AN: Thank you to everyone who has left a review. It means so much to me that you take the time to comment on my little story 3

I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

ROY

When Roy heard the announcement that Elizabeth had returned he headed straight for the throne room. She had told their group that she needed to speak with her father once she returned, so he figured this would be the first place she would go. Although it was now the evening, the King and Queen sat in their thrones, ready to greet her. The room itself was empty, aside from the three of them and the two guards at the always open door.

Amelia smiled at him warmly as he approached from their right. Berthold offered him a nod and turned towards the door as Elizabeth strode forward. She was soaked. Her clothes clung to her body and her golden hair hung limp behind her. She wiped the water off her face as she approached the base of the dais. Roy didn't miss the trail of water she left in her wake.

"Elizabeth, dear, what happened?" Amelia asked in concern.

"Nothing happened Mother. It is just a little bit of rain." It looks more than a little bit, Roy thought to himself, amused.

"You have been gone some time, Elizabeth," Berthold commented. "We had begun to fear for your safety after Falman returned alone."

"There is nothing to fear Father. I took the quiet roads home through the forest. I saw no one on my travels. I know to cover my tracks."

"That doesn't mean there isn't any danger present," Berthold admonished. "You should know this. You should not travel without an escort."

"Father, I am a grown woman, and a warrior. I can handle myself." Before Berthold could retort, she spoke again. "I have very important information to share with you both. It cannot wait." She placed her hands on her hips, her expression becoming irritable at her father's lack of trust and faith in her. "Or shall we stay and debate whether or not I am a fragile human being who cannot travel by herself?"

Roy noticed Berthold frown at her comment. He bit his lip in order not to laugh. You go, Hawkeye, he thought. He knew Berthold was only looking out for his daughter, and the future ruler of his kingdom, but he had a patronising way of going about it.

"Yes, let us move this discussion to your father's study," Amelia interjected before Berthold could retort. The King and Queen rose and exited through the door at the back. Elizabeth turned and looked at Roy expectantly.

"So it is raining, huh?" Roy smirked as he stood next to her. He must admit, it was amusing to see Elizabeth drenched. She looked to cute as she wiped away stray droplets in frustration. They fell from her hair, making a trail down her face.

"Apparently so." She huffed, not pleased to see the grin on his face. Roy didn't care. She was so beautiful. He noticed a droplet making its way down the side of her face and he had an incredibly strong urge to wipe it away. As he did so Elizabeth froze in her movements. She had begun to turn towards the door to follow her parents, but now remained still. Roy's hand remained on her cheek as he stared at her. He couldn't stop himself.

As she turned into his hand he snapped out of his trance. His arm fell limp by his side.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. When he met Elizabeth's gaze again he saw something in her eyes. He couldn't pinpoint it exactly. "I didn't mean to do that, I just… Couldn't help myself," he finished with a half-hearted shrug, dropping his gaze.

"Its fine I…" Roy looked back up again as she trailed off. She had a far off look in her eyes, as if reliving a memory.

Idiot, he scolded himself. You've just made it worse.

Elizabeth began walking again without a word. She continued towards the study where her parents were waiting. Roy watched her as she walked away from him.

Again, he had done more harm than good. All the feelings he had repressed about Riza were resurfacing, even more frequently this past week. He had tried to push them away, telling himself this was certainly not the time, but being in a world where he was supposed to be marrying her made it more difficult. No one found it strange they were close, always at each other's sides. He had wanted this for so long, but he had more important things to work towards. He had sworn to both himself and Riza that he would see it through. It was easy for him to slip into the role he was supposed to be playing, the Princess' fiancé. Too easy. He found it difficult to restrain himself when something he had wanted for years was now presented to him.

But it is not Riza, he reminded himself. With a heavy sigh he followed behind her. Elizabeth had begun sharing her news when he entered and didn't pause or even look at him as he entered. He saw the all too familiar mask was in place already.

