When Roy told her of Berthold Hawkeye's illness, Chris Mustang reflected that the man had a marvelous talent for keeping secrets. It was a shame his skills extended into denial as well. She wasn't a medical expert by any definition, but perhaps he wouldn't have been so felled if he'd had the forethought to seek treatment earlier. Of course, as far as she knew, it could've been a death sentence from the starting line. Either way, her heart broke for Riza. A child should never have to lose both parents before reaching adulthood, and of this subject, unfortunately, Chris had firsthand knowledge. It was one thing to be considered of a legal age in the eyes of the law, and Riza would be very soon, but Chris knew it was quite another to possess an adult mind and emotional application.

Berthold had only been back in Central City for an afternoon before doctors sequestered him to a hospital bed where he drew ragged breaths through tubes and every heartbeat was monitored closely. His daughter had panicked during a violent coughing spell and called for emergency services. Her frantic voice could be heard on the other end of the phone line all the way across the kitchen as she tried to explain to Roy what had happened. Chris wasn't close, personal friends with Hawkeye, but she knew him as well as a mother might know the father of her son's - she didn't even know what Riza was to Roy anymore. Or vice versa. Poking out the boundaries made her uncomfortable; Chris didn't ever want to be the helicopter type, and Roy's behavior never warranted it. When she did allow herself to consider their relationship, labeling them as lovers didn't feel quite right. The dynamic hadn't shifted that much. Riza had slept in her nephew's bed all of twice - the night before her father journeyed home and following the trauma of Hawkeye's hospitalization. Roy hadn't wanted to leave her alone.

Chris thought of herself as less of a pessimist and more of a realist. She didn't wish death for Berthold Hawkeye, but she did believe it to be an eventuality. In her mind, she had a running checklist of things that needed to be done. Sixteen-year-old girls shouldn't be left alone in their family home immediately after the death of a parent, and the idea of Riza relinquishing herself to the - even temporary - custody of Mathilda Grumman was damn near laughable. The old woman was exactly the kind of caregiver Chris detested. It was no wonder Elizabeth had run off with Hawkeye and never looked back.

Riza, having a mind like her father's, would not stand for a sharp-eyed appraisal by her grandmother. In all likelihood, she'd end up at the Mustang house for a time. There were other, more appropriate, female friends that would surely offer lodging, but Riza wouldn't accept. If given the choice, and Chris refused to interfere with her choices, she would choose to stay with Roy. Whether she allowed it for Riza's sake or the amusing way Mathilda Grumman's carefully preened feathers would surely ruffle, she'd never say. A lady has her secrets, and letting the controlling old woman believe what she wanted would be a midnight pleasure.

Funerals and family were a messy business, and when tragedy struck, Chris was almost happy her entire family consisted of only herself and Roy. It seemed a year for harshness and ruined holidays. Riza's birthday would certainly be a casualty.

Roy found Riza alone at a table near the far edge of the pavilion. He'd been late arriving in the cafeteria for lunch, and when he asked about her, Rebecca pointed outside with a sad grimace. "She said she wanted to be alone, and I wasn't going to push her. Maybe you can get her to talk?"

He approached the table and stepped over the bench to sit. "Are you okay?" He knew it was a stupid question. Of course she wasn't okay.

Riza's hands were clasped between her knees, and her lunch contents hadn't been touched at all. She kept her eyes down, hair hanging limply over her shoulders. "I don't know what okay means anymore." Roy had to lean in to hear her voice. "I see his things in the laundry baskets, and I can't bring myself to wash them. If I do, and put them away, what if no one ever takes them out again?"

Completely at a loss, Roy could do nothing but wrap his arm around her. The days were growing colder, and her skin felt chilled.

"Did you know my grandmother came to my house last night?"

"I didn't."

A hollow laugh clawed its way from her throat. "She told me I should prepare for the inevitable, and start to clear out the house."

Roy stiffened.

"I think she wants my dad to die before I turn seventeen so she can get rid of his house and make herself feel better."

"What? But why? How would taking away your family's home make her feel better?" His grip on her tightened.

"Maybe in her mind if she can sell off the Hawkeye house, it won't be the Hawkeye house anymore, and she can pretend I'm my mom reborn or something - a second chance to do things her own way."

"Can she really do that?"

"It depends. I've seen my dad's will, and everything is mine should he die. Until I turn seventeen, though, it sits in trust for whomever is executor. If she sells everything so it benefits my trust, yeah, she could do it."

"Holy shit, Riza."

"I went to see my dad this morning, Roy. I told him she'd been sniffing around, and he… he promised me he'd live to see my birthday. What a macabre gift, right?"

Roy's face twisted as he glanced down at Riza.

"I hate this. I hate all of this. I hate that my grandmother is such a vulture, and I hate that I'm having these discussions at all when I should be allowed to save every last second with my dad."

"What does your grandfather say?"

She sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. He wasn't with her yesterday, and I honestly don't care."

"You don't think maybe he could reign in his wife?"

"Don't you think if my grandparents were the reconciling type, my mother wouldn't have spent the rest of her life avoiding them? These aren't people who care about their family, Roy. Even after my mom died, all they did was glare at my dad at her funeral. Like he'd murdered her in her sleep or something."

