Author's Note: Sorry it took me quite awhile to update, just got back from the trip to our province. I won't say much other than I really enjoyed myself at the party and I might use some humorous scenes I've experience there for this story. Now, enough about me and lets just get on with the story since I've already made you wait for awhile and I apologize once more and again, Thank you for reading the previous chapters. Alright, with that done, Here's Chapter three and I hope you'll like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA and it's characters and this is obviously just fan fiction.


- Holiday Mishaps -


~~~ Chapter Three ~~~

The last Invitation


- Central City Cemetery -


Roy and Riza smiled as they saw who they were.

" Uncle Roy! Big Sister Riza! " Elysia said cheerfully as she waved both of her hands excitedly. Then she smiled wide as she saw the two dogs wagging their tails and looking at her with the same vigor.

" It great to see you too, Black Hayate, Yuki! " Elysia said as she hurriedly made her way towards them and bent down on her knees to pet them on their heads softly. While Gracia smiled at her daughter and made her way towards Roy and Riza.

" My, it's great to see you two here. My husband must be lonely since he rarely receives visitors nowadays, even we can't visit as often as we like during this cold season so I'm sure he greatly appreciates your company. Thank you so much for visiting despite the cold weather and your busy schedule. " Gracia said as she warmly smiled at the two.

" It's our pleasure to visit Maes, Gracia. We were in the neighborhood since we had to give some important files and reports regarding Ishval in Central Headquarters and since we are already here, we thought about paying him a visit while we still have a chance afterwards. " Roy said as he smiled.

" We owe Brigadier General Hughes so much and we barely have much chance to visit him often as well, since not only can't we manage to find much free time with our work but also because of the distance. We happily took this wonderful opportunity to make up to him for the lost time. " Riza said, also smiling warmly at Gracia.

" It's really great to hear that my husband is still well loved and I'm even more grateful to know that he has such wonderful friends like the two of you. " Gracia said happily.

A little later, she bent down in front of her husband's grave and gently place the bouquet of flowers she's holding down, beside Roy and Riza's bouquet. Then she placed candles on both sides of the tombstone and was about to get a match from her pocket to lit them up when Roy suddenly clapped his hands once and flicked his left fingers to lit it up for her, much to Gracia's surprise.

Roy then suddenly look worried, " Oh, I'm sorry if I startled you. I should have said I'll be using my alchemy first before I did it unexpectedly. It's just that with the frost, a match wouldn't have much use since it's tip is probably frozen... so I lit it up for you. " He said apologetically.

Gracia shook her head, " Don't apologize, I want to thank you even. I was just a bit shocked, but I'm alright. I often hear about your flame alchemy skills from my husband but it's my first time seeing it with my own eyes. Despite it's renown as something destructive, I think it's also handy and helpful for some other things as well. " She said in amazement as Elysia stood up and moved closer to her mother to eye the burning flames on the candles curiously.

Roy nodded, " It sure is handy. I can do things with it that aren't destructive as well so it's actually pretty useful. " Roy said boastingly as Riza shook her head at the look of him.

" Though it's sad that it's absolutely useless on rainy days. " Riza teased as Roy absentmindedly agreed, " Right, I'm absolutely useless on rainy days... Hey! " He complained as he realize what he said. Gracia, Riza and even young Elysia laugh at his confession and at the look on his face.

" My, it's great to see you two getting along just fine as usual. I do believe that the Ishval development plans are progressing just as fine? " Gracia asked curiously as Riza nodded.

" Yes, everything is going according to plan and most of the citizens of Ishval have adjusted to our new policies without much trouble. In all honesty, Brigadier General Mustang here is causing more trouble with doing his paperwork than the people of Ishval adjusting to our laws. " Riza teased again.

" You're having fun teasing me tonight aren't you, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye? " He replied as he lightly nudge her on the side of her waist a couple of times with his elbow, slightly making her laugh.

Riza softly slap his arm away since he was tickling her, " Hey, stop that. " she scolded, yet still smiling nonetheless.

Roy smirked, " Then stop teasing me. " he said as Riza smirked back and added, " But I wasn't teasing you, I was telling the truth. "

Then they glared at each other for awhile, but sensing that they won't be giving in any time soon. Both end up laughing at each other's stubbornness. Both completely forgetting that they were being watched.

Elysia giggled along the moment she saw them teasing and laughing at one another. She held the two dogs closer as she watched Black Hayate and Yuki's owners joking around.

" I do believe that the Ishvalians also enjoy seeing both of you joking around with one another as you two work hard in helping them out as well. " Gracia said, getting Roy and Riza's attention.

" You're right about that. Most people thought of us being a couple since we quarrel a lot as well. " Roy said, grinning mischievously.

" When we're clearly far from that. " Riza added as she sighed at the look of him and crossed her arms.

" Then what do you two consider your relationship to be? " Gracia asked curiously as Roy and Riza looked at one another and thought about it and then smiled as they looked at Gracia and Elysia.

" Having known each other for a very long time, we understand one another's thoughts and feelings and could do so even without saying anything. " Roy said casually as he place his hands on his black coat's pocket, " We stood us equals, sharing the same high respect, trust and loyalty among each other. " Riza added.

Then Roy and Riza looked at one another once more and smiled warmly at each other, " We're partners. " They calmly said in unison.

