Wow, the weeks are flying by. So…this chapter hasn't gotten quite as thorough a read through as usual. Probably something to do with all the airsoft I've been playing these last few days… ;; Um, so, yeah, sorry if you find more mistakes than usual! Thanks for the many wonderful reviews, replies are at the end, enjoy!
-0i0-
The day started drearily with rain pattering on the roof, and as they slowly met around the kitchen table for a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast they discussed what there was to do. Zeke mentioned wanting to go to an Alchemist Museum, while Gracia showed an interest in checking out the local shops and the majority of the men the local pool hall and pub. Winry and Kants said they were going to spend the day sight seeing, and managed to leave before anyone else finished eating.
Riza, wanting to spend the day with both of her charges, was torn between shopping and the museum until Beth whispered she wanted to go with Zeke instead. Together with Roy, who insisted on tagging along as he proclaimed a lack of interest in both pool and the alcoholic beverages, they took the bus to the stop closest to the museum and walked through the dreary drizzle for the rest of the block.
Roy got the tickets, at the discounted price because of his State Alchemist watch, while Riza took care of their coats and helped Beth retie one of her shoes. Masterfully ignoring all attempts upon his subordinate's part to pay him back, the Flame Alchemist led the way into the exhibits area as soon as they were ready to go.
Zeke was enthralled. They had parts of arrays and diagrams from several famous Alchemists of the past, and had miniature replicas of momentous events with Alchemists. There was a hall dedicated to full sized wax replicas of famous deceased alchemists, and an entire exhibit dedicated to the process one went through to become a state alchemist. There was even a wall that covered the most simple of diagrams (those that used a triangle as their base) to the most complex (which included seven and even eight sided figures, the most difficult to balance).
They had a mediocre Alchemist there drawing arrays and doing basic alchemist tricks for tips. Roy gave him a tip to make one of his transmutations work better. The man seemed surprised and a little scornful of the idea until Roy pulled out his watch and tried out the reworked array for himself. The result was twice that which the original had been able to produce, and they left the performer looking a little embarrassed and well chastised.
Beth rode on Roy's shoulders as they walked, her short legs not quite able to keep up, and Zeke never let go of Riza's hand no matter where they went. Getting a bite together in the food court a few hours later, Roy some managed to pay again, forgetting only the napkins as Riza secured a table.
"I'll get them," she said when she realized the lack, Beth and Zeke already digging into their burgers. Heading to the counter, she traded polite smiles with the lady there and gathered the necessary paper products.
"You're a lucky woman."
"Excuse me?"
"Having a husband who's so attentive, you're very lucky."
Riza wasn't able to correct the woman as another customer came up, but as she went back to the table it didn't bother her as much as she thought it would.
The rest of the museum was just as interesting as the first half had been, and as they returned to the beach house much later that afternoon they found Mari and Gracia already there with Elysia absorbed in a new puzzle. It didn't take long for Zeke and Beth to be on their knees helping her, though they rattled on about the many things they had seen between finding the pieces. The men had already sent word saying they wouldn't be in until late, and with the other ladies already preparing leftovers for themselves and the kids Roy made one of the bravest moves of his life.
"Riza," he said as he sidled up beside her, the woman deeply engrossed in the task of trying to fix the zipper on Beth's jacket. It had gotten stuck on itself again, an irritating occurrence. "How would you feel about going out tonight?"
"For what?"
"The dinner I owe you," he replied, flashing a smile which the other two women immediately understood as her head flew up from her work. "No one would miss us tonight, the group is mostly out anyways, and I know of a good sea food place about 15 minutes from here." He felt like a sales person the way he sped up as he talked, but he felt the need as she began to open her mouth to protest to make sure he got it all in before she could interrupt.
"Sounds like a plan," broke in Gracia, hooking an arm through Riza's and dragging her away up the stairs, once more effectively stopping any protestations the woman might have had. Marai stayed with the kids but watched the pair in a way that said she was not below helping out if Riza proved to be troublesome. "Thirty minutes?"
"Thirty minutes," he agreed.
Twenty five minutes later, Roy straightened his collar before nervously smoothing the shirt, pulling his shoes on and checking his overall appearance in the mirror before turning towards the stairs firmly. He had five minutes to spare, but if Riza had managed to take over her own preparations she was probably waiting for him. Zeke popping his head in to see if he was ready confirmed that, and as he bounded confidently up the stairs he wondered if he was in for a memorable or miserable night.
He hoped it was the former.
Riza was waiting by the door, watching the children work on the puzzle on the floor as she shifted on her low healed sandals and held her small purse with tense hands. The good byes were quick as a cab was already waiting for them outside, and the Alchemist wasn't given time to study his companion's appearance until they were seated in the back of the small car and were on their way.
