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 is AU.

All for Love

"Riza! Wonderful, you're here. Do you have all the paper work done?"

Riza looked up from her clipboard to find Maes Hughes breezing into his office.

"I'm going to need you to start sooner than expected, so as soon as you're done with that paperwork, run home and get your bag because you're starting this afternoon, and it's a busy week. Just give the papers to Sheska, and I'll meet you at East City Studio. I'll introduce you to your new boss." He whipped out his wallet. "And did you see my newest picture of Elysia? We went to the beach this weekend, and she looked absolutely adorable in her little swimsuit, didn't she?"

And with that the whirlwind that was Maes Hughes was gone.

Sheska smiled at her. "Have you got everything filled out?"

Riza nodded. "I think so."

"Great. I think you'll like your new assignment. He's Mr. Hughes' favorite client."

Riza just shook her head. She had been working as a personal assistant for the past five years, and truthfully, she had yet to hold a position where she actually enjoyed working with her boss. But without a college education or the money to get one, she was stuck doing what she did best: organization. She had spent most of her childhood looking after her father. When Richard Hawkeye had died shortly before her eighteenth birthday, Riza had been left without much of anything. She had done the best she could, but she had been stuck with the life of a private secretary.

Then two months ago, she had been working for King Bradley of Homunculi Studios when she'd met Maes Hughes, an agent who represented half a dozen of the top stars in the entertainment business. By the end of the twenty minutes he spent chatting with her, he had offered her a new job as the personal assistant of one of his clients with full benefits. And as her currently job barely even had paid sick leave, she had accepted.

She was having second thoughts now though. Maes had warned her before starting that she would need to be able to travel on a moment's notice, but on her first day? At least she had bags packed and ready in her apartment. By the time she reached East City Studio, Riza had butterflies in her stomach. Maes met her at the entrance with id tags.

"Ready? It's something of madhouse right now. Just jump in wherever you see the need, and I'll introduce you when I have the chance."

Riza slipped the id around her neck and followed Hughes onto the set. It was most definitely the madhouse he had mentioned. Catching sight of a dark haired man struggling with his script and the costumers, Riza quickly slipped into the place next to him, taking the script from his hands. Meeting a pair of wary, dark eyes, she asked. "What do you need?"

"Lines 23 through 38."

She read the lines to him while the man finished getting costumed. She continued to run lines with him while they moved across the stage, getting into position. As the director gave instructions, Riza found a spot out of the camera's way where she could wait. She didn't see Maes any where, but the rest of the crew seemed to have assumed she was attached to the actor she'd been helping earlier. At least, she'd been handed his props for the next scene. Riza spent the next two hours acting as prompt and general errand girl for the dark haired actor. He was fairly good at what he did, and he was polite, but he kept eyeing her like she was going to attack him or something.

Finally, the director called a wrap for the day. Maes wound his way through the crowd and appeared at her side.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to your new boss." He took her elbow, leading her towards a small knot of actors. "Roy!"

The dark haired man she'd been assisting earlier turned towards them. "Maes."

"I found you a new assistant. Roy, meet Riza Hawkeye. Riza, this is Roy Mustang. I'm sure you've heard of him."

Of course, she had. He was only the most popular male actor in Amestris. He had been in almost every major romantic comedy recently as well as half a dozen action/adventure movies as well as a number of other blockbusters. He was also one of the biggest playboys in Amestris if the magazines were to be believed.

Mustang raised an eyebrow. "Maes?"

"Don't worry so. Riza isn't about to try and jump you. I'll let the two of you get to know each other over lunch. Remember, Roy, you've got three readings this afternoon." He handed Riza a think folder. "This has everything you'll need for the next two weeks. I'll send you the updates at the beginning of next week, Riza."

And once again Maes was gone, leaving Mustang and Riza alone. Riza tucked the folder into her messenger bag.

"I need to get my duffle from the front desk, sir, but then I'll be ready to go. Do you have a car, or should I call a cab?"

Mustang blinked at her. "I have a car. I can run get it while you pick up your bag."

"Thank you."

It was a zippy blue convertible that was waiting for her when she emerged from the building. Riza put her duffle bag in the back seat and took the passenger seat.

"Is there someplace you want to go for lunch?" Mustang asked. "And what should I call you? Riza, Hawkeye, Ms. Hawkeye?"

"Either Hawkeye or Riza is fine, sir. And I don't have any preference for lunch."

"Roy, not sir, Hawkeye. I suppose if you have to be formal, Mister Mustang will do, but I'd prefer Roy."

He took her to a little, out of the way Xing restaurant.

