Sorry for the lateness of this chapter, I've been busy preparing for university interviews

Thanks for all the reviews last time guys!

Chapter 11: Danger point

Riza walked hurriedly down the rundown apartment block that was known as Vinny's lobby. Hardly a lobby. There was even moss growing up the insides of the building. His apartment was deep inside, on the ground floor so she was forced to walk past the uncaptured criminals in this part of town. She wondered why Darwin lived in such a run down crime-infested area, despite his high pay. It confused all of them greatly.

She finally reached the old and cracked door and she knocked quickly.

Darwin opened his door a crack, the chain was still attached.

"Oh, it's you Riza. Come in." He quietly closed the door to unlatch the chain before opening the door and letting her inside.

She looked around at the room he lived in. And that was all. No separate rooms, no closets in the wall. Bathroom, bedroom and kitchen all in the same room. Supposedly it wasn't too bad as Darwin owned very few possessions to begin with. One chair, one table, one lamp, one window. Overall it was very clean it just gave off a damp feeling as the walls remained the dirty brown the corridors were.

"Are you in a hurry?" He asked as he offered her the only chair.

"To an extent, but we've lost most of the MP's so we can make a short stop."

He moved to the table and pulled a map out of paper holder and handed it to her. She quickly skimmed it.

"So MP's anticipated that you may flee Central so they've basically barricaded most of the exits of the city."

"Most?"

"There's one or two exits that they don't know about. Y'know one of those shady routes criminals use." He to the red lines he had drawn on the east side. "Use this route to get out and towards East City, but in the event that you get blocked you can use this route through the south exit and then just work your way back to the east. The blue lines are where barricades and patrols routes will be. Any questions?"

Riza smiled at him, he was always well prepared maybe even more so than her. "Yeah just one. How did you know we were heading to the east?"

He smirked a little. "I thought you guys might head over to Xing to seek asylum under Emperor Ling's protection."

"Maybe." and the conversation fell silent.

Darwin looked at her thoughtfully. "Did you get Havoc and others out safely?"

"Yes. It'll be all over the newspapers tomorrow." Darwin laughed a little.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" He asked quietly.

Riza smiled slightly. "As long as Roy is alive, we'll get by." The silence continued and Riza shifted in her seat as Darwin continued to stare into her.

She wasn't quite sure how it happened but she found herself trapped in his arms. His lips locked in hers.

Her eyes open widely with shock as she felt him try and deeper the kiss by prying her lips apart to gain access to her mouth. His eyes closed in relaxation.

Riza came to her senses and lifted her arm high and dealt a strong slap on Darwin's face. As a result he unravelled his arms from her to grasp his stinging cheek.

"Riza I-" He stared at her in disbelief.

"Save it Darwin. How could you?!" He stared back at her confused, as if he didn't understand what he had done wrong.

"I'm married Darwin. With a child! And happily might I add." Riza screamed loudly furious at the situation. When she thought about it more carefully she had been unfaithful to Roy. At her sudden realisation, she began to rub her lips with her sleeve trying to shake the feel of his lips on hers.

"Riza, think about this. The life you are about to go off and have will just lead to depression and hardship." He paused briefly to check she was still listening. "But if you and Lia stay behind and let Roy and the others escape, you still have a chance of happiness- a normal life. I will protect you with everything I have, maybe you don't feel the same about me but after some time you might. I can make you love me like I love you."

Riza slammed her fist hard against the wall, tired of his naiveté despite him being older than her. She was shaking a bit, but when she spoke it was firm with no hesitation. "I don't think you understand. It doesn't matter how years you try to convince me." She gripped Darwin's arm and a glare began to form. "You will never affect the feelings I have for Roy." Darwin was taken aback. "We've been together for too long." she spoke quietly.

Riza removed her arm and picked up the map from before and placed an apologetic hand on his heartbroken shoulder. "Sorry to do this to you, but thanks for all the help. We all appreciate it." And she left him there in his home staring after her as she ran back to her family.

(-)

She got into the passenger side of the car and quickly fastened her seatbelt. Lia automatically climbed onto her lap. She carefully avoided eye contact with Roy who had laid his head on the steering wheel facing the other direction.

"What took you so long Hawkeye?" Havoc asked.

"We just got talking." She said quietly before lifting up the map to show them. Roy slowly lifted his head and started the engine.

"Good job Hawkeye." Breda gave her the thumbs up and Mustang started moving away whilst directed by his subordinates.

