Hey guys :) Thanks for reading this story. I really love this chapter. Anyways, enjoy.

Im here to enkindle courage.

"Alright kid, here are all the papers. Along with some money we all pitched in to give you so you can have a safe trip. Its from all of us". Says Jean Havoc as he lights a smoke.

Everyone had gathered in Mustang's office to have a 'Welcome Back/Going Away Party' for Ed. Everyone smiled at Ed as he took the money. Everyone had given him something else though at the party, along with money. Jean had bought Ed a book named 'How to Understand the Female Mind', which everyone laughed at. Denny Brosh and Maria Ross had bought a camera in which he took a picture of everyone and then gave it to Ed. "So you can show us all the crazy shit you get into when we aren't around." Maria said as she gave it to him. Vato Falman and Heymans Breda bought Edward their favorite cookies that they had discovered. They brought enough to last the trip, but by the end of the night, most had been eaten. Sheska also bought a book for him. It was one of the few books on the western parts of Creta and had some information about Rochen in it. Kain fury gave Edward a prototype spy camcorder he had. He had concealed it into pin shaped into the Elric crest that Edward could wear on his chest. It would record everything that it saw and was solar powered. He also gave Ed something that would allow him to 'hook it up' and watch it later. Alex Armstrong bought Edward a miniature statue of Alex. This amused everyone until the shirt ripping and the muscle bulging began. Mustang and Riza both gave the most special gifts Ed received that night, though he wouldn't let Mustang know. Riza had stolen Ed's red jacket from his room and bought some black dye. Then Mustang had transmuted them both into the red coat with the Elric symbol on the back. As Ed unwrapped the gift, in the center of the coat, was his old state alchemist pocket watch. "Don't forget, 3. Oct. 10" was still written inside of it. He looked at both Mustang and Riza and nodded. They both understood that meant that he was extremely grateful for the gift.

The night was full of laughter, drinking, card playing and reminiscing. Edward won most of the card games after two years of practicing with the two card sharks named Winry and Granny, much to the displeasure of Kain, Vato and Breda who were convinced he was cheating. Much of the drinking was done by Havoc as he tried numerous times to convince Riza to 'ditch the crazy flame dude and come hang out for a while' which ended up with him nursing a black eye and singed eyebrows from Mustang. Poor Sheska was caught into the mighty arms of Alex Armstrong and had to humor the man about his muscles until she remembered something she read about the Armstrongs once using steroids to have their muscles, which lead into a conversation with him. A few hours pass and eventually everyone has become extremely intoxicated and start spewing out random things that they could all do. Well, everyone except for Mustang who had an early meeting the next morning. Eventually, the group wanders out toward the back field outside of headquaters and decide that it would be a good idea to have a bonfire. However Mustang and Riza stay behind a bit to clean some of the mess the other drunken fools had made.

"Why did i let the party happen in my office?" Mustang groans and he barley does any actual work. Riza plops down into the couch that had been brought into the party and lays on her back.

"Because shhirr, i tolds you to." Riza slurs as her smile turns into a smirk as he turns to face him.

"Why do you hate me, you crazy drunk woman?" Mustang mutters as he picks up a half empty beer bottle and throws it into the trash.

"Come on Musdang. You knows I don't hates you. But it wazz a good idea to has the party for Elrard becaushe he has a long journay aheads of him."

"Jesus Riza," Mustang turns to her slightly shocked. "I haven't seen you this drunk in...well... never! What the hell?"

"Well shir, I'm always worring about yous. I cants ever stop watchings you or you might fuck ups. But shince there are so many peoples here tonight and you arents drinking... i thoughts you could handle this one by yourself." She smiles lazily at his as she puts her hands behind her head. " And beshides, im not evens that drank." She actually worries that much about me? I never knew... Does that mean that she stops herself from having fun because I'm always goofing off? He frowns at her, but soon is laughing at the face that she is making at him.

"Take that frown off, mishter grumpy pants!"

Mustang laughs and sits at the end of the couch, moving her legs to lay across his lap. "Haha, yes you are drunk, Hawkeye. Yes you are. And hey! I don't need anyone watching out for me! I'm the freaking flame alchemist!"

"What happens if it rains, shir?" She laughs.

"Well... i have...um... right! There you go, Riza. Have a glass of water." He says as he tries to confuse her, in which he succeeds.

"You what? What water?"

"What are you talking about Riza?" Mustang tries had not to laugh at the confused look on the normally emotionally lacking blonde's face. Eventually she starts laughing and he joins in because of her infectious laugh.

"Why...why are ... are we laughing, Riza?" Mustang says between laughs.

"Well because shir, we haven't been alone like thish in a while and all you're doing is confushing me. Hahaha"

He begins to remember the last time they were alone. He had been trying, without success to button up his shirt. He had been rather hung over that morning and had made it into his office without anyone noticing. Other than the Hawk's Eye however.

"Sir." She saluted and then sniffed the air. "You smell like alcohol. What were you doing last night?" She looked at him with demanding eyes and he knew he was done for but he still wouldn't give up without a fight. God damn woman. Can't she just mind her own business?

"That would be none of your business, lieutenant." He said harsher than her had meant to. He looked at her and saw a little bit of hurt flash through her eyes but then it was gone. She pulled out her gun and pointed it at him. He sighed.

"Why?"

"Because you ordered me to pull my gun on you if you jeopardized your future as Furher. Coming to work, hung over for no good reason, is unapproved. Now tell me why, sir." She demands.

I was done for from the start.

Mustang looked over to Riza and he knew he was about to break. He looked away and slumped against the wall. She sighed and put her gun away and knelt in front of him. She then removed his crossed arms and unbuttoned his shirt with the full intention of buttoning them back up properly afterword, but he caught her hands with his.

