"Father, I'm home."

Roy recognized that voice. It belonged to the Master's daughter. The last he had seen her was when he still an adolescent, learning the basics of alchemy under her father. In his memories, she was an insecure girl would shut herself in with a single sentence that was delivered wrong. But quietly, she would follow him and her father around.

Then he left abruptly to enlist in the State Military Academy. It had been a couple years, and now, he was a soldier. With basic training complete, he was back to finish his apprenticeship and acquire the knowledge of Flame Alchemy.

"Hello. It's been a while." Roy emerged from Master Hawkeye's library. Upon refusal to teach anything, Master Hawkeye had been given permission to read through as many books as the soldier desired. As suspected, Roy had yet to find anything useful.

"I'm Roy Mustang. I was your father's pupil when we were younger. May we speak?" He didn't mean to sound so formal. Considering how they used to play together as children, Roy wondered why he couldn't talk to his Master's daughter normally.

"Hello, well, I guess it would be Cadet Mustang now." The blonde took off her shoes and greeted the guest.

"No, Roy is fine."

"I'm glad you've been well, Roy. We can converse in the dining room. Would you like anything to drink?" Walking past the dark haired male, she walked through the living room into the kitchen. She set her bag down against the cabinets.

"We have tea and coffee if you want something warm. I can go down to the cellar, if you're permitted to drink." Riza didn't once turn to face the older male.

Roy tried not to stare blatantly, but she really had grown up. He noticed her hair was still cut short. Though now, it made her look more reserved. He could definitely see the young woman emerging from the teenager's body.

"Tea, if you please."

She came out promptly with a tray carrying a hot tea pot, two porcelain cups, sugar cubes, and a ceramic milk jug. Setting the pot in front of Roy, she poured a generous amount in both cups before placing one in front of the soldier. She sat across from the dark eyed male. He took a sip from his drink before looking up.

"You wanted to speak with me?"

Riza's eyes were glued to her cup.

"Yes. I don't know if your father has told you anything, but I've come back to learn about Flame Alchemy from-"

"No," Riza cut him off short. "I'm sorry. I am unable to do anything to change his mind." Riza looked down in her drink and was startled to find herself. What's more was the age showing on her face. She could only imagine what she looked like to Roy, and she had to find something else to look at.

"You haven't even spoken with him. As his daughter, surely you would have a greater impact in his judgement." Roy pleaded with the younger Hawkeye. Her hands tightened around her cup.

"No, I'm sorry," she whispered and looked up to capture Roy's eyes in her own. Roy slowly nodded in acknowledgement and dejection. Even as a child, Riza and her father weren't on the best of terms. It was one of the things Roy picked up on when he stayed with them as a student.

Riza took a drink from her tea.

"Thank you. I guess I'll keep trying to convince him."

And in silence they continued to drink their tea until the pot was empty. Without a word, Riza cleared the table, and Roy left the room to go back to the library. As she washed the dishes, she kept getting lost in thought.

The Roy she had known before had changed. He wasn't as aloof as she had remembered. She assumed it was the Academy. The way he held himself was of a trained soldier and his mannerism was mature for a man in his early twenties. She smiled inwardly. She could definitely see the man emerging from the adolescent boy she remembered as a child.

"So he finally asked me to the dance. I was getting worried that he wasn't going to ask me." A unfamiliar voice drifted up the open window. Roy was in the attic today looking through the books that were stored away. He hadn't found anything yet, and it had been a few days. But he was determined (and stubborn).

"Of course he would ask you, Ellie. He's been your boyfriend for over a year now." That voice was familiar. Roy took a peek out the window. It was Riza and her friends from school. From what he could see, one of the two girls had dark brown hair and the other was a platinum blonde. Smiling at their youth, he resumed pulling books out of chests and boxes. A different voice spoke up.

"What are you going to do, Riza?"

"What do you mean, Sandra?" The other girls sighed loudly in response to Riza.

"The dance! If you really don't have anyone to go with, you can always join me and Roger." Sandra offered.

"I wasn't planning on going." It was hard to determine whether or not Riza was disappointed or relieved.

"Are you just not going cause a boy didn't ask you? Riza, we keep telling you. You don't need some stupid guy to ask you to go to the senior dance." This was Ellie. Though she emphasized 'stupid', anyone could tell that she was glad she had a solid date.

"No, Ellie. I wasn't planning on going even if 'some stupid guy' asked me." Riza protested.

Roy opened the first book in the pile. Closing it before he could catch any words on the page, he put it back. It had been in a woman's handwriting, quite possibly a diary. He quickly looked through the rest and found that all the books in the first pile were diaries. With what he did glimpse, he decided the female handwriting wasn't a red herring. It really was just a diary.

"Marriage?" Sandra squealed, making Roy jump and knock down a different pile of books. Cursing under his breath, he gathered the books that were now scattered on the floor.

"Ellie, didn't you have plans to become a doctor?" Riza's voice held concern for her friend. Roy found himself emerged in the conversation again.

"I did, but Hamish wants to travel around the country. I can't really study to be a doctor on the road now, can I?"

Riza couldn't understand. The girl was just worrying about how her boyfriend wasn't going to ask her to a dance. More than that, Ellie had aspirations to become a doctor. Why couldn't she just stay behind? But both her friends were now engaged in an excited conversation about wedding dresses and ceremonies.

"How about you, Riza? Do you see anyone as a potential marriage partner?" Sandra brought the blonde back into the conversation.

"You know there aren't." Riza sighed. It was a frequent question between the trio. Riza's friends desperately wanted to see Riza romantically involved with anyone.

"How about that soldier that's staying in town? He seems to be coming in and out of your house." Sandra nudged the short haired girl. Riza blinked. Roy Mustang? Was he eye-catching?