"How about you have a quick nap Riza? You've been helping us out all day. You must be exhausted." Furey said considerately.

"Yeah, mama. Sleep." Lia wrapped her arms tight around Riza's body.

"No, I'm ok-"

"Just get some rest Riza." Roy spoke quietly but with authority, and still not making eye contact. He remained focused on the road but touched her hand lightly.

She nodded and muttered an affirmative, before turning on her side and laying her head on the seat belt whilst stroking Lia's hair.

The car journey was fairly quiet following the route, they hadn't seen any MP's for a long time. When the light breathing of Riza could be heard, Roy glanced at her.

He was so confused.

After what he had seen, hadn't Riza chosen Darwin?

But then why was she here with them.

With him.

The kiss was tormenting him. It kept flashing back in his mind as he desperately shrugged it out.

Maybe she just came with them for Lia's sake.

Roy groaned loudly, gaining questioning looks from his subordinate. But they didn't mention anything.

He shouldn't think like this. He trusted Riza with everything and in the end all he wanted was for her to be happy.

If she wanted to run back to Darwin once they were back in Central, then he would let her. That didn't mean he would like it though and maybe it wasn't fair on him. But he just had to do what was best for her.

He shook his head quickly. This wasn't the time to think of such things. He just had to focus on getting out of Central safety. He should just be happy she was here with them, right? The thought brought a thin smile to his face.

(-)

"Can you get a fire started chief?" Havoc muttered as he brought the last of the firewood he had been collecting and dumped it on the growing pile. Roy turned off the car engine and pulled out the bag of sandwiches Gracia had given to them earlier. They had driven for hours and found themselves in the Eastern countryside, under the cover of a forest on the side of a very quiet road they decided to put up camp. Roy looked over to Riza who was still sleeping quietly. He smiled slightly before picking Lia up to help Havoc with the fire.

"Is it really good to camp out here? I mean what if a bear or something comes at us?"

Roy scoffed and Lia giggled at him. "We're five highly trained military officers, I'm pretty sure we could handle one bear. A bear that doesn't regenerate." Referencing the event with the homunculi.

"We've got no guns though!"

Roy looked at him as if he was an idiot. "Do you really think Riza would leave the house without a gun?" He led Havoc towards the boot of the car before lifting the blanket that covered the bottom. This showed off the all the artillery Riza was able to sneak out of the Fuhrer's house. It would be an understatement to say there was a lot.

"She really likes guns doesn't she?"

"I prefer to think that she's just overprotective. It's sweeter that way." Havoc nodded nervously, wondering how her husband really copes with her gun obsession.

Furey and Breda came running through the forest waving their arms hurriedly. But empty-handed.

"Breda, Furey I thought you were meant to find water." Roy snapped.

They caught up to them slowly, panting heavily. "Sorry sir, but we found a better place to take shelter." Roy lifted an interested eyebrow at them.

Furey explained quickly. "We found this a group of abandoned cabins there's beds and quite stable buildings too! And they're right next to the river as well."

Roy looked at them whilst thinking carefully. "Have to checked the perimeter for other people."

They nodded. Then he looked at Lia contemplating his decision.

"Okay lead the way." He said before lifting Riza onto his back trying as hard as possible not to wake her.

"Roy what are you-"

"Shh, just rest." She obeyed without a fuss enjoying the warmth of his back on her cheek. Roy held onto her thighs tightly and smiled lightly.

"Lia, the walk is quite far. Do you want us to carry you?" Furey asked thoughtfully. Lia nodded shyly looking at her feet before raising her arms to the glasses boy. He lifted her onto his back and she clambered onto his shoulders, her arms wrapped around his head, knocking the glasses askew.

"Papa lets me sit up here." She pointed forward, but then frowned. "Papa's higher up though." Furey frowned whilst the others sniggered.

Havoc leaned over to them. They were about the same height as him.

"Lia, do you want to sit on my shoulders instead." Her eyes glistened with want as she clambered hurriedly onto the taller man's shoulders.

She pointed as around in awe. "Your even higher than papa!" This time Furey sniggered and Roy walked ahead ego bruised.

(-)

They arrived at the campsite quickly but was more surprised to find a large fire lit in the centre. They looked around suspiciously before a mob of bandits appeared out of their hiding places. Surrounding them next to the large campfire, guns aimed on them. They couldn't make any risky movements.

"Well, well never thought we'd see the day when the flame alchemist walks right into our den." Their leader emerged a middle-aged man with a long beard and a blue bandana. "You thought we were gone, but you were wrong."

