Illuminated by the Silvery Glow

A Tale of Affections Between the Military Dogs

It was unusually peaceful in the large city of Central; the sky was a cloudless blue and a playful breeze was blowing across the deep green blades of grass. Riza wore a smile as bright as the sun above as she stepped into the office.

The room's only occupants were Lieutenants Havoc and Breada as well as Master Sergeant Furey.

Even at the military's headquarters there was an air of tranquility. No one was saying a word; they were all off in their own thoughts, soaking up the sunlight and harmony. Breada was toying with a stray piece of his own red hair and Havoc was pushing his unlit cigarette around his lips with his tongue. A beaming timepiece hung by the door and chimed the hour of 5.

"Good afternoon," she said with a cheerful salute.

"Good afternoon, Lieutenant Hawkeye," Furey said matching her salute.

Havoc and Breada nodded, mimicking the gesture slowly. The two eyed her curiously as she placed her things neatly on the table, noticing the grace of her movements and the small bounce in her step.

Havoc was the first to speak, his voice a secretive mumble, "The Lieutenant seems rather chipper today."

"Yeah," Breada replied in the same quiet tone, "I've never seen her so happy before."

Furey chuckled, "That's because Edward is here today."

"Edward?"

"You mean you haven't noticed? That smile has been on her face ever since the Colonel told us he'd be coming."

A pensive silence descended on the soldiers as the words of the Master Sergeant slowly began to sink in, broken only by Riza's quiet, joyful humming at the other end of the table.

Havoc coughed, "You think that the Lieutenant, calm and organized Lieutenant Hawkeye, has a crush on crazy and unpredictable Edward Elric?"

Furey nodded, looking at them as though it should be obvious.

At that moment, Riza got up to exit the room, "Master Sergeant? Could you come help me with something?"

Furey's ears perked up, "Yeah," with a grunt he stood and went to Riza's side.

As soon as she grabbed the knob, Edward entered from the other side.

"Hello Edward." The smile grew with her salute as she stepped aside to allow him entry.

"Oh! H-hey Lieutenant," he blinked and added as an afterthought, "Master Sergeant."

Nothing more was said until the door was nearly shut, "Call me Riza," she muttered, hoping he was the only one who heard.

The door clicked closed as he began to respond; leaving him standing open-mouthed and red in the face. He turned to see two soldiers grinning mischievously and the sight sent a small shiver up his spine, "What?"

"Well, well, I guess Furey was right."

"Although I have to say, I never would've thought that it'd be true."

Ed approached them slowly, "What are you two talking about?"

"You don't know?" Havoc said as he stood.

Breada rose with him, "That smile makes it so obvious."

Edward blinked, "Oh, you mean Lieutenant Hawkeye? So she's in a good mood, it's not surprising on a day like this."

"True, if that was what was making her so happy."

"Huh?"

The Lieutenants sighed and rolled their eyes. Apparently they'd forgotten that they'd also had to be told this information.

"I'll put it this way," Havoc winked, "the only time she smiles like that is when you're here."

"Huh!" Ed cocked an eyebrow, "You think that…she has a crush on me?"

"We don't think, Edward, we know."

Edward's eyes widened and he blushed deeply, "R…really?"

Breada nodded, "Definitely." Quite enjoying himself, and the sight of Edward blushing, he smirked, "And could it be that you feel the same?"

"W-what! N-n-no!"

They weren't convinced by his stammered response and the two soldiers laughed out loud, "Yeah sure," Havoc said sarcastically.

Breada threw an arm around Ed's shoulder, "There's no need to be embarrassed about it Ed." They chuckled again but smiled understandingly, "So, are you gonna tell her?"

"Well-"

The opening of the door made them all jump and their heads snapped to see the identity of the intruder. Riza looked at them and smiled, "Am I interrupting something?"

"No!" Havoc said as he removed Breada's arm from Ed's shoulder, "In fact we were just leaving." They sped out of the room, leaving Edward and Riza alone. They looked at each other and blinked, blushing slowly in unison.


It was after the incident at Lab Five. I don't remember how long I'd been in the hospital, but itmust've been early in my stay.

The hour was late and I was in desperate need of sleep, but the painkillers were wearing off and the wound in my side was throbbing painfully. That wasn't the only thing bothering me. Each image, each memory, from that terrible chamber was a killer bee, jabbing its barbed stinger into my consciousness. I sighed and looked at the clock; it was almost midnight. Which was why it was so surprising to hear a knock on the door.

