For the third time, Reyna thumbed through every single piece of clothing she owned that was hanging in the closet. She had no idea what to wear. Nothing seemed quite right for such a special occasion. She had managed to pick out her bra and panties along with a slip she was wearing over them. Those didn't really matter because no one would be seeing them anyway. She vacillated endlessly over her choice of outfit for this truly once in a lifetime day.
Her eyes paused on her uniform before sliding to the small arsenal of weapons that hung on the interior wall of the closet. Going in uniform and armed to the hilt would enable her to protect Roy. But it could also provoke a skirmish being seen as a show of hostility toward the naysayers who had already voiced their disdain for the new Fuhrer. She feared for Roy's safety and would rather skip the formal induction ceremony to officially declare him Fuhrer. However, it was an extremely important ceremony to present the incoming leader of Amestris to not only the people of the country but to the military as well. Certain military entities needed to be reminded in no uncertain terms that they have a new Fuhrer and should respect him as such.
"Reyna, honey, we should be leaving soon," Roy reminded her, pulling his gold Alchemist's pocket watch out of the nice little pocket of his dress uniform made for holding it. He made quite a show of flipping open the watch, glaring disapprovingly at the face, and snapping it shut again.
The man had a flare for drama sometimes. In his youth it had made him appear sullen, brooding; the epitome of the strong, silent type. At the moment, his wife found it nerve wracking.
"I know, I know," she murmured, her stomach twisting into knots of apprehension. An unexpected cramp hit her with enough force to drive her to her knees. She wrapped her arms around her belly, folding her body over her knees that ached from hitting the wooden floor. Lately she had developed annoying bouts of nausea followed by unprompted belly aches. She had chalked it up to nerves due to the impending ceremony. Once this big to-do was over, she was sure her body would return to normal.
"Reyna!" Roy exclaimed in surprise, dropping down beside her. He put his arms around her, pushing his hand in between hers to press it against the middle of her lower abdomen. "Does it hurt here?" He pressed more firmly, and she winced while hissing in pain to verify he had hit a sore spot. "We should take you to the hospital."
"No. That's not necessary. I'm all right," she grunted through gritted teeth when another strong cramp squeezed her stomach. "I'm just very nervous. I'm sorry."
"If you need to go to the hospital, we can postpone the ceremony," he argued.
"I'm all right, I'm all right," she assured him, waving her hand dismissively. She shakily stood to her feet with assistance from her husband while the pain still held her in its iron hard grip. Her hand extended toward her uniform. "I need to get ready."
"No, not that," Roy said, pushing her hand away from the clothes she always wore when she prepared to engage in a serious fight. Besides, he hated that uniform. He had seen her almost get killed while wearing that damned uniform. He could not bear to see her wearing that today. Not today. There would be no fighting or death today. It would be a day of celebration. They had been waiting for this day for many, many years. Precautions had been taken and plans had been made. Everything was going to be perfect.
"I need to be able to protect you. I should wear it. Just in case of - " She grabbed for the uniform, but he seized her wrist.
"No. There will be others there to protect me. My whole unit will be surrounding us. Along with the Elrics, Armstrong, and many others. I will be well protected. Without your help," he added, pulling her hand away when she stubbornly reached for it again.
He turned her toward him, sliding his fingers through her hair that was still impossibly short. Although he missed her long hair, the way she looked now was the most beautiful she had ever been to him. She practically glowed. Her cheeks had lost the sallow appearance, and she no longer looked so tired. Delicately placing a kiss on her forehead, he pulled her into his chest for a loving embrace. He would prefer to stay right here holding her this way and never let her go. But they must go so he could make his acceptance speech. At least they would be going together.
"Today, I need you to be my wife. You're not a soldier, a bodyguard, or an Alchemist. You're the woman I love, the woman I need by my side to support me," he said, pressing his forehead to hers. "I need you to be my strength, my guide. I need you to help me get through this."
"Oh, Roy," she murmured, hugging him tightly in return.
