A very happy Royai-Christmas

AN: Happy Christmas, people!
I don't own FMA, sorry.

Like at every usual day, Riza was the last to leave. It was the same like on every usual work day. She would always be the first to come and the last to leave. Roy was used to this by now. She helped him with the dish washing and now, they stood in front of the window which showed his snow-covered garden. In the glass, Roy saw the reflections of the candles and when he looked out; he saw that the world had changed. In the background, an old Christmas song came from his radio and he felt very calm and peaceful for once. The air held some magic and a certain kind of hope. He wanted to create something to stop the time because he knew that Riza would leave soon. She had done her job and she never stayed. She had family back in the West and she would visit them, like every year.

"I need to go," she sighed and stepped back before she took her coat. "Merry Christmas, sir."

"You too, lieutenant," he replied and smiled at her. "I will see you next year in the office."

"When we go back to work for your dream," she added before she picked up her bag. Hayate was already at her side; ready to leave for the Western Area there they would visit Riza's old but still very scary grandmother. "I still believe that it is a wonderful dream, sir, a dream of peace and love for everyone…" Her eyes softened. "It would mean to live and celebrate a life were all were free and lived in harmony."

He sighed. "It's still a long way to the top," he said before he followed her to the door. "But if we work together, we will build a future with joy and fun for everyone and without any fear. There is a reason why I like Christmas. The children's eyes are shining like they never shine during the year. It's like I already reached my goal. Children are wonderful, don't you agree? They have so many dreams and so much hope. We adults should learn something from them."

"I couldn't agree more," she nodded and leaned against the doorframe to look up at him. "I always thought that Christmas is the best time to celebrate the life in general and with all its dreams and hopes. That's probably why I like this holiday that much."

"My dream … our dream…" he shook her hand. "It will come true one day, I promise you."

"I never doubted you, sir," she said. "Well, I have to leave before I miss my train."

"Of course," he said and opened the door. Well, he tried to but it didn't work. "What the hell…?"

Riza being always the more pragmatic one of them went into the kitchen before she cursed. "You can forget the door, sir," she said. "Someone had the brilliant idea to put all the snow in front of your house. I can't even see the street. They must have thought that you were leaving for the holidays…" she came back. "Well, that's not too good…"

He extended his hand. "Give me your coat," he said. "You will have to stay until the snow is gone."

"I guess so," she muttered. "Ehm … sir … can I call my grandmother? She will be worried if I am not at her front door at eight o'clock tomorrow morning…"

"Sure," he said and showed her his phone before he went to get some better clothes for her. She wore a red dress which looked great on her but it was much too cold for her now. He found just some old clothes which belonged to his cousin who he didn't see since she had left East City to study History and Xerxesian in Creta. He assumed that the clothes would be a little bit to big for Riza since Jade was almost taller than Roy and since Riza was smaller than him. He got back to the living room and listened to her conversation.

"…no, granny, I am at home," Riza lied with a tiny smile. "I told you that there is no one. I am just staying in the East because I can't get away. You know that I would never purposefully miss a dinner with you and grandfather. Don't worry; I will visit you after the holidays."

She finished her call and turned around to face her superior.

"Riza Hawkeye, did you just lie to your poor grandmother?" he asked in mock horror.

"You would have lied too if your grandmother were pestering you about marriage, sir," she stated. "She would have assumed the worst if I told her that I were at your place."

"I understand," he said. "My cousin would think probably the same if I told her that a woman would be here over the holidays. Well, I believe that she would start to write invitations for my wedding … if she didn't do it long years ago … I shudder to think what she might do…"

Riza chuckled before she sat down on the couch. "I hope that you don't mind that I have to stay here," she said politely.

"It's no big deal," he said, "and Christmas all alone would be boring."

"That's why I always visit my grandmother," she agreed. "Your family lives in Central City, right?"

"My foster mother, yes," he nodded, "but my favourite aunt lives in the West. My cousins are still studying in Creta and I haven't seen them in many years. I miss them especially on days like this. We used to play cards for hours on winter days…"

"That sounds nice," she said. "Ehm … sir … why are you carrying clothes?"

"Oh, well, I assumed that they would be more comfortable for you seeing that you will have to stay here for weeks if the snow doesn't melt," he said. "They belong to my cousin, so I am not sure if they will fit you since Jade is much taller than you…"

"It's very thoughtful of you, sir," she said. "Thank you very much."

