The Wants of the Few

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's note: The stars are switching points of view. Wow...I've already gotten over a 1,000 hits on this story and its already my most faved! I feel loved. Therefore, you guys get three chapters today ;)

Chapter 7 –Midnight Visitor/ Mistaken Lover

"Why would I ever love someone like you?" Mustang said to her laughing. Pain stabbed through Hawkeye's heart at the declaration. As if it wasn't enough, he continued. "I could have anyone and you actually expect me to fall in love with an ice queen like you? Don't make me laugh." And he did, he continued to laugh. His laughter grew louder and louder until it was all Hawkeye could hear. Malice filled his laughter, and she found it hard to breathe. She'd bared her heart to him and he'd ripped it apart. Why is it that the ones we're closest to can hurt us the most? It was all she could do to keep from breaking right there…suddenly a young voice interrupted the laughter. "Miss Riza?"

Jarred, Riza bolted upright in bed. 'What a horrible nightmare.' She thought sweating, and breathing hard. She glanced over at what woke her up. Elysia looked small and hopeless standing next her bed in the over sized jersey. "What's wrong?" she asked when she gained her composure.

"I need to see my mommy." Elysia said.

"Your mommy's at your house. Why do you need to see her?" she asked. Elysia looked at her pitifully. "Are you scared?" The little girl nodded. "Elysia, you're mommy is just across town. You'll see her in a few hours." Elysia didn't look convinced, "I need to see her now!"

"Why what's wrong?" Riza asked getting concerned. For all she knew there could be something seriously wrong that Gracia hadn't told her about.

"I just need to see her." Elysia said again.

"You're mommy is fine Elysia. Everything's going to be okay-"

"Please…"

Elysia's pleas weren't falling on deaf ears. Riza glanced at the clock, 1:30. 'It's kind of late to call…but if it'll make her sleep better…' "Okay Elysia, come with me." She said as she took the little girl's arm and led her into the kitchen.

Roy could feel her in his arms. Her skin was like silk. His heart seemed to explode within his chest, his feelings and emotions becoming too big for his body. It was all he'd ever wanted. He could feel her breath on his lips…barely centimeters separated them. Would she pull away if he tried to engage her? Riza was like no one he'd ever known. He couldn't predict her like other women…he felt his lips, his soul, being drawn to her. She was his other half…he'd known it for years. Without her he couldn't feel complete. At last they're lips touched ever so slightly. He could see her eyes soften…everything felt like a dream—but the body in his arms felt so real…he closed his eyes, concentrating only on her.

The past year had just been a nightmare. He was here again. He'd never really died, it was just a bad dream. She could feel his callused hands turn to velvet as he ran his hand along the curve of her stomach. She could feel his breathe on her lips and the loving look in his eye. His glasses were on the nightstand and his eyes had a mischievous gleam as he pulled her into a kiss. 'Oh Maes!' her heart screamed, 'I couldn't have missed you more...' This couldn't be a dream…his lips on hers felt too real to be ignored. Suddenly it wasn't Maes' she was kissing…it was Roy

Roy could hear the phone reaching out to him through the mists of his reverie…he tried desperately to fight it. If he couldn't be with Riza in consciousness, he at least had her in his dreams. Finally he gave into the telephone and opened his eyes, not to see Riza…or even his apartment, but Gracia. He was so stunned he backed away, but he was tangled in her arms and they both ended up falling off the couch. She was on top of him now, just as confused as he was. Emotions ran through a crazed cycle in both of them. Roy wasn't sure if he was embarrassed, flattered, happy, or upset. There was another emotion in the back of his mind…longing. He wasn't sure if it was Gracia or Riza that was causing it, but he was a little more than afraid that it was the former. Gracia was feeling it too. It was a strange force that unconsciously wanted to pull the two closer. The phone rang again, interrupting both their thoughts. Gracia clumsy was able to get off Roy and he stumbled in to the vertical position. The phone continued to ring. Gracia lightly jogged to the phone and said "Hello?" but it was too late, they'd hung up.

"What's wrong? Where's my mommy?" Elysia asked. She was feeling anxious. Riza had agreed to let her talk to her mother but she wasn't going to drive her over without talking to Gracia first.

"She's probably asleep and didn't hear the phone." Riza guessed.

"Call her again." Elysia said in a small voice, her eyes beginning to water.

She couldn't help but feel sorry for the child, so she picked up the receiver again and dialed the number. It only had time to ring once.

Roy was next to the phone now and picked up first this time. "Hello?" he said. The familiar voice startled Hawkeye. "Colonel!"

"Lieutenant?" Roy questioned, equally startled.

"What are you doing at Gracia's house at 1:00 in the morning?" she questioned…fearing the answer. She knew there was only one reason Roy was at a woman's house at 1:00 in the morning. '…that's why she needed a little more "alone" time.'

"We were just—um…" Roy said, still a little dazed. Between his dream, where he woke up and his lieutenant calling he was feeling more than just a little confused.

"Oh! I'm sorry to interrupt you…I-I just need to talk to Gracia for a moment." Riza said, a stabbing pain jutting through her heart…his speechlessness only seemed to confirm her conclusions.

"Hawkeye, its not-" he started to explain, but before he could finish Gracia took the phone from him. As soon as he mentioned Riza's name she knew something must be wrong with Elysia. Her motherly instincts took over and she couldn't stop herself from taking the phone from him.

"Riza?" Gracia said into the receiver. The sudden change in voices surprised Riza. "Is there something wrong with Elysia?" Gracia asked, feeling a little anxious.

"Oh, well she just keeps saying she needs to talk to you—I was going to ask if you wanted me to bring her back, but seeing as you're busy with Roy and all—"

"Can you put her on the phone for me?" She asked, interrupting Riza's explanation fishing. Riza handed the receiver to the child and the little girl held it with both hands.

"Mommy?...No I'm not hurt…no my tummy is ok…I am being good…but-but I was scared…no, she's nice…but-…yes ma'am. Ok…ok…I love you too. 'Night Mommy." Elysia said. Riza could see that she didn't get the answer she wanted from her mother. "She said I needed to learn to stay with other people sometimes…" she explained as she handed the receiver back to Hawkeye. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for the child. This whole thing was hard on her.

Riza's mind tentatively wandered back to Roy—was he really sleeping with Gracia? He was a player, but it just didn't seem like him. She was his best friend's wife, she wasn't sure he'd sink that low, but something about it made her worry. He dated women all the time…he was a player she'd always known that, but this was different. The other women never bothered her because she knew he'd never get serious with one of them…but Gracia wasn't just some woman. She was a widow, a single mother. If Roy actually did get involved with her she'd expect a serious relationship. Was Roy ready to give in to a commitment like that? And if he wasn't up to the challenge…what would that do to Gracia? Or Elysia for that matter? As shameful as she felt about it, she rather hoped that he wasn't ready for the commitment. She didn't want to hurt Gracia…but she didn't want to lose Roy…'How can you lose something you never had?' she asked herself solemnly as she helped Elysia back to bed.