Can't believe it's been a year since I posted this story haha.

Thank you, Tasia and NewWorldRunaway for reviewing!

Happy reading!

Chapter 26

Rebecca yawned, stretching her arms up and collapsed onto the bed. "Finally... last stop of the trip."

Riza sighed as she emptied her suitcase and placed her clothes and garments in the closet. "Missing home?"

"I want to say yes, but I don't really have anyone waiting for me at home." She replied idly. "Maybe I should get a dog too."

The blonde looked over at her assistant. "...Don't you have-"

"No."The dark-haired woman immediately sat up and narrowed her eyes at the blonde woman. "I know what you're about to say."

Riza raised a brow and hummed teasingly. "I haven't said anything yet."

Rebecca groaned. "...I'm not with Havoc."

"Hmm? It's not like I said anything about him."

She heaved a sigh. "I know you are about to. We're not together."

"Yet?" Riza teased, and turned back to the closet. "But what you said about having a dog, I find it a good idea. We won't be leaving Central City for a while after this so you have plenty of time to train your dog."

"Would you be willing to give me one of your pups?" Rebecca watched her frown, and muttered. "Guess not."

"...I don't really like the idea of having the puppies being separated from Fubuki and Hayate." Riza said.

"How old are they again?"

"Two months old." The First Lady smiled as she thought of the photograph her husband gave her a month ago. "Have I shown you the photo of the puppies?"

The dark-haired woman crossed her arms, "Yes. Plenty of times. Imagine you with kids."

Riza blinked, then laughed. "That's exactly what I said to Roy."

"Well aren't you being like him?"

"Most likely from staying with him for so long." Riza sheepishly said.

"Now don't you look in love?" Rebecca deadpanned, and heaved a long sigh. "Oh how I wish I could find the perfect husband."

Riza walked towards the bed and sat down. "You've been saying that for years."

"But I could never find him." She laid back down. "Lucky you, Riza. I still can't believe that you would get married before me."

"Still?" The blonde raised a brow. "It's been eight months since he proposed. And to think that you knew it beforehand."

She turned to her side, propping her elbow on the bed as she rested her cheek on her palm, and she grinned. "Well, your dear hubby was at the store, picking the right ring for god knows how long."

"I remember being a little upset when he left early for lunch break and came back an hour late." Riza said, "I thought he was on another date."

"I think he did tell me to not tell you..." Rebecca hummed, "But I thought he was about to propose on that day."

"Really?" She quirked a brow up, and her lips curled up to a grin. "Maybe I should ask him one day. I wonder what stopped him from doing so."

Rebecca laid back down, sighing. "When can I find my perfect man?"

"Mrs Mustang...?"

Riza turned, to see a woman who seemed to be in her late sixties with a basket in her hand and a soft smile on her lips, and she returned the smile, slightly surprised that she would be recognised. "Hello."

"...Mrs Wilhelmina Benette?" Rebecca muttered, enticing Riza to raise a brow.

"Do you know her?"

"No, but I've heard of you, Mrs Benette." The dark-haired woman said. "Do you run the Benette's Orphanage?"

"Yes, I do." The old woman replied, and chuckled lightly. "I was just very surprised to see the First Lady in a remote place like here."

Riza merely smiled, not sure what to reply, until Rebecca elbowed her. "Don't you want to have a look at the orphanage? I'm pretty sure she teaches the kids."

She nodded, and faced the woman. "I hope it won't be intrusive of us if we visit your orphanage?"

...

Riza glanced at her assistant and muttered under her breath. "Well, why did you want to visit here?"

"Just kinda curious what it's like," Rebecca replied idly, looking around as she got off the vehicle before heading to the other side, opening the door for the older woman. "Here you go, Mrs Benette."

"Thank you, dear." She stepped out of the car and faced the two women with a cheery smile. "This is the Benette's Orphanage."

"Ms Wilhelmina!" The two turned towards the source of the sound, to see a little boy run towards the older woman, his expression filled with excitement. "You're back!"

"Ms Mina's back?"

"She's back!"

"Ms Wilhelmina!"

They watched in widened eyes as children bolted out from the three-storey building, racing towards the owner of the orphanage, wide grins hanging on their lips.

"My, my, all of you." The old woman smiled affectionately at them, patting their heads, and averted their attention to the two clueless woman. "Now, say hello to them. Mrs Mustang and Ms Catalina."