Reyna sighed when his gloved hands slid up her neck, his fingers gripping her jaw to tilt her head back. Her arms encircled his waist when he kissed her with fervor. He had always been able to take her breath away with a kiss. She embraced him heartily after his mouth lifted from hers.
"I'll leave now so you can get dressed," he whispered, nuzzling her nose with his.
Turning her back to him as he left, Reyna glimpsed over every piece of clothing one more time. She choose the dark purple floor length formal dress she thought she would never wear. The dress reminded her of gowns from the Victorian Era with the tight bodice like top and wide flowing skirt comprised of layers of black lace and purple silk that brushed the floor. The gown was sleeveless but there was a long sleeved black jacket to wear over it that was nearly as long as the dress itself and buttoned across her abdomen with three large buttons. Once she had crammed her body into the tight fitting top she could barely breathe.
"Have I gained weight? What the hell is going on?" she muttered irritably, pressing her hands to her belly. Her abdomen was still flat, and she didn't look any bigger but something had definitely changed. Her cheeks bore little spots of red on them from her vigorous struggle to get into the dress. She was sliding on her black high heeled boots when her husband called for her.
"Reyna!" Roy bellowed impatiently from the foyer.
"I'm coming!" she yelled backed, picking up skirt so she could run down the stairs without her feet getting tangled in the yards of fabric she was wearing. She slid to a stop in front him while he stood at the front door blocking her path. Blinking up at him, she attempted to reach around him to twist the doorknob to open the door. He moved his body to block her hand from touching the brass knob. "Well, let's go. The king can't be late for his coronation."
"Just wait a second," he murmured, his eyes roving over her. "Let me look at you."
The possessive, avaricious glint in his sharp black eyes made her grow nervous. It had been a long time since he had looked at her that way. It reminded her of the way he had looked at her when they were teenagers; in the exact moment he had become resolved to make her his wife. A little shiver of excitement rushed up her spine.
"My god, you are so beautiful," he complimented, taking her into his arms to kiss her again. This time the kiss was hungry, powerful, almost bruising in its forcefulness. Afterwards, he hugged her, crushing her to his chest until he had cut off her air even more than the dress already had.
"Keep this up and we'll never make it to the ceremony," she warned him when he ducked his head for another kiss. Her waiting lips were denied the kiss that had been coming to them. She grunted in disappointment when he turned away and opened the door.
"You're right. Let's go!" he proclaimed, holding on to her wrist to lead her out of the door.
"One more for good luck," she said, grabbing him by his tie to pull his lips down to hers. The kiss was brief but strong, communicating everything she did not have time to say. She smiled at him, patting his chest. "Let's go, Fuhrer Mustang. It's time to take the place you've been dreaming of."
"All of my fondest dreams had already come true when you returned to me. This only makes it better, my love. This is for the both of us, for the people of Amestris...for your father," he added, kissing her cheek.
A car horn blared from the car waiting at the curb.
"Let's go lovebirds! All that romantic crap will have to wait!" Maes hollered at them, ducking back into the vehicle. He was playing chauffeur to the Fuhrer while everyone else had gone on ahead to the festivities.
"Huh? Never thought I'd hear him say something like that," Roy muttered, leading his wife down the stairs with her arm threaded through his.
"Being such a romantic killjoy is all well and good in reference to someone else but try telling him that when he's gushing about his love for Gracia or his sweet Alicia," Reyna returned low enough that only Roy could hear her.
"Oh, I'd rather not. I believe that's one of the few things that could drive that man to violence," her husband rejoined cautiously opening the backseat door for her.
"Mmmm, you're probably right," she agreed, lowering herself into the car. She slid over which was astonishingly easy due to the smooth silk of her dress that enabled her to glide over the slick leather upholstery.
"Nothing like being late to your own induction ceremony as Fuhrer," Maes jovially chided his friend before stomping on the gas pedal. The tires squealed and the car jolted from its parking place at the curb.
"Could you at least get us there in one piece, Hughes?" Roy requested, removing his palm from the top of the car where it had planted itself to wedge his body into the seat at take off.
"Sure thing, Roy. I mean, Fuhrer Mustang," he corrected himself, grinning broadly at Roy in the rear view mirror. He received a less than amused glare from angry black eyes in return.
