Okay, I know this was delayed too, and I'm sorry. But I made a nice long one for you guys to make up for the inconsistencies! Yay! Okay, well, there's a butt-load of fluff in this chapter so…have fun with it! Lol, thanks for all the reviews and PMs, again you guys, it's all really nice and greatly appreciated. So keep enjoying, and I hope you guys like your latest chapter…

Roy wrote and studied the papers and books like the devil was on his heal. He was eagerly awaiting his date with Riza. When he thought about it, he never really remembered his years at Riza's house. Well…he remembered them, but he never recalled that quickened pacing of his heart when she was near, and he hadn't remembered all of those things he had done, those things he had said.

That worried him, for he knew he had gone to the festival with her in the past before that woman Elians threw him in to tamper with it. He was frightened at this feeling of déjà vu, perhaps…he had already done this…perhaps he had 'already' been in the past and all of time was just one big, never-ending circle.

Roy shook his head, trying to chase away the infinite chain of repetitive thoughts that were bound to linger. The moment he shook his head, though, he realized he had finished his work. He stood from his desk and ran off upstairs. He approached Riza's father and explained how he was finished and how he wished for some time to relax. Little did the father know, by relax, he meant spend a special evening with a certain blonde beauty at a festival.

The father let him go and Roy bowed to him in thanks and rushed to his room to change. He swiftly showered and switched into clean clothes. He slicked his hair back and nearly danced down the stairs like a movie star. He waited at the closed front door until the beautiful, made-up Riza came down the stairs. As graceful as a ballerina dancing point across clouds, she floated down to him in her white peasant dress.

She walked up to him, a bashful fluster in her cheeks, lifted with her smile.

"Afternoon, Roy."

"Afternoon, Ms. Riza." He replied

He slipped his hand under hers that hung by her waist and asked, "So…shall we go?"

She blushed more deeply at his touch and glanced from her hand to his gaze before telling him, "Yeah…"

He beamed; he could nearly feel the rapid beating of her heart at his simple touch. He stopped himself then…realizing his heart was beating just as fast. He tightened his grip on her hand. It was disgusted with himself suddenly. He realized that he was exactly how feminists described men. That all they need is food, sex and sleep. He felt that disgust rise in him for he felt that all he wanted was to hold her, to touch her some way.

It was such a desperate cry for her body within him, that it took all the fibers in his body to keep from turning over and pulling her to him in an embrace. He found a reason to try to take his mind off of the inward fighting when he saw Koji and Mamiko waiting for them at the top of the hill. It was clear that Koji would have much rather been going on a date with Riza, but was stuck with her friend.

Roy was proud to be walking around with the purest, most beautiful, timid, kind-hearted girl in that town. He could've had a million dollars in his pocket and not know the happiness and pride he had now. He looked to her thick lips hanging off of her like a perfect portrait from a castle wall. The corners of had climbed up her cheeks, forming a sincere smile. He was watching how the sun was highlighting her blonde hairs.

The white dress's thick strands that slid over her shoulders were nearly see-through. Her figure was brought out by the color and tight hold on her figure. The dress reached her knees, the whole dress was outlined in frills and there were three big buttons going down the back of the dress to keep it together. Her hair was up in a bun and there were little white orbs in her ears. He decided to speak to her as they walked up to meet their friends;

"I like your hair like this."

She looked to him sharply, looking almost shocked at his compliment as she replied, "My bun?"

He nodded positively as she looked back at her white open-foot shoes walking up the hill and told him,

"I was going to make my hair a little more nice, considering I was going to be with you…but I ended up taking too much time choosing a dress and I couldn't manage anymore time to make my hair."

He set into that pout she adored as he stated, "Well, I love it. You don't have to be fancy for me, I like you…"

She looked to him with raised eyebrows and a blush across her cheeks as he continued after a small gulp, "…the way…I know you…" he paused and continued in nearly a stutter, "in any case, you look beautiful. I mean…you look beautiful everyday, I've just never seen you in such a radiant dress."