"This is one of my favorite places. The owner's a distant relative of mine, so I never get hassled here." He told her as they went inside.

The two of them were immediately seated in a private little alcove. Mustang was a little surprised at her familiarity with Xing cuisine, but other than that, he seemed rather relieved.

"Thank you for taking the job, by the way. Maes has been looking for a decent assistant for me for months. I have to admit, I was a bit worried at first." He blushed to her surprise. "I'm sorry for being so cold at first. Every other woman interviewed for the position was more interested in a slightly different position."

She raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me, but from what I know of you, I wouldn't think you would mind that."

He sighed. "A few years ago, that probably would have been true, though I was never as much of a player as the media made me out to be. Actually, I would be just as pleased happy to skip the whole romance thing entirely from now on. It's just a waste of time and effort at this point."

Now that was an interesting comment coming from one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. She was saved from having to make a reply by the food arriving. Mustang smiled.

"Anyway, Maes didn't tell me anything about you. Why on earth did you let him talk you into a job? Did he smother you with photos until you gave in?"

Riza smiled. "I take it he does that to everyone, not just me."

Roy laughed. "Oh yes. As much as I love my goddaughter, I don't need to have her picture shoved in face every day."

"Elysia's your goddaughter? How long have you known Maes?"

"We grew up together." He smiled. "That's why I trust him. He knows too much about me to simply be impressed by my career, my good looks, and my charm."

"What charm?" It slipped out before she could even think about it.

To her surprise, Mustang laughed. "Maes was right. You really are perfect for this job. If there's one thing that I don't need, it's someone who thinks I'm absolutely perfect in everyway. Feel free to take pot shots at me whenever you think I need it."

Riza smiled and applied herself to her food. Maybe this job would work out after all.

"Anyway, I would like to know a little more about you. Where did you work before Maes snatched you up?"

"Homunculi Studios. I was Mr. Bradley's assistant."

"No wonder you took Maes up on his offer. I worked for them towards the beginning of my career. I still owe Maes for finding the loophole in my contract."

She nodded. "Perfectly understandable. I never liked working for Bradley, but it was the best job offer I had at the time."

Riza drew the schedule from bag. She flipped open to the day's appointments, frowning as she read the notes.

"You have appointments at three, four, and five with for movie pitches. Is there anything you need to pick up before then?"

Mustang smiled. "Not today. I just want to swing by my place to change."

"Of course. What will you need from me for the movie pitches?"

"Detailed notes, both on the pitch itself and on the contract details. Also, I may need you to handle arrangements for scheduling and further meetings."

She nodded. They finished up the meal and headed back out the car. Mustang spent most of the drive making inquiries about her. They tended to be the most random things from her favorite flavor of ice cream to whether she got her nails done or did them herself. To her surprise, Mustang's home was not located in Central's ritzy neighborhood but in a quiet little neighborhood near Nina Park. In fact, it wouldn't surprise her at all to find that Maes Hughes lived somewhere nearby with his family.

The house itself wasn't something she had expected either. It was a beautiful, old Victorian building, half covered in climbing roses. Mustang just smiled.

"I fell in love with the place even if it is too big just for me. Besides, both Maes and one of my sisters live near by, so I bought it anyway. Come on in. I should only be a few minutes."

He left her in the living room and disappeared upstairs. Riza took the chance to look around. So far, her new boss was an odd dichotomy. And his home reflected that. The living room was clearly pulled straight from a home design magazine. However, the room was also littered with various toys and photographs, most of them of Roy with children. She recognized Elysia Hughes in some of them, but the other children were a mystery to her.

"Those are my nieces and nephews. Well, some of them. I have three sisters and a half brother. I'm the youngest as well as the only one who is not married." Mustang leaned over her shoulder.

And then it was off to the movie pitches. It there that she realized why Roy had his reputation. He flirted with the women there and teased the men. Not that she really blamed him. The first two pitches were incredibly dull. She doubted he would accept either of them. The first was the cliché teenage movie while the second had been a rather unimaginative horror flick. The third pitch, however, was rather interesting. It was for a romantic comedy with three ongoing romances to make for some very interesting romantic geometry. The first were Edmund and Winona, a pair of high schoolers who had been childhood friends. Then there was Alec, who was Winona's older brother, and Karis, a student teacher at the high school. Finally, there was Ryan, one of the teachers, and Liora, a single mother who volunteered at the high school.

It actually sounded quite good to Riza, but then she was rather fond of romantic comedies. Mustang also appeared to be much more engaged with the pitch, asking questions and offering his opinion. By the time the pitch was finished, Riza was reasonably sure that Mustang was seriously considering taking the part of Ryan.