Roy looked at them sincerely confused. He felt Riza stir on her back, he could feel her reaching for the gun in her thigh holster.

"Who are you? I don't know you." He tried to buy time. If Riza could get her gun out ready to back him up, he could quickly form an alchemic wall around them and then make their counterattack.

"Does Bald ring a bell?" He smirked as he came closer, the perimeter also followed.

It did. "No." But he was buying time.

"How many men have you burned to a crisp!? He was our LEADER. Leader of the blue squad rebellion group." He raised his arms. "But we're still here even if our leader isn't"

Roy caught a sudden movement in the corner of his eye. As soon as Riza had drawn her gun and pointed it at their leader one of the followers had pointed another gun at her head.

"Drop it sweetie." She reluctantly lowered the gun onto the floor. The same bandit grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her down from Roy's back. A few others joined to help.

"Hey! Get your hands off her!" Roy snarled at them.

"I seriously doubt you should be worrying about others." Roy turned his head in the direction of the voice but was too slow. He was hit with the end of a shotgun. And hard too. Consciousness faded from him.

(-)

Roy's mind was shaky when he woke up, his eyes blurred. He quickly tried to blink it away as he took in his surroundings. It was dark only lit by candle light, looked kind of like the cabins, there were beds in the room. Covered in cobwebs, but beds none the less. He noticed his hands were bound by stalks and behind his back as well. The good news was that all his subordinates were there and unharmed. Their hands were bound but that was all, they were still conscious too.

"So what did boss say?" They weren't alone either a group of about 7 rebels stood in the room with them.

"He said we need Mustang alive. He needs the worst punishment."

"And what else?"

"But we need to kill of one of them there's not enough room to transport that many of them."

"Which one? Did boss have a preference?"

"He said let them chose between themselves, but preferably not the kid, we can sell her off and not the woman." He grinned. "We could use her."

Roy's fist clenched.

The guards noticed them. "Hear that you maggots! Chose which one of you will die tonight. The rest of you will suffer immense pain until we have Mustang wrapped around our wrist."

With that they shut the door and left them in silence.

"What are we going to do?" Havoc spoke nervously.

"Fight back."

"Chief are you sure that's the best idea. I mean it's us five against the mob of them. And unarmed too. I know you trust us, but this is a bit too much." Breda spoke strategically and realistically.

"We're no unarmed. I know Riza has a knife hidden her boot."

"I think you're missing the point." Riza said bluntly.

"I'm not going to let anyone die."

"We have to come up with a name ourselves. Or they'll just pick."

"I told you, they're not going to touch you." His loyal subordinates and Riza all sighed simultaneously. They knew he was stubborn but this was a bit much.

"Sir, you have to think realistically. It's all of us die or just one of us." Roy opened his mouth to retort. "And don't forget you can't use your alchemy!"

"I'm not just going to give up like that!" Roy shouted back.

"So you'll force us along with your reckless plan!" Riza raised her voice louder and glared at him harshly. "I don't want to lose a single one of us, but if we're all gone, who's going to be around to change this country! Think about our feelings for once, sir!" The subordinates were taken back, it had been a LONG time since she had shouted at him and called him sir outside a work setting.

"I have to agree with her boss, things are too risky." Breda spoke wisely as Havoc and Furey nodded in agreement.

They left him in the corner sulking with Lia trying to distract him as they decided who would be sacrificed.

"Okay I promise papa." Riza overheard Lia mutter.

"Hawkeye you don't have to."

"It's not fair on you guys though, we should all have equal chances." It was either chose between them or be chosen by surprise. They wanted to choose which friend they lost so they would have a chance to say goodbye.

With that they began their game of rock paper scissors. The loser being the one to be sacrificed.

"That's it." The subordinates hung their head in sorrow. It was too soon to lose one of their own. They couldn't even formulate words of comfort to their fellow subordinate. Fighting wasn't an option, it was either one die or all of them die and each and every one of them didn't want Lia, a child so young to suffer in a place like this. So this was the way thing's were. Mustang remained sulking in the corner not paying attention to their decision. He was hell bent on fighting back. The chosen one however sat in the corner beside them, their legs quaking their hands filled with sweat, their voice filled with panic and a tear was threatening to spill.

"It was an honour to serve under you sir."

Furey saluted Roy as he spoke.

SORRY

THERE'S NOT MUCH ELSE I CAN SAY