Disclaimer: I do not own the Fullmetal Alchemist characters. I own my original characters.

Special Thanks to all my reviewers!

Authors Note: Questions will be answered in this chapter. PS. This is my spin on who Roy was waiting for from the movie.

Chapter 7 - The People That Roy Was Waiting For

Twelve Years Ago

"Good," Amaya smiled evilly.

The remaining members of the Collective Coalition pushed two men inside the factory. These two men were wearing the uniform of the military. The door slammed and locked with an ominous sound. The men that were holding Roy and Maes back pushed them to the cold, cement floor. Bruised and battered, Hughes groaned in pain, "I should have never come along. Being your friend causes pain ... physically!" Roy weakly responded, "It was your idea to shout. I told you to be quiet."

"How did I know that some group of crazed alchemists were out to get you," Hughes coughed in pain.

"Crazed alchemists," Amaya scoffed. "We are not crazed."

"It's a pleasure to see you again." Roy scoffed, "Amaya, I never really thought that you would stoop as low as to degrade alchemy." Roy glared into Amaya's empty irises, "And now, you have become crazed."

"I am not crazed."

"Really?" Roy asked, "Then, why do you have Laiba in this room?"

"It is just a mandatory procedure," Amaya shrugged.

"A mandatory procedure for what?" Roy asked.

"You ask too many questions," Doctor Grey sneered.

Roy stood up; a fierce look in his eyes and walked towards Laiba's father, "I see that this was always who you were. I knew there was something wrong. Bur, I did not warn anyone. That was my fault. But, that's all going to stop now."

"Is it?" Amaya walked between Doctor Grey and the Flame Alchemist, "Is it going to stop?"

"Your idea worked. Of course, you would set up a trap, wouldn't you? You could not be elegant about it. You had to have half of the team over there to catch them and bring them here. You knew that they would come." Gabe nodded towards Amaya. "I wonder, though, are you truly able and willing to fight fire?"

Amaya narrowed her eyes and commented, "He is playing with fire."

Gabe sighed, "Amaya, none of us are special. It is time we stop thinking that the Collective Coalition is special. He is special. We know that. Why can't we just accept it?"

Amaya shouted, "What makes him so special?" Amaya scoffed, "It's his power. But, what makes him able to use fire?"

"It's the fact that he chose the right path," Gabe rose to Roy's defense.

"He came," Laiba whispered as tears fell from her eyes, for; she had been hoping that Roy would not come.

Roy's eyes diverted towards Laiba. Amaya's eyes followed Roy's, "I understand now." Amaya tilted her head to the side, "However, to keep your delicate fiancé; you will have to make a trade."

"The military doesn't trade." Hughes commented, "It's in the code and ethics."

"Ah!" Amaya smiled, "But, they do if it is trading for an item of equal value."

Roy looked up at Laiba and replied, "There is nothing that I can trade equally for a life."

Amaya smiled, "What about your powers?"

Roy sighed, "I use alchemy."

"You use more than alchemy," Amaya looked away. "I have some news for you. As of right now, Laiba is standing in an unfinished transmutation circle. One more line drawn and she will no longer exist."

Roy proceeded to take his gloves off. He noticed that there was a piece of chalk below the transmutation circle. He looked down at his gloved hands and from the corner of his eye; he noticed a flash of bright light. Laiba had taken the piece of chalk in her hand and had drawn the last line in. The power of the circle was nothing compared to some that Roy had seen at the base. However, this circle was enough to drain life from Laiba. Her shaking body slipped onto the cement.

"No," Doctor Grey shouted. "You said that this was not going to happen." Doctor Grey advanced towards Amaya, "You said that this was all for show. You had told me that what you wanted to do was aid me in research."

Hughes hurried towards Laiba. She smiled up at Maes and whispered, "This is Equivalent Exchange, isn't it?" Laiba closed her eyes and suddenly, all was still. There was a small clattering noise as Laiba's ring fell to the ground.

Sadly, Private Maes looked up at The Flame Alchemist, "Roy?"

"Yes. She's gone." Roy monotonously replied, as he looked stooped down to pick up Laiba's ring. Clenching his fists, Roy angrily spun around and responded, "Are you satisfied?"

