Thank you for your sweet comments, Nuzha. They always make my day, hope you like this chapter too!

Chapter 21

Feeling a warm ray of sunshine gently shower on her face, Riza stirred a bit before her honey hazel eyes slowly fluttered open. Though the heater in the hotel room was on, she still couldn't help but shudder as she felt coldness seep in her sleepwear (his shirt), and she covered her shoulders properly with the white blanket. She too, fixed the blankets of the dark-haired man who laid next to her, deep asleep.

Riza looked over to the clock that hung on the wall. 07:40.

She turned back to Roy and smiled, a smile full of affections and adoration as she stared at him, reminiscing what happened the previous night.

"Riza, are you really sure?" He asked while his lips travelled to her jaw and neck, pressing light, teasing kisses.

"Yes, Roy, I am. Please…" She nearly begged, biting her lip as he sucked on her neck.

He released his lips from her neck to look at her, then cradled her head in his palm.

She bit her lip and shook her head, confessing, "I admit, I was a bit shaken up after… what happened, and I am physically repulsed by that man and his brother. But, I'm not afraid… of anyone, of any man." She touched his forehead with hers and her voice reduced to a whisper. "Especially you."

His eyes widened a bit, before his lips curled up to a smile full of adoration and fondness, and he claimed her lips again, before his hands wandered to her back, and he pulled the zipper on her dress down slowly as their tongues tangled for a feverish kiss. He then pushed the dress down gently to her waist and he wrapped his arms around her waist, while she removed his dress shirt.

She let out a strangled moan when he sucked on her tongue, and her hands moved to the back of his head, her fingers gripping gently on his soft, black hair. Feeling out of breath, she unwillingly pulled away, and looked at him bashfully. "Ah!" She then yelped when he abruptly stood up while lifting her up in his arms. "What's wrong?" She asked breathlessly.

He chuckled, then smiled sheepishly. "My back aches a bit." He admitted as he moved to the head of the bed, and sat against the headboard while setting her on his lap.

"You're getting old, my dear General Mustang." She teased, her hands travelling south and wandered on his chest and abs, while her lips settled on his neck, kissing and gently biting on his pulse.

"Hmm, is that so?" He hummed, and she gasped when his fingers slid under her dress, and started stroking her through the thin layer of her underwear. But he immediately took his hand back when he realised she didn't gasp out of pleasure, and he placed his hands over hers. "Riza, I'm sorry… are you alright? If you don't feel ready or comfortable, I can stop."

She bit her lip, and shook her head as she clenched her fists. "No, don't stop. Don't… stop."

He knitted his brows when he felt her clenched fists shake, and he pulled her into a hug, burying her head in the crook of his neck as he rested his cheek on the crown of her head. "Don't force yourself, Riza." He whispered, "I wouldn't want to hurt you anymore."

She frowned, then wrapped her arms around him to hug him back, and muttered quietly. "… I'm sorry. I …" She tightened her hold around him. "I didn't want to let you down."

He pressed a kiss on her head, "Silly. Why would you?" He pulled her away to kiss her on the forehead and smiled a soft one, "Give yourself some time."

She stared at him, and nodded as her eyes softened. "Thank you," She returned the kiss on the forehead, and got off him, then the bed and heaved a sigh. "Well, now that I think about it, I need a shower." She touched her lips, "And wash my face properly."

He chuckled, and grinned and said jokingly, "Well, I certainly wouldn't mind joining you, my dear."

She joked back with a smirk, "Says the one who turned me down." She mocked a disappointed sigh and mentally laughed when she saw his flustered expression. "Ah. Roy," She called.

"Yes?"

She smiled a bashful one, her cheeks turning pink. "You wouldn't mind borrowing me your shirt, would you?"

A light chuckle escaped Riza's lips as she remembered how he gaped at her for a few seconds before stiffly nodding his head. She looked at the man next to her, at his peaceful expression before moving closer to him to press her lips lightly against his soft ones.

She gasped slightly when she felt a hand on her back pulling her closer to Roy, and the soft pair of lips on hers started to kiss her back. She closed her eyes as she placed an arm over his neck, and deepened the kiss by licking his lower lip and allowing him to slip his tongue into her mouth to entangle with hers.

The pulled away slightly due to the lack of oxygen, panting, their foreheads still touching. Roy's lips curved up to a smile, "Good morning."

"Good morning," She sighed, "Since when were you awake?"

"A little less than ten minutes before you were." He replied, and asked. "Ready to go home?"

"Can't wait," She said, and sat up to stretch her arms. "Come on," She patted his arm that was under the sheets, "Our train's leaving at nine-thirty. We still need to eat, and the hotel is half an hour away from the train station. Plus, we need to arrive there at least twenty minutes before the train departures."

He groaned and tried to pull her down, but she quickly scooted to the edge of the bed, making let out another groan, and he whined. "But Riza, I'm still tired~"

What a child, she thought to herself and walked to the closet to get her clothes before walking to the bathroom. She held the doorknob, and said as she closed the bathroom door, "Roy, there's no point lying down there if you're already awake."