Gracia smiled at them, " My, what a wonderful relationship you two share. " she said as the two nod in agreement.

" Though it also means I can't escape from doing my paperwork even if I say I'm feeling under the weather most of the time since she can sense I'm lying. " Roy suddenly thought out loud as Riza shook her head, " You're just being lazy most of the time, sir. "

" What does Uncle Roy do in Ishval, big sister Riza? " Elysia asked innocently.

Riza thought about it, " Well aside from always slacking off when I'm not looking... " she started and smiled to herself as she heard Roy complain, " Hey! " but she ignored him and added, " ...He does work hard for the country's development and care for it's people more than anything. "

Roy looked at her surprised, " Well... I guess I have you to thank for that since you've been by my side through out everything as well. " Then he smirked, Going so far as being together even during our holiday vacation."

" Because you're prone to getting into trouble without me watching after you, sir. " Riza said teasingly as Roy nudge her again, " You're really enjoying teasing me all day aren't you, Riza? "

All formalities forgotten, this time Riza countered and nudge back, " Yes, I'm enjoying it and Roy would you please stop doing this. "

" But you're enjoying that as well. " Roy teased as Riza slightly push him away. " No, I don't. " She said, as Roy pouted and the whole group ended up laughing.

" Oh, alright. " Roy said in a mocking tone making Riza lightly slap him on his arm. He smiled genuinely at Riza, then looked at Gracia to change the topic, " By the way, what did you meant when you said that we should come over to your house and talk about it awhile ago, Gracia? " He asked as Riza also looked at Gracia curiously, waiting patiently for her response.

" Oh my, I've nearly forgotten about it. " Gracia started, " Well since I overheard you two say that you don't have any plans for your holiday vacation earlier. We would like to invite the two of you... " She paused when she heard the two dogs bark, she smiled as she understand and added, " ...and your dogs to our family rest house for a vacation and celebrate with a party with close friends. "

" A holiday party? " Riza said as Gracia nodded, " With many challenges and games before the main event. "

" Have you manage to send out all the invitations to all the people you had in mind to come as well? " Roy asked as Gracia nod again.

" Yes and we've already invited as many people as we can. " Gracia said and paused to look at her husband's grave. " Me and Maes have always planned on having that party with everyone to cheer all of you up since everyone was being stressed out and overworked under King Bradley's reign. "

Then Gracia sighed and look at Roy and Riza, smiling, " And even though he's not among us anymore. I'm sure he still wanted this dream party to come true and I'm sure he'd put you two on the top of the list of people to invite. Would you like to come with us? It would be most appreciated. " She said.

Roy looked at Riza and spoke, " Well, I don't mind tagging along since I don't have any plans... What about you, Riza? "

Riza looked back at him and thought about it for awhile and soon nodded, " I don't have anything to do either so I'd love to come as well. " then she eyed Gracia and asked, " When will the trip be? "

Gracia then smiled quite nervously, " Well, the trip is scheduled early tomorrow at 1100 hours. It's on the southeastern part Amestris, but the direct route to it is only stationed here on Central. I'm sorry for not telling you about it earlier but we just couldn't contact either of you two. We called Eastern Headquarters a couple of times the week before, but they say you two are working out on Ishval and are camping out there. So I apologize since it's so sudden. "

" Ha ha, well that was a bit surprising but I guess it was our fault since we've been unreachable this past few weeks. But if it's scheduled as early as 1100 hours... That means we don't have enough time since it's going to be a very long trip back to East City and then back here in Central... " Roy said.

" We didn't bring anything with us for a long time vacation and like as Roy said, it's impossible to find time to go back to East City to pack and come back here early morning since it's already 2130 hours tonight. " Riza added as the two mused on what to do.

" You could stay over our house for the night and borrow some of Maes and my old clothes... I'm sure I can find some with your size and I know Maes wouldn't mind. " Gracia suggested.

" But we wouldn't want to be a burden... " Riza said.

Gracia shook her head, " It's alright, we insist. " she relied reassuringly.

Then Elysia walked towards Roy and Riza and looked at them with cute puppy-dog eyes, " Can you please come? "

Slightly taken aback, Roy looked at Riza and She looked back in return as they thought about it and considered it.


~~~ End of Chapter Three ~~~

The last Invitation


Author's Note: Do you think Roy and Riza will come to the party? Or will all the plans be ruined? Ha ha, you already probably know the answer but please do read the next chapter to find out. Expect more Royai fluff on the next chapter and I know I told you guys that the next chapter would be about the trip but sadly it won't be. Because I do not know why, but I've written this chapter longer than planned again, probably since I was enjoying myself too much in writing this. Ha ha.

I honestly don't mind a longer chapter, In fact, I'm more used to writing longer stories but it's just that I received a PM months ago saying that some of my longer stories are harder to load for a few computers and especially to those who read on their mobile phones, so now, I limit myself to writing only 3000 words, below or slightly longer per chapter. Amusingly, this chapter alone originally has 5134 words and it's not even finished yet. LOL.

So I ended up cutting this chapter in half. But the good news is that I only have to add some finishing touches to the next chapter. In other words, you'll be able to read it after a few minutes, an hour at max but it would probably be earlier since I've already written most of it. Alright, I should go and prepare the fourth chapter then.

For now, I hope you like this and If you can review, please do. Either as a guest or a signed one since it'll inspire me to do better either way. Thank you for taking the time to read this and see you on the next chapter!