-Get A Life Girl-
"Wake up sleepy heads! It's Christmas!"
Aaron ran from room to room, holding Hannah in his arms. Since Hannah couldn't do it herself, Aaron awoke everyone. She was smiling the whole time as everyone woke up. Each sleeping in their childhood rooms. Everyone woke up and tugged out of bed. They made sure they looked presentable before heading downstairs wrapped up in robes and slippers. Being the youngest, Andrew and Riza never wore robes, just slippers.
Hannah met Riza at the foot of the steps and was then carried to the tree. She was wearing the cutest little night gown with kittens and puppies. The adults all circled the front of the tree sitting on the sofas and in chairs. A couple of them sat on the floor like children, including Riza who was pulled to the floor by Hannah. Slowly, Hannah pulled out the gifts and passed them around. During the night, Andrew and Riza re arranged the gifts to mix them up. They also added the gifts from Santa. They were wrapped differently then the others, secret paper was used so Hannah believed Santa wrapped them. Also, Riza and Andrew enjoyed the milk and cookies. So I guess you could say they are secret Santa of Amestris.
The gifts were passed out one by one and everyone opened them. They thanks the gift giver and then moved on. Some how, every one knew what every one wanted. Hannah soon gave up passing them around when she opened the doll from Riza. She began playing with it. Poor Black Hayate received a gift from Riza's mother, it was a Christmas theme dog collar that was completed with ribbon, beads, glitter and a red bow.
The puppy looked to Riza for help but she could only laugh and apologize to the poor dog. The puppy became depressed and laid down on the floor flat, placing his head between his paws holding a sad expression on his face.
"Oh lighten up puppy, it makes you look pretty."
Her mother, Samantha, smiled as she petted Hayate's head. The puppy's eyes rolled up to look at Riza who again made a silent apology. Riza was handed a few gifts, mostly small ones. The largest was the secret gift from her grandfather that her mother never saw. Riza hid it under the sofa after she opened it. It was a silver pistol with her name and rank engraved on the handle.
'Heaven 'Riza' Hawkeye
First Lieutenant of Eastern'
Riza loved it and made a silent thank you to her smiling grandfather. He held up the gift she gave him and signaled he was challenging her to a game later. She agreed and then went back to opening gifts. She received a total of ten gifts, most left over from last year. A pearl necklace and earring set from her mother. The gun from her grandfather, a teddy bear from Hannah, special exotic tea mix from a distant country from Shawn (she loves tea), a photo album full of old photos with her name on the cover from Aaron, A purple stoned tennis bracelet from James, a framed photo of her on her first day in the military standing next to her grandfather saluting and smiling also from her grandfather, a sterling silver puppy statue also from her mother, a gift certificate to a book store from her step father, and an I.O.U for lunch at a cafe from Andrew.
After the gifts were done, everyone sat around the twinkling tree talking. Hannah and Riza played with the doll as Hayate continued to pull the collar off.
"So, any plans today?"
Andrew knelt down on the floor next to Riza. Riza looked up and smiled.
"Yeah, I need to drop something off today at a friend's house."
"Not Roy I hope."
"No, a mutual friend through."
"Mind if we tag along? Hannah wants to take a walk."
"Not at all, come with me. I would love the company."
Riza made a quick summary of her friend Gracia so when Andrew went over, he felt more comfortable. She also explained that Elisia was Hannah's age and the two could play, she would just need to prep Elisia with a few basic hand language. After Christmas breakfast, Everyone got dressed. They always went to a special Christmas meeting in the town center where singing and wishes were done. As tradition, Riza and her grandfather both wore their uniforms to show pride and no one even complained. A military uniform was something you often saw growing up in that house. Sure, Riza was the only child who enlisted, by their grandfather was always in the military and their biological father was also.
Hannah wanted to be carried by Riza so she was, Hayate at her heels. A few other officers of the military were in the crowd as the singing began. As she looked out into the crowd, Riza saw a few familiar faces. When the crowd all dispersed to chat with locals, Hannah stuck to Riza as she went and talked to a few friends.
"Hello Havoc."
Havoc turned around, smoke emerging from his mouth. He smiled and dropped the cigarette on the snow at the sight of the child.
"Sir... I mean, Riza."
Havoc was about to salute but stopped. He too was in uniform.
"You with anyone?"
"My little sister, Jennie. You?"
