True Reasons

Author: MoonStarDutchess

Royai Day Double Shot

Part One

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA

AN: Well this is my little contribution to Royai Day. Hope you enjoy it.

True Reasons

She was frozen to where she was standing and chills ran down her body despite the heat of the scorching summer night. The moon cast a ice-like glow over everything in the park and when it hit her skin it made her look like one of those porcelain statues that were forever frozen in time. Her eyes were directed downward looking into dark depths of questioning onyx. Despite the cool theme her body was going through her throat and heart burned inside her. Her mind was aflame with feeling of absolute disbelief.

This man before her, this man down on one knee awaiting an answer that would change both their lives forever, just asked her to be his wife. The man that she never thought she could have was asking her to spend the rest of her life with him. She took her eyes off him for a moment to look at the beautiful silver and diamond ring that rested on her digit. It was completely eye catching so once she said yes it would be evident that she was engaged and she would be able to say to whom. They didn't have to hide their love any longer since the fraternization laws had been dropped by the governing counsel.

"Well?" she heard him question, his voice was the shakiest that she'd ever heard it. She stared back into his eyes, smiled, and nodded. He rose from his place on the ground and pulled her against his chest. Tears began to pour from her eyes, the warmth inside melting her chills and turning them into tears. She felt horribly strange for crying. She wasn't one to let her emotions out that much but this was too much. She'd never been so happy before in her life. He pulled away and put his hands on both sides of her face, wiping the tears falling down her glowing skin. Then he lowered his lips down to hers and kissed her so softly. It was as if he was drawing every bit of strength out of her with that kiss. She gripped the fabric of his shirt and returned the kiss feverishly.

Soon they had to pull apart to catch their breaths and he couldn't take his eyes off her. He couldn't believe this beautiful woman said yes to marry him. He didn't deserve such a treasure of the world yet he had her and he would never take her for granted. This was 

the love of his life and the future mother of his children, if they had children. They would focus on getting married first. He grinned at her and bent to kiss her quickly.

"What do you say we go back to my apartment and discuss things in dept?" Roy said, and then kissed her once more.

"Is that a double entendre?" she questioned.

Roy thought about it and grinned. "Depends, will it get me both meanings?"

Riza smirked. "Maybe, let's go to your place and find out," she said.

--

Riza smiled as she put her uniform in her locker at headquarters. She changed into her civilian clothes because she was going wedding dress shopping. After two weeks she and Roy finally told everyone they were engaged. Many of the people that served under General Mustang were thrilled. She remembered several of the women pulling her away during lunch and telling her it was about time and asking to see "the rock" aka her diamond ring. It was quite odd but it felt lovely to be treated like a woman for a change.

As Riza started to leave she heard several women talking and heard Roy's named mentioned. Normally she wouldn't be the type to listen in on a conversation but upon hearing Roy's name she thought she should, just long enough to make sure that it was nothing that threatened his life. She was his bodyguard after all.

"Did you hear about General Mustang?" one of the girls said.

"No, what about him?"

"He asked that frumpy Lieutenant Hawkeye to marry him!"

"Yeah, I heard about that. I was hoping it was just a rumor," she said.

Riza started to walk away. She knew the group of women were from the secretary section of headquarters and were known gossips. However, a single sentence spoke by the one she recognized as Barbra made her pause from her departure.

"Cara told me that Roy told her the reason he was marrying her was because he owed her," Barbara said.

"Owed her? What could he possible own her that would be worth the price of the rest of his life? It would have to be something great if he is willing to marry the gun toting bitch to repay her."

"Well it makes since," said another girl. "She is his bodyguard, risking her life every single day. She followed him around like a bitch at his heels. Maybe since she spent her life doing that he figured she might as well get laid. Can't stay a virgin forever right?"

Riza's eyes widened at the words of that girl. Normally she wouldn't care about what these women said, nor would she pay very much attention. However, she'd thought about what they were saying before. Another girl voiced another one of Riza's deepest insecurities.

"She's not even pretty. Roy Mustang could do so much better. Any elegant woman he'd want would fall on her knees before him. And I mean that in both a worshipping and sexual way of course."

Riza finally had enough and hurried and left the locker room. All those women were right. She didn't deserve a man like him. He could have anyone he wanted. There had to be a reason that he was marrying her. Perhaps he did feel like he owed her.

She cursed when she realized she forgot her purse at the office. She really didn't want to see Roy right now. She was trying her best not to seem upset and seeing Roy may have be catalysis for a release of her emotions. Since it was safely locked up and she had cash in her skirt pocket she opted not to return to the office. Instead she left to meet Gracia, Rebecca, Scieszka, and Maria at the wedding boutique.

--

She slowly walked down the street toward the boutique, her mind dwelling on everything that group of women said. She also felt like a coward for not returning to the office to get her things. Before she knew it, she was at her destination. She took a deep breath and went inside the shop.

"There's the bride," Gracia said as she spotted Riza. Riza let a smile cross her face as she saw her friends standing there.

"Hello," Riza said half-heartedly. Instantly the girls knew something was wrong but didn't say anything about it.