He dropped her off at her apartment. "I'll see you tomorrow at nine. Just a warning though, I'm not really a morning person."

Riza arrived at his door the next morning at five minutes to nine armed with a venti Starbucks coffee. A rather bedraggled Mustang opened the door and stared at the coffee in her hands.

"You have an appointment in an hour and a half. We need to leave here within forty-five minutes."

"Coffee."

She handed him the cup. He took a sip, eyes glazing over in pleasure.

"You are the best assistant I have ever had."

Riza laughed. "Finish the coffee, and get dressed."

They were out the door with time to spare. Riza gave directions while Mustang drove.

"You have movie pitches at ten-thirty and eleven-forty-five. We're supposed to meet Mr. Hughes for lunch at one-thirty. After that you have an appointment at three for a back massage. I think that's it for the day."

"Sounds good. Take it from me, enjoy days like these when you can. Most of the times things are so hectic, I barely have time to breath."

The two pitches went quickly. The first was a bad action flick, and the second was what sounded like a fairly good fantasy piece. If it was her, she would have a hard time deciding between the fantasy movie and the romantic comedy. Lunch with Maes was pleasant once the barrage of new pictures was over. Mustang immediately launched into a discussion of the various pitches.

"The only ones I'm remotely interested in are the fantasy movie and that romantic comedy."

"The romantic comedy is more of a sure thing, Roy. They're head hunting big names for all of the parts. You'll make more money with that one for sure."

"True, but it has at least half a dozen clichés in the first thirty minutes. You know how I hate a clichéd story line."

"Hey, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. You could just wait and see if something better is offered. Or you could take both offers. It wouldn't be the first time."

Mustang laughed. "Oh no. But at least it would only be two movies instead of two movies, a miniseries, and a guest appearance on a TV show. No more than two projects at once for me."

"So when will you have a decision for me then?"

"Week after next. I want to see if anything comes up."

"All right." Maes suddenly flashed her a smile. "So, still skeptical, Roy?"

Mustang laughed and reached over to ruffle her hair. "Are you kidding? Hawkeye's the best assistant I've ever had."

"You just say that since I brought you coffee."

"Well, yes. And you have legible handwriting, don't try to seduce me, and have a sense of humor. If you can survive a full schedule of filming, promotions, and events, you have a job for as long as you want."

Riza sipped her iced tea. "Who said I wanted to be stuck with you? I work for you for a year or so, and I can probably get a job as an assistant with just about anyone I want."

"You'd abandon me to a fate worse than death?"

"What? Having to find your own coffee?"

"No, fangirls." He shuddered. "I'd be swamped with the crazy women."

She smacked his shoulder. "Yes, of course, I alone hold back the tide of insane, obsessive women that threatens to overwhelm you."

"Exactly."

Riza rolled her eyes. Maes just laughed. "I knew you two would be a good fit. My work here is done."

Maes was right about one thing. They were a good fit. By the end of the month, Riza was wondering if she would ever find a job that she enjoyed as much. It wasn't that it was an easy job because it most definitely wasn't, but she wasn't being bullied, taken advantaged or, or belittled. Roy wasn't the easiest person to work with, but he did appreciate her. He had signed contracts for both the romantic comedy and the fantasy movie, so they would be spending their time shuttling between Risembool and Eastern where the movies were being filmed.

The romantic comedy would be the first to start filming. In fact, it would start next week which was why Riza was spending her days arranging housing, transportation, and other necessities. The fantasy movie would start filming in another two months, and then she would have the delightful task of arranging his schedule to fit two sets of directors and camera crews who each thought their movie was more important.

But right now she was providing a much needed ear to a very desperate actor.

"I can't believe this! She's completely insane. I don't care if she pulls in more male viewers than any one else. Solaris Lust won't leave me alone, and I am not interested!"

His co-workers for the romantic comedy had been announced. For the most part it was good news. The high school students were being played by two of Central's newest rising stars: Winry Rockbell and Edward Elric. Elric was a little touchy at times according to Mustang, but he was a good actor. Playing the college students would be Maria Ross and Denny Brosh. They had both played minor roles in movies before, but this would be their first time in major roles. And playing Roy's romantic interest was one Solaris Lust, Homunculi Studios favorite actress and the bane of Roy's existence right now.

Apparently, Mustang and Lust had worked on a number of films together early in his career, and she had developed what Mustang considered more than a healthy interest in him. If you went by what Mustang said, she was an obsessive stalker who wouldn't take no for an answer. Riza would admit that the woman clearly couldn't take a hint, but 'obsessive stalker' was a bit much. The woman was obnoxious, demanding, and had prima donna tendencies. Oh, and there was the fact that Ms. Lust seemed to think that Riza was her assistant as well. That alone was enough to irritate Riza. Added to the effect the woman had on her boss, Riza was about as fond of the woman as Roy was.

