Two chapters in the same day? If this isn't proof I have no life, I do not wanna know what is.

Roy was worried. Riza hadn't called him yesterday during the time frame they had been given.

It was his second phone call the Academy had given him, the first they both agreed would go to Madam Christmas, and she didn't call him.

Maybe she forgot the day? Perhaps her Father was in a mood and she wasn't able to go into town? Or maybe the weather was bad and she had to stay home? A million thoughts and explanations ran through his mind, and none of them really gave Roy any comfort.

"She not call you?" Maes asked, sitting next to him.

"No. I know it's probably nothing, but I'm worried." Roy sighed, sipping the dirt water the cafeteria struggled to pass off as coffee.

I wonder if their tea is any better?

"She's your wife, man. You're supposed to worry about her. When's the last letter you got from her?"

"Ten days ago. I sent my reply a week ago. Unfortunately, because of how far away she is, it's going to take another week for her to get my letter, and two weeks for me to get the one she sends me. So I'm not gonna hear from her for at least three more weeks." Roy said solemnly.

"Relax, Roy. She's fine. There's nothing to worry about. Riza is okay." Maes reassured him, smacking the shorter man's back with an open palm.

Riza was not okay.

She laid in her childhood bad, on her stomach, her back exposed, her breath labored from the pain. Her Father had tricked her- used her. He didn't want her help, he wanted to be a human notebook. And like an idiot, she agreed.

Roy's right. He is a bastard.

Speaking of Roy, that's what made the... tattoo... her Father had carved into her skin worst. Not because he wasn't there to save her, but because of what her Father said to her when he was finished.

"You better not tell that boy about this. Just because he's earned the rights to you, doesn't mean he's earned the rights to my research."

It took twenty six hours for the tattoo to be completed. Her Father worked non stop, only giving her a break if wanted a cup of tea, which, for the first time in over eight years, he made himself. Riza spent the rest of the month in bed, Berthold giving her round the clock care to make sure she- no, his work- was okay.

She didn't even know what the tattoo on her back looked like, just that it was his secrets to Flame Alchemy.

It was the entire reason why Roy had even come to their house. And as his wife, she wasn't allowed to tell him.

Father will never allow Roy to take me away from here. His notes are too valuable to him. That's why he did this, so I could help keep them safe. I'm going to spend the rest of my life in this godforsaken house with an awful Father in a backwards minded town. Roy will never allow our children to grow up here with Father around, so that's that. No starting a family of our own. The entire town is going to think I'm barren and useless. Riza thought bitterly, barely able to fight back her tears.

She didn't even realize she had missed her phone call with Roy until two days after it was supposed to happen.

"He must think the worst of me." She whispered to herself. Hopefully I'll be able to make the next phone call.

She would have to come up with an excuse as to what happened before then.

Roy let out the biggest sigh of relief when he got his next letter from Riza.

Roy,

I'm so so so sorry I missed our phone call. I got sick on Wednesday, and I didn't get better until early Sunday. I'm sorry for worrying or upsetting you, I hope you can forgive me. I was really looking forward to hearing your voice again, too.

I really miss you. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. If anything, being away from you is making me more depressed.

We've made it over half a year. Just a little under eighteen more months to go. I love you so very much.

Yours, Riza

"That from Riza?" Maes asked, sitting next to him.

"Yep. She got sick the Wednesday before our phone call day, didn't get better until Sunday." He exhaled.

"See? I told you!"

"Hey Hughes, you got a girl writing you letters?" Roy asked.

"Nah. Not unless you count my Mother. Can't wait to have what you have. I look forward to coming home to a wife and a kid or two. Hey, you and Riza plan on having kids? You've never mentioned it."

"Mhm. Riza wants a lot of kids. I'm talking like five or six, if not more. One of the things we're both looking forward to when I get back is getting our own place, so we can start our own family." Roy grinned, putting the letter in his pocket.

"Surprised you didn't start the baby making on the honeymoon." Maes smirked, clearly joking.

Roy rolled his eyes. "You know how old she is. Too young to be going through the horrors of childbirth. Besides, I don't want any child of mine being in the same house as her Father. I wouldn't trust that man alone with a house plant, much less a child- especially if it's my child." He spat out in annoyance.