"Edward?" said a muffled female voice. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah. Come in."

Lieutenant Hawkeye walked in with a small smile on her face, "I'm sorry. I didn't wake you did I?"

"Lieutenant Hawkeye? Nah I was up anyway." I blinked as she pulled a chair up to the side of my bed. This was strange; I wasn't expecting the Lieutenant to come here. Not that I had any complaints. The Lieutenant was nice and-I would never tell her so-I really liked her. As of late, I'd noticed myself really looking forward to the times I'd be in Central and it was the knowledge of her being stationed there that caused me to break into a run as soon as headquarters came into view.

"Where's Alphonse?"

"He went for a walk. What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you. So I came to see if you were doing ok."

"At midnight?"

"Well, I was up working late at the office and the hospital is on my way home anyway." I could swear that there was a hint of red in her cheeks.

"Thanks. I need the company," I chuckled but was stopped short as another jolt of pain shot through my nerves. I groaned and clutched my side.

Within seconds she was standing above me, looking seriously at the hand now holding the aching wound, "What's wrong!" she said.

My eyes widened, "Uh, nothing, just a little sore."

"Take off your shirt."

"What!"

"Just do it!"

Baffled and blushing crimson, I complied. Well, attempted to; my automail was still busted and it was hard to remove the blue hospital-issue top with only one hand. In the end it was the Lieutenant who took it off for me.

Instantly she went to work examining the red-stained bandages. After a moment she lifted a small roll of gauze from her pocket.

"I-I can just call the nurse to change the bandages-"

She cut me off. "No! I mean…there's no need to bother anyone else since I'm already here."

"Alright…"

It was not an easy process. My abs were still sore and each time I tried to sit up my side protested with an angry sting. Gently she placed a hand on my back and eased me up into a sitting position. A frisson of contentment raised goose bumps on my arm at the feeling of her hand lightly stroking my skin.

The air felt good on my injury once the old bandages were removed and I sighed with momentary relief. It was silent as she began to wrap the new gauze around my mid-section.

"You really scared us Edward."

I looked down, "I'm sorry."

"What…what happened in there?"

"Mh…" This was the thousandth time I'd been asked this question and, just as with the other 999, I kept my mouth shut.

But when I looked back up at her, I felt completely different. Half her face shone silver in the moonlight, the other half black as pitch. Even in the darkness I could see her eyes sparkling as she looked into mine. She looked so beautiful and so distressed that I found myself longing to tell her everything.

"That's alright you don't have to say." The disappointment was audible in her voice.

"It was…horrible." The words came out in response to her discontent. "There were large vials, entire walls, filled with gallons upon gallons of red water. The red glow that came from it was hideous enough. But knowing that…knowing… that…" I swallowed hard, "Knowing that a human soul resided in each drop of that crimson liquid made it that much more grotesque."

She kept silent as the words and fears I'd been suppressing came out in a wave of emotion.

"And then…there was…It was right in front of me. All I had to do was clap my hands and Al would've been returned to normal. The convicts meant nothing to me, their lives meant nothing! But I…I couldn't do a thing if it meant killing someone, even someone I knew nothing about. It was so close…I-I should've…"

"Sshh, it's alright. I understand," she said soothingly. "No matter the cause it's hard to kill. Besides, if you don't mind my saying, do you really think that Alphonse or yourself would feel alright knowing you've returned to normal at the cost of another's life?"

I shifted my gaze to the window; what was happening to me? The more I looked into her hazel eyes the faster my heart would beat. Once again I flushed as she placed a hand on my cheek and turned my head, forcing our eyes to meet again. The beating in my chest grew louder; our faces were just inches apart.

"We cannot change the past. What we did or didn't do cannot be reversed and we mustn't let those regrets control our lives." There was a warm smile on the illuminated side of her face.

I smiled in return, not knowing how to express my appreciation for her benevolence and sincerity.

Her smile shrank into a sheepish grin as she removed her hand from my cheek and continued to wind the bandages around me.

It was then that I noticed the buzzing of the angry bees in my head had ceased, only to be replaced by the beating wings of butterflies in my stomach.

"All done," she said as she slipped the blue top back onto my bare torso.

The pain I'd been feeling had completely subsided. Truthfully I didn't really need her help, but it was hard to protest the smooth, slender hands that eased me gently back onto the mattress.

