Chapter 31
Riza was pleased. She had just finished another segment in her project smoothly, and she was happy and glad to have a team like hers. Looking over to her assistant, she offered. "Would you like to have afternoon tea?"
Rebecca turned as she looked at the clock. "We can?"
"Of course," She chuckled, "We're done for the day."
The dark-haired woman grinned, "Your treat, then." She stretched her arms and back, humming happily. "Where should we eat? There's this nice café downtown that someone told me about. Do you want to try? Apparently their chocolate cakes are the best."
"Sure," The First Lady smiled, and raised a brow when her assistant stopped her movements. "What's wrong?"
"I forgot that we weren't supposed to eat-out in public." Rebecca frowned, and offered an apologetic smile. "Would you like to call for reservation somewhere, or have it at the Führer mansion?"
Riza shook her head and insisted. "It's fine. Really."
"Are you sure?" The black-haired woman questioned.
"Positive."
"But what if something happens?"
"I have a team of body guards around me." She crossed her arms, starting to feel slightly annoyed by being treated like a precious, fragile woman. "And my military senses aren't dull yet."
Rebecca sighed, massaging her temple. "It was stupid of me to bring that café up, yes, so please forget that I have brought it up. It's too risky for you to dine in public as a pregnant First Lady." She said as she gestured to her twenty-five week-old belly with her head.
Riza stayed silent for a while when she felt herself mentally falter at her best friend's words, and she thought of the unimaginable things that could happen, then spoke. "I trust you and the body guards when the what-ifs happen. I don't want to avoid being around public without needing to hide my identity as the First Lady."
Rebecca groaned as she heard people around her table whispering and murmuring, and she knew exactly who the person of their topic was, and heaved a relieved sigh when they seemed to continue mind their own businesses. Having a meal in public with the pregnant First Lady seemed more of a top-secret mission rather than a gathering with a friend.
"Have you decided what to order yet?"
Her best friend's voice averted her attention back to the café, and she nodded. "Yes, what would you like?"
"A chocolate cake and a chamomile tea." Riza replied, then sighed as she pointed. "Can I take off the sunglasses and hat now? We're dining indoors."
She looked at the cherry blossom trees outside that were yet to bloom, and she smiled to herself. By the time the pink flowers bloom and the delicate petals rain down and paint the park grounds pink, it would be one-year anniversary with her beloved husband.
Her loving thoughts for her husband were interrupted as she heard a snort from Rebecca.
"Of course we're dining indoors, it's pretty cold out there, can't afford to have you catch a cold." She said, and waved for the waitress and ordered.
"That's not my point. I'm saying that I look much more suspicious wearing these." The blonde said as she took them both off. "Don't be too nervous, we have six bodyguards sitting around us."
Rebecca could only sigh, and started a new conversation with a topic she knew Riza was too shy talking about. "So you're in your second trimester, right? I've read somewhere that apparently that's when you get super horny? So how are things between you and your dear hubby."
Riza cleared her throat, and deadpanned. "Is sex the only thing you think about? Just how many erotic novels do you own?"
Rebecca grinned, "Don't forget that I've caught you reading one of them back in academy."
"I didn't know it was an erotic novel," The blonde retorted, "And why on earth did you bring a whole collection of those books to military academy?"
"I can borrow you some if you're interested, you know, to spice up your–"
"No thank you," Riza crossed her arms, and grinned back. "Why don't you use the knowledge you learn from those books on Jean?"
The dark-haired woman immediately frown, "Since when were you two on first name basis?"
"Not quite, just wanting to see your reaction." She displayed an innocent smile, "Although I did tell him to call me Riza. It sounded weird being called Mrs Mustang or military titles since I'm not part of the military anymore."
Rebecca huffed, and Riza chuckled, before thanking the waitress who delivered their tea and cakes. She noticed the waitress staring at her face a little longer than she was comfortable with, and glanced up at her. The waitress looked familiar, she noted to herself, and she offered a smile, her eyes gazing into her somewhat familiar green ones. "Can I help you?"
Startled, the black-haired waitress hurriedly left after she murmured, "...Enjoy."
Riza's honey hazel eyes widened. The same green piercing eyes with a hint of hatred, for her? And the deja vu feeling... "Rebecca," She tugged on her assistant's sleeves as she lowered her voice so it was only audible for her. "Do you remember seeing that woman before?"
