Disclaimer: Really I think the previous chapters say it.
A Calm Life
"Benjamin! Thomas! Get down here; you're going to be late for school!" Molly said up the stairs.
"Bye, darling," Geoffrey said after giving Molly a quick peck on the cheek. He walked outside to the driveway. He started his car and headed off to work. Riza heard the rumble of the boy's footsteps on the second floor above her. The two boys came down the stairs with their backpacks on tow. Riza noticed that Tommy's shirt was on backwards.
"Oh Tommy," Molly said frowning. She walked over to him and started pulling his shirt off.
"MOM!" Tommy said whining.
"What, you want to go to school as backwards boy?" Molly said placing her hands on her hips.
"No," Tommy said in a hushed tone "not in front of Miss Riza."
"Tommy," Molly said laughing and continued to fix Tommy's shirt "I'm sure it's nothing Miss Riza hasn't seen before, right Riza?" She said to Riza who was sitting at the table drinking tea and reading the paper.
"Right," Riza said hiding her grin behind her tea.
"Now," Molly said after finally straitening Tommy's shirt, "Off to school with you both." She gave them each a hug and their lunches.
"Bye Mom!" They said before running out of the house "And bye Miss Riza."
Hayate let out a little yip and Riza waved. "They act like I have a disease."
"Well they have only known you for a week and you are a complete stranger. Most of the people they know, they've known for practically their whole lives."
Riza had been at the Smith's house for about a week now. When Doctor Warren had said a suburb house she thought two story house with a tiny back yard. But no, their house was on five acres and had its own private orchard. Geoffrey had told her that his great grandfather used to own a 100 acre orchard but sold it once his son decided to join the military instead of continue on his way of life. All that was left were a handful of apple and pear trees.
The house though was a surprise, it was two stories and made out of brick. She thought it may be some trouble for her to have a room but the family could've taken in four other soldiers and been all right. Apparently when Geoffrey's great grandfather sold off the land they were rich enough to build this house.
Every morning Riza would wake up clean up and drink her tea at the coffee table. She was usually up before the whole house. She would wave the family goodbye then follow Molly around assisting her in anyway possible. Most mornings Molly would go outside and attend to the garden and orchard. Then she would go out to feed Henry their old cart horse, who was retired now that they bought a car. At noon she would go out for a walk with Hayate and walk a little further each day and returned to help Molly with her dinner.
"Well I'm off to buy groceries," Molly said picking up her purse, "I think I'll take Henry."
"Wait a second I'll come," Riza said standing up and folding the paper she was reading.
"Oh you don't need to come it's just groceries,"
"Nonsense I feel useless when I sit around and do nothing."
Molly looked at Riza confused for a moment then grinned brightly and hooked arms with Riza. "Alright then Missy put Hayate out and lets go get that nag hitched up!"
After the uncomfortable cart ride to the Eureka Market, Molly and Riza split the list up so they could get done shopping faster. Riza had headed to the breakfast aisle and looked at the list: Cold cereal. She looked up the cereal just happened to be on the highest shelf. Just her luck being only 5'6" and her arm still didn't allow her to reach any higher than about four inches above her head.
She was trying to figure how to reach it when Doctor Warren walked up behind her and reached up easily picking up the cereal.
"Hello there Riza," He said giving her the cereal.
"Fancy meeting you here Warren." Riza said annoyed at his informality.
"Yes this happens to be the only spot in Eureka where one can buy food."
"Right, umm good bye then," Riza turned around and started to walk back up the aisle.
"You know Riza," Warren started "You shouldn't push yourself so much." Riza stopped walking.
"Is getting groceries pushing myself?" She said coolly
"No, but I see you walking around everyday or that's what I suspect you do everyday."
"And exactly how would you know that?"
"I'm a doctor, I know how people tick and you're not the type of person to just sit around and do nothing."
"And then how am I supposed to get better?"
"Ever heard of a thing called rest and recuperation?"
"No," Riza said simply and continued walking away.