"Don't you dare. I'm still just plain Roy unless necessity of public presence requires you to call me that."
"I understand."
With that settled, the three occupants of the car lapsed into silence. Gracia and Elicia had left earlier with the Elrics and Selim. They all wanted to arrive early to make sure preparations had been completed properly. A stage had been set up at the training field where the Alchemist's exams took place. Chairs were placed on the field for the soldiers while the citizens who attended would occupy the stadium seating around the area. Central City had not seen this much excitement and activity in many years. Extra security measures had been taken due to the ongoing tenuous state of unrest between certain members of the military and Roy after his surprising appointment as Fuhrer. The ominous threat from Father and his remaining contingency continued to hang over their heads like the Sword of Damocles. Father had gone into hiding somewhere and had not made any kind of move anywhere within Amestris proper or its outlying holdings which incited an undercurrent of anxiety in everyone who knew about them. The apprehension in regard to Father and his lot making a move on this day far outweighed that of the fear of an upheaval within the military ranks to make a bid for power. In other words, if anyone attempted to assassinate Roy today, it would more likely be Envy under orders of Father rather than a loose cannon general or a hired mercenary.
Maes drove straight onto the field once the gates had been open for him to enter by the two soldiers positioned there. He parked the car at the rear of the temporary backstage area covered in white sheets that had been built to act as a shelter to the new Fuhrer, a shield from prying eyes and possible gun sights, while he waited to take the stage. General Grumman along with Roy and Reyna's whole little family including Selim, Gracia, Elicia, and the Elric brothers were sitting on the platform behind the podium. The Mustang unit surrounded the bottom of the raised stage acting as a physical deterrant to anyone who might rush the stage in an attempt to assassinate the new Fuhrer. Armstrong stood at the back of the row upon row of military personnel. They were all armed but their weapons were concealed. All other military personnel, aside from the plants assigned to sit among their peers, were unarmed. Some soldiers had volunteered for the job of wearing plain clothes to sit amidst the throngs of people in the stands in case a mercenary should try to pick off Roy with a shot to the head while hiding in the crowd. With all of the safeguards in place and tension mounting in the arena, it was time to begin.
"Son, let's go," Grumman called to Roy after peeking through the curtain that covered the back of the stage and sectioned off the private area.
"Yes, sir," Roy returned, taking Reyna by the hand.
Maes moved in front of him, stepping onto the bottom stair first. "Follow me," Maes said. "They'll be expecting you to come out first."
Reyna could feel Roy's hand trembling while he squeezed hers with a nearly pain inducing grip. Who wouldn't be nervous right now? Not even Roy's nerves of steel could combat the surge of stage fright that closed in on him.
"You'll be great. I have faith in you," she whispered, squeezing his hand when they paused briefly at the top of the stairs while waiting for General Grumman to make the formal introduction. "You can do this. And you'll do it wonderfully, Fuhrer Mustang."
"To the wonderful citizens of Amestris and the esteemed Amestrian military, I would like to present to you, your new Fuhrer, Roy Mustang," the soft spoken older gentleman announced in an unusually powerful and loud voice. He backed away from the microphone, extending his hand toward Roy as an invitation to proceed toward the stand.
Roy inhaled a deep breath before walking out onto the stage to the thunderous applause and whoops and hollers. He blindly waved in every direction in turn to play to the crowd that encompassed him on three sides. His hand clutched Reyna's tighter, but she did not protest. She smiled and waved like a queen. This was his moment of a lifetime. A few minutes of pain was nothing in comparison to the years of it they had both already endured.
Never before had Roy felt so small and insignificant despite having become the most powerful man in the country. Although these people comprised only a ridiculously minuscule portion of the Amestrian populace and it's military force, all of these people gathered in one place to see him, to cheer him on, was a humbling experience; even for someone with an ego as big as his. Suddenly he became overwhelmed, almost fearful, when the reality of what he had become and what he would be responsible for came to light with an astonishing clarity that left him literally shaking in his boots.