She took the clothes from him before she left the room. Roy looked after her for a second before he started a fire and got his best wine from the cellar. The last time, he had sacrificed a bottle had been the day, Jade and Phil had left for Creta. It was a good and very expensive wine, something Roy would never drink alone. Such a great wine deserved the company of someone dear to him. Phil and Jade had been and Riza was.

Riza came back and she looked adorable cute in Jade's huge green hoodie and her leggings. The pullover was much too big for Riza but the leggings fit like a second skin. Roy couldn't help but stare at her. She didn't need a miniskirt or a tight-fitting tube top like other women. She could look stunning in old clothes which belonged to his little cousin. It was a miracle.

"Sit down, Hawkeye," Roy grinned at her while he poured in two glasses of the best crimson wine of Aerugo. He knew that his subordinate rarely drank since she was always the driver but today she wasn't. He knew as well that she were the kind of woman who enjoyed a good wine.

She sat down and took out the hairclip before she accepted a glass of wine. "It looks great," she said before she inhaled the smell. "It's a 1904 Chardonnay from Aerugo, isn't it?" she asked.

"I see you know this wine," he smiled. "Yes, it is. The best wine I can offer you, Mylady."

"It's my grandmother's favourite," she stated while she took a sip. "I feel very honoured that you share such a good wine with me, sir."

"It's Roy while we are snowed-in," he sighed and offered her some cookies. "My aunt sent them. She always fears that I could starve if she wouldn't send me food every second week."

"It has to be very nice to have such a caring aunt," Riza said smiling before she took a cookie. "And thanks for the clothes. They are really comfortable. If you write a letter to your cousin, please tell her how thankful I was for the pullover."

"Will do," he promised before he leaned back. "Well, I need to warn you before I can get drunk and forget it: the living room will be cold as hell at night and I would prefer if you wouldn't sleep here. I slept here once and I was ill for weeks due to the cold at night. I have to admit that my house looks very huge but … I reality, it's rather small. I don't have a guest room or something like that. You won't like it, but … ehm … you will have to share the bedroom with me."

She stared at him.

"I knew that you wouldn't be happy," he muttered, "but it is the only way to stay healthy. And I will order you to if you are stubborn!"

She sighed. "I guess it can't be helped," she said. "Well, but if you try something, I will slap you."

"Don't worry, my bed is huge!" he exclaimed. "Last winter when Jade and Phil visited, we all fell asleep there and no one of us had a sore back the day afterwards. Well, it was really awkward and Jade still swears that I snore but according to Phil she was the one who talked in her sleep."

"May I ask how you could fell asleep on the bed? All of you?" Riza asked, only slightly confused.

"Alright, I got Phil a new pyjama for Christmas and I didn't know that Jade got me also a new one while Phil bought her a new night gown." Roy shrugged. "We were maybe a little bit tipsy when we decided to wear them and Jade decided that we should open the gift auntie Abigail sent me. It was a photo album with the best snap shots of us during our childhood. We all sat one the bed when we looked at them and later, we talked before we all fell asleep."

Riza smirked, something she did rarely. "Didn't you say once that your cousins have always a thing for bringing you in trouble?" she asked slightly amused. "I can remember something like that when I thing about the golden days of your apprenticeship…"

He nodded. "Trouble is an understatement," he said. "I always got punished when I were around them. My aunt told me once that I should make sure that they wouldn't eat all the cookies. I thought it would be a good idea if I would put them into a cage made with alchemy…"

She looked at him. "You didn't."

"I did," he sighed. "The sole problem was that I didn't know how to let them out and that auntie got really, really angry with me since Jade is claustrophobic…"

"I can imagine," she stated before she looked at her wristwatch. "It's getting late."

"We should go to bed," he said and got up. "Ehm … you can use the bathroom first. I … eh … will get you some clothes you can wear. I believe that Jade left some. I will check on it."

