AN: All that angst was worth it. Time for some well deserved fluff! Well... ;)

I hope you enjoy this chapter! Writing these two as a couple is one of my favourite things xD

"That's fine, but you're gonna be the one that tells him, not me," Rebecca replied to an unknown statement. "I've already tried. I know when I'm fighting a losing battle."

Riza cracked her eyes open slowly. It seemed as if they were stuck together. A sharp pain travelled into her head as she did so. Cringing, she closed her eyes. The brightness in the room did nothing to help her either.

"I've already tried," Hughes offered. "And I agree with Rebecca."

"But… It's not healthy though, to be cooped up in there, watching over her. He needs out." There was a pause. Riza heard fabric shuffle. She had no idea who they were talking about, but from the tone of Rebecca's voice, she could almost imagine her shrugging. "Hasn't seen daylight in three days," Sam muttered to himself.

"As I said, be my guest."

There was a huff, but no further argument.

Riza tried opening her eyes again. The ceiling was blurry for a few minutes, but Riza could hold her eyes open for an extended period of time, which was good. Slowly, memories from their face off with the Hunters returned to her and she remembered her injuries.

As if on cue, a dull ache made itself known in her right leg. There was a slight burning sensation, but nothing she couldn't handle at the moment.

As she listened to the conversation in the other room, she was disappointed when she didn't hear Roy's voice. Despite herself, she had hoped he would be there.

She thought about the three people in the other room. Rebecca had obviously treated her wounds and for the poison. Sam was still around, but why? And Hughes… She couldn't figure out why he was still here either. Why are they helping me? Why are they here for me? I'm a monster. Tears pricked her eyes.

Enough crying Riza, she scolded herself. Deal with the here and now. That… topic is for another time.

Testing her limbs, Riza found no other pain except from her right leg. Trying to sit up was an extreme effort which left her breathless, but she managed. Sagging against the pillows stacked around her, she would have jumped as she spotted another presence in room, had her body not been so sluggish.

Roy sat in a dining chair, his feet propped up on the stool which normally resided in the living room.

Riza remained still, heart pounding, unsure if he was awake or not. Fear filled her as she thought about his parents, causing her stomach to stir unsettlingly. She didn't want to vomit again. She had done enough of that for a lifetime.

Studying him further, Riza determined he was asleep. Although, he did not look comfortable. He was slumped, arms folded across his chest. His ankles were crossed and his head had lolled forward in his sleep. Riza also noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the tiredness which seemed set in his face, even in sleep.

She had already caused him so much pain. It was clear on his face. But… Why was he still here?

As quietly as she could, the blonde threw the duvet cover off her. Swinging the left leg over the edge of the bed was easy. The right one however, that was a different story. Riza had to physically lift and move it over the edge.

The coolness on her feet from the laminate flooring was welcoming. She sighed softly, relishing in the relief. She had been too hot in that bed. Sweat made her t-shirt stick to her back and her hair was matted to her forehead. Irritably, she shifted it out of her eyes.

Finally, Riza came to rest, sitting on the edge of her bed. Panting, she took stock of her life.

She was lucky to be alive.

The poison in her wound would have almost killed her for sure. Riza knew enough of it had entered her system. If that bolt that had hit her leg was laced with the poison she wouldn't be sitting here right now.

Suddenly, a chill came over her. She shivered, looking around the room for the source. The door was firmly closed, along with the window. The curtains were drawn, but light still made it through the thin fabric. Looking directly at it stung her eyes, causing a shooting pain in her head. Her body continued to sweat as her shivering intensified.

"A fever, great," she muttered. As quickly as her body would cooperate, Riza lifted her right leg back into the bed and under the duvet cover. Letting her head fall back onto the pillows, Riza felt exhausted.

However, her head was stopped short by something solid.

"Motherfu –" Riza cursed loudly, raising her hand to her now pounding head.

Roy jumped in surprise at the loud noise. He was disorientated after his sleep. He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on Riza who was clutching her head, eyes squeezed shut in pain.

"Riza? Riza!" His shock was replaced with elation. She was awake! "Are you okay?"

"No!" she groaned loudly. She rolled onto her side, only to hiss in pain as pressure was put on her wound. "For the love of – Can I not move without being in pain?!"

Despite his worry and fear for Riza's health, Roy felt amusement bubbling inside him. Relieved amusement, more than anything.

"What the hell did I hit?" she asked, craning her neck to glare at the offending headboard. The numerous pillows which had been placed around her had shifted as she sat up, slumping down further in the bed.

"Ah, that would be the headboard."

"Fuck me," she groaned. "Is it made of stone?"

