Sorry it took so long well here it is please read and review and I don't own any of the characters but I do own the plot and another shout out to my partner in crime my best friend in the whole wide world who I've own since kindergarten Riku Moriyama.

Chapter 3

"So, once we get more reinforcements, we will be able to massacre those Ishbalan traitors."

Brigadier General Gran was discussing another strategy concerning the now seven year long Ishbal War to the Fuhrer.

The newly recruited Major Mustang decided he needed to take a break from all this war talk. Excusing himself, he stepped out of the barracks where he was stationed. As he gazed over the landscape, the only thing he saw were sand dunes and shattered lives.

"Why did I agree to come here and assist in this devastation?" He wondered to himself, thinking sadly thinking of the lives already lost in this pointless war. While he was lost in his thoughts, two other people exited the barracks and started to walk up to him. He snapped out of his trance and saluted. His salute was aimed for Brigadier General Gran, whom he immediately recognized, but he had no idea who the other person was. It was a young woman. Gran's girlfriend maybe? "Highly unlikely." Mustang thought, thinking of Gran's personality. As they walked closer he noticed that the woman was in uniform so it was possible that she was a new recruit. Women soldiers were rare in Ishbal. The pair finally reached Mustang. Gran waved away Mustang's salute. He gestured carelessly at the woman standing beside him.

"Mustang, this is your new right wing sniper. Teach her the ropes of this place and show her where she will be staying."

The woman extended her hand and Mustang shook it. She wasn't smiling, but he saw warmth and strength in her eyes.

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance sir. My name is Riza Hawkeye. It will be an honor to work under your command."

Mustang was suddenly jarred out of his daydream by the sound of rustling sheets. He looked and saw that the noise was only Hawkeye turning over in her sleep. Sighing, he went back to his dream, thinking of an event that happened after his terrible night, when he had first used the red stones.

Mustang sat alone in his barracks, head in his hands and contemplating how he had killed so many people. He stared at the ring on his hand, the ring he used to massacre the helpless Ishbalan people. He ripped it off his hand and threw it across the room. As he watched the ring clatter across the floor, he let his mind sink into despair.

"All those people I killed, even if it was for the sake of war; my hands are stained with murder. How can I keep living as if nothing happened? I don't deserve to live any longer in this world. I deserve to go to hell for my sins."

Mustang then noticed some of Hughes throwing knives on the table, left over from his last visit when he was bragging about his girlfriend. On a sudden impulse, he picked up one and brought it up to his neck. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. He inched the knife closer to his neck. As he was about to break the skin, he was stopped by a loud, sharp noise, and the knife was knocked away from his hand. He turned to see Hawkeye standing in the doorway, a pistol in her grip. He looked down and saw the knife on the ground, shot in two separate pieces. He hung his head in shame.

When Mustang finally had the courage to look at Hawkeye, he was quite shocked to see a mixture of terror, sadness and concern etched on her face.

Just then Mustang heard a loud bang and a splash. He jolted up and saw a young fumbling with the I.V. She blushed when she saw Mustang staring.

"I'm sorry sir! I'm new here."

"It's ok just leave before you wake up Riz... Uh I mean Lieutenant Hawkeye."

"Yes sir. Sorry about that!"

As soon as he saw the nurse scurry from the room Mustang decided to watch Hawkeye sleep. Without realizing what he was doing, he started stroking Riza's long, blonde hair. She stirred a little from his touch, and then he heard her give a sigh he took as contentment. Mustang then decided that he needed to give his subordinate some space. He got out of his chair and headed for the door. Mustang was just heading past Hawkeye's bed when he suddenly slipped on some of the spilt medication from the I.V.

"Damn nurse!" he thought as his head hit the floor and everything went black...

Two Days Later

Mustang woke up to find himself in a hospital bed with throbbing head. He looked over and saw the same nurse from before. She looked like she was about to cry. As soon as she saw him staring she practically threw himself on him, begging for an apology.

"I'm so, so sorry sir! If I had cleaned that spill, you wouldn't have tripped and gotten bandages, and, and..."

Mustang awkwardly patted her head, having no real experience with the female mind.

"Uh, really, it's ok, I'm fine. Really."

The nurse gave him such a look of happiness that it was almost sickening.

"That's great! Is there anything I can get for you? I mean, you have been out for about two days now..."

"TWO DAYS! I'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO DAYS!"

The nurse hid behind her clipboard, giving a quick nod.

"How is Ri- Hawkeye?"

The nurse frowned and her eyes went downcast.

Mustang jumped out of the bed, ignoring the pain from his head and ran straight out the door. The nurse ran up and tried to stop him from moving.

"But wait, sir, you can't leave your bed! Doctor's orders!"

I don't give a damn about doctors or orders for that matter; I need to see my subordinate!"