"I've seen him! Dark hair and eyes. Little to say, but he sure does make a big impact. But of course, my Hamish is much better suited to me." Ellie giggled to herself. Roy's eyebrow rose. This was interesting. He had never heard women gossip about him.

"He's just a student studying under my father." Riza dismissed both her friends' anxious and hopeful looks. They really were getting desperate.

"Don't you want to get married, Riza?" Ellie had started to talk with a slight whine in her voice.

"Of course. I'll take my time getting to know the right guy," said Riza, "after I have taken care of all my responsibilities," she added.

"I'm sorry. I know your father's been getting ill." Sandra placed a hand on her friend's arm.

"Yeah," Riza simply replied. "Actually, I should check in on him. Should I get anything while I'm inside?" Riza stood up and brushed off the dirt from her skirt. Her friends smiled gratefully.

"We're fine." Riza nodded and entered the house. Roy decided to return to his job when he heard Ellie talking about Riza.

"She really need to socialize if she wants to even meet a special person." Ellie sighed.

"I know, but even then..." Sandra didn't dare to continue.

"I know what you're thinking. It's the hair and her outfits and her attitude. She's really pretty too. It's almost everything else that's so unappealing. " Ellie puffed her cheeks. "I just don't understand, Sandra."

"She's different from you, Ellie." Sandra simply replied.

He closed the book he had opened; his focus was gone. He couldn't really call Riza his childhood friend, but they did live together in the time he was an apprentice to her father. Though they weren't as close as siblings, they had a mutual understanding of each other. They took care of each other.

It bothered him that her friends didn't hold Riza in high regard. He exited the attic and made his way to the ground level. He ran into Riza as she walked back out. She really was pretty, with all of her 'faults' included. They exchanged a short hello and went on their ways. As the front door opened, he could hear the girls resuming their chatter.

Roy hadn't given up. Another half a week had past and Master Hawkeye didn't budge a bit. Roy was getting anxious. Not only was the older alchemist being stubborn, but his condition had taken a turn for the worse. Roy was worried for his teacher's health, but also that he would die before relaying the valuable research of Flame Alchemy.

"Master, please! This may be the last-"

"When I told you no on the first day, I meant it! You're too young and naive. Flame Alchemy is a knowledge you plan on using for the military, isn't it?" The older gentleman laid in bed, a unnerving pallor resided on his face.

"But sir, alchemy is for the people and the military protects the people," Roy tried to reason with his teacher, but the ill man started to cough violently. Riza burst in and had warm water ready in a bowl. She also carried medication for her father.

Roy watched as the young Riza tended to her father, but she didn't speak at all. If anything, the relationship between daughter and father seemed consistently on edge.

"I'm sorry, Master. I'll give you some time to rest, and please reconsider." Roy excused himself from the room and stopped by the bathroom. Washing his face, he looked at himself in the mirror. He saw what he always saw. A soldier for the country. An alchemist for the people. And just simple Roy. Then he remembered the girls from a couple days ago. He didn't realize that his dark hair and eyes had an affects on others that much. He then tried to smile. He thought it made him look more like a child. Sighing, he exited the bathroom and noticed that Riza was exiting her father's bedroom.

"Is he alright? I didn't mean to pressure him."

"He's asleep now. When you talk about the military protecting the people, do you mean to use alchemy to protect the people of Amestris as well?" Riza asked, her gaze didn't leave the floor.

Roy looked at the blonde girl in surprise. She had never taken so much interest in the topic ever since he got back. As children, he always used to show off what he learned that day to her. Though she lived with the Master, she always showed great enthusiasm. That was another thing that had changed since his return. She seemed more reclusive than he remembered. A lot of years had passed, and he guessed that it had taken a toll, especially with her father's illness.

"'Be Thou for the People' is what the Alchemists say, and I plan to do just that. With the border wars escalating as they are, I need to do my part in this battle." He clenched his fists. He was wasting precious time here. Though he got some time of leave, if he went back with nothing, then he would look like a fool. And nothing would have been gained for the country's protection.

Riza stared at the dark haired male, processing what she heard. Sort of dazing off into space, she nodded and walked away. Watching her walk away, he had a thought.

"Riza?"

She turned.

"A little birdie told me about your senior dance."

She looked at him bewildered. For an instant, he thought it was nice to see emotions on her face. It livened up her whole demeanor; Roy found it almost attractive. Almost.

"I'm not going. I have to watch over my father." She didn't let him finish. She knew where the whole conversation was headed, and she didn't want it.

"Riza, Riza! It's just one night. I'm sure Master won't hate you if you step out for a bit. You still have your whole life ahead of you. Enjoy it." Roy ruffled her hair. Blushing a bit as she fixed her hair, Riza sighed a bit.

"I don't have a dress. Or a date." She whispered. It didn't matter what, but she wanted some excuse to get her out of this. Roy gave her a skeptical look. Was that supposed to be an excuse?

"Riza, let me be your date to the dance." Roy took one of her hands and bowed. "If you could honor me by letting me take you to the dance." Riza's face softened, and she shook her head in amusement. "When is it?" Roy stood back up and released her hand.

"Tomorrow night," she informed.

"So soon. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything. We'll give them a huge shock tomorrow. How about it, Miss Partner-in-Crime?" Roy winked. She rolled her eyes at him but he could see the smile in them. After giving a quick nod, she walked past him and entered the kitchen. Then she poked her head around the corner.

"I don't want to show too much skin so please something that covers my back and is not too low of a cut." Riza bowed her head in gratitude and smiled slightly before disappearing.

Aw shit. Fuck, she should smile more often. Roy just stood in the hall reanimating. Okay. I can't disappoint her now.