Chapter eight: Proposal of the infirm

Two months later found Heidi standing over Roy's desk with a deeply etched concerned frown. Everything had fallen back into the ease it had before, she and Roy were getting closer everyday, but this, this was not normal at all. Yes the man often took naps, but not like this. When he slept at his desk before, he looked so peaceful, almost like a baby.

Today he looked terrible. Come to think of it the last few days he'd not looked as vibrant as usual. At first she thought it was worry over the Elric brothers who were once again out on assignment. Roy often worried about the boys and what trouble they'd get themselves into. Now she wasn't so sure, not with his now pallid skin, the light shivering, or the soft coughing that had brought her from her desk just moments after sitting down. He was also wheezing faintly and that was something he just didn't do when sleeping, light snoring yes, but everyone snored.

In the last few days they'd not really had too much time together here at the office since he was doing paperwork and she was filing or off taking care of other matters. He'd not even been to her apartment to stay the night as of late saying he had some things he had to do at his. She never complained because it would give her a chance to clean up and get her laundry done since he never let her clean when he was there.

Gently Heidi rested her hand upon his shoulder. He felt warm even though the material of his uniform. That was enough to set her heart in the motions of fear. There was always something he told her but she never voiced back unless it was in the form of a kiss. She didn't want to lose him, not now, not after everything. "Colonel," No response. "Colonel Mustang!"

Roy lifted his head yawning. "Huh?"

Heidi bit back a smile and pulled off the sheet of paper sticking to his cheek to examine it. This was the same report he'd been reading this morning before she'd gone to the armory. "You slept through lunch apparently." Setting it aside she sighed. "Can I get you something to eat?"

Roy groaned rubbing his face. "I'm not hungry." In fact he felt as if he did eat he'd vomit. All the mucus in his stomach made eating, hell even drinking coffee an experience he'd like to forget. Just the thought of food or liquid mixing in with the infected bodily substance made him queasy. He felt awful, achy, cold, and his chest and throat hurt from all the coughing he'd done. He could deal with being cold and swore from a fever but the coughing was a nightmare. It seemed that no amount of medicine was doing him any good. Oh it worked pretty well during the day as long as he didn't move around too much but at night forget it. "Close the window."

"It is closed." She replied.

"Then turn off the fan."

"It's not on." Her hand felt his forehead for a moment then the next thing he knew he was being moved. His chair had wheels so it was relatively easy for Heidi to just push him back.

"What are you doing?" He asked softly. Oh no, that itching, that terrible tell tale itching that always led to a string of coughing crept into his throat. And here it came.

Heidi turned around to face him leaning upon his desk. She shook her head watching the poor man, her boyfriend, nearly hack up a lung. "Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" He glared. "Okay well that's that then. I am exercising the right relieve you of duty." She turned around and picked up the phone dialing the extension to the personnel office. Falman picked up. "Falman, could you come to Colonel Mustang's office please?"

"Yes sir,"

Heidi hung up with out another word.

"I can stay." Roy said sitting back in his chair. God she looked simply beautiful today. It seemed like ages since he'd seen her when in reality it had only been a few hours.

Heidi shook her head. "Not happening. In fact you're going to my apartment. It's closer and my bed is more comfortable and I have juice." She pulled out her pocket watch to check the time. "I can leave early today. We'll just pack all this paperwork up and take it with us. Falman can bring it back."

"Can't I skip it?"

Heidi glanced over her shoulder to assess the amount that was there. "Well it's due tomorrow…I suppose I can come and finish it up in the morning. Now have you been to the infirmary for any medicine, that cough is terrible."

"Yes," He replied as a knock sounded and Falman entered.

"Falman, could you drive Colonel Mustang to my apartment and make sure that he stays there until I arrive?"

Roy frowned. "I thought you said you were taking off early." He didn't want to sit at her house alone and he didn't like the idea of her assigning Falman as his babysitter. He could take care of himself.

"I am, I just have a few things to finish up here before I can go home. Shouldn't take me too long. Just go on in and go to bed or lay down on the sofa." She replied.

"But-"

"No buts Colonel. The faster you get better the sooner I won't be loaded down with your work."

Roy smirked. "Oh I see." He didn't budge and their eyes locked and remained so for several minutes making Falman a little uncomfortable.

"I can call the MPs in to carry you out."

Roy's smirk faded. "Fine," slowly he stood and shivered. "Just hurry up."

"Yes, sir," She replied.

Roy almost made it to the door before another fit of coughing hit him. His face contorted in pain as he covered his mouth politely. "You alright sir?" Falman asked.

"Yeah," Roy replied straightening once the fit was over.

Heidi rounded his desk. "Wait Colonel I'll need your house key."

"My house key?" He asked turning to her. "Why?"

She smiled. "Because you're staying with me until you're better and you only have one change of clothing in my closet. I'll also need to pick up the medicine you say you have. There will be no arguments what so ever."

With out a word Roy dug in his pockets for his keys and tossed them to her. She caught them with ease then waved them along.

Roy sat upon Heidi's sofa mainly because there was no way he'd leave Falman alone to sit and stare at the walls with nothing to do, and because he didn't want to lay down in her bed with out her. He'd grown accustomed to sleeping next to Heidi. She was warm and didn't flop about when she slept, in fact once she was asleep she hardly moved at all. He didn't know how any one could sleep with out turning over but she apparently could.

"Can I get you something sir?" Falman asked quietly.

Roy shook his head. "No I'm fine, you go ahead." Well that was a little rude of him, not getting it for the man himself, but he felt terrible and didn't want to move.

Falman left for the kitchen and Roy checked his pocket watch. It had been two hours since Falman had brought him here. What the hell was keeping Heidi? She didn't have that much paperwork. There had actually been a lull in it. He wondered if Ed and Al had returned or someone else under his command. Even with that she should have been here by now… Wait she said she was going to his apartment. Roy almost groaned at the thought. Heidi was a neat freak, kept everything as clean and polished as possible. He on the other hand was a clean person, tidy, but since he'd been home and not feeling well his apartment, or rather his kitchen and bedroom were a mess. He'd not done any of his laundry, how embarrassing.

"Oh no…" Heidi might be doing his laundry for him. Oh well at least he wouldn't have to do it himself. Can't complain in that. Still he wasn't sure he felt right about having her clean up his apartment. She didn't know where things went and well it was his responsibility, she already did a lot for him as it was. She cooked. He and Maes had actually gotten into a long discussion about Heidi's cooking. In his mind she rivaled Gracia, Maes's wife. Maes laughed at that for a long time. Heidi found it amusing as well.

Another hour passed bringing Heidi, a suit case, and a large paper bag. "You Colonel Mustang are in big trouble." She said with annoyance as Falman took the paper bag from her. "Thank you. Just take that into the kitchen."

"What did I do?" Roy asked lazily.

Heidi set his suit case beside the sofa. "You went to work with bronchitis. You idiot you were told by the doctor to stay at home and now you're worse off because you didn't listen."

Roy's eyes narrowed. "You went to my doctor?"

Heidi nodded and she smiled. "Of course I did. Now I have some medicine you're to take and I am under orders to keep you home until I think you are better. That means you have to follow my orders, won't this be fun?"

Roy blinked a moment. The way she said it made it seem like this little visit to her home was going to be hell.

"Bronchitis, that's a lung infection." Falman said. "That's pretty serious sir."

Heidi rolled her eyes. "He'll be fine in a week or so. It's not chronic just acute. Thank you for staying with him Falman."

The narrowed eyed man nodded saying good bye and hoping his commander would get to feeling better soon. Then he left closing the door quietly behind him.

Heidi looked around and sighed. "Well now I'll just make you something to eat-"

"Please don't." Roy breathed.

"You have to eat something Roy, even if it's just a little. I obtained some more cough medicine from the doctor." She smiled holding out her hand. "But before that why don't you take a warm bath. The steam will help."

Roy sighed. The thought of taking off his clothes for the cold air to attack his fevered skin wasn't a pleasant one. The warm water was but that meant he'd be cold again when he got out. "I don't want to."

Heidi gave him an odd look. "But you'll feel better."

"No I won't. Can I have a blanket?" He half whined.

"Roy,"

"Heidi please it's cold. I don't want to be colder after."

Heidi couldn't believe it. How was it men could get the tar beaten out of them and be tough little annoyances but as soon as they got sick they were…well whiny, cranky, babies? "Men are such babies. I swear you and Ivan and my Dad. Roy get your ass off my sofa and into the bathtub."