"I dreamt of that night… that night I killed Lust. I couldn't forget it. So I got out of bed and went to my kitchen and saw that picture of us before your father died on my fridge. It made me remember when lust had cornered you and almost killed you. Then like a flash, every single time you have been hurt flew through my eyes… ending with that crazy doctor slowly killing you in front of me so I would do that human transmutation. I couldn't do anything and you were just…dying. I remember holding you in my arms and watching the life slowly drift out of you and…." He stopped when he realized that Riza was hugging him; hugging him hard. He also realized that he had tears streaming down his face. "And so…I grabbed the liquor I keep in my pantry and just… drank all of it." He hugged her back, and be began to feel wetness on the side of his neck. He pulled back and realized that Riza too, had been crying.

Never before had he seen her tears. Not when her father died, not during the war, not when he burned the secrets of flame alchemy off her back… but here she was, crying. "Riza…why are you crying?" Roy Mustang was shocked beyond belief. "Because… because you're such an idiot, Roy." She laughed through her tears. "Why would you get upset over me?"

"Riza, you're the most important person to me in the world. If anything happened to you…" His voice cracked. Stop thinking about that.

"…You mean that? I thought… I thought that you just considered me an ally, maybe a friend. I didn't know…"

"Seriously, Riza? After all these years… maybe a friend? Riza Hawkeye, I don't think I have ever heard you say anything that stupid before." He laughed at her and wiped away the fresh tears falling down her face. "Riza Hawkeye, you are my most valuable ally, my reliable friend, my trustworthy shrink, my amazing bodyguard and my…" First and only love.

He couldn't say that. Not here, not now. Not when she was in his arms; not when she felt so nice against him; not when she could run away from his feelings. So instead of telling her, he just hugged her tighter. And she hugged back the same.

"Thank you for caring so much, Roy. I don't think anyone cared this much about me."

"Just… don't die on me. Okay?"

"Is that an order, sir?"

"You know it is, lieutenant."

Eventually the pair untangled themselves with dry faces and fixed themselves up before the others getting there. It had been a good day, for Roy Mustang. A good day, indeed.

After remember that, he turns back to the drunk blonde who was half asleep on the couch. He smiles at her relaxed face.

"Riza?"

"Yesh, sir?"

"How much are you going to remember tomorrow?"

"From pashted experienshes shir, not a lot."

"So you wouldn't remember if I told you that you are the most amazing woman that I have ever met? Or that I have never seen anyone who can look so beautiful even when she's pointing a gun at me? Or that I have been in love with you ever since I met you so long ago at the Hawkeye mansion?" Holy fuck. Did I really just say that? No, that was in my head. Oh god! It wasn't!

"Well, shir. If any of it were true, then I might try to remember it. But obviously it isn't."

"Riza, every single word is true. Will you remember?"

"Well, if it ish, than maybe. Maybe you shoulds tell me tomorrow, shir?"

"Ah, but then you may reject me when you have sober mind."

"I would never reject the pershon I love, shir. Never…never" Riza Hawkeye's eyes begin to droop and almost immediately, she falls asleep. She what? She cant be… There is no way that she… but then again. Drunk words are sober thoughts. I will tell you again, Riza Hawkeye. I will tell you again when I am Fuhrer and I can marry you. Please wait for me.

He smiles at the blond and gets up, being careful not to wake her. He walks over and kneels beside her head and kisses her on the forehead. She smiles in her sleep.

"Thanks for always being here, Riza." And with that, he covers her in his jacket and makes his way to where the other drunken goofballs are and made sure no one gets hurt on their way to their beds. He was smiling the whole time.

The next morning everyone meets back in his office to give their final words to Edward before he sets off. Most of the females are tearing up, except for Riza who has a stone expression on as she wishes him well. The stone breaks into a smile and she allows a small hug too. Armstrong is crying a water fountain as he crushes Ed with his massive and again, shirtless muscles. Everyone seems sad that he is going, but knows that he must. Everyone slowly leaves until, Riza, Roy and Edward are all that is left.

"Thank you, Colonel Bastard. And yeah, still gunna call you that even if you aren't a Colonel anymore."

"And im still going to call you a pipsqueak." He laughs expecting a beating from Ed but instead Ed starts laughing with him.

"Haha, I guess that's fair. Goodbye, Riza. Thank you. I'll see you guys soon. Don't forget me, kay? Or I'll come kick you asses." He smiles at the pair and turns away, making his way out of the room. He didn't yell at all? Huh, this kid just can't stop surprising me. Those westerners better watch out. This kid is unpredictable.

Mustang watches as the 17 year old leaves his office with papers that will let him cross the border, along with money that will pay for a caravan to take him to Rochen after he reaches the center of Creta. He begins to call out the boy's name, but the words die on his lips. "Edward, good luck." Never makes it from his mouth. He knows. That kid is smart enough now to not need any thing like luck. He better come back in one piece. He walks out the door and watches Ed walk down the hall and turn out the door. Mustang smiles.

"You know, sir. I think we've all had our share of surprises these past few days. I'm we had that party for Ed. Too bad I don't remember much. Haha." She beings to laugh and Mustang joins her. He turns back to leave for the mess hall to have breakfast and Riza follows close behind. She thinks to herself as they walk. An amazing body guard will follow her charge until he doesn't want them anymore. But I'll continue to follow you, Roy. And I'll follow you all the way to the top so that I can finally stand beside you, instead of behind you. She smiles as she follows Mustang into the mess.

Sorry if you dont like drunk Riza. But i like her. Review please :)