My first fic! I'm nervous... just please please read. Thanks.

"Well, it's late. I would have to ask you to spend the night here," Pinako said to Maria and Deny, Roy and Riza.

"Oh, thank you very much," Maria replied. "We really need a place to stay. Think about that, we went here without ever considering where we would spend the night. Denny, our problem is solved."

"Um… Oh, I sort of think that we would spend the night at the hamlet inn we passed this morning. And, what problem solved? You just said yourself, we didn't plan where we'll spend our night here, well, I solved it… the inn in the hamlet," Denny said disappointedly.

"What are you whining about? The lodging's free, we're accepting it… no, we just accepted it. What's the big deal anyway?" Maria inquired.

"So… no chance for a date?" Denny muttered almost to himself. Maria didn't seem to hear and just thank Pinako again for the invitation and causing Deny to feel more inferior than ever.

Pinako turned her attention to Riza, "well how about you?"

Riza answered promptly, "We need to go back to our camp to check on how things are going. With the urgent order to arrest Edward, constant update from the Central is necessary. We're going to cover it up as much as we could that Edward isn't here."

"Well… it's really dark outside, I doubt it if you'll ever see through the woods. And you're not familiar with the place there's a high possibility that you'll get lost, more likely that you're not going to reach your camp, so better yet spend the night here." Pinako said matter of factly.

"Yes, Riza. You should stay here for the night, my room's pretty big. I can accommodate Maria, Sheska and you. And besides, your Colonel is sleeping cozy in the sofa," Winry said as she jerked her head at the general direction of the sofa.

Ed barged in, "w-w-w-wait! He's going to sleep here? Procrastinating perverted smoke puff alchemists is going to sleep here… in this roof? Hell, no way! This is too comfortable for him! Nah-a. After what he did to me, torturing me, us, a while ago he deserves to sleep at the river bed and I wish that there's a torrent, let him drown there! And… o-hoho… what would he do if his all wet, he'll probably panic and scream for her lieutenant to save his useless a… "

"Ed, for goodness sake! Leave it! He's tired, we're all tired, just let him sleep here." Winry snapped at him.

"Winry, of all people, you are the one who'd I expect to be in my side right now. You to defend me in my argument for him to step out of this house…"

"Me?"

"Yeah you…"

"Because?"

There was a pause, then Ed stammered, "because, you know… Ishabal… doctor… parents,"

"Ed! Unbelievable, haven't you heard what he said earlier this day? He's terribly sorry for it! Oh! Edward! Why do you have to bring this up! Arrgh! I haven't forgiven him yet but for everyone's sake couldn't you just leave it!" raged Winry.

Ed was dumbfounded. Everyone was silent. But Roy still dozed of. After a long while Riza was the one who broke the silence, "Are we allowed to sleep here tonight or not because we could start leaving now. The earlier we leave the more time we'll have tracing and re-tracing, if ever we get lost, our tracks back to our camp?"

"Yes, of course, you're allowed to stay here tonight. Winry will show you her room." Pinako replied as she glared at Ed.

"Alright then, thank you. I'll just wake up Colonel."

"OK"

Riza approached the sofa where Roy was sleeping and shook him gently, "Colonel… Colonel Mustang, wake up."

Roy slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a pair of amber eyes, then he felt a hand shaking his right arm gently, then he heard a angelic voice …wake up… He thought, "Wow, is this what I get in having another Ishabal nightmare? Finally, I'm dead and talking to an angel half-conscious… " Then he realized that it was his lieutenant who was waking him. Then he bolted sitting up and shouted, "Lieutenant, what are you doing in my room?"

Riza didn't seem to mind his question, "Sir, Pinako and Winry were kind to let us spend the night in their house."

Only this time that Roy realized where he was, "Oh yes, of course," he said while standing up. "Thank you," he said to Pinako, then he turned to Winry and said, "Thank you very much."

"No problem. You'll stay with Ed in a room," Winry replied. "Sgt. Brosh will sleep there, too. Don't worry," she added quickly.