One of the older boys blinked, and gasped, his eyes wide as saucers. "You're the Führer's wife!"

Riza let out a soft chuckle and knelt down, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Yes, I am."

"That's so cool..." He eyes shone as he muttered.

"What's the Führer like?" Another boy caught her attention by lightly tugging the sleeves of her dress as he gazed up at her, his innocent eyes filled with curiosity.

"Well," A mischievous grin lifted the corners of her lips up. "You see... he's–" She leant forward and whispered, eliciting gasps and giggles from the children who leant in to listen.

"Aren't you popular?" Riza turned to see her assistant crossing her arms and raising a brow at them. "Never knew that you were good with kids."

"Who are you, Aunty?" A little girl clad in glasses asked.

Aunty!? Rebecca felt her eye twitch, and she nearly snapped when the blonde woman laughed.

"This is Aunty Rebecca Catalina, my assistant." She explained, holding in her laughter. "She used to be a Major."

"...She scares me." Another girl, around four years of age, said, hiding behind an older boy.

"She's not scary at all." Riza smiled. "That's just how she looks."

"Excuse me!?" Rebecca gasped as the children burst into laughter, though stopped and looked down at a girl who approached her.

"Girls can be a Major too?" She timidly asked.

The dark-haired woman blinked, and grinned. "Of course! This blonde lady was a Colonel before she married the Führer."

"Wow..." She sighed in admiration.

"Children, leave the questions to later." Wilhelmina said, her hands on her hips, then faced the two younger woman. "Would you like to have a tour around?"

"We would love to," Riza stood and responded with a smile.

"–And this is our backyard; The children love to run around here." The old woman said.

"It's very wide." The blonde commented. "How many children are in this orphanage?"

"Thirty-two," Wilhelmina replied. "Three were adopted last week, and Tina, the little girl who asked about the military, is one of the first ones we have."

"How old is she?"

"Almost six. We found her at the local park, where she was barely a month old." The older woman's tone saddened.

Riza frowned and stared at the ground, before asking. "Is she interested in being in the military?"

She shook her head. "That's the first time we heard her mention it. She's a very shy one. I'm actually surprised to see her approach you."

Riza glanced over to the girl, who was sitting on a swing, quietly watching the others run around. "Excuse me," She muttered to the older woman, and headed towards the girl.

The little girl looked up as she heard footsteps approaching her, and Riza offered a kind smile.

"May I join you, Tina?"

The little girl nodded, and she sat on the swing next to hers.

"How are you liking it here?" Riza asked.

"...I like here. The people here are nice to me." Tina quietly said, and peered up at the blonde woman before asking meekly. "Mrs Mustang?"

"Yes?"

"What's it like in the military?"

Riza nearly flinched, and her eyes widened a fraction as her brows crossed to a light frown. She stared into the little girl's eyes, seeing her own honey hazel ones reflected in Tina's clear ones. She imagined her own child, looking up at her with innocent, curious eyes and a light smile hanging on the lips. She suppressed a shudder, and managed to keep the smile on her lips. "Are you interested?"

The girl nodded. "I want to be in the military when I grow up."

Riza felt her heart fall. "...Why is that?"

"Because I want to protect Ms Mina and everyone here."

"Amestris is in peace now... Surely there's another way to protect your loved ones?"

The girl merely gazed at her, her eyes boring into hers as she asked. "Why did you join the military, Mrs Mustang?"

"I—" Riza bit her lip, before letting out a soft chuckle. "I suppose I can't say much. I joined to follow someone I love."

A tiny gasp escaped Tina's lips, and her eyes brightened. "Is... is that person the Führer?"

"Shh..." Riza lifted a finger to her coloured lips and grinned. "This is a secret, little Tina."

The girl's cheeks reddened, and she nodded her head with her hands over her mouth, eliciting a light-hearted laugh from the blonde woman.

"Is there another reason you want to join the military?" Riza inquired.

She nodded. "If I join the military, I'll be stronger." She glanced at the other children, a pout appearing on her lips. "The boys keep picking on me. They keep saying that girls can't be strong. That's not true, is it, Mrs Mustang?"

Riza let out another laugh. "Of course not, that is definitely not true."

"Do you think that I can be like you and Ms Rebecca?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be much better than we will ever be!"

"Really?" Her eyes shone, mouth wide open.

"Mm-hmm."

