Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise. It all belongs to Arakawa sensei.
Warnings for Character death (Maternal death).
Without Her
Prologue
"Roy! Roy!"
Roy opened his eyes to see Riza was shaking him awake. He knew something was wrong by the terrified look in her eyes and the tears streaming down her face.
He sat up in the bed. "What's wrong?"
"I'm bleeding, Roy."
Roy flung the bed clothes back spotting a small pool of blood under Riza as he did so. He was terrified, but he had to take charge. She had not moved and he put her hands on his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay." He looked in her eyes. "I'm going to get you to the hospital. There's no point calling an ambulance, I'll get you there quicker."
He pulled on his trousers and grabbed a shirt. He didn't bother tying it and carried a trembling Riza down the stairs and to the car. Hayate whimpered as they passed like he could sense what was happened.
Roy opened the front door and bundled her inside.
It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay.
When he was about to close the door, she grabbed his arm, "I think I'm losing our baby."
"No - you're not," he said fiercely. "Everything will be fine."
"Don't make promises what you can't keep," she whispered, "I don't need General Mustang right now, I need Roy."
"Riza …"
"I'm so scared, Roy."
He crouched down and kissed her hard on the lips.
"I'm terrified too," he said and pulled away abruptly. "We have to get to the hospital. It's not far away and that the roads will be quiet as it was in the early hours of the morning." He took a deep, steadying breath and started the engine. Riza cried out in pain suddenly.
"Riza!"
"Just get us to the hospital," she said, her desperate eyes meeting his.
Roy thought he would feel like things were finally under control once he carried her into the hospital. The staff had taken her from him and were leading her down the corridor. She gripped his hand tightly as he ran alongside the gurney. A sandy haired doctor was muttering instructions on the other side while the nurses pushed the trolley.
"She's losing a lot of blood, Doctor," said one of the nurses.
Riza was getting increasingly paler. Roy had tried to ignore the growing amount of blood she was losing during their journey to the hospital. He was starting to realise that it wasn't just the baby he could lose. Fear gripped at his chest tearing at his insides.
"Hurry," urged the doctor as if hearing his thoughts. "We'll lose them both if we don't get to the theatre soon."
"Roy," Riza whispered, "if anything happens to me, promise me you'll look after each other."
"No, don't talk like that! You're not going to die. You hear me!"
Her eyelids drooped a little. "I'm sorry."
"Don't you dare give up!"
The double doors of the operating theatre were up ahead at last.
"Sir, we have to ask you to stay outside," said the doctor.
Roy ignored them and spoke only to his wife. "I'm not leaving you."
"Roy, you heard them," she said, "you need to leave them do their job."
"Please sir," the doctor said. "Please you have to let her hand go."
"It's okay." Riza forced a smile. "I love you Roy."
He felt her hand go limp in his and her eyes closed.
"No!"
Two of the nurses chivvied him away from the gurney without much resistance. His head spun as he stood in the middle of the corridor. He didn't even notice the nurses leaving him and heading to theatre.
No! No! This can't be happening.
Spots danced in front of his eyes and his legs began to give way. He fumbled his way to the nearest chair on other side just facing the theatre doors.
Useless. I can't lose them.
All he could do wait and hope the doctors could do their job.
Riza you have to be alright.
"Is there anyone that we can call for you, sir?"
A nurse was standing beside him. She must have come from the other direction. He shook his head, the movement making him nauseated.
"Are you sure? You shouldn't be here alone."
His fingers shook as he checked the time on his pocket watch. It was 6am. It was a little early but not too early. "Actually, could you call my aunt? Do you have a pen and paper?"
The nurse reached into her pockets and took out a notebook and pencil. She handed them to him with a small smile. He scribbled his aunt's name and number, careful to write her real name rather than her pseudonym. The use of her given name would indicate the seriousness of the situation.
"And who will I say is looking for her? I didn't catch your name."
"Roy. I'm Roy Mustang."
The nurse widened for a moment, but she say anything. She inclined her head and disappeared down the corridor. Roy put his head in his hands and closed his eyes tightly. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He wiped at them viciously.
No, I'm not going to cry. She's going to be fine.
Riza was on the other side of the wall and he was not able to do anything to help her.
It will be okay. She's strong. She's Riza.
He tried to ignore Riza's earlier words. Don't make promises you can't keep, she had said.
He squeezed his eyes shut. The best medical staff were in attendance at this hospital. He had to put his faith in them, in her.
To be continued…