Thank you for all the support! I'm sorry for the delay in updating. I changed things around, and the negative review got to me a little. I hope you like this!
Two Days Later
It was a big day for the two alchemists: newly appointed Fuehrer Grumman was coming for a visit. Silver watched as a bandaged hand rhythmically squeezed a palm sized ball. The blue material stretched slightly as Mustang tried to put all the strength he could into the squeeze, but it hurt. His right hand had failed the examination and needed a few more days of observation with physical therapy. If Mustang failed the exam again then he'd need an alchemist that specialized in bioalchemy or an experimental surgery, maybe even automail. However, those dreary options didn't stop the older from doing his exercises whenever possible. Sweat slid down his face at the exertion, which embarrassed Roy because nothing this easy should be so hard.
"You're doing good, just a few more squeezes left, and you're done!"
"I know," grunted Mustang. His right hand felt on fire as the pain bloomed more and more. However, he pushed on because the confidence his wife bestowed him was all that the Flame needed. When he finished, the dark-haired alchemist panted slightly as the pale hand collapsed on the bedsheets. "Thanks for being my personal cheer squad."
"Always and forever."
Obsidian looked over to see silver gleaming back. It was nice to see the female alchemist up and more energetic than a few days ago; Mustang was able to see the progression of his wife's time being awake. A pale hand wiped at the sweat. "You're the primary reason I'm still striving for the top, why I won't stop. Then again, we have a child now . . . So, that means I have more reason to keep going; more reason to protect."
"Speaking of our son, my mother should be arriving in Central by the end of the day with him," smiled M.J, she missed her baby. "I wonder how big he's grown in the nearly three weeks since I left Royce in Aerugo with mom. He has your plump cheeks, which I hope he retains into adulthood. Oh, and I wonder if his eyes have shifted to a more permeant color."
Roy had questions, many questions when it came to the topic of his wife hiding the pregnancy of their child from him. However, the Colonel had sworn during the first few days of darkness that he would never hurt his wife again and would accept whatever she did because in the end M.J always had a logical reason for everything she did, aside from being ordered by the military. "I remember Hughes saying that a baby's eye color can keep changing until said baby is three, but, then again, Elysia's eyes settled about eight months after she was born. I just can't believe we have a child."
"I'm surprised as well, but you two should focus on the meeting with Fuehrer Grumman in an hour."
Both alchemists looked up to see stern cognac eyes and loose blonder hair swaying behind stiff shoulders. "Riza," greeted the two.
"What's this I hear about a baby?"
"Well, you're a godmother," smiled Roy, who had a wide goofy grin on them. "Can you believe that? A baby? I'm a father!" The usually steady heart of Riza Hawkeye shattered at the words. Her world spun as it dissolved. A baby was more reason for the Lieutenant to realize the full weight of the situation: she would never have Roy Mustang as her own. Her trimmed nails pressed indents within her palms as the words fully sank in. Foxtrot noted the few signals that Riza gave off: shoulders drooped slightly, eyes fell to the floor, and her friend's hand clenched and trembled. Thus, Mackenzie yanked the bedsheets off her and swung her slim legs over the side of the bed. Once her feet touched the cold ground her body almost fell towards the ground, but with will the Quicksilver Alchemist stayed upright. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Love, I have enough dignity to use the bathroom without a bedpan now that I'm up and regaining energy." With shaky steps, M.J wobbled out into the hallway and closed the door, effectively leaving the subordinate with the commanding officer.
The dark-haired man looked at the obviously emotionally wounded woman. "I hurt you again, didn't I." It wasn't a question, but a statement. "I never meant to hurt you, but I know that you've possessed feelings for me for quite some time now. However, I'm only good at hurting you, which would go against the promise I made to your father. That is one reason why we would never have worked."
"Permission to speak freely, Sir?"
"Neither of us are in uniform, nor are we in office, but permission granted."
"You hurt the one you claim to love, as well as feeling like you two are strangers at times. How is that not similar to the promise you made to my father?"
Roy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, while bringing his free arm up to cross against a broad chest. "It may sound similar, even look it, but at the core it's not. I fell in love with Mackenzie the first time I saw her, granted I didn't know what the feeling that I felt at the time was. It wasn't until I tried to kill myself and she took the flames onto herself that I fully realized my feelings for her." Riza's eyes widened because she never knew that the man she had loved for years had tried to kill himself. "Judging from your expression, you never knew about that. It's alright. If you had done the same thing that M.J did, then I know you would have done it for the sake of my goals and not for m-"
"You're wrong! I would have done the exact same for the same reason. I do love you, and you do somewhere because down under Central Command you embraced me and fought to save me."
