OK LAST CHAPTER FOR TONIGHT

I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

As Always

Enjoy :D

"I hate cake."-Riza Hawkeye

Hawkeye Manor

East City, East Sector

"Riza, don't look!" Grumman quickly turned his granddaughter around.

"Grandpa, why is mommy sleeping? My party isn't over yet..." Riza was trying to see around Grumman. The old general covered her eyes and his breath hitched at the lack of understanding in Riza's eyes.

"She's tired, honey. She's not gonna wake up for a long time. Go to your room."

Tears flooded Riza's eyes. Being sent to your room was a punishment.

"...but...but, Grandpa, my birthday..."

Grumman felt his bottle overflow and turned and unleashed upon his granddaughter.

"Riza Elizabeth Hawkeye! Go to your room, now!"

The tears came down and Riza sobbed before turning around and running away. She grabbed her locket from the table before looking at the cake her grandpa had made for her. She pushed it off the table, watched it fall apart when it hit the ground, and ran upstairs. Riza cried until she fell asleep. Quietly, Grumman snuck in and tucked her in before brushing her hair aside.

"I'm sorry Little Hawk. I didn't mean that. I swear, we'll make your next one the best birthday you've ever heard of." Grumman stood up and walked downstairs and covered his daughter with a blanket. He then went to the phone and dialed the number for the hospital. Someone had to pronounce his daughter dead. Before long a doctor and coroner arrived together. Grumman watched them take his daughter out of the room. Then, and only then, did the general sob. Grumman sat down and let all that had happened collapse on his mind, and he suddenly felt very tired. His eyes began to close, and Grumman's last thoughts were

'I'll just nap for a little while. Then I can get down to business with Riza…'

General Grumman closed his eyes and went to sleep.

The Next Day

A police officer stood talking to a soldier, as the coroner brought the body out of the house.

"What happened?" the soldier looked at the cloth cover body.

"His daughter died last night, looks like a stroke. The poor man went to sleep while he was in shock. His body just didn't wake back up…" the police officer shook his head. The soldier sighed and shook his head.

'That old man deserved better.'

"What do we do with Elizabeth Hawkeye?" an MP walked up and to his associates.

"Send her to an orphanage I guess. All of ours are full though."

"We have a unit heading for Central tomorrow. We can put her on that train and put her in an orphanage there."

The MPs all nodded and they split up going about their separate duties.

Central City

Two Days Later

Riza Hawkeye stepped inside the orphanage with her bag in hand. She had been allowed two outfits and that was it, since space was limited on the train. She was dressed in the same white dress she'd worn on her birthday. The other children were running around and a single gray haired woman was there trying to control the chaos.

"George, leave Vicky alone! Frank I told you and Devon to go take your baths! Hurry up now Vera and Kristy are going after you! Michael, go make sure that Ryan is still in bed, if he's so sick he needs to be in bed."

Riza and the soldier accompanying her to sign her over watched this woman single handedly control dozens of children. Eventually she walked over.

"Hello, I'm Margaret Parker; everyone calls me Miss Margaret or Margaret. I assume you're Riza Hawkeye?"

Riza nodded.

"And I guess you're here to turn her over."

The soldier nodded.

"Well, I've taken her, you can go now."

"I don't have to sign anything?" the soldier looked confused.

"No. You can leave now." Margaret glared at the soldier but took Riza's hand and looked down at the blonde girl with a smile. The soldier held his hands up in surrender and left with a sneer at the old woman. The door clicked behind him and Riza walked with Miss Margaret down a hallway.

"You're in luck. We have someone else new here to."

"Really?" Riza liked the idea of someone in the same boat as her.

"Yes, his name is Edward."

'Oh great…a boy…'

When Riza went inside her room she found a blonde boy around her height sitting on one of the two beds in the room.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Riza Hawkeye, your new roommate."

The boy rolled his eyes.

"Great, someone to bug me."

Margaret cleared her throat and raised an eyebrow at Edward.

"What? I'm just being honest." Edward laid back and turned away from them. Margaret sighed and looked at Riza.

"Don't worry, he's just sad because of what happened to his family."

Riza looked at Margaret.

"What happened to his family?"

The old woman shook her head.

"It isn't my business to say Riza." With that the old woman directed Riza to her bed and left the room. Edward still didn't say anything. Riza decided to start first.

"Um, how did you end up here?"

"Ain't it obvious? My family is dead." Edward spat with a sneer on his face. Riza sighed and tried again.

"Sorry. Look, we're living together, so we should lay down some rules for each other."

Edward snorted.

"Fine. Rule number one, we don't bother each other. Let's stop breaking the rules." Edward was silent, but Riza was simmering. She glared at Ed's back.

"Alright then, Rule number two, don't be a jerk."

Edward turned around.

"Rule number three, don't be annoying."

Riza exploded.

"Rule number four, shut up!"

"Rule number five, you first!"

"I'm trying to be friendly here, stupid!" Riza shouted as she stomped her foot.

"I don't want to be friendly with a dumb girl like you!" Edward fired back.

"Maybe you should stop being mean and try to be nice!"

"Go cry to your mom!" Edward's jaw snapped shut, and he turned around. Riza just gaped at the blonde boy.

'Maybe I went too far.' Edward thought as he stared at the wall. A quiet sob answered that question. The boy sighed and looked at Riza again.

"Look, Riza…"

A fist interrupted him.

"Ow! What'd you hit me for?!" Edward held his bleeding nose.

"You were being a jerk!" Riza held her throbbing fist.

"I know, and I'm sor…"

Riza punched him again.

"Don't apologize. That's something friends do, and you aren't my friend." Riza went to her bed and got under her covers. Edward wanted to say something else, but he decided not to bother her. The blonde left to find Margaret to get help with his nose. He couldn't help but notice the sound of sobbing coming from Riza's bed.

That night

The sixty-something kids in the orphanage were all in one room eating their dinner, but one girl sat away from everyone else.

Riza sat at a table and just moved her food around her plate silently, and ignoring everyone else in the room.

"Can I sit here?"

Riza looked up to see Ed standing there with his own food. The boy had a nose splint on... Riza didn't say anything she just looked back down at her plate. Edward sighed and sat down next to her. He cleared his throat and started with what Margaret had drilled him on.

"Um, Riza, I'm sorry for what I said. If you'll forgive me, I want to try again."

Riza looked up at him and nodded her head. So Edward smiled and said.

"I'm Edward Elric, nice to meet ya."

Riza let a ghost of a smile on her face.

"My name's Riza Hawkeye. Nice to meet you to."

"What do you like to do? I read." Edward grinned, and Riza smiled a little bit.

"I draw, and I want to learn to play music some day."

Edward nodded.

"Me too...learn to play an instrument that is." He stuck his hand out, and Riza frowned at it.

"Friends?"

Riza smiled, nodded, and shook the hand.

"Friends."

With that the ice was broken and the duo sat together and chatted for the rest of dinner.

Reviews are appreciated

So last one for tonight. What do you guys and girls think, eh? Would you like to see more of this? If so, tell me why.