Hello, sorry for the long delay, life's been complicated and high school isn't making it easier either. Finally, here's the new chapter! Enjoy it:)))

Chapter 10

Every king needs a queen by his side

Riza couldn't sleep the whole night due to the previous events with Kimblee. Every time she fell asleep she was seeing herself being stabbed and Roy being shot. She hoped those nightmares wouldn't continue every night. When the sun shines crept into her room she could finally fall asleep and sleep deeply.

When she opened her eyes and looked at the clock on the wall she noticed it was two o'clock pm. How could that happen?! She was supposed to go out with Roy at one o'clock. She jumped out from the bed not knowing what to do first. She grabbed a brush and looked at herself in the mirror.

Why was she so excited to see him?

Roy arrived at the Fuhrer's mansion one hour ago and the old man informed him that Riza was still sleeping. It was natural after all that had happened. The Fuhrer was certainly in a good mood as he asked Roy to play chess with him.

"I am not that good, sir."

"No worries, Roy. It's a long time since I last played it myself, so we can both say we aren't that good." Grumman said and placed a chessboard on his desk. He accepted and wondered what would happen if he won a game against the Fuhrer. Grumman inspected Roy's strategies that impressed him. The only thing that stopped him from winning was the fact that he wasn't focused at all. "You know, Roy, my soldiers told me about how calm you've been during the mission, even though you've found out things that personally myself I didn't know, I hope you know that." He answered referring to the fact that one of his former soldiers, Kimblee senior, murdered Roy's parents.

Grumman moved a pawn. Was the Fuhrer blaming himself for what had happened to his parents?

"Of course, sir. I wouldn't say I was very calm…" I was really on the edge, he thought and moved his glance back to the board.

"You know, not many of us resist under the pressure that well. Don't look at me like that, that's what my soldiers told me. And they also mentioned something about the strategies you created in the train for rescuing Riza." Roy moved the rook and took Fuhrer's pawn.

"Still, we both ended up hurt. What can I say? I can make better plans than that."

"Wait a second, boy, it could have been much worse. You are both alive and that's all that matters. You know, I was wondering if you have any intention of joining the military in the future. You are smart and young…"

Roy's rook fell into the trap and Grumman took it using a bishop.

"I thought about becoming a State Alchemist, but I'm not sure if I want to join the Military Academy."

"It would certainly suit you, Roy. Before becoming a State Alchemist you should enroll yourself in the military. It's only four years. After that, aside from becoming a State Alchemist you can advance in military ranks and you know, the income isn't very low either." Grumman explained and shrugged innocently.

Roy looked at the chessboard. He looked at the king and for a second who could see himself in its place. Defended by every piece of chess on the board. Commanding every strategy. Protecting a whole country. Looking at the other pieces he realized that the easiest way to win at chess was not to sacrifice many of them. When you had a great team by your side, the victory was simply to achieve.

Yet, aside from a good team, there was the piece that valued more than the others. The Queen. If you lose the queen, the game was already over. Every king needs a queen by his side, so he placed a pawn in front of her to protect her for any eventual attack.

"I will really think about it. Thank you for the offer, sir."

"Thank me later, now, now, you are really defending that queen, aren't you? You sacrificed every piece of chess on the table for it."

"I cannot win the game without the queen."

"You indeed have interesting strategies."

Roy grinned and the office's door opened behind him. A smiley Riza entered.

"Speaking of the queen." Grumman whispered to Roy and cleared his throat. Certainly, the Fuhrer was as mysterious as his granddaughter.

"Good morning everyone."

"'morning." Roy and the Fuhrer answered still focused on the game. Riza looked over Roy's shoulder at the chessboard.

"Who's the next to move?"

"Me." Roy answered and squeezed his eyes trying to think about the best way to end the game. In that moment, Riza picked up his queen and moved it.

"Checkmate, grandpa." She said proudly and smiled.

"What?" Roy said both annoyed and amazed while Grumman chuckled.

"After all, Roy, you knew what you were saying about the queen." For a second Roy wondered if The Fuhrer was talking about the piece or about Riza.

"That wasn't fair, Hawkeye! You didn't tell me you knew how to play chess." He added and crossed his arms over his chest. "Very well, Riza." The Fuhrer commented. "Have you been sleeping the whole time?"

"Yes…until one half an hour ago. A butler told me you were discussing a very important matter with Roy so I decided to come here after I had eaten. I suppose chess is a very important matter after all."

"Oh well, I didn't notice that the time passed so quickly. I would have freed Roy earlier, but I really wanted to see him winning the game." "Next time I'll win without Riza's help, sir. Thank you for a good game." Roy said and they both shook hands.

