Best Kept Secret
Author: MoonStarDutchess
Chapter 7: Making a Date: Part I
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA
Making a Date
The members of the bridal party lined up the behind the door of the area where the wedding ceremony to take place. Other girls were chatting happily with one another, excited about the events about to take place. Riza was standing beside Gracia, doing one of her main duties as Maid of Honor; she was trying to get the bride to calm down.
Gracia was fidgeting slightly and tapping her feet on the floor, making a clicking sound that was annoying the hell out of Riza. She made a mental note that if she were to act like this during her wedding to have Rebecca, her best friend, sedate her.
"Gracia, calm down," Riza said, "you've been planning this wedding for months."
"Riza! You are used to staying calm in pressure filled situations. You've had sniper training after all!" Gracia replied. She looked own at her feet then quickly looked back up. She looked like she suddenly reached some sort of epiphany. "I've got it!"
"You've got what?" Riza said, taking a step back in surprise at her sudden exclamation of discovery.
"I can take sniper training and then I can face this," she said.
Riza nearly fell over at her declaration. "Gracia, I wouldn't have gone through that if it hadn't been a necessity. Besides, I don't even think Maes would wait for you to do that."
Gracia's looked at her quizzically, the expression causing Riza to chuckle lightly. "Just take a deep breath and remember that you are marrying the man you love in just a few minutes. That is something that you've always wanted right?"
Gracia stared at Riza for a moment then smiled beautifully. "Yes, you are right. Thank you Riza."
Riza nodded and moved to stand in front of her, her back toward Gracia.
"Oh my god! What if I faint," Gracia said fearfully.
Riza sighed and without turning around Riza spoke, "Maes will catch you!"
"What if he misses?"
"Then I'll catch you," Riza said, raising her voice. "Now calm down!" She spoke in such an authoritative voice that Gracia instantly calmed down.
The doors to the ceremony room opened and the bridesmaids began to file inside and gather at the front of the hall.
Riza walked through the door after the bridesmaids and spotted Maes and Roy standing at the front of the room. Her eyes met Roy's and she felt like it was her wedding and for a moment she had to remind herself that it wasn't.
(-)
When Roy saw her walk through that door, he thought he was going to have a heart attack. She was a knockout in that dress. Sure, he saw her in it during the fitting and during the closet incident but in this light really brought out every feature of her body and the dress. Roy wanted to push Maes out of the way and marry Riza right there.
Riza stepped upon the small step at the altar and took her proper place. The wedding march then began to play and everyone stood. Gracia came through the doors; her father was against her marrying a military man so he refused to come. There was no one else she wanted to walk her down the aisle so she chose to walk it on her own.
She looked stunning as she walked down the aisle, her pure white dress shimmering in the gold lights of the hall. She arrived to stand beside Maes and handed Riza her bouquet, before joining hands with the love of her life. Then the ceremony began.
Riza silently recited the justice's words in her head; remember them from when she married Roy years ago. She stared over at him and just by the look he was directing toward her, she knew he was repeating them as well. When the justice said, "You may kiss the bride" Maes smiled widely and kissed Gracia.
When they finally parted, the justice said, "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Maes Hughes." Everyone began clapping and Maes and Gracia were beaming: practically radiating happiness. Maes and Gracia walked out of the ceremony hall and Roy walked over to Riza and extended his arm, as proper conduct. She intertwined her arm with his and he escorted her out of the room.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she replied.
(-)
At the reception, everyone was waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. According to the wedding planner, Maes and Gracia were fifteen minutes later. Roy joked to the room that Maes and Gracia decided to get an early start on the honeymoon, which caused laughter to explode though the reception hall.
Riza was standing with Maria a bit away from the table and chuckled. Riza's smiled changed to a frown when Maria said, "Broch, won the bet."
Riza hated when people bet on things like weddings. "What bet?" she growled.
"The beat he made with Edmund Carnell that Roy would hit on one of the bridesmaids before Maes and Gracia got here."
Riza glanced at Roy who was actively chatting up Marcel. Even though she knew his interests were faked and he felt nothing for the girl, it didn't keep her from getting jealous. She thought she'd prepared herself for the flirting he would no doubt do to keep up appearances, but she was wrong. It hurt her to see him like that.
Denny approached Riza and Maria, grinning widely. "I won! They are going on a date Friday night. The strange thing is, Marcel asked him and he accepted. It was really something else."
Maria started to say something about Riza's frown but Edmund walked up to Denny and slipped him a bit of cash.
"Good call, I thought he'd at least wait a bit first," Edmund said.
"Thanks," Denny replied.
Edmund then turned to Riza and smiled.
"Long time no see beautiful," he said, with a wide smile. Maria and Denny was surprised that anyone would address Riza that way. They looked at Riza and saw her smile at him, once again, causing them to be incredibly surprised. "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to make it to the fitting to speak with you."