He rushed away while he mentally thanked his slightly crazy cousin who had left a whole drawer with her clothes as she left for Creta. It was better to offer Riza clothes which belonged to someone he really loved and which didn't belong to any woman who had forgotten them at his place. After all, Riza was one of the few people who knew how much Roy considered Jade as his younger sister. He never knew why he explained the whole complicate story to her but maybe he just didn't want that she would be jealous. He couldn't help but chuckle at the idea of a jealous Riza. She never liked him that way. He was the only one who overstepped the line and wanted to taste the forbidden fruit. He had loved her for many years but she had never shown any non-platonic love towards him. She had always been faithful and loyal but never passionate. But maybe, maybe it wasn't like her to show any passionate feelings. Maybe she kept them bottled up and tried to hide them behind her mask. It would be similar to Jade's behaviour. On the inside, she was a firm believer and a fiery fighter but she always seemed undecided and weak.

"It is awkward," Riza stated.

"Yeah," Roy agreed. "Eh … Riza, why are you that far away? You will fall if you don't move closer."

"It's already bad enough," she said. "If I would move closer, I would be too close to you. If someone would see, it would be the end of you…"

"Since you couldn't leave, no one will be able to come in," he said before he reached out to grab her arms. He got her and pulled her closer. "So, and don't dare to move. You would be freezing if you would sleep at the edge of the bed. Honestly, it is absolutely innocent." He frowned at her. "Are you trying to imitate an ice cube, Riza?" he asked. "Your skin is cold as ice…"

"It's cold outside," she replied. "And I usually sleep in long-sleeved clothes…"

"Ah…" he hit his own forehead. "I forgot that Jade never freezes…"

"She is really a happy one," Riza muttered while she tried to become even smaller in order to keep the warmth closer to herself. It was a lost battle and she shivered.

Roy couldn't stand to see her like that and pulled her close enough to feel her hair on his nose. "I can't have you freezing to death when I can help you," he stated before he added mentally: 'And I really enjoy having you so close…'

Eventually they fell asleep and dreamt peacefully until … Crash! Boom! "ARGH!" … strange sounds woke them. Roy turned on his side to check the clock and groaned as he saw that it was six o'clock in the morning. How could anyone dare to wake him at such an ungodly hour? It was then he noticed that there was something or rather someone next to him. He saw the golden hair and assumed – naturally – the worst. He panicked slightly before he noticed that Riza was fully clothed which calmed him down a little bit before his thoughts turned back to the source of the strange sounds. Riza had her eyes still closed but he knew that she was awake as well.

"Stay here," he said and got up before he took his gloves. "I will check on it."

She turned her head to look at him. "Are you sure that it is a good idea?" she asked, worried.

He smiled at her. "I will try to stay alive," he promised. "Well, try to go back to sleep. I will handle the situation alone. It sounded like something human…"

He left the bedroom and sneaked down the hallway before he opened the door which led to the living room. There were two persons who stood snow-covered in the middle of the room.

"…you didn't mention that it was part of your plan to fall down the roof, Phil," an extremely annoyed Jadelina Christina Mustang Tempest stated while shrugged off the snow before she turned toward the little table and started to smirk. "Look at that, Phil," she grinned. "Two glasses and a bottle of wine … I would dare to guess that he had company last evening…"

"And regarding the snow outside, I am pretty sure that the unknown beauty will be still here," her younger brother grinned while he moved toward the fireplace. "Well, it's cold out here. I will start a fire and you can make something to eat. I guess that it's still where it used to be, Jade. And I am sure that Roy will appreciate breakfast as soon as he's awake."

"Why don't you ask him?" she asked before she turned around to face Roy. "You should have known better than to sneak up on me, Roy-boy."

He left his place behind the door before he hugged her. "I didn't know that you intend to visit me this year," he said. "I can't remember your letter, sorry."

"It's a surprise!" she said but it didn't sound convincing. "Alright, the others were freaking us out and we decided to flew and to visit you while we are in the area." She smirked the infamous Mustang-grin. "But seeing the scene, the timing is bad regarding the fact that you have already a guest. And I would bet my whole money that it is a woman…"

"My aide," Roy stated dryly. "Someone had the brilliant idea to put the whole snow in front of my house, so she couldn't leave last time … which lead me to another question: how did you get in?"

"We climbed up the tree in front of your house before we walked across the roof … and fell rather soft," Phil summed it up. "Jade … eh … unlocked the backdoor and there we are. Merry Christmas, Roy. We haven't seen you in years, have we? We missed you."

"Oh, will you stop making me blush?" Roy chuckled.

"You are pale as ever," Jade said.

"You know what I meant," he grinned. "Well, do whatever you want to do. I am still tired. I just got up to check which lunatics fell down my roof."