"Roy, move," Reyna whispered to him, nudging him along toward the podium where General Grumman waited for them. "You can do this. This is what you have wanted since we were teenagers. You are the Fuhrer. You have been for a very long. Reality has finally caught up to what you knew you were always destined to be."
Roy cleared his throat, getting a grip on his runaway anxiety to force into submission. Reyna was right. He had waited for this moment to happen for quite some time. Reluctantly releasing her hand, he was happy that she stepped forward with him to remain close by his side. Lifting his head confidently, he positioned himself squarely behind the podium to speak to these people who represented the country, his country, for the first time. He grasped both sides of the stand in front of him to make sure his wobbly knees would support him before speaking into the microphone to address the breathless people.
"I come to you today not only as your Fuhrer but as a member of the military and a subject of this great country. I am asking for your support, and your help, to continue to make this country great, to keep us strong. Amestris will remain a force to be reckoned with because of the steadfast hearts and unbreakable strength of its military and because of the love and loyalty of its citizens. Through stability and unity, I will establish an era of peace and prosperity without forcing our soldiers into any more unnecessary battles." Roy paused to inhale a steadying breath. He waited for a reaction, any kind of reaction, positive or negative, to his words.
The silence that followed was disconcerting, almost frightening, with an eerie resonance of nothingness. Not a single sound disturbed the void despite the huge numbers of people present. No one cleared their throat. No one moved. No one dared to breathe.
"I ask you to please join with me to make this goal possible. I plead with the opposition facing me to reconsider your stance. I am not your enemy. I am not here to undermine you or our great country. However, if it is war and turmoil that you seek, or if you wish to profit from the misery of others, you should know, I will not stand for such things. I will stop you from endangering my people and my soldiers. Anyone who opposes my ideals with violence against their fellow Amestrian will be dealt with harshly." His words were stern, the threat to his not so silent enemies made clear. His eyes slid over the sea of faces in front of him coming across a few that had paled and appeared sickly. Obviously they had never expected him to call them out in such a public forum after remaining quiet and accommodating in the meeting.
This resolute declaration caused the crowd to erupt into shouts of elation and deafening clapping. For the time being, his once vocal opponents scattered among the military personnel remained silent while clapping unenthusiastically as to not totally give away their identities. Those hidden in the crowd tasked with watching out for Roy's safety shifted uncomfortably. The increasing wildness of the teeming hordes of humanity made them nervous and with good reason. Their eyes scanned around them in effort to spot anything amiss. The loyal personal soldiers of Roy's unit paced anxiously across the grassy area in front of the stage, their hands rested on their sides close to the weapons under their jackets. Things could get out of hand real fast in mass confusion like this and that made them all incredibly jumpy.
Reyna turned her body straight to face the crowd, her eyes skimming the countless faces for a possible threat. She glanced across at General Grumman who shook his head to confirm that he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"I promise that every man, woman, and child will see peace. That they will live freely and safely without threat of violence or death from war. No more spouses will die to leave behind a grieving husband or wife. No more parents will have to see their sons or daughters buried in the ground after dying in a skirmish in some far off place. No more senseless violence and needless death. This is the vision I have for Amestris!" Roy yelled, inciting the crowd to another roar of agreement.
People were standing up to clap and cheer. Some were moving to the aisles to walk down; possibly in hopes of a chance of getting closer to the new Fuhrer. This should end quickly. There was no reason to prolong his acceptance speech. Obviously he had the support of the people. As much as he wanted to sway the hearts of every soldier, their obedience would be required regardless since he was the supreme leader of the military as well.
Reyna glanced across at Grumman again, shifting her body in front of Roy slightly. Immediately sensing the urgency in her movements and the growing fear in her eyes, Grumman pulled Roy back by the arm and stepped in front of him. Everyone was up and moving now - moving toward the stage.
"It is now time to bestow the Amestrian cross on your Fuhrer," Grumman announced, pulling from his pocket the huge, heavy cross bearing the Amestrian dragon.