Rebecca gripped her hand and replied, "I was thinking of the same thing, she looks familiar."
Temporarily averting her attention to the cup of hot chamomile tea, she raised it to her lips and sniffed it before placing it back down. Academically trained with drugs as a female military cadet, she was much more sensitive with the scent and taste of drugs than normal citizens. The cup of tea had confirmed her thoughts.
Her heart started to race, and her surroundings seemingly drifted away, leaving her in a blank space to herself. She hadn't let go of the teacup handle, and she found her hands to be trembling, close to breaking the delicate teacup.
Rebecca seemingly understood what she was thinking and glanced over to the body guards at the table next to theirs, and fortunately they seemed to have comprehended and figured out the situation as one nodded back at her and two slowly stood up and headed to the counter where the other diners couldn't see.
The dark-haired woman turned back to the First Lady, who put her shades back on as she stood, ready to leave the café, but she noticed her trembling hands clenched to a tight fist. "Let's go." She said, almost coldly but Rebecca sensed an almost unapproachable vibe from her.
"Right..." Rebecca said, and left as casually as she could in order to avoid suspicion and panic from the diners. Fastening her seatbelt with Riza, she drove off to the military headquarters, and from the rearview mirror she noticed the body guards' cars drive behind her, allowing her to sigh in temporary relief.
The first time Riza saw that woman she had a bad feeling. Although she hadn't given out dangerous vibes like the usual criminals she had arrested back in the military days, let alone the homunculi, but she still felt alarmed by the way she glared at her under the rain. Could it be a woman's instinct? She had pondered since that incident.
But now that woman had reappeared in front of her, in the least pleasing way. Her hands couldn't stop trembling, she initially didn't understand why – she wasn't exactly sure what was in the tea, but she was sure that it wasn't something lethal to her as she had dealt with much more vicious criminal and worse poisons and drugs.
She watched the woman in the interrogation room with another officer, her hands clenched to a fist, and her eyes turned to the officer who had left the room raised his right hand to a salute, "Ma'am."
She stiffly nodded, allowing him to continue. He reported something, but her mind went blank as he spoke further and she couldn't hear quite clear, though she could make out the words drugs, lethal, pregnancy and miscarriage.
At that instance she understood why she was trembling. She remembered the burning anger she had felt for Lust when she thought she had nearly lost Roy, and she remembered the sorrow and hopelessness she had felt when Roy was close to losing himself to revenge and hatred.
She was no longer just the personal adjutant of the Flame Alchemist, she was now also the wife of Roy Mustang and the mother to their baby. By taking just a sip of the tea, she could have lost their baby... She had been trembling from anger and fear and grief.
Deep down in the back of her throat burnt in anger, and she wanted to scream till her throat tears. Her hands twitched, she only wanted to take her gun shoot this woman in front of her who stayed quiet as if nothing happened. She had to admit that she could now understand her husband's feeling back then towards Envy, it was a feeling that had exceeded mere anger and sorrow, it was pure hatred.
How dare this woman try murder her and Roy's baby.
As if time itself had slowed down, she felt her mind slowly blank out, her vision turning into a blinding white. It felt like someone had clutched onto her heart – it had felt hard to breathe for that instance, and she wanted to cry and scream and...
The gun strapped to her stocking-cladded thigh beneath her coat dress suddenly felt solid and heavy more than ever, as if taunting her to pick itself up, and she couldn't stop her hand from reaching down to feel it.
Her legs navigated herself to the interrogation room, ignoring the calls from her best friend and the interrogation officer – her eyes and attention was only focused on the woman. She rested a hand on her 25-week baby bump, as if caressing and comforting the child inside.
Riza watched the woman's eyes slowly widen in fear as she approached, and she subconsciously tugged on the chains linked to her handcuffs that restricted her movement. The blonde woman had no idea what kind of expression she wore that led the culprit of her child's attempted murder to want to run away from her, but all she knew was madness had consumed her – her body has acted upon her emotions.
...
Sophie Zachmann could only stare at the First Lady slowly approaching her with her eyes wide with fear, horror filling her nearly blank mind as she revisited her early memories.