And it wasn't as if she wasn't the only source of tension on the set. Apparently, while Mustang and Elric admired each other, they didn't exactly get along. Well, to be accurate, they got along like siblings. As far as Riza knew, the two men were in no way related to one another, but you couldn't tell that by watching them. Then there was the fact that Edward was clearly interested in his co-star. Unfortunately, he also had no idea about how to ask Winry out. She was clearly interested in Edward as well but was too shy to do more than drop hints. It would have been cute if it wasn't so frustrating for all involved. At least the other romance on set was going well. Denny Brosh had finally got the nerve to ask Maria Ross out. From what she had heard from some of the other crew members, he had a crush on her from the first time they had worked together.

Of course, the downside to all the romance in the air was the expectation that others would follow suit. Riza probably spent more time providing interference, keeping Roy away from those interested in romantic entanglements. It was almost a relief when the filming for the other movie started. At least, the second group had a little less drama. Most of the actors were either well known actors playing a cameo role or new actors who didn't have enough notoriety to really have ego to make things difficult. And everyone was really excited to be involved with the film.

So her free time was mostly spent running lines and errands while making sure all of Roy's schedules were compatible. Sleep was becoming something she saw very little of. So it wasn't all that surprising that when that they arrived back in Central for the first time in months at three in the morning. Riza dropped Roy off at his home.

"Stay, Hawkeye. I'm exhausted which means you must be dead on your feet." He smiled at her. "My home is your home."

She was barely awake as it was, and driving home did not sound like a good plan. She followed him inside.

"There's a guest room on the second floor. Feel free to stay as long as you want. I don't think we have anything scheduled for tomorrow."

She shook her head. "You start publicity for the romantic comedy the day after tomorrow. There's nothing until then."

"Good. Here you are." He smiled. "I'll see you in the morning, Riza."

She barely took the time to toe off her shoes and take down her hair before collapsing into the bed. Sunshine in her eyes woke. Groaning, Riza pulled the covers over her head. She did not want to get up. Unfortunately, the sun was persistent. Riza dragged herself out of the bed, craving coffee.

Mustang was clearly not awake yet. Riza helped herself to the coffee in the freezer and set about putting together an edible breakfast. She stumbled across his ipod as well. Scrolling through Mustang's playlists, she was surprised to find they mostly consisted of soundtracks from musical theater productions. With a smile she pulled up the soundtrack from last year's Tony award winning musical and set to work on a pair of omelets for breakfast.

"See us, winter walking after a storm. It's chill in the wind but it's warm in your arms.
The stop all snow line, may not be true," Riza sang along with the recording. "We've all got our junk, and my junk is you."

"Well, you'll have to excuse me, I know it's so off. I love when you do stuff that's rude and so wrong. I go up to my room, turn the stereo on. Shoot up some you, and the you is some song." A smooth baritone came in on the guy's part. "I didn't know you could sing."

Riza started and turned to find Mustang lounging the doorway. He grinned before coming to lean over her shoulder. "That smells wonderful. You didn't have to make breakfast."

She shrugged. "The sun wouldn't let me sleep any longer."

"So you make breakfast? I'm not seeing the logic in this." He helped himself to the coffee. "You have a lovely voice. You should sing more often."

"I do sing often, just not around you." She deftly flipped the omelet. "Could you set the table? Besides, I didn't know you were a fan of musical theater."

"Sure. Why do you think I became an actor? I grew up on musical theater."

"Somehow I don't remember you singing in any of your movies."

He stuck his tongue out at her. "I'll have you know I've stared in productions of Oklahoma, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, South Pacific, Phantom of the Opera,Chicago, Guys and Dolls, and West Side Story. What about you? You have talent."

Riza smiled. "I was in a couple musicals in high school. That's about it."

"Do you want orange juice?" Roy rummaged around in the refrigerator. "There's milk if you'd prefer. Come on, Hawkeye, give me a hint here. Which musicals?"

"Orange juice, please." She waved him towards the table. "I was Lisle, Laurie, Kathy, and Edith."

"So,Sound of Music. Oklahoma, Singin' in the Rain, and My One and Only. Not a bad selection."

She flipped an omelet on to his plate. "I'm impressed. You know your musicals. Not many people have heard of My One and Only."

"Please, it's a Gershwin piece. How could I not know it?"

She slid her own omelet onto the other plate and took a seat. "You'd be surprised. So, which play do you think will win the Tony this year?"

