A/N: This is actually the part 2 of the previous chapter but I just decided to change the title. Hahaha.
Oh anyway, I would just want to correct my mistake from the previous chapter. By the time they were at the reception, I miscalculated the age of the twins. By then, they were supposedly 1 year and a month old. Really sorry!
Btw, even I get to fangirl over my own story. Hahahaha!
More info about the original characters.
Hunter is a black-haired golden brown eyed kid with a normally expressionless face. Yeah he doesn't really react much and can be sometimes cold-hearted. Though he has a very soft spot in his heart for his family but doesn't really show it that much. He only openly shows his admiration and full respect towards Major General Armstrong. He dislikes jokes and sometimes get irritated with his father's idiocy. He is very well-disciplined, quiet and way more mature for his age, which makes him very admirable. His fearsome side could be seen whenever he gets ahold of any kind of firearms. (I kinda based some of his attitudes from my real life type. Only some, ok?)
Amber has blonde hair with black eyes, and is known to be quite the opposite of his twin brother in terms of personality. She is a very cheerful girl with a frightening willpower. She loves her brother more than anything other than her parents. She also loves Roy's fire alchemy lessons, and was said to be a freak for fire. Her fearsome side could only be seen whenever someone hurts her family member or whenever someone puts away her flames.
General and I were walking our twins on the shore. The sky was getting darker by the minute. All four of us changed our clothes as soon as we arrived at the Armstrongs' villa.
"Riza, look!" General pointed at the sand at his feet. "A lot of shells are buried here." He sat down with the twins then dug up the sand to collect the different kinds of shells. I saw Amber gather the tiny shells on her little palm while Hunter grasped a handful of sand and threw it at general's face. "Hey!" He winced and wiped away the sand on his face with his arm. "Hunter, you little..." He grabbed Hunter and stood up then raised him up on the air, spinning around.
I chuckled and picked up Amber from the ground. "Roy, you might make him dizzy, you should stop." I smiled and cuddled Amber.
"Mommy." Amber muttered and held my hair.
"What is it?" I asked her while swaying from left to right.
"Mommy, pwey. [play]" She pleaded.
I looked at her. "You want to play, Amber?" I smiled and stroked her cheek. "Okay let's play."
"Riza, let's go take a dip!" I heard general's voice from afar. I turned my head to his direction and saw him walking farther and deeper into the sea, while carrying his son. "Hunter seems to enjoy it."
I walked slowly to the sea until I stood beside general. Our bodies were half underwater. "Ahh, this is an anti-flame zone." I chuckled. "Look who just got even more useless." I chuckled louder.
General frowned and didn't take his eyes off from the night sky. "I'd rather be a useless flame alchemist, than be a useless father." He said. I saw Hunter reaching his feet down to make contact with the sea. He looked like he wanted to take a dip as well. "Oh, you want to play?" General held Hunter and slowly soaked half his body underwater. Hunter unsurprisingly didn't react but just played with the sea.
I looked at Amber but she was just frowning at her brother. "Amber, what's wrong? You want to play on the water too?" She didn't react. I tried to do the same with her like what general did to Hunter. Once her feet got dipped on the water, she squirmed and whined loudly. I lifted her up and cuddled her again, hushing her. "Baby, what's wrong?" I smoothed her back and she continued to whine.
"Does she have hydrophobia or something?" Asked General.
"Not sure, but it looks like it." I continued to rub Amber's back while she buried her face on my shoulder. "Shh, it's alright, Amber."
"So, it's not just being useless with water, huh? Even fear of water is expressed." General nodded his head in realization. He took Hunter out of the water and carried him again. "Come on, let's go. The twins should rest now. It's getting late for them."
I followed him off back to the villa. We bathed the twins and changed their clothes. We cradled them to sleep while feeding them with their milk bottles. When they dozed off to sleep, we slowly placed them back on the crib so they could sleep better.
I took a bath after General did then directed to the kitchen to make coffee. I sat down on top of the counter and sipped on my mug.
"Riza, are you here?" I heard general enter the kitchen.
"Hmn." I continued to sip.
He found me and smiled. "Oh there you are." He went in front of me and circled his arms around my waist.
I put down my mug on my side and fixed his hair. "Dry your hair fast, Roy. It's chilly in here, you might get sick."
"Don't worry about it." He smiled. I kept a hand on the nape of his neck as I sipped on my coffee again.
We became silent for a while. "The twins are getting bigger now. It feels like just yesterday that I revealed to you that I was pregnant with them." I chuckled and finished my coffee and reached out to the sink to place the mug there.
"Yeah, and it was also on the same day that I proposed to you." He grinned at me. "Then look at us now, we're already on our honeymoon."
"Really now." I said sarcastically.
"Hey, don't tell me it's not." He slitted his eyes playfully at me.
