AUTHOR'S NOTE: ATENTION ALL OF YOU! I really am NOT enjoying all the reviews I'm receiving along the lines of well... 'Roy can't betray Riza! So I'm sorry I hate the fic.' and the like. can't you people wait to judge until AFTER you've read the first FEW chapters! Or you could take the ten second to read the Author's Note's that mention that I WILL end it happily! Sure you can hate the fic at first but come on! If it says RoyAi or Roy/Riza, do you really think that they won't get back together! Besides there has to be a storm before there's calm! Good grief people! PANTS very loudly.I sincerely apologize for that outburst for those of you who are anxious to see what happens so I'll calm down and let you read, and once again I PROMISE to have a HAPPY ending! I just have to have the drama first!

Mustang Household

0600 Local

Central

"Ughhh. Riza, come back to bed…" Roy moaned and rolled over as he searched for Riza's warmth. When his fingers touched the empty space where she had been and realized it was cold he shot up and looked around the room frantically.

"Riza!" He called and then got up and looked into her closet and the adjoining bathroom, before dashing out and to the top of the stairs his eyes searched for her suitcase and coat from before but they were gone.

"No!" Roy yelled and slammed his fist on the banister before taking the stairs three at a time and going out the front door into the early morning's falling snow.

"RIZA!" He yelled as loud as his voice could carry and waited in the early morning stillness for the sound of her voice. Instead he heard nothing and shivering and panting he hit his knees.

"DAMN IT! DAMN IT ALL! RIZA!" He sobbed as he knelt in the snow. His tears hitting the fresh fallen layer and left little tiny holes, just like the ones forming in his heart.

Slowly he got up and went back inside and stood on the first step of the huge stairs where Riza had greeted him on so many nights. Whenever he would walk in she would be sitting there, at first it was in some skimpy little outfit meant only for him to see, and then in maturity wear with a belly heavy with child and then holding little Roy in her arms, but lately that step was just gathering dust. Roy stared at the heavy maple front door. Maybe if he looked at it hard enough she would walk through like he had on so many nights and it would be his turn to greet her with a hug and showers of kisses.

Roy shook his head. He couldn't figure out what he had done to make her think of him like a player and a cheater. He'd stopped the skirt chasing long ago and Riza was the only reason he did stop. He hated what she had said to him.

'I'll put it in simple terms for you. The flame's gone out! We've lost our spark! I'm not even sure it was ever there! I don't love you anymore!'

Roy couldn't believe it. After all they had been through and struggled to love one another after all these years. Her love must have run out.

"Humph! Love's eternal my ass!" Roy snarled and then getting up he trudged up the stairs with a quickly breaking heart and he went down to the nursery where his son was sitting up.

"Daddy! Daddy! Mommy go bye bye!" Little Roy clapped his hands together and Roy saw the gold chain in his little fingers.

"Roy! Give that to Daddy!" Roy gasped and held out his hand. Little Roy reluctantly gave him the necklace with Riza's locket and wedding ring. Roy collapsed on his knees again in the nursery and felt his own gold wedding band on a chain around his neck and he let the memories take him back…

… 'Happy birthday Roy.' Riza smiled as the two of them sat at the dining room table right next to each other. Roy cocked an eyebrow and opened the small box. Nestled inside was a polished gold chain. Roy pulled it out of the box.

'Riza what am I supposed to do with this?'

'Wear it. Remember when you asked me where my ring was and I didn't tell you?'

'Yes.'

'Well I have a chain mine has a locket too, but a general can't be caught wearing a locket with a picture of his old subordinate in it now can he, and you can't very well wear your ring around the office.'

'Why not?'

'The fact that we're married is a secret Roy.'

'Right so is my real birthday present a surprise too?' Roy winked teasingly. Riza smiled seductively.

'What makes you think I was making it a surprise?' She asked as she moved and sat in his lap.

'A little birdie told me.'

'Hmmm. I guess I'll have to go hunting… later.' Riza whispered…

Roy smiled at that memory; they certainly christened the dining table that night. That's why they had eaten on the other end for a long time. He shook his head and instantly the smile faded and the beginnings of tears came. Roy took his son in his arms and hugged him tightly with Riza's necklace clutched tightly in his fist. He wasn't going to give up, but he wasn't going to hunt Riza down. He knew better then that. Better to give her a little time, even though he didn't want to be away from her another minute.

Risenboul Train Station

1300 Local

"Riza-chan! Riza-chan!" Riza heard a familiar voice call. She turned to see Winry jumping up and down and waving at her. Rose stood next to her and her little boy clinging to her skirt.

"Hello Winry!" Riza called and walked over to meet them. Winry gave her a hug and she returned it. When they pulled apart Winry looked at Riza critically.

"What is it? What happened this time?"

"Nothing. I just needed to get out of Central for awhile."

"It's general Mustang isn't it?"

"No." Riza said a little too quickly, and that confirmed Winry's suspicions.

"Well let's get home shall we?" Winry smiled and helping Riza with her bag and they headed for the Rockbell home.

"Grandma! We're back!"

"Good you're just in time to do some repairs girl!" Grandma Rockbell stated shaking a wrench at Winry, who groaned.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll get to it. Come on Riza you can share my room." Winry took Riza's suitcase and deposited it in her room. Riza looked at the quaint little room. It wasn't anything like the one she lived in now, but she would have preferred this and a Colonel's salary and keep Mustang then the way things were now. She'd trade all the riches in the world for Mustang and that fact while comforting was also upsetting.

"… And Al is coming back tomorrow and… are you listening?"

"Huh?" Riza looked over her shoulder at Winry.

"I thought not. You can come help me with repairs… if you want."

"Actually that sounds like a good idea."

"Awesome!" Winry stated and then bounced out of the room with Riza following her.

General Mustang's Office

The Following Day

1645 Local

Central Headquarters

"I said I didn't want anyone in here!" Mustang yelled at the female officer standing in front of him while he sat at his desk. The small woman shivered and cowered away from him.

"I just was bringing those files in, sir. I didn't mean to…"

"Don't you bring files into this office EVER again! If another woman sets foot in my office and it isn't her I will personally discharge them for refusing an order! Now get out!" Mustang roared at the woman and standing slammed his fist on his desk. The woman dashed out of his office as fast as she could, wearing a miniskirt and heels. Mustang sighed and slumped in his chair.

Riza had only been gone two days and already he was snarling at innocent bystanders. Maybe it was the fact he never wanted to be near any other woman besides Riza and the fact that she wasn't here doing what all these other ditzy secretaries were doing only half right. Roy put his head in his hands. This wasn't going well. Like this morning he forgot to feed little Roy on time and was late to work. He'd had to leave Roy in Grace's capable hands for the day.

Grace Hughes was one of the few who knew of the situation between Roy and Riza. She had been one of the two witnesses present when they signed the marriage license. Which was locked safely in the vault at his home. Riza had insisted it was best to make their marriage and child a secret. Maybe it was safer that way, but now Roy wasn't sure that was why. Was Riza really that ashamed of him that she wanted to hide any connections she had with him? True, he had been responsible for several atrocities but as she told him every time he awoke from one of his nightmares… 'It's all right. It's over. You did your duty and thought it was right and I don't think any less of you, and neither should you. You're the most wonderful and dedicated man there is…'

Mustang pulled Riza's necklace out of his chest pocket and stared at it as it glowed in the dim light from the windows, as it reflected off the snow falling heavily outside. Riza just needed a little space. She'd come back, she had to, he needed her more then anything he'd ever need in his life. If she was gone for good, then so was he.

Okay, hang in there everybody!

One more sad chap and I promise things will look up!