It has been years since Emmaline Hawkeye's death. Riza was now 15 years old. She was down at the kitchen preparing her father's lunch. She made him something to eat and she also prepared him some coffee. She quickly dropped it off in his office and without a word from her father she left. She sighed as she sat down in front of a table. Her mother's guns were all lined up in front of her. She didn't remember much of her mother. All she remembered was how she smelled of lavender, the sound of her voice when she sang her to sleep, and when she would practice with her guns. She didn't have many; she only had two handguns and a rifle. Riza had a certain connection to the guns. She liked to practice with them like her mother did before her. Today she was going to take some time to clean all of her guns. She sat down and picked up her first hand gun. She started pulling it apart when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Riza stood up to get the door. When she opened it she saw a boy, not much older than her. He looked about 18 or 19 years old. He had dark hair and dark eyes.

"Hello Ms. Is Berthold Hawkeye in the house by any chance?"

"Yes, come in." Riza said letting the boy inside.

He stepped inside and waited for Riza to close the door.

"I'm Mustang by the way, Roy Mustang." He said extending his hand.

Riza took his hand and shook it.

"Riza Hawkeye. Nice to make your acquaintance Mr. Mustang."

"Pleasure is all mine Ms. Hawkeye."

"Riza who was at the door?" Berthold said looking down from the stairs at the pair of teenagers.

"Um father, this young man is here to see you." Riza answered.

Berthold climbed down the stairs and stood in front of the young man.

"Roy Mustang, a pleasure to meet you sir." He said extending his hand for a handshake.

Berthold looked at the boy's hand and didn't even bother to shake it.

"So what are you doing here?" Berthold asked the boy.

Mustang awkwardly put his hand down.

"Um… you see sir, I've come here to ask if you could take me on as your apprentice."

"No." Berthold flatly refused.

"No! Why?" Mustang asked.

"I don't take students. Now get out of here and look somewhere else."

"But I want you to teach me."

"And I already refused. Show Mr. Mustang out the door Riza." He said as he retreated back to his study.

"I'm sorry Mr. Mustang." Riza whispered as she opened the door for him.

"It's ok Ms. Hawkeye. I'll wait outside as long as it takes for him to change his mind!" Roy yelled.

Roy stood outside of the Hawkeye residence. He stood there for hours. And hours turned to days. He would only leave to change and grab something to eat. But he would soon be back to the house to wait. The kid was tenacious, no doubt about it. Riza admired such dedication. She even found him slightly cute. Today was Mustang's third day waiting outside of the Hawkeye house. It was afternoon when suddenly a drop of water falls out of the sky. And soon after that, it's pouring cats and dogs. Riza peeked out the window to see if Mustang was still there. And effectively he was. Sitting outside in the grass looking like an abandoned puppy. Riza wanted to do nothing more than to invite him inside and get him out of the rain. But her father ordered her to ignore Mustang and leave him outside.

"Call him in." Berthold said from behind Riza.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yes. Get him a towel and invite him inside."

Riza quickly grabbed a towel and opened the front door.

"Please come inside Mr. Mustang." Riza invited.

Roy looked over and saw the blond young girl inviting him inside. He quickly stood up and walked inside. Roy was soaking wet. She handed him over the towel and he started drying himself off.

"I'll take you on as my apprentice Mr. Mustang. You will move inside my home until I deem you ready. And your training starts tomorrow at dawn." Berthold said as he retired to his office.

"Thank you sir!"

"Yeah sure boy. Just make sure you don't disappoint me."

"I wont!" Mustang assured.