I wish I'd started this later on, so I'd known about *SPOLIER* (Roy's blindness) *END SPOILER* but I guess it's no big deal... In this the Truth's given everybody everything back... I guess xD

I know it's been forever, but I'm enthusiastic again, so updates should be quicker. This chapter is called Confrontations, and a lot is revealed here. Hope you enjoy! And show your enjoyment by reviewing *hint hint*

"Kate!" Havoc called, having to stop at the bottom of the stairs. "Kate it isn't fair to run when there's no way I can catch you. You're making fun of the wheelchair, right?" He waited for a moment, before the girl in question slowly made her way back down the stairs towards him.

She stopped about three steps up with her head resolutely down, her hair hiding her face.
"Kate... I don't fully understand but... no one in there is judging you. Roy Mustang can be persuasive, and a lot of girls fall for him, it's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I don't know him, and I..." She swallowed.

"Kate, are you crying?" He held out a hand, brushing her fingers with his. "No one thinks little of you. A lot of girls would be making the most of this situation but you're not, anyone can see that." She stepped down another step, and he took her hand in his, smiling slightly. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk? I can be a good listener."

The young woman nodded and stepped down to his level, using her free hand to wipe her cheeks.

They ended up in a small sitting room, once Selim Bradley's playroom. It had been refurbished quickly into a small library with a few bookcases of fiction novels and a writing desk, along with a few comfortable sofas. Havoc hoisted himself onto one of the plush seats and Kate took the seat close to him.

"Roy and Riza... they're in love aren't they?" She said quietly, "I mean, it seems like it, and I know that he doesn't care for me but... why didn't they just marry each other? It's not... not really fair to drag me into this." She sighed. "I'm being so selfish."

"How?" Jean asked, leaning back in the chair. "You've agreed to marry someone you barely know, and not divorce or annul the marriage in order to keep the country's politics stable."

Kate shook her head. "You're making it out to be more than it is." She muttered, clasping her hands in her lap.

"You know what?" Havoc smiled. "I really don't think I am."

He reached over and smoothed her trembling hands with his own, gently. He took one and brought it to his lips, closing his eyes reverently. He heart Kate gasp a little, and he looked up at her face, which was embarrassed.

What happened next was a blur.

He wasn't entirely sure what he was thinking- maybe his time back home had made him a lightweight and more susceptible to the wine, but he lifted a hand to her cheek and gently brought her closer.

"What am I doing?" Havoc shook his head. "I'm sorry." He moved into his chair and shrugged. "I got carried away. May I accompany you back to the dinner, Lady Mustang?"

Kate was very still for a moment, before nodding tightly and standing up. "Thank you." She murmured as she walked ahead of him to the door. "You're a good man, General Havoc..."

She stopped, momentarily, turning to face him again as he wheeled himself forwards. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why isn't Miss Riza a General like the rest of you? Surely she did so much..."

Havoc smiled. "I'll let them tell you themselves. Sometime."

She sighed."No one tells me anything." She pouted, and Havoc laughed.

"Now don't be like that." He said, soothingly. "We've been a tight knit group for years now..."

"Yeah." Kate nodded. "I suppose so. Nevertheless... it does feel weird."

"Ah, so this is the famous Lady Mustang?" a harsh male voice smirked, and the two Blondes turned in surprise. Kate blinked in astonishment and glanced at Havoc for reassurance.

"And you are..."

The young man grinned, extending a hand in an arrogant pose while using his other to put a thumb to his forehead. "Edward Elric, the FullMetal Alchemist!"

Kate frowned. "... Who?"

Havoc laughed as Edward began to twitch. "The... uhm... little Alchemist." Havoc helped, nudging her. Alphonse grabbed a hold of Edward's arms, and Winry moved to Kate's side, smiling as Kate's face turned into an expression of recognition.

"Oh! I remember now! You went round destroying Central! You repaired my mother's shop one time." Kate smiled. "It took us a while to get rid of that scary style of shop front... but at least it was solid."

Winry smirked and Edward began to hyperventilate. "You... you..."

"Now, now, calm down Fullmetal." Havoc sighed. "This is the first lady of Amestris. You can't just attack her." At his words, Edward calmed a bit and, shooting Havoc a glare, relaxed in his brother's hold.

"You can let me go now, Al." Ed sighed, and shrugged out of the younger boy's grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Mustang." He grinned, and Kate smiled.

"You too, Edward Elric. This must be..."

"Alphonse." Al smiled softly. "And this is our friend, Winry Rockbell." Winry and Kate smiled at each other.

Winry, Kate thought, was lovely. She had long blonde hair, let loose around her shoulders, and wore a light cream sundress. The two boys were dressed in shirts and trousers, looking smart enough, but Winry was simply a breath of fresh air. "You're not a part of the military." Kate realised, smiling in relief; it felt as though everybody around her was a warrior, and she was simply a child in the middle of it all.

