A/N: Hello my dear readers! How's life? I'm so glad that I've received so many reviews… Aww, the fic has almost 50 comments! Yay!

Now, with no further ado: read and find out what Riza's choice would be! This is the chapter that we've all been waiting for!

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The Great Trial

He needed to apologize. Face to face with her. He walked out of his house and headed for the florist's. Yes, a nice bouquet would do well. He bought red roses…a symbol of true love. She would understand. However, she should've known about it already. She should've known that he loved her with all he had. And she won't turn her back to him…at least that was what he hoped for.

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Riza set the kettle onto the oven and prepared some tea. She needed this. Somehow, the tea always helped her cheer up and calm down. So now, since she was in such a gloomy mood, she filled her mug with hot water and dropped in a teabag. When she took the first sip of the liquid, she sighed in relief. This was great.

"Want some?" she asked Black Hayate, who came to the kitchen in the search of some food. "Yeah right, dogs don't drink tea," she laughed. She felt much better now.

Black Hayate looked at her as if he wanted to say: "There are many things you don't know about dogs."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The dog and his mistress looked at each other.

"Wonder who could it be…"

Riza opened the door, only to be faced with…

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"I have to apologize to her. Well, it's not like she will hate me forever, but…I don't like her being angry at me. And, well, I…I love her…I don't want her to turn into my enemy.

Maybe I should go there?

No, she could find this offensive. As if I wanted something from her, it's very late after all. Going with my usual behavior… No, better not.

But what to do? I don't want to wait until tomorrow.

Maybe I should call her?"

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"Hi."

Riza blinked at the sight of Havoc holding a big bouquet of roses in front of her.

"Hi," she managed to answer, though it was hard due to the astonishment.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out. "I shouldn't've behaved like that, it was childish and irresponsible. I didn't mean to offend you."

"I know," Riza said quietly. Actually, she was kinda moved by his sudden actions. She sort of expected that both men would eventually apologize to her, but this was simply…fast.

"Tell me that you're not angry anymore," he managed a shy smile. Riza couldn't help but to grin widely at his expression.

"I'm not," she answered. "But I want you to promise that this won't happen again."

"It won't. I promise."

"That would do," she decided. His sincere tone proved to be enough to convince her. Then she realized that they were still standing in the doorway. "Oh, I'm sorry, come in."

She put the roses in a vase in her bedroom while the second lieutenant was being welcomed by Black Hayate. No one knew the reason, but those two seemed to get along pretty well. Must be something supernatural.

"Do you want some tea?" Riza returned from her room.

"Yeah, I'd like some," Havoc replied and lifted himself up (he was just scratching Hayate behind the ears). He followed his friend to the kitchen.

"You have a big flat," he stated, looking around. "Don't you feel here a bit lonely?"

"I have Black Hayate," she reminded him.

"Yeah," he mirrored her smile. "Yeah, you're right."

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"Call her."

"No."

"C'mon, call her!"

"No. Leave me alone."

"Oh, little Roy is afraid of being turned down…"

"Shut up. Why do you always have to come unsummoned?"

"What'd be the fun in coming only when you want it?"

"Have you undergone some philosophical training somewhere?"

"No, actually no. I was born in…"

"I don't give a shit."

"Yeah, I know. But why wouldn't you call her? I mean, you love her, and you definitely need to apologize. You know that yourself."

Roy sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's just that I don't know what to tell her. Or rather – how to tell her what I want to."

"Guess you'll just have to improvise."

"Guess that's right."

The colonel picked up the receiver and dialed Riza's number. He waited for a little while until he heard her voice.

"Riza Hawkeye speaking."

"Hi, Riza," he said softly. "I hope I don't disturb you."

"Oh, hello, sir. No…actually not. So, what is it, sir?"

Roy took a deep breath and began: "I know you have me for a careless womanizer. But I'm not like that. Not anymore at least. Will you believe me if I tell you that I'm really sorry for what I have done? I…I behaved like a jealous child. Will you forgive me?"

He waited, holding his breath, till she spoke. "Yes, I forgive you. I'm glad that you've realized the improperness of your behavior, sir."

"I'm glad that you forgive me," he replied, relieved. Then he heard some noises in the background. Riza covered the receiver with her palm, but it wasn't enough for him not to hear her say: "Hayate, don't think that Jean will give you a second helping! Let go of his pant leg!"

At the other side of the connection Roy tensed. "He's there, isn't he?" he asked quietly.

Riza bit her lip ("Damn it!"), but answered: "Yes, he is. He's playing with Black Hayate right now."

Roy was more than sure that this wasn't what Havoc had come for.

"Don't start it again," Riza warned him.

"I don't. I just asked a question," he replied, trying to conceal his rising anger.

"Good. Because I won't tolerate any more rows. Is that clear, sir?"

"Yes, lieutenant. It is extremely clear. I understand," he said, a slight tone of irony in his voice. She caught it, and wasn't happy with the discovery.

"I hope so. Now, if you excuse me, I'll go take care of my guest."

"As you wish. Don't forget to look through those reports that I left you today. Well, just make sure you'll have time for that."

