I'M RIGHT HERE

Summary: For ten years now, He's been searching for that perfect person. She's been there the whole time, he just never noticed...until it was too late. Riza/RoyOne-shot

It was raining out. Cold, sleepless, gloomy. No one word could describe it. The man stood at the grave of his best friend, hands jammed in his pockets to keep from doing something stupid. He looked to the sky, as if it could give him answers, but instead it just continued to rain. It made him wonder what he was thinking. Why was he looking for a dead guy for advice? Oh, it was his best friend, but what advice could he give?

"Maes, I could seriously use your help right now. You're the only person who ever understood what I was going through. Where the hell are you?"

It had been almost two years since the downfall of the state military, and almost 3 since he lost his best friend. He was standing for a moment longer when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Gracia and little Elysia with her. Elysia was carrying a bundle of flowers and a few pictures that she laid on his grave. It was amazing how quick the seven year old came to terms with her father's death. Roy looked at Gracia with shattered eyes, and she nodded her head slightly.

"You haven't been talking to him again, have you?" Gracia would have laughed if it weren't for the serious look he gave her.

"He's---was my best friend." Roy looked down at Elysia. Maybe one day he'd have a daughter...

"I understand it's hard for you...Oh! He wanted me to give you something! He'd rather I wanted until your 30th birthday, but I misplaced it. Pardon my slip, but if you wouldn't mind, can you come with me?" Roy nodded absently, and looked down at the grave again. He hadn't noticed before that he was buried next to Kali...Kali Mustang...He shook his head to clear away the tears. Before he realized it, Gracia was tugging at his sleeve. Elysia was standing beside him with her arm linked in his as if she were his girlfriend. He smiled a bit at the thought, and walked with them.

-+-+-+-

"He had a small letter he had written for you. I didn't read it, but I knew if Maes wanted to wait for you to read it, then it was important. I'm just assuming that he would have liked to be here when you read It." he smiled at her graciousness. She truly was a rare find. Maes was lucky...

"Gracia, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." She blinked as if she were going to cry.

"Why did you never re-marry?" He bit his lip as soon as he said it hoping she wouldn't hate him.

"Elysia-Chan." was all she said as she handed him the letter.

i

Well Roy, Your 30 years old. Hard to believe. I've known you for what, 20 years? Guess I should cut to the chase. There's a certain woman who likes you, I've gotten wind from a friend of yours that she's been keeping her eye on you. In case if I'm mistaken, I believe you know her as Riza Hawkeye...Anyway, I also got some information on her for you. Your only problem is that whole fraternization law. St this point I have to say screw it, and go for her, before she does something stupid. Her favorite color is blue, her full name is Elizabeth, and her address is below. I wish you all the luck in the world and you have to promise me I'll get to be the best man. Anyway, I thought I'd let you know, and save you a year of guilt.

Your Best Friend (And his adorable little girl)

Maes Hughes

/i

He smiled at the best man comment. It was so much like Maes... He then let his gaze drifted to the address. He knew she'd get a little upset if he were to go there. He grabbed his jacket and hugged Gracia. "Thank you," he whispered and walked off into the night.

-+-+-+-

She was sitting at her desk reading a book watching the little girl on the floor by the fire. She was letting her hands warm in the fire, while watching Hayate roll around in his sleep. Riza smiled gently at the sight. After a moment or two, she went to open the curtains. It was dark, but Jazmine loved show, and snow she would get. Jazmine jumped up at the snow, and ran outside to play in it. Riza smiled and went back to her desk and reading the book again. She couldn't help but wonder what happened to Roy...after she helped him get better, she vanished without a trace...and since the military wasn't around anymore, she could let down and cry for Maes...

Jazmine was in the middle of the front yard rolling some snow into a giant ball, then made another one, but couldn't lift it. Riza smiled gently, and picked it up setting it onto of the other one. They proceeded to make a smaller one, and set that on top. Riza gathered sticks and rocks, and Jazmine gathered other small things. They made a small snowman, and Riza looked down to Jazmine, tilting her head a bit.

