Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters. I only am responsible for the (albeit poorly written and devised) plot.

So…. I'M BACK!

Hope some people took pity on me and at least clicked the link for this story...

If you have absolutely no idea what is going on, this is a sequel to 'The Burden On Her Back,' which was the last (and also my first ever fic) story I posted.

Read that first.

To anyone who forgot, I'm Pyro.

Feel free to call me that.

And just a warning: that's one of the only things I'll respond to.

And so begins 'The Enigma.' (That's what I'm calling it for short. I might change that later, but feel free to refer to it as that in the meantime.)

I know this is kinda delayed, but I want to say my traditional thank you to the last reviewers/followers/people who favorited The Burden On Her Back.

Pleasantly Premeditated

cherrybut quiet

The freaking guest who didn't leave their name.

heroesofolympus63

flying mint bunny 77

(Sorry in advance, because my ANs are always really long.)

Edward Elric looked down at the person currently staring at him from the cement.

She was really pretty. Any romantic feelings he had were all directed unconditionally at Winry (though, she didn't know that just yet), but that didn't mean he wouldn't admit it.

She was definitely older than him, though he could only really tell by the level of maturity radiating off of her. Her eyes looked wiser, holding more knowledge than most people. (Not old enough to be his mother, definitely not, but maybe an older cousin…? An aunt…?)

Her face… her face reminded him of someone, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She was so familiar, and Ed was so busy trying to place her that he completely disregarded the man (presumably her date) trying to help her up.

Alphonse and Winry were thinking along the same lines, trying to figure out who this person was, or who she reminded them of.

Winry knew those eyes. Golden, sometimes amber. Fierce, passionate. This woman was gorgeous, able to draw the attention of an entire room. And the fact that she had absolutely no idea was probably part of the reason why. The way she held her head, skilled hands brushed away her hair, it was so damn irritating that they couldn't quite recognize her.

Then she spoke their names. First, so softly, they didn't hear it.

"Winry?"

Then she spoke up.

"Winry Rockbell? Edward? Alphonse?"

And then Winry knew.

Al and Ed were still in the dark, but then Winry's eyes drifted and she knew they'd figure it out soon.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye?" She asked, completely and utterly confused.

Alphonse nearly fell over and Ed's jaw dropped.

Their head turned just a fraction of an inch to see someone they definitely recognized right off the bat.

"Colonel Mustang?" Alphonse asked (not impolitely, because again, it's Alphonse we're talking about).

"Hi Alphonse," Riza responded weakly, as Roy helped her up.

Ed was still technically under his command, but he'd asked for temporary leave, and Roy had granted his request without a second thought. God knows that that boy deserved it.

He had actually been due to report back in the next couple of weeks, a small detail that had slipped everyone's mind.

Alphonse hurried to pick up her dropped bag, his eyes flickering between the two.

Last time they'd seen the pair, Roy had been recovering from blindness and his Lieutenant has still been healing from her slit throat.

It had been kind of obvious that they had some sort connection that ran deeper than office ranks, to everyone. But this was a public display of...

"Holy crap, are you two on a date?" Ed asked, still appalled that he'd just thought about Colonel Bastard's woman in the wrong way. Lieutenant Hawkeye was almost an aunt in his eyes. Roy had been the only father figure he'd had for several years, and with him came his bodyguard. (And anyone who didn't see the romantic connection must have been completely blind.)

"Fuhrer Grumman was kind enough to drop the fraternization laws at his granddaughter's request." Roy explained shortly, his eyes trying to communicate that this was a REALLY bad place to discuss this.

Ed nodded, having more than enough practice intercepting and understanding gestures.

Roy held Riza's hand and immediately interlocked their fingers, a fact that no one missed.

"How about we go back to my place?"

"So, Edward, how have you been?" Riza asked, settling into a chair at Roy's dining table. He blinked at her, still not understanding how this person in front of him was the woman he'd served with for years.

He shook his head.

Winry pulled up a chair next to him.

"Uh…" he hesitantly began. "I've been thinking… and I'm coming back to work under the Colonel. I know I can't actually perform alchemy anymore, but I've been told that I'm guaranteed a position right under the Colonel, as is Alphonse. As State Alchemists, we can help other people, through research. Al decided he wants to apply, to study and learn more about alkahestry. Do you remember May Chang?"

Riza nodded, recalling the girl with that strange cat.

"She wants to help Al, so Amestris can start learning to 'read the dragon's pulse.' I was going to ask the Colonel what he thought of the idea." Edward's eyes suddenly lit up. "What do you think?"

"Roy would love that," she admitted. "And he would have it no other way; both of you reporting to him directly. But are you both sure you're ready for all that attention?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Winry smacked him in the head.

"Sorry," he apologized sincerely. "Old habits die hard."

"It's fine. Swear all you want; you've got nothing on Roy."