She remembered feeling very scared at that time, six years and ten months ago, she could never forget that day. She didn't remember what she had to do at the bank, but when the group of robbers invaded the bank, having everyone to be held at gunpoint, and she lost her dear sister, it was the first time she had the thoughts of death approaching her.
She was only twenty-two, she was still so young, she didn't want to die. Tears couldn't stop flowing but she could only helplessly, quietly cry as she watched blood and life drain out from her sister. It was then when that man had arrived and immediately took control of the situation.
Raven-haired, handsome features and most of all those sharp and clear onyx eyes – Full of dignity and justice when he defeated the robbers easily, then kind and gentle as he comforted her. She fell in love at that instant. Everything seemed wonderful after she had met that man, she even finally received an offer from University of Central City after they had rejected her application year after year.
She noticed a blond woman to be next to his side almost everyday from what she had observed, though she was relieved that they acted strictly professional. Then he proposed to her in front of everyone.
Since when were they in love? She knew they were close, but she never sensed any romantic feelings in their interaction. She had used everyone she could have: the damn professor, the doctor... The next thing she knew, the Führer and the First Lady announced her pregnancy, and she was issued an arrest warrant by the military police.
She dyed her brown hair black, just like his, cut her hair and changed her hairstyle and hoped that no one could recognise her.
"Riza!"
Her mind snapped back to the present, and she noticed the blonde woman to have done the same as she stared at the source of the sound with wide honey hazel eyes. She too averted her sight, to the raven-haired man.
She finally realised, or perhaps admitted something she never wanted to acknowledge, as she watched the Führer wrap his arms around his wife tightly yet gently, pressing kisses on her forehead, temple and her cheeks, then kissed her lips tenderly, not caring about the people around him.
His heart had long belonged to someone else.
...
Riza widened her eyes as her husband called out to her, interrupting whatever she would've done, and held her tightly in his arms, whispering her name over and over again, comforting her as he kissed her.
She breathed deeply, her brows knitted to a deep frown, the pressure nearly suffocating her. What was she going to do!? She remembered herself being carried away by the hatred and madness she harboured for the woman, and her mind went blank, unable to control her thoughts and movements. She deeply inhaled and exhaled as she wrapped her arms back around him, gripping the fabric of his coat in her hands. She was very close to committing something... unpleasant, something she would've never wanted to happen.
Glancing at her worried-looking friend, she grimaced and sent an apologetic look. She should have listened to her best friend and been more careful, and she rested her head on Roy's shoulder as she looked down, placing a hand on her belly as she caressed it. Tears stung her eyes, and she bit her lip as her frown deepened in sorrow. I nearly lost you...
"Riza," She felt her husband gently cup her cheeks and look softly and deeply in her eyes. "Wait for me outside, I will be done soon."
Rebecca escorted her outside, to sit on the benches where the chill early spring breeze wouldn't reach them. The dark-haired woman wrapped an arm around her whilst gripping her hands with her other hand, having her lean against her.
"I should have listened to you." The dark-haired woman nearly jumped from the sudden remark, but she listened. "If I weren't so stubborn..."
"Riza..."
"Nearly lost my baby..." The blonde sounded like she was close to crying, "I can't help but start hating myself now."
She widened her eyes, and immediately said as she gripped harder on her hand. "Don't ever, Riza, please. You sensed that something was wrong in your cup of tea, and you yourself saved your baby. You are the best mother anyone could ever ask for." Riza's tensed form relaxed, and she continued. "We all love you, Riza, especially your hubby. How would he feel if he heard that?"
Rebecca let out a light sigh when she sensed a smile.
"Rebecca..."
"Hmm?"
"Tell me, what was I going to do back there?"
She stayed quiet. So far the blonde had only approached the woman and had caused no physical harm, but she knew, from the intense, unapproachable vibe she had given out, she would have done something regretful if it weren't for the Führer. She cursed to herself mentally, she was overwhelmed by the situation and couldn't move to stop the blonde. "...I don't know, Riza."
Riza hummed softly, urging her to continue.
"I suppose this is what you call a mother's instinct? ... I can't say much but if I had a baby I would've never forgiven the person who tried to kill my unborn child as well." She squeezed the blonde's hands, "All is over now, look at it in a positive way that we had finally arrested Sophie Zachmann after two months. Don't worry, Riza, I'm here anytime you need me, now you move on with your life."