"Have fun you two, and Roy, don't forget to think about what I've told you." Grumman said and winked. They went downstairs and got out of the house walking through the garden to reach the gate.

"What was he talking about?" Riza asked blinking fast and looking at Roy.

"Umm, nothing important." He shrugged showing her a guilty smile. He couldn't tell Riza about the military. He wasn't sure about what he wanted to do and what if she hated the military as much as her father? Sure, she loved guns, but still…

"Okay, don't tell me, but at least tell me where we are heading to." She said, and stopped in front of him with her arms crossed.

"Hawkeye, don't be such a fussy kiddo. Only I can be a fussy kiddo." He chuckled and put his hands on her shoulders. She rolled her eyes and continued to walk by his side.

"I am not a fussy kiddo, Mustang." She said trying to keep a serious voice, but she couldn't help and rolled her eyes amused. She adored his laughter, it was always so contagious that it could make even her, who was a serious person, laugh aloud for the stupidest things.

"Well, I told you it's a surprise."

"I bet you're actually afraid I'll say 'no' if you tell me."

"No, it's not like that. Okay, maybe a bit. Okay, maybe a little more than a bit." He admitted and ruffled his hair.

"I know you way too well…" she said and sighed. She should let him play his game. What could be that bad?

"I swear this is the last time I let you surprise me! Ahh!" She yelped as she clung to his scarf, her legs slipping helplessly on the ice. Roy brought her to the skating rink from the Central Park. She thought he would have given up on the idea after she told him she had no idea how to skate. But she had been wrong…

"Hawkeye, if you drag me down, I hope you realize you'll fall down too." He was grinning in his superior way trying to tease and annoy her. Finally, helped by him, she managed to stand on two legs on eyes.

"I did it!" She said proud of herself and tried not to lose her balance. "Now what?"

"Well, now you are supposed to move your legs."

"Wait, no. If I move them I will fall. I barely managed to stay like this." She said trying not to gesture too much as she was afraid to lose her balance. He skated near her and wrapped an arm around her waist, her body pressing against his.

"I won't let you fall." He assured her.

"This is crazy…" She murmured while trying to step on the ice.

"Hey, you trust me, don't you?" He asked and for a second their eyes met.

"Of course." She closed her eyes and when she saw that she didn't fall, she stepped again.

"See? I knew you could do it. And you were like: 'oh no, I'll fall, ah Mustang, you're crazy!'" He said imitating her on a high pitched voice.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Quite a lot." He said and smirked.

After half of an hour she was surer on herself and wasn't so worried she might fall. She was learning fast. Roy decided to let go of her waist. Bad idea. She squeaked and clung to his coat's collar. He lost his balance too and they both fell on the cold ice.

"Good job, Hawkeye." He said as he was trying to help her get up. "I hope you are okay. I actually can't believe you survived to Kimblee but you managed to make us both fall on ice."

She shrugged and smiled a little shook by the previous fall. She wasn't annoyed. She was feeling quite good because she made him fall too. That was her revenge. But after all, his idea hadn't been bad at all. They had really had fun and laughed a lot. With Roy by her side, everything was becoming funny. And he had really looked after her on the rink.

She wondered what other people thought of them. Surely they looked like a couple, but they both didn't care. After they got out of the rink they started to walk on the park's alleys.

"Thanks' for trying to teach me how to skate. I've had fun. Sorry for yelling many things." She said and blushed. He answered with a laughter.

"What? What's so funny about that?"

"You. You looked so funny. It was very captivating to take care of you."

She rolled her eyes and hit him playfully in the arm. Again, she actually enjoyed his laughter, but she knew that on the rink she looked insecure. And she hated to look like that, especially in front of him. Roy suddenly became serious and his face paled. He sighed. He wished the earth could swallow him.

"Anticipated sorry for what's about to happen."

Riza frowned confused and saw a girl running in their direction. The person hugged Roy tightly, wrapping one of her legs around him.

"Ah, my sweetie peach, you returned and didn't tell me. I missed you so so so much!" She squeaked and crashed her lips against Roy's. He pulled apart a little shaken while Riza tried to mask her sudden shock. She didn't know why she felt a sudden urge to close her eyes and forget what just happened.

Another two girls came after the first one. Riza guessed they were the first one's friends.

"Uh, Ann, well, I missed you too, but…" Roy tried awkwardly to stop the conversation.

"C'mon Roy, we both suffered so much last month. Being apart isn't beneficial for our relationship." She said and finally broke the hug. Riza gulped at the term of 'relationship'. Roy hadn't told her about this. Well, it wasn't her business, but still. Again, why was she feeling so affected?

"Ann, last time I checked we didn't have a relationship. Remember? You said that we should break up because I didn't know my priorities." He tried to explain so Riza could understand as well what was happening.