"I'm not sure. Last year Spring Awakening had the Tony hands down, but I've yet to see anything that really has it in the bag."

Breakfast continued with a comparison of favorite musicals and plays which turned to favorite books and music by the end of the meal. By the time they were done with the dishes, an impromptu contest had started up over who could sing the most show tunes. Riza dried her hands on a towel and surveyed the now clean kitchen.

"Well, I think you're set." She smiled at him. "I'll see you tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp."

He made a face. "Can't you just tell them I have mono or something?"

Giggling, she collected her purse. "Sorry. You do have dinner with Maes and Gracia scheduled for next Tuesday. Just think of it as an incentive to get through everything with a minimum of drama."

He kissed her cheek. "Take the car, Riza. I won't need it, and I don't want you waiting at the bus stop at night if something comes up."

Riza found herself driving back to her apartment on auto-pilot. Mustang had kissed her. Albeit, it was on the cheek, but the closest they had ever come to that before was an arm around the shoulders. It wasn't that she minded the kiss; it was the fact that it had been a completely comfortable gesture on his part. Riza had never let anyone close since the death of her father. Mustang had apparently decided to invade her defenses.

And she didn't exactly mind. Roy was one of the few men she had worked for who treated her as a complete equal. It was clear that he respected her for more than just the way she looked. Mustang had never even in passing made a suggestive comment or done anything except perhaps compliment her on a job well done or a particularly nice outfit. He was an interesting man and almost always good company, if a little grumpy most mornings.

Riza blinked, running back her thoughts. Did she have a crush on Roy? She considered this. No, she didn't have any of the usual symptoms of an infatuation. She didn't need too be constantly in his presence. He didn't make her palms sweat and put butterflies in her stomach. He was a simply a good companion and someone she enjoyed spending time with. He made her feel comfortable. Mustang was a friend she finally decided. One of the first she had had in a long time.

With her mind straightened out, Riza set to making sure she was ready for the next few weeks. She'd been living out of her suitcase for so long that she was long overdue for a trip the Laundromat and dry cleaners. At least they would be in Central for the next few weeks with the publicity campaign. Then, it would be back to Risembool to finish filming there, and then back to Central for the premiere ofTextbook Love. Unfortunately, a promotional campaign didn't allow for her to spend her days in jeans and t-shirts like she could on set.

So the Laundromat and dry cleaners were first on her list. Since they would be in Central for a few weeks, she also needed to go grocery shopping, and she was long overdue for a through scouring of the apartment. By the end of the evening, she collapsed on her couch with a pint of ice cream and a good romance novel. Her laundry was done, the cleaners would everything else to her by tomorrow, and she once again had real food in her apartment once again.

Still, it felt odd to be back in her own apartment instead of a hotel or some other arrangements made by herself or a studio. Riza had gotten used to staying up late running lines and making arrangements. To actually have a free evening to herself was rather novel. And she probably wouldn't have another one for awhile. According to both Hughes and Mustang, promotion campaigns were brutal.

They were right. The next two weeks were more exhausting than a month's worth of on-set filming. By the end of the first week, Mustang seemed ready to commit multiple homicides. This was probably in part due to being required to spend hours cozily seated with Solaris Lust while making polite small about the movie. And they had interviews of this sort scheduled with just about every morning show in existence. After the first day of filming these, Riza quietly rearranged his schedule to allow for increased visits to his masseuse.

When the dinner with the Hughes family rolled around, Roy was definitely in need of a break. Riza had driven him to the Hughes residence and had been drafted to help carry in gifts for Elysia as well as a bottle of wine for Maes and Gracia. Apparently, all those trinkets he kept buying during the filming were for his goddaughter. Once inside, she found herself recruited to finish up the salad while Gracia brought the fish in from the grill. Dinner was spent discussing everything from current politics to Elysia starting kindergarten in the coming year.

The one subject that was never touched was Roy's work. Riza found herself relaxing and joining in on the teasing and debates. She couldn't remember the last time she spend even just an hour with friends. Gracia Hughes made her feel more than welcome, and Elysia was delighted with a new grown up to play with. By the time she took her leave of them, Riza felt like she had known the Hughes family for years. Roy grinned at her as they got back into the car.

"Aren't they great? I'm not sure what I would have done if Maes hadn't insisted on interfering in my life. I probably would have ended up one of those scandal prone celebrities that you see on TV all the time." He sighed. "So what do we have tomorrow?"

"Two morning shows, and there's a studio cocktail party in the evening. After that there's just interviews with theater critic segments for the next three days then we're back to Risembool to finish filming."