He hadn't been looking her right in the eyes and he decided he'd like to see what shade of red she was. He was happy to see that she resembled a cherry with banana cream for hair. It took a lot out of him not to laugh at the sight of her adorably flattered state.

"T-thank you, Roy. I must say, you're looking very handsome tonight too."

The urge to laugh ended as he felt his heart skip a beat and the heat rose to his face. He could feel the tips of his ears burning as he replied, "Thank you."

They finally made it to the top of the hill and they all set off towards town. Mamiko was the center spotlight of socialization. She would regurgitate conversation as much as she would carbon dioxide. But Riza's dark eyelashes trailed shadows over her honey brown eyes and he found himself completely hypnotized by her presence.

She had a permanent pink painted across her cheeks, and she mostly looked to the ground shyly as they all walked together. Mamiko forced Roy and Koji to socialize and blabber meaningless conversation with her. Roy, though, didn't care much…he was much more interested in watching the gorgeous girl he was accompanied with.

He was highly distracted by the way the orange and yellow rays were sliding over her cheeks, to her neck and to her shoulder, so that when Ed's voice came out it startled him.

"Put your arm around her, Mustang!" Ed called to him in a whisper

Roy looked off sharply, forgetting that the others couldn't see Ed and the group. Roy spotted Ed in the bushes with Havoc, Fuery and Armstrong. Roy blushed and nearly snarled an insult at them.

He looked back at the group he walked alongside of. They were being kept busy by Mamiko. Roy decided it was safe to make some contact with others. So he viciously shook his head negatively, blushing wildly.

"Come on, Mustang, you're a man, aren't you!?" Ed shot in a whisper as if the others could hear him

Roy made the same bashful motion with his head when Fuery admitted, "Well, Sir, you've already stuck your tongue in her…why are you being so shy?"

Roy's face filled with red as Havoc and Ed laughed.

"Roy! Be a man, claim your territory!" Havoc insisted

"Yeah, just don't pee on her." Ed laughed out

Roy glared at Ed, but was distracted when he felt a fine, small hand on his arm. He looked and saw Riza looking up to him shyly, blushing but worried. She asked him softly, "Are you okay?"

Roy finally realized that if she saw him, he would've looked like a cherry glaring at bushes. He improvised an expression he couldn't determine and replied, "Yes, yes I'm fine."

She stopped walking and stood in front of him as Mamiko and Koji passed them. Riza raised her hand and placed her palm over his forehead and asked, "Are you sure? You look flushed."

He blushed even more deeply under her touch and adorable innocence. He slid his hand up and grasped her wrist softly, moving her hand away. He felt his heart pounding. Why was he worried? He had always had a way with women, and as usual, here was a girl falling over herself to be near him. But why was it different? Why did he know he could never woo Riza like he did other women? Why was she so special?

Well, he was bloody in love with her; it's as simple as that. He was in love with Riza, but a man's burden should be bared alone. He wanted to become Führer, so he couldn't love her. He's not allowed.

"I'm sure." He told her

He leaned down after murmuring that and kissed the tip of her cheek, under her closed, entwined eyelashes. He lifted his lips off of her freckles and looked down unto her again as she opened her surprised eyes. He smiled and added, "Thank you for your concern."

"Smooth, Mustang…" Havoc complimented

Roy could've turned around and punched Havoc for making the others chuckle the way they did, but he didn't care at that moment. He just cared about the blush he had created with simple words across a beautiful girl's face, the sparkle in her loving features and the beating of his heart. He suddenly saw Koji over Riza's shoulder.

He was glaring a hole into Roy's head. Roy straightened his posture, and found that it must have queued Riza to turn around and spot Koji's death stare. Koji finally spoke, ignoring his own crossed arms as he bit back anger, "Roy? Riza?"

Riza smiled sweetly, stammering, "S-sorry, I just thought that Roy wasn't feeling well, so I was just seeing that he didn't have a temperature and-"

"Alright, don't worry about it, Riza, it's not your fault." Koji stated sweetly, but soon turned to Roy with fire in his vision; implying, therefore, that it was Roy's fault.