The short dress showed her legs off nicely, as did the low heels. A light blue, it complimented her fair skin, and he was glad he had opted for his white shirt in favor of the dark red that wouldn't have matched nearly as well. Silently she stared out the window, her face an emotionless mask, though Roy could tell she was internally debating something by the way her brows twitched from time to time. Stretching his arm across the back of the seat, he decided to watch with her in the quiet when his fingertips brushing against her shoulder failed to bring forth a noticeable reaction, positive or negative.
Thankfully, the drive was relatively short and after paying the cabby outside the dockside restaurant he offered his arm to Riza and escorted her inside. The hand resting in the crook of his arm was light, but she didn't try pull away when Roy paused to ask for a table for two or even glare when he moved to pull out her chair for her. The white tablecloths, lit candles and view of the beach made for a very upscale, romantic setting, but again Riza didn't comment. Raised a brow when she saw the prices on the menu, and another when Roy ordered a bottle of Chardonnay for them to share, but never said a single word.
"So," he said when they were seated across from each other, her hands neatly folded in her lap and her wine glass thus far untouched. "What do you think you want?"
"The crab sounds excellent," she admitted, willing to venture out onto a safe topic. "Though the price is…more than expected…"
"No thinking about the cost, this is my treat," he replied firmly, giving her a warm smile. "Do you think the kids enjoyed the museum?"
"Zeke loved every minute of it, and I think Beth just enjoyed being with us. It was certainly an educational experience."
"Good." Turning to other topics, like Beth's quickly approaching first year of school or the projects that had been left undone at work, each was skimmed over until their food arrived and talk was replaced by the consuming of the delicious meal placed before them. Roy had contented himself with a fine tuna fillet, and Riza her fresh crab. A pianist and small band began to perform just as they began to slow down, a few couples getting up and dancing in the small space provided.
Riza watched them with a mixture of envy and resignation. Dancing was something she had actually enjoyed a great deal as a younger woman. It was one of the few things that had helped her make friends during her days at the academy. She was a good follow, quick to learn new steps, and would dance with anyone who wasn't trying to cop a feel or look down her shirt at least once. She protected the other girls from the sleezeballs, could be trusted not to steal your date, and would never make fun of a fellow no matter how poorly he had led.
Talking openly wasn't something the gunwoman had been comfortable with, but on the dance floor one needed no words. There was only you, your partner, and the music.
Roy was an excellent dancer. She knew that from past experience, he had actually been the one to teach her the waltz. In her father's study late at night, using the old phonograph as they turned in a slow circle with his hands on her hip and her head resting on his shoulder. His natural charm and grace were almost impossible to ignore when one was swaying gently in his arms. So as much as she wanted to dance, Roy was her only conceivable partner and that was a trap she would not enter without serious persuasion. Especially since she was nursing her second glass of wine.
Unfortunately, that second glass of wine also made her very easy to persuade.
"Isn't this the same song we would listen to on your father's phonograph?" Roy asked as they switched to a slow waltz. "Amazing to think it was at least ten years ago and it feels like only yesterday I was being dropped off in front of your house to meet my new Alchemy teacher."
"It was a long time ago," she agreed quietly.
"Would you like to dance?"
"Not particularly," she lied poorly, focusing on her hands once more.
"Ah…" He seemed to consider her for a moment, and then smiled winningly. "Then perhaps you could help me with something your charge mentioned the other day. Zeke seemed to think there was something I was long overdue in doing."
Her brows shot up and she met his gaze for more than a second for the first time that night as her mind scrambled for possibilities. "And that was…?"
"Proposing."
Riza paused, caught between a rock and a hard place. "I've changed my mind," she said as she removed the napkin from her lap. "I should very much like to dance."
Wisely, Roy just smiled and pulled her to her feet, escorting her to the dance floor and gently bringing her into his embrace. He concentrated on the steps themselves, rather than on the beautiful woman in his arms, and as they moved and twirled he slowly felt her relax.
Drawing a fraction closer as a particularly slow song came on; he just smiled warmly when she glanced up at him and positively glowed when she didn't try to regain the lost space.
"Have I told you how wonderful you look tonight?" he murmured as they continued to glide along.
"No you hadn't," she replied. "I seem to recall another conversation that began in a similar manner, dancing and all."
"Maybe it began the same way, but it won't end as it did before."
"How can you be so sure?"
"The day I left for the North was the second-biggest mistake of my life," he replied, nothing the way she stiffened immediately but drawing her closer still. "The biggest was not taking the next train available back to Central. I was an ass and an idiot and I don't deserve a second chance with you. But I still want it, gods above I still want you. Is there even the slightest chance that maybe someday…?"
She didn't replied for a long time, her eyes hidden by her long bangs and her body still tense in his gentle hold. Slowly, though, she leaned against his shoulder until her head was almost buried in his neck.
