CHAPTER 4 - "A Thousand Years"
A/N: Hope you guys liked the last chapter. That took me all afternoon, heh. Hope you guys enjoy this one, as well, cuz... well, sorry, but it's the last one... :( BUT as I announced in Chapter 2, I WILL be making a sequel story that centers around Riza's life after all of this. Got some really good ideas brainstorming already! But, enough of my blabbering. Here's the last chapter. As always, READ and REVIEW!
Last Chapter:
"Charlie... how can you... how can you die with such a peaceful smile on your face...? How could you just leave me like this, and not tell me...? Why, Charlie, why...?" I sobbed, hugging her tighter, rocking her back and forth in my arms.
Unbelievable... first, Taisa... now my dear, sweet, beloved little sister... why am I losing everyone close to me...? Why Roy? Why Charlie? Why me...?
I hear someone singing. Who was it?
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
I'm in a meadow. From 10-15 feet away, I see a girl. Wearing a flowing white dress, and had long blonde hair... it couldn't be.
The girl turns around, and smiles softly. It is!
Charlie...?
"I'm sorry, Nee-san... I should have told you... about my cancer...'" she says as glittery tears begin to flow from her eyes. I fell to my knees and sobbed.
"No... no, Charlie... honey, it was MY fault, I... should have been more persistent, and not... let you slip away..." I sobbed. She then lifts my chin, with her hand.
"It's not your fault, Nee-san... it's mine... I should have told you, instead of... keeping it inside for two years," she chuckled. "But at least, you'll finally be at peace, knowing I'm in a better place." she smiled softly, wiping my tears. "And I'm not just talking about up there," she pointed upward. "I also mean... in here," she gently placed her hand on my heart. I sobbed, holding her hand.
"Please don't cry, Nee-san," she said, caressing my cheek. "If there's one thing, I hate... it's the sound of your brokenness..." she chuckled sadly. "But, then again... you told me every militant has a weak side."
"You're my weak side, Charlie."
"What about Colonel?"
"Both of you, including Mother."
She looked up towards the sky.
"Well, guess you better wake up. It's almost time for me to get buried... next to Mom..." she turned back to me. "But, before I go, there's some things I want you to remember... both me and Mustang Taisa are in a better place. We both died for a good reason. You. For you to be happy. The next thing I want you to remember is that, after my funeral... I'll ALWAYS be watching over you, along with Mom and Colonel."
I smiled softly as she said "I'll never leave you. But, now you need to get going... so for now... until it's your time, to be with us... I'm not gonna leave you with a 'goodbye'." She hugged me tightly. "I'll just leave you with... 'thank you. for everything'. I love you, Nee-san... I will... always and forever."
She slowly fades away.
"No, no, Charlie, wait! COME BACK! CHARLIE!"
Riza's P.O.V.
"CHARLIE!" I screamed, as I jolted up. I was panting, in a cold sweat... I sigh tiredly, and look at the clock. That's right. It's her funeral today... I was dreading it... Dreading seeing all my closest friends and family... offering condolences... all the weeping, sobbing, crying... I wouldn't be surprised if it was raining today... I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to EVER say goodbye to my sister. But, I knew I had to eventually.
It was almost time, and I was just about ready. Hayate hops on my lap, and I pet him softly. I began singing.
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
All along, I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
Tears begin to patter onto Hayate's fur, as I hold him close to me. The are knocks on the door, but I'm too mournful to notice... Over my blurred, teary vision, I see the door open. I wipe my eyes, to see the boys and Winry, all wearing black.
"Hughes-san..." the boys started.
"... wanted us to pick you up..." Winry finished.
"Thanks, guys. I appreciate it," I sniffle, wiping my eyes. As if out of nowhere, Winry runs over and hugs me tightly. I wrap my arms around her.
"W-Winry-chan..."
"During the funeral, Riza-san... don't be afraid to let it all out. It's a funeral, after all, so it's... pretty common." She looked up at me. "We're all here for you, so... if you need to cry, cry... okay?" Winry says with a tearful smile. I smile softly and hug her back. "Okay."
