Author's Note: Greetings! I'm sorry this took so long to write. I'm buried in school work. I tried hard to keep Riza as in character as possible.
Thanks to my reviewers for their awesome reviews on both "A Simple Ring" and part one of this fic. I love you!
I also apologize, again, for the kinks that are bound to be in this file. I'm by no means technologically deft, but I'm not technologically daft either. I'm having issues editing documents…
It was too big for a pistol, but not large enough to be conspicuous.
With one hand, Riza held the bag against her, allowing the small puppy inside some solace. The baggage sat on the bench next to her. Though the pitching and rocking of the train might have startled the young dog, the warmth of Hawkeye's thigh could be felt through the lining, and Black Hayate remained silent. Hawkeye looked at the bag. It had ceased its spontaneous fit of wriggling, the disguised creature having found comfort. She closed her eyes and rested her pale cheek against the cold glass of the window. Her heart ached, but her mind tried to rationalize the pain away. The hand that wasn't holding her bag slid up from her lap and rested on her stomach. She wondered about the pain that would bring. Not nearly enough, she thought, not as much as it's hurting him.
Riza Hawkeye was always the sensible one of the crew. Why did she feel so lost now? She had been thrown into a situation where every option was sensible, if you approached them with a cold logic, but no option was even the slightest bit reasonable.
Riza Hawkeye was an idiot. She had told the truth to her superior. She told him she loved him. She had allowed herself to love him. She had thought herself careful- always keeping the fraternization law always in her head. Obviously, she had not been careful enough.
Riza Hawkeye was pregnant.
She hadn't told him. She couldn't. How could she? She had sworn to protect him and his dream. But she had to choose between his dream and his heart. Loving him, marrying him, those had been her dreams. And, well, Maes had already been a martyr for his dream. Hawkeye couldn't take both away from Mustang to fulfill her own dreams. That would be breaking her promise. She couldn't even tell him. She knew what he would do. Roy would sacrifice his goal if he learned. If the word got out, even if she resigned, his reputation would be hurt. His career would be shattered, and he would never climb to the top. There was only one alternative: she would have to leave.
She had taken great pains to make sure she could not be traced. Gradually, she sold off her possessions, each to numerous shops in varied locations about Central. Hawkeye had always paid her rent by month, and it was only a few days before the first of February that she had left. That matter was easily resolved. Next came her name and legal documents. She changed her name to Liza, and adopted her mother's maiden name, Grumman. It was common enough and wouldn't be too conspicuous. She could have gone to an alchemist and had her hair color changed, but she didn't know when she was officially going to leave, and she didn't want to do anything that would alert her colleagues. Or him.
Hayate she had been too soft hearted to leave behind. She stroked the side of the bag absently, hoping that Roy would reach his goal without her, and that he would reach it soon. Maybe then she could return and apologize. Maybe then he wouldn't hate her for what she'd done.
She allowed herself to be naïve, for now, anyway. It was her firm resolve as Riza Hawkeye that compelled her to act the way she was, to shatter her dream for his own. But as the train sped away from Central, Riza Hawkeye faded.