"I certainly will, sir. I never neglect my work. Neither yours."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, sir. It just slipped my mouth. Good night, sir."

"Good night, lieutenant."

Both hung up the receiver at the same time, both pissed off.

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"Who was that?" Havoc asked when Riza entered the room. She just shook her head in answer. He immediately guessed. "It was the colonel, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," she dropped onto the sofa next to him. "Don't worry, it was just a business call."

"Uhm," he nodded. "I don't believe it. But, if you don't want to talk about it, I guess it's OK," he added.

She looked at him softly. "Thanks. I appreciate this."

"Anytime," he smiled a little.

"I'm glad that you're here with me now," she conceded. "I think I need this. Especially after all this…"

"It was mainly my fault," he stopped her.

"Not only…" she said hesitantly.

"You're not to blame for anything," he assured her.

She wouldn't reveal her thoughts to him, but…well, it was actually her who started the whole thing. Her, Love, and this damned bet.

Oh shit, the bet!

Yeah, that would be about now to see who's tougher. "When things reach their climax…" Hell, this could be anytime now. Riza's mind worked at full speed. Probably not long from now she would be faced with the choice. There wouldn't be anything bad in this, if only she knew what she in fact wanted to do…

Go with her current feelings and choose Havoc? Now, when they were sitting there alone, it made her feel so peaceful and secure. She could remain like this forever. His presence calmed her down after the colonel's call. She wished she could just rest her head on Havoc's shoulder and stay like this for hours, with his arm around her back. Yeah, that would feel great. Maybe just like the colonel she was blind and hadn't noticed someone so close to her could be a perfect match for her? She chuckled slightly at the thought.

"What is it?" asked Jean, bewildered.

"Nothing," she shook her head, deep in her thoughts again.

On the other hand, there was Roy. She wasn't exactly sure, but it looked like he cared for her…not for the aide in her, but for the real Riza. She could be mistaken, though. Judging from their talk from short ago, that wasn't the case at all. But maybe he did finally notice her as a woman, not a subordinate. And, on top of this, she needed to choose him to win the bet. Then she could have her wish granted, and everything would be just as it should be.

But then again, it would be a fake love… Just like the one between her and Havoc… Did she really want this? Did she want to force him to do anything? What would be the point? And she would have to dump Jean. That was the one thing she definitely didn't want to do.

Maybe it was worth to give him a chance? Maybe it was Havoc who could make her happy? Who knew…

"What's wrong?" she heard his voice, soft and worried. She must've had her thoughts reflected in her expression.

"Nothing," she replied. "It's really nothing. I just got lost in my thoughts is all."

"No," he shook his head. "There is something worrying you, I can see it. Tell me what it is, and I'm sure we'll solve the problem."

She noticed how he said "we" instead of "you".

"Really, nothing's wrong. Don't worry," she smiled slightly. Needless to say, she couldn't tell him the truth.

He dropped his gaze to his lap.

"Why wouldn't you tell me anything? I want to help you, to be with you when you need it, actually…I guess you already know why…"

The hell she knew. But it didn't make her feel better by any means. She nodded ever so slightly. Havoc looked her straight into the eyes.

"I know about you and the colonel," he conceded. "I know that you've had a crush on him, truth to be said he was the only one who didn't notice… But I hoped that you've gotten it over with. Am I mistaken? Please tell me."

She was silent. Havoc slowly lifted his hand to caress her cheek. She could feel the warmth on her face.

Then, right over his shoulder, she saw a red-haired woman standing in the doorway. Love smiled at Riza and raised her eyebrows. Her lips said soundlessly only one word.

"Now."

So it was The Moment.

Riza stared at Love reluctantly. She stole a quick glance at Havoc's face – he didn't notice. She moved her gaze back to Love, who's smile was growing wider by the second. To be honest, she was extremely curious of what Riza would do.

The lieutenant had her eyes fixed on Love, but she wasn't looking at her. Her eyes saw something else: the colonel's cocky face and his arrogant behavior when he won the war with Havoc over his aide…

No way was this going to happen.

Riza looked at Havoc again and shook her head. She replied softly: "No, you're right."

Love's eyes widened at the comment, but the two wouldn't notice. Riza's amber eyes closed slowly as Jean's lips met hers. She immediately circled her arm around his neck, bringing him even closer to herself. Havoc responded, gently laying her on her back and leaning over her, never breaking the kiss.

Love, having gotten over the shock, closed her mouth and smirked to herself. She turned around and left, stealing one last glance at the couple over her shoulder. She wasn't going to interrupt; let them have some fun.

But she chuckled a little when passing by Black Hayate, sleeping peacefully on the kitchen floor. Everything was just as planned.

Riza Hawkeye lost the bet.

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A/N: Ha! Hands up who expected Riza to lose the bet! Bwmuahahahaha, I'm evil, aren't I:P

Needless to say, this is not the last chapter. Which means that everything can still change…or not ;) We'll see.

So how do you like it? Tell me in your comments!

Till the next chapter :P

P.S. Just in case you are interested, I wrote an extra fic entitled "Because you're his son". It has nothing to do with this one, though. But I personally think that it is my best fic so far, so I thought that maybe you would like it too. Go and check it if you like.