Running, with the nurse holding on for dear life, Mustang ran into to the hallway to realize that his room was only a few down from Hawkeye's. Without thinking of what he might find, Mustang burst though the door to find Hawkeye in her bed, calmly reading a book about the development of the modern handgun. She looked up at the sudden noise to find her superior officer panting in the doorway, dragging a nurse behind him and looking like a manic. It was a testament to Hawkeye's personality that she didn't burst out laughing. She merely looked at him with puzzled amusement.

"Hello sir. Um, what are you doing here?"

Mustang peeled the nurse off him and shoved her out the door. Ignoring the loud noises that followed, he shut the door and walked over to Hawkeye's bedside. Trying to hide his embarrassment, Mustang scratched his head and looked at anything except Hawkeye.

"What do mean what am I doing here? Is it wrong for an officer to come in and check on his subordinate every once in a while?"

Hawkeye put down her book and looked Mustang straight in the eye.

"Well sir, its one thing to come and visit, but it's quite another to come and never leave. Judging by the amount of growth on your face, and the oil in your hair, I'd say you've been here for at least two days." (House reference! )

Mustang smiled, glad that her powers of observation hadn't left her, even with all that had happened. His smile faded as he realized that she probably didn't realized what had happened to her. That thought was confirmed as he listened to Hawkeye's next question.

"Sir, can you tell me what happened to me? I keep on asking, but no one seems to want to answer."

Mustang sat on her bed and took a deep breath.

"Well, you're here because about two days ago I was about to send you home sick when you suddenly collapsed into my arms. I then found out that you had a high fever, so I rushed you to the hospital."

Mustang knew that he should tell her about the cancer, but he didn't know how to bring it up. How do you tell someone that they have a deadly disease in a conversation?

Hawkeye knew that Mustang was keeping something from her, and she wanted to know what it was. Mustang looked like he was about to cry, so she knew that it was something serious.

"Sir, I know that you aren't telling me everything, and I need to know, however hard it may be for you to say."

Mustang merely fiddled with his hands and looked away from the apprehensive Hawkeye.

"Hawkeye, I really hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but I don't think that you will be able to come back to the office for a while….."

"What? Sir you can't be serious! I mean, you guys will fall apart with out me! I know that whatever I have won't interfere with my work. I can handle it sir. "

"Hawkeye, you didn't let me finish." Mustang said, sighing as he looked out the window. He brought his attention back to Hawkeye. Gingerly, he took Hawkeye's small hands and held them in his large ones. Looking her directly in the eye, he started to speak.

"You see, the reason you will not be returning to the office for a while is because you will be receiving treatment for the cancer, leukemia."

Hawkeye's mind reeled with this newly acquired information, but she didn't show it on her face. She tried to pull her hands away from Mustang's, but he wouldn't let go. The only thing she let slip was a small quiver in her voice.

"I have...leukemia? But that's impossible! I always eat the right food, I work out regularly, and I go to the doctors every six months. How can this be?"

Mustang could tell that Hawkeye was taking this new way too calmly. He could see conflicting emotions on her face, emotions that she wouldn't let Mustang see.

He knew that he needed to give her a moment.

"Well, um, I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want something?"

Hawkeye shook her head and picked up her book and continued reading. As soon as Mustang had closed the door, and she heard his footsteps fade away, she completely broke down. She threw her book across the floor and brought her knees to her chest. Her entire body was shaking, and she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

"Why is this happening to me?" she thought between sobs. "I'm breaking my promise to Roy, and there's nothing I can do about it! I feel so helpless..."

Mustang ran in, hearing the noise of the book. Seeing the hysterical Riza, he ran over to her and draped his arms around her, holding her firmly, yet gently. He had no idea what to say to help ease her pain.

"Sshh, it's alright. I'm here now we are going to get through this so don't worry. I am not going to let you die. I will help you get better no matter what the cost."

Mustang continued to hold her, and said soothing words. Riza was so upset and lost in her own world, that she didn't even realize Roy was holding her, so he did the only he could think of to do to get her to calm down. While holding her, he slowly bent his head, closed his eyes and gently kissed her on the lips.

It took Riza a moment to realize what had just happened. Without thinking, she leaned up and returned the kiss, only on Roy's lips. Both pulled away at that moment, unsure of what had just happened. Roy suddenly had great interest in the hospital curtains. Riza tapped him on the shoulder and forced him to look her in the eye.

"Roy, why did you just kiss me?" Riza asked, making sure that the kiss really happened, and it wasn't a dream. And before he was given the chance to answer that Riza had lowered her head and enveloped him in another kiss but this time it was more desperate and passionate to the point where she almost had him completely on top of her. Roy pulled away knowing why Riza was doing this. She looked up into his dark sorrowful eyes and thanked him for she too knew she was going too far.

That's the end for now sorry it took me so long to get this out which exactly why I made the chapter a little bit longer then my other's because I feel bad it took me so long to get this out. I went away and then school started soon after so I was really really busy but it calmed down a little so I finally finished this chapter. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW