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Chapter 17
"Führer Mustang has officially signed the peace treaty with Drachma—"
"Aren't you happy, Riza?" Rebecca said teasingly as she lowered the volume of the radio. "Your dear hubby is coming back today."
The said woman huffed, "Yes, Rebecca."
"What time is he coming back?"
"He told me last night that he's taking the two o'clock train from Briggs, so I assume that he's going to arrive home at around nine."
The dark-haired woman hummed and grinned. "Are you going to do anything special for him tonight? You know, the two of you haven't seen each other for more than two weeks, and—"
Riza scoffed. "The last thing he needs is something that tires him out."
"...That's what you say now, but I bet—"
"Rebecca." The blonde woman interrupted her sentence, and she pouted, eliciting Riza to heave a sigh. "Is this what you think all day?"
"No, of course not." Rebecca frowned, "Do I look like some pervert to you?"
"You sound like one to me," Riza replied bluntly, "Sometimes."
"Hey!" Rebecca protested, then sighed before merrily saying. "Anyways, you must've missed him, so... wouldn't it be better if you go home earlier?"
"You just want to finish work earlier, don't you?" Riza deadpanned. "And he wouldn't be home by nine, I'd still get home earlier than he does."
The dark-haired woman sighed and shrugged. "Alright... I know you're going to leave the office early anyway."
...
"Riza, I'm done," Rebecca announced as she placed the phone down, and walked towards the calendar on the wall with her red pen, circling the date and marked the event. "I've booked all the times for Central Area."
"Thank you." The First Lady smiled, and stood up from her seat to stretch her back, and gestured her towards the coffee table. "Come here."
The dark-haired woman raised a brow, "Hmm? What is it?"
"Here." Riza took a small box from the fridge, and Rebecca gasped.
"Wait, is that the limited edition of mint chocolate cheesecake!? You have to line up for three hours to get that! How...when did you get it!?" She exclaimed, rushing towards the table.
Riza hummed, "First Lady's connections?" She opened the box and cut a slice, "It's actually Mrs Bradley who told me about this store."
"Lucky you..." Rebecca pouted.
"Are you starting this 'I want a man' conversation again?" Riza teased.
"I'm not." Rebecca groaned, though her mood immediately brightened as she took a bit of her cake, and a large, bright smile appeared on her face. She then sipped her coffee before glancing at the calendar and saying, "You're going to be really busy in July and August."
"So will you," Riza replied calmly.
"Your whole schedule starting from the twenty-sixth of June to mid-August is packed!" Rebecca said, "That's nearly two months, Riza. I'm beginning to think that you're trying to get away from your hubby."
Riza nearly snorted, "Of course not. I'm just doing my job, Rebecca." She knitted her brows, "We'll be staying in Central in those two months; If the area is in the city, then I'll still go home every day."
Rebecca hummed, "We still have four areas... Imagine your hubby's reaction when you show him your plan." Her lips curled up to a grin, "You runaway wife."
Riza let out a light-hearted laugh and said. "Speaking of which, I'm leaving the other four areas to you too."
"Oh god..."
"Well, I'm beat." Rebecca stretched her arms up as she headed towards her car. "The cake was really good though, it sure was worth three hours of waiting."
"You weren't the one who lined up." The blonde-haired woman raised a brow at her friend before getting into the vehicle and buckled up the seatbelt as she started the engine.
She stared outside the window, chuckling to herself when she noticed raindrops on the window. Out of all days he's coming home...
"Pull over, Rebecca." She suddenly said as they passed through a familiar street.
"Huh, here?" The dark-haired woman said, flustered as she quickly pulled over, and she turned to face the First Lady. "What's wrong?"
"Do you mind if we stop by for a while?" Riza asked, unbuckling her seat belt.
"Sure, I don't mind, but," Rebecca looked outside her window. "A bar?"
Riza nodded as she exited the vehicle, "Come."
"Oh, okay." The dark-haired woman said as she quickly stepped out of her car, and followed the First Lady. "I didn't know that you liked going to bars."
"It's not like that," Riza said and opened the doors. She adverted her attention to a woman in her late-fifties who was sat near the counter with a cigarette between her teeth, and she smiled. "Long time no see, Madam Christmas—"
"It's Elizabeth!"
