A/N: Hello! This was a tiny story i got while in Biology in school for some reason! This a completely different universe where the characters are all differently placed! I put Riza as a motherly figure and made her a little softer then her usual hardcore stuff! I know some characters are OOC i'd apprciate critism on anything about the story! :) Please REVIEW! I want to know if this story is actually good! BTW there will be alot of flashbacks! maybe just the first chappter though! Anyway enjoy! :)
A pair of golden eyes peered over the threshold of the hallway to gaze into the kitchen. The boy looked to be about 4 years old. His body was short and had a little baby fat on his skin. He wore a bright orange shirt with tan beige shorts. His hair was short and golden blonde and it was growing out. His fingers pressed into the paint on the wall as he gazed at the lady in the kitchen. She looked to be about 25. She wore a white apron on and was busying herself while making a warm stew.
She had amber deep eyes while her blonde hair was lying loosely over her shoulders reaching mid back. Her body was thin and feminine. Though the tight mask she wore on her face was very strict. The little boy stared at the lady for a few more minutes before he laughed and tossed himself into the room. He latched onto her leg causing the lady to laugh.
"Ed! What are you doing home?" She asked carefully. She looked down with a smile on her face as the boy looked up a smile on his bright face. "I wanted to show you the flower I picked for you, mom!" The boy cried as she smiled softly at her golden haired son.
Riza gave a nod to her customer as she moved back to the counter that was filled with newly cut roses. Her brown eyes moved to Edward, who was cutting the thorns off very carefully. He sat on the stool that Riza usually sat in. He stood on his knees as he worked carefully, his golden eyes completely focused. She turned away as she saw an older lady moving to the counter with an arm full of flowers.
"Hello there Riza! How was your morning?" The lady asked happily. Riza stared at her customer and allowed a small smile to please the shopped. "Hello Mrs. Griffin. My morning has been fine. How has the day been treating you?" Riza took the flowers as she finished her statement. The older lady had graying hairs pulled back by a shawl. Her face was already worn out. Yet the lady refused to sit still.
"Oh it could be better! Oh is that you Edward?" The lady said as the boy looked up in surprise. Her little boy smiled at the lady happily. "Hello Mrs. Griffin!" He responded nicely. The older lady smiled as she reached into her purse. "I swear Ed! You seem to be growing every single day! Why you're as tall as me?" Riza gave a chuckle at the smug look Ed wore.
"Really? You really think so!" He exclaimed in happiness. The lady laughed as she handed Riza the amount needed for the flowers. Then she handed Edward a butterscotch lollipop. The boy grabbed the candy greedily. But after seeing the quick look his mother gave him the boy smiled at Mrs. Griffin.
"Thank you Mrs. Griffin!" He exclaimed as the old lady laughed and ruffled Ed's hair. As soon as she was done Ed ate his lollipop happily. Riza finished the roses as she kissed her son on his forehead.
"Riza!" She looked behind her to see her co-worker Ruby holding out a phone. Ruby had bright red hair pulled back into a bun while her dark green eyes showed impatience. She wore a purple dress in contrast with the blue aprons they were forced to wear. "Stay with Ruby, Edward." Riza ordered as Ed gave a nod and saluted to his mother. Riza grabbed the phone from Ruby as she watched the red head go entertain Edward.
"Hello? Riza Hawkeye speaking." Riza stated as she sat on the table top.
In the back room of the flower shop there wasn't enough room for more than 2 people at a time. Flower's filled the back room and most were sitting in basins of water. The table was a dark blue and had two chairs. It was the closest to the phone. She stared out the window of the tiny room as she heard an over cheerful voice call to her.
"Hey Riza! It's Winry!" Riza let out a breath as she smiled softly. "It's nice to hear from you again Winry. Are you and Al doing okay?" Riza asked her sister-in-law. There was a laugh on the other end. "Yeah me and Al are doing fine! Sarah just started to walk though. So Alphonse couldn't come to say hi!" Winry stated as Riza heard Ruby chewing out her son for doing something stupid again. Riza rolled her eyes blocking them out momentarily.
"It's alright, I'm sure Al has enough on his hands already. How is Pinako doing?" The blonde remembered the face of the lady who helped raise her. After his father died at an early age, her neighbor Pinako Rockbell helped her and her brother out.
"Oh please! Al should at least be able to say hi to his older sister!" Winry exclaimed as Riza let out a sigh as she smiled. Her little brother Alphonse had married Winry Rockbell at 21 and they both had a 1 year old daughter Sarah Trisha Hawkeye. If Riza's memory served her right, Winry was currently pregnant with Alphonse's second child. "Well enough about me and Al! How are you doing Winry?" She asked out of respect. The mechanic gave a sigh as Riza heard the clicking of a piece of metal hitting most likely a wrench.