Continuing to glare at the piece of wood, her eyes switched to the now open bedroom door. However, she only saw a dark shape in the doorway. The light from outside the room pierced her sensitive eyes. She squeezed them shut, groaning again.

"Sorry, Riz," Rebecca apologised, however there was a smile on her face. "You're awake," she added softly, her eyes filling with tears.

Riza opened her eyes at the crack in her friend's voice, the pain receding slightly.

Before she could react, Rebecca threw her arms around the blonde.

Riza was too shocked to move. This was not the behaviour she expected.

"I am so glad you are all right. Don't ever scare me like that again, okay?" Rebecca sniffled.

"I'm – I'm sorry?" Riza replied, bewildered.

"We thought you were gone, Riz," Rebecca answered, wiping her eyes.

Riza looked behind her friend, only to find the room empty apart from the two woman.

Rebecca turned to her with a knowing smile. "He hasn't left your side for the past three days." Returning her gaze to Rebecca, Riza's gaze was surprised. "How are you feeling?" Rebecca continued, getting down to business. She checked Riza's eyes and ears. As she ordered Riza to open her mouth, and reaching for it, Riza stopped her.

"Rebecca, what is going on?"

The brunette stopped her actions. "I need to do a check-up. You've been out of it for three days. The only time you were conscious was to throw up."

Riza's stomach trembled at the memory.

"You received quite a dose of poison during the fight. We've been monitoring you as your body fought it off. I managed to get most of it out with the vaccine, however I didn't have enough to finish the job." As she ended her final sentence, Rebecca's voice was full of sorrow. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you."

Riza watched as the brunette's eyes began to shimmer with tears.

"And I am so, so sorry for everything I said to you. I was angry and because of it I turned into an idiot. I didn't mean those things at all a – and I don't deserve your forgiveness."

Riza felt her own tears coming forth as Rebecca's head hung in shame.

"Come here," Riza commanded, circling her arms around her friend.

The pair clung to each other. A quiet laugh left Rebecca.

"What are we like?" she asked, smiling.

Riza returned it, but it disappeared quickly. "Everything is such a mess," she whispered, miserably. Although Rebecca had explained herself, it didn't excuse the fact she had killed Roy's parents.

"About that," Rebecca began sceptically. Instead of explaining herself, she rose from her feet and left the room. Riza opened her mouth to protest, a frown gracing her features, before the light from outside decided to blind her again. She cringed, squeezing her eyes shut tightly.

Blinking them open, she saw Roy standing against the door. His expression was blank as he stared at her. Riza felt her breath catch in her throat. Anxiety bubbled underneath the surface, threatening to spill over.

"Look," Riza began. "I am so, so sorry for everything I put you through." Tears spilled down her cheeks. Roy's face remained blank, which somehow made this harder. Anger would have been justified, hell, even tears, but nothing? It was terrifying. "If I had known I wouldn't have even come looking for you. I would have never wanted to put you through that." Roy took a step forward. Riza flinched, causing him to pause. She continued to babble, even faster than before as her anxiety boiled over. "I completely understand if you hate me or even want some sort of revenge. I am ready to accept punishment for my actions. I will leave and never come back. Hell, I don't even deserve to live after what I have done –"

"Riza." Roy's voice was sharp as he cut her off. He continued to approach the bed, even kneeling at Riza's side.

"How could I continue to go on?" she asked, her voice desperate. Roy was watching her now, intently. Fear gripped her as a brief thought crossed her mind that he would kill her there and then. "I have taken two lives. Whatever you want to do, just do it." She closed her eyes, bracing against a blow.

However, none came.

Riza cracked one eye open, the action painful. Instead of fury, she saw sadness and grief on Roy's face.

"Do you really think I want to kill you?" he asked sadly.

"I deserve it. An eye for an eye and all that –"

"Stop!" he shouted suddenly. Riza got such a fright she jumped. The action caused pain to flare up in her leg. She bit her lip against the hiss of pain that threatened to escape her. "Riza, stop. Please," Roy pleaded.

The pair simply stared at each other. Roy's face was full of pain and sadness. Riza's tear stained face was slightly confused.

"I don't want to kill you Riza. I never have." He reached for her hand and grasped it tightly. "The fact that you even think that, that you think you deserve to die… It kills me."

It felt as if her heart stopped.

"Riza… You didn't kill my parents."

Roy didn't think it was possible, but even more colour drained from Riza's face.

