A/N – hey! This is the Griff, and reading Jen's last chapter I couldn't help myself but cause a little havoc with it. She told you what everyone else saw and thought happened, not we get to see what out lovely Colonel was REALLY thinking.

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A Rose By Any Other Name

The Lost Shoe

Chapter Ten

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As Roy Mustang walked into work that day, he was feeling pretty good….

Roy looked about his office, his cocky smirk in place as he went. One never openly smiled at one's subordinates. It made them feel all 'special' and 'accomplished'. Those nasty little feelings led to demands of 'raises' and 'promotions'. Better to just be a complete and utter ass, waltzing around as the King of all Officedom.

Not to mention it was much more fun that way. If you were nice, you had to stay that way, and it was too much work…

Roy chuckled to himself. There were things worth working for – Becoming Fuhrer, easing Riza's temper, and those mighty fine legs on the third floor. Spoiling his men was not one of them. Just to clarify, Riza was a woman, one he could not sleep with or charm, and as such much scarier then anything else that could possibly be beholden by man. So she was given whatever the hell she wanted unless it came to the sacrifice of his left testicle. There he had to draw the line, but if it was honestly necessary, he could be swayed.

When that woman spoke, you listened; otherwise you meet the rather unfriendly end of a very shiny boom-bringer.

His happy little set of office slaves were working diligently – except for Havoc, but then, Roy was tempted to check and see if that man was hired simply to sit there and look pretty – scrambling about their desks and filing out the paperwork he himself hated to do. God, he needed a secretary. One with really nice legs. Like on the third floor….

He shook his head as he reached his desk, eyes searching for something mildly interesting to entertain him. He was pleasantly surprised by the stack of mail, a pretty blue envelope peeking out from amidst the boring white. Well now…

Flipping it over and scrutinizing the plain design, he was almost disgruntled to find no return address. With a shrug, he opened the letter, scanning the contents and smiling at the name. While it was a bit messy to read, he caught the gist.

'Roy,'

the easiest …' Things were a bit fuzzy, but he didn't think it actually said anything important.
'Or, more I did.
Hell, sometimes I still do, but I – well I can't bring myself to mean it anymore because while you're undeniably obnoxious to the point of giving even myself an aneurysm, I love you.'Once again the hand writing was scrunched and sloppy, like someone had tried to rush-write it in the dark on a stormy sea, but by its placement he could figure it said something like 'Sincerely yours' or 'with all my heart'

'Edw l' Bloody Hell!

Roy shook his head. Edw… What names started with Edw? Well, Edward.

He chuckled at the idea of Ed done up in a bonnet and lipstick, fluttering eyelashes over his shoulder.

With a glance around the room he made sure Ed didn't know he was being laughed at, but then he realized Full Metal wasn't anywhere in the office. He couldn't help himself, falling into the most unmanly giggles as Riza approached.

"Oh this is priceless." He mumbled to himself, recalling the bonneted Ed. Maybe he'd have an umbrella, one of those pretty lacey ones.

When Riza moved to read the letter over his shoulder he asked her if Ed was in. he distinctly remember instructing the teen to come in for a lecture on proper decorum when dealing with fragile diplomatics – he'd blown things up, AGAIN – but with the mental image he'd concocted, there was no way the colonel was keeping a straight face around him.

As he further amused himself somewhere in his mind, Riza was blathering on about one thing or another. Probably paperwork. Still, he had to pretend he cared.

"Not a bad idea, actually." He said, relishing the surprised yet pleased look on her face. One more for the colonel, ladies beware. Roy gave her one of his rare smiles, not minding if Riza thought she was special, because honestly, it kept her violence down to a minimum. For being the weakest of his team, it was rather disturbing she held the most fear of anyone he know.

"But you know how stubborn Ed can be sometimes he will probably deny writing that at first he will think you're just messing with his head trying to hurt him." She said.

Wait, what?

"Of course. I'll be sure to deal with it carefully." Something with Ed? What was he supposedly doing?

Roy shrugged. Whatever it was, surely he'd hear about it again later. For now he had to figure out what dazzling lady had just confessed her love to him in sure a mysterious fashion. Claimed 'Or, more I did.'

So, she 'did' something, thought he was obnoxious, but loved him; she left no address but wrote her name, which started with Edw… Edward, Edweird, Edwin… all boys names…

Wait.

Edwin… EDWINA! Of course!

Roy smiled victoriously. Edwina Raliton had been an old flame from military school. She hadn't been enrolled herself, but her older brother had been the same year. That she would want to strike up with him again… was promising.

He could clearly remember her soft pale skin, flaming red curls, and stunning green eyes.

That would beat Ed in a bonnet any day.

Well, maybe.

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A/N – I was most disappointed last time, so many wonderful reviews and only ONE soul! What a jip… grumbles