"Nope." Winry smiled. "I'm a mechanic."

"A mechanic?" Kate blinked, surprised. Ed grinned.

"You see, even she thinks it weird..."

"That's amazing!" Kate enthused, grasping Winry's hands. "You're the first girl mechanic I've ever met!"

Winry smiled. "I made Edward's automail for him."

"An automail mechanic!" Kate cried, "I've never met one! You'll have to show me how it works... I could never figure out how a piece of machinery could connect to human tissue..."

The girls began to chat, and Edward sighed. "Who knew the Lady had a thing for automail?"

Havoc blinked. "Indeed." Better tell Mustang, in case Ed tries to catch him out.

---

"So that's how it is." Breda mused. "To tell the truth, I'm kind of relieved."

"How so?" Roy muttered, head in his hands. Riza sat beside him, hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"Well... you didn't hide the most important thing in your life from us." Breda continued, and glanced at Riza. "I thought you didn't trust us."

"Though it would have been nice to know the true situation." Fuery whispered.

"Sorry." Roy muttered. "I just thought that if she couldn't tell her family... then I shouldn't be allowed to tell you guys."

"And I always thought you'd end up marrying..."

"Nows not really the time for such discussion." Roy snapped. "We have to make the best of what we've got."

"You know Havoc likes her already." Falman pointed out. "Won't that be a problem?"

Roy sighed. "Poor Havoc... I always steal his women." He grimaced. "Even if I don't want to."

"Poor you." Riza bit out, and her hand tightened on his shoulder. He glanced up at the slight bitterness in her voice. "What about m... Kate? She might like Havoc but she can't do anything because of what you did to her. Aren't you the least hurt by all of this?"

"Riza..." Roy started, and she frowned. Neither said anything for a moment, and the others in the room turned away, awkwardly. "... I'm..."

"Why?" Riza said, her face carefully neutral. "You have nothing to apologise to me for."

Which stung. Roy grimaced, reminded that he had no reason to believe that Riza was attracted to him at all. He had wanted to make her his wife, but she'd never given any hint...

Other than the way she'd held him when he had recovered his sight.

"Don't you feel for me at all?" He whispered, looking up at her with narrow, hurt eyes. He didn't care if the others heard, but Riza's eyes widened, and she stepped away, evidently horrified. "Don't you?"

"What..." She glanced around the room, uncomfortable. "Don't be ridiculous, sir."

Roy watched her eyes, and smiled. "Riza." He knew her well. Better than she thought.

But she was angry, and cornered, and the wine was making it difficult to hide herself. "Don't." She said, sharply. "The situation is unchangeable." With that, she turned away, and went to the window, remaining silent.

Roy growled, and stood up abruptly. "Come with me." He demanded, marching over to her and dragging her by the wrist into the small music room annexed to the dining hall. Slamming the door behind him, he leant against the oak, glaring at the woman before him.

Riza frowned, quietly furious with his behaviour. She crossed her arms and moved to sit down on the piano stool.

"Riza..." Roy's face hardened. "I'm an idiot." She said nothing, and simply watched him. "That night... I went out to celebrate becoming Fuhrer... and to toast to the future." He swallowed. "I had bought something for you that day..." He walked over to her, and knelt down at her feet, forehead against her knees. "I was going to ask you to marry me..." He breathed. "That morning, I thought I had. I was so..."

Riza inhaled, her eyes pained. She glanced away, before turning softened eye to the top of the Fuhrer's dark head. Hesitantly, her fingers brushed his shoulder, touching on the nape of his neck. Startled, Roy stiffened, before turning his head up to face her, and her hands moved to touch his jawline gently.

The feel of her fingers was rough, and the coarsened skin, hardened by metal and gunpowder, made him shiver as they brushed his stubbled skin lightly.

Their eyes met, and Roy exhaled in a rush, as Riza surveyed his face seriously. "I love you." He whispered, his breath gasping as he pulled himself to kneel upright, his face almost level with hers. "I do, I love you."

She smiled painfully, before leaning in. He closed his eyes, but her lips only brushed his forehead. Opening his eyes questioningly, he frowned as he saw her eyes, for once gentle, filled.

"I can't reply." She said. "I'm your bodyguard, your secret keeper, and your closest friend... but I can't be your mistress."

"Can't? Or won't?" He said, gripping her knees. "I love you."

"I... won't." She whispered, meeting his eyes. "Please understand."

He laughed, standing up. "I've never knelt before..."

"I know." She said, and reached out. "I'm sorry I can't give you more than this." And as he turned away, she stepped close to him, wrapping strong arms around his middle and pulling herself close to his back, closing her eyes. He lifted his head, eyes closed as they stood together that way, the summer breeze from the open window ruffling their hair in the otherwise perfect stillness.

"We should go back." Riza said, but didn't move. Roy opened his eyes, and turned in her embrace.

"One more minute. We won't be missed much more after an extra minute." And he gathered her into his arms.