"Lieutenant?" I muttered sleepily.

"Hm?" She returned to my side from the trash can where'd she placed my used bandages.

"Th-thanks."

She smiled as she pulled the covers up to my neck, "Try and get some sleep, Edward, ok?"

The shadows that had kept her face hidden had disappeared; now the whole of her visage shone in the silvery glow of the moon. "No problem," I closed my eyes and sighed, already feeling myself drifting off. I barely heard the door close, but felt very distinctly the warmth of her hand as she ran it quickly across my cheek.

It was rare, the next day, to find a moment when my thoughts weren't turned towards the events of the previous evening. Each time the door opened I was expecting her entrance, and at night I fought sleep, making sure to stay awake should a knock come to my door; but she didn't come again. It puzzled me for a while as to why I wished so strongly for her presence, then it finally occurred to me as I stroked the white wrappings she'd placed on me.

I, Edward Elric, had fallen in love.

The smile on her face didn't waver, in fact it increased as she looked into his eyes and chuckled lightly, "If I didn't know any better I'd say they were forcing us together."

Edward grinned nervously, "Yeah…"

The subject dropped like a brick, leaving the awkward red dust to fill the air. Riza stepped back to her place at the table to rummage through her things. Her only reason to come back here had been to retrieve a forgotten document, but now that she had the company of whom she'd been awaiting the arrival of, there were suddenly a thousand reasons why her time had to be spent in the room.

As the silence dragged on Ed became anxious, in an effort to break it he blurted out the first thing that came into his mind. "Havoc and Breada are acting strange today."

"Really? I hadn't noticed. How so?"

Crap. Why did he bring that up? "It's just what they're saying. It's weird, not like them."

With a conversation beginning she left the paperwork and made her way back over to him, "Like what?"

"Well they've got this crazy idea that you have a crush on me. And they won't leave me alone about it." Dammit! He shouldn't have said anything in the first place! But it was the same as that time; he could almost see the distress in her eyes glistening in the moonlight.

Riza's eyes widened as blood rushed to her face, "A…crush?"

"I told you it was weird and don't think too much of it. Besides, it was just some stupid rumor; there was no truth behind it." That's right…of course it wasn't true. Any "evidence" they had was purely coincidental.

"Edward…what they said is wrong. I don't feel that way about you."

Edward nodded, working hard to hide his disappointment. He'd known all along that this wouldn't be possible. So then why did it feel like his heart was breaking in two? "Y-yeah…I know..."

Riza tapped his nose with her fingertip, "You didn't let me finish…"

It was just as before. His heart began to pound as he looked into her eyes, and, as it had been, their faces were extremely close. But there was something different too; he could see that, ever so slowly, the amount of space keeping them apart was decreasing.

"It's not a crush," her voice was a whisper. "What I feel for you, Edward, my affections, are much, much, deeper." When there was but a centimeter of space she placed a trembling hand on his cheek. Her face was scarlet as she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his in a gentle, hesitant kiss.


It was after the incident at Lab Five. The hallways were brightly lit despite the hour as I made my way through the hospital.

It's late, my mind protested, he's probably asleep and you have work in the morning. These thoughts had been running through my head ever since I'd made the decision to come here; luckily my heart spoke louder than reason. Not since before his hospitalization had my mind been at peace and I told myself that worry was the cause. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew concern wasn't the only thing that had brought me here. And it was this nameless emotion that had me knocking on the door to his room.

"Edward? Are you awake?"

"Yeah. Come in."

I couldn't help but smile when I opened the door, "I'm sorry. I didn't wake you did I?"

"Lieutenant Hawkeye? Nah I was up anyway."

Though it was in bandages, I was glad to be able to see him. There were rare days he'd be at headquarters and-although he would never know-those days were the ones I looked forward to the most. It was when he was there that I felt the happiest; the grin I wore got me more then a few odd looks from my co-workers. Yet this was the first time I'd been able to talk to him alone. Wait a minute…alone? "Where's Alphonse?"

"He went for a walk," he said, looking a little confused. "What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you. So I came to see if you were doing ok."

"At midnight?"

"Well, I was up working late at the office and the hospital is on my way home anyway." Perhaps it would be better if I didn't tell him that I'd actually been awake debating whether or not to come at all, and also that the hospital is almost a mile from my apartment. I was suddenly very glad it was dark; he wouldn't be able to see my cheeks were still red from the walk over.

