"Struck out again, huh?" a lieutenant remarked, ribbing his superior officer, "You're running out of women in this city."

"It's not my fault, this one has three ex-husbands. That should be a red flag right there!" the captain protested. "Besides, it's a big base. Even if I just want to stick with military girls, I'm not out of options yet."

"What about Captain Hawkeye? She's single."

"Psh," the captain dismissed the idea. "No one has any luck with her. Besides, I heard from the Fuhrer himself that she's betrothed. He set her up with someone high up on the totem pole."

"No kidding?"

Jean Havoc struggled to not spit his coffee across the break room. His team had secrets, everyone knew that. But he had hoped that with something as important as an engagement, Captain Hawkeye would have mentioned something. Fuhrer Grumman was refreshingly human compared to the previous regime, perhaps this was another one of his pranks? Usually those were fairly benign, although a source of constant annoyance for human resources. Last time he put pornographic images in the training manuals to prove that no one actually read those things. That is, save for poor Sheska.

He ran back to the office, checking to make sure there were no eavesdroppers outside in the hallway before he asked, "Hey, Captain? You'd tell us if you were engaged, right?"

She looked up skeptically from her paperwork, "Yes, of course. Where is this coming from? Is Rebecca trying to set me up again?" It certainly wouldn't be the first time that her friend had tried to get her to settle down and marry a nice guy, preferably with a big bank account and big assets elsewhere. Everyone was convinced she only did it to humor her friend, there was rarely a second date. Never a third.

"No, but apparently your grandfather did." Havoc told her, "Scuttlebutt is that Grumman betrothed you to some higher up."

"Betrothed? How archaic," Roy commented. He paused for a moment, remembering a conversation he had with the then-general Grumman a few months earlier.

"Would you consider marrying my granddaugther? She'll some day be the president's wife!"

Roy swallowed hard. He didn't know how serious the man was. Apparently he had meant it, and that higher up was him. Now the Fuhrer was telling all of Central that Roy was set to marry his captain. He admitted he'd considered it. In a more perfect world he would love to have a life with her. A big house, children, a yard for Hayate. But did she feel the same way? Even if it were possible, would she agree?

Hawkeye shook her head, "I assure you, I have no idea what he's talking about, but I intend to find out.

"Grandfather, I would like a word." She sat down, across the desk from the new Fuhrer. Anyone else would have been intimidated, seated before the most powerful man in the country. And rightfully so. Grumman was not a man to be underestimated, but Hawkeye was not easily intimidated. Hawkeye imagined that many heads of state and generals must have felt a sense of unease sitting down in front of the Fuhrer. She also wondered how many of those found a whoopie cushion beneath their seat, as she did. Pppffffftttt.

"Of course! What can I do for you?" He looked over the rims of his glasses at her, chuckling at his prank.

"What's this I'm hearing about an engagement?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"Oh, has someone finally asked?

"No, I wish it were that simple. Apparently the word around base is that you have been telling people that you set me up with a husband?"

"I've never known you to believe gossip, my dear. I think I would remember something that important. My mind isn't getting any younger." he looked out the window wistfully, "I'm just an old man, although I would hope that you would settle down while I'm still around to see it."

Liar. The old man was as sharp as ever.

"You're a terrible liar for a politician," she observed, "With whom did you arrange this?" She had a sneaking suspicion in the back of her mind that she already knew the answer.

"I would never 'set you up with a husband.' As if you would even allow for such a thing!" trying to force her into an arranged marriage would not end well for anyone involved. "I merely gave him my blessing in advance and encouraged the process. It's inevitable, really. You two have been in love all these years." He'd hoped that he had given Roy the necessary poking and prodding to get the ball rolling. Yet even after all they endured together on the Promised Day, they had remained dear friends, and nothing more.

"Sir?"she asked nervously. "Why would you think I am in love with the general?"

He gave her a sly smile, "And I never named names, Riza. But he does come to mind, does he? You could do far worse for a husband. You deserve to be happy. To have a husband, a father for your children. You deserve to be loved."

She didn't know how to respond to that. She felt something for the general, but whether or not it could be called love was not an easy question. Love like the love of your country? Love like a sibling? A friend? Something more? Even if she could entertain the thought of loving him, it was never meant to be. She'd taken countless lives, and he took countless more. The idea of them finding happiness, happiness together, did not feel right.

"I thought I asked you not to think too far ahead, Fuhrer." Roy asked, shaking his head, "I at least thought you might have kept that little conversation between us."

"When you get to be my age, you have to think ahead because that's all you have! Great leadership requires great ambition, wouldn't you agree?"

Roy had to agree, "I suppose so. However couldn't you think ahead without telling half of Central about your plan to have me father your great grandchildren?" He felt heat rising beneath his uniform. Could he really see himself being a father? That would require him to do things with his captain to father said children. Things he couldn't let himself imagine.

"I never said who she was engaged to." he argued, detail oriented as ever.

"Yet somehow, everyone, including Captain Hawkeye, presume you mean me."

"Rather curious isn't it?" he asked with a gleam in his eye. He stepped out onto the balcony of his office, looking out over the city, "Look out there. Some day all of this will be yours."

"Sir?"

"When I die, you will take my place, and you will become the new Fuhrer. And my granddaughter will be the president's wife, just as we agreed."

"With all due respect, you should pass on your legacy to whomever you feel is the most qualified, sir. That kind of decision should not be based on personal relationships." He didn't know if he would go so far as to say that was an agreement they had. Although if Grumman had everything go his way, and he usually did, then she would be his along with the entire country.

"You overthrew a corrupt dictatorship and made general by 30? If there's more to your resume, please leave it with my secretary, I'm curious to read it."

Roy shook his head, despite the fact that he'd spent years dreaming of leading this country, he was in no hurry to do so. Especially if that meant having to lose a great man to do so. When Grumman left office, it would be with his death. He wasn't the kind of man to go retire someplace warm. The free world cheered at King Bradley's death. When Grumman would be gone, it would be as if the entire country lost an old drinking buddy.

"And you think that qualifies me to marry your granddaughter?"

"No, loving her does."