"Why not go inside and warm up? I'll make you some coco." She smiled again, and noticed out of the corner of her eye someone walking on the street. If she weren't so cold, she would think it was Roy.

Jazmine smiled at her. "Ok!" and ran inside. Riza followed behind her, but looked back at the man.

"Elizabeth!" Riza heard her name, and whirled around to see who it was. "Riza!"

She noticed it WAS Roy that she saw, and turned away as if nothing ever happened. When he finally reached her, he was going to touch her hair and make sure it was her, but she flinched and pulled away. "What do you want, Roy?"

"Riza, I went through a lot of hell to find you, can't you just accept that?"

"I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO FIND ME!" He flinched at her yelling, and she bit her lip hoping Jazmine didn't hear her.

Jazmine walked out the door holding a glass of Coco for Riza and smiled. She then looked at the man and backed into the house again watching him from behind the door. "Mommy, is he a pirate?"

"No sweetie. Just a mean man." Riza replied. Roy flinched again.

"If I recall," he said gently. "It was you who walked out on me."

"Your correct, Mustang, but I did my part. Once I was done in the military I didn't need to baby-sit you anymore."

"You...got married?" Riza shook her head, and walked away, but he put an arm on her hand to stop her. "Maes wrote me a letter a long time ago."

She wondered why he brought it up, and looked toward Jazmine indicating she should leave. "What about it?"

"He says that you loved me...but if that was the case, why did you walk out on my proposal?" She shook her head and looked around the yard. It was only a matter of time someone would shatter her little life with Jazmine.

"I...I had too much on my mind."

"You say it, but how much is true?"

"Roy, don't do this to me. You know how I am."

"Yeah, but I never pegged you as someone to walk out on others."

She flinched, and went inside slamming the door.

-+-+-+-

"Smooth move, Dumbass," he whispered to himself. He sat on the steps and watched the snow-fall. He heard her talking to Jazmine and smiled sweetly. She was so lucky to have someone to talk to other then Hayate. He heard the door open and looked up hoping to see Riza, but instead, it was just someone who looked like her.

"Mommy's sick." was all she said. "I wanted to say sorry for what she did...whatever it is."

He blinked, but didn't reply.

"If you want, you can come in. Mommy's too tired to know." He smiled inwardly. She had no idea what Riza was capable of...

"I'd...rather not. I don't want to get you into trouble." She nodded and went back inside letting Hayate out, and walked back out a moment later with a book and a two glasses with her. She handed him one of the glasses and set the other beside her.

"Thank you," he rasped. He cleared his throat, but only wound up making it worse. Just what he needed...a cold. "What's in the book?"

"It's Mommy's. She showed it to me once." She handed it over to him. "It was something a man named Maes made for her. All the people are in the military, but she won't tell me who they are. I think it's just something that she thought was good or something."

He scanned through it but saw no pictures of him, and smiled. So she hated him that much...

"Mommy had pictures of you in there. But she took them out and hid them in a shoe box under her bed. How do you know my mommy?" The little girl brushed some of her blonde hair from her eyes, and focused the green orbs on him. It struck him as odd that she looked a lot like Havoc. He shook it off, and answered her question.

"She used to work with me. Can I show you something?" The girl nodded and he lifted his shirt to show all the scars. The little girl traced her hand over the one on his chest, and he winced.

"So you ARE a pirate!"

"No," he answered chuckling. He debated if it was worth it to talk a bout it or not. "I was in a fight with a bad man. Your mom saved me. She even helped me to get better, but after that I never saw her again."

She blinked a few times and looked away. "At least she saved you,"

"What's the matter?"

"Mommy couldn't save me. She just adopted me. Daddy still visits. Mommy gets hurt when he visits...so do I...I don't like it."