"Honestly, Riza, I would have never thought that you were good with kids." Rebecca said idly as she slouched against the couch, before letting out a fairly loud yawn. She quirked a brow up when the blonde merely hummed a response, gazing out of the train window blankly, her hand propping her head as she rested her elbow on the window. "Something wrong?"

The blonde glanced at her assistant and said. "Remember the girl, Tina?"

"Ah, the one who asked me if girls can be Majors. What were you two talking yesterday?"

"She told me that she wants to join the military."

Rebecca grinned. "Ooh, interesting. Pretty rare, isn't it?"

Riza crossed her arms. "Why did you join in the first place?"

"Why else? To find the perfect husband!" She exclaimed, "It's been thirteen bloody years! Why am I still unwed?"

"You're still on about it?"

Rebecca scowled. "Easy for you to say when you have the Führer to propose to you!"

Riza returned the frown. "It's not like I knew him when he became the Führer."

They glared at each other before sighing, and Rebecca spoke. "It's almost your birthday, isn't it."

The blonde blinked at her, "What day is it?"

"The twenty-eighth."

She let out a chuckle. "I have four days until I turn thirty, huh? Time sure does fly."

"What are you planning to do on that day- Why do I bother asking..." Rebecca muttered, "Of course you're gonna spend the whole day with your hubby."

"But isn't the first on a Friday?"

"And?"

She deadpanned, "We all have work."

"Gosh, you're kidding. Seriously, on your birthday!?"

Riza scoffed, "Am I expected to make it a public holiday?"

"Would be nice."

"Though I suppose I can give you a two-day break." Riza hummed and smiled. "I just want to spend more time with the puppies right now."

"Good for you," Rebecca snorted, "I have a cold, lonely apartment waiting for me to clean up."

"Which is why I say, get a dog."

"Say, Riza." Rebecca cocked her head to the side, "Do you think it's easier to get a man with a dog?"

A burst of soft laughter escaped the blonde's tinted lips, "You're not going retire once you get married, will you? I remember that being one of the reasons you want to get married."

"W-Well..." She stuttered, "That was my intention when I was still at the military..."

"Now I don't know whether it'd be a good idea for you to get married then." Riza kidded, mocking a distressed tone.

"I won't quit my job even if I get married." She gave another scowl, then heaved a sigh, cracking her neck. "Now, what should I do for the following two days? Yes, yes, I know, I'll get a dog." She deadpanned at the blonde's pointed look.

"A wise choice."

"And what are you planning to do?" Rebecca asked with a teasing smirk, "I can bet that your dear hubby would–"

"I see the station. We're here, Rebecca." Riza interrupted her assistant as she glanced outside the window, then stood up. "Let's go."

The dark-haired woman blinked, before groaning. "Geez."

Riza glanced down at her wristwatch, before raising a hand to ring the doorbell.

The door opened before her finger touched the doorbell, and the housekeeper of her and her husband's mansion greeted her with a smile, before taking her suitcase. "Welcome home, Ma'am."

The blonde returned the smile, "I'm home," She removed her flats and changed to her slippers, and glanced around the room. "Is Roy asleep? It's only nine-thirty."

"The Führer is in the study room." The housekeeper replied.

"I see..." She hummed, then asked. "Are the dogs in the kitchen–"

A light bark interrupted her, and she turned to see her two beloved dogs run towards her, mouths opened to a lopsided grin with their tongues lolled out. They jumped on her, eliciting a gasp from her as she fell backwards, and she grunted as she fell on her bottom.

"Hayate! Fubuki!" The housekeeper gasped. "Are you alright, ma'am?"

She chuckled, "I'm fine." She averted her attention to the dogs, petting them and scratching their heads affectionately. "I missed you two. Have you been good while I was away!"

They responded with an excited bark, leaning towards her touch.

She planted a kiss on their heads before standing up, "How are the puppies?"

The dogs followed her to the kitchen, and she watched the white dog head towards the three pet beds, where the sleeping puppies laid on. She let out a light-hearted laugh as she watched one of the puppies crawl to the bed next to its, its mouth finding the other pup's ear, nibbling it.

Riza knelt down and gently took the puppy, cradling it in her arms, softly chuckling when it peeked an open, it's mouth opening to a yawn. "Oops. Sorry for waking you– Oh!" The nearly two-month old puppy wiggled in her arms, reaching its head up to lick her face. She gently scratched the puppy's face, and it took her finger in its mouth, its baby teeth lightly digging in her finger.