With the pinning the solid gold cross to the front of Roy's uniform over his other ribbons and insignias, Roy bore the physical representation of power belonging to the Fuhrer. As of this moment, the power to rule over Amestris was fully transferred and belonged to Roy Mustang alone. All opposition could, and would, be put down swiftly and cruelly if necessary. As they had learned with the Homunculi, there were certain threats that required quick, decisive action without being allowed the luxury of mercy or forgiveness. If only they would have acted more swiftly and ruthlessly, then Father and the remaining two would no longer be a threat. Reyna's father would be safe. But none of that mattered at this given time.
"I hereby declare, with the people and soldiers of our country as my witnesses, that Roy Mustang is officially, Fuhrer Roy Mustang," Grumman proclaimed, his voice reverberating off of the cement structures and walls of humanity filling the place.
Once again the crowd became a resounding cacophony of noise. Suddenly, there was tidal wave of bodies from the stands when people pushed forward and started to spill down from the stadium onto the field. The people flowed like a rushing river toward the stage.
"Go, go, go!" Maes bellowed as a signal for everyone to move. He shoved Roy and Reyna toward the side of the stage, pulling General Grumman in front of him to push him along to the back of the stage.
The Elrics grabbed Selim, Gracia, and Elicia to fall in behind Roy and Reyna as they ran down the stairs. At the back of the stage, the faithful Mustang unit had surrounded the car and stood at the ready with weapons in view. Hopefully, the tide of humanity had been stemmed by the soldiers out front but they were not taking any chances as they guarded the car while the numerous people crammed themselves into the one vehicle.
Once again Maes was driving but there was no wiggle room in the interior of the car so taking them on the equivalent of Mr. Toad's wild ride had no effect on them. Everyone remained still in the tight space as he tore out of the field sending up chunks of grass and dirt into the air from under the spinning wheels. The car shot through the open gates that were hurriedly closed behind them. Only then did the soldiers leave their posts to go assist with crowd control.
"Where are we going?" Roy asked, holding onto Reyna who was sitting in his lap. She looked terrified and her face was white as a sheet. Once all of this excitement died down, he would take her away for a little while. They could both use a nice quiet retreat after the last few weeks.
"We're all going to your house. We can rest there until the reception tonight," Maes rejoined, taking the next right a little too quickly.
Everyone groaned and hung on for dear life, their bodies pressing together as if they were sardines packed in a can. They prepared for the left turn coming up after the next block. Thankfully due to the heaviness of the many occupants of the vehicle, the weight prevented the car from tipping up onto two wheels. The car skidded and fishtailed before straightening out onto the road that would lead them to the familiar brownstone.
"Are you all right?" Roy whispered in Reyna's ear. The color was gradually coming back into her cheeks, but her breathing was still awfully shallow. His heart was still beating fast from the panic and surrealism of the whole situation. Despite it all, he felt light headed, almost giddy, with happiness.
"I'm fine," she lied, giving him a big smile. She was anything but fine. The damn dress was about to squeeze her in two, her husband had almost gotten mobbed, and the big dinner and dance celebration that would be the equivalent of a kiss everyone's ass session was being held at her childhood home and scene of her father's brutal kidnapping. Yet she refused to say or do anything that bring Roy down from the clouds where he had every right to be.
The reception was being held at the Fuhrer's mansion that had just been recently cleared as a crime scene. The house had been meticulously cleaned and repaired. However, it would never be the same place to her again - ever. At some point, they would be expected to move into the mansion to live there.
"I just can't wait to get home and get out of this dress," she whispered back, winking at him. Being able to take a deep breath would be fabulous. The dress shouldn't be this tight. She might go for a physical soon. Perhaps she should pay a long overdue visit to Dr. Marcoh. She and Roy both could use a getaway.
"Oh, that sounds like a great idea. You should really take a nap before tonight," he suggested.
"A nap?" Reyna smiled at her husband, shaking her head lightly. Wow. He really was distracted to totally ignore her flirtatious hint. But understandably so. Pushing away the fringy bangs that had fallen away from the slick backed hairstyle he had combed them into, she planted a kiss square in the middle of his forehead before settling herself into his arms because there was no where else she could go. Not that she wanted to move anyway. Besides, a nap sounded really good.