New Goals

Author: MoonStarDutchess

Part 1: Out With the Old . . .

Royai Triple Shot

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice.

AN: This is a birthday fiction for my dear friend RiRi! Happy Birthday! Hope you like it!


Out With the Old . . .

Roy groaned with a low tone as he moved to a more comfortable position so that his body would stop its ceaseless throbbing. When he moved to turn on his side, his neck popped and pain charged through it in ripples of various intensities, inducing him to open his eyes. It took him a moment to realize that he was sleeping in a moving car rather than a nice warm bed. He shifted to sit up in a straight position, his back against the tan seats, and reached up to rub his cold ear and get some of the blood circulating back into it. It was numb from resting against the passenger side window. He turned his gaze to the pane and saw a well-defined spot where his ear was resting on the condensation painted glass.

He grinned slightly and moved his arms back a bit, causing his shoulder blades to come together so he could effectively stretch that part of his body. He let out another yawn, relaxed his posture, and then leaned forward so he could rub his lower back. After he was fully awake and agreeably stretched, he glanced over at Riza.

Riza's eyes were fixated on the road which was now visible not only thanks to the bitter glow of the yellow headlights but because of the orange luminescence of the sun peaking over the mountains in the distance.

"Have you been driving all night?" Though he already knew the answer to the question, he wanted to hear her voice confirm her actions. She didn't even glance at him as she continued driving, and made no motion to reply. Though she wasn't in the military any longer, that soldier side of her still lingered in her body. He sighed heavily. "Pull over and let me drive for a bit. I'm fully rested and you should get some sleep."

Riza didn't respond verbally or with any gesture for quite a while before she finally began decreasing in speed. She slowly steered the vehicle onto a very wide flat beside the dirt road. He was surprised when she pulled behind several thick bushes and trees, effectively hiding the car from view. She turned off the motor and left the keys in the ignition. He knew that she drove and picked out the spot instinctively. She was always used to the shadows and being secretive. What he couldn't figure out was why she was hiding there when he said he would drive a bit. Her words, the first words she'd spoken since they left Central, answered the questions in his head. "You don't like to drive, you know that."

Roy frowned. Why was she still only thinking about him? She always thought of what he liked and disliked, never thought about what she wanted. He had a feeling that it never occurred to her to think about any discomfort that she might be going through.

"That's true," he replied. "But that doesn't mean I won't drive. Think about yourself."

Riza nodded and then dropped her hands from the wheel down onto her lap, letting them hit flat on the palms. They made a slapping sound against her thighs as if they were heavily leaden. Her posture was incredibly tense and her back ramrod straight, as if it was braced with something. Her gaze was directed at her hands, which were now grasping the midnight colored cotton fabric of her shin-length skirt. Her head was tilted ever so slightly downward at her lap. Her entire demeanor spoke volumes to Roy. She was upset over something.

"Riza, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice coming out in small tremors, as if it was being vibrated by a tuning fork.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for?" he questioned, turning his body towards her slightly.

"That you aren't fuehrer," she said. "That your dream of running the country, of making it better, will never come true."

"You don't think we've made it better by just getting rid of those homunculi?" he questioned.

Riza turned her gaze to him and nodded. "I know we did that but … your dream didn't come true. You would have been the perfect ruler for the country."

"I think the council will do just fine," he replied. "The country will stabilize under them."

"I feel like I let you down," she said.

Roy stared at her face, taking in the tiny scars she had at the side of her lips and temple, her thin eyebrows, and full lips, before finally burning his gaze into hers. He tried to read her thoughts even though it was very unlikely. Riza's mind was like a rare treasure to which no one had a map.

"There's no way you could ever let me down Riza," he said. "We changed the country. We accomplished that."

"If…"

Roy slid closer, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her, causing her body to fall sideways against him, the right side of her face falling against his chest. "Aren't you telling me to stop saying if?" He reached up to stroke her hair gently while he used his other hand to reach back and grab a pillow from the back seat, one he'd forgotten to use during his sleep. If he had, he probably wouldn't have the pain currently throbbing in his neck.

He grinned at Hayate who merely glanced at him before going back to sleep. He put the pillow behind his head and scooted against the door before pulling her closer.

"Sir?" Her tone was one of confusion. He reasoned it was because he was holding her, something he was finally able to do without worrying about military consequences.

"Rest Riza. I said it wasn't your fault. We will talk more when you are better rested. You are sleepy aren't you?"

Riza smiled and gave a tiny chuckle before nodding and scooting closer. Her body was still tense and her heartbeat was so rapid she could hear the light sound of it through her ears in a steady rhythm. She felt chills on her arms and couldn't tell if it was the cool morning invading the sparsely heated car, or the feeling of being pressed against Roy's body. Soon, a bit of the chill was gone as Roy pulled a blanket from the back seat and draped it over them.

"This is inappropriate," she managed to say, her prudery and proper comport taking over for the moment.

"Why? No fraternization laws apply to us anymore right?" he said.

Riza's eyes widened as if she'd forgotten for a moment, before they returned to normal. "Yes, that's right," she said softly.

Roy shushed her and reached back to unclip her hair, letting it fall over her shoulders. She turned her head to protest but didn't as she watched Roy toss her hairclip into the crowded back seat of the car. "Go to sleep Riza. I'll wake you in a few hours," he whispered. "I'm going to get a bit more sleep too. Being near you like this is relaxing. You are comfortable right?"

"Yes, I'm comfortable," she said, her body relaxing against her volition as his familiar sent and the warmth of his embrace took over her senses. She closed her eyes and relaxed her breathing, feeling the best she had since their judgment of conviction was revealed.

Roy stared down at Riza, who was now fast asleep, and wrapped his arms tighter around her. He kissed the top of her head and thanked fate that she was still alive and safe in his arms. He would never let her know it, but during their sentencing for crimes against humanity, he was more concerned about what would happen to her than him. When the sentence came down for banishment, he'd let out a big sigh of relief, in his head that is.

If the sentence had been death for her, he wouldn't have been able to take it and would have probably had a heart attack right there in the courtroom. Fortunately, the fact all the soldiers were only following orders, and that the jury was military worked in their favor. In addition, his team was responsible for bringing down the homunculi and saving the country, so that definitely worked to their advantage.

Major Armstrong was banished from the country as well, electing to move to the Armstrong estate in Aerugo. The rest of his team hadn't been in Ishbal so there was no trouble with them. Hundreds of soldiers were banished, mainly the state alchemists that took part, and the soldiers in the sniper squads. The foot soldiers, men as Maes had been, were pardoned since they made up the majority of the military. Roy thought it was a bit unfair for the snipers to take the brunt of the punishment for the non-alchemist soldiers but Riza had just shaken her head. She replied to his complaint by saying they were second only to the state alchemists, in the number of Ishbalians they'd killed.

Roy smiled softly. None of that mattered now. Anything that could have occurred in the future from the past in Amestris needed to be long forgotten. Under the rule of a democracy things would likely flourish. If it didn't, there was little doubt that Olivier Armstrong would line things out very effectively.

The only thing that mattered to him was Christmas and the girls, who had a new place in Creta, and the woman resting in his arms. His past was always tied to Riza and he wanted his future with her.

He reached over his shoulder to make sure his door was locked before he shifted down further and closed his eyes, falling asleep as well; the first sleep with Riza lying in his arms.

AN: Part two coming tomorrow! *hugs*