"Oh my, long time no see, Elizabeth!"
"How are you? Oh, and how's Roy?"
"Who's that next to you?"
"Oh shush and go back to work, girls." The older woman waved them off and said, "Don't scare her off."
The bargirls whined, "But there's no customer yet! And it's been such a long time since we've seen her!"
Riza chuckled, "It has been a long time. How have you been?" She asked, then placed a box on a table. "Just a little something for you to share."
They gasped, "Isn't this the limited edition of mint chocolate cheesecake!? Oh, thank you, Elizabeth!"
"You're welcome." The blonde-haired woman smiled and said with a nod, and turned to Rebecca, who seemed a little overwhelmed with the situation. "Madam, this is Rebecca Catalina, my assistant. Rebecca, this is Madam Christmas, Roy's... foster mother."
"Hello..." Rebecca nodded and said, still a bit flustered, and the older woman chuckled.
"Hello, Rebecca." She said, "Go join the girls for the cake."
"Come on, Becky!" One of the bargirls, Madeline called as she waved her hand at the dark-haired woman, enticing a grin from her and she nodded at Riza before heading towards the bargirls.
"How are you, little Elizabeth?" Madam Christmas asked as the First Lady walked towards the counter and sat down, and said jokingly. "Nothing for me?"
Riza let out a chuckle. "Of course not." She then took out a tiny box and placed it on the counter.
"Oh, what's this?" Madam untied the silky ribbon and opened the box, and raised a brow in mild surprise as she took out a gold cigarette case.
"Should I have not chosen that?" Riza said, "Don't smoke too much, Madam."
The older woman laughed. "I'll try. Care for a drink, Elizabeth?"
"Hmm... Just a little then." Riza hesitated slightly before saying, "I'll have—"
"Alcohol drinks are a no-no for pregnant women, Elizabeth." She interrupted her sentence after seeing her hesitate.
"Madam..." Riza sighed, "I'm not pregnant."
"...Alright." The older woman shrugged, "What do you want?"
"Hmm... I'll leave it to you, Madam." Riza said as she hummed, "Something light, though."
"Got that." Chris Mustang nodded and turned to prepare her drink.
"Elizabeth!"
Riza turned her head towards the source of the sound, and smiled and nodded once she recognised the person. "Hello, Vanessa."
The brunette waved and sat next to her as she studied the First Lady's outfit. "You look lovely, Elizabeth. I love that dress and those heels." She gestured at her white and black polka dot, short-sleeved dress and her maroon pumps. "I can't believe that you're wearing four inches."
"Thank you," Riza said. "They're three inches, by the way."
"My, how nice." Vanessa sighed and reached a hand up to touch the diamond and pearl pendant on her necklace. She then adverted her attention to her earrings, "You're still wearing that. How long has it been since he gave that to you?"
"He gave it to me when I was fifteen, so... almost fifteen years." Riza's smile softened as she touched her earrings.
"Here you go, Elizabeth." Madam Christmas placed a glass with light pink liquid in front of her.
"Thank you, Madam." Riza thanked and took a sip. "Sparkling rosé and...?"
"Elderflower liqueur." Vanessa replied with a grin, "I'm the one who came up with it."
Riza hummed as she took another sip. "It tastes pretty nice. I like it."
"Ah, I almost forgot to mention!" Vanessa suddenly exclaimed. "You're wearing makeup!"
"...I only put on lipstick, and it's not a really dark shade." She touched her lips, "Do I look weird?"
"No, of course not!" Vanessa said. "You've changed quite a bit, Elizabeth."
"So I've been told," Riza replied.
"By the way, how's Roy boy?" Madam Christmas asked as she lit a new cigarette. "He signed a peace treaty with Drachma?"
The blonde-haired woman nodded whilst her fingers fiddled with her rings. "He did. He'd be back tonight."
Vanessa watched the First Lady smile at the mention of her husband and heaved another sigh. "How nice..."
"I'm home, Hayate, Fubuki." Riza laughed as her dogs walked towards her, wagging their tails happily and letting out a bark, and she bent down to pet them. Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar pair of black, leather boots on the side, and she hastily took her pumps off as she asked the housekeeper. "He's back?"
The housekeeper nodded. "Yes ma'am, around thirty minutes ago."