He remained silent for the majority of the meeting, his thoughts on his own actions and Riza back home. However he was jolted out of his reverie as Amelia gasped loudly.

"A hit?" Berthold asked, his face like thunder. Roy had only seen him this angry once, and he had hoped he would never see it again. He was glad, however, that this time it wasn't directed at him.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes. They are trying to take us out. He was an obvious target because of the connection with me." Her voice wavered as she spoke.

"Honey, if you don't want to discuss this right now, we can wait –" Amelia began.

"No," Elizabeth replied firmly, her voice strong this time. "It needs to be dealt with now. It is just a bad memory, after all. He's here now."

Roy met her gaze and was surprised, and saddened, with the amount of pain he witnessed. His heart broke for her, wishing he could give her what she needed, not someone who was a copy, and who would disappear soon.

I always make things worse, Roy thought bitterly. He knew it wasn't really his fault. He had wanted no part in this in the first place. He had been dragged here and left. It was some miracle Elizabeth had found him, but it came at a cost. She was constantly reminded of the husband she had lost, and he brought her pain, something he swore he would never do again.

He needed out. They both needed a break. When the meeting finished Elizabeth left without a word to him. He considered going after her, but in that moment, he was probably the last person he wanted to see. He found himself wandering through the castle grounds instead. It was a beautiful night. The moon shone brightly, casting a silver light on everything it touched. Torches crackled around the courtyards, emitting a soft glow, just enough to see clearly.

Roy knew Riza, and Elizabeth was no different. He could tell she was hurting in his presence. She put on a brave face and hid her true feelings well, but Roy noticed when it slipped. When she thought no one was looking her face would fall and there was a constant sadness in her eyes. The darkness under her eyes confirmed his suspicions almost immediately.

He hadn't noticed it at first, but the first time he had held her after her nightmare, he saw just how much this whole ordeal had affected her. That night as she cried into his shirt broke his heart. He was both a welcome comfort and a source of pain for her. It would be better for her if he left, like he had suggested. He knew it would cause her more pain, leaving, but in the long run it would be better for her. She would finally get a chance to heal and get over him.

Roy was eternally grateful to all the help the family had given him, but it would be better for Elizabeth if he left.

Roy found himself outside the main gate. Two guards on the walkway above shouted him a greeting, which he returned. They returned to facing outwards, scanning the fields and forests before them.

Two oak doors, which he had always seen open, closed over the metal gate itself. He examined the doors, admiring the carving on the wood for the first time. It was covered in an intricate series of swoops and swirls. Various carving of swords and shields were dotted across the gate but you had to look closely to find them.

"Hey boss," Havoc greeted. Roy jumped slightly, not expecting the company. A cigarette sat perched in his mouth, smoking at the end. He stood next to Roy, admiring the doors himself with a smile. "Impressive, aren't they?"

"Very," he nodded, smiling inwardly at Havoc's casual greeting. That was another thing he was grateful for. His team greeted him as if nothing had changed. It was a welcome reminder of home. "I just realised I hadn't seen them properly until just now."

"Well, you have had a lot going on." That's an understatement. "I'm not surprised."

"How come you are out here, Havoc?"

He motioned towards the cigarette in his mouth. "Not allowed to smoke indoors. Plus everyone gets on my case if I smoke near them. They can't stand the smell." He stamped out the cigarette in a nearby ashtray. Roy didn't think there would be one out here, but a table sat just off to the side of the gate. He supposed guards would sit there during the day.

"I come out here at night because I like to look at the stars."

Roy looked up at the sky himself and noted the huge amount of stars that were visible. He had never seen stars so clearly before. He looked around in wonder, admiring everything he could see.

"I hope you're not thinking of leaving, Mustang," Havoc said quietly, with a slight warning in his voice. Roy dropped his gaze back to Havoc's and saw the seriousness in his face.

"I had thought about it," he admitted quietly.

Havoc sighed loudly. "Listen, I know it seems like you are doing more harm than good with you being here. In truth it has been hard for Lady Elizabeth. However, she is happier with you here than gone."