"Thanks I need the company," his laughter stopped, he was in pain.

"What's wrong!"

"Uh, nothing, just a little sore."

The wound must be worse than I thought. "Take off your shirt."

"What!"

"Just do it!"

I'm examining his injuries; this is not being done on a whim. I'd been forced to do this many times on the battle field, so I couldn't understand why I blushed as I removed his blue hospital uniform. The bandages beneath were a light shade of red.

It was pure luck that I had the gauze in my pocket. I had been ordered to deliver it to the infirmary but had then been called away to other business while it was still in my possession. I grinned as I took it out of my pocket.

"I-I can just call the nurse to change the bandages-"

"No! I mean…There's no need to bother anyone else since I'm already here." There was that strange, unidentified emotion again, acting on its own accord.

"Alright…"

He couldn't sit up using his own strength. The pain and fatigue wouldn't allow him movement so I lent him my aid. It frightened me a little; how much pleasure I received when I touched his skin, how rapid my pulse as I removed the bandages covering his wounds.

The sight of the gash as I began to wrap it anew brought my heart rate down to a slow, sad rhythm. "You really scared us Edward."

He looked down, "I'm sorry."

"What…what happened in there?"

"Mh…"

I tried to mask my disappointment when he looked back up at me, "That's alright. You don't have to say." I didn't resent his ambiguity, I merely wished he could understand that knowledge of the truth was not nearly as frightening as was a lack there of.

"It was…horrible," he was hesitant in speaking. "There were large vials, entire walls, filled with gallons upon gallons of red water. The red glow that came from it was hideous enough. But knowing that…knowing… that…" he paused. "Knowing that a human soul resided in each drop of that crimson liquid made it that much more grotesque."

I said not a word as he continued.

"And then…there was…It was right in front of me. All I had to do was clap my hands and Al would've been returned to normal. The convicts meant nothing to me, their lives meant nothing! But I…I couldn't do a thing if it meant killing someone, even someone I knew nothing about. It was so close…I-I should've…"

"Sshh, it's alright. I understand," I said soothingly. "No matter the cause it's hard to kill. Besides, if you don't mind my saying, do you really think that Alphonse or yourself would feel alright knowing you've returned to normal at the cost of another's life?"

He looked away again and I found myself truly yearning to gaze into his glowing golden pupils once more. The heat of his cheeks increased when I placed my hand on one to turn his head to stare into his eyes again. "We cannot change the past. What we did or didn't do cannot be reversed and we mustn't let those regrets control our lives."

His eyes softened and his lips turned up into a smile. Without realizing it I was smiling as well, though that wasn't the only thing that had occurred without my consent. Throughout the conversation I'd been subconsciously leaning towards him. I flushed when I realized I had begun to calculate how much farther I would have to lean before our lips would be touching. Quickly I removed my hand from his cheek and went back to the bandages.

"All done," I said as I slid on his blue top and eased him gently back down onto the bed.

"Lieutenant?"

I spun on my heel to face him and walked quickly back to his bed from the trash can, "Hm?"

"Th-thanks."

I smiled and pulled up the covers. "Try and get some sleep, Edward, ok?"

"No problem…" he sighed quietly and closed his eyes.

I ran my fingers once more across his cheek before I opened the door to leave. The lights in the hallway were blinding and I closed the door without taking a step out of the room. I turned to blink the spots from my vision and caught sight of Edward on the hospital bed. The moonlight glistened on his sleeping countenance, his eyes, though closed, glimmered in its glow as I moved tentatively closer. I could feel my hands shaking slightly when I stroked his hair. Then I leaned down slowly and kissed his forehead.

The nameless emotion that had brought me here manifested itself when I pulled away. Shouting out its identity in a quiet whisper, "I love you."


Edward's eyes shot open and his face turned a bright shade of red.

Riza didn't move from her position or open her eyes. Any moment now he would pull away and she didn't want to see the look of shock, anger, or disgust that would surely be there when he did so. Something happened then, however, that she'd never expected. Edward closed his eyes and threw his arms around her, keeping their trembling lips connected.

Time passed and the two stood motionless in the bright sunlight; neither wanted to stop what each had been wishing for. Eventually the need for oxygen caused Edward to break away first.

"Riza…I don't know what to say," his voice lacked volume. Partially because he was in shock, partially because he'd been holding his breath.