"Then, would you have run from your apartment in your bare feet to my apartment? What about taking the flames that were meant to kill me? Those flames would have burned you to a crisp within seconds. Would you have done that?"
"I would have," replied Riza instantly.
"But why would you do that? Because you love me? Or because you want me to continue on my path to becoming the Fuehrer, which means you would be upholding your promise to me. In that instant it would be by watching my back from myself." The breath within Riza's lungs halted and stuck itself within her throat. The blonde didn't know what to think or to answer the question fully. "Your hesitation speaks volumes about your answer: you would have stopped me because the promise. Do you want me to be honest with you, Lieutenant?"
"Sir," whispered the blonde.
Midnight locks splayed hazardously over deep blue eyes that stared into flickering cognac eyes. "I've known you for years: way back when I was just starting out in my alchemic training. In all honesty, I think you "love me" because I've been the only stable man in your life until now. Your father, Master Hawkeye, left you alone when you needed him most for his alchemy, which only worsened when he tattooed your back with his work. Since then, I have been the most stable man in your life: I have been with you in battle, given you purpose to keep living, and have done everything in my power to help you whenever I could." Mustang looked at his open right hand and twitched his fingers. It hurt to tell his subordinate this, but it was the truth that he had observed until now. "I do love you, but not in the way you want; my love for you is familial – like a sibling. We never would have worked, Riza. Maybe if it were completely different circumstances we could have the life you desire, but in this life a relationship between us would not work."
"Th-"
"And for under Central Command: it goes back to the promise I made to your father. My reaction can also be attributed to the familial feelings I hold for you because I do view you as my family.
"Is it because we're subordinate and superior?"
Roy peeked at the woman and saw that she was trembling slightly, while tears had gathered in the corner of her eyes. She was holding it all in and hoping. "For me? No. Something that trivial wouldn't have stopped me from pursuing you if I felt the way for you that I do for M.J."
That was it. All the truth and reasoning to why Mustang wouldn't have wanted her. It was all out in the open now for the Lieutenant to digest. "I see, Sir. If that's the case, then thank you for being frank with me." Riza turned on her heel and made her way to the door.
"Thank you for everything you do for me, Riza. I'm sorry about all of this and I know it seems unfair, but I'm glad you have my back and that I can trust you with my life. Hell, I trust you with the life of my wife and my son."
"Sir."
Hawkeye turned the knob and walked out of the room. In a way, her shoulders felt lighter like a burden had been lifted from her. The airiness she felt was like a breath of fresh air. Riza smiled inwardly because now she can finally be free of Roy Mustang and the unrequited love she desired.
Silver watched as blonder soldier left. "She seems . . . lighter, relieved."
"What's that dear?" a nurse looked up from her paperwork towards the alchemist.
"Nothing important, just an observation."
"Okay."
Mackenzie wobbled her way back into the hospital room and the atmosphere felt heavy, but there was a sense of relief combing from her husband. "Roy?" The female alchemist questioned as she shut the door. "Is everything alright?"
Dark eyes blinked before looking towards the source of question. A small smile played on the Flame's lips, but it seemed sad. "Yeah, things were finally said and straightened out between Riza and I. It's relieving for me, so I hope she can finally be free of me in that aspect."
"She seemed happier, like a weight was taken off her shoulders when she left. I think that she'll be alright because Riza has a good head on her shoulders." The Quicksilver Alchemist had no idea what transpired between the two, and she knew better than to ask.
"Yeah, Riza will be alright."
The pair smiled at each other, while Foxtrot finally made her way to Roy's bedside. However, the repetitive echo of synched footsteps got louder and louder. Two opposing eye colors glanced at the door and saw shadowy figures walking past - four in all. Then, the footsteps stopped just outside the door. There was a beat of silence before another, and familiar, figure outline peered through the clouded glass. A firm hand knocked on the wooden portion of the door; the rhythm of the knock was familiar to Mustang. Thankfully, the length that the individual knocked was enough time to give Quicksilver enough to time to at least sit on her own bed.
As the door opened the accustomed peaks of former General Grumman's balding head came into view before he closed the door. His glasses reflected the light that filtered within the open window. "General Mackenzie Foxtrot, the Quicksilver Alchemist," framed eyes glanced towards the male alchemist, "Brigadier General Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist."
"Fuehrer King Grumman, Sir!" Mustang and Foxtrot saluted from their seated positions.
"I hear you both are recovering nicely from your injuries, which is good to hear because I believe we all have plans to move this country into a new era." Grumman walked over and sat in the chair to the right of Mustang's bed, which was, ironically, between the two alchemists. "A better one than the last."
