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—
Riza hurriedly combed her blonde hair into its usual bun and desperately searched through her meager closet for a suitable outfit.
Roy provided her with a dress for their private evening but assumed she had something appropriate to wear as they stood in front of the entire country?
Riza scowled.
Just like Roy.
She didn't have a lot of options since she spent most of her time in her uniform, but something caught her eye towards the back of the closet.
Reaching all the way towards the wall, Riza pulled out a simple, but elegant baby blue sheath dress.
She stepped out of the closet and slipped it on quickly.
She had bought it on a whim at a shop many years ago.
Since then it had been hanging in her closet untouched, as if it were waiting for the right occasion to be worn.
What better occasion to wear the dress than the day she would officially become engaged to the man she loved?
Riza stood in front of the mirror to inspect her appearance before she left.
The soft shade of blue highlighted her hair and she smiled.
She was hopeful that Roy would like the dress.
If he didn't, it was his own fault.
He should have sent her one for today, not last night.
—-
As Riza walked down the stairs and left her apartment building, she found her same chauffeur from the night before standing beside the same car that had dropped her off just hours ago.
Riza assumed this man would most likely be her driver from now on.
"Are you ready to go, Miss Hawkeye?" Her driver asked as she walked up to the car.
"I am." Riza nodded, getting in as he opened the door for her.
Once the chauffeur got inside and started the car, she thought they would be heading to the Fuhrer mansion again.
Apparently not…...
Riza felt nervous cramps roll through her stomach as they passed the Fuhrer's mansion and kept driving….
Kept driving…
Kept driving…
They kept driving all the way to the central military building….
They kept driving all the way through the crowds of civilians, military personnel, and journalists who had gathered and were waiting to hear the Fuhrer's announcement.
It was at that moment that the reality of both her upcoming wedding and the importance of Roy's new position really started to sink in to Riza's mind.
Truthfully, she had dreamed for a long time that she would marry Roy someday…...
…...But she never dreamed she would marry the Fuhrer.
—
A few minutes later, the car stopped and Riza's driver quickly escorted her out the vehicle and into the building while shielding her from reporters who assaulted her with questions and cameras that flashed in her face, all speculating, all wanting to know…..
Riza followed her driver up through the military building, down the halls, and through the doors that led to the Fuhrer's office.
From her time spent in the military, she actually knew a faster way to get there, but she had been discharged and didn't want to seem rude, so she simply held her tongue, smirked to herself, and obediently followed her driver.
Once they stood outside of the Fuhrer's door, the driver reached over and opened it.
He had already been told earlier to let Riza enter immediately, that the Fuhrer was waiting anxiously.
Behind the desk, Roy stood looking out the window at all the throngs of people.
He turned around just as Riza walked in.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hey." She smiled back sheepishly.
The driver saluted Roy and closed the door, taking his leave.
Suddenly, in the large room, Riza and Roy were truly alone, if only for a moment.
"We have an escort coming that will take us out front and center to make the announcement. They should be here in a few minutes." Roy explained.
He was dressed in his uniform, of course, and Riza gave him the same steadfast look she always did, acknowledging his statement with a nod.
Roy looked over Riza, admiring the blue dress on her.
Hmm….
He silently decided that he liked that one even more than the black one she had worn last night.
Riza struggled not to blush as his eyes continued to ghost over her and he started to walk towards her.
The air was tight with tension as Roy came to stand directly in front of her, so close they were almost chest to chest.
"Riza…" Roy said very quietly, his hands trailing up her outer thighs to sit at her waist.
Riza glanced down shyly then back up, finding the courage to meet his gaze.
"I'm glad you're here." Roy said genuinely, a warm smile of admiration dancing across his face.
Riza didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
The smile vanished from his face and his pulse began to pound, Riza's hands came up to gently hold Roy's face as they both knew what would happen.
With his hands still on her hips, Roy closed his eyes and pressed his lips against Riza's.
Riza kept her hold on him firmly as she closed her own eyes and kissed back.
Their lips met sweetly at first.
But it was an odd feeling for both of them.
It was the feeling of meeting an old lover that had been away for a long time.
Finally reunited…
Or, in their case, finally united.
How many times had they felt this same tension and been forced to ignore it?
How many times had each dreamed they would be able to share a moment like this, a kiss this meaningful?
Roy tightened his grasp on Riza's hips and her hands moved to gently clutch at his hair as their kiss became deeper and deeper.
A sudden, unwelcome knock at the door broke them apart.
Riza collected herself, trying not to look flustered as Roy pulled away and called out, "Come in!"
His deep voice was a bit huskier than he would have liked…..
Just as the door swung open, Roy shot Riza a look that made her cheeks turn red, silently communicating to her that they weren't finished and that it was a shame they had to stop so abruptly.
The softness in Riza's brown eyes and the pout on her plush, pink lips told him that she felt the same.
But the couple would handle that later.
As subordinates and several high ranking officials marched into the room, Roy turned his gaze from Riza to his officers.
"Fuhrer Mustang, everything is ready." A tall, blonde man nodded with a salute.
Roy looked over and held out his hand to Riza.
Silently, the blonde took it.
Together, Riza and Roy followed their military escort down to the broadcasting platform that had been arranged in front of central's main building.
Together, Riza and Roy stood on the platform to address the journalists, the military, family, friends, and enemies.
The broadcasting equipment echoed in Riza's mind that they were standing in front of the entire country as their words were going to be transmitted over the radio across Amestris….
Maybe even beyond….
Microphones were arranged around Roy and he stepped up, his shoulders squared, his chin high, and began to stoically speak to the crowds, both near and far, "Citizens and military personnel of Amestris, this is your Fuhrer, Roy Mustang, addressing you. I am speaking to you today to officially announce my engagement to Riza Hawkeye. Ms. Hawkeye is no longer in the military but she will be a kind and caring wife to myself and a dutiful servant to our great country. Our marriage ceremony has been scheduled by the state according to law and will take place in Central thirty days from now. All who are able and willing to come are invited. Thank you for your continued support. That is all."
Cameras flashed in blinding succession as he spoke.
Once Roy finished his statement, he was practically mobbed as journalists and reporters lurched forward, trying to get their microphones in his face, assaulting him with too many questions to possibly answer.
Behind them, the crowd erupted into cheers and rounds of happy applause.
Everyone who was familiar with Roy knew that he had at least, some feelings for Riza, so what great news they would finally get to be together!
Roy hastily grabbed his fiancé and escaped the crowd as Roy's men quickly ushered them both back into the building.
Once they were safely inside, Roy held up his hand, indicating that he would take Riza back to his office on his own. "Thank you all for your help. Ms. Hawkeye and I have a lot to discuss. I'll send for her driver once we're finished."
The soldiers dutifully followed Roy's orders and went back to their posts, allowing Roy and Riza to walk alongside each other.
"Are you really ready for this?" Roy asked, glancing over at her as they made their way down the hall.
Riza looked back at him and smiled, "As long as you are. I follow, you lead. You know how it works."
Roy gave her a hopeful grin as they entered his office and sat down.
"Well, let's get started then, Riza." Roy said as he pulled out a pile of bridal magazines, caterer brochures, tuxedo rental advertisements, and flyers for local florists.
Riza blinked.
She wondered if the officials that were pushing for the ceremony to happen so soon had given him all of these or if Roy had collected these things on his own.
Either way, he was right, they had a job to do.
"Yes, sir!" Riza nodded, picking up a magazine and beginning to flip through it.
Roy began comparing tuxedo company advertisements.
Thirty days was not a long time to plan a wedding for several thousand guests.