He pouted at the closed door, before heaving a sigh and dragging his still sleepy and heavy body off the bed.

"The train doesn't go straight to central?" Roy asked when the settled down in the train cabin.

Riza sighed. "No, Roy. It goes to West City, and we'll arrive there at around half past twelve, in case you want to know. We then take another train from West City that goes to Central at fourteen hours, and we'll probably arrive there at sixteen hours." She raised a brow and teased, "How are you clueless about everything?"

He moved to the couch she was sitting on and before she could react, he held her tightly with an arm so she couldn't even budge, and he poked her side, making her yelp. "Clueless, you say?" His lips twisted up to a smirk as he kept tickling her sides, making her squirm helplessly in his arms. "Should I mark that as insubordination, for speaking to your superior officer with that attitude? Hmm, Colonel Hawkeye?"

"Roy… Stop -Ah!" She said between breathless laughter, and squealed when he squeezed her.

He chuckled and leaned down and spoke in her ear, his warm breath fanning over the shell of her ear. "Hush, darling, people might get the wrong idea if you keep crying like that."

She bit her lip and glared at him, and forced out. "I did not cry-" She bit her lip harder when he poked her ribs to stop the yelp from escaping her mouth.

When he finally let her go, she rested her head on the glass window and panted slightly, but kept glaring at him, making him laugh lightly. "Sorry, darling, but you were just too cute." He said with an apologetic and sheepish smile as he pulled her back into his arms.

"I thought you were tired." She huffed, but made no move to push him away as she crossed her arms. Feeling slightly drowsy from the rhythmic sounds of the train wheels and from the warmness radiated from Roy's arms, her eyelids fluttered shut, and she nodded off to sleep.

Riza cracked an eye open when she felt someone stir her not so roughly, pulling her out of her land of sleep, and she let out a tiny yawn before fully opening her eyes and spoke groggily, "Roy…?"

"We're here, Riza." Roy said as he stood to wear his coat that he placed over and covered Riza when she was napping.

"I fell asleep?" She asked with wonder as they took their suitcases down from the stand, and she murmured, "Didn't think I actually would. Did you sleep?"

"Nope," He replied. "Someone has to keep watch."

"Oh. Sorry." She said sheepishly as she followed him out of the train, and stretched her arms and back once they got out.

"No, it's fine." He said with a grin. "Where do you want to have lunch?"

She hummed as she wondered, "Hmm, I don't particularly mind anything. We can walk around the city centre and find a restaurant or something."

He nodded and they walked out of the strain station.

Roy tapped Riza on the shoulder when he spotted a familiar looking child sitting in a sophisticatedly designed yet cozy-looking café. He spoke with a slightly surprised tone when Riza raised a brow at him, "Look, that little boy over there."

She turned to look at the direction he gestured. "Hmm? Ah! That child… Gerald!" She pulled on Roy's arm and started to walk quickly towards Gerald's direction. "Miss Hannah told me that she was planning to run a café, at February."

Roy hummed as he followed her wordlessly, and she opened the café door.

"Hello- Ah!" A woman standing next to the counter greeted them merrily, but exclaimed when she saw the couple. "Miss Elizabeth! Mister Roy!"

"Miss Hannah." Riza greeted back happily while Roy offered a smile and squatted down to ruffle the little boy's hair when he skipped over to them. "How have you been? When did you open the café?"

"Just three days ago. Go ahead and have a seat, I'll go get you the menu." Hannah said as she ushered them to sit down, then went to the counter to get two menus.

The two settled at a table with two small round couches near the glass wall, and Riza thanked her when she passed them the menu.

"I'll have croque monsieur and peppermint tea." Riza said after scanning the menu.

"Spinach quiche and vanilla cappuccino for me then." Roy said.

Hannah wrote the order down, and thanked them a bright smile as she took the menu back.

"She seems a lot happier here." Roy commented, while peering at Hannah as she happily hummed to herself in the kitchenette.

"I suppose anyone would be if they finally got rid of their abusive spouse, and is able to work with a job that involves their hobbies." Riza replied, then adverted her attention to him. "You really like spinach quiche, don't you?"

He blinked at the blonde-haired woman, and his eyes softened. "Yeah, I do."

She knitted her brows when he stayed quiet, and she opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but he looked back up at him and shook his head with a smile as he placed a hand over hers.

"It's a really nice place, here, isn't it?" Roy said after a while of silence.

"Tis." She agreed, and looked out of the glass wall, watching the warm and peaceful view of the city centre.

Roy stared at her, and spoke. "Riza-"

"Riza?"

The two turned their heads, and saw Hannah place their orders down on the table. She smiled sheepishly, "I'm sorry, it's just that I've only heard you call her Elizabeth. Ah, I've made you wait, you here go; Croque monsieur and peppermint tea for Miss Elizabeth, spinach quiche and vanilla latte for Mister Roy. Enjoy!"

