gifts | "is that an engagement ring?"

"Jean said he got me a present today," Rebecca revealed, eyes twinkling.

"That's lovely, Becca," Riza smiled, taking a sip of her tea. Rebecca was around at Riza's apartment for a girl's night and although she was drying to see what this gift was, Rebecca couldn't pass up a wine night with her best friend. Jean had been very hush hush and promised he'd tell her when she came home, ushering her rather quickly out the door.

That was suspicious enough as it was, but she let it slide because she hadn't seen Riza for a night like this in over a year because she'd been out in Ishval and Rebecca had missed her so much.

"Any idea what it is?" Riza asked. Rebecca opened her mouth, but she saw a knowing look flash across Riza's face.

"You know what it is, don't you?" Rebecca asked, narrowing her eyes at her friend.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Riza replied innocently, placing her wine glass on the table.

"You do know what it is!" Rebecca cried. Damn. She could badger Jean into telling her anything but Riza was a firmly closed book. There was no way she'd be able to get it out of her.

"I don't, honestly," Riza replied, her poker face on point.

"You won't tell me what it is, will you?"

"Even if I did know, no, I wouldn't. I wouldn't ruin Havoc's surprise like that."

Excitement flipped in Rebecca's stomach. She could guess what it was. Rebecca had joined forces with Madame Christmas after the Promised Day, finally finding her true calling in life. Then, Jean had gone off to Ishval with Mustang and they'd only conversed over the phone and through letters for a year. He'd returned home and swept Rebecca into his arms, kissing her passionately right there at the train station. The promises he'd whispered in her ear the night before they left for the desert gave Rebecca a fairly good idea of what this present would be.

"Fine," Rebecca sighed, flopping back on the cushions. "I didn't expect you to tell me anyway."

"You're giving up awfully quick, aren't you?" Riza asked, an amused smirk on her face. "Normally you'd badger it out of me until I gave in."

"You never gave in," Rebecca muttered sullenly. "Anyway, I'm a changed woman."

"Has the Madame taught you some restraint?" Riza quipped.

"Something like that. More like someone else has taught me some restraint," she smiled wistfully, thinking of said person.

Riza nodded with a knowing look. "Havoc?"

Rebecca grinned. "Yeah."

The air was cool as Rebecca stepped out of the taxi in front of her apartment. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, giving the driver her payment with a smile and begun the walk up to her – no, their – apartment. She grinned, knowing Havoc was inside waiting for her. She took the stairs two at a time.

Unlocking the door, she froze as she took in the scene before her. Their living room was candlelit, a soft orange glow filling the room. There were rose petals on the floor, a trail towards the centre of the room where Jean Havoc was standing with his hands in his sweatpants' pockets, grinning at her.

"Hey," he greeted softly.

"What's this?" she asked, heart rising into her throat. She knew what this was. She knew what was happening, but her brain couldn't comprehend it.

"Rebecca, ever since I met you, we've never had a dull moment. I adore that about you." She felt like she couldn't breathe. Excitement coursed through her entire being, but she was frozen on the spot. "You're like a whirlwind that pulls me along with you and I wouldn't change it for the world. Every day is an adventure and every time I wake up, I can't wait to see what excitement awaits me that day with you.

"This past year has been hell because I wasn't able to see you, hold you, or kiss you like I so desperately wanted to. It made me realise just how much I never want to be apart from you again.

"So…" He pulled a small black box out of his pocket and knelt on one knee, lifting the box in front of him. The case looked old with worn velvet in its corners.

Rebecca interrupted him by placing a hand up in front of him to stop. "Is that an engagement ring?" she squeaked, daring him to tell her otherwise, and not believing it herself.

"Rebecca Catalina?" Jean asked, face grinning. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she screeched.

Jean slipped the ring on her finger and they both met in the middle, Jean rising from his crouch as they kissed to seal their engagement. After a few minutes of happy squeals, excitement, tears, and more kissing, the two finally found peace in each other's arms.

"Did Riza call ahead?" Rebecca asked, turning her face upwards to look at him after resting it on her fiancé's shoulder.

Jean chuckled. "She did. She was a co-conspirator. She, uh, actually helped me pick out the ring."

"Really?" Rebecca smiled. "When did you do it?" She was curious. He had barely left her side since he got back a week ago and there weren't very many jewellery shops selling rings like that out in Ishval.

"… Before I went to Ishval."

Rebecca froze in surprise. "That long?" she exclaimed.

Jean nodded. "I kept it in my pocket to remind myself of what was waiting for me at home and why I had to keep on top of shit and get things done."

"Jean…" she smiled, touched. Rebecca placed her head against his shoulder, squeezing him in a hug. "That's so sweet."

"Thanks," he chuckled.

Rebecca pulled away to meet his gaze. "Can I go and tell everyone?" she asked, excitedly.

Jean laughed, kissing her on the nose. "Of course."

Rebecca dove for the phone. "Riza!" she screeched excitedly into the phone, no doubt breaking her friend's eardrum. "Guess what!"