Maria leaned over and whispered in Riza's ear, "No fitting yet that tux fits like a glove in all the right places."
Riza chuckled at her friend and then moved to hug Edmund.
"It's good to see you again," she said, when she pulled away.
Edmund was one of a handful of people that Riza was very fond of. He was genuinely a really good guy.
He had been a sniper in Ishbal and they'd spent many nights in front of the campfire speaking about various subjects. He was also the one that gave her an amazing alcohol concoction that helped clear out her throat and relax her.
She was pretty sure that if she hadn't been in love with Roy so much that she would have ended up with him and ended up leaving the military. He'd left directly after the Ishbalian war and now owned the biggest gun making company in Amestris. He once mentioned to her that no matter what he did with them in the past, guns were a love of his and always would be. She agreed wholeheartedly with the statement. Shooting was a release for her as well and something she would always love doing.
Before they could speak further the wedding planner walked into the area and took the microphone where the band was preparing to play.
"Everyone to your proper places please. The bride and groom are coming," she said.
"Shall we go?" Edmund asked Riza, holding out his arm to her like a perfect gentlemen.
"Go for it," Maria whispered in her ear. She really wanted her friend to find a good man and Edmund certainly did match her.
"Certainly," Riza said replied to him and they moved over to the wedding party's table. He guided her to sit across from Roy and Marcia. Edmund pulled his arm away from her and stunned Riza when he pulled out her chair for her to sit before taking a seat himself. Roy never did anything like that for her. In fact, no man ever did.
"Thank you," she said, smiling at him.
"You are welcome," he said.
Roy, who obviously was watching the exchange, was greatly annoyed by the actions. If that Edmund guy was trying to pick up his wife then he was going to be a barbequed groomsman. She was his and any man that tired anything like that would pay dearly.
"That was so sweet!" Marcel exclaimed, snapping Roy out of his thoughts. "I love when guys do that for girls," she said, referring to the way Edmund pulled Riza's chair out for her."
"I was only being a gentleman and being respectful to a beautiful lady," he said.
Riza blushed slightly at the comment. Edmund had always treated her as a lady but he never discriminated against her when they were comrades. He was just about the perfect guy.
She looked over at Roy and chuckled inwardly when she noticed the look on his face. She took pride that she could read him so well. He was incredibly jealous of Edmund and it both amused her and made her furious. Why was he able to flirt and carry on but if someone merely paid her a compliment or showed interest he was ready to jump down the man's throat?
If she were to act that way toward him then he would try to brush it off. Well, she deserved to have a bit of fun too. While obviously, she wanted no relationship with men but she got asked out by male friends a lot but usually turned them down. Why should she be the one staying home when Roy went out? Sure, his stuff was mainly information drops but at the same time he had to keep up that playboy image but wouldn't it be more effective if she went out with friends too. She didn't want to date, it wasn't her thing but going out at times would be fun.
She decided that from now one when she was asked out she would accept on occasion.
Everyone stood and clapped as Maes and Gracia came through the door. Gracia was still in her wedding dress but the long train had been unattached and the veil was no longer on her head. They took their places at the table and everyone sat down again. After Gracia and Maes had their first dance the reception went on in full swing, with people dancing, drinking, laughing, and chatting. After a while it was time for the best man to give his toast to the bride and groom. Roy stood and taped his fork on his glass to get everyone's attention. When the room was quiet, Roy began to speak.
"When Maes first told me about Gracia he acted so loud and crazy that the only thing I wanted to do was belt him in the mouth," Roy began, causing everyone in the room to laugh. "Then, after a while, he talk about her so much that I just began thinking; marry the girl already. He was already a very happy go lucky guy before but after he met Gracia he was impossibly so. It was also around that time that I realized my intense hate for photographs," he said, and everyone made a noise of agreement that caused Maes to laugh.
Roy turned to Gracia. "Gracia, you are a wonderful lady and I am very happy that my best friend found such an amazing woman. Hopefully, now that you two live together, he will stop taking so many photos and attacking me with them. Maybe he'll even get that photo smell off of him."
Gracia laughed and nodded, when Maes looked at her oddly. He really did smell like photo ink.
"You are both examples of what great people are supposed to be. I wish you both the best in your new life together."
Everyone raised their glasses in a toast to the couple. Roy sat down and Marcel gave him a kiss on the cheek before he could pull out of the way. He didn't like it when women did that. He took out his handkerchief and pretended to wipe the sweat off his face. This was a gesture to Riza that he hadn't wanted that to happen.
Unfortunately she didn't see his gesture as she turned to Edmund and began speaking to him about something. He watched as she laughed with him when he made some comment he didn't get to hear because of Marcel's chattering. He knew however, that he didn't like it. She wasn't supposed to be laughing with another man. She was supposed to keep that cold front up in front of people. Roy sighed. He didn't like it at all but he couldn't really do anything about it. He'd be a hypocrite if he brought it up with her. Then, that fact blew out of his mind, it seemed like via his ears, when he heard Edmund's next sentence.