She finally lightened her mood as she heard a soft chuckle. "...Thank you, Rebecca. You truly are the best friend anyone could ever ask for."
Riza was quiet throughout the car ride back home, and Roy didn't know what to do except for holding her hand in his. In fact, he didn't know what to feel about this incident. Should he comfort her for what had nearly happened to her and their baby, or should he scold her for being careless?
He was nervous when she only continued looking out the window, but felt relieved when she held his hand back.
They soon arrived to their mansion, and he watched her ascend the stairs to their bedroom after quietly greeting their housekeepers. He followed her into their room as he quickly handed his coat over, but stayed quiet when he closed the door, not knowing what to say.
"Are you going to just watch me there?"
He nearly jumped, startled and surprised to hear her speak first. "R-Riza..."
A light yet sad frown knitted on her brows, and she dropped her head before removing her clothing off her, leaving her pregnant body clad in her undergarments. She took a bathrobe and wore it as she headed towards their bathroom and murmured, "I want to take a bath."
He blinked, before mentally deciding to have the conversation with her later. He offered a gentle smile as he strode to her and cupped her cheeks to kiss her forehead. "Of course, take your time."
Roy had already taken a shower when she finished taking her bath, Riza noticed as he waited for her in his cotton shirt and lounge pants, sitting on their bed with a book in his hand.
"Dinner is almost ready, darling." He smiled, closing his book after slipping the bookmark in between the pages.
"Right..." She nodded stiffly, and quickly slipped her underwear and lounge dress on before wearing her cardigan, then took the blowdryer and said. "Give me five minutes."
"I can help you with that, if you like."
Her eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise, remembering the first time he had helped her blow-dry her hair before they officially gotten married, in her small apartment. Her gaze softened and she smiled, "If you would be so kind."
...
The atmosphere during dinner did not feel as tense or uptight as it did during the way home. The dinner table was surprisingly filled with small talks and light laughters like usual, they've talked about their usual work routine, even discussed Rebecca and Havoc's relationship, extending the topic from the dinner table to the living room, where Riza enjoyed a slice of spring strawberry spongecake as her dinner dessert.
"Rebecca is telling me that my sweet tooth is giving me extra weight," She said as she took a bite of her cake, and offered him a bite, which he gladly took. "Do you think I look bigger in other areas as well?"
"Not at all," Roy answered, "You eat perfectly healthy and you exercise everyday, don't you? A small slice of cake everyday won't hurt."
She finished her cake, and thanked the maid when she collected her plate, but raised a brow when Roy asked for a cup of coffee. "Are you planning to work later?" She asked.
"Oh... right," He asked for a cup of tea instead. It had nearly turned into a habit to drink coffee at night due to his increasing workload recently. "No, I don't have work to do tonight."
She leaned back to rest her back against the sofa, and she softly murmured. "Then it'll be the first time in two weeks that we'll go to bed together."
He felt a bit guilty hearing her statement. "Sorry..."
She blinked, and let out a soft sigh as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I didn't intend to have it sound that way. Of course I would understand your duties as the Führer, and speaking of which, have you fully gotten used to it?"
"A little, yes..." He chuckled inwardly, "The workload is still much more than I have anticipated."
She sat closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, teasing. "Or could it be that you were used to us doing most of your work while you go on dates?"
"Oh, Lieutenant Hawkeye, you give me such little credit."
"All true statements, Colonel Mustang." Feigned innocence radiated from her honey hazel orbs as she lightly frowned at him. "Seeing you leave the office on time almost everyday to go on dates, and I stay after to take care of your work..."
He laughed, continued teasing her as they reminisced about their past, about the Mustang team and Hughes, those rare yet happy moments with the alchemist brothers, and how everyone united to fight Father. He glanced at the clock, and he said, "Let's go back up?"
She blinked, and nodded.
Riza knew exactly why he had brought her up to the comfort of their room half an hour earlier than their usual bedtime. Deep down she wanted to avoid discussing what had happened in the afternoon, but she sighed.
"...Roy, about what happened this afternoon..." She started, uncertainty and nervousness filled in her voice, and he cut her off.
