Hello y'all!

This is a project that began with a headcanon: what if Roy was the one who told Riza about menstruations?
And before I knew it I already had 3 parts written!

The title of the fic is inspired by poem in praise of menstruation by Lucille Clifton. To be honest, I've discovered this beautiful poem only yesterday, while I was looking for a title in English. But I fell in love with it, and I can't think of anything more fitted for menstruation and for Riza, because she's beautiful and faithful and brave.

The title of the chapter comes from a French expression about period, "Les Anglais ont débarqué" = "The Brits have landed", that comes from the red uniforms of Britain soldiers during 19th century. Since Aerugonian uniform is red too, I adapted the expression.

I apologize in advance about the chapters titles, they'll be bad puns.

I do not own FMA

Enjoy!

When he entered the empty, cold and dark kitchen a few minutes after seven that morning, Roy knew something was wrong. Usually Miss Riza would already be in next to the stove to boil water, put tea to infuse, toast bread and sometimes already cook lunch during her free days. It was the first time he didn't see the girl at her post since he'd arrived a few months ago to begin his apprenticeship with Berthold Hawkeye. She'd been difficult to coax her to his side, but she'd softened. They'd begun to talk together as soon as she'd understood he wouldn't say anything about her gateways in the forest. She used to leave the house because of the pressure and when her father treated her unfairly. Household tasks were a burden sometimes and Riza held these moments dearly.

Roy lit up the gas, filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove. He'd seen Riza doing it so many times he knew where the tools and pots were, so he could prepare plenty of meals. We'll, he hadn't tried to cook yet.

However, when her tea had infused like she liked it, turning into a beautiful amber hue, he began to worry. Usually she was always downstairs early, and he doubted Master Hawkeye would be indulgent if she didn't do her chores.

He decided to go and see what was happening, to know what was keeping her in her room. He knocked on her door and lowered his voice to announce his presence. Since she wasn't answering, he listened closely and heard soft cries.

"Miss Hawkeye? What's happening?" He asked, a bit panicked.

Riza seemed to be in pain, and he didn't like to hear her like that. He'd only known her for a few months but he already knew he wanted to do everything so children like her wouldn't have to live in such or even worse life conditions.

"It's nothing, you've got nothing to worry about, Mister Mustang!" However her trembling voice and her sniffs betrayed her words. Roy couldn't bear it anymore.

"I'm going in!" He said and pushed the door open.

Riza shouted, horrified when Roy appeared on the threshold. He froze when he noticed the clutter in her room. The mattress was half returned on her bed, bed sheets laying on the floor, and Riza had thrown herself on a pile of clothes to hide them, tears prickling from her eyes. But when he saw the red stains on the sheets, Roy understood.

He understood she had her period. For the first time. He understood she didn't know what was happening to her. That nobody had told her about how her body would transform during her teenage years. Berthold Hawkeye was too busy with his research to ever think his daughter -his servant he thought with anger- would have to face such major upheaval he should have told her about beforehand.

She was panicked and he couldn't help but step towards her. But Riza recoiled, scared, and he stopped. Keeping her in sight, he closed the door behind him. "You've got nothing to be afraid of," he said softly. "I just want to help you."

"Do you know what's happening to me?" Riza glanced at him with begging eyes, embarrassed and full of hope.

Roy knelt and approached her. He nodded. "It's not a wound," he told her. Her eyes widened in disbelief and he gave her a reassuring smile. "There's blood and it can be painful, but period is normal and natural for women."

"Are you sure?"

"I've lived all my life surrounded by women complaining about it, so I can assure you it's normal." Roy helped her to rise on her feet and sit on the only chair of her room.

While tidying the mess her panicked self had set, he told her what he knew from the few biology lessons he'd got before he'd left school at fifteen, but mostly from what his sisters had told him. He talked about feminine cycle, why the period happened, and gave her advice he'd heard from his sisters. He glanced from time to time at Riza to see she was listening to him intensely, smiling at his jokes sprinkled in his monologue. After they folded the stained sheets, he replaced the mattress on her bed. At the sight of the red mark spread on it, he knew why she'd been so afraid.

"Do you have some clean rags somewhere?" As she glanced at him, intrigued, he added: "It will protect your clothes before I go to the village to buy what you need."

"That's too much, Mr Mustang," she protested. "I can manage with that, and your mother won't like that you throw away your money for that…"

"My mother would lecture me if I leave a girl in need when I can easily help her. Miss Riza, let me help you with that. I know you'd prefer to be alone, but if I can be useful one way or another, I'll do it."

Riza startled when she noticed his genuine gaze on her. At this moment, Roy decided that this young girl whose burden was too heavy for her age would be the first one he would protect to make this world better.

"I prepared breakfast, but I think tea will be cold when we're done here," he said with a smile. "I'll buy some chamomile tea, it's useful to appease pain."

To his greatest surprise, Riza smiled back at him. "In that case, let's not lose more time," she replied. She showed where rags were, so he could choose the best ones the time she washed her sheets.

When they settled at the kitchen table some time later, Riza winced briefly. But the tea Roy had made seemed to appease her.

"From now on I'll help you each time I get the opportunity. As soon as Master Hawkeye gives me some free time I'll use it to help you in your chores. Especially when you have your period."

For the next two years, until the day before he left for Academy, Roy faithfully kept his promise. Riza never told him when she had her period, because he always seemed to guess it easily. Especially when she didn't let anything appear of the pain that clamped her belly in an relentless grasp.