Author's note: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or its characters. I know there's technically not a Valentine's Day in the FMA universe, but I couldn't help myself. This contains spoilers for Mustang and Hawkeye's backstory.

Love Changes Everything

She wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do, but Riza didn't know what else she could do. Her father had always been eccentric, but lately, things had been very strange at home. She knew that he had refused to teach the secrets of his flame alchemy to his former student. Riza didn't exactly know why. Of all those who had sought her father's knowledge, Roy Mustang was the only one who had actually earn the right to it in her mind. She trusted Roy and his intentions to use the alchemy to help people.

And that was part of what had prompted her to come here. The other part was fear, and the fact that she didn't know where else to go. She had no family that she knew of, and Riza wasn't even sure she would trust family with this. But she would trust Roy.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Roy Mustang."

The lieutenant at the desk frowned. "Cadet Mustang is out with the others training. You may wait."

Riza took a seat on one of the hard, wooden chairs and waited. She didn't know how long she sat in the uncomfortable chair. There was no clock in the room. So she just sat there. There was no place else for her to go except back to the small hotel room she had, and that was too much like running away. Finally, a grey haired officer entered the office.

"Are you waiting for someone, miss?"

"Cadet Mustang. I was told I should wait here until he came back from training."

He smiled at her. "It'll be awhile longer, I'm afraid. Would you join me for a game of chess? It will help you pass the time."

She agreed, and the next few hours were quite enjoyable. She had needed a distraction rather badly. Still, when the office opened and a familiar voice spoke, Riza found herself on the edge of her seat.

"General Grumman, there was a message about a visitor for me?"

Riza rose from her chair, intending to greet Roy, and found herself sobbing into his shoulder instead. This was so unlike her. Riza Hawkeye did not fall apart in public. But Roy's arms around her made her feel safe, and for the first time in the past week, something seemed right. Roy, for his part, seemed rather startled but didn't press her for details. He just waited until she had calmed down some and politely excused them from General Grumman's office.

"Riza," his voice was soothing. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't ask if anything was wrong. She was thankful for that. Riza had come here intending to tell him everything, but now that she actually had Roy here, she didn't know where to start.

"I needed to see you. Is there some place we can speak privately? It's sort of complicated."

He hugged her. "Sure."

Roy led her out of the office building and off towards a stand of trees and benches near by.

"I meant to write you." The familiarity of his voice was soothing. "I've been accepted to officer training school. It's not quite the same as if I was a State Alchemist, but it's a start."

He took a seat on one of the benches and gestured for her to do the same. "Riza, what's this all about?"

"I brought you my father's research." The words tumbled from her mouth without thought. "If anyone deserves it, you do, and you can't cause more damage with it than he did."

Roy's fingers came up to touch her face. "What happened Riza?"

"Two weeks ago my father asked if he could entrust his research to me. I said yes, of course." She paused, unsure of how to continue. "Afterwards, he seemed to draw into to himself more. And then he started calling me 'Elizabeth'. Even after I cut my hair, he continued to mistake me for her."

And her father had never mistaken her for her late mother before. He hadn't even shown recognition when she corrected him that she was Riza, his daughter. Things had gotten decidedly uncomfortable from there. Her father had been sick for a while, but he had never shown any problems like this before. And he honestly believed her to be his wife.

Roy hands had slipped around hers, and Riza realized she had stopped speaking.

"A few nights ago, something happened. I don't know what set him off, but he was yelling about how he had to destroy his research. That he couldn't let it survive." Riza took a breath. "I knew I couldn't stay there, and I didn't know who else to go to."

He squeezed her hands. "I'm more than willing to help, Riza, but I don't understand about the research. Why are you so afraid of the manuscripts being destroyed?"

She freed a hand to pull back the edge of her collar enough to allow the crimson lines on her back to peek out. "I am the manuscript."

Roy stared at her, shock written across his face, before gathering her up in his arms and holding her tight. And for the second time that day, Riza found herself falling apart. Roy held her, whispering something about how sorry he was and how she wasn't notebook paper. Riza finally pulled away a little.

"I honestly have no idea of what to do, I don't have any other family that I know of, but I wanted you to have a chance to fulfill your dreams." She fiddled with her sleeves. "I have no idea where to go from here."

Roy pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We'll figure something out. Do you have a place to stay?"

Riza nodded. "I have a hotel room for a few days."

"Let me just sign out for weekend leave, and we can grab something to eat and start figuring things out."

They headed back to the base headquarters. Riza found her hand neatly entwined with Roy's the entire way. She'd be lying if she said she minded. Her father might have disapproved of her forming a close attachment to his student, but that hadn't stopped her from doing so anyway. Riza would admit that she cared for Roy as more than just a good friend.

As Roy filled out the paperwork he needed to take the weekend off, Riza found General Grumman watching her.

"Sir?"

He shook his head. "You just remind me of my daughter, that's all. Are you two set for now?"

"Yes, sir." Roy had finished with the paperwork. "I'll be back by Monday."

"Take care then."

Roy once again took her hand, and they headed for the road into town. Riza let out a soft sigh. She had no clue where she was going from here on, but given the way Roy was acting, Riza doubted she would be alone, and that was a comforting thought.