"I've heard a full report about it," His tone was soft and his voice calming, allowing her heart rate to go back down. "I won't ask you why or what you have done, but allow me to say this, and I've already relayed this to Rebecca – you are not to leave the mansion unless you need to be at the hospital."
She would be lying if she claimed not to feel surprised. She knew he would do something to fully make sure she was protected, but she had not expected him to not allow her to leave the mansion, even though she fully understood why, it still felt odd – as if her heart had carried a heavy weight. He... is not kidding, she thought as she studied his expression, a light smile on his lips but his dark onyx eyes dead serious.
Noticing his wife's uneasy expression, Roy placed his hand on hers, squeezing it. "I know it seems too harsh, but please understand, Riza."
He was very close to begging, and it didn't make her feel any better, making her wonder if she was being too selfish. "Roy, I..."
She nearly inched away from him when his eyes noticeably darkened, in rage? Or annoyance? She couldn't tell, and she was confident that he would not harbour those sort of feelings towards her, but it was definitely not a pleasant emotion. His lips pressed to a thin line, no longer displaying a smile.
Riza wondered if it were to be her pride as a military officer that had stopped her from saying yes to his request. If he were to ban her from leaving her flat back in her military days, no doubt she would have felt angry and would not hesitate to question him.
She bit her lip, muffling a wince when the hand on hers tightened to a harsh grip. "Roy, it hurts."
His eyes widened, realising he had caused his loving wife discomfort. He sighed, immediately loosing his hold but not letting go, and he murmured. "Sorry, I didn't mean it." Pulling her close, he rested his head on her chest as they leant back on the cushioned headboard and pillows. "I can't afford to lose you both, and I couldn't think of a better way to keep you completely safe – I suppose I wasn't exactly thinking straight."
Kissing the crown of his head, she replied. "I understand. So wasn't I this afternoon."
"What I said wasn't feasible," He gave a bitter smile, "I would go mad if I were to stay at home for 15 weeks."
She returned the smile. "Let's go to bed earlier tonight, I am a little bit tired."
"You must be," He nodded and scooted away to remove the duvet under them, and covered it over them when they laid down on the mattress before turning the bedside lamp off.
She realised that he had been just on edge as she had been, and she snuggled closer to him, her back towards him. "When I was told that my tea had been drugged, I had felt hateful to that woman for trying to take our baby away from me, or even trying to harm me. Had it been more than a decade ago, I likely would not have felt much."
Roy rested his palm on her belly, gently caressing as he listened quietly.
"My life had meant much more to me because of you. I can never stand the idea of being away from you, especially now that we are finally together. I can't afford to lose you, and our child too, Roy." She turned her head, meeting his onyx eyes with her honey hazel ones, a peaceful yet certain and loving smile on her lips. "Thank you for giving me the meaning to my life."
He was stunned from her words, and he felt his eyes sting as tears formed in the corner of his eyes. He knew the significance of himself to her, but he didn't expect her last sentence. His nose started to swell, and he didn't know whether he should hold back his tears or just let them flow.
She chuckled, fully turning her body carefully and wiped the tears in his eyes. He embraced her tightly but gentle enough to not apply too much pressure on her belly, and cupped a cheek, tucking her golden strands behind her ear and caressed her smooth skin before pressing his lips down to hers.
The kiss was sweet and simple without a sense of lust as they moved their lips against each other's, and when they finally pulled away he pulled her back in to a hug, tucking her head on his shoulder. "I love you, Riza. I swear on my life that I will never let any harm get to you and our child."
"Neither will I let any harm come to you." She rested her hand on the small of his back as she replied with a determined smile.
A/N: An emotional rollercoaster for Riza (and Roy). I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! I initially wanted to write an event that happened before/during this for a cliffhanger, but couldn't think of anything.
Thank you blazedancer1997 and ShortyStarRose for your lovely reviews! :D
Much appreciated if you could leave a review for your thoughts and constructive criticism! :)
P.S. I hope I hadn't exaggerate Riza's character too much. She is currently at the height of her pregnancy, and I wanted to depict her to be a very protective mother (and wife), then ultimately to go back to being calm and strong at the same time. I also hope it didn't seem too much for Roy to initially suggest what he did, as it somehow seemed like a red-flag to a relationship (which I realised after finishing the chapter and I just wanted for him to seem like a protective husband).