Later that night Riza was still unpacking her things from central. When she started to unpack her blouses and shirts Tommy knocked on her opened door.
"Miss Riza?" He said unsurely.
"Yes Tommy?" She said hanging up a blouse.
"Umm dad's not here and I have a military question for him." He said holding up a notebook.
"And what would you like me to do about it?"
"Umm since you're in the military I thought you could answer it." He said bashfully looking at his feet.
"Well fire away then," she said while pulling two chairs next to her table.
"Well I need to know the stars and stripes on the military lapels and sketch them out but I only think I have the Fuhrer and the Lieutenant general's correct." He said pointing to his drawings.
"Umm actually you have them all right except for the major, second lieutenant and the first lieutenant."
"Really," he said grinning.
"You have the Major and the Second Lieutenant backwards."
"What about the First Lieutenant?"
"Well you need to take away that extra star and leave a space between the remaining stars."
"Oh, aren't you a First Lieutenant?" He said while fixing the lapels.
"Yes."
"Can I see your uniform?"
"Why, you see your dad's all the time?"
"He never let's us look at it up close." He said sadly after closing his notebook.
"All right then," Riza said standing up and going over to her boxes, "I guess it won't hurt if you look at it."
"Really!" he said running over beside her and looking over her shoulder as she bent over.
Riza looked through both of the clothes boxes but she couldn't find her uniform. Then she remembered that she never asked for one of her uniforms sent there. Also whenever she did get back to Central she would have to order another uniform since her old one probably was thrown away because it was dirty and bloody from when she got shot.
"I don't have it with me, sorry Tommy," she said apologizing then it hit her, "But I do have pictures, with other officers too. Do you want to see them?"
"Sure!" he said happily.
"Alright then," she said opening the Misc. box and took out her photo album. But when she took it out there was a canvas package under it. Riza handed the album to Tommy and pulled the package out of the box and set it on the bed and untied it. It was a uniform; she unfolded it and held it to her eye level, there were badges on her uniform she never had those before.
"Cool!" He exclaimed as he grabbed the pants in the package. Riza smiled down at him as he looked at the uniform, she handed the top to him. "Wow look at the badges!" he said and he held them closer to his eyes, "You even have a pocket there!" He said poking a finger in the chest pocket and then he looked confused. "Hey there's something in here." The boy pulled out an envelope and handed it to Riza. It just said First Lieutenant Hawkeye on the envelope.
"Well whoever sent this must've sent this uniform," she muttered opening the letter. She looked to the ending note and saw it was from the Colonel. Riza all of a sudden couldn't breathe out of excitement; she hadn't heard one word from the Colonel, except for that short note on the get well card. "Tommy could you leave for a second, take that photo album if you want."
"Yes ma'am," he said grabbing the album and hurrying out of the room.
She sat down on the bed and tried to calm down. Why was she acting like a school girl who got a note from her crush? She couldn't understand it. She looked at the letter and read it through.
Dear First Lieutenant Hawkeye,
I thought I would send this along with your other clothes since it seems your other uniform was past repair. You may notice that there are new badges, if it's my opinion I think they are past due. But your quick thinking at the riot saved lives and another terrorist organization was brought to our attention. I personally am assigned to take care of the situation and they will be apprehended.
Seems like pretty nasty news with your injuries. I want you back here at Central using that uniform as soon as you can. But don't strain yourself Hawkeye.
Colonel Roy Mustang
Riza read it over twice; she wondered why there wasn't more. She felt kept in the dark. More than ever she felt sad that she was away from the ocean that was Central. Now she was tossed into a calm lake, expected to live a calm life.
A/N: That was originally a short chapter I don't know how it turned out over 1200 words. Oh well I liked this chapter and most of it I just made up and most of the original got cut out to be used later. I watched one is all and all is one to write this. The last chapter I watched words of farewell to write that. What a sad episode!
Sorry about the late update I finished this when FF was spazzy. Don't expect an update till Tuesday since I have to finish a record book and I have a soccer tournament this weekend.
Thanks Reviewers I LOVE YA!