He brushed off the anger and slipped his hand into Riza's. She looked up to him, surprised at first, but her nervous expression soon sank into one of which was pink in the cheeks, but loving and happy. She leaned in a little closer to him, allowing her arm to brush against his as they walked. Roy suavely passed by Koji with a sinister grin of victory.

Koji turned around and watched Roy walk off along the dirt track with the girl of his dreams. Koji seemed greatly offended by the way Roy had smirked so confidently and then taken off with Riza. He glared at Roy's back, hoping to burn a hole in through him. Roy looked to the beautiful girl beside him. She was looking at Mamiko; who was giggling and blushing encouragingly.

Mamiko then clung onto Koji's arm. She chirped happy conversation in his ears. He seemed to be drowning in despair; having much preferred Roy's date to be on his arm. In Koji's anger towards Roy and gloominess whenever he was clung to by Mamiko; in Roy's jubilance and Riza's timid, but endearing loving personality shining through, they spent their evening in town.

They had finally made it to the festival and walked through all of the carts of candies and toys. Roy won Riza a large teddy bear and split ridiculously large cotton candy with her. He shared his water bottle with her as she clipped herself to her won bear. It wore a large brown bow around it's neck and it was about four feet tall. It was soft and fuzzy with two, big, painfully adorable bead eyes.

He loved to see her clutch to his gift the way she did. The way her fluster remained, even as she grew more comfortable with him; the way her silk hands ran over each other as they held onto her toy; the way some of her blonde hairs fell over her ears and cheeks. He loved seeing her laughing and smiling with Mamiko and constantly glancing to him. Looking at him…as if…he knew what she was thinking…

Maybe if he tried, he could. Maybe if he wanted to desperately enough, he could tell what she wanted him to say and do. Maybe if he concentrated he could act the way she dreamed of and read the message her dark chocolate eyes sent him.

He was watching her as she whispered and giggled with Mamiko. The sun setting behind them; the orange, pink, red and yellow lights riding over Riza's features like a princess's portrait being painted by a fireplace's warm rays. Her smile was wide and he couldn't recall a time he had seen her so happy…accept…accept for those days he had lunch with her…

He was thinking just that when he realized he wasn't "with" Riza. He realized he was alone and the doom that curled up his spine and sent shivers down his arms was surely Death. He turned around to spot Koji's insistent glaring. Roy cringed at the sight, a nervous aura flooding his being.

"What the hell, Roy?" Koji seethed as he stepped closer to the rushed Roy

Roy's eyes slanted angrily as he realized there was no way of getting out of the uncomfortable conversation. Once he glanced at the gossiping girls, and all the fun they were having whispering girly little secrets to each other, he knew he shouldn't tear them apart for his own protection from someone who was supposed to be his friend.

"What?" Roy asked innocently, though with a touch of annoyance

"You know exactly what. You know how I feel about Riza, I don't know how you could agree to this, and then just be touching her all the god damn ti-"

"It's not my fault she told you no." Roy spat as he turned sharply towards Koji

Koji's eyes flashed open widely. He was speechless as Roy continued,

"She told you no. And she asked me if I would attend a festival with her. You wanted me to tell Riza Hawkeye no? You wanted me to tell her 'no, I don't want to go to a festival with you, Ms. Riza'? Honestly? I doubt if a beautiful, blonde, shapely, pure, kind, caring, perfect girl came up to you and asked you to go to a festival with her, you'd say yes on the spot no matter what she meant to me! Don't be bitter because she wants to spend time with me, Koji…you're my friend…"

Koji seemed astonished, or perhaps he was simply gawking in horrendous offense. Roy stopped walking; he was holding a stare with Koji. Koji 'was' his friend, right?

"Let's go see the fireworks!" Mamiko chirped as she gripped Koji's arm in her own

She pulled Koji off ahead of Riza and Roy; Koji did not look back at Roy. Roy was watching Koji's back as if trying to pull him back by some invisible rope that flew from his vision. He very suddenly felt a warm sensation crawl up his side. He looked to his side quickly to find that Riza was looking up at him with her big brown eyes.