"Good. If someone asks me about my romance with Lust one more time, I swear I'm going to throw something." He sighed. "Why can't the studio come up with some other publicity stunt for once?"

She simply shrugged. The publicity department's antics were beyond her comprehension. Mustang dropped her off at her apartment. "I'll see you tomorrow, Riza. Have a good night."

It was a relief when they finally got back to filming. Riza was much happier on set, even if it did mean half a dozen disasters before lunch. And oddly enough, Mustang seemed happier top. Of course, that could just be because he preferred to actually be acting than promoting his work. But things were good. The movie was coming along nicely. If things kept on schedule, they would be home just before the holiday season. And that meant they would be in Risembool for her birthday.

Not that Riza had noticed. She had been so busy with her job that the date had completely escaped her. However, other people had been paying attention. When the filming broke for lunch, Riza headed to the mess tent with the rest of the cast and crew. She had barely set foot inside when the chorus of "Happy Birthday" rang out.

Balloons, streamers, and a birthday cake all took center stage. It was mostly just the crew, but some of the cast members there too. Riza found a party hat on her head and a beaming Roy holding out her cake for her to blow out the candles. There was also a brief presentation of gifts, mostly from the other assistants. They were all fairly silly things like fuzzy slippers, novelty socks, and romance novels. Afterwards, Riza found herself tucked away in a quiet corner, sharing her cake with Roy.

"This is for you." He pushed a small wrapped box towards her.

"You didn't have to. Really, sir, the party was enough."

"I wanted to, Riza. And I thought you were calling me Roy," he teased. "Open your present.

She carefully peeled the green paper away to reveal a jewelry box. Easing the lid open, Riza found a carnelian rose strung on a braided leather cord.

"It's beautiful." She traced the open blossom with the tip of her finger.

"I'm glad you like it. Gracia said she thought it would suit you."

Riza made a mental note to do something especially nice for Mustang when his birthday came up. No one had done more than acknowledge her birthday in passing in since she was a teenager, let alone take the time to pick out a present they thought she would truly enjoy.

Filming continued to go smoothly, and they actually finished two days ahead of schedule. The two of them headed back to Central for Textbook Love's premiere and to start promoting Tales of the Rune Blade. Riza found herself grateful for the weekend break before they were thrown into a flurry of meetings, publicity events, pitches for new movies and TV shows, and holiday appearances. And of course there was also the normal holiday madness with Christmas shopping and decorating.

Shopping for all the various nieces and nephews was a nightmare in itself. All told there were twelve children, thirteen if you counted Elysia, and each other them got a gift from Uncle Roy. It became clear early on that Elysia was his favorite. She was the easiest to shop for though as Roy already knew she had developed a major interest in art. With the purchase of enough art supplies to last at least year taken care, they just had another twelve gifts to pick out. Riza found herself extremely grateful she had blocked off several days for the Christmas shopping.

By the end of the first day of shopping, they had managed to purchase four presents. Part of the problem was Roy being a very recognizable person. That was solved in part with sunglasses and a hat. The other part was that Roy was a wimpy shopper. They would barely get inside a shopping center before he would want to stop and get a snack. He would get tired after only visiting one or two stores and was forever getting distracted by random things. At least he was willing to carry the bags.

It took them nearly two full weeks of shopping trips to get all of his Christmas shopping done. It didn't help that she had to fit half a dozen events into the schedule that had 'suddenly come up'. Mustang was supposed to be on vacation for heaven's sake. And there was also the little problem of what to get him for Christmas. She honestly couldn't come up with an appropriate gift for her friend and boss. It was their relationship that was the problem. If he was just her boss, it would have been easy to find the obligatory gift. But he wasn't just her, boss and a tie or bottle of wine just wouldn't cut it. She wanted to get him something that was actually thoughtful.

That was easier said than done. Even enlisting Gracia Hughes' help didn't provide much enlightenment. It wasn't until the run in downtown that she even had an inkling. It had been an accident. Riza had been laughing too hard to notice where she was going and had walked right into the bastard. Kimbly had smirked down at her.

"Well, if it isn't little Riza Hawkeye. Still scraping by?"

Riza stumbled back. Fear and fury warred for dominance, and she knew she was vibrating with tension.

"Have you faced the truth yet, little girl?"

She honestly hadn't known if she was going to hit him or burst into tears. Roy had chosen that moment to appear at her side, asking about a gift for Gracia. His arm had gone around her shoulders and without a word led her out of the store. He led her to a local Starbucks and ordered them both large drinks.

"Riza?"

She sipped her hot tea. "His name is Zolf Kimbly. He was a student under my father. I never liked him, but he never really paid attention to me until my father died. Until I inherited all of Father's research. Most of it was still unpublished at the time. Kimbly knew I didn't have much in the way of marketable skills. He offered me a deal."