He winced and looked away. No wonder she was so care-free. She used it to cover-up what really happened. The only thing that got him was that Riza was skilled not only with guns, but hand-to-hand combat.

Riza walked out of the house unnoticed by both of them, and slipped her arms around Jasmine's neck whispering something in her ear. Jazmine, in turn, nodded and took the book and two glasses walking off. Riza then looked down at the ground sitting beside him on the steps.

"I tried dating to get my mind off of you. My only mistake was trusting Havoc." She took a moment to compose herself and continued. "After he found out I was pregnant, he ran off to another country and left me here. He contacted me a few weeks ago to get Jazmine from me, but I adopted her, so legally he can't. I know you were wondering why she looked like Havoc."

He clenched his teeth to keep from making a rude remark. "It's just like him. Love them, and then leave them. Stupid little bastard."

"Roy you can't go after him. It would only be in vain, and Maes...Maes wouldn't appreciate it either."

"The girl, Jazmine, she said that he comes to visit." She blinked. Why did Jazmine go that far?

"He does." She coughed violently, and then looked back to him. "He abuses us. I would love to shoot him, but my aim isn't as good anymore."

He nodded as if understanding, but more worried about her being sick. "You should go inside. It's too cold out here."

She nodded and stood up offering her hand to him, smiling. He took her hand and stood up, following her inside, closing the door behind her.

-+-+-+-

The house itself was huge. He wondered how she lived there and never got lost. Apparently, there were two rooms that were left un-occupied, since they were where Jasmine's father and his recent "Playmate" were supposed to stay. This only angered Roy even more. Riza told him to sit down on the couch and sat across from him. "Contrary to popular belief, I actually am glad you came here."

He blinked a moment then thought about it. "Why?"

"I need someone to take care of Jazmine."

"Why? Your fine! You can do it! I'll stay with you!"

She knew it was a losing battle. Before she could think about it, she just blurted out; "I'm dying."

"No your not! Your just---" He was cut off again as she started coughing again. "What happened?"

"The last time I was visited by Havoc, he decided to poison me. It's called Dytoxafin; it takes up to a year to take full effect. Until then the person just suffers. Jazmine doesn't know. Please..."

"You have to tell her, Riza."

"I can't...I can't bring myself to do it." She winced and looked around. Was it her or did it just get colder?

"Then I'll do it! She has to know!" He watched her as she struggled to stand. He realized she wasn't just playing around. She made her way over to him, and hugged him. As he pondered why she was doing this, he gently hugged her back.

"I want you to stay here. Just until--" She couldn't say the last word. He nodded and touched her hair. It had been so long since he actually felt her. She pulled away from him, and walked off. He watched her leave, but she turned back to him. "Go to your house and get what you need. Come back here. I need to go tell a little girl about my secret."

He nodded and left.

-+-+-+-

It was almost a month after Jasmine's birthday, when they finally got married. Maes didn't go, but he saw it. Roy was aware that she wouldn't be with him long enough to have a real relationship, but to know she was there was soothing enough. He held her in his lap in front of the fire with his arms wrapped around her, and her head in his shoulder. As they watched the fire dwindle, she looked over at him, kissing his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"I was beginning to wonder," she whispered. She could feel her body getting weak, and every time she coughed, she could taste the metallic blood rise. Jazmine had come to good terms with her mother, and became fast friends with Elysia, who moved in next door with Gracia. Even though Elysia were a good 4 years older, they still got along well.

"Roy, are you there?" she rasped.

"I'm right here," he answered as she fell asleep. He had been holding her palm in his hand checking her pulse every-so-often. Just as soon as he had answered, her pulse went completely gone.

-+-+-+-

I think I might write one more chapter to this. I don't know yet. It depends on how many reviews I get. I may do 2 more. The second would be the funeral, and the next what happens to them and who Kali Mustang is…Anyway, review!

j a z m i n e