"With how you've described him, it doesn't surprise me you feel that way."

Riza was able to get up and walk around four days before her and Roy's next phone call was scheduled.

With her bedroom door shut and locked, she went through her shirts and dresses. Because of her tattoo, she would no longer be able to wear certain articles of clothing anymore.

She held up her favorite top, a simple dark green tank top, nothing fancy, but oh so comfy. Can't wear this anymore. A light purple sundress with a with a low collar and no sleeves. Not an option for me anymore. But when Riza got to her wedding dress, she wanted to slump to the floor in sobs.

The nicest dress she owned, the one she wore on the happiest day of her life, and she could never wear it again.

By the time she was done, more then half of her shirts and dresses weren't an option anymore. Even some of her cardigans wouldn't be allowed anymore.

All because her Father used her.

Riza was now forced to dress even more conservatively then she already did. She hardly ever showed any skin, but she had to cover even more now.

I hope when Father leaves this world, he leaves suffering.

"Is Roy Mustang available?" Riza spoke to the receptionist on the other end of the phone.

"I'll summon him, ma'am. Give me a moment, please." The man said. Riza waited for a few moments, trying to steady her breath.

I will not start crying when I hear him. I will not start crying when I hear him. She chanted mentally.

"Hello?" She heard Roy asked

"Hey." Riza answered.

"Riza! How have you been?" He asked excitedly. Riza could practically hear him smiling.

"Good. I'm so sorry I missed our call." She frowned.

"It's okay. Not your fault you got sick." He reassured her.

"You got my letter?" Riza asked.

"Yeah, a few weeks ago. You should get mine in a week."

"Thank God, I was worried it would get to you late. I didn't want to worry you any more then I already did." She sighed.

"Riza, you're my wife. I'm always going to worry about you."

Riza let out a snort. "I love you, you know that?" She said, struggling not to cry.

"Well good, because I love you too." He must've heard her sniffle, because his tone changed with his next statement.

"Hey are you crying, Riza?"

"Trying not to." Riza said honestly. "I didn't realize how much I missed hearing your voice until I actually got to hear it again. I'm going to be a complete and utter mess when you finally come home." She laughed.

"I doubt I'm going to be any better." He laughed back at her.

"I've got to go sweetheart. Target practice starts soon. I love you so much."

"I love you more."

Click.

Riza walked back home in tears.

Riza saw it as a blessing in disguise, the fact that her Father's health took a turn for the worst on her fifteenth birthday.

Karma sucks you asshole.

She was hopeful, optimistic, that he would pass on not too long after Roy returned home. Then maybe they could have the family of their own they had wanted and were so excited to have. Riza decided that the day her Father was dead in the ground, would be the day she showed Roy his secrets, what he had done to her back while he had been away.

Hopefully he wouldn't blame himself. Or her.

"Riza?" She heard Berthold hell groggily from his bedroom. She hadn't seen stepped foot into his study since the tattoo been completed.

"Yes?" Riza asked, entering the room.

"Make me some tea." He ordered.

"I'll get started on it right away." She nodded.

"How are you feeling?" Berthold asked her.

Like you even care. The voice inside her head scoffed.

"I'm fine." She answered, quickly leaving the room to make his tea.

Black Tea with a teaspoon of honey, two teaspoons of sugar, and a splash of cream. I wonder if he'd notice if I replaced the cream with rat poison? She pondered, quickly shaking the thought from her head. Let's revisit that idea when it's closer to the day Roy returns home. Then again, the old man might not even last that long. The voice added, her inner monologue no longer referring to Berthold as her Father.

She walked back up the stairs and placed the tea on the table beside his bed, as he coughed loudly into his handkerchief. Riza found herself staring at him, and he noticed this.

"What's on your mind?" He asked her.

"Do you have what Mother died from?" She replied, without missing a beat.

If Berthold was taken aback by her question, he didn't show it.

"I doubt it. Few of my symptoms are the same as hers were, and she... didn't make it as long as I have..." He frowned, staring down, unable to even look at her face, much less in the eyes.

