Lights! Camera! Christmas!

Author: MoonStarDutchess and Rinoaebastel

Chapter 10: Manager Dilemma

Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.


The night had just begun setting in when Riza and Roy went to the restaurant at the Diamont. It'd been five days since the contract signings and they'd spent almost every day in contact or in each other's company. Other than staff and her family, she'd never spent so much time with someone for so many days in a row.

The restaurant hadn't been as crowded as it normally was during dinnertime, but it was more than they'd hoped. So they'd booked a room and ordered dinner via room service.

As soon as the food the staff left, they both began to eat.

"I read the papers today. Mister Grumman went right to them to clear matters up and they did."

"Yes, I saw it this morning," she said.

Her grandfather had gone to more legitimate publications to clear up the rumors. Now all the magazines were talking about her body's lack of a fetus. She wasn't sure which one was more embarrassing: people thinking she had three beings inside her, or them knowing about her uterus being empty. She cringed mentally at the way she phrased that.

"It appears so," she said and then muttered, "and it only took four days."

"He seemed disappointed."

She sat down at the table and uncovered the food she'd ordered. "He wanted grandkids and now that all of his granddaughters are older he wants great grandkids. He doesn't pressure us at all, but he adores children and it's something he looks forward to."

"I kind of feel bad now," Roy said and started eating his dinner.

"Don't. At least he'll be happy for a while thinking there's some potential for us."

"Saying he's just happy seems like you're underrating it. His happiness was evident from the way he hugged me. 2Never been hugged that tight by another man before."

Riza chuckled. "My grandfather doesn't look it, but he's a hugging guy. Unless you tell him you don't like it, you'll probably be hugged more than that before you leave his lodge."

-/-/-

"So, what kind of reception should I be expecting from the rest of your family? You said they'd probably ignore me," Roy said as they walked to the elevator. Their bags were already in the car and ready to be transported to the train station. Their security was waiting downstairs.

"They'll treat you like a pariah probably, yeah. It's hard to tell. You might get a few handshakes, and a few snide comments, but they'll likely leave you alone. Father seemed semi-interested in meeting you, but I think he just said that automatically. He doesn't usually have any interest in my life."

"Are they going to be at the train station?" he asked when they entered the elevator. The doors shut.

"My parents, older sister, and her fiancé will be there. Martina, Havoc, Armstrong, Breda, and Rebecca will be on the train as well. Grandpa will be showing up at the lodge a bit late due to some business."

"And Maes," Roy added.

"Maes? He mentioned coming? I thought he'd go and spend time with Gracia and her family."

"Yeah, he mentioned he'd be there. Gracia's family isn't exactly thrilled with their engagement. She's going to try to win them over without Maes first. They think he's going to cheat on her because he's around—Nevermind." He appeared as if he said something that he shouldn't have, so when the doors opened, Riza grabbed his arm.

"Around…" she prompted.

"It's not important."

Riza hit the button that closed the elevator door. "We aren't leaving until you finish that sentence." Riza knew what he was going to say, but she didn't want to acknowledge that people might think it. She wanted to be wrong about it.

"Around you," he whispered.

Riza dropped her arm and rested her back against the right elevator wall. Her stomach lurched at the thought.

"Maes didn't say a word. Neither did Gracia."

"They probably didn't want you to feel awkward."

"I would never do something like that."

"I know you wouldn't. Gracia knows you wouldn't, but her family doesn't."

"God." The guilt washed over her. She'd never once had feelings that way towards Maes, but he did spend a lot of time in hotels with her. But with her being famous and all the gossip that surrounding her, she couldn't blame them. "He's just my manager and friend. I don't want to be any trouble to them."

Roy placed a hand beside her head on the wall, and took his other hand and lifted her chin. He looked into her eyes. "Come on, cheer up. Maybe the rumors between us might have some benefit in that. If they think you're dating me it wil—"

The door opened,

"Helloooooly crap!" a voice said from the lobby.

-/-/-

Maes was studying the two of them as strongly as one would study a textbook. The environment in the car was layered with awkwardness, amazement, and puzzlement.

Riza refused to meet his eyes, both due to the incident, of which a few reporters in the lobby had taken pictures, and because she was angry. Angry that she heard about the problems he was having from Roy instead of straight from him.

Roy, to his credit and her chagrin, didn't seem affected by Maes catching them so close together. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Just enough that Maes wouldn't notice. Her cheeks warmed as she remembered the time in the elevator.

Most men wore cologne that was much too strong and would've overpowered a woman that he was close to, but Roy wore a lighter scent that contained hints of lavender and the smell of oncoming rain. The orange juice he'd had for breakfast lingered on his breath.

When she gazed into his eyes, they were such a dark onyx that she thought she might get lost in them if she stared for too long. If Maes hadn't interrupted, she wasn't sure what she might've done.