"I didn't mean to upset you or bring up painful memories." Roy didn't know what to say. This bitter, resentful Riza was new to him.

"Oh," she reached out and drew his hand between hers, "I know you didn't. I don't know why I'm saying this stuff. It's not really helping. Earlier today, I made a comment about having my dad cremated with his own alchemy, and Becky looked so uncomfortable. I felt bad afterwards." Her giggle had a slightly hysterical edge.

"Geez, Riza."

She smiled crookedly up at him. "He wants to see you, you know. My dad. Can you come today?"

"Of course! My afternoons are wide open, now."

This laugh felt more natural. "I told him you hit Jean, and he said he wasn't surprised."

"Doctor Hawkeye has always been far too intuitive for his own good."

"I agree. He said some other things too."

"Like?"

Riza smiled genuinely for the first time that day. "I'll tell you later." She released his hand and began to peel her orange. "Did you buy my birthday ice cream yet?"

"Not yet. Still set on that idea, huh?"

"Absolutely. I convinced Becky to not throw me a party, and she agreed. Probably out of guilt over all this."

"Probably. What kind do you want?"

She popped a wedge of orange into her mouth. "The stuff with the chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla all in one tub."

Roy made a face.

"I like a variety, and it's my birthday."

"Well, I suppose I have some time to brace myself for the unnatural mingling of flavors."

"Who says you're invited to my private party?"

He scowled down at her, and Riza laughed. "I'm kidding. You'll be my only guest."

"At least no one is going to try and give you underwear on your birthday."

She sighed dramatically. "A girl can always dream, right?"

Roy hardly recognized Doctor Hawkeye. For the first time, he thought the man looked as old as he'd claimed. His eyes were closed and his breaths labored. Riza tugged Roy into the hospital room by his hand. She gently brushed a few wisps of hair from her father's face and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"Dad."

The man's eyelids fluttered open, and he took a moment to focus.

Riza smiled. "Hey, Dad," she went on, her voice soft, "I brought Roy to see you."

Doctor Hawkeye cleared his throat and reached for the cup of water on the bedside table.

"Let me." Riza wrapped his fingers around the cup and stepped back.

"Thank you, Riza, I'm sorry for napping. I didn't realize it was so late already."

She laughed and sat on the edge of his bed. "You never were very good at keeping time."

"I'm a man cursed with a wandering mind." He turned his tired eyes to Roy. "Well then, Roy, I understand you've been under the weather yourself?"

"It wasn't too bad, sir. I think my aunt may have gone a little overboard."

Hawkeye pushed himself up further in the bed, and Riza helped him adjust his pillows. "I doubt that very much. It was probably best to keep you out of the school where germs can spread at an alarming rate." He leaned back against the fluffed pillows, and exhaled heavily. "Riza, dear, would you mind filling my water cup, please? I need a moment with Roy."

She smiled and pressed her lips to his forehead. "Of course. I'll be back in a little bit." Riza squeezed Roy's hand before leaving him alone with Doctor Hawkeye.

"Have a seat, son." He patted the sheet and folded his hands together. "I wish we didn't have to meet this way, but it couldn't be helped."

"Please don't apologize, sir. I hate seeing you so ill."

"As I told you before, I am an old man. I've known about this sickness and its fatality rate for a long time. I feel lucky to have seen my daughter grow as much as I have. I certainly didn't deserve it."

Roy bit his lip. "Maybe not, sir, but I know Riza did."

"She deserved more from me." The man's eyes were sad as he glanced at the leaves falling from the tree beyond his window. "I wanted you to know I still have faith in your ambitions. Even if I won't be around to see you through the process, I know you could be accepted to the State Alchemy program. If it's what you wanted, that is."

"I think it is, but I'd hate to-" Roy stumbled over his words, and Hawkeye chuckled.

"You don't want to leave her alone here? Is that it?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"I think the biggest mistake would be to not tell her until the last minute. Learn from my errors."

"How I am supposed to bring it up now?"

Doctor Hawkeye smiled. "You'll figure it out. I have faith in you, Roy." His eyes turned back to the window. "I used to think Riza would follow in my footsteps and join the military. Did you know that? She has the temperament for it, certainly."

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Riza? In the military?"

"Now, though," Hawkeye went on. "I don't think she would be qualified. That shoulder injury isn't improving, and she wouldn't be able to pass the rigorous physical requirements."

"She never told me about the shoulder. I can't figure out how it never came up."

"My daughter is far too much like me in some ways. She doesn't like the people she cares most about to worry."

Roy frowned and picked at the bed sheet.

"You'll look out for her, won't you? Even from East City?"

He looked the old man in the eye and nodded. "I will."

Hawkeye nodded, and his eyes slid closed. "I'm afraid I'm wearing out, Roy. I wish I could've had more energy for you, but I may doze off." His lungs rattled with a sigh. "Forgive me."

"I can come back anytime, sir."

