Sorry guys for not writing for so many days. I'm so screwed with endless exams. They never seem to end. Such a pain! Anyway, I'm up with a new story,again with my favorite Roy and Riza. I think I'm gonna emphasize on Riza in this one. I hope you'll like it. Don't forget to let me know how you feel because if you don't then I won't be able to know how I'm doing. If you guys hadn't inspired me with so many good wishes during the last time (which was my first),I might not have been able to come up with this. So,arigato. In 'The Unsolved Mystery' my heroes had to fight with external force,in this one they'll have to fight with internal force,their own emotions. I think it's harder to overcome one's own fear than to fight any antagonist. And the fear of losing one's loved one before even getting him/her is worse than anything. So,this is gonna be different from the previous story. Please enjoy. :D

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'When you are so near the one you love but still unable to express your feelings,it takes all of your strength to keep yourself steady.' Riza Hawkeye knew this better than anyone......'When the heart cries, you can't hear its scream but you can feel the pain'

Riza silently peeked at the small cut on Roy's cheek as she followed him through the office door. Yesterday a lot of things had happened and the Colonel had to go through a lot and still he was in time for office. He must be afraid of his scary Lieutenant.

Riza tried to suppress a smile but she knew that she had failed doing so because Roy looked back and raised one eye brow. This man sure was something. And he looked really hot when he did that. Riza reflexively looked away as that thought crossed her mind. The pain returned. She sighed as mutely as she could but she knew that that extra-ordinarily gifted man had heard that. But this time the Colonel didn't look back.

Roy took his chair and Riza moved towards the cabinet. She had to prepare a report on the incident that had happened yesterday at the east part of the city. Riza still couldn't believe herself that such a horrible incident had taken place and Roy was unharmed except that mild cut. Scar had appeared again and in one night he had killed 3 state alchemists and Riza shuddered at the thought that the same thing could have happened to Roy yesterday,especially when he had been all alone there. But she also knew that the Colonel was amazing and Scar didn't stand a chance against him though he was able to flee away. Although that didn't matter to Riza even the smallest bit when the Colonel's life was in danger. She wasn't able to sleep through the whole night after hearing what had happened. If anything had happened to that man,she wouldn't be able to live. Her heart ached at that truth.

Riza Hawkeye was like a coconut – tough & harsh in the outside and sweet & soft in the inside. Everyone thought that she wasn't that kind of a woman who would normally fall in love and want to have a romantic time with her beloved. She couldn't blame them for their thoughts. Because they always thought that if anyone ever touched her heart,there would be certain changes in her behavior and that would surely let them know if she was in love. But they always missed one point. They never went through the idea that maybe someone had already touched her heart long before she had even joined the military. They always considered her to be unaware of anything called love. But they could never assume that she had always been in love. Yes,she loved him. And she had known it all along. She had joined the military just for him. He had been her life ever since he was a student of her father. But she could never express her feelings. She knew how soft that person was and she wanted him to be well-cared. She cared for him very much but when it came to the point of being a life partner,she knew that she would not be able to keep him happy. Maybe it was because she knew that the Colonel never thought about her in that way. A lot of girls liked him and it was obvious that he could have already chosen someone for himself if he wanted to. But the Colonel never seemed interested to settle down. The reason was unknown to Riza. Maybe he also waited for someone. The pain increased at that thought. But she had always ignored her own pain. Maybe it wasn't meant to be the two of them to be together. But she wanted to try her best to keep that man safe and happy. He deserved happiness.

Riza heard a false cough behind her and she realized that she had been standing in front of the cabinet all the time without doing anything. She quickly started to look for the file that she had come to search for. As she turned away she almost bumped her head into the Colonel's body and she felt a gush of hormone inside her. She looked at his handsome face without breathing.

'Are you alright?',the Colonel's voice was mild and filled with care. It only increased her pain as she knew that she could never let him know what his words of care did to her. Every cell in her body lived only for him. She loved him unconditionally. But she couldn't deny that the thought of never getting him pained her. And these days things were getting worse. She was losing her facade and her emotions were no longer kept within the boundary. She couldn't look at him and nodded. 'I need to make a report',she said meekly. Roy stood aside and let her go. Riza was feeling really shy at that moment. 'Who knows what the Colonel might be thinking about me standing there all the time doing nothing!!',she told herself rather angrily. She shook her head and went to her table. She didn't realize that a pair of caring onyx eyes were watching her curiously,if she had looked into those bright eyes,she would have noticed anxiety in there.

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Riza finished the report and gave it to Roy. Roy looked at the report intently and after a few moment he opened his mouth to say something. But what he said was totally unexpected by Riza.

'Go home,Lieutenant.',Roy spoke these words.

Riza was looking out of the window and momentarily turned to the Colonel. 'What?',she exclaimed.

'I said,''Go home"',Roy repeated.

'But why?',Riza asked,she was still shocked.

'I think you need some time for yourself. You seem lost in your thoughts.',Roy was serious.

But Riza had no intention of going home so early. The night was long enough to be away from him. And she wouldn't be able to endure the day too. Maybe the Colonel was anxious because she was standing in front of the cabinet doing nothing. Her ears turned red in shyness.

'I'm sorry about what happened back then. I didn't notice that I was standing in front of the cabinet doing nothing. But I'm alright,sir.',Riza insisted.

'That's not what I meant. You never used to have problems with spellings before,but today you misspelled three words. That's why I think you should take a rest from work. I know I've gotten on your nerves.'

Riza jumped at the last line but the Colonel didn't seem to notice and continued - 'I hope you'll forgive me about last night. I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have gone to inspect the dead bodies by myself.'

Now Riza understood. The Colonel felt guilty that if something had happened to him,his Lieutenant would have to go through a lot of formalities and problems. Riza felt relieved that the Colonel couldn't guess the right reason behind her restlessness. He really shouldn't have gone there alone,he should have at least thought what he meant to others. But the fact was that he didn't even know anything. She wanted to caress his cheek to make him feel better,she wanted to tell him that she was scared that she wouldn't see him again. But she couldn't.....

Riza smiled and said,'You're lucky to get back unharmed except that cut. Or else you can't even imagine what I would have done to you.'

Roy chuckled mildly at that,'Yeah,I know and I couldn't sleep the whole night thinking about what was waiting for me the next morning. But thank goodness that I was saved by your strange mood.'

'He didn't sleep too?',Riza thought.

'I'm sorry about the spelling problem but you really have gotten on my nerves you know. Give it to me. The correction won't take long.' She stretched her hand to get the report. Well,the reason that she said he had gotten on her nerves was totally different from the way he had meant while saying.

But the Colonel didn't give the sheet to her. 'I'm gonna do the correction. You go and see what Havoc is doing.',Roy replied.

'The Colonel may still be thinking that I'm not alright.',Riza told herself but didn't say anything.

But that wasn't the reason...Roy looked at the paper in his hand while Riza walked out of the room. His intelligent eyes hadn't missed the place where the ink was a bit deeper than the rest,as though she had stopped there for some moment. It was his own name – 'Roy Mustang'

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That's the first chapter guys. Please review and send messages. And let's see if Riza overcomes her fear and tells Roy or if Roy also has something to say....... Love you!