The door opened and Sergeant Hendricks came in with the rest of his team. "You two," Sergeant Hendricks pointed at Roy and Hughes, "get over here."

Hughes spoke from the side of his mouth, "Roy, I think we're in trouble."

Roy walked with his head held upward, for, he did not wish anyone to know that he felt disheartened. Hughes sheepishly walked behind Roy and looked up at Sergeant Hendricks as though he were expecting a lengthy lecture.

"The both of you deserve to become Corporal," Sergeant Hendricks patted the both of them on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of the two young boys. "We've been trying to track the Collective Coalition down for months. And to think, students were the ones that captured them."

"A promotion," Mustang cocked up one eyebrow.

Hughes took in a deep sigh of relief, "I thought we were going to get in trouble."

"No," Sergeant Hendricks smiled, "you are in trouble. But, great job. This will go on your record as an honorable achievement. I'll personally see to that."

The Collective Coalition minus Amaya and Doctor Grey bowed their heads in shame. Maes and Roy watched as the Collective Coalition was taken away.

Twelve Years Ago

Back at the Base

Riza looked up from her book and noticed that Roy was standing beside the window. "When did you come in," Riza asked as she closed her book.

"Twenty minutes ago," Roy quietly replied.

"Is something wrong?"

"No." Roy lied as he shrugged and turned away from the window, "It's too stuffy in here. Let's go outside."

"Okay." Riza placed her books in a neat stack and grabbed her jacket. She paused when she saw that Roy was giving her an odd look.

"Why do you always do that," Roy asked.

"Do what?"

"Whenever you're done studying," Roy motioned to the books, "you always put the books in a neat stack. It is not the end of the world. It's okay to have books strewn across the table."

Riza shuddered, "Were we not going to go outside?"

They walked out of the base together and sat down on the steps. Riza watched as Havoc tried to smile at a girl. In amusement, Riza raised her eyebrows when Havoc choked on the cigarette smoke; making the smile seem more like a leer.

"I have to go to a funeral." Roy looked down at his feet, "Hughes is coming with me."

"I'm sorry."

"Are you sorry that Hughes is coming with me," Roy half-smiled; trying to make light out of the situation.

"No. That someone you know died."

"Thanks," Roy smiled.

"Did you know the person well," Riza asked.

"I thought that I did."

"And that person surprised you," Riza nodded.

"Yes," Roy looked away.

There was more silence.

"Listen," Roy looked down, "did you want to come to the funeral too? I know that you don't - didn't know the person."

"I'll come."

Riza folded her arms to ward off the afternoon wind and looked away. Their silence was not out of anger. It was out of understanding.

Twelve Years Later

Roy looked out his window and saw that the sky had turned from midnight blue to the light pink of the rising sun. "What time is it," he turned and looked at his alarm clock; which strangely had stopped working after his injury.

The door to his apartment opened and Colonel Mustang turned his head swiftly to the side. "Sir," Riza walked into the apartment and closed the door behind her. "How have you been? I have to fill out your report."

Roy sighed, "I'm fine."

Riza wrote on her clipboard, "Colonel Mustang is fine."

Roy's one eye widened, "What are you writing?"

Riza shot Roy a look and then replied, "Sir, I have a surprise for you."

"I don't like surprises."

Riza set her clipboard upon the kitchen table and said, "Someone is here to see you."

Roy watched as Riza reached for the doorknob. Riza paused and turned around, "Sir, by the way, happy birthday."

Riza opened the door and took in a deep breath, "Are you two coming in or not?"

"Is he still a dog of the military," a strangely familiar voice quipped.

"It can't be." Roy's one eye widened, "Riza?"

They walked into the room and a small brotherly smile crept upon Roy's features. It was Edward and Alphonse Elric. Edward seemed to have grown an eighth of an inch. However, Alphonse seemed to have shot up like a weed that had been watered regularly.

"Well," Roy smirked, "you've both grown."

"Shut up," Edward snapped.

Roy looked up at Riza. She was not prepared for this look. Quickly, Riza looked down in embarrassment.

"How did you get them here?"

"That's another story," Riza smiled.

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The End

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