"Okay." Riza shrugged, turning on her heel and leaving the room.

Before she managed to close the door, Berthold's voice rang out behind her.

"That boy had better not know about my research and where it is." He said sternly.

Riza let out an audible scoff, and turned to face him, her hand still clutching the doorknob.

"If Roy knew what you had done to me, his wife, he would've come back here to slaughter you himself long before you ever got whatever sickness it is you have that I hope and pray ends up one day killing you." She spat at him, venom in her voice.

Before Berthold could even open his mouth, Riza had shut his bedroom door, locking it from the outside to ensure her safety.

He can be alone for the rest of the day, just as I have been for most of my life.

Riza,

Happy Sixteenth Birthday, my love!

Okay, I know your birthday is May 13th, and technically it's March 22nd when I'm writing this, but last year my happy birthday letter showed up a week late. So hopefully this letter gets to you in time.

Is your Dad doing any better? You didn't say so on our last phone call. Hopefully he hasn't died. As much as I look forward to the day you are finally free from him, I'd rather he pass away when I'm there with you. I don't want you to deal with that, not alone at least.

I know that makes me sound kind of insensitive, but we both know by now how I feel about him.

Hard to believe it's been nearly eighteen months since I've left. Roughly six more months and I'll be able to see you in person again. I look forward to that moment every day, and have been since I had to leave. I hope I never have to be away from you for this long again.

I love you so damn much.

Yours, Roy

Roy,

Thank you for the birthday wish, your letter arrived on April 28th, with plenty of time to spare.

My Father is, sadly, doing okay. I don't know how long he'll last. I don't think he'll go before you arrive home, but I doubt he'll survive long after that.

I think the most frustrating part is that no one knows what's wrong with him. Dr. McCowl, my friend Jane's Father, has checked on him multiple times since he got ill nearly a year ago. He doesn't have a clue what it is.

He was kind enough to provide some medicine for him in exchange for two dozen eggs, in hopes of providing some relief.

I don't know if it helps any. If I'm being honest, I don't frankly care.

I love you so much too.

Yours, Riza

Roy was excited. He'd be home soon. Home to Riza. Just a few more weeks, and he'd be able to hold her, and hug her, and kiss her.

"When is Riza expecting you home?" Maes asked, as they shot at their targets.

"October 6th."

"But... you should be home by October 2nd..." Maes said, not even hiding his confusion.

"Yep. I want to surprise her." Roy grinned.

"Does she like surprises?"

"Not huge ones, like surprise parties or shit like that. Probably because of her Father. But I know she'll love this one."

"How's her Dad doing by the way?"

"Worst. Half the time he isn't conscious. He's lucky if he gets a good hour a week. He's been bed ridden for months. And the doctor still has no clue what's wrong with him." He told his best friend.

"I'm surprised he's lasted this long." Maes mumbled.

"So am I. So is Riza by the sounds of it. I don't think he'll be around by the time I get home. He certainly won't make it to the new year."

Riza was giving her Father his medicine when the knocking at the door started.

Rolling her eyes, she ignored it. She was busy.

"You gonna answer that?" Berthold wheezed.

"I'm busy. You need your medicine. If it's important, they can either wait or return later." She said simply.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Now I'm going to make you your tea. If whoever it is is still there when I'm done, then I'll see what it is they want." Riza said, wiping her hands off on her skirt.

"I love you, Riza." He mumbled softly.

No you don't, you never have. She thought angrily, shutting the door without a word.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Rolling her eyes as she walked down the steps, she hollered over her shoulder "Be there in a minute!" as she entered the kitchen. She quickly made her Father's tea, possibly for the last time, and walked fast paced to deliver it to him. Once that was done, she cracked her neck muscles, and walked back down the stairs.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Jeez what do they want?" She groaned. Walking to the front door, she threw it open, an annoyed look on her face.

"What do you wa-" she cut herself off, a look of shock on her face, when she looked up and saw who it was.

Roy.

I know Riza telling her father off is a bit OOC, but you know what? This is an AU story. And frankly, she has earned the right to tell her old man off. I just wish it had actually happened in the manga/anime- even if it was only at his grave.