Riza stared at the dim white of her ceiling in the light of the moon, unable to sleep, worrying about Roy. She doubted he was having any more success sleeping than she was, down on the couch. She wanted to comfort him, but had no idea how. Rolling over, she closed her eyes and remembered him curled around her, sleeping, warm and solid and reassuring. Strong. That had been three and a half years ago, before he'd gotten Ed Elric into the military. He was stronger now, and by contrast, his weak moments frightened her more.

She'd loved him for years. She did not hide it, nor did she flaunt it. It was simply a part of her, as much as her limbs, her head, her heart. It was there, and she expected that everyone knew it was there, but they too saw it as just a part of Riza; nothing strange, nothing grand, just her.

Then, there had been that one night, when he'd made love to her. She buried her head in the pillow and sighed. In every other room of the house, it had been something else, something hard and selfish and urgent, on both their parts. Here, in her bed, they'd made love. Gentle, giving…loving. She'd been able to pretend, then. Pretend it really was love.

She'd felt guilty that night. She'd gone against everything she was dedicated to; the rules of the military, the morals her parents had instilled in her. She wondered if Roy even knew she'd been a virgin. She was too active a woman for any significant physical proof to remain. There'd been guilt…until this room, until she felt like he loved her. She'd found herself imagining being his wife. In a way, she still felt like that was a wedding night of sorts…at least for her. And why not? She'd been by his side for years; serving him, protecting him, loving him. She spent more time with him than a wife would, that was certain. She drank with him, laughed with him, cried with him, killed with him. She was more a wife to him than any other woman could ever be. Yet, after that night, he had continued on as if it hadn't even happened, seeming barely aware of her dedication to him.

She sat up when she heard a quiet, tentative tap on her door. Black Hayate raised his head and wagged his tail slightly, but surprisingly remained lying on the floor rather than jumping around and barking. She'd trained him well.

"Come in."

The door cracked open and Roy poked his head in. Scooting up further and resting her back on the headboard, Riza motioned for him to come all the way in. He was wearing pajama shorts with puppies on them. She smirked, relieved to be distracted from the fact that he was not wearing a shirt. She could stare at his toned chest all night if she let herself.

"Do you need something, Roy?"

He moved across the room and sat down on the edge of her bed, looking at her through wisps of black hair. Slowly, he reached out and tucked a strand of her own golden hair behind her ear.

"I…don't want to be alone tonight."

She hesitated for only a moment, both afraid of and delighted by thoughts of where this could lead. Then, she shook that feeling away. Nothing would happen tonight. His sorrow was too deep. She slid farther over and lifted the covers to invite him in. When he moved to lie beside her, she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

When he hugged her tight and tucked her head beneath his chin, his breath finally evening out as it brushed through her hair, she felt safe and loved, just as she had that other night, except this time, without the indescribable pleasure or the aching guilt. She felt…at peace. And finally, she was able to drift into sleep…