Her lips hung loosely, as if in confusion, and her thin arms were draped over her bear and under, looping around his arm. She slowly formed a smile and asked, "Would you like to go see the fire works, Roy?"

He blushed; even in those few minutes she was gone, he hadn't realized how much he had missed hearing her voice. He thought of how much he loved to hear his name roll off of her tongue and let it hit him with such honor and praise. He felt like a hero when she called his name; he felt like he could do anything.

For in that one name she held his heart, she held everything he had ever worked for, she held everything that made him him and in one moment, she could rid herself of him, but she keeps him near to her and calls his name. She calls his name because she believes in him. It made him feel real. It made him feel alive.

He flustered and let himself smile to her as he told her lowly, "Yes, I'd love to."

She beamed and stepped forward with him. They followed Mamiko and Koji's cold trail. The colors shot and flew in the night sky for hours. They all sat together on the top of another hill, a little outside of town. Many people were around them, but to Roy, he seemed to be all alone with Ms. Hawkeye.

He was watching the colors run against her skin as they exploded in the stars. The night air suddenly gave him a chill, and he spotted the goosebumps that rose on her. He quickly slipped off his jacket and stood. She hadn't noticed he rose; she was too distracted with the rings of color in the sky.

She suddenly felt warmth all around her. She twisted her neck to the left, to where she thought she'd see Roy, but found that he was no longer there. Her racing brain finally comprehended the jacket the was hung over her shoulders, the legs that perched themselves around her waist, the arms the wrapped around her own arms, kind of helping her hold her toy. She slowly slipped her head back and saw Roy looking down onto her. They were both blushing wildly at the realization that had Riza not moved her head back slowly, they would have kissed.

She was looking to him in surprise and asked, "What are you doing?"

He grinned and replied, "Keeping you warm…it's getting cold."

Her cheeks darkened as she stammered, "O-oh…thank you, Roy."

He felt her move her head back forward as she pushed him back. He fell onto his back and was about to groan out a "What was that for?", but instead concentrated on the soft flesh that rested against his chest. She had cast her bear aside to entwine her fingers in his, and wrap his arms around her waist, holding her to him.

He thought it was very out of character for her. She was usually so shy, nervous and quiet, yet here she was, silently telling him, "Hold me". She cuddled her cheek into the crook of his neck and ran her cheek against his lovingly. He smiled and relaxed under her unfamiliar hold. They stayed like that until nearly everyone had left. Conversation had been coming to all of them easily all that evening, but as the night dragged on, it seemed as though Mamiko would be drowned out by Koji.

Koji, Roy was sure, was sick of hearing his unintentional date jabber. Koji suggested with some hidden messages, "I think we should get home. We all have school tomorrow."

Riza turned over, tiredly onto Roy's chest. She rested her head on her clasped hands on his racing heart. She closed her eyes with a yawn and smiled before saying, "Not me."

"What?" Mamiko asked curiously

"I'm taking off of school tomorrow and the day after. Mom wants me home for some time, she says she never sees me anymore."

"Lucky, you." Mamiko snorted

Riza smiled and hummed some acceptance to the statement, at a loss for energy. They all clipped away at the conversation until there was nothing more to be said. Mamiko and Koji stood and Koji nearly ripped Roy's head off when he saw Roy wasn't getting up.

"Well? Get up." He ordered

Roy glared at Koji and sneered, "I 'would', but I think Riza's asleep."

Mamiko blinked curiously and asked, "Asleep?"

"Yeah…hmmm…here." Roy replied as he slipped out from under her.

He gripped onto the teddy bear's bow and slowly, carefully picked Riza up off of the ground. He cradled her in his arms; her knees draping over his right arm, her arms folded over her stomach, her head curled on his chest; resting on his arm. He carried her home, Koji glaring and Mamiko giggling and complimenting Roy on his strength and manners all the way.

Roy later slid her into her yellow and white bedding. The thick blankets were yellow with thin white lines going down and across, with vines of blue little flowers spread throughout. He placed her down, slipped off her shoes and let her hair out of it's bun. He moved one of the white frills that hung from the corners of her pillows from her shoulder, before sliding her under the blankets.