"It's not." I teased him.
"Riza." He sighed.
"Roy." I copied his tone.
He breathed deeply. "What do you say if we visit Hailey's tiny grave sometime?" He said, changing the topic.
"That would be a great idea." I smiled. "We haven't introduced the twins to their older sister yet. Next time, we should."
He tightened his hold around me. "You're right." he smiled. "By the way, speaking about our children, you know I really haven't had much alone time with you ever since Hailey passed and the twins started to grow inside you."
I blinked once. "What are you trying to say?"
He leaned his face closer. "I mean that I just missed having these times and I wanted to make the most out of it." He smirked. "This day is specially for us alone, right? And what's more, we're already married so.." He pressed his lips on mine. "it's not bad to ask for something from my wife, right?"
"I- I don't get you." I muttered on his lips.
"There's no need to explain, Riza." He smiled innocently. Again, he pressed his lips to mine and deepened the kiss. He tightened his hold around me even more then carried me up from the counter. He continued to kiss me while he carried me to the bedroom. He kicked the door behind him to close it shut. After a while, I felt my back make contact with the bed sheets and my body gets pinned down.
He pulled back and gazed down at me. "Do you get it now?" I didn't answer him but instead he kissed me again. He kissed me passionately and slowly while stroking my cheeks. He started to kiss my neck and moved to the other side. I used my right hand to grasp his hair while the other one for cupping his cheek.
After a while, our lips moved in sync. There was nothing more that should be said. It's true that general and I didn't really have that much time together for a very long time now. Taking care of the twins and planning the wedding took up most of our time. I guess what general really wanted wasn't a break.. He wanted me.
"Riza, I love you." He whispered and kissed my mouth while stroking my hair continuously. I felt him tug onto my shirt and slowly lifted it up and take it off of me. He leaned down to kiss my neck to my jaw and even on my shoulder. I heard him catch his breath and kissed my lips. Our breathing became ragged and tired and loud. "I love you very much."
He also took off his shirt then tossed it to the side. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me intimately, slowly then picking up speed. He pulled back a little to gaze down on me. I opened my eyes and looked back up at him. We could hear the rough breathing and panting coming from ourselves, echoing the room. "I need you," he paused. "and I want you." He said seriously.
"I've been yours a long time ago." I replied.
He grunted happily to himself and leaned down to kiss me once more. "You get me." He smirked and chuckled softly.
I slitted my eyes at him. "You idiot, if you go any further, you'll get another child."
He laughed out loud at that. "Is that bad?" He tried to hold in his laughter but he failed. I rolled my eyes. "It doesn't matter, right? As long as I'm with you." He stroked my hair and kissed me intimately.
"You're unbelievable." I muttered. "and weird and a pervert and stupid." I added.
He chuckled. "But you still married this unbelievable and weird pervert stupid man." He kissed my lips once then kissed my neck again. He was really pinning me down. I could feel our chests clash against each other as he continued to plant his kisses on my lips and my neck. I wrapped my arms around his body while he kissed my jawline hungrily, burying his face on my neck.
Suddenly, we heard the babies' loud cries. He pulled back his face a little and shared glances with me. "Roy.." I breathed heavily.
"I know." He pouted his lips and kissed me once more. "Tch. Wrong timing, kids." He sighed and sat down carefully and reach for his shirt. He then opened the door and walked fast towards the room where the twins were sleeping.
I reached for my shirt as well and rubbed my eyes. I switched on the night lights and sighed heavily.
"Sweetheart?" I head general call from the other room. What? Was he pertaining to me?
"What is it?" I replied.
"I need your help." He said. I went over to the other room and found our twins both still crying and carried by general on either of his arms. The twins were leaning their heads on his shoulders, still crying as he swayed from left to right hushing them softly.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" I murmured and took Hunter from his arm. I snuggled Hunter while placing a light hand on the back of his head, pulling him closer to me. Hunter and Amber continued to cry endlessly. I kissed Hunter's forehead and went to the kitchen to get a milk bottle. General also did the same thing.
"I wonder why they suddenly cried." He sighed, very worried. He cradled Amber and fed her some milk. "Even Hunter cried."
Hunter circled his arms around my neck and continued to sob. "Shh, I'm here, baby. Mommy's here." I soothed him and rubbed his back. I cradled Hunter and fed him some milk as well.
I saw Amber look up to General and stopped crying. She was just concentrated on drinking her milk. General wiped her tears and kissed her forehead. "Are you kids just hungry or something?" He frowned. "No, Hunter doesn't really react to that that much.."
"Maybe they realized we were gone so they cried." I said.
He chuckled to himself. "Pretty clingy children, are we?"
I smiled and looked down at Hunter. He reached out a hand and held my cheek. I snuggled him again and he held onto his milk bottle on his own as he leaned his head on my shoulder and wrapped an arm around my neck. "Roy, let's let them sleep beside us for today." I muttered.