Roy's sleepy state disappeared when he heard that he would share a room with the little shrimp alchemist. "But-"

Riza stopped him and spoke to him in the most hushed voice, "Sir, you may not want to protest. There was a commotion here a while ago and it hasn't been completely dissolved. Permit me to suggest staying calm and just accept the offer."

Roy looked around the room after Riza spoke and indeed there was a feeling of tension.

"Alright then, lieutenant," Roy grunted.

"Riza, come on let's go upstairs. Maria… Sheska… come on, you're all tired," Winry called as everybody left the room to go upstairs. Denny asked Pinako where the bathroom was and he headed to it. But Ed is still motionless on his spot.

"Well, Colonel, good night sir," Riza said to Roy.

"Wait, lieutenant, don't leave me," Roy said as he grabbed Riza's arm while staring at a still dumbfounded Ed.

"Sir… I'll just be at the other room."

"Yeah, well, don't leave me alone with fullmetal royal pain in the ass," still staring at Ed who now came to himself but looking very sad, well, he just upset Winry.

"Colonel, it's just for a night, you can manage it. And Brosh will stay with you and Ed, too. It wouldn't be that difficult for you, sir," Riza assured.

"But what if he eats me while his sleeping thinking that I'm a burger or something? The freakish little thing is a food grinding machine! Can't you just stay beside me in my room; I would feel much safer," Roy pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

"Colonel! Sir, no, I cannot stay with you in a room. You'll manage, good night, sir," Riza answered surprised as she started to go upstairs. She blushed when she realized that Roy is still holding her arm, tighter.

"Wait, Lieutenant. What will I wear? I didn't bring any bedtime clothes," Roy asked stupidly.

"Sir, with all due respect, I don't suppose it's still my concern on what are you going to wear," Riza said trying to control her anger. "It isn't my responsibility, sir, and besides our stay here is unexpected. What would you do without me," she said the last statement to herself, but apparently Roy heard her.

"That's why I always want you by my side. I don't want you to leave me, ever." Roy smirked, "So please stay with me tonight so that I'll feel safe around fullmetal?"

Riza was startled with Roy's statement, but got irritated at the last statement, "Good night, sir," she said that as she climbed briskly up the stairs.

But Riza suddenly climbed down the stairs and walked towards Ed, "Edward, I know, you're sad because you made Winry upset, but you have to go upstairs and sleep. You're tired. And you have to show the Colonel and Sgt. Brosh to your room."

Ed looked up at Riza after she finished speaking, "OK," he replied. "Mustang let's go upstairs," he said without any sign of irritation or any negative attitude towards Roy. Unconsciously, Ed was doing this to make up for upsetting Winry.

Roy amazed with Ed's approach to him, "what's with the change of attitude? Oh my, Riza, look he's super extra nice to me. He didn't even protest! He's planning something to get back at me." Riza and Ed just both stared at him: Ed stared at him without any emotion evident, while Riza stared at him because he called her Riza not lieutenant or Hawkeye or Lieutenant Hawkeye, she was stunned.

"Mustang, for real, come on. I'll show you the room. I'm tired and upset and sad for another argument," Ed said, but he continued, "Cursed night! My pops showed up and my brother has gone out with him and Winry's upset and I'm being hunted and you're here. And don't give that i-thought-he-doesn''t-want-any-argument look. Just follow me upstairs. I'm not doing this for you. And don't bug Lieutenant Hawkeye on what are you going to wear, you oversized baby, I'll find something for you, you miserable pain in the ass! You made Winry upset with me; you're the reason after all… if it wasn't for you… "

"Edward, let's just all go upstairs, OK," Riza interrupted.

"Sorry, Lieutenant," he apologized, "let's go."

Roy couldn't understand his emotions he wanted to laugh at Ed but at the same time he felt sorry. When they reached the second floor of the house they met Denny at the rest room door as he was walking out the rest room door. Ed motioned him to follow them to the room.

"Colonel, you'll be fine. Good night, sir," Riza said to Roy as she was heading to the room she supposed to be Winry's.

"Yeah. Good night…, " he replied, then added "Riza," almost to himself.

Should I continue?... Thanks.