"Of course, of course. That's fine. I wish-" His hands loosened their grasp on the sheets, and he trailed off mid-sentence. Roy listened to the harsh breathing for a few moments just to be sure he hadn't just witnessed a death and stood. He was halfway to the door when Doctor Hawkeye spoke again in a quiet rasp. "I wish I'd have gotten the chance to see the two of you happy - as happy as I was a long time ago."

Roy looked back, but the man was sleeping now. The words could've meant anything. Surely Doctor Hawkeye wasn't referring to him and Riza as a pair. He stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets and plopped down on a bench outside the room to wait for her. Nurses and doctors shuffled past, going about the business of sickness and healing, but Roy's thoughts circled around Hawkeye's words. He'd never really considered the idea of being with Riza. Sure she was beautiful, and he wouldn't even try to deny that an errant thought or two of her in compromising dress and positions had slipped into his head once or twice. But she was his best friend, for fuck's sake! Their relationship wasn't like that.

Could it be, though? Was he willing to risk damaging the friendship they'd built together over eight years of growing up for… what? A few dates? Kissing? Sex? Roy frowned and stared at his untied shoelaces. The first time he'd made her laugh had been with a ridiculous joke about his failings in remembering to tie them. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

Roy knew his romantic history, if it could even be called that, was spotted. He'd been with a number of girls physically but only dated a few. Becky, though, he'd really made an effort with her. Being in her company was something he genuinely enjoyed, and having a steady girlfriend turned out to be a happier experience than expected. She was the first girl he'd dated that didn't prod him about Riza and try to wedge herself between them. Doctor Hawkeye had been right about her needing more attention than he could promise, and he was glad they'd broken up before things got irreparably ugly.

The idea of pursuing Riza seemed foreign - not unpleasant, but the texture of it was utterly new. She still hadn't returned, and Roy leaned back against the wall. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what it might be like to kiss her. Would she taste of the peppermint lip balm he knew she kept in her bag? Would she be surprised he'd have the inclination to kiss her at all? Would she hate it? Him? What if he kissed her before leaving for the military university? Would she even let him after waiting so long to tell her about his desire to leave home? He didn't want to leave her, but he wanted to do something with his life. The idea of her having someone else in her arms once he was gone felt like a blow to the gut. Roy could almost feel the strands of her hair slipping through his fingers and was overcome with his own idiocy.

He loved her. Of course he loved her. Somehow, the revelation didn't feel new.

"Wake up, sleeping beauty."

Roy jumped when he felt Riza's lips brush his ear.

She laughed at him. "I wasn't gone for that long. How on earth could you fall asleep in this noisy hallway?"

"I'm tired?" he offered lamely. "Your dad nodded off, and I guess it was contagious."

The smile slid from her face. "Yeah, he does that sometimes. Did he say whatever he needed to say?"

Roy ran a hand through his hair. "We had a short chat. I think I might come back tomorrow, if that's okay?"

"Of course it's okay. Let's get out of here, though. I need a break."

He watched through the window as Riza placed the plastic jug of water by her father's bed and kissed his cheek. He knew soon the man would be dead, and Riza would be alone except for him. Roy didn't know if that fact made him feel more or less guilty for falling in love with his best friend at the worst moment possible.

The evening of Riza's birthday came softly. School had been uneventful, and Roy was a little envious she'd made it through her day so peacefully. His own birthday had been a personal nightmare. She'd spent the afternoon with Doctor Hawkeye in the hospital and now sat next to him on her sofa, flipping through television channels and sucking on a spoon. Instead of her awful taste in ice cream, Roy opted for supplying his own candy.

"How can you even tell what's on, speeding through the channels like that? I feel like I'm getting motion sickness."

She gave him a withering glance and went back to her flipping.

"And not that it'll make much of a difference, but your ice cream is melting."

"You are full of opinions tonight, Roy. I can't say it's a good thing."

"My apologies. Please continue letting everything melt together and flying through the programming at the speed of light."

Riza stopped on a random channel and tossed the remote aside. She dipped her spoon into a mound of strawberry and studied him. "I think you're jealous that I'm doing exactly what I want on my birthday and you got crotchless panties in a box."

"That was a low blow, Riza Hawkeye."

She shrugged. "The truth is a hard pill to swallow sometimes."

"I knew I should have gotten you the ice cream with the nuts in it."

"I'm allergic to nuts, you jerk."

"I know," Roy winked and poked her ribs, "Your tongue would swell up and stop the sarcasm that seems to be flowing from your mouth tonight."

"Some best friend you are." Riza scowled and set her soupy mess aside. "Tell me what you and my dad have been discussing in your secret, after-school, boys-only club."

Roy chewed on his candy slowly. He didn't want to have this discussion yet. His newly unearthed feelings for her weren't ready to be put on display. When he opened his mouth to deflect, the phone rang shrilly from the kitchen. Riza rolled her eyes and left him alone on the sofa.

He heard her answer the phone and the sound of shattering stoneware sent him running to the kitchen. Ice cream remnants mixed with bits of broken bowl lay on the tile floor, and Riza stared at him with eyes leaking fat tears. She held the phone in her hand but didn't seem to realize it was there anymore.

"What is it?" Roy whispered, though he felt he already knew the answer.

"My dad," Riza choked out, "He's dead."