Riza turned sideways and pointed off in a distance to a group of people talking.
"Thats my mother Samantha, step-father George, brothers oldest to youngest Shawn, Aaron, James, and Andrew. And you know my grandfather General Chaparian."
Havoc's eyes widened at the sight of the large family. It was just him and his mother and sister all his life.
"Have a family. How do you do it?"
"I'm the only girl, so I got respected."
Havoc laughed. She got respected in the office too, but mostly because of her guns. Hannah signed that she wanted to go play with the dog in the snow and Riza let her, telling her to keep in sight. Riza watched Hannah for a moment more then turned back to Havoc. His sister Jennie approached.
"I'm Jennie, Jean's sister."
"Pleased to met you. I'm Riza, a co-worker."
They shook hands and soon all started to talk. From the conversation, Riza got that Jennie and Havoc were all that was left of the family, so they spent all holidays together.
"Would you like to come to our house tonight? My family wouldn't mind, and we have plenty of food."
Riza smiled and emphasized on plenty. Jennie turned to Havoc and smiled.
"Sure, we would love to. thank you."
Havoc smiled. Riza wrote down the address and time on apiece of paper. She explained the humorous part of her mother. Meaning the clothing rule. They all started laughing and then parted, promising to see each other that night. Riza gathered Hannah and hr puppy up and went back to her family. She told her mother who she invited.
"A boyfriend of yours."
Riza sweat dropped.
"No, a friend who is a boy. I work with him. He and his sister are alone tonight."
"Oh, all right. It's nice to see you have friends."
After another hour of singing, and the family headed home for lunch and to prepare for dinner. Riza dressed into black pants and a blue sweater with sleeves. She wore her new jewelry and then assisted Hannah in dressing in her red dress. Tonight, Riza left her hair down and Hannah did to. It seamed Hannah wanted to be just like Riza. When Hannah was born, Riza was always around, helping Andrew. Then a few years alter they didn't see each other as much.
After lunch, Riza used the phone to call Gracia and then left with Hannah. Andrew stayed behind to help prepare dinner. They left Hayate behind in the kitchen where the cook would slip him some scraps, much to Riza's complaints. They walked down the slowly darkening streets, carrying the bag with the gift. They passed a store that was strangely open and Riza remembered she needed to buy something for Gracia. Se purchased a Christmas candle that smelt of holly, Gracia's favorite plant, and had the shopkeeper wrap it. At Gracia's, Riza and Hannah sat in the living room with Elisia as Gracia went to fetch the small gift she got for Riza.
As a friendship offering, Elisia gave Hannah one of her new dolls and the two began to play on the floor. Elisia loved the doll outfit.
"I looked everywhere for an outfit like that, where did you get it?"
"Brian's Toys on Broadway. The small hole in the wall, next to the cafe."
Riza opened her gift, it was a photo that Hughes had taken along time ago. Hughes was standing behind Riza and Roy with his arms around their shoulders. They were all in casual clothing and were all smiling. Riza smiled and thanked Gracia. Gracia loved the candle and lit it as soon as she could. They talked as the girls played. Elisia learned a few simple basic things in sign language such as 'play', 'friend', and her name. The girls took off upstairs shortly to play some more.
"It's nice to see Hannah making friends. According to my brother, she is like me, very shy and more good a making friends."
"Yeah, Elisia is turning shy. I think it's because I don't show her off to everyone I meet in the villa like Maes did."
"You know he's torturing those poor angles with pictures as we speak."
"Yup, and that is what keeps my smiling."
Before long, Riza and Hannah headed home. They took the train due to the time of day. They sat in Riza's usual spot. The little girl Riza always saw, Rebecca, was there. She was with her mother. She walked up to Riza and tapped her shoulder.
"Excuse me miss, where is your puppy?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I left him at home today. I promise to have her Monday morning."
The little girl smiled. It surprised Riza when she signed a Christmas greeting to Hannah. Rebecca's mother turned to Riza and smiled.
"Her father is deaf. She learned it last year. Not much, but the basics."
At the stop, Riza and Hannah left, waving bye to Rebecca. At the house, Riza used the phone and called into her office at work. As expected, it was closed so she left a message at the front desk.
"This is Lieutenant Hawkeye. I'm requesting a transfer. You can reach me tonight until January 1st at 523-956-7730. Thank you."
A/N - Well?
Please review. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile ooOAnimeChildOoo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
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