She flushed and squirmed out of his embrace, "I'm sorry. It was a mistake I never should have…"

"That's not what I mean," he said softly. "Riza, it's…I-I, uh…"

She turned reluctantly to look back at him, hazel eyes gazing sadly into his own eyes of gold.

"Please don't be sad," he nearly shouted, "I can't bear to see the one I love unhappy!"

A stunned silence fell upon them. The beating of their hearts was so loud in their own ears that they were surprised the other couldn't hear, and it was this deafening pounding that had Riza convinced her senses were lying.

"Wh-…what?"

"I…" he bit his lip, "I'm not-…I'm not good at saying things like this…"

Cautiously, Riza took hold of his hand, urging him to continue. Her heart beat quickened like an uncertain metronome.

It was that night all over again. Moonbeams of silver danced across her visage, giving it a glow of beauty to rival the stars. The velvety warmth of her hands was comforting and familiar as he entwined his fingers with her own.

With gentle force he pulled her close, as close as she had been at midnight. "Riza," he breathed, their lips nearly touching, "I love you." With one final step, the gap between them closed.

The rays of the sun seemed to burn even brighter as Riza wrapped her free arm around him. This time she kept her eyes open, and she saw in his gaze the familiar look of longing she'd given him so often.

"Edward," she whispered, removing her lips only slightly to speak. "I love you too."

"Riza…"

Riza inhaled sharply, "Edward…!" She let go of his hand to throw her other arm around him, pulling him into a passionate embrace while pressing her lips to his in an intense kiss filled with adoration.

Ed gasped; each beat of his heart was an explosion when he put his arms around her. The fervor with which she'd kissed him had shocked him a little and his breathing speed increased when he felt her fingers wind themselves into his flaxen locks.

The air was saturated in the excitement radiating from their bodies. Riza yanked the band from Edward's braid and his long hair cascaded down his back as she ran her fingers through it. Sunflower strands fell to the ground beneath him, having been torn from their resting place, but he felt only pleasure as her slender hands ran through his tresses. Each breath was shallow and quick, sweat dripped down their faces; Edward took a step forward, pushing Riza into the table behind her.

Her hands were shaking when she placed them on her jacket, salty perspiration made the sleeves slip between her fingers, "Too hot," she said breathlessly.

The jacket fell to the ground to reveal the russet t-shirt she wore beneath. Ed gulped; it was a rather tight fit on her. And the heat made it stick even tighter, causing certain features to stand out.

As he watched her chest rise and fall he began to think about the skin beneath the fabric. How smooth and warm it would feel on his fingertips, how much like silk the texture as he caressed it; feeling as he did so the ardent rhythm of her heart beat. His muscles went rigid and he screamed silently at his hands to stay where they were; brawling with their wish to discover exactly how accurate his predictions were.

Riza noticed his tense expression, "What's the matter?"

"Just…the heat."

"I can fix that." Shyly she placed her lips on his once more and snapped open his coat's metal clasp. There was no struggle on either part; Edward held the kiss and lifted his arms for her to remove it. Her hands grasped the shoulders of the jacket so tightly that the tank-top below was lifted off as well.

Ripples of exhilaration flew through her body. His muscles flexed exquisitely with every breath. Sweaty strands of loose hair stuck messily to his forehead and hung down onto his chest, framing his fantastic features in a manner so striking it left her breathless. A dizzy thrill fogged her mind and in her hysteria she hugged him tightly and fell back onto the table. The clip that held her hair up cracked when her head slammed onto the hard surface.

Chairs crashed to the floor and papers scattered as Edward pushed her further back; finally stopping in the center of the gray plastic. He sat himself up on his shins, placing one leg on either side of Riza and pressing them against her thighs. Each was panting and sweating profusely in the light of the now-setting sun.

Riza looked up at his bare chest and flowing hair, now damp with sweat and glistening in the red glow. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down; slamming his lips onto hers as she clutched sleek handfuls of his blonde hair. Edward's hands slammed onto the table; landing beside each of Riza's shoulders and holding him up. He opened his lips and slipped out his tongue, running it lightly back and forth across her supple skin.

The pounding of her heart was silenced momentarily when its rhythmic beating paused in surprise. It began again with thunderous zeal as her lips parted.

Edward caressed her moist, mellifluous tongue with his own. Riza moaned in the back of her throat, slowly releasing her grip on his hair as a euphoric tremor shook her body and her muscles relaxed.