Roy smirked. Heidi was annoyed, actually exasperated, maybe this would be fun after all. "Come with me."

"No,"

"Please, I'm sick." He whimpered giving her his most pitiful face.

Heidi shook her head. "I have to make you something to eat."

"Please, I promise I'll be good and take my medicine."

If his face could get any more pitiful it did and she closed her eyes to block it out. That face would be her undoing for sure. That bastard! "Why do you need me to come and sit with you in the bathroom? Can't you sit in a tub full of water by yourself?"

"Because it's lonely and I don't want to take one by myself." He replied.

Her eyes flew open. "I'm not taking a bath with you."

"Oh come on you look tired too." He said.

"Roy we've not even-"

"Well we could in there. I've never had sex in a bath tub, might be fun."

Heidi let out a long heavy sigh and held her head in her hands briefly before dropping them. How could he think of sex when he felt so badly? When she was sick she didn't even want to get out of bed and she'd had bronchitis a few times before so she knew exactly how he was feeling. The mischievous smirk upon his face made her wonder if he was teasing. "You're terrible,"

"So is that a yes?" he asked.

" Ugh you're too sick to be overextending yourself with that kind of activity." She breathed.

"Not if you're-"

"Don't you finish that sentence!" She pointed.

He laughed and caused himself to have a bout of coughing. Heidi smiled folding her arms over her chest in triumph. "See, you can't, now get up and go take a bath Colonel that's an order."

"I out rank you."

"Yes you do but this is my house so move it."

Roy shrugged clearing the phlegm from his throat. "You going to at least come in and keep me company?"

"I'll think about it."

Heidi made chicken soup with some left over chicken she had in the ice box making sure to ad some vegetables and plenty of broth. While adjusting the stove heat to make sure it wouldn't boil over she checked the time. It was right about time they normally would be getting off and soon Ivan would call to do his weekly check up on her. Boy was she going to get it. After finding out that Mustang not only knew of her past but still wanted to be with her none the less, Ivan was both relieved and annoyed. He didn't like someone close too her that he didn't know personally, some one who was known to be promiscuous.

Sighing Heidi walked back to her bathroom and knocked upon the door. "Roy dinner will be ready soon." There was no response. She sighed knocking again. "Roy," Oh he'd better not be playing around, sick or not she'd still kick his butt if he was. Seeing a man naked wasn't news to her. It didn't make her uncomfortable, it was the fact that he was too ill for these kinds of things and well she was still very self conscious about her own appearance.

When he still didn't answer she opened the door a crack. "Roy I'm coming in." Slowly she eased into her bathroom which felt at least a few degrees warmer than the rest of the house. His suit case was sitting upon the floor, his pajamas and robe handing up with his underwear resting upon the lavatory counter.

With out looking, Heidi pulled the shower curtain to hide the lower half of his body then sat upon the closed toilet. It was then that she looked. Colonel Mustang was fast asleep in her bathtub. She couldn't help but smile as she slid off the toilet and sat upon her knees. Carefully she reached out to brush his hair from his slanted eyes. Those sleek midnight locks were as soft as they looked but the light touch woke him. Blue-black eyes opened from under lazy black lashes. He smiled. "You decided to come in after all."

"Well you fell asleep which you shouldn't do. People might think that I drown the famous flame alchemist."

He smirked. "It would be interesting; the flame gets put out by water."

Heidi sighed. "Dinner will be ready soon." He scowled. "You don't have to eat too much just a little."

Roy lifted his hand from the warm water shivering from the cool air. "Heidi, the door."

"Right," Quickly she turned and pushed the door shut with her hand. As soon as she faced him again his hand tugged upon her uniform. "You're getting me wet."

"Well yeah, come in here with me." He replied softly. "I've missed you."

Heidi moved closer resting her arms upon the edge of her bathtub. With ease she propped her chin upon her hand. "Well now that I find hard to believe since you have seen me everyday."

"That's not what I meant. We can't really touch in the office or haven't you noticed that I like touching you." His eyes searched her face. "Your skin and hair is always so soft." He frowned a little. "Does that make you uncomfortable, me touching you? I have always wondered about that. Then I find myself wondering if you really like me at all or if you're in this because you want everything to work out as smoothly as possible. But then I have to slap my self because I remember how you look at me sometimes when you think I don't notice."

