To Rokiyam: You'll see. xD Oh, then I'm glad that you like this fic. ^^ Well, maybe the others are shy. xDD

So, here's the next chapter. It's more or less the last one, the next chapter's the epilogue ... Yeah, it's really a short fic and to tell you the truth I'm not really satisfied with it because I know that I can write much better fanfics. But I wrote this ca. 2 years ago, so maybe this is an explanation. xD

Chapter 4: In danger

"Hey, get up!" the man with the moustache said impolitely and grabbed Riza by the arm.

"Hell, leave me alone, I'm tired …" Riza stated half sleeping.

"I don't care! You two are coming with us!" he said.

"Ouch, that hurts, you brute!" Tim exclaimed.

Riza now realized where she was and in what situation. Soon she had a clue what this two wanted to do to her and Tim. Still she asked: "What will you do with us?"

"We have to eliminate you. You've heard and seen too much."

Riza could see Tim's eyes widen as he understood what the men were going to do.

"Wait, he's still a child, please let him go!" Riza pleaded.

"He has seen too much, we can't let him go. It's his punishment for poking his nose into concerns of other people. Get them into the truck!" the moustache-man commended the giant.

Riza thought of a way to play for time and in her desperation only one idea came to her mind.

"Wait! If you kill us you'll feel sorry! You could make money with us. Much money. You could take us hostage and require ransom!" Riza exclaimed.

Tim looked at her confused.

"From whom?" the slimmer man asked.

"From … the Fuhrer!"

He turned around. "That was a bad try. Everyone knows the Fuhrer's dead."

"Well, I meant the new Fuhrer, Roy Mustang" Riza explained and tried to sound honestly.

Now Tim seemed to understand what she was trying.

"I've never heard that there's already a new Fuhrer." The man still had his doubts of her saying the truth but he stopped and was looking at her.

"It isn't official yet."

"That might be right. But why should the new Fuhrer pay for you?"

"Because … I'm his wife" Riza replied.

"Interesting … Okay, we will let you live a little while longer. But this boy here doesn't seem to be important" the man said.

"Sure! He is important! He's our son!" Riza lied. Normally she would have laughed by the irritated face of Tim but now was not the moment.

"Okay, I get it! Just lock them into the truck so we can drive to our hideout!" her kidnapper commended his accomplice the second time. He threw her and Tim into the empty loading space after cutting their ropes – finally. She had already worried that the ropes would dig to her bones.

It was dark as the door of the truck was closed.

"Why did you lie?" Tim asked.

"Because they would have killed us if I hadn't. Now we have a little more time …"

"Yeah, but … Why did you say I was your son?"

"To save you …" Riza replied confused. What was his problem?

"Yeah … I … thank you … Nobody ever did so much for me before …" Tim explained.

"But that's what everybody in my situation would have done!"

Slowly Riza's eyes accustomed themselves to the darkness and she could see him shaking his head.

"No, most people would only have tried to save their lives."

"Tim …" She walked towards him and sat down beside him. She wrapped an arm around him and said: "I think you haven't met all too nice people yet …"

"That's right. You're the first person that's really nice to me, Riz. I like you."

Riza smiled. "And I like you."

"Then … Couldn't you … adopt me?" he asked shyly.

She sighed. "I'd like to adopt you, Tim, but … I have neither the money to raise you nor the space to place you …"

"What about Roy? Maybe if you marry him …"

Riza was glad that it was too dark for Tim to see her blushing. "You're talking about things that aren't sure in slightest way! Besides first we have to survive this …"

"Yeah, you're right … But I would be glad to have an adoptive mother like you …" he said yawning before he fell asleep in her arms.

How cute he was! She sighed. She had to find a way to adopt him … At least she wouldn't allow that he had to return to this children's house.

Because she was tired and the truck continued to judder permanently she soon fell asleep, too.

---

"What do you mean with 'Go back to work and relax'?! You can't honestly suppose that I'll sit down and sign boring papers while Ri … err … my 1st Lieutenant is in danger!" Roy shouted to the officer that conducted the investigation of Riza's disappearance.

"Sir, we have everything under control so there's no need to worry. We'll find your Lieutenant and will inform you if we did. So please don't disturb the investigation any further and go back to work or home or for a walk" the officer replied patiently although the Colonel had strained his nerves for almost half an hour now.

"I will definitely NOT go to work or home! I will help searching Riza by my own means if you like it or not!" Roy exclaimed and left Riza's apartment.

By now he regretted calling the police. They were only a bunch of botchers anyway and couldn't help him.

He had an idea. He went back to the headquarters but not to work but to borrow one of the dogs that were skilled in finding people. He let one of them snuffle on the paper with the message of blood and soon the dog ran away. Roy followed him and hoped that the blood belonged to a person that was with Riza.

Soon they came to an old storehouse. The dog led him to a room where nobody was. On the floor he saw blood, however. Hopefully it wasn't Riza's blood. As he was searching for clues he suddenly heard a barking that didn't come from the dog next to him. He followed the noise and soon found a little cage where a familiar dog was locked in.