"Oh, babe, it was only a break for us, that's all. And I see you gave up on that stupid alchemy, anyway,"

"I didn't give up and I didn't think about it as a break, Ann." Roy said frowning. One of the other two girls started to speak. "That's what you said to Miranda and also to Jen."

"Oh, and to Erika." The other girl added. Riza arched an eyebrow. All those girls had been Roy's girlfriends? That was impressive. But he was a handsome boy so everything was possible, Riza thought. Wait no, he wasn't handsome. Nope.

"Well, that's because I don't consider a break up as a pause."

"Well, we'll discuss this subject any other time." She said and moved her gaze to Riza. "A little advice? Be careful, he changes girlfriends monthly."

For the first time, Riza wished to have the gun with her. This Ann was very annoying. She didn't like what she said about Roy. He wasn't the type for sure. "Ann, you'd better go. I'm sure Riza doesn't want to hear anything about my love life. It's over." Ann crossed her arms and before she left she shot a deadly glare to Riza.

"Oh, trust me, it's not.".

An awkward silence remained between Roy and Riza. He ruffled his hair and feeling guilty he started to explain.

"After I told her I was going to study Alchemy in East she told me that she should be my first priority and that if I leave she would break up with me. I know I've had many girlfriends, but, please, don't judge me. This thing with studying away from home made me more mature."

Riza couldn't help but wonder why was he apologizing to her and why was he giving her all those explanations? Was he afraid that she had a different opinion about him now? Then he was damn wrong, a girl like Ann couldn't possibly change the way she saw him.

"Don't worry, it doesn't matter. I mean, I'm sure you've had good reasons to give up on your other relationships either. I'm not good at this kind of things…love is not really my domain. But if there's a thing I'm certain of, it's the fact that you will find the perfect person one day." She assured him and blushed. Her words made him feel better, as he grinned and looked at her.

"You know, you aren't too bad as a consoler. You really know what to say when someone's feeling down."

"I guess I learned that from you. So where are we going now?" She asked trying to change the topic.

"Well, you have two options and I'll be extremely happy if you choose the first one. We can walk back to the Fuhrer's mansion where you can let me braid your hair, or, we can go to my Aunt's pub. Izumi told her about you and well, now everyone wants to meet you."

The first option sounded tempting, but she was curious to meet Roy's family either. Why would want everyone to meet her? "I choose…to meet your family." She said and grinned mischievously.

"Oh. Great. Let me instruct you first, so you'll be prepared. Izumi invented things. Lots of things. So everyone from my aunt's bar thinks that we are…you know…more than friends. They will make us feel awkward so you can still choose the first option."

"Aww, Izumi is so lovely. Don't worry, we will be fine. They'll see with their own eyes that we are not a couple."

Roy sighed. Izumi wouldn't see something different from what she wanted to believe. But how could he say 'no' to Riza after she saw Ann kissing him? Wait, wait, he shouldn't feel guilty for this.

"I swear, you can be so stubborn sometimes, Hawkeye…"

They walked on some paths through some blocks and finally found the bar's entrance. "We can still go back, Hawkeye. It's your decision." She shook her head as he opened the pub's door. It was quite empty as it was still early and it was only Thursday.

"They've come!" They could hear Izumi's voice shouting from the upper level. Roy pressed his palm against his forehead as Izumi hugged Riza, nearly making her fall down. A middle-aged woman came from upstairs and introduced herself as Roy and Izumi's aunt. Roy had still a concerned face as he could feel his sister was planning something. And that wasn't good.

"You really are as lovely as Izumi said."

"Thank you, ma'am. Roy told me many nice things about you either."

"Okay, auntie, now that you've seen Riza, we can leave…"

"Don't be a moron." Izumi said. "You've had her for the whole day. Share her with us." The other girls supported Izumi and started to nod. Riza liked everyone because no one in her life had ever been so happy to see her. Roy decided that while Izumi and the other girls were talking to Riza, he could have a drink. He needed that.

"Where do you think you're going?" Izumi asked as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm thirsty." Roy said sincerely. He hadn't drunk anything in days and now that he was at his aunt's pub, he couldn't throw away the chance.

"Don't be silly, moron and come here." She said as she started to push him near Riza. God, his sister has always been so strong. What was happening? What was Izumi planning? He started to worry as he was being dragged near Riza. She gave him a questioning look, while he answered her with an I-told-you-something-is-happening glance.

"Now, everyone a step back from them." Izumi ordered to the girls. She had a wide smile spread on her face. Everyone did as she said and Roy wanted to ask what was happening, but Izumi made a falsely-amazed face and said:

"Look, everyone, they are standing under mistletoe."