He took a breath shifting in the tub. The water sloshed over the side getting her wet but he pretended not to notice. "You know we haven't really spoken about us, how we feel. You always smell so good. Did you know that I love it when you hum absently while working in the office?"

Heidi smiled shaking her head. She had to wonder if he'd taken something or if there was something strange in the cough medicine. Roy didn't really seem the bear your soul type to her.

Roy cupped her cheek with his wet hand. "You should do it on purpose. My radio has been broken for some time and I haven't let Fury fix it just so I could hear you." He frowned. "But there's some damned annoying things I don't like. You always have a pen on you but it's always chewed up. Why do you do that?"

"I don't know, Ivan once told me I have an oral fixation and I should just buy chewing gum." She closed her eyes with a sigh when he gave her an all too wicked grin.

"Really, sounds interesting you'll have to fill me in on the details." He coughed as he began to chuckle. There was an ache in his chest that made him groan softly. "Damn it,"

"So what else do you find annoying about me?" she asked once he was calm again. His wheezing had gotten worse and she was beginning to worry.

"You still don't open conversations with me. I want you to talk to me, ask me things."

Heidi smiled. "I talk to you all the time. Now you're being silly."

"Then there's the fact that you won't wear your hair down. It's always up unless I order you to wear it down."

Heidi sighed and reached back to undo the braid and shook it out. "There are you satisfied?"

"A little," he replied softly. Roy trailed his fingers down her cheek to her neck then began to play with the wavy locks of her hair. "You never did answer my question. Do you mind me touching you?"

She shook her head. "Not at all, but I'm not getting into the bath tub with you."

"I already got you wet, what's the harm?"

"Well you're not dressed an-"

"Have you never seen a man naked before?"

Heidi smiled. "I have and yes I've been with some one before."

"Was it Ivan, he seems pretty protective of you." Roy asked. It was true he'd over heard several phone conversations from her friend. It was clear that Ivan just didn't like him.

Heidi snorted then laughed. "Me and Ivan?" She laughed again. "Good grief no, he'd have to actually like females for that to happen."

Roy's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You mean he's gay?"

"Yeah, his last lover was no good so lately he'd been on a diatribe that all men are bad news. But where it concerns me…Roy he's seen how upset I've been after being rejected because of what I look like. You can't blame him for wanting to protect me and telling me to be careful. He just doesn't want to see me hurt again. He's like a Maes Hughes for me with a different name and minus the photos."

"That's as frightening as it is comforting." He replied dryly.

Heidi giggled. "Yes well, are you ready to get out of there?"

Roy nodded sitting up slowly. He was about to get up when a thought struck him. "Heidi,"

"Yes,"

"Are you afraid of me?"

She smiled getting up and reaching for a towel. "No,"

"No, I meant are you afraid that I'll cast you aside because of what you look like under all those clothes?"

Heidi paused as his dark indigo eyes met hers. "Maybe a little. I don't think you're shallow so don't ask me that question. I just… It's hard to think someone wants this torn up old thing." She smiled a little trying to make it a joke.

Roy stood up and a little too quickly, losing his balance and began to fall. Heidi's strong arms caught him through the shower curtain. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"No," He replied steadying himself. Once he was sure he'd not fall again he took the towel from her hand and wrapped it around his waist before exiting the tub. He shivered, his teeth almost chattering. She smiled picking up another towel and wrapped it around his shoulders, lovingly rubbing his arms.

"Heidi," He said after a minute. "How many times do I have to tell you that I don't care what you look like?" Her sky blue eyes met his. "I love you, I really do." He leaned close to kiss her but she stopped him.

"As much as I would love to kiss you, I'm not going to allow it."

He frowned. "And why not?"

She smirked taping the tip of his nose. "I can't get sick. If I do who will run the office?"

"Heidi,"

"No now get dressed and come in to the kitchen." With that she left.

"You're just plain mean you know that." I practically pour my heart out and don't even get a kiss in return, cold brat!

"Ah but you love me." She said poking her head into the room.

Roy found dinner, the chicken soup too be excellent like all her cooking and it did feel good to get something on his stomach. He should have come to her as soon as he'd fallen ill but he'd hoped to stay away and let it pass so he wouldn't pass it on to her.

