Chapter 4
It was only the slight patter of the rain on the balcony outside that kept her awake. Her eyes were kept open, staring at the ceiling. Ever since they arrived in Xing, she couldn't help but feel that Roy had an ulterior motive for suggesting this place. She well knew that her grandfather wanted to get them together, and that Roy wanted to really ask her out, but, it just feels more than that.
Frustrated, Riza flipped to the other side, looking out of the balcony's glass door, watching the droplets fall on the floor. The sound of the rain served no longer as a disturbance as compared to the thoughts on her mind, they now turned into a lullaby. With a last sigh, she drifted to sleep.
When her eyes opened, Riza found herself in a very different world. All around was white, and there seemed to be no end to this whiteness. She stood up, and looked around her. Her sniper abilities were now activated, her sensitive ears picked up every bit of sound, and her eyes were looking in available directions for any incoming people.
"Riza," a voice said, "my child."
A figure materialised before her, making her hold a strong, defensive stance. Riza was in for a shock when she realised that who was in front of her.
"Mother?" She gasped.
"You've grown well, my child, even without us."
Right in front of her was her mother, and right behind her, another figure was materializing as well, which seemed, to be her father.
"Father?"
"My child," he spoke, "we're so happy to be able to see you again."
"This is a dream, is it not?" Riza exclaimed.
"A dream or not, it doesn't matter," her mother said.
"Mother," Riza walked to her mother slowly, and gave her a hug, "I missed you."
Her father walked to beside them, and gave Riza a pat at the back, and smiled a smile that she'd never once saw. Her parents seem to be so glad, so happy, so peaceful.
"Never thought you'd join the army," her father exclaimed with a frown.
"I'm sorry," Riza answered, "I had to."
"I just knew that you'd join that stupid apprentice of mine."
"That Roy Mustang that you've talked about?" Her mother asked.
"Yes, it now seems that our daughter's intelligence has failed her," he laughed.
"Father!"
"Well, you showed that boy my secret, and furthermore, you've join him in the military, and is working under him directly," he frowned, "you know just how much I don't like the military?"
"Forget the past, isn't our child just so happy now?"
"If she didn't go to the military, and instead use her degree to get some decent job, she'd had gotten married long time ago!" He exclaimed.
At the slight mention of marriage made her sigh, she'd never much bothered about marriage, even if children could be nice.
"Aren't she and Mustang together now?" her mother asked.
"Apparently your daughter just won't admit to her feelings."
"My daughter? Isn't she yours as well?"
"It's the same. Your father's tricks to get them together doesn't seem to be working that well."
"His tricks never work. Only if we were still alive, we could had long gotten them together."
"Only if-"
"Are you two forgetting about my presence?" Riza cut her father mid-sentence, apparently pissed at both of them.
"Calm down, my child," her mother started, "what me and your father wants to say, is that you should just simply accept his feelings. In return bring joy to both of you, to us, and your grandfather."
"But mothe-"
"This evening," she whispered, "just give into your feelings and emotions..."
After she finished, both figures of her parents disappeared, and darkness took over.
Riza woke up with the sun shining brightly at her eyes. The words from the dream were just stuck in her head, bringing more headache and annoyance.
The closed door instantly flew open the minute she shifted her eyes to the door. Roy just suddenly jumped into the room, grinning widely at her, making her feel very disturbed indeed.
"Riza!" He exclaimed.
"You should try knocking next time."
"Whoops," he continued to grin, "come on, get changed, breakfast is getting served in 30 minutes."
"Get out of the room."
"Why?"
"Are you forgetting something?" Riza walked over her bags and grabbed some casual clothes, then waved them at him.
"I'd wait here, I promise I won't look," Roy exclaimed in glee.
"Get out."
"I won't loo-"
"Out."
"Fine, fine…"
Roy walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him, leaning against the wall beside the door, the grin inerasable from his face.
20 minutes later, she walked out of the room, in a sleeveless casual dress, much to his delight.
"Let's go."
The whole morning and afternoon was spent in the palace, as Roy finishes up some administrative matters with a few ministers.
"Let's go out for dinner later," Roy suggested.
"Where would you suggest?" She asked.
"I'd drive later, it's a surprise," he said, "after dinner, we'd go to the station, so change into some slightly more formal wear."
"Yes sir, so I'd go pack up now?"
"I'd be waiting in the car outside the main gate, I should be easy to spot."
"So what's this place you're talking about?" Riza asked, looking at the street lights as they whizzed by.
"The best western cuisine restaurant in the city."
"So we came to the East for the West?" Riza chuckled.
"Here we are," he said, then opening the car door and going over to her side.
"Felicità Cucina," she said, reading the signboard.
Within a minute, they were seated in the restaurant, served by the manager himself. Just in that minute, food was served, puzzling Riza, as she did not even receive any menu.
"I know what you like," Roy smiled.
"You planned all these?" She asked.
"Well," he grinned sheepishly, "kinda."
Riza quietly sliced a piece of salmon and put it into her mouth, then gave a satisfied smile.
Roy simply worked on his steak, and couldn't wipe that grin off his face. After the main course was finished, desert was served, and a violinist walked to the table and started playing.
"I believe I could play better," Roy chuckled as he took a sip off his red wine.
"Stay with the piano, Roy," she joked.
"If you say so."
Roy signalled for the manager after the violinist finished his tune, whispering something into his ear.
A minute after the manager left, he reappeared with a trolley, with champange and two glasses.
"The finest champange in our restaurant," the manager smiled warmly at them as he poured the drink into the glasses.
"Take a sip," Roy suggested, after the manager left, "you might love it."
Riza held up the glass, spotting the band in the drink, at the bottom of the glass.
"Well... I decided to let the champange do the work..."
"I'd prefer wearing a ring, that isn't soaked in champange for a few minutes," she noted cooly.
Roy took the glass from her hand, and with his clean fork, tried to fish the ring out. With the napkin, Roy dried the ring, and went on his knee.
"Riza Hawkeye," he started, "would you marry me?"
The flashbacks of her dream filled her mind.
Just give into your feelings and emotions…
Riza's open mouth curved into a smile, and pulled him up from the ground. Roy quickly pulled her into a tight embrace, and a passionate kiss, slipping the ring into her finger afterwards. Their actions had made the the rest of the customers and stuff int he restaurant clap for them.
"How did your vacation go, my child?" The fuhrer asked.
"I'm getting married," Riza replied.
"WHAT?"
Grumman's simply smiled at his granddaughter, happy that he could finally think of retiring as the Fuhrer and pass on the position to his new grandson-in-law.
Fin
A/N: Yep, that's the end :) Thank you for reading this story, and please look forward to my next. ^^