Riza immediately rushed up the stairs, speed-walked towards their room and opened the door, and her heart fell in disappointment when her husband wasn't seen, though she soon adverted her attention to the washroom inside. Excitement and merriness filled her heart again, and she quickly headed towards the washroom and opened the door.
She watched the raven-haired man look at her alarmingly, startled by the sudden movement of the door. They stared at each other before she let out a light-hearted laugh, surprising her husband who only had his slacks on, and had the lower half of his face covered with shaving cream.
"You're back." She said with a warm smile and a light blush on her cheeks, "This is definitely not what I expected to come home to."
"I'm home, Riza." He returned the smile. "...I would love to kiss you right now, but give me a minute."
She let out a chortle. "Take your time, Roy."
She then closed the door and sat in front of her vanity desk. She reached her hands behind her neck and unclasped the clasp, placing it in her jewellery box. He's back, she thought to herself, the smile on her pink lips widening, and she closed her eyes as she heaved a relieved sigh.
"Riza..." She opened her eyes when she felt a pair of arms circle around her, and he placed a kiss on her cheek before sighing. "I missed you."
"I missed you too..." Her eyes softened, and she stood up and wrapped her arms around him to embrace him tightly, and he returned the hug. She heaved a deep breath, inhaling his scent that was mixed with the smell of shaving cream and his body soap, and she placed a kiss on his chest.
Roy tilted his wife's head up once they pulled away, his onyx eyes gazing fondly into her honey hazel ones, and he smiled and cradling her head with a hand before leaning down to press his soft lips against hers. Riza moved her arms up to his neck as she closed her eyes and returned the kiss eagerly. Their lips moved tenderly against each other without a sense of lust, and he deepened the kiss by slipping his tongue in her mouth, massaging hers with his as they entangled.
They pulled away when they felt out of breath, and he cupped her cheeks and planted another sweet kiss on her lips, then trailed his lips down to her jaw and placed featherlight kisses on her neck, eliciting a pleasured hum of his name from her.
"Roy..." She spoke breathily, and he stopped his movement.
He wrapped his arms back around her waist and leant his forehead against hers, and she rested her hands on his bare chest, smiling as he nuzzled his nose against hers.
"You're early," Riza said.
"There was an earlier train, so we decided to take that one," Roy replied. "I didn't have time to call you, and I thought it would be a pretty nice surprise."
"It is." She chuckled and pulled away from the embrace. "Wait for me downstairs, I'll join you after I take a quick shower."
"...Alright." He said, and the hold around her waist loosened. She offered a smile before turning towards her wardrobe, though she soon stifled a gasp when he suddenly grasped her hand and pulled her towards him, and cupped her cheek in a hand and murmured before lowering his lips onto hers again, "Just one more."
...
Riza raised a brow when she saw her husband sitting on the carpet with their two dogs as she exited the bathroom, and she chuckled. "Did you carry her all the way up here? And I thought you'd be waiting downstairs."
"I thought I might as well wait here," Roy replied whilst petting the white dog on his lap. "She's gotten heavier."
"She has." She said, and walked towards her desk and sat down before squeezing her damped hair with her towel, then took the blowdryer. "You must be hungry now. Give me two minutes."
"No worries, darling." He said as he played with Black Hayate, and groaned when he accidentally smelt his breath. "Ugh. I forgot that he just ate."
She chortled and asked. "How was your trip? You lost weight, didn't you?"
"...I can never hide anything from you, can I?"
"You married the Hawk's Eye, after all."
He chuckled, "Right. I didn't eat much in Briggs because, well... the food's bad." Riza sighed, and he continued, "And I didn't get enough sleep."
"...Thought so." She muttered under her breath, "And how's Drachma?"
"Nice, surprisingly." He said, "Though they told me it was only the capital that looks nice."
Riza hummed.
"The food's also really nice. I wonder if there are any Drachman restaurants here."
"Hmm, not sure." She turned the blowdryer off and put it aside, and picked up her comb.
"How were you, then?" Roy asked, and she saw a suggestive smirk on his lips.
"Good." She replied coolly, "Rebecca and I just finished planning for our trip around Central."
She withheld a grin when she saw his baffled expression, "Trip? What trip!?"