"So what did you have in mind for a dress?" Scieszka questioned.

"I never really thought about it," Riza lied. She really didn't feel like shopping for one now. What she wanted to do was go home and think things through, to get rid of her self doubts.

"Liar, when we were in academy you told me what you wanted," Rebecca said.

Riza wanted to glare at her friend for the revelation but kept herself from doing so.

"Oh? You two talked about such things?" Maria questioned.

"Yes, we did. Most women do talk about weddings and things at times," Rebecca said.

Riza laughed. "You most of all."

Rebecca shrugged. "Can I help it if I want a hunk of man?"

"You've always been man crazy," Riza said.

"Well, you'd better throw that bouquet directly at me Riza Hawkeye. Otherwise some women are going to have some broken limbs and bite marks."

"Didn't we come here for a dress?" Maria said.

"Spoil sport," Rebecca said. Maria stuck her tongue out childishly at Gretchen causing the other women to laugh.

"How about we start finding some dresses now," Gracia suggested.

"I think that's a good idea," Scieszka said.

Riza tried on several dresses but none of them looked good at all; at least not to Riza. The rest of the girls loved everything that she tried on. They were rather surprised that Riza hadn't found something she liked yet. Every dress she tried on was stunning on her. She came out of the dressing room.

"Last one," Riza said. She stood on the box so the dress wouldn't puddle on the floor and it gave the effect as if it was already altered to her height.

Riza loved the dress that she was wearing. It was a strapless pure white dress. White beads decorated the bodice in a pattern that looked like flames. The dress flared out elegantly at the waist and around the waist was wrapped red lace. The train was white with a layer of red lace attached. Gracia attached the veil to Riza's head.

"My God Riza, I think that's the dress," Maria said.

"Yes, it's absolutely stunning," Gracia agreed.

Riza smiled softly in the mirror. The dress was beautiful but it was much too beautiful for her.

"I love it," Riza said.

"Finally!" the three women exclaimed. Riza turned to them and couldn't help but laugh at their perfect union. She then turned back in the mirror and frowned.

"Riza you've been acting weird all evening. What's the matter?" Rebecca said.

"Do you think Roy loves me?" Riza questioned. This question shocked the other women. They'd never known Riza to question something Roy told her.

"What brought that on? How could you ask that?"

"He's never told me that he loved me," she said.

"He hasn't?" Gracia questioned, quite surprised at the revelations.

"If he didn't love you he most certainly wouldn't propose," Scieszka said.

Riza looked down at the ground. "I guess you are right," she said, her voice lower than normal.

"Of course he loves you! Roy isn't the type of man that would want to be tied down to a woman he didn't love," Gracia said.

"I agree. General Mustang loves you. It's obvious," Maria stated.

Riza looked in the mirror and smiled at her friends. "Thank you," she said.

Rebecca walked over to her side. "So, this dress is the one?"

Riza nodded. "Yes, it's the one."

--

The women parted ways after making arrangements for the fitting of the bridal party dresses and the alterations of her wedding dress. Riza walked into her apartment and was greeted by Hayate. It was nearly time for her to meet Roy at his place. She walked over to the phone, picked it up, and dialed Roy's number. She really didn't want to be around anyone that night, especially not Roy. Her mind kept going back to what those girls said in the locker-room. She needed to do a lot of thinking. She dialed Roy's number and despite expecting to hear him answer she still jumped slightly when hearing his voice.

"It's me," she said.

"Hey, are you on your way?" Roy said. "I cooked for you."

Riza was touched that he would do such a thing. She'd never had a man cook dinner for her before, especially one that didn't know much about cooking.

"I. . ." she started. How could she let such a wonderful man put up with her just because he felt obligated to marry her?

"Riza?" Roy asked in a worried tone. "Are you all right?"

"I can't make it tonight. I am feeling a bit sick and I need to . . . sleep." Tears came to her eyes upon saying that. It was the first time she'd ever lied to him.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he questioned. This broke her heart again. He was really giving it his all to try and repay her for guarding him all this time.

"No. . . There's nothing." She said again, this time her voice cracked. What he could really do was come there and tell her that what those women said was wrong. What he could do was convince her that he did indeed love her and needed her. Not because of the way she guarded him over the year but because he actually loved more than that side of her.

"Are you crying? Riza, what's wrong?" Roy questioned. She could tell he was alarmed by the sound of his voice.

"It's nothing, goodnight," she said and quickly hung up the phone. She wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks. The fact that she lied to him, the fact that he didn't really 

love her in that way that she longed for, and the fact that she was keeping him from doing so much better weighed on her mind. If he got a proper wife them perhaps she could better help him reach the counsel of Amestris than merely a General.

She walked into her room to change into her pajamas before going into the living room and sitting down on her couch. Hayate leaped on the couch and sat with her. She absently stroked behind his ears as her thought descended deeper and deeper into the place where she'd once locked her insecurities. Sitting there, she decided that she would break it off in the morning. She would tell him that he didn't have to feel obligated towards her and was free to find someone he loved.