She placed a kiss on the puppy's head before placing it back on its bed.

"I wonder if Roy fell asleep, he knows when I'm coming back." She frowned, and bent down to pet the two dogs before heading up the stairs to the study room.

She knocked on the door, the frown deepening when she didn't hear a response. Opening the door, she entered the room and quietly spoke. "Roy?"

A light, sleepy groan escaped his lips, and she heaved a sigh as she watched him drool on the paperwork. She placed a hand on his back, running it along his back soothingly. He mumbled something, and slowly cracked an eye open, "Riza...?"

She kissed the crown of his head, then caressed his soft, raven hair. "I'm home."

He sat up, cracking his neck and stretching his arms. Riza smiled down at her husband, but stifled a gasp when he pulled her down to sit her on his lap, meeting her lips with his for a sweet kiss. She sighed into his mouth as she closed her eyes, responding to the kiss.

"...I didn't think that I would actually fall asleep." Roy muttered when they pulled away, resting his head on her chest, and she placed another kiss on his forehead.

"But I'm glad that you didn't drink too much coffee," She said, and raised a brow. "What time did you sleep in the past few days?"

"Never mind that," He tightened his hold around her. "I missed you, my dear."

Her eyes softened as she returned the embrace, whispering. "I missed you too."

They stayed in comfortable silence for a while before pulling away, and he said. "I'm ready for bed, so go wash up, I'll wait for you."

She nodded, and kissed him once more before standing up.

...

Riza blinked, then chuckled softly to herself as she watched her husband lay on the middle of the bed on his back, snoring lightly with a book covering his face and his arms spread across the bed. Putting the book away and turning the bedside lamp off, she snuggled next to him, draping an arm across his bare chest.

She leant up and kissed him lightly on the lips, careful not to wake him up, then tucked her head in the crook of his neck, a peal of soft laughter escaping her lips as she imagined his reaction the next morning.

A knock on the window interrupted her thoughts, before she realised it was raining. She closed her eyes, having the calming sounds of raindrops hitting the window flow into her ears as she slowly drifted off to dreamland.

Omake:

The blonde woman's eyes fluttered open as the low rumble of thunder pulled her out from her slumber, and she glanced at the clock, her eyes widening ever so slightly as it showed 8:00.

She turned as she heard a light groan from the man lying next to her, and watched him open his eyes slowly and his mouth opening to a yawn. She offered a smile, "Good morning, Roy."

"Morning, dear." He replied sleepily. "What time is it?"

"Eight."

He hummed a response, then blinked, his eyes wide, and he abruptly turned to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He let out a light exhale, whispering in her ear. "You're back."

"You just realised?" She laughed, "Well you fell asleep with a book on your face whilst you were waiting for me."

"Really?" Roy chuckled sheepishly. "Didn't have much sleep last week. What time did I go to bed?"

"Before ten-thirty."

"Well, it's been a while since I slept for more than nine hours." He said contentedly.

She responded with a smile, and inched forward to press her lips against his tenderly, then softly asked as she caressed his cheek. "How has work been?"

"Fine, but the workload is insane. Good thing I finished most of them."

"Including the one you drooled on?" She teased, humming as he peppered kisses down her neck, his lips touching the scar on her throat. "I finally got the chance to see the puppies last night."

"Did you?" He rested his head in the crook of her neck. "Their ears just started sticking up, though they were a lot chubbier a few weeks back."

"I've missed out a lot, haven't I?" She threaded her fingers in his soft hair, gently massaging his scalp.

"You're not leaving time soon, are you?"

"No," She raised a brow, "That's the first thing you ask when I'm back?"

He hummed, settling his head on her chest whilst wrapping his arms around her. He frowned when she pulled away, "Riza?"

"Don't you have work? You'll be late."

He groaned, burying his face in the valley between her breasts, and she scowled. He looked up and pouted, "I just got to meet my wife after so long..."

She sighed, and leant forward to whisper something in his ear. His eyes widened and her cheeks heated up.

"Really?" He smirked, and watched her nod bashfully with reddened cheeks. He removed the covers over him and stood and went to get a white shirt from the wardrobe. "Well, that's certainly something I can't miss, can I?"

She managed to smile, and returned the kiss when he returned to press his lips against hers.

A/N: Finally got the chance to update this random chapter; Midterms have been hectic.

Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! Riza's finally home.

Reviews are much appreciated :)