A/N: This is for the Royai Summer Festival on the fullmetal-alchemist (dot) com forums. The rules being simple: 500-1000 words, and involving the words "watermelon", "fireworks", and "nosebleed". And I know they're a little OOC. Please don't leave in your review: "omg lyk their SO OOC!" Number one: They're not that OOC (at least, I hope not!). Number two: I'd like to know how to improve, not just that something's off. Thanks!

Riza had to hand it to Maes and Gracia: they really knew how to have a good summer picnic. There was a large potluck, fun and games for everyone, and the culmination of the day was a fireworks display that got better every year.

Currently, the "feast", as Maes had dubbed it, was being consumed with reckless abandon. Thankfully, Hayate knew better than to go around and beg- Riza had disciplined that out of him the first time she had taken him along. Soon, it would be time to get up and play a game of volleyball or Frisbee, take a walk, or find some other activity to keep occupied until dark.

"Um, Miss Riza?" Elysia asked, fresh watermelon juice dripping down her chin, "Can I play with Hayate, please?"

At the sound of his name, Hayate trotted over to sniff and lick the stickiness from the young girl's hands. When the dog turned to her, Riza nodded, and, tail wagging, Hayate left with Elysia.

"So, is this seat taken?" Roy asked from behind her a few minutes later, not waiting for an answer to sit.

Riza had to smile to herself. "Playing it safe this year? I thought you liked Ultimate Frisbee."

"You try running into a tree!" Roy challenged. "I was lucky not to get a concussion!"

"True, but that nosebleed was pretty bad. Even after using that trick that usually works on stains, Gracia pronounced your shirt "beyond help," as I recall." Riza shook her head and sighed. "How you managed to not see that tree, I will never know."

"The sun was in my eyes!" Roy protested.

Scanning where the accident had occurred, Riza pointed out, "It's shady."

Roy groaned. "Please, drop it."

"This from the man who used to tell me to loosen up." Riza extended her arms behind her to recline, one of her hands landing on one of Roy's. She mutely moved it the smallest distance so that she could stay in her position. The adjustment was so minute, in fact, that her hand was right up against Roy's.

His hand moved discreetly to cover hers. "Nice, isn't this?" he wanted to know.

Riza shot him a glare, pink barely tinting her cheeks, but, knowing that scolding him would attract attention, she gave up and nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she admitted.

"Wouldn't you rather this was your family?" Roy asked curiously.

With a look so full of meaning that her sincerity could not be doubted, Riza said simply, "This is my family."

Roy squeezed her hand gently, then released it. "Better not let Maes catch you saying that. He'd never let you live it down, even if he knew I was the one who started it."

"So end it, then," Riza suggested. Seeing that Roy looked put out by that, she amended, "Go do what you usually do. Play Ultimate Frisbee. It looks like they need you, anyway." As Roy walked away, she called after him, "Be careful!"

He raised a hand to show he had heard. "I will!"

She knew she would be de-staining a shirt later, though. That was just how life was with them. Everyone took care of each other in the tough times, but everything else was a blast.

Yes, this truly was Riza's family.

A/N: Oh the clichés, they run rampant! Actually, I wrote this when I should've been sleeping, and I've had a nasty writer's block for about two weeks now. This was kinda my guinea pig to getting back into things. Please review!