"If I may, Fuehrer Grumman," inquired Mustang, "What plans do you have for us?"
"I've heard through the grapevine that you want to help and assist the recovery of Ishval and her people. So, I want you to go to the East and Ishval to rebuild itself." The dark-haired alchemist nodded thoughtfully because Mustang did want to rebuild the East and to atone for his sins. "I believe that Major General Armstrong can hold down the Northern border."
"Sir, we still have Creta to the West and Aerugo to the South."
Blue eyes skirted towards Quicksilver. "That's correct, General." The older settled back in his seat lazily. "I was thinking of sending you to those nations in order to setup relations, seeing you have ties to both countries: you were raised in Creta and Aerugo for parts of your life. You'd be the prime candidate for Aerugo at the very least."
Mackenzie averted her eyes from the leader of the nation. Honestly, the alchemist didn't know what to think. The whole situation made things pull at her in various ways. For instance, her husband would be in the East, close to the desert, and she would be somewhat close in Aerugo, but in Creta they would be a nation away from each other. Foxtrot had to think about their son, Royce. "He needs his father in his life . . . And Roy needs his son close. But what about my goals?"
"Is everything alright?" asked Mustang. He knew that his wife was thinking of something that was causing her some internal grief. This was the only way he could address the problem with someone that didn't know about their relationship in the same room as them. "General Foxtrot?"
Silver looked to the left. A deep breath entered Mackenzie's lungs as she resigned herself to the fate she had just accepted. "Fuehrer King Grumman, Sir," addressed the alchemist, "I would like to resign my rank and position within the military."
"What's this about, General Foxtrot?" Grumman's eyebrows rose up and would've touched his hairline if he still had one. "Explain." It was an order.
"Sir, while I was away on sick leave in Aerugo my cousin caught the same disease as my mother had. However, she succumbed to the illness due to pregnancy. As of now, I am the lawful guardian of her cousin."
"Is that so?" The older raised his wrinkled hand to his chin, while his right foot was brought up to rest on his left knee. "I don't see why you can't have an infant with you when said infant is at the age it's safe for travel. I mean, it might look good for us to show that our military members can be caring and nurturing; it could show that our country isn't just military based, but something else."
Foxtrot ran her tongue over her teeth in irritation. She did not want her child to be used as poster child for building relations between nations. "I respectively decline, Sir, because Aerugo and Creta are not as volatile as Ishval and her people. If anything, Brigadier General Mustang and I are main reason to why the Ishvalan people no longer have a home and why so many are no longer in this world. Therefore, I want to help Brigadier General Mustang in rebuilding Ishval, then we can proceed to forge relations with Aerugo and Creta."
"Hmmmm . . . "The older hummed, while he twirled his mustache. All the while, Mustang looked at his wife because the Flame knew what she was trying to do: keep them together. "How about this ultimatum: you can help General Mustang in the East, but on the side you must build relations with Aerugo due to the country being relatively close to Ishval. Is that fair?
The youngest in the room thought over the proposal for a few minutes. Mackenzie could bring their son and be with Roy in Ishval, while atoning for their sins. "My retirement?" She peeked through the corner of her eye to look at Roy, who seemed perplexed about the proposal.
"Not necessary as long as you and Mustang stay together to raise your baby."
"You knew?" exhaled Mustang. "But how?"
"I have my own sources to gather information, General Mustang. You should know that, seeing I pretty much taught what the ropes," laughed Grumman. The damn former General really could outfox the pair of alchemists when it was least expected. "Don't get me wrong, I was upset that you didn't chose my granddaughter, but to have the Quicksilver Alchemist by your side is just as good – I guess. So, I can't just rip a family apart, but I did want to see what you were willing to do if you were "ordered" to be apart."
"How did you know about my son?" asked Foxtrot. "I tried hard to keep him a secret."
"You're not the only one with connections with Aerugo, but I was able to keep an eye on you since your sporadic missions from here to everywhere that Bradley sent you on before you left for medical leave. Not to mention three months leave is a long time for any high ranking officer to take without a good reason. So, it was worth looking into."
The younger sighed and looked down her lap. She couldn't believe that Grumman was able to figure it out, but he did teach Roy how to look like an incompetent officer when he was actually extremely intelligent and calculating. "Thank you, Grumman. Thank you for keeping my family together."
"Yes," whispered Roy, "Thank you so much for everything you done."
"Well, aren't we all sappy now! But, you both are too valuable to lose. Your intelligent and military prowess, along with Major General Armstrong, is needed for this country to move onto a better path. And, when Ishval is fully restored I will hand over the position of fuehrer to you, Mustang. Apologizes, Foxtrot. However, I can promise you both that I will not tell the others within the military, so your secret is safe with me. Just promise me that you two will eventually come out with your relationship when Mustang's at the top." The tone Grumman used wasn't a question, but a command.