~ At the Funeral ~
Well, surprisingly it wasn't raining today. But, I completely forgot about the fact that I had to speak. Major Armstrong gestures to the pulpit set up the front, and I walk over there, not turning to see all the ghostly faces in the seats between.
I stand in the pulpit, and take a deep breath before beginning my speech.
"Charlie was... an amazing young woman. Kind, gentle, caring, always thinking of others, putting them before herself. She was a selfless girl. Looked up to me. The only thing that she promised she would NEVER do... was..." I laughed and continued. "... to join the military," I finished. Several were laughing. I had asked her about it and she said, 'Nee-san, I may look up to you, but there is no way in hell I'm doing that'." I chuckled at the memory. "Overall, Charlie, I know, is in a better place, and she always will be. But she'll stay in our hearts forever..." I teared up. "Through the good, the bad, the joyful and the painful. I know that she'll be with us always. Watching over us... protecting us... loving us... like she had promised she would do for me." I look upward. "Charlie, it's Nee-san. Thank you endlessly for your love and admiration towards me. I know you're in a better place, and I know you'll take care of me. Be sure to say hello to Mother for me."
I let my tears fall freely.
"God bless you, Heaven help you, and... Charlie... rest in paradise..." I sobbed. I walked out of the pulpit, but after I did, I fell to my knees, and bawled my eyes out. Rebecca comes over and embraces me tearfully. Everyone was crying by now. Either for me or for Charlie. My tears, my sobbing, my mourning... they were all for Charlie...
~ After the Funeral ~
I had let all my tears out, and just stared down at Charlie's gravestone. It read:
Charlotte Sandra Hawkeye
1996-2013
Friend, Daughter, Beloved Sister, Lover of Animals
I hear footsteps, I turn and see Winry, smiling sadly.
"Where are the boys?" I asked.
"They went to go eat somewhere." I nodded.
"Do you... need a ride home?" Winry shook her head.
"I can manage; I could use some fresh air, anyway." I smiled softly at her.
"I'm so sorry," she said sadly. I chuckled. "Me, too."
"I can't imagine what you're going through. I mean, your mother... your sister... your lover..." I laughed at the word "lover".
"He wasn't exactly my lover." I said.
"But you wanted him to be," she shot back. I blushed lightly, and looked away, chuckling. "Maybe a little," I mumbled. Winry giggled at that.
"What about you? Have you... visited your parents' graves around here yet?" Winry shook her head.
"I can't really think about them right now; considering what you're going through." she took a deep breath. "So... to make you happier... Riza-san... would you... do me the honor... of... b-becoming m-my... Mother...?" I froze.
"Adopt me...?" she asked, smiling.
"What about your grandmother...?" she looked down sadly.
"She passed away, about... three months ago..." she said, and then bowed. "Please, Riza-san... you... remind me so much of her..." I remind her of her Mother...?
This was a very sudden question for her to ask. But... knowing Winry-chan, she has been there for me through all this. But, to think that she wants to rekindle a family so suddenly. But I smile softly nonetheless.
"Winry..." she looks up at me.
"I would be... HONORED to call you... my daughter," I laughed. She gasped tearfully, and practically bear-hugged me. I laughed at her happiness.
"Thank you... thank you..." she said tearfully.
"You're welcome, honey," I replied, embracing her softly.
"Mom..." she laughed through her tears. "I haven't said that in forever... it feels amazing..."
I didn't really expect that at all. But... I guess I was blind to Winry-chan's pain all this time, because I was too focused on my own. But, now I understand. Both of us... Winry and I... are now a family. Mother and daughter. And I couldn't be happier.
A/N: Aww! Nice ending, huh? Lol. So, lemme know what you guys thought of this last chapter. I'll be starting my sequel pretty soon, so... look forward to it! It's titled My Mother, My Daughter. Thank you to all of you that have taken the time to read this story. Sorry it was kinda short, but I hope it was worth reading. Thank you all so much!
