Lights! Camera! Christmas!

Author: MoonStarDutchess and Rinoaebastel

Chapter 8: Pending Christmas

Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.

Note: Riza goes professionally by Riza Grumman in this fic.


RIZA GRUMMAN AND ROY MUSTANG SPOTTED AT BROKEN ANGEL HOSPITAL

SINGER PREGNANT WITH TRIPLETS

Roy and Riza glared at the magazine sitting between them on the table. They'd ended up having breakfast together again that morning, but this time it'd been planned and the location was a suite in the hotel rather than the restaurant. She was surprised when he asked her to join him, but she was glad he did. She didn't want to face these rumors alone, and if they thought she was pregnant well then nothing could really get much worse.

The headline was written on the cover at the top half and extending down the left side of the page. On the right bottom area was a picture of the two of them in the hospital lobby standing outside of a pharmacy.

"Triplets," Riza said and put down her fork. She placed a hand on her stomach. "I know I gained a few pounds but. . . That bitch Dante. Not everyone can be a size zero."

"You don't look like you're in the beginnings of a single child pregnancy and definitely not three."

"According to the paper, the doctor's said it was because Roy was extremely fertile," Maes said as he approached the table with Rebecca.

"I don't know whether to be insulted or flattered by that," Roy said, making Riza laugh.

"I had the publicists of your companies handle the rumors. I just told them to announce you weren't having a baby and both of you were visiting a mutual friend at the hospital."

"Well, that's a relief," Riza said.

Maes and Rebecca sat down with the two of them.

"How are you feeling?" Roy asked.

"I'm doing just fine," he said.

"You should be taking some time off," Riza said. "We don't have anything pressing right now that requires you to be with us."

"What do you mean no pressing issues? We have a big one. The movie."

"We've talked and decided to do the movie together."

"Now, let me speak my case…What?" Maes said

"They're accepting the movie deal," Rebecca repeated as she picked a piece of sausage off Riza's plate. Riza would've offered to order her some breakfast but Rebecca rarely ate anything more than a bite in the morning. Maes was the same way.

"Really? And the relationship?"

"It won't be hard to pretend to be in a relationship for a while. I find Riza quite agreeable."

Riza glanced at him. The two of them had been texting back and forth the entire previous day after they'd parted ways. Then they'd decided to have breakfast that morning. They wanted to get to know each other a bit. She found him to be as equally funny and charming as he was good looking. "He's not too bad."

"Hey, that wasn't very nice," he said, clearly not offended by her comment.

"I'll arrange the contracts and get the movie's songs to the two of you."

"Arrange things before the holidays. We all have to go to my grandfather's place," Riza said.

"Will do."

"Speaking of, have your parents contacted you about the rumors?" Rebecca asked.

Riza shook her head. "They don't have my number, but even if they did they don't really pay attention to the media unless Martina mentions something or is watching something in the same room with them."

"And your grandfather?" Roy asked.

Her eyes widened. "Oh, god… he'll never go for us pretending to date."

"He knows about Roy?" Maes said.

"No," she said but then groaned and put her head in her hands. "My parents insisted on me bringing Roy."

"I'm aware that they think we're together, but they think I'm coming to your get together too?" Roy said. "That's something important to mention."

"I didn't mention it because I'm not going to ask you to do anything like that," Riza said, straightening her posture.

"But it's kind of perfect," Rebecca said, earning all eyes on her. "If you can fool your parents and grandfather who are keeping a close eye on you, you can easily convince the media and public for a year."

"Hey, yeah," Maes said.

"I'm reconsidering this pasquinade," Roy said.

Riza looked over a him. "That's a big word."

He smirked at her. "Yeah, models can use big words."

She grinned back.

"Grumman's lodge would be a great place to practice," Maes said. "He has rehearsal rooms and a piano room there, and you have a few songs to write for your next EP."

"I almost have enough for a full album next. Not an EP."

"Well, then that's more time to practice for the musical, and turn that almost enough into definitely enough." Maes stood. "I'll contact Roy's staff and let them know he'll be coming with us."

"Maes, wait!' Riza said but Maes was already out the door. The room grew so silent that the ticking clock sounded deafening. Rebecca crept toward the door, neither celebrity looking at her as she finally exited.

A full minute passed before Riza said, "I'm sorry about this. I bet you wanted to spend Christmas with someone. We can arrange it so you don't have to go."

"Christmas is just another day for me. Nothing special about it." She noted how bitter he sounded. "I can go if you want me to."

Riza remembered Maes said he didn't have any family. She hadn't paid too much attention to him in the media, especially not after that doctored interview, so she didn't know if he mentioned them in any interviews.

"It's a relaxing place," she said. "If you can avoid my mother, father, and older sister. The only times we'll have to deal with them is over dinner or during my Grandfather's family sittings."

"Family sittings?"

"It's just when we sit, talk, and have cocoa or coffee. Usually turns into a fight, but he never stops trying."

"I've been wanting to meet your grandfather actually. A business related thing. Think he'd be open to a discussion on that."

Riza smiled. "He's always open to that." Her brows furrowed. "I'm really surprised he hasn't called me yet about the headlines." Her grandfather had been onto her for a while about dating, but overall he'd kept out of her personal life unless she brought something up.

"We do need to practice as well. Maes is right about that part. It will be good acting practice."

Riza thought on her father, mother, and Lauren. "And we'll have the toughest audience in Amestris watching."

-/-/-

"They haven't denied it," Lauren said as she looked down at the paper in her hand. She crumbled the edges. "They are really together. I can't believe this."

She peered up over the paper at her boyfriend, Antonio, who looked to be clueless. It was understandable since she hadn't mentioned what she'd done.

"¿Quién?"

"Riza is dating Roy Mustang," she said and flopped the paper down on the table. "Can you believe that?"

He nodded. "Sí. What is unusual about it? They're both celebrities. It's not hard to believe they're together."

"You're not supposed to answer that question."

He pursed his lips and stared at her. "Then why did you ask the question?"

"It's. . . never mind."

She notice his eyes linger on Riza's picture a bit more than she liked and folded the paper. He looked back up at her. "Why do you care so much about who she dates?" he asked. "It's her life that doesn't involve us."

"I…" She knew the reason, but refused to admit it to him. She could barely admit it to herself. Antonio was a lovely fiancé. He chose her over Riza as well. One of the few people that would. There wasn't any reason she should be so upset over Riza being with Mustang. Celebrity relationships didn't last long anyway, and Riza was so stuck on herself and arrogant that a guy wouldn't put up with her very long. "I suppose you're right. I shouldn't care when i have the best guy in the world."

She stood up and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going to go pack."

He watched her as she walked out of the room, sighed, and grabbed the paper, opening it to the proper page. He read through the article and then looked down at the picture of Riza and Roy, his eyes lingering a bit longer on Riza.


AN: Quite a few people asked me to update more fics if possible during this time of being quarantined. This is the first of many that will be updated. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and please leave a review if you have the time. And most importantly, stay safe, stay inside if you can, and wash your hands! XD