"But I did. I woke up covered in blood –"

"You didn't," Roy reassured her softly, but firmly, ending her desperate babbling. "I asked my aunt. There were no… wounds when the police found them. There was… blood on the scene. But it wasn't there's." It was still difficult for him to talk about, but Riza needed to know the truth. She had believed she had done so for far too long. "And I am so sorry for jumping to conclusions." Roy felt his voice crack as he spoke, but he continued. "I should have kept a level head and asked you about it but instead I –"

Riza cut him off as she began to cry. Raising a hand to her mouth, she tried to stifle the sobs, however, it was in vain.

Roy left his crouched position and joined her in her bed. He pulled her close to him, careful not to jostle her sore leg too much. He held her as she cried softly, cradling her head and trying to soothe her.

It felt as if the crushing weight on her chest had finally lifted, leaving elation and hope in its weight. Fear and worry left her as she sobbed. She listened to Roy whispering to her, feeling her insides warm as he held her close.

"Should we go?" Sam whispered. He looked between the other two, unsure. He didn't feel comfortable listening in on such a private conversation.

Rebecca nodded. She picked up her small rucksack and ushered the other two out of the house. She too didn't want to listen in on Roy and Riza.

She had been worried about Roy these past three days. He had barely ate, barely slept. If Rebecca had known how bad he was going to get she would never have asked him to watch over Riza that first night. It was creepy, at first, the way he watched over her and stared as she slept. However, Rebecca had quickly realised it was because Roy loved Riza. It was as simple as that. She knew he felt guilty for everything that had befallen Riza. It was ridiculous, but there was no telling him that. Rebecca had tried, but it fell on deaf ears.

Roy was in deep. From the way he looked at Riza as she suffered in her sleep, it was clear as day. It was as if her suffering was his own. He had wanted to help, desperately so, but could do nothing. Rebecca knew the feeling. It had been destressing watching Riza recover from the poison. The brunette had never seen a reaction that bad before. Sure, she didn't have much experience, but from the look on Sam's face, she knew he hadn't either. Her suspicions were confirmed soon after.

"She must have had some dose of it," Sam muttered grimly, cringing at the sound of violent vomiting coming from the other room. "I have never seen someone react so badly before."

"You have seen this before?" Rebecca asked, somewhat put out that he hadn't offered to help Riza.

Sam nodded. "And before you ask, I can't do anything more. You have done more than enough to help her Rebecca."

Slightly disheartened, Rebecca turned her gaze back towards Riza's bedroom door.

"Will she remember any of it?"

Sam shook his head. "No. She is likely in a feverous state right now. Delirium is very common. It is likely when she wakes up – and I mean properly wakes up – Riza won't remember it."

"That's one blessing I suppose," Rebecca muttered. Sam hummed in agreement.

Roy had stuck with Riza throughout the whole ordeal. It was likely Riza wouldn't even remember, but Rebecca would. He had earned a new respect in her eyes. He wasn't one to let a man suffer alone. He had also pointed out that Rebecca was still suffering the effects of her wounds herself, and should rest. Rebecca had disagreed with Roy, however there was no dissuading the man.

He had refused to leave Riza's side. Even while she was puking her guts out.

Rebecca sighed. If that wasn't true love, she didn't know what was.

"You were with me the whole time, weren't you?" Riza asked quietly. Her tears had ended some time ago, but the pair didn't want to separate. Riza continued to cling to Roy, one hand fisted in his t-shirt. Roy's arm was around her shoulder, holding her close to his side. Moving his free hand, he gripped hers tightly, their fingers entwined.

Roy was surprised. Sam had been sure Riza wouldn't remember much of her time while she was conscious the past few days.

"I don't remember a lot," she added, thinking back. "But I remember you talking to me. It was a big help. It was something to hold on to."

Swallowing, he answered her question truthfully. "I didn't want to leave your side."

Riza's stomach fluttered at the unexpected reply. "Why?"

Roy was silent for a while. Riza was sure he either didn't want to reply, or simply didn't have one.

"I… felt guilty about what you went through. If I hadn't lost control I wouldn't have scared you away. I could have saved you from a lot of your injuries. I mean, you even took a bullet for me for Christ's sake."

Riza remained silent as he spoke. Involuntarily, her grip on his shirt tightened.

"I would do it again, you know," she whispered. Roy's hand on her shoulder tightened its grip in response.

"That's what scares me."

Silence reigned as they lay together, reliving the past few days and contemplating their actions.

"Thank you, for everything you have done."

"I would do it again, you know," Roy replied, repeating Riza's earlier statement.

Riza smiled, finally content for what felt like the longest time. She shifted as carefully as she could, creeping closer to Roy's warm body. She let her heavy eyes close as they drooped for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Get some sleep, Riza," Roy murmured, kissing the top of her head. As she drifted off quicker than she would have liked, Riza smiled.