"Black Hayate!" he exclaimed and opened the lock with an iron rod that was near. The black-white dog jumped luckily around his feet and wagged its tail. Roy petted the dog and was somehow relieved. At least the dog was now found and maybe he could help searching for Riza. As if he had heard what Roy was thinking Black Hayate walked a few steps and continued walking as he was sure that Roy followed him. The other dog lumbered behind them. Roy wondered if he should bring him back to the military … He didn't have time for that, however. Black Hayate stopped as they were outside. Roy could see skid marks that led to a forest. Fortunately it had rained the past few days, so the earth was still sludgy and the skid marks could be seen well. Roy considered to get his car but then decided to borrow a car that was driving past. He dragged the driver out of his car, commended Black Hayate to get in and followed him. The driver was so baffled that he didn't say a word at all.

"Sorry, I'll just borrow it" Roy assured him and followed the skid marks that hopefully didn't overlap with other ones. Maybe he had been a little bit rude to the driver but he was in a hurry after all! Who knew what these kidnappers would do with Riza … The only fact he was sure of was that it wasn't a good sign if they drove her to a forest. Perhaps they wanted to … No, Roy couldn't even think of it. He had to make it in time!

---

Black Hayate! That was the first thought that Riza had as she woke up. She totally had forgotten about him. She hoped he was fine.

She looked down at Tim who was still sleeping in her arms. She smiled. It felt so good to hold him in her arms. She wanted to protect him at all costs. Probably just some of her motherly feelings had come out.

Abruptly the truck stopped but the door wasn't opened. Tim stretched, yawned and rubbed his eyes to shake off the tiredness.

Although the sun shined into the truck as the doors were opened nothing but darkness came inside. The leader of the two kidnappers looked at her with murderous eyes and Riza knew that wasn't good for her and Tim.

"You lied! Neither is this Mustang guy becoming the new Fuhrer nor does he have a wife or a son! So we just have to kill you anyway!"

"W-Wait!" Riza exclaimed.

"Don't you dare to say anything more! You're time's up!" He grabbed her and dragged her out. "You take care of the boy!"

His accomplice nodded and went inside.

"NO!!! Don't touch him!" Riza cried desperately but her kidnapper dragged her further away from the truck towards the forest.

"RIZ!" she could hear Tim screaming.

Tears were running down her face. "Let me go!!!" she shouted and struggled with everything she got but the grasp of the man was too strong. As they arrived at a clearing the man pulled out a gun that he pointed at her. At least she would die by a bullet.

---

Roy drove with full throttle. He didn't care if he was careless; he just wanted to hurry and make it in time. His heart beat hardly in his ribcage as he saw a truck. He could see a giant standing in the loading space. Quickly he got out of his car, slipped his gloves over and flipped with his thumb and his forefinger to set the man on fire. The giant tripped backwards and rolled over the floor to extinguish the fire. Roy pulled out Riza's gun that he had brought with him and pointed it at the man.

This moment a boy with brown hair came out of the truck and sighed. "Phew! That was close! You just made it in time …"

"Who are you, who is this guy and above all: Where's Riza?!" Roy asked concerned.

"I'm Timothy Jones, this is one of the kidnappers who just tried to kill me and the other kidnapper has taken Riz to the forest …" the boy answered. "And you're Roy Mustang, I assume?"

Roy nodded, than he said: "Tie him up with something, hurry!"

The boy ran off to the house that was near and looked for a rope. Soon he came back and tied the giant. Then Roy ordered him to call the police while he ran into the forest to save the only woman that he really loved.

---

"So, do you have a last wish? I don't want to be unfair" the moustache-guy said.

"Yeah, give me that gun and we switch roles" Riza said humourless.

"I'm afraid this wish won't come true. Farewell!"

Riza closed her eyes and waited for the pain. However, nothing happened except for her hearing a scream. She opened her eyes and saw flames that prompted the kidnapper to drop the gun. She knew what this meant and her eyes were filled with tears of joy.

"Don't lay a finger on her or I have to fry you!" Roy exclaimed and clenched his teeth.

"Roy!" Riza called out.

"Here!" He threw something to her.

She noticed that it was her gun and pointed it at the kidnapper. How strong she felt now she had her gun back!

"Guess my wish still came true!" she said grinning.

They waited until the police came to arrest the kidnappers. As they drove away Roy turned to Riza. He seemed angry.

"Never do such bullshit again! You scared me to death as I couldn't find you anywhere!" Roy exclaimed.

"But …"

"No!" he cut her off and embraced her. "If you'll ever get in such a situation again call me or someone else so at least somebody know where you are! But never frighten me again like you did this time!"

"Roy …" Riza murmured.

"I love you far too much to let something happen to you …"

Riza blinked in confusion. "What?" Did he just say that he loved her? No, she must have misheard …

"I love you, Riza …" he repeated.

Riza couldn't decide whether she should laugh or cry so finally it was a mix of both.

"I … love you, too …" she managed to say between sobbing and laughing.

Tim was grinning. "Seems like a happy end, right?"

---

Indeed it was a happy end. Tim described in the police office how the other dealers looked like and soon they were found and thrown into jail.

Fuery had of course won the bet again and had to promise that he never would bet with his friends again, so that their fun of betting wouldn't vanish and they didn't lose all their money to him.

Ironically Roy really became Fuhrer and repealed the fraternization law so that he and Riza could be together without any problems. Surprisingly a few other pairs appeared, for example Denny Bloch and Maria Ross. Roy and Riza moved with Black Hayate into the Fuhrer's villa of course and adopted Timothy who was really glad to have those two as his adoptive parents. So they lived a happy and quiet live … but only in their dreams.

So, what will happen in the epilogue? =p

To be continued ...