
“You really are my daughter, aren’t you?” My mom laughed, hugging my dad from behind and walking to the kitchen.
“What else was I supposed to say?!” My dad said, flustered.  I laughed shaking my head.
“Oh, I don’t know, ‘Winry, will you marry me?’” I replied, causing my youngest brother to double over in laughter.
I could hear my mom laughing in the kitchen, my dad throwing his head back in defeat as my other siblings started laughing.
“I was trying to stray away from being traditional.” My dad said, crossing his arms.  “Besides, your mom replied by saying she’d give me her whole life.”
We all gasped, looking at mom.  She blushed slightly.
“Well, I mean, I did love him.” My mom said, putting her hands behind her back.  “But I made him propose to me again, WITHOUT using alchemy.”  She smiled, going back to what she was doing.
My eyes widened, as did most of my siblings.  My dad shook his head.  “I’ll tell that one when your uncle is here.  For some stupid reason it’s his favourite story.”
“That’s because Uncle Al is a hopeless romantic.” My eldest sister smirked, causing us to giggle.
“Hopeless? I thought Uncle Al was married?” My younger brother and his twin sister said.  I laughed.
“He is.  She means he’s a sucker for romance.”
“I don’t quite understand why…” My dad said under his breath, causing my mom to laugh again.
“Bottom line,” My mom starts, standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
“Amelia, since you’re the next oldest and probably the next one to get married,” My mom said, while my dad whispered ‘No’ every other word.
“Ed, stop it.” My mom said nonchalantly.  I covered my mouth to keep from laughing.
“Anyway, bottom line, don’t marry a guy who proposes to you with alchemy.” My mom smirked, raising one eyebrow and looked at my dad.
We all laughed, while my dad groaned.  But, he had a loving smile on his face.  However, if I had to be completely honest with them, if a guy did propose to me with alchemy, I’d probably say ‘yes’ anyway.  Because even though it’s cheesy, dorky, and a little out there, it’s still love.
And if my dad can win over my tough-as-nails mom with alchemy, who’s to say an alchemist can’t win over another automail loving girl?