They thanked her and they dug into their meals. "Tastes wonderful," Riza commented, her mood brightening as she looked up at him from her dish. She chuckled lightly when she saw a foam moustache. She tapped her upper lip when he cocked his head to the side and looked at her questioningly.

He stretched his tongue out and gave his upper lip a cautious lick. "Ah, foam mustache." He grinned suggestively at her as he wiggled his brows playfully, "Would you like to get it off me?"

She raised a brow and huffed lightly, and reached a hand out to cup his cheek, then wiped the foam harshly with her thumb, and he bit his lip to stifle a yelp that threatened to escape from his lips. He pouted, "Your nail scratched me."

She let out a small wince when she noticed a tiny, faint red slash above his upper lip, and she smiled sheepishly and apologetically while caressing the mark gently. "Now that you mentioned it, I haven't cut my nails in ages." She said as she looked at her fingertips.

"They're not that long, compared to some other women I know." Roy commented casually.

"Hmm… Is that so?" Riza hummed idly as she sipped on her hot tea, but an eyebrow rose as her honey hazel eyes stared into his onyx ones.

His lips curled up to a nervous smile, and he chuckled, raising his hands slightly in defeat. "I didn't mean anything. And I was referring to the ladies who work for Madame."

She hummed again, and finished the last bite of her croque monsieur, "Yes, yes, I know. Are you done? It's almost time for us to leave."

He nodded, and she walked over to the counter with her wallet, where Hannah was, with Gerald. Hannah lifted her eyes from Gerald and looked at Riza. "Miss Elizabeth! Leaving already? How was the meal?"

"Divine. Wonderful, thank you very much." Riza replied, "And yes, I'm leaving now. How much was it?"

"Ah, it's alright, don't pay." Hannah said, waving her hand, gesturing. "You've done so much for me and my son, please let me at least treat you lunch."

Riza's brows knitted as she looked at her with uncertainty, but sighed when she insisted. Riza smiled. "Alright. Thank you. Again."

Hannah returned the smile, and the two women shared a brief hug before bidding farewell. Riza and Roy then left the store as he waved thanks.

"Phew, I'm beat." Roy said as he heaved a tired sigh, while sitting next to Riza on the train, and he wrapped an arm around her.

"From taking trains?" Riza asked with a light laugh as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Hard to think that you're a soldier."

He pouted, then his lips curled to a grin as his arm moved down to poke her side- She quickly stood up and moved to the opposite seat before he could touch her, and she raised a brow at him with a scowl. "Not again, Roy."

The pout returned to his lips, and he crossed his arms childishly. "How are you so fast… Well, as expected of you."

Riza simply scoffed before looking out the window quietly, looking at the view. She then hummed, her tone tranquil with a hint of longing, "Roy…"

"Hmm?" Hearing his name, he turned to face her.

"Oh, nothing." She said with a bashful smile, her cheeks tinted pink before she admitted, "I'm just thinking how I won't be able to call you by your first name anymore when we get back to central." Her hazel eyes softened, a gentle smile hanging on her soft, pink lips. "…I'll miss it."

The sunlight radiated through the window, and her eyes shone brightly while her long, wheat blonde hair glittered to a light shade of gold, completely taking his breath away. His heart fluttered again at the sight and at her words.

He reached a hand out to hold hers, and lightly pulled her towards him to sit her on his lap. With an arm around her waist, he cupped her cheek with the other hand and pulled her face towards him, gently pressing his lips against hers.

Returning the kiss immediately, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and deepened the kiss till they were both breathless. "Riza… I'll miss being able to say your name too." He murmured against her lips.

"Roy." She called again, and a single teardrop formed in the corner of her eyes as she tried to stifle a sob. "I haven't even thank you for being there for me in West City. Thank you. Thank you, for everything. What would I be able to do without you?"

He wiped the teardrop as it rolled down her cheek when she batted her eyes. "I should be the one to thank you, Riza. You make me less useless in rainy days."

She laughed, and kissed his forehead, before placing her lips back on his.

They let go of each other reluctantly when the train arrived Central, and they gave each other a glance as they took their suitcases and stepped out of the train.

They turned to face each other when they walked further away from the crowd, a not so visible smile hanging on their lips. "Well, Colonel." Roy said, his eyes fixated on hers. "I'll see you tomorrow at work."

"Yes, sir." She raised her right hand for a salute, then she grinned. "Please don't be late to work, General."

He chuckled. "Okay, Colonel Hawkeye."

"Well, see you tomorrow, sir." The grin softened to a smile, and she turned to leave.

"See you." He waved as he watched her graceful form, then walked away. His smile widened ever so slightly. Riza.

A/N: Happy (very late) Chinese New Year to the ones who celebrate it :)

Not really content with this chapter, to be honest. I feel like i pack way too many things in a chapter, and the ending was kind of sloppy. Oh well.

This is the second last chapter of the story, so there's one more to go! It's an epilogue (sort of). Well, hope you enjoyed reading this chapter!