"None taken, Sir," replied Quicksilver. Mustang just looked at Grumman as his words went "I have no interest in the position for myself because I have a different ambition. However, what about Armstrong? I know that she was a bid for the top."
"The Ice Queen of the North. No one else can do what she does in Briggs and I feel that her view on life would not be suited for Central and her people, especially if the plan is to move Amestris to a democratic nation once again."
Mackenzie looked up and over to her husband. "It's up to you. I have your back no matter what." Slim fingers that had harsh tan lines encasing them traced over the silver bar necklace that rested over the light blue hospital top.
"I don't think a man could ever be so lucky to have such a woman like you in my life, nor a chance to change his nation for the better."
A Few Days Later
"You ready?" smiled Mackenzie. Her heart was beating loudly as the she stood by Mustang and the pair were walking up to her apartment. The downstairs light were on and the female alchemist knew who was in her apartment, Mackenzie couldn't wait to have her child back in her arms. "Royce is just inside."
An unsteady laugh escaped Roy's lips. "I'm a little nervous. What if he hates me?"
"Royce is not even a month old, love," assured Foxtrot, "He'll love you. I'm sure of it."
"What about my hands?"
"Knox said the right just needed those physical exercises to help it out, and if you keep up the exercises your hands will get better on their own. And," Mackenzie stopped her husband from asking another question, "If you're afraid of dropping him you can sit with Royce for now. When your confidence gets up and back to normal you can carry our son like normal fathers."
The dark-haired alchemist stopped in front of the door and gripped his wife's hand. He took a deep breath to relieve the tension from his body. "I'm ready."
Mackenzie opened the door and wonderful aromas danced around them. "Hmmmm, mom's cooking." Quickly, the female alchemist walked inside and looked for her baby, not even realizing that Mustang followed close behind her after he shut the door. She heard the soft coos that were Royce's words for now and followed them. Silver landed on a wicker bassinet that rested on the island in the kitchen. The shock of thick dark hair was visible against pale skin. "Royce," whispered Mackenzie as she scooped her son into her thin arms, "I missed you so much baby. So very much. Mommy missed you." Ringless fingers cupped the boy's head and ran back and forth against the dark locks. The baby made a slight noise in the back of his throat, but he knew the scent that surrounded his noise.
The male alchemist stood close, but kept a calculated distance and just observed the child in his wife's arms. Roy looked over the baby and noted the dark and thick hair that rested against the crown of the infant's head; it was thick and relatively long for a not-even-one-month-old. However, it was when the Brigadier General saw the baby's face that he connected the dots and it all became real. Royce definitely had the same eye shape, nose, and chin that graced Roy's own face. Not to mention that his son was most likely going to possess the chubby baby faced that had plagued Roy for years, giving the older his younger appearance. Yeah, there son was going to be a looker when he got older, even if the infant was wearing a dark blue baby's dress for the time. Without realizing it, Mustang's fingers traced the baby's cheek, who looked in the direction of the touch. The eyes were a strong shade of blue, almost like Elysia's were when she was just an infant.
"This is your daddy, Royce," cooed the younger, "Yeah, he's so excited to meet you! I'm sure you're just as excited to meet him after hearing all the stories of your daddy."
"What are you-" Roy stopped as the confusion washed away, and the heavy weight of his son was resting against his chest and within his arms. The weight was warm and heavier than Roy expected, but it was welcomed. Muscular arms encased the small former closer, while uncoordinated legs twitched slightly. "Wow," breathed Mustang. The younger moved slightly in his father's grip, but settled and cooed.
"I think he likes you."
"I can't believe this. We're parents." A bandaged hand clumsily ran up and down the small warm back, while Mustang secured his other arm firmly under the infant's bottom. It amazed Mustang that his whole hand could cover nearly the full backside of his son; his finger curled over the natural curvature of Royce's hip.
"We're a family."
"Yeah," smiled Roy, "Yeah we are." The older withdrew his hand from Royce's back and caressed it against his wife's cheek. His thumb traced around plump lips. "Thank you for such a wonderful thing: a beautiful son, a wonderful woman to be by my side, and a good life. You are my forever."
"You will always be my light when all is lost to the dark, as well our children will be like the stars in the sky." No more words had to be said, for Mustang leaned down and kissed Mackenzie.
That was their first kiss as a family, where all fears and doubts were tossed away into the wind.
So, I'm thinking maybe another chapter or two. If you like it please review, if you don't then don't say anything at all.