General scowled at me. "Ehhh, baby.." He groaned. "This is the only night that I can take you for myself. Don't tell me I still won't have this chance even at our own honeymoon." He complained.
I sighed. "I know, but.." I paused. "But, what are we going to do if ever the twins would cry again?"
General came up to me and pouted his lips. "Sweetheart, please grant my wish just for today." He pleaded.
"Roy, normally I would just agree but I'm worried about the kids." I breathed heavily. He held Amber with one arm while his other hand reached for my cheek. He leaned closer to kiss my lips.
"Fine. But if the twins doze off to sleep again, can I?"
"You're pretty desperate, aren't you?" I raised my eyebrows. He stroked my cheek with his thumb. "Fine." I sighed. "But if the twins cry once more, they'll be sleeping beside us again."
The corners of his lips curved up. "Okay, deal." He looked at his children. "You hear that, kids? I can't be with your mommy if you just cry. This night is actually a very important night for me, as well as the rest of the week. So, please just let me have it my way just for once."
I shook my head in awe. I patted Hunter's back lightly and swayed from side to side. I could hear the light breathing and snoring of Hunter as he slept soundly on my shoulder. "Hunter's already snoring." I chuckled lightly.
General looked down at Amber who was drinking milk with her eyes closed. "This little girl still is halfway asleep." He looked at me. "Let's put them back now."
"You seriously can't wait, don't you?" I raised an eyebrow playfully. We went back to the twins' room and carefully placed them back on their cribs. We both kissed them good night and directed back to our room.
I closed the door behind me and lied down on the bed under the sheets. He lied down beside me and locked me in his arms then kissed my forehead. "I love you." He sighed.
"Ne, Roy.." I said. "If Hailey survived before, then we should probably have three children by now, meaning we have three times the problem and stress. Look, I know you promised me a family but how big is the family that you're thinking about?" I chuckled softly.
"Are you testing me?" He asked curiously. "Of course, I'll give you anything you want so.. If you want a big family, I'll give it to you."
"Ahhh." I nodded in realization.
He leaned on his side and looked at me. "Why, is that really a test?" His face was smug.
"Nope. I was just curious."
"Then.. Shall I continue my promise?" He smirked at me. "You know, even before we get interrupted again."
My heart beat suddenly stopped. "Are you serious?" My voice cracked as I chuckled very softly.
He lifted a hand to stroke my hair. "Sweetheart, it is our honeymoon, right?" He leaned down to kiss my lips lightly.
"Right." I replied monotonously. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me passionately. He placed his body over mine and continued to kiss me.
We continued to make love under the bright moonlight. After some minutes, he rolled to his side and hugged me from behind under the sheets.
"Hmm, it seems like the twins have already slept." He panted on my ear.
"Yeah. We should too." I replied.
He buried his face on my hair and kissed it. "Good night." He muttered. "I love you."
I couldn't help but think about our family right now. My twins.. Hailey... Roy.. I want to be with them forever.. General wanted to keep his promise, but having them is already enough.
I suddenly found myself back to a nostalgic place. I know I've been here before, but I just can't remember when..
"Huh? Where am I?" I said to myself and turned around to scan the place. The place made my insides churn.
"Riza? Is that you?" I heard general's voice from behind. I looked over my shoulder to see him.
"Roy!" I came up to him and hugged him. "Why are you also here?"
He returned my embrace and lifted a hand to stroke my hair. "I actually don't know myself. The last thing I knew was I was sleeping, then when I woke up I'm already here." He looked at the stream by his right. "And.. Where are we anyway?"
I hesitated. I also didn't know.. "Uh.." I gasped. I looked at the stream, I looked at the grass, I looked at the flowers, I looked at the whole scene. Yes, I've really been here before! "Roy," I said excitedly. "This is where I met Hailey."
"Eh?!" He looked at me with wide eyes. "So, we're in a conjoined dream or something?"
"I guess." I sighed and pulled away from him. He took my hand and intwined it with his. I lead him around and told him about the place while waiting for Hailey. "And this is where I saw Hailey. Then she came up to me." I recalled.
"But where is she now?" He asked.
"I'm here." We jumped and turned around to see a little girl in a pretty white dress smiling at us. My heart ached so hard. I sat down carefully and opened my arms slowly to her. She threw her body in my arms and I hugged her tight. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer, I sobbed hard.
"Hailey, I missed you." I sobbed again. "But.. You haven't grown ever since we met."
She pulled back to wipe away the tears on my face. "That doesn't matter." She said. "I missed you too, mommy." She smiled angelically. "I have waited for you for so long.." Her smile turned to a frown.
I held her face in my hands. "Well, I'm here now, Hailey." I muttered. "Look, daddy's here too." We both looked up to general. I stood up and carried Hailey so I could put her in his arms.