Currently they were sitting in her dining room. She was having her weekly phone conversation with Ivan and he was shivering. Heidi had given him some aspirin not too long ago to help take his fever down some. She'd also made him take his ghastly foul cough medicine. As it stood he was between coughing fits and was just trying to remain as still as possible, just breathe with out aggravating his aching chest. He was cold even with his flannel pajama's she must have had to dig to find and his robe on. And he was bored. She smiled reaching across the table for his hand.

"Can we go to bed now?" He whined softly as he traced the top of her hand.

Heidi chuckled. "I know, well I'll call my parents tomorrow. For now I'm going to have to let you go. Roy's being a big baby."

"Am not,"

"Uh huh you too, bye." Heidi turned in her chair and hung up the phone. "Okay so you want to go to bed now huh?"

Roy nodded with a yawn. "And you're coming with me."

"I suppose," she sighed.

Roy followed her to the bedroom and closed the door behind him. "Don't do that I won't remember that it's closed in the morning and walk into it." She muttered.

Roy snorted. "Seriously?"

"I did a few months ago when you were here to convince me to stay. Hurt too." She replied unfastening her uniform jacket. "Get in bed and cover up."

Roy did as he was told thankful that her bed was so nice. From there he watched her undress. Although her back was turned to him he could still see the scars reaching around the back of her thighs and back. They still meant nothing to him and seeing her with out anything but a pair of…He smiled at the pink underwear. It brought back a semi fond memory. Still he thought she was beautiful. He almost whimpered in disgust when she donned her pajamas.

"I still love you."

Heidi pulled her hair from under her pajama top and turned to him smiling. Every time Roy said he loved her made her feel lucky and happy. There wasn't a thing she wouldn't do for him, some things would have to wait a while but if he asked it would get done. "You're very sweet now do me a favor."

"What?" he asked softly.

"I know it's cold but I need you to open that robe and unbutton your pajama top." She replied heading for her night stand.

"You going to do wicked things to me?" He asked mischievously.

"No I'm going to put something on you so you can breathe easier." She opened the top drawer and lifted a small jar then sat upon the bed next to him.

"What's that?" Roy asked with a frown.

"It's a cream," she replied unscrewing the lid.

Roy's nose wrinkled in disgust once the overpowering scent reached him. Menthol and something else he couldn't quite place. "Ugh hell no."

"Do you want to breathe tonight?" She asked sternly.

"Not that."

"I don't like it either but I'll smell it all night too. It really does work." She sighed when he shook his head. "Please, I'll let you kiss me."

Roy thought about it. She was only trying to help and take care of him. The crap smelled awful but getting to lock his lips with her again after a few days of not being able too, and she was a great kisser…Oh she'd better make it worth it! "Fine,"

Slowly he pushed back the covers, opened his robe, and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his pajamas. Half expecting her to make him put it on himself, he was a little surprised to see her dip her fingers into the small jar. She smiled setting said jar aside and placed her fingers lightly upon his chest. Then her fingers worked magic over the sore and strained muscles.

Roy closed his eyes, sighing contentedly. It might be cold but her hand felt so good. He could deal with the smell as long as she was touching him like this.

He was almost asleep when her hand left him. In fact she left but she came back in a matter of a minute, turning out the light, crawling over him in her bed, and getting under the covers. He felt her fingers buttoning his pajamas and then she tucked him in leaving a little of his chest exposed so he could breathe the vapors of the cream.

Roy cracked an eye lid. "You said you'd kiss me remember?"

Heidi nodded. "I did didn't I?" Gently she propped herself up and tucked her hair behind her ear then leaned over him. Her soft lips met his briefly before she pulled away.

"Oh come on." He bit. "You can do better than that."

"But you'll get too excited."

Roy smirked. "Well you can fix that too while you're at it. I remember you saying something about an oral fixation."

She snorted. "You're demented; we can save that for when you're feeling better."

Roy's eyebrows rose a little surprised since not many women actually agreed to that sort of thing. "Seriously?" He frowned. "Heidi are you ready for that?"

She hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, I think so. I might even take a bath with you."

Naughty erotic thoughts ran through Roy's head and he had to think of something not pleasant just to keep from getting too aroused. "You'd really let me touch you?"