Without the approval of his mind, his earlier invocations took hold of him. He slid his hand beneath her shirt, putting all his weight on his right arm, and ran his fingers delicately across her stomach. The grip she had on his hair tightened as his hand moved slowly upward.

There was a pause; was he going too far? But Riza grabbed his wrist and moved it up for him. His heart leaped out of his chest when his curious fingers found the softest part of her upper-body.

Edward's eyes opened to their full extent. His ardency caught in his throat and he pulled away, his breathing was heavy and his tongue hung limply out of his mouth. Riza took advantage of this momentary break and attempted to catch her breath. Though it was extremely difficult as Edward's hand was placed in the center of her chest and she knew he could feel the hyperactive thudding that was her heartbeat.

As they looked into each others eyes, bolts of avid electricity flowed through them; igniting the smoldering embers of desire deep within their hearts until they burned as bright and as fierce as the ruby rays streaming through the windows.

Riza swallowed hard, her breath coming in short gasps, "Edward…"

Identical thoughts ran through their minds as Ed slipped his hand from beneath her clothes, "Riza…"

Riza grabbed his hand and wrapped her fingers in his; she placed the other on the bottom of her shirt and pulled the edge upward until her belly-button was exposed. Ed could feel the blood flowing hot and fast through his veins; his excitement mounting as Riza let his hand go to totally remove the sweaty shirt. She stopped rather abruptly just before the top was completely off her shoulders.

Ed was about to question her sudden halt when a voice reached his ears, there was someone outside the door. And they could tell by the clarity that he was planning to come in.

They moved like lightning. Edward jumped from the table and landed by his jacket. He slipped it on before tossing Riza her own. She fastened the buttons hurriedly and took out the broken clip in her hair. It snapped in her hand and she tossed it into the trashcan as Ed smoothed out his hair; Riza did the same, crouching by a pile of fallen documents on the floor. Ed leaped over the table and crouched across from her, busying himself with gathering the papers. It was frustrating to be interrupted and they couldn't help but glare at the door until it opened.

The anger on their faces melted away as the doorknob turned and they turned to look back at the paper on the floor.

"Good evening Edward, Lieutenant," Master Sergeant Furey blinked and smiled as he took his first step into the office.

"Good evening," Riza and Edward said in unison

"Colonel Mustang wants those reports, Lieutenant."

"Yes." The stern tone of her voice contrasted greatly with her disheveled appearance. "I apologize for the delay." She grabbed a stack of papers at her feet and straightened them up as she stood.

Furey eyed her curiously. This was the first time he'd seen the Lieutenant with her hair down. Not to mention the office was a mess, and was that Edward's shirt on the floor?

"Master Sergeant Furey." Riza said. Her voice was filled with authority.

"Ma'm?"

"Would you mind delivering them to Colonel Mustang for me?"

"Oh…uh…yes ma'm!" Furey turned quickly and exited the room; slightly frightened and a little suspicious.

The room went silent as the two waited for the sound of footsteps to die out. Furey had suspicions, that much was certain. But, then again, he didn't know anything and as long as that held true they didn't really care.

"So," Ed raised an eyebrow once the echo of footsteps had ceased, "what's on the paper?"

"Honestly?" Riza removed her ear from the door and walked back over to him. "They're all blank."

"Won't you get in trouble?"

"Don't worry about it, Edward. Besides," she said fondly, trailing a finger down his jaw line.

A blissful shiver ran up his spine and he leaned in closer, "Hm?"

"We have more important matters to discuss," she spoke in a low seductive tone.

Edward's eyes widened and his lips turned up into a sly smile.

Riza's finger stopped at his chin and she lifted his head up; kissing him again as the flames reignited.

Her golden hair felt soft in his hands when he entwined his shaking fingers in the long strands flowing down her back.

"I love you, Edward," Riza murmured against his lips; pulling his body tightly against hers.

"I love you too, Riza," he replied.

Two small shuffles were heard as the blue and black jackets dropped to the floor. Instantly their breathing picked up speed and fresh beads of passionate sweat broke out all across their bodies. Their pulses were racing as they pressed their bare chests tightly against one another.

As they fell back onto the table, their breathing rapid, the glowing red sun made its way behind the horizon. The shadows they cast in the fading light became one, as the rays of the sun were replaced by the radiant beams of the moon.