A/N: Thanks to all who followed/favorited/reviewed, and thanks again to bookluver100! The usual disclaimer applies.


The train sped through the countryside, roaring along the tracks as it traveled through miles of empty land. The sun cast shadows of clouds onto the rolling plains below. In the distance, a river wound through the grass. Birds flew in flocks against the afternoon sun. Even though the train zoomed by quickly, the view stayed just as beautiful as it had been for the past few miles.

That morning, when Riza had arrived at the train station, Roy smiled when he saw her. Of course, Riza smiled back, although neither she nor the Colonel made any move to embrace the other. Instead they stood with beside each other as they waited to board the two o'clock train to Resembool, hands clasped and hidden behind their long coats.

When the doors to the train opened, they boarded it together, their footsteps in perfect sync.

Of course, their seats were in the highest class seating area with doors for privacy. As soon as their bags were secured, Roy closed the door and kissed Riza full on the mouth. "I've been wanting to do that since I saw you," he had whispered. Riza smiled and kissed him again.

They had talked for a while after that as the train started moving, mostly about unimportant things, before they drifted off into silence.

Riza's gaze was fixated on the sight beyond the window. Not a word had been said since the train crossed into the open country.

However, the two of them had gradually shifted closer together over the past twenty minutes or so. They had started the train ride a respectful distance away from each other, but Riza couldn't help but subconsciously notice that now, their thighs were almost touching. A small smile crept onto her face.

For the first time in a long time, Riza felt truly comfortable. Comfortable with her situation, with her life. She thought of the man sitting so close to her, of how comfortable she felt around him, and couldn't help but imagine what her life would be like now that they were . . . whatever they were.

With her gaze still fixed on the landscape, Riza swallowed. "Can I ask you a question?" she asked, biting back the instinctive sir that usually followed.

Beside her, she heard the Colonel shift. "Of course. Anything," he replied after a few seconds of silence.

"It's just - we've been through a lot. After all these years, I've finally finished what I had to do," Riza explained. "I don't have anything left."

Her words were not met by a response.

Slowly, Riza lowered her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was soft. "What am I supposed to do now?"

Still Roy said nothing. Riza stared at the seat beside her. While the silence wasn't awkward, it was somewhat empty. She turned her head to look at him.

His expression was sullen, sympathetic. He seemed to scan her with his eyes.

"What do you want to do?" he said finally.

Riza exhaled and broke his gaze. This time, she was the one who remained silent.

"You could stay in the military with me. I haven't given up on being Fuhrer, you know." Roy continued, his tone lightening.

Riza managed to smile softly. She looked down at the floor. "I suppose not," she muttered.

"You should do what makes you happy." Roy told her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. "You deserve it."

Riza sighed. "I want to be happy," she said, leaning into his touch. His hand slid around her back and to her other shoulder. She scooted closer to him as his hold on her became more secure. Relaxing into him, Riza closed her eyes. "I want to help you become Fuhrer."

Roy nodded, but otherwise didn't respond as he traced his fingers up and down the sides of her arm. Riza breathed in deeply. While she did want to see the Colonel as Fuhrer, that wasn't all she wanted. She wanted to be more than just his Lieutenant. Riza was certain there was something more between the two of them than there had been before they kissed, although that thought didn't stop her from worrying about what the future held for their relationship. She had tasted enough of it to know that it was worth holding on to.

One thought in Riza's mind had been more prominent than others for the past few days. Although she had never been one to immediately put labels on things, she couldn't help but wonder about her current situation. She swallowed hard before she asked her question.

"What are we, Roy?" Her voice was much less certain than she would have liked it to be.

The Colonel responded to her question fairly quickly. "What do you mean?"

Riza's eyes met his. "Us. Our relationship," she hesitated. "What is it?"

Roy's brow wrinkled in confusion. He broke their gaze and looked down at his lap. The slow circles he had been drawing on Riza's arm ceased. "I don't know," he admitted at last. "I think I like it, though."

"So do I," Riza agreed. "It's been a while since I've felt this..." Riza's voice trailed off as she tried to search for the word she was looking for. Good? Safe? Comfortable? Loved? Although she felt all of those things, none of them were what she was looking for. Several long seconds passed before the word she was looking for came to Riza.

"Happy," she finished.

Out of the corner of her eye, Riza saw Roy smile. She couldn't help but do the same as she shifted her gaze back to the window. Soon, the lazy spirals of the circles drawn on her arm resumed. Several minutes passed in silence as their focus once again drifted off to the sight of the lush countryside.

Then, suddenly but slowly, the Colonel took a deep breath. The interruption momentarily distracted Riza from the window.

"We could do this," Roy suggested, his tone determined.

"This?" Riza asked. Once again, she turned to meet his gaze.

"You said you wanted to be happy." he replied. "If this makes you happy, then we could give it a try."

When she responded, Riza spoke slowly. "By 'this', you mean us." Roy gave a slight nod.

"Together," she clarified. This time, neither one of them looked away. Another nod.

"Only if you want to." Roy was quick to add.

Of course I want to, she thought. Riza felt the corners of her mouth twitch upwards into a smile.

"I'd like that," she nodded.

The way his eyes lit up when he smiled warmed the depths of Riza's heart, and at that moment she wanted nothing more than to hold him tight and never let go. Roy seemed to sense this. He shifted so that Riza could hug him in a less awkward manner. She wrapped her arms around his torso, leaning her head on top of his shoulder. Once she was settled, Roy encased her in his warm embrace.

As they sat there together in each other's arms, Riza was once again struck with the realization that she never wanted to let go. This time, she let the thought linger in her mind instead of dismissing it. Although the feeling was similar to that which she had felt after the Promised Day, it was also very different. Something about the new feeling was more concrete, more satisfactory. There was something more between the two of them then there had been the first time the idea of not letting him go crossed her mind.

Now, she realized, she didn't have to.