"Maybe," she whispered, her breath pleasantly tickling his skin. "Someday."
"Thank you."
-0i0-
It was very late when Roy finally opening the front door of the beach house for his companion, the entire place still and dark with its sleeping occupants. He was about to bid her goodnight and head downstairs when a sleepy voice called from the couch.
"Zeke?" he replied in surprise. "What are you doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Riza, moving with the sureness of habit as she sat next to the boy on the couch. He nodded, and she ran a hand through his pitch-colored hair as his head rested on her shoulder. "Relax. Uncle Roy can carry you downstairs in a bit."
"Mhmm."
Roy watched a rare moment of tenderness between the two as Zeke drifted off to sleep on her shoulder, the woman's hand still running through his hair and humming quietly. When his eyes finally shut for a long while, she let Roy lift him with in strong arms.
Kissing the boy on the forehead, the alchemist was a surprised when she kissed his forehead as well. Bidding him a sleepy goodnight, she disappeared upstairs.
Knowing full well he was grinning like a fool and not caring a wit if anyone saw, he carried the boy downstairs to his bed before going to sleep himself.
-0i0-
Roy recognized the semi-glazed look in Kant's eyes the day after he and Winry went 'sight seeing', the two men sitting outside on the porch while she helped the other women with breakfast.
"I take it you didn't get much sleep last night?" the Brigadier General chuckled lightly. "The sights you saw probably weren't historical landmarks either."
"Yeah…" admitted the young man with a yawn, blushing as he glanced back towards where his girl was. "It was incredible."
"The first time always is," Roy replied with a knowing grin. "You probably collapsed after that first time, though. Its more work than you realize."
"Yeah, but then she did this thing with her hands…I was up and ready again a lot faster than I thought possible."
Roy's brows shot up as he swallowed a hum of recognition. "Did she say what gave her the idea?"
"She said a friend suggested it, but she wouldn't tell me who."
"Wicked, wicked woman…"
"There's some pancakes ready if you boys are hungry," Gracia said as she stuck her head outside.
"What were you saying?" asked Kants as they got up quickly to fill their empty stomachs.
"Nothing," he replied with a tight smile, glancing at one of the windows where Riza was washing out some dishes at the sink. "Nothing at all."
-0i0-
Zeke scuttled along in the sand, poking at the crab he was chasing with a long stick carefully. The crustacean was no more than a few inches big, but the pinchers still looked painful.
"Whatcha doing?" asked Elysia as she appeared beside him. "Oh! Is that a crab?"
"Yep," he replied, crouching down as the creature turned towards him for a moment, waving its claws wildly.
"Look at his pinchers, I bet they hurt," she replied, crouching beside him.
"He's not so big," the boy boasted proudly. "I bet I could catch him."
Elysia gasped in fear, his back becoming straighter as her eyes widened. "But he'll pinch you!"
"Aw, I'm faster than any ol' crab," he replied, tilting his head up a bit.
"Wow, that's brave."
Puffing his chest out under her appreciative gaze, he put the stick down. "I'll give him to you afterwards. You got a bucket or something?"
She nodded, producing the requested item.
"Ok." Steeling himself as she watching with big eyes, heart pounding against his ribs, he pounced on them orange crustacean with all the speed he could muster.
It wasn't nearly enough. Nimbly, the crab danced out of his reach, the struck with the speed of a snake, catching Zeke on the fleshy part of his hand with its pincher. The resulting yelp of pain was enough to call the adults from the umbrella a little ways away and by the time they arrived Zeke was sticking his tongue out at the crab he'd managed to shake off into the bucket and nursing the hand that Elysia fluttered over nervously.
"You know better than that," Riza informed him brusquely as she inspected the mark. "You're lucky it didn't break the skin."
"It doesn't hurt much, it was just a silly old crab," he groused, puffing up a bit when Elysia beamed at him.
"There are better ways to impress a girl," she informed him under her breath when she noticed the look Elysia was giving the boy. Probing the mark, he yelped again and flushed bright red. "No more crabs, ok? And let that one go, he didn't do anything to you that you didn't deserve."
"Ok…"
"He's starting young," chuckled Roy when the pair ran off towards the waves, the crab set free and scuttling off in the opposite direction.
"Too young if you ask me…"
"Aunt Riza?"
Both adults looked down to see Beth standing between them, staring out at the waves where Zeke and Elysia were playing with the men.
"Is something wrong?" she asked as she knelt beside the small girl.
"Do you want to try the water?" offered Roy when she didn't answer but continued to stare at the waves. "It's perfectly safe, I promise."
The young girl gave him a skeptical look, but still didn't reply.
"How about this," offered Riza, scooping her charge into her arms. "We'll go out there and I'll hold you. The minute you want out we