Riza chuckled, now understanding that they hadn't been made aware of Roy's current change in rank.

"You really haven't been keeping up with the military news have you?" She asked with a small laugh.

"Roy's set to become Fuhrer by the end of next month."

Needless to say, there were questions. Lots, and lots of questions.

Since the Homunculi had been taken down, a little more than a year ago, there hadn't been much time for catching up. Ishvalans had needed to be taken care of and dealt with, as had the corrupt government officers, and Edward along with his brother had needed time to re-adjust to their real bodies.

They'd been careful to not reveal to much. Not out of lack of trust, but just to let them process everything slowly. Take everything in first.

They'd spoken of Riza's true/other identity, their new relationship, Roy's new almost-position, and not much else. Ed had a very hard time believing that Roy had actually grown a pair and asked her out. That them took so damn long to get together.

Dammit he owed Al money.

Turns out, they had come back early, cutting their vacation time short. Al and Ed wanted to join Roy's team, and Winry had been looking to expand their automail business in Central.

May was going to meet them in roughly two months. She'd traveled back to Xing to deliver the good news. Their village was going to be taken under the wing of Ling his people (his village, you know what I mean). They would be spared.

Roy and Riza hadn't missed the slight red that had graced Alphonse's face when he'd spoken of the young lady. It had been at least a year since he'd seen her last, though they still communicated by mail.

Roy ruffled Ed's hair, saying that he officially couldn't make short jokes anymore. Ed had beamed with pride and satisfaction with that.

Al no longer needed the cane, and could even spar with his bother again. Riza had smiled at that, knowing that had been a part of their normal routine, at one point.

"So…. You and May huh?"

Alphonse matched the same color of Ed's old coat.

Winry yawned, and rubbed at her tired eyes.

"Do you three have a place to say?" Roy said as he walked in, followed by Ed and Al. He'd been talking with the blonde teenagers about their new positions, and whether or not they were totally ready to accept.

They'd agreed without hesitation, saying that they were more than ready.

Ed had punched him in the shoulder, 'playfully' of course, and congratulated him on this new development. Then he'd promised that if anything happened to the Lieutenant, he was going to punch him so hard he might risk losing the ability to have kids. Ever.

Roy then nodded, happy the Ed was looking out for Riza, even though they'd never been very close.

Al had reprimanded his brother, smacked him in the side of the head. But when he'd passed Roy, he promised under his breath that he agreed with his brother whole-heartedly.

"Yeah, we rented a house in a nice neighborhood. It's kind of close to here, if we drove it'd take us maybe ten minutes. We still have to unpack though…."

"Nonsense. Just stay here for the night! I insist, I've got more than enough space." Roy said, gesturing to the hallway that led to his guest rooms.

"Are you sure? I mean, we don't even have clothes to change in!" Alphonse asked timidly.

"Easy. You can borrow something of mine for tomorrow. We can drop you off at home in the morning."

"But what about Winry?"

"She can borrow clothes from Riza. I think you two are about the same size."

Riza nodded.

"Say… Tomorrow I'm off work. Roy still has to go into the office, but what do you say I help you guys move in? We can just make a quick stop at my house in the morning, and then Roy can drop us off on his way to work," Riza suggested.

"Really? Are you sure that you're up for that?" Winry asked, hopeful that she would have another female to talk to tomorrow.

She loved Ed and Al, she really did, but there were some things that only a girl would understand. (No matter how feminine Al acted sometimes.)

And besides, there were a few feelings about a certain blonde that she needed to get off of her chest.

"Are you and Miss Riza sleeping together?" Al asked.

Roy's face twisted, and he coughed. He spun to face him, both the same deep crimson.

Al, just realizing how that sounded, began to apologize profusely.

"I- I meant like, is she sharing a room with you tonight or whether me and brother need to stay in the same room! Swear, I wouldn't ask that! Sorry, I should've thought that out before I said it!" Alphonse quickly tried to explain himself.

Roy relaxed, though the color still didn't leave his face.

"It's okay Alphonse. Yeah, me and Riza are sharing the room tonight. You and Ed don't have to share."

Ed popped his head around the corner.

"So you are sleeping with your Lieutenant?" He asked, purposely pushing his buttons.

Roy didn't have exactly the same response.

"No."

Ed blinked.

"I'm not gonna push my luck, I still can't believe she's my…" he coughed. "-girlfriend."

"So…." he asked, his signature smirk once again settling onto his face. The uncomfortable moment, at least for him, was over. Al knew that look all too well.

Brother's probably about to get his butt kicked.

"While we're on the topic, what's going on with your mechanic? Finally seduce her yet?" Roy asked, recalling the phrase Maes' asked every single time he ran into the boys.

"What the hell are you going on about?! I don't like Winry? I... I- I-" He slowly reddened, and he froze up.

"He's in denial…." Alphonse stage whispered to the Colonel.

No kidding.

"She's just a friend!" He insisted. "She's my best friend, aside from you Al, and that's all!"

The heat coming off his skin suggested otherwise.

"Stop looking at me like that!"

As Winry was handed a folded shirt and a pair of pajama pants by Riza, Roy and Al's mingled laughter drifted up to their ears.

It was truly good for everyone to be together again.

Roy flipped off the lights, and nervously sat on the edge of the bed.

Riza had turned in almost an hour ago, as had Winry, while the guys had continued discussing new developments.

He' been nervously anticipating this moment; he hadn't laid next to Riza since… well, Ishval. An he didn't even remember it!

He was nervously wringing his hands together, hoping that he wouldn't subconsciously screw something up. Who knows what he'd try in his sleep?

He felt two arms wrap around his shoulders, and a cheek was pressed up against his.

"Hey. You okay?"

Riza's voice had a calming effect on him instantly; and the tension in his back melted away. She ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm fine."

"C'mon. Let's go to bed. It's past midnight already."

She held his hand, and pulled the covers over her. He followed suit, and just in case, he broke their contact to turn his back towards her, lying on his side.

If he'd turned around he would've seen the flash of hurt in her eyes.

"Are you angry with me?" She asked, too quite for him to hear. She had her hand outstretched between them under the blanket.

Just in case he changed his mind.

And as she began to slip into a dream, he feigned sleep.

Until he too drifted away into unconsciousness.

When he woke up, Roy's nose was flooded with the smell of Riza.

One glance down and he knew why.

In his sleep, he'd abandoned any intention of staying away and ended up holding her to his chest. Looking down, he stared at her face, features smoothed out and peaceful.

One of her dainty, experienced (NOT THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE) hands was pressed to his chest, and the other lay on his neck lightly. Her entire torso was enveloped by his arms, and he was secretly elated.

On the other hand, he was cursing himself for being so needy.

You couldn't have gone eight hours without violating her personal space? He asked himself critically.

Riza stirred, having felt his heartbeat as it began to speed up.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and then one amber eye was revealed as she opened it a crack. She groggily forced the other one open, and as she realized exactly who was staring down at her, she smiled.

Sleepily, she yawned and rubbed at her eyes.

"G'morning," she mumbled. He laughed.

Too. Damn. Cute.

"Good morning, beautiful."

"Well aren't you energetic this morning," she grumbled, all of a sudden remembering what ungodly hour it was. (Riza typically needed a few minutes to become a morning person.)

"Someone's grumpy this morning…" Roy said in a singsongy voice, purposefully egging her on.

"Don't make me shoot you," she warned, her eyes flashing dangerously. He took it in without a concern.

Worst case scenario he'd use Maes as a human shield.

Yep, that was his backup plan.

Winry slammed the car door, effectively startling Edward enough to make Alphonse bend over laughing. He'd been leaning against the window, starting to drift off.

He jolted upright, smacking the back of his head against the headrest.

Winry snorted, which opened the floodgates to a fit of laughter. Disgruntled, Edward shot her a glare, which she countered easily.

With a wrench.

To his head.

He cursed, and hurriedly climbed out of the car.

"What the hell was that for?" He asked, rubbing the sore spot on his head. Al shrunk back in fear, hoping he wouldn't also have to suffer her wrath. Winry shot him a reassuring glare, which Edward processed incredulously.

"Hey…. Why doesn't he get a wrench in his head too?" He whined.

"Because," was her short reply.

Riza smiled, seeing how familiar they all were with each other.

"Uh, Mr. Mustang?" Winry asked timidly. He waved off the rest of her sentence to say:

"Ms. Rockbell you can just call me Roy. I don't mind. But hey," he said, pointing at Ed. "That's still just 'Mustang' to you." He sent Edward a smile, just to show he was kidding.

"Oh! Thanks, and you can just can just call me Winry!" The automail mechanic said with an almost alarming amount of enthusiasm. "I was just going to ask you something. Why didn't we just go to Miss Riza's house first?"

Roy's eyebrows drew together in confusion.

"We did," Roy said slowly, the house they'd just pulled up right next to looming right behind him. (Not in her driveway, but along the side of the street.)

"But wait, that's our house right there," Winry said, pointing at the house just across that street.

"….Well," Roy managed to say after a few seconds of confused silence. "Guess we'll be seeing you guys more often than we thought."

"That's my house back there," Riza said, stepping forward to gesture back at her home.

"Welcome to the neighborhood."

So…. sound okay so far?

I know, I know. It doesn't sound very exciting so far, but I just didn't want to cram all of this new information into the first chapter. Sorry to disappoint.

Same as last time, I'll try and post every other week, if not ever week. If I'm away for longer than that with no explanation, feel free to fill my PM inbox with angry questions.

See ya soon,

-Pyro