General was just staring at her. Hailey smiled at him and touched his face lightly with her hands. "Daddy." She grinned bigger. "I knew you'd come back for me." General suddenly furrowed his eyebrows and hugged Hailey. I knew it, he also couldn't hold back his cries.
"Hailey," He sniffed and looked at Hailey. "I'm so glad to see you." He stroked her hair. "You look just like your mother and your baby sister."
"Sister? You mean Amber?" She asked. We looked at her in confusion. "I also have a baby brother, right?" She smiled innocently. "I visit them in their dreams quite often too."
General and I shared glances. "Mommy, daddy, it's been so long.. And I know it was just for a while but, I'm so glad to have met you once again." I went up to them and we all hugged one another. "It's time for me to go." She pouted her lips. "I love you." She whispered as a tear fell down her eye. She then got dragged away from us and dissolved into the horizon like what happened before.
I gasped and panted loudly as I sat down on the bed. I looked outside the window to see the sun shining down brightly. I buried my face in my hands and tried to calm myself. Hailey... It's hard to let you go.. I let out some soft sobs and closed my eyes shut.
"Sweetheart?" I heard general whisper beside me. "Baby, what's wrong?" he sat down and hugged me. He rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head.
"Hailey.." I said softly.
"Ah- Riza, I had a dream about Hailey last night and-" he stopped. ".. You were there too, right?"
I nodded my head. "She was still the same like she was before when I met her there. Although she kinda matured a bit."
He chuckled softly. "Her body is a child's, while her mind's an adult's. You were right, Riza. She really was beautiful." He smiled. "Next to you." He smiled bigger.
Suddenly we heard the kids' cries again. "Not again." He sighed tiredly. I got out from his arms and reached and slid on my shirt and directed to the twins' room.
General followed behind me as I took Amber while he took Hunter.
"Mommy," Amber cried louder and circled her arms around my neck. I frowned and patted her back. "Misshoo. [Miss you]" She cried and sniffed and sobbed.
"I miss you too." I whispered and hushed her softly. I looked at General who was carrying Hunter in his arms quietly. Hunter was just clinging on to General's shirt. Probably he just stopped crying when he got carried by his father. I smiled to myself at that.
We heard general's phone ring. He went to the other room to get it. I followed behind him out of curiosity.
He answered it. "Hello?... Yes, it's okay... What, what's with him?... ... ... WHAT?!" I winced. "... ... Yeah, I-I'll report back to Central as soon as possible." He sighed and ended the call.
"Roy?" I muttered. "Roy, what happened?" I tightened my hold around Amber.
"Führer Grumman.. He.." He closed his eyes tightly. "He.. Passed away last night."
I froze. "Wha-.. What are you saying?" My voice shook a bit.
"He even left a dying message on a piece of paper. It said there that he'll gladly appoint me as the new führer, and may his granddaughter have a good life. The same goes for Amestris and everyone." He lowered his head.
Hunter pulled back to look at his father. "Daddy, you okay?" He lifted a hand to pat his face.
General smiled sadly at him. "Yes.. I'm okay, son." He sighed and stroked his hair. "I'm okay.. I'm okay.." He hugged Hunter and buried his face on his shoulder. Clearly he wasn't okay.
He looked up to me. "Riza, we have to report back to Central as soon as possible. But, I actually wanted to stay here with all of you. And also, it's still our honeymoon."
"What do you want to do?" I asked him blankly.
"We'll just have to go back for a while." He sighed and went up to me to stroke my cheek. "I promise we'll continue this next time, okay?" He pressed his lips to mine. "It won't take long."
"Sure." I replied half-heartedly. Okay fine, it's better this way isn't it? I'm going back to work. It's better than lazing around for a whole week.
"Ugh. Work. Yet again." General groaned and rolled his eyes. "To think that it even interfered on my most precious vacation."
I smiled a little at him. "Please don't slack off."
Two losses in a day.. Hailey was pulled away from me again.. My grandfather passed away.. What is there to really smile about? But, I'm strong. Riza, you're strong. You're a warrior. You're a soldier. You're strong. You must let go. You must move on.
"Let's go." He said and we both packed up our stuff.
A/N: I'm sorry if this one's not as long as the other chapters. I'm quite busy with school so I'm losing time to update! :( Also, please leave reviews about what you think about the story so far, and if you also have suggestions on what to happen next. :) Lastly, if you want me to continue the story, please let me know. And if you want it to end sooner (:(), please let me know as well. Thank you!
P.S. I'm sorry if this chapter doesn't really contain much. I'll make up to it on the next chapter! Please look forward to when the Mustang family hogs the spotlight in a battle/war. (Gah, spoiler) Though I'm not sure what chapter it will appear.
