You know how this works. I don't own Roy (don't I wish), I don't own his staff, and I don't own Central. Pretty much the only things I do own are the plot, my character (General Ree), and the academy (yeah, that was me). Oh, and anyone mentioned in the flashback is also my creation. Quick background, I brought Hughes back (yeah, saw that coming, didn't you?) because he's too awesome to die. The grave can't stop him! Well, that's enough of that, let's get this party started.

As they ate their dinner, they talked. They talked about old times, and they talked about all the things Arika had missed. They told stories about work and school and Maes talked endlessly about his daughter. He had two years of stories to tell, and he told them with vigor. Once, when Maes stopped for air, Roy turned the conversation around. "So, Arika, where are you staying tonight?"
"Yes. You just got here today, you must not have found anywhere yet," Gracia added.
"I was going find an apartment today, but I ended up staying with Roy at-"
"That's a great idea!" Maes interrupted.
"…what?" Arika didn't follow.
"Stay with Roy. He's all alone in that huge apartment of his, and he has a fold-out couch." He looked over at Roy.
Roy, with the feeling of being trapped, said "I do have extra space…"
"Then it's settled," Maes declared, pounding the table.
"Thanks, Roy. I hate motels," Arika said shyly.
"It's no trouble," he said, suddenly valiant.
They talked and ate for another half hour before they were finished. By that time, Elicia had fallen asleep in her chair. Maes went on for a few minutes about how cute she was when she was asleep. Finally, Gracia, after sitting silently for most of the dinner, said, "Dear, I'm going to take Elicia home. You and your friends have a nice time tonight, and I will see you at home." She got up and lifted her daughter from the chair. They said their goodnights and the two were out the door.
"Well, I've been written a blank check for the night. What do you guys want to do?" Maes asked.
After the boys didn't speak up, Arika said, "I'd kinda like to visit the old school. I haven't seen it in years."
"I haven't been there since we graduated," Roy volunteered.
"Me neither. Somehow, it didn't seem right to go there without you," Maes said shyly.
Five minutes later, they had paid the bill, left the restaurant, and were on the road to the school. "I think we just passed the turn," Arika said.
Roy looked at her reproachfully. "Don't go trying to get us lost again."
"Oh, we both know you got us lost. I just made it worse."
"It wasn't me, I was the one who said we should try going just a little farther when we were on the right street to begin with."
"You were the one who—"
"Children, children," Maes shouted, steeping in between them. In a lower voice, he added, "We're here."
Sure enough, there was the old school. "As I recall, they never locked the doors at night," Arika said, walking up to the door and pushing it open. As she walked in she called back, "Care to join me, boys?"
The school was just as she remembered. She walked over to a locker, spun the lock, and opened it. "The combinations are even the same," she told them. She ran up the stairs and into the gymnasium. The safety mats were out and they brought back so many memories. The boys were still downstairs, and in the silence, the gym seemed to echo with long forgotten shouts of aspiring officers. One in particular stood out in her mind. She walked over to the bleachers and sat down. Closing her eyes, she recalled the last time she had been here. She could see it in her mind, so long ago…
several years earlier
A young Arika Ree sat with her friends, Maes and Roy. She was depressed and upset. She knew what she was doing was probably the wrong thing, but it was her only way out. "Guys, I have some news," she said slowly. "I got my first post. I know you guys got yours weeks ago, and I'm happy that you're both staying Central. I'm going to be an Ensign under Colonel Rister."
"Colonel Rister?" Roy asked angrily. "Doesn't he work out West?"
"Yeah," Arika said shyly.
"Is there anything you can do to stay?" Maes asked.
She shook her head. "I asked to leave."
"What?" Roy yelled. He was always so angry, sometimes it scared her. He used his anger as a shield, so she knew when he was hiding behind it and when it was real. This time it was a little bit of both.
"This is something I need to do, Roy, I'm sorry," she said, running out of the gym.
present
"This is something I need to do, Roy, I'm sorry," she found herself whispering. When she opened her eyes, she found Roy sitting in front of her. They sat in silence for a minute.
"Why did you leave?" he asked reluctantly.
"Why didn't you ask me to stay?"
When he couldn't answer her, she left the gym, Roy, and all the old memories in search of Maes.