"Riza, I know you love the theater and I have tickets to the new play Ivy Red. Would like to go and see it Friday?"
Roy wanted to leap over the table and strangle the life out of him. He had the nerve to ask her out!
Riza didn't look at Roy, who she knew was fuming underneath his calm exterior. He was going on Friday with Marcel so she would go see that play. She'd been dying to see it for a while and could either, not afford the tickets on her Lieutenant's salary or they would be sold out.
"I would love to see it. I've wanted to see it for a while now," she said.
Roy's heart nearly burst when she accepted the invite. She didn't even take any time to think it over. Plus, why hadn't she told him she wanted to see it. With his connections there he could have gotten her tickets.
Before he could make a comment that he would regret, the bouquet throwing was announced. Riza remained in her chair as all the single women squealed and rushed up to the area. It wasn't really giving away the fact she was already married at all. She just wasn't the type to believe in stupid things like that and everyone there knew it.
"Aren't you going up there?" Edmund joked.
Riza laughed lightly and shook her head. "You know I don't believe in those silly superstitions and customs."
Roy looked at her oddly. Did Riza know Edmund? If she had then she never mentioned him.
As it turned out Riza didn't have to stand or even move an inch. Gracia threw the bouquet over the wannabe brides and it landed directly on Riza's lap. Everyone in the room laughed except Riza who sat looking at the bouquet disbelievingly. Her eyebrow twitched slightly at her stroke of luck.
"Looks like you are the next to get married," Edmund joked.
She glared at him. "Do you want this bouquet shoved down your throat?"
"No thanks, I'm allergic to flowers," he replied, causing her to laugh.
Roy frowned but was once again cut off from saying anything when there was an announcement for the garter throw. Roy didn't bother getting up.
"Aren't you going up there?" Edmund questioned him.
"No, I'm a confirmed bachelor," he lied. "Not interested. How about you?"
"No thanks. I'm not into the idea," he stood and moved his chair out of the direct path of the garter throw.
"Wish I would have thought of that," Riza said. He shot her a smile as she moved out of the way so she wouldn't get beamed. Roy stood to do the same when the garter hit him in the face. It fell and he automatically caught it in his hand.
Riza and Edmund began laughing at him, as did everyone else. Riza suddenly stopped laughing when Maes grabbed the microphone and said, "As per tradition, the man who caught the garter has to slide it up the leg of the woman who caught the bouquet.
"Shit! Goddamn Maes," she muttered. She glared at Edmund when he began laughing and he instantly shut up.
Riza frowned as Maria and Gracia grabbed her and made her sit in a chair in the middle of the dance floor. The groomsmen grabbed Roy but he shrugged them off and acted like he was angry that he had to do such a thing. In reality he rather enjoyed the idea.
He kneeled in front of Riza and grinned lightly as he removed her shoe. He slid the garter up her leg slowly, letting his fingers trail behind the garter and his thumbs rub her skin in small round circles. Everyone was laughing and shouting in amusement. He got the garter in the proper place and quickly brushed something he shouldn't have touched in public, causing her to have to keep herself from jumping.
Roy stood and everyone cheered. Riza stood and started to leave the floor as the music resumed and people began dancing. Before she took two steps, Maes grabbed her hand.
"This is the last dance. It wouldn't be proper if the Maid of Honor didn't' dance with the Best Man," he said and guided her to Roy roughly. She hit against him and stiffened.
"Shall we?" Roy asked, folding one arm around her waist and taking her hand in his. Riza loosened up and nodded as they began the slow dance.
"You haven't said anything to me this entire reception," Roy said.
"You seemed too busy making a date with Marcel.
"Speaking of date, what's with you agreeing to go to the theater with Carnell without asking me?"
Riza looked at him angrily. "What do you mean ask you? I don't recall you asking me if you could go out with Marcel before you accepted. That goes for any other girl for that matter."
"That's different," he said and then realized what a dumb answer that was. Unfortunately, it was the only thing he could think as she glared at him.
"What in the hell is different about it? Just because you are a man? Well you listen here Roy Mustang, there is no difference. I will go out with anyone I want," she growled. "I'm tired of staying home all the time."
"Okay okay, I'm sorry alright?"
"That wasn't sincere," she said.
"Yes it was, I swear," he said, spinning her around once and pulling her even closer. "Really, I am sorry. Just don't let him try anything. You know, don't let him get up your dress or…"
"What!" Riza growled incredulously. "I wouldn't do that and you know it! As for getting up a dress, you putting on that garter is the last time you are getting up my dress for a long time."
She pulled out of his arms as the song ended and stormed away from him, leaving a stunned Roy on the dance floor.
Author's Personal Code: RW 2009