Roy squeezed her hand. He didn't press which she appreciated. He was the first to hear this story. There where others who knew of it and parts of it, but she had never actually told anyone before.

"He would provide for me if I gave him my father's research and my body. I told him never. He laughed and said it wouldn't be long before I was selling myself since I didn't have any other skills. I haven't seen him since."

To her complete surprise, Roy simply kissed the back of her hand. "I think you have to be one of the strongest people I know. And he's wrong, Riza. You've done just fine for yourself."

He coaxed her into talking about her father, and for the first time in years, Riza found herself remembering the good things from her past, not just the trials. And that had given her the idea for the perfect Christmas gift for Roy. Her father had an old silver pocket watch that had been left to her. Riza had no use for it and kept it in a box, but Roy hated wearing a wristwatch and was forever loosing track of time. The watch would suit him perfectly.

Riza survived the Christmas season, though just barely. She had been dragged to Christmas Eve dinner at Maes' and Gracia's. Roy wasn't there, being obligated to attend the annual Mustang Family meal, but he appeared at the Christmas Eve service, sliding into the pew beside her. Afterwards, she found herself walking home through the cold night air, feeling oddly content. Roy insisted on walking to her door which meant they had to pass under the mistletoe monstrosity hung by the building super.

Roy just laughed. "Merry Christmas, Riza."

He kissed her cheek and pressed a wrapped package into her hands. Her gift to him had been left under his tree after the Christmas tree trimming that Mustang had hosted.

"Merry Christmas, Roy."

She spent Christmas Day curled up on her couch with a cup of cocoa and her presents. Gracia and Maes had presented her with the full set of books by her favorite author. Roy's gift had been a gorgeous black leather jacket with a glove, hat and scarf set in burgundy lambs wool. They were both beautiful and practical which suited her perfectly.

New Year's brought a number of parties for Roy to attend and publicity events for Tales of the Rune Blade picked up. Textbook Love would premiere the weekend after New Year's, and Roy was beginning to fret about it. Not the movie, he seemed content with his performance there, but the premiere itself was wigging him out. Apparently, the problem was while he didn't want a date, showing up without one would cause as much trouble as going with one. As Riza really couldn't do much about the tendencies of the paparazzi and gossip columnists, she left the matter alone.

At least, until they got snowed in. It had started snowing, just little flurries, on their way back from a publicity event. They were heading back to Roy's place so he could change for a New Year's Eve party. By the time they'd reached the house, the air was filled with snow, and there was at least an inch and a half on the ground. In the half hour it took for Roy to get dressed for the party, another three inches had accumulated.

"We are not going out in that. I don't know about you, but I'm not comfortable driving in that much snow, and I don't have chains for my car yet." Roy sighed. "I kept putting it off since we hardly ever get snow."

"I'll let the host know you can't make it to the party." She frowned. "And order chains from the local dealership. Even if we don't get more snow, if this sticks, you'll still have to get around in it."

"I'll see what I've got in house to eat. We'll have a nice quiet night in and watch the fireworks on TV." He grinned at her startled look. "You didn't think I was going to let you go out there in that mess, did you?"

Knowing it was a battle she couldn't win, Riza surrendered gracefully and turned to the matter of tactfully explaining that one of the guests of honor wouldn't be making it to hottest party of the evening. Afterwards, she found him in the kitchen, puttering around the stove.

"There's not much in the house, but if you don't mind Xing food, I can offer a gourmet dinner." He flushed slightly. "My mother insists on making me a New Year's dinner box every year. She even left the stuff to make the proper New Year's noodles and rice cakes. I think it's her way of reminding her children where they come from."

They settled in front of the roaring fireplace with their meal. The snowfall had intensified into a real storm, but they paid it no mind. The lights flickered, but given the fireplace and the gas stove, Riza wasn't that worried. It was actually rather pleasant being curled up in front of the roaring fire with the snow falling outside and nothing really to do except relax and enjoy the weather.

As midnight neared, Riza found herself leaning against Roy's shoulder as the countdown to the New Year began.

Roy had started to play with her hair. "Come to the premiere with me?"

She blinked. "I'm already going, remember?"

"I meant as my date." He sounded serious.

"Why?" Riza scooted away from him so she could see his eyes.

"Because I enjoy your company. I know you won't mind when I make mocking comments about the movie. Because I know I don't have to put on an act for you. Because you make me laugh. Because I like you."

"All right." It was an easy answer. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but truthfully, it was something she wanted to try. Riza settled back against his shoulder.