She placed the comb down, and stood up and called. "Let's go down, Hayate."
"Riza..." Roy whined as he quickly got up to his feet, holding the pregnant dog in his arms and quickly followed his wife. "Darling, wait, what trip?"
"I'll write the report tomorrow." She said and laughed lightly at the sight of his pout.
...
"It feels like it's been a decade since I ate something decent." Roy sighed as he swallowed and took a sip of his red wine. "You sure you don't want any?"
Riza nodded, "I already had something before I came back."
"Now that I think about it, you came back a little bit later than usual." He said.
"I went to Madam Christmas' bar." She ate the last bite of her meal and wiped her mouth with her napkin. "I thought I should drop by since I haven't seen her since our wedding."
He hummed, then froze. "The girls didn't do anything strange to you, did they?"
She laughed lightly and shook her head. "They didn't."
"Good..." He said before finishing his wine. "Riza."
"Yes?"
"Do you want to visit Resembool before we go to Xing?" He asked. "The train from Central to Xing stops by Resembool, and we can stay there for a day or two, then go to Xing from there."
"Sure," She nodded with a smile. "It's been a while since we've seen them. You miss them, don't you?" She teased.
"W-well..." He grumbled, and she let out a chortle.
"So would you like me to call them?" She asked, "Oh, and are you going to take Lt. Colonel Havoc with you?"
"Should I?" He hummed to himself, "I guess. The Führer and his First Lady do need bodyguards, so bring Rebecca with you too."
She nodded, and stood and leant over to plant a kiss on his cheek before heading towards the telephone in the living room, enticing a grin from Roy as he watched her.
"Riza..." The raven-haired man murmured against his wife's nape as he encircled an arm around her waist when she leant towards the nightstand to turn the lamp's lights off. "A bit mean of you to leave me hanging, don't you think?"
She sighed as she withheld a pleasured hum when he kissed and sucked on her skin, "You just came back from Drachma, aren't you tired?"
"I haven't seen you in two weeks, darling." He said whilst pulling her towards him, and sat her on his lap, then whispered in her ear. "Plus, it's been three weeks since we did it."
He nibbled her earlobe and trailed his lips down to hers as he slipped his hands inside her sleep shirt, roaming his warm hands on her smooth skin.
She smirked against his lips, and murmured, "Has it?"
He hummed, and pulled her closer to him and moulded their lips together. She wrapped her arms around his neck and licked his lower lip, and slipped her tongue inside his mouth and tangled with his, enticing a grunt of surprise, though he tightened his grip around and returned the heated kiss.
Their tongues danced for dominance, and she threaded her fingers in his soft hair, intensifying the kiss before she abruptly broke the kiss, just to move her lips down to his jaw and neck, kissing and nipping the skin. He let out a groan, and cradled her head in his hand, tangling his fingers in her hair as she sucked on his skin, leaving red love bites.
"Riza..." He sighed and blinked when she suddenly pulled away. "Riza...?"
She cupped his cheeks, pressing a sweet kiss on his lips before saying. "I hate to ruin the moment, my dear husband, but I'm on my period."
He blinked at her again, staring at her with his mouth agape and eyes wide, before managing to say, "Day...?"
"Day one." Riza withheld a laugh and said.
He heaved a heavy sigh and his shoulders slacked, then he dropped his head, resting it on her chest whilst mumbling something incoherent, and she chuckled and planted a kiss on the crown of his head.
"You need to rest," She said softly whilst caressing his soft hair, then moved to turn the lights off.
He sighed again, then laid down next to her under the thin blankets and wrapped his arms around her tightly, muttering, "Out of all days..."
She leant up to kiss his forehead, and placed an arm around him, gently pulling him down to her embrace. She caressed his cheek as he nestled his head on her chest, enticing her to plant another kiss on the crown of his head. "Good night, Roy."
He responded with a light kiss on the lips and smiled. "Good night."
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!
I was thinking that I've never written any interaction between Riza and Madam Christmas, so it'd be interesting to see what their mother(kinda)/daughter-in-law relationship would be like. Hope it wasn't weird.
Roy's finally back! Sorry if their reunion was a bit boring, but that's what I had in mind what it'd be like.
Edit: Accidentally got rid of this chapter, so uploaded it again.
Reviews are much appreciated! :)