"Hey, you alright?" Roy asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

She nodded. "Oh, yes."

"So, what was that about?" Maes asked.

"What?" Roy replied.

"You guys were awfully close in that elevator. Have you two decided you're dating for real? If so, it would—"

"I was telling her that—"

Riza coughed, hoping Roy would get the hint. She didn't want him to tell the actual reason.

"I was telling her that she had something in her eyes," Roy said.

Maes quirked an eyebrow and Riza almost cringed at the overused excuse.

"Why touch her chin then? And why was she leaning against the elevator wall?"

"Okay, you got us. We'll tell you the truth," Roy said.

Maes leaned forward, his eyes almost twinkling. Riza's stomach sank. He wouldn't really spring this on Maes right before the gathering. It would just create more trouble.

"She was just so overwhelmed by how handsome I was that she felt faint. I was making sure she was still conscious. Alone in an elevator with just me and no other men to look at is dangerous for a straight woman's health."

Riza covered her mouth and stifled a laugh. Roy leaned back and crossed his arms, a look of pride on his face.

"Darn you," Maes said and sat back, dropping the subject.

But she knew it would eventually be brought back up. "After the holiday, Maes, I'll tell you," Riza said.

His face turned serious. "Are you okay? You aren't sick or anything, are you? Is your injur—"

"I'm fine. Let's just enjoy ourselves as much as we can," she said.

"All right," Maes said. "Your grandfather's hot springs are calling my name."

Riza nodded and hoped she could clear her head for a while before addressing this issue. She would have to think on that during the ride up there. Maybe she'd ask Roy about it once they were settled in. He might have some suggestions.

-/-/-

The three of them arrived at the station 20 minutes before they were due to depart. Armstrong and Havoc led them through the crowds of reporters and paparazzi before they finally made it to a VIP room in the train station.

Riza adjusted her hat and sighed. She turned to Roy who was also straightening his clothing. "There are a lot of people out there," Riza said. "How did they find out?"

"You're nothing but trouble no matter where you go." Riza heard from behind her. "And from the looks of your clothes, you put no effort into being discrete." She turned and saw Lauren sitting next to Antonio. He smiled at her, but she refused to return it. His betrayal hurt almost as much as her family's rejection.

"If I'm so much trouble, Lauren. How about you get out of VIP and go sit with everyone else. That goes for both of you."

"Jealous?" she said and put her arm through Antonio.

"Don't be selfish," Antonio said.

"That's rich coming from you," Roy said. He walked up to Riza and put his arm around her waist. "You get mad over the fame she has but take advantage of it. I think you're a little mixed up there Antwerp."

"Antonio," he corrected.

"Whatever, Adam," Roy said. This was the first time she'd heard Roy be so arrogant. She knew it was deliberate and all for show, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't find it kind of sexy.

From the way her sister's face darkened, his act definitely had an effect. He kissed her temple and glared at Lauren. "Treat your sister with respect, or I'll have you thrown out of here."

"As if you could. Our grandfather reserved this room," Lauren said.

Roy smirked. "You sure about that?"

She gritted her teeth and said nothing in response.

Riza bit the inside of her lip as she walked to the other side of the room with him. She noticed Maes, Rebecca, and Havoc near the door, having a hard time keeping chuckles at bay.

"Riza, stop starting fights," Riza's mother said as she walked through the door. "Can you at least be civil this holiday?"

Riza was about to retort, but her father walked in. "And couldn't you have kept your being here a secret, or do you need to be in the spotlight all the time? You know your sister is engaged, so the attention won't be on you."

"Are you kidding me?" Roy said in a low voice. "You're engaged too as far as they know."

"Doesn't matter," she whispered.

"You know…If you want to forego this, we'll go to Hawaii." Roy said. "If you want snow, I know Colorado is nice this time of year too. We'll go, staff and all. My treat."

"Sounds better than dealing with this," Rebecca muttered. Riza knew she was a few comments away from bitching out her family. Every year that Rebecca came, she'd come closer and closer to telling them off.

"Believe me, Roy," Riza said. "I would if not for my grandfather."

"Where's Martina and your grandfather?" her father asked after he had greeted Antonio.

"She's on her way. Grandfather is coming later," Riza said. "Which is what I should've done. Maes, is there any chance I can do an extra concert or something?"

"Don't you dare. We are going to enjoy Christmas whether you like it or not," Serena said.

Roy looked at her, confused at the statement.

She put her hand on the one he had on her waist. "Just forget it," she said. "My enjoyment doesn't matter to them."

"It's not right," he snapped in a whisper. "It's your holiday too."

"Don't worry, I'm used to it. Once we get to the lodge, I'll have a fine holiday. At least some of the time."

Roy nodded, but she could tell by his expression that he wasn't happy with the situation.

It touched her and she found herself glad he was there with her. Fake relationship and all.


RW: 2022