Disclaimer: I don't own FMA

Summary: What is truth? Is it memories? Is it an accepted reality? Is it what the world tells you to believe? Is it what you feel in your heart that cannot be denied? A twist on the Amnesia trope, for RoyAi 100 Themes: #009 Unknown Past/Before we know each other

AN: For RoyAi 100 Themes #009. Unknown past/Before we know each other. A RoyAi AU

Second Chance

Chapter 1

Regret

She was numb already, the voices around her faded into the background as she looked up at the stars and felt everything slow down. There was no pain, only fear embracing her as her senses dulled and she became aware that she was moments away from death. Even the chill from the rain that was pouring down over her wasn't cold, it was making her aware of the loss of feeling in her extremities and washing away the blood so she could see her wound clearly.

Her last thoughts were about how she had yet to really live, how she wished she had another chance at life because she never really lived. All she ever did was work. They'd bury her and all anyone would say was how dedicated she was to her work and nobody would visit her grave after the burial was over. Nobody would let her live on in their heart because Riza Hawkeye was an employee and nothing more.

There was supposed to be more time, there was supposed to be a lifetime to enjoy her success...instead her lifeline was being cut and she was going to die on the side of the road without ever having known the joys of life. Without ever valuing anything other than her job.

As her last breath left her she stared up at the stars and wished she had just lived a little before it was all gone.

"RIZA!"

The voice was full of panic and pain, a man's voice echoing from the open door in front of her. The room was so white it was almost blinding, the door the only thing distinguishable in the white void. It was imposing and made of stone, ancient words and symbols decorated it and as it cracked open there was a darkness inside that chilled her to her core.

"RIZA!"

The voice was coming from inside the door, a haunting cry of agony. Someone was calling for her, someone who cared deeply for her. Someone who was in that terrifying darkness that every fiber of her being told her to stay away from.

"Riza...don't leave me."

It hurt her, even though she had no idea who that man was. Who just choked out those sobs of grief? How could someone she didn't know care so much for her?

"I need you...come back."

She was terrified of the darkness but the warmth she felt from those words was so much greater than the warmth and comfort of the white room. She went to the door and felt it pull her into it's depths, because for the first time she felt like someone cared for her...cared that she was part of the world. She felt a flush of life that she was lacking from the daily monotony of her work schedule...and she wanted to feel more of it. So even though she had no idea who was calling her, she took a step into the unknown to find out.

What did she have to lose? She was already dead.

"Riza!"

She felt a jolt, almost like the tingles of an electric shock, and opened her eyes. The rain was still pouring down and she gasped as air filled her lungs once more. She felt her heart pounding and her extremities tingling, she was alive.

"Thank God."

She was startled when the man beside her scooped her up into his arms. She assumed him to be the first responder who saved her life. She was certain she was dead and as she regained motor control and sensation she smiled as the rain soaked her and she felt it. Who knew she'd ever be so happy to be wet? She was alive.

"Talk to me, are you OK?"

He was still holding her, this paramedic. Clearly a man dedicated to his work, though it was much more important than her own profession. She looked up at the man with the black hair clinging to his face and was surprised to see something more intense than relief or joy at a life saved. He was looking at her like he knew her. "Do I know you?"

Roy's elation began to ebb. She was alive but those were hardly the first words he expected. Still, he was surprised his efforts to save her worked...so a little confusion was acceptable. "Do you remember the accident?"

"I remember the dog running in front of me, hitting the brakes and hydroplaning...hit the guardrail and went through the window." She tried to see around them, but the rain was too intense. She looked down at her torso and was surprised when her arm wasn't broken and there was no glass in her chest. She sat up.

"Easy." Roy cautioned. "I did my best with your injuries...but I'm not a medical expert. Dr. Knox helped, but we still need to get you somewhere where he can look at you."

She ran her hand over her chest and looked around. Where was the ambulance? The headlights of a car were shining on them so they could see in the darkness, but something seemed off. Where were the street lights? Did she hit a pole when she crashed?

"Riza, we need to move you back to the car." Roy said and she looked at him with eyes clouded in confusion.

"I didn't tell you my name." She said and pushed him away as he tried to pull her close to pick her up. "Did you go through my car? Are you after my research?"

"Riza Hawkeye..."Roy assumed she was talking about her tattoo as that was the only research he thought she'd be protective of. "Nobody has compromised your research...it's just me and Knox. It's Ok."

"Who are you?" She demanded and he looked hurt.

"Roy...Colonel Mustang." He said and she looked him over. "We were leaving the safe-house when Envy and the Elrics crossed our path, you got out of the car to protect me and he attacked you. I thought...I lost you."

"You aren't making any sense, I wasn't with anyone in the car. Envy...was that your dog?" She said and looked up at a man who appeared to her left, blocking out one of the headlights. He was an older man and he had blood on his shirt and hands. Suddenly it seemed like she woke up in the middle of an abduction and her heart, which had stopped beating minutes ago, was suddenly back pounding in her chest. "Who the hell are you two?"

"Roy, we need to go." Knox said and watched the man try to scoop up his beloved Lieutenant. "Uh, kid...did you forget you have some injuries of your own?"

"I'm fine." Roy huffed and reached out to pick up Riza who was noticeably twitchy.

"You're hurt? I hit you?" She asked and saw the look of worry on his face. "What is going on?"

"Riza." Roy whispered as he leaned in close to pick her up. "You don't remember what happened in the tunnels?"

She stared at him, his pleading eyes all she could focus on. Despite the rain and darkness, she could still see the desperation in his eyes. This wasn't some human trafficker, this was a man who was terrified that he lost someone...not lost a victim. "No. How do you know me?"

"You really have no idea who I am?" Roy asked, his heart sinking in his chest.

"No."

"I'm your..." He paused as Knox turned away, pretending like he was looking into the night for the Elrics. "Colonel."

"I don't work for the military." She said.

"You do. You're Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. My assistant. My bodyguard. My..."

"Colonel!" Al hollered as he emerged from the trees. "Is the Lieutenant alright!?"

Ed scampered up and ran over to look at the pair sitting in the middle of the road. He saw the Lieutenant alive and bloody, but alive. "Thank God you're OK Lieutenant. I heard the Colonel screaming while we were in the woods and it sounded like maybe..."

"She needs a doctor and we need to get out of here." Roy said quickly and reached to pull Riza into his chest, gritting his teeth as he slowly rose to his feet with her cradled in his arms. Both boys put a hand out to steady him, clearly he looked as unstable as he felt. He held Riza tightly and took one shaky step after another until he could place her in the car and make sure she was safe.

Riza wasn't sure if this was a dream or if this was hell. Nothing made sense, not even the fact that these people cared about her. This man clearly had feelings for her and she felt so cherished being in his arms as he ignored his own injuries to carry her to safety. She saw the raw determination and pain written on his face as he stared ahead of him and made his way to the vehicle. These people knew her and they were scared that she died. The only problem was, that in her life, there was nobody. Nobody who cared if she was missing, dead or alive. So, who were these strangers who valued her and where did they get the knight's armor and vintage car?