"Oh for crying out loud Roy, yes I'll have sex with you but when you're better. That's what two people in a relationship do and you said you loved me so it's okay." She smiled moving closer. "But it's not one sided." Before he could say anything she kissed him running her tongue along the seam of his lips in askance. Her tongue delved into his mouth exploring the warm moist walls and his. This lasted until he began to cough.

Roy cursed his sickly body for interrupting them but Heidi lay her head down upon his shoulder, wrapping his arm around her. "Roy,"

"Yeah," he nearly choked out trying to avoid another fit. He failed but she waited patiently, patiently as always.

"I meant it,"

"What?"

"That I love you." It wasn't an easy thing to say with so much on the line but it was true. Ivan had asked her if she did since she rarely took care of anyone when they were sick. She'd said she did then it was just a matter of time before she had the right opportunity to tell Roy. Now was as good as ever…right?

She felt his lips press against her head and his hold tighten. "Well that makes two of us."

"God," she breathed. "Go to sleep."

Roy chuckled lightly. "Have you set your alarm?"

Heidi gasped popping up. "Shit, thank you for reminding me." She scurried out of bed and hurried to the other side of the room. "Crap,"

Roy turned over with a puzzled look as she yanked the nightstand drawer open and began rifling through it. "What are you doing baby?"

"Looking for chalk."

"Chalk, what'd you do break it?"

"Only the second time this week." She smiled. "I don't like it one bit and throw it across the room. But it does it's job so when I break it I resurrect it."

"You throw your alarm in the morning?"

"Well not every morning, ah here it is." She replied and hurried back to the other side of the room. Lucky for her the floor in here wasn't carpeted only the living room had that perk.

Quickly she drew the transmutation circle for reconstruction and placed her hands upon it. A blue glow filled the room and her alarm clock was back to normal. "Watch your eyes," She said softly before turning on the light.

Roy blinked from the light but continued to watch her. She used her pocket watch to set the time and the alarm time then placed the clock upon the nightstand, turned off the light, and hurried back to bed. "Okay, it's set to go off two hours before I have to go in. So I can get ready, cook breakfast, and spend a little time with you and your germs before I go."

"You make it sound like I'm contagious."

"You are," she whispered. "Now try and sleep."

Heidi's night was just a turbulent as Roy's. She could barely sleep with worry and from his hacking. She wondered by morning if that cream was doing him any good at all. Several times she'd risen to administer his cough medicine and give him aspirin to take the fever down.

When morning came they were both exhausted. But she got up, took a shower, dressed, made breakfast, made him eat it, gave him his medicine, then went to work.

In fact the next few days passed thusly and Roy's condition only seemed to plateau never getting better or worse. Heidi's, however, her general kind and patient disposition was waning. She was simply worn out from the extra paperwork, his meetings, and her work on top of that. The lack of sleep was getting to her as well since she wasn't used to it in the least. She was a creature who loved to sleep, thrived best when obtaining at least nine to ten hours a night.

Heidi sat upon the bed beside Roy holding a cup of orange juice. He'd just had his medicine but the fever was making him irritable. "Please drink some."

"It's cold." He replied turning over.

"Stop being such a baby and just drink damn it. Or do you want me to call Maes and have him lecture you about getting better." She smiled. "Or better yet, Edward is back. I'm sure he'd love to take a couple of cracks at you while you're ill."

Roy glared turning to face her. "Your bedside manner is beginning to suck." His annoyance faded as he looked upon her for the first time that day. He'd missed her this morning, sleeping through everything. She looked so exhausted, dark shadows lining her beautiful blue eyes.

He sighed, sitting up and took the glass from her downing it quickly. Then he set it aside. "Forget dinner and just come to bed. I'm not hungry and you look too tired to cook."

"I think it is time I called the doctor. You're not getting any better and you're the biggest baby I have ever met." She replied getting up.

"Heidi, I'll be fine."

"There just has to be something to clear that damned infection up. Why didn't he prescribe you any antibiotics?" She asked.

Roy rubbed his face. She wasn't even paying attention and the proof of that expounded when she left the room. He flopped back in the bed with a sigh.

Heidi returned a few minutes later taking off her uniform jacket. She tossed it to her rocking chair and unbuttoned her dress shirt. "Havoc's bringing you some antibiotics. He's on his way home anyway and wanted to stop by and check up on you."