"It's not as easy with a second baby. Jeez, Alphonse really pisses me off sometimes! He acts like I'm disabled! I'm freaking pregnant! Not handicapped!" Winry exclaimed with a large yell as Riza gave a soft laugh. "Yeah that's Alphonse alright." She muttered under her breath as Winry began ranting on how Alphonse refused to let her work on a piece of Auto-mail. After some more conversation Winry brought up Edward.
"How's Ed doing? Alphonse said you were going to put him in Pre-K or something like that." Winry said as Riza tossed a look out the door.
The store was fairly empty, and she assumed Ruby could care for Edward for a bit. Riza hardly had time to call and talk to Winry or her little brother for that matter. "Yeah, I'm going to take him for an interview in a week. Though I don't think he needs to learn anything. He can already read at a 4th grade level." Riza stated with a smug voice. Winry gave a laugh.
"Edward reminds me of Alphonse! Do you remember when we were little and Al would always have his nose in a book?" Winry mocked as Riza rolled her eyes at the memory. "And he tripped and fell into the river? Jeez, your dad chewed us out for being reckless with Al." Riza stated as she remembered Winry's father yelling at the two older girls for not watching out for Al. Winry made a noise of acknowledgement before talking. "Yeah! Oh—Al just got home!" The girl exclaimed over excited at her husband returning.
"I guess I'll call you soon Riza! Take care! Oh and tell Edward I bought him some new books for his birthday!" And with that the blonde auto-mail mechanic hung up the phone. Riza chuckled to herself as she hung up the phone to join Ed.
For 4 years Riza had taken care of Edward. And now that Ed was going to be 4 she felt happiness of her only son. Ed gazed up at her with a smile as he showed her his pinky finger. A red band-aid was wrapped securely around it. Riza shot a glower at Ruby who was busy laying down on the counter top.
"I told you to watch him!" She snapped as she ruffled Ed's hair. Ruby looked unfazed as she stared at Riza. "You were the one who let him cut the thorns." Riza put her hand on her thigh as she cocked an eyebrow at the younger employee. "Don't you have work to do in the back? Last I checked the orders of flowers need to have the thorns cut off. Or do you need a little bit of a shove to get moving?" At that statement Ruby was running towards the back room. Riza smiled as she returned to the counter.
Riza Hawkeye looked at Edward who was blabbering on about how his mommy was a tough lady. She smiled as she looked forward. Only Edward knew about the gun Riza hid on her thigh. Not that people still found her intimidating nevertheless.
A younger looking Riza Hawkeye sat down beside her brother as her cold and icy stare was piercing the military man. The man was named Hakuro. She had sent for him and was now seated beside her brother in the house they owned with their sick mother.
"Now what is so important that you wanted to see me for Lieutenant?" The man asked patiently. Riza gave a cold stare before she answered the older man.
"I want to resign from the military." She said. The man gave her a piercing stare. He ran a hand through his blonde locks as his beady brown eyes stared Hawkeye down. "You need to have a valid excuse as to why you want to resign Lieutenant." He said. The blonde lady gave a nod as she looked at Alphonse and back to her commanding officer.
"I'm pregnant and want to live a normal life raising my baby." She stated as a hand rested softly on her swollen stomach. The general gazed at her with small pity.
"That is sad to hear. But if it is what you want. We will release you. I will send the papers of your resignation. You were quite the strong woman." He said as he stood up. Riza stood up as Alphonse put his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. She did not want to be looked down on because of her decision.
"Understood. Thank you for coming sir." She stated. Hakuro nodded as he bowed at her in front of the door. As soon as he was gone Riza put a hand to her forehead. Alphonse gave a sad smile as he pulled his pregnant sister inside.
"Calm down Riza. This was the right thing to do." He said as he led her back to the couch. The house seemed to be emptier then the nights before. She gave a nod as Alphonse wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She curled up beside her brother as she buried her face into his neck. "But I was going to serve for the rebellion. I wanted to make a difference." She stated. Alphonse closed his eyes.
"Riza you have one person relying on you more than anything. And you can't let that person down." He said. Riza didn't reply. She only stared at her hand that rested over her growing stomach. She hadn't asked for this. No she had never wanted to become pregnant. But she couldn't dwell too much over the fact. She wrapped herself around her brother once more before she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.