What she hadn't realized was that going as Roy's date meant she needed a dress. After raiding her closet and a quick trip to the mall, Riza called upon Gracia for help. The other woman had simply made a few phone calls and dragged her off to a dressmaker. The next thing she knew Gracia and Sophia, the dressmaker, were draping lengths of fabric against her skin and comparing color swatches. Riza left the store unsure of what exactly had been accomplished, but Gracia seemed pleased. Of course, that didn't mean they were done with the shopping.

By the end of the day, Riza was exhausted and had more shopping bags than she knew what to do with. Gracia had been through, insisting on getting shoes, underwear, a wrap, and a purse. The dress would be delivered by the end of the week. The other woman had said she would take care of the jewelry.

The dress arrived two days before the premiere and at the same time as the butterflies in Riza's stomach. The dress was gorgeous. Claret brocade velvet that fell to her ankles, backless and off the shoulders with long sleeves. Riza took Gracia up on her offer to come over and help with the hair and make-up. When the other woman was done, Riza was half convinced it was some starlet staring back at her in the mirror, not her own reflection.

Half her hair had been braided and pulled into a loose bun while the rest became a tumble of ringlets down her back. Dark make-up highlighted her lips and eyes. Gracia had produced a collection of garnet and gold jewelry, everything from hair pins to necklaces, letting Riza make her own selections from it. Citrine and garnet teardrops dangled from her ears while another row of garnet teardrops adorned her neck.

"That can't be me."

Gracia just smiled. "I doubt anyone will question your presence at Roy's side now. Are you still nervous?"

"It's our first date."

"And you're going to a movie and a party afterwards. I wouldn't worry. Just treat it as a normal outing with Roy."

It was hard to remember that when she was being picked up by a limousine. Roy grinned sheepishly.

"I would have just picked you up, but the studio's insisting all the main characters arriving in style." He tugged on a curl. "You look gorgeous."

"Thank you."

"Ready to face the adoring crowds and insane members of the media?"

"No. Are you sure we can't go for a nice quiet dinner instead?"

He laughed. "As much as I love that idea, I'm afraid the studio would have my head if I don't show up. Just smile and ignore the screams."

Roy tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and the led her out of the limo. They hit the red carpet to be faced with a barrage of noise and flashing bulbs. They made their way down the carpet stopping only a few times, mostly so Roy could sign autographs for a few children, before making it inside and being escorted to their seats.

It wasn't a bad movie. It wasn't fabulous either, just your regular run of the mill romantic comedy, but it was suitable for a first date movie. Roy spent most of the film making snarky comments about various scenes. She found herself joining in, especially when they came to the one scene the crew had re-shot nearly forty times before the director was satisfied; the scene took up all of three minutes on the screen.

Afterwards, there was the press to deal with on their way to the party. Roy politely answered questions about his upcoming projects.

"I'm going to be playing a reoccurring role on CSI: Central, and I've been offered the role of King Arthur in the revival ofSpamalot. Other than that, I don't really have any projects in the works, but you never know."

Riza would have been willing to skip the party itself. Mostly, it consisted of brownnosing and one-upping between various celebrities. And Solaris Lust had been more than annoyed that the object of her affections had found someone else. Still, the food was good, and Winry and Edward, the younger pair of actors from the movie, were very nice to her. The limo let them off a block away from her apartment, and they meandered down the snowy street.

Roy walked her to her door. "So, would you have dinner me next Saturday?"

She bit her lip. "You have a charity event next Saturday. We're both free Thursday evening though."

"Great!" He beamed at her then darted in for a kiss. "I'll pick you up at seven."

A month later they had settled in a fairly normal relationship. Well, as normal as a movie star dating his assistant could be. Most of their "dates" were fairly low key affairs, but Riza was quite content. She was also pleased to note that their relationship wasn't affecting their work. Well, it wasn't effecting it adversely. If anything, they worked better together. However, right now Roy had a TV show episode to film, and woolgathering wasn't what she needed to be doing.

Roy handed her the script and a box wrapped with a silver ribbon before leaning down to kiss her. "Happy Valentine's Day, Riza."

She grinned, tucking the package into her pocket. "Get back to work. You have a late show interview tonight, and I want to have enough time after filming to have a nice dinner."

"Yes, dear."

She watched as she headed back on stage. Riza still wasn't sure how this was going to work out, but she was content with what she had. Her fingers caressed the velvet box in her pocket. Accepting this job might have been a spur the moment decision, but it had definitely paid off. She hadn't expected to find anything more than better working conditions, but Riza wouldn't complain about the results. After all, it's not every day a woman finds a job she loves and also ends up falling in love.