He looked to her resting, dreaming expression. Her features highlighted radiantly in the moonlight, giving her the milky composure he had seen on her the night she asked him to go to the festival with her. He admired her long, clinging eyelashes and the dark shadows they cast across her.

Her soft smile was painted on her expression, her flustered somewhat died out. He chuckled nearly silently at the priceless sight of her beauty. He was truly hypnotized by her and everything she brought within her.

He closed his eyes in exhaust as he let his hand run against her arm. He extracted a small whisper of his name; he opened his eyes to look to her. He expected to find her awake, but saw that she was fast asleep…dreaming of him. He blushed in flattery and leaned down, kissed her cheek and readied himself to rise from the seat he had taken on the side of her bed.

He was about to stand when he looked to her again. He found that whether she be conscious or not he didn't want to leave. He felt…almost scared of losing a moment with her. A moment he wouldn't get back, a moment he wouldn't be able to retrieve again. He looked to her deeply, contemplating what he could be feeling, or why he would feel this way.

His need to touch her again brought him down to her face again, placing another soft kiss on her cheek. She had laughed softly as she shuffled herself ever so slightly more towards him. He ran his cheek against hers as his eyes filled with tears. He shut them, hoping the water would recede, but came to learn that would only allow them to drop down his face.

When did he love her so much? When did it happen? When they were young like this? When he joined the military? When she protected him? What was it that made him act and feel this way towards her? What made her so special? What made her different from every woman he had ever been with?

…was that it? He hadn't truly been with her. He wasn't allowed to be with her. No…no, there was something more. It was deep within him, something that left a knot in his stomach and a flutter in his heart. Something that made his face hot and his chest punch. He could feel music playing inside of him and he could feel voices loving, laughing and playing a symphony along his blood stream.

Everything in him was electrified when he was with her. Everything was beautiful when he was with her and he wanted to know…why?

Riza woke that morning to role over in bed. The morning sun was flooding her room and she gripped her teddy bear tightly. She smelled in it's warn fragrance of night, fireworks, cotton candy, sugar and Roy. She gasped, "Roy!"

Had she fallen asleep? Oh no! She fell asleep on him, didn't she? Could she have done something anymore embarrassing?

She groaned in shame as she slumped out of bed. She held her forehead, letting her golden mane stay frozen in it's unkempt style. She tried to remember, how is it did she get into bed? How did she get home? Suddenly, the worst thought came to mind…did he have to carry her? Oh no…no, no, no…

She ran out of her room, down the hall and into Roy's room. She burst in without a knock calling, "Roy?" quietly

She saw him there, finally. He was in a small bed, with a white blanket over him. His usually tamed black hair was messy and crawling over his face and sticking up and in every other direction possible. She smiled at the unfamiliar posture and image he took on. It was strange, for he looked like a totally different person, and she wished she had seen him like this before.

"Ms. Riza?" He asked tiredly, rubbing his eyes

He was being blinded partially from the white, yellow lights that broke through the window, into his room. She closed the door and quickly marched over to his bed asking worriedly, "Did you carry me home last night, Roy?"

He blushed and was clearly over come with exhaustion for he couldn't form a coherent answer for a few minutes. He answered, though, "Yes…I'm sorry, I just…didn't want to wake you."

She blushed furiously, finally realizing the truth she had dreaded, "Don't be sorry, I should be telling you sorry."

She sat down on the side of his bed, pulling her legs up next to her as she looked to the wood floor. He was sitting up against his bed post as she continued,

"Thank you, Roy…you really didn't have to do that."

"I didn't have to. I wanted to." He replied

She flustered, noticing she had said the same thing to him once before. He smiled as he saw she remembered where he got that answer from.

"Great minds think alike." He told her

She beamed and laid down on his second pillow. She turned over and hugged his waist. He blushed ferociously as she murmured into his naked ribs; "I've decided that I really like you, Roy, and I'm glad you're living here."

He smiled, lowering his tired, heavy eyes, "Thank you, Ms. Riza…I really like you too."