"That's…Heidi sit down."

"I am sitting." She snapped.

"No you're not," Roy bit.

Heidi looked down at her feet. "Damn it. I'm gonna lose my head."

"Oh baby it's gone, left sometime ago."

"Shut up," she breathed sitting beside him. Roy's eyebrow twitched. Man was she cranky. He had no sooner begun to reach for her when she stood up again. "I have to wait for Havoc."

"Thank god today is Friday." He muttered.

Heidi frowned. "Why?"

"Because that means tomorrow is Saturday and you'll be home all day." He replied softly.

"No I have to go in to finish up the paperwork I didn't get done today. It will only take me a few hours."

"I don't think so, leave it for Monday." He ordered.

"Roy,"

"Honey please, take a look in the mirror." He pointed to the vanity.

Heidi did as asked like always. When she saw her eyes she sighed. "Fine,"

Havoc's visit was cut short since Roy nodded off while Havoc was reiterating everything Heidi had told him about what had happened in his absence, which wasn't much at all. Fury had brought in a cat from the rain and given it to a young girl in who worked in the armory. It had been Heidi's idea and thanks to that Fury now had a date with the girl. Roy seemed pleased about that, had even smiled and said "About time,"

Heidi of course decided to take advantage of his sleep and finish up that paper work they had due. She'd snuck in a call to Havoc just before he'd left the office asking him to pick it up for her as well. Before sending him home she promised to have him over for dinner some night to repay him for his help. He said it wasn't necessary but he wasn't going to turn down real home cooking any time.

Heidi sighed as she crawled into bed. She felt Roy's forehead disappointed to find it hot and not just warm as she'd hoped. Oh well he had some new medicine and she prayed it would work. As she lay down to get some sleep he turned over to face her opening his dark eyes. "Hey beautiful,"

"I thought you were sleeping." She muttered resting her head upon her pillow.

"I was but I heard you come in."

"Sorry,"

"I'm not. When did Havoc leave?" he asked with a yawn.

"A few hours ago." She whispered taking his hand.

Roy smiled lifting their entwined hands and kissed hers. "Heidi I've been thinking and I want to ask you something."

"Okay," She yawned.

"Will you marry me?"

Heidi frowned sitting up. "Is that the fever talking?" He shook his head and gave her a very serious look. Her heart jumped through her head and she smiled. "Seriously?"

He shifted in her bed. "Well I gave it a lot of thought, not much else I can do when I'm too sick to really do anything else. The fact is I love you and can't bear to be with out you and since I'm stuck with you as my second in command it would work out great."

Heidi bit her lower lip. "You really thought about this?" He nodded. "Can I think about it for a little bit?" Defeat flashed in his eyes. "Just a little bit. It's a big thing for me Roy."

"Take all the time you need I'm not going anywhere." He replied softly.

Heidi smiled pulling her hand from his and rest her head upon his shoulder. Of course she was going to say yes, she loved him like she'd never loved anyone else. He was so kind, funny, a pain in the ass, but a truly good man. He had brought so many assurances and comforts to her, made her feel safe and happy. "Okay I thought about it."

Roy chuckled. "That was fast, well."

"Yes,"

He sighed in relief lifting his hand to her head to pet her hair. "Great now get some sleep."

"Yes, sir," she whispered with a smile. She could barely contain herself but the need for sleep took over and she was out like a light in a matter of minutes leaving the flame alchemist to sigh happily. Despite feeling so disgustingly sick, he felt so warm and delighted. Who would have thought that it began out of a little transfer?

Roy was going to have to call Riza personally and let her know the news and tell her with out feeling annoyed that she was more than right about liking his new subordinate. He wondered what her exact reaction would be. Would she be happy or calm and stoic as usual? Maes would shoot through the roof after so many years of hounding him to get married. The news would of course travel like wild fire through out HQ and no doubt reach Central and other areas where military personnel were stationed soon enough. The flame alchemist who had wooed other soldier's girlfriends away was finally settling down and out of the way. So many hearts would be broken, but not his and not Heidi's.

A/N: Thanks so much to all my reviewers .! Next chapter is on the way since I'm about to write it now and you know there might even be a lemon. Eeep! It always takes me all day to write those.

Crimson Lantern