"But I am not the person she wants me to be," he stressed, as if it was obvious and no one could understand it.

Havoc nodded in agreement. "How many people do you know get to see a loved one again after they died?" Roy opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came to him. "Yes, it hurts her, but she got to see her fiancé one last time. That is a gift you have given her. Although you aren't the right person, you are still identical, and that was what she needed."

"I just feel like I'm making everything worse," he muttered sadly.

"Well, that isn't up to me to decide. Speak with Lady Elizabeth. You won't know until you talk to her. Find out how she truly feels." Roy thought back to their time in the library, when she told him how she felt about the whole situation.

The Roy Mustang I knew is dead and gone," she said firmly. "I had come to terms with that. Your appearance has affected me greatly, yes. The man I loved was suddenly standing in front of me after I watched him die. However, I failed him once but I will not do it again. I will help you get home, Roy. I will help you get home to your Riza. At least then I know somewhere I will be happy."

"I already know."

"So what are you going to do?"

Roy was silent because he truly didn't know. He knew staying here would be his best bet of getting back home, but he could see it was hurting Elizabeth, no matter what she said. He hated to be the cause of her pain.

"I'll let you decide, Sir." Havoc lit another cigarette, puffing on it. "But I do hope you don't leave. We all know you are not the person we knew, but it is nice to have you back." He walked back towards the barracks to no doubt join the rest of the team. His team.

He returned his gaze to the sky and made his decision.

Roy had remained in the castle grounds for some time that night. It was well past midnight before he returned to his room. Elizabeth slept soundly as he entered. He crept quietly to where his clothes were stored and rummaged around for suitable riding clothes. He neatly folded them on a nearby stool for the next morning, placing his gloves atop the pile. He had decided to remain with Elizabeth, but needed out and away from the castle to clear his head.

His best bet to return home was at the castle with Elizabeth. She had a lot of influence throughout the kingdom and could get him the best help. He hated that he was using her to get home, but that was the reality of it. He had no idea where he could go to get other help. The Mage College would no doubt help, but he had no idea where it was, or how far away. He didn't know where to start.

He had decided though, it would be best for them both if they got a break from each other. He would go for a ride tomorrow morning. That had always helped him clear his head when he was younger and swamped with his alchemy studies. Those rides, however, had always been with Riza. His heart clenched as he thought of her. He didn't know what the situation was back home. He just prayed she was all right and hadn't done anything drastic.

He took his usual place on the couch but sleep did not come. He lay back staring at the ceiling for hours, thoughts whirling about his head. Memories from his childhood, his adult life, and the past week all flitted about.

He couldn't get his mind off earlier that evening, when he had spoken with Elizabeth. Something stirred in him as he cupped her cheek. It felt right. He wanted to remain there with her in that moment for longer, but he was jolted back to reality.

He had known throughout his life that Riza Hawkeye meant a great deal to him, more than a childhood friend should. He had never fully admitted it to himself before but he knew cared deeply for her. However there had been too much at stake for him to make a move. When he thought she was going to die on the Promised Day his world came crashing down. As he watched her bleed out on the floor in front of him he knew. He knew he loved her and would do anything to keep her out of that situation again.

The last few months they had grown closer, a likely result from the events of the Promised Day. He knew she felt the same as him, but they never discussed it. There was no need to. Brief touches when handing off paperwork became lingering. He caught himself staring at her for longer than he should. He couldn't deny it.

He didn't know what would happen once he became Fuhrer. He still aimed for the top and until he reached it, everything would be put on hold. He hoped he could finally love Riza as he wanted to, but he wouldn't know until the time came.

Roy sat up in frustration. It wasn't likely he was getting any rest soon. He crept quietly over the large window and saw the sun was just beginning to rise on the horizon. Turning his gaze towards Elizabeth he watched her for a moment as she slept soundly. She was beautiful, even in sleep. Her golden hair was splayed over her pillow. Her face was peaceful as she slept. He was glad she had finally gotten a restful sleep.

He changed into his riding clothes and headed down to the stables.

"Good morning, My Lord," the stable hand greeted with a yawn. "I do apologise, I don't normally get visitors this early."

"Don't worry. I would like my horse saddled, please."

"Of course My Lord. Going out for an early morning ride?"

"Yes."

"Here you go, she is ready." Roy thanked the young man as he took charge of the reins. He mounted the horse and rode through the courtyards to the main gate.

"Good morning, My Lord," the guard called from above the gate. The doors were open now and he could see the vast fields beyond. The light was just beginning to touch them, casting them in a golden glow. The gate rose with a shudder and the guard wished him a pleasant ride. The magical barrier shimmered lightly in front of him, catching the rays of sunlight and creating a small rainbow effect.

He nudged the horse forward to the east, towards the forest. He nudged the horse to a gallop and he took off along the dirt path. He rode for a good few horse before stopping. He enjoyed the thrill of riding on horseback. The feeling of the wind whipping past him, the power of the horse underneath him. It was exhilarating.

He stopped near a burn and let his horse rehydrate. He had taken some food from the kitchen that morning. The cook had offered it to him with a smile and told him he was welcome to anything he had prepared. Roy took two water bottles and a few chicken sandwiches. That would keep him going throughout the day. He wasn't sure how long he would be, but he had enough food if he wanted to stay out all day.

He felt bad not telling Elizabeth about his plan for the day, but he figured she would be thankful for the break. He didn't want to make her worry though. He paused while eating as the thought occurred to him. It was stupid of him to leave without saying anything. He had meant to inform the team, but it completely slipped his mind. He blamed the lack of sleep the night before. Roy dismissed it after a few moments of deliberation. It was too late to do anything now.

He let the horse rest for a while and the pair walked along the narrow forest path. As the trees thinned out he could make out a mountain range to the north. Snow covered them from top to bottom and it had begun to make its way down the valleys. It was still quite warm outside, however Roy could detect a slight chill in the air compared to back at the castle.

As he rode towards the mountain range, no real destination in mind, the wind began to pick up now he was out the cover of the thick forest. He pulled his riding jacket closer around him. It was thick, but didn't stop the chill from the wind reaching him.

He considered turning back when something glinted in the sunlight in the distance. He squinted as he tried to make out what it was. It kept appearing and disappearing, like sunlight hitting water. He turned the horse towards it and picked up the pace to a canter.

When he reached the source of the light he wasn't sure what he saw. It was like water in the air. He had never seen anything like it. Dismounting his horse he walked towards it. It was tall, reaching at least five metres above his head, and it was about five metres wide. It shimmered in the sunlight and moved with the consistency of water. The wind had no effect on it, but it still moved rhythmically. He reached out to touch it and felt nothing but pure energy. Quickly drawing his hand back, as if he had been burned, he took a closer look at it. It was see-through, but the view on the other side, back towards the castle which he could make out in the distance, was clouded, as if he was looking at it through a dirty glass.

As he lifted his hand to touch it again but a barked laugh behind him made him freeze in place. He scanned in front of him to see if anyone was there. He quickly pulled on his gloves and turned in one swift movement, hands raised and on guard. He saw no one, but heard the laugh again. This time it sounded like it was behind him. Slightly confused, he turned back towards the shimmer and saw a figure emerging through it.

"Build it and they will come," a gleeful voice spoke as it exited the shimmer. The figure in front of him had a huge grin and as it slowly materialised he realised in horror who it was.

"Mustang," they said with a frown. "I didn't expect you to be here."

"Envy," Roy snarled. He raised his gloves again, poised to snap. "You are supposed to be dead."

"Well, so are you. Yet, here we are." The shimmer began to increase in its movement again as another figure emerged within it. Roy's mouth dropped open as he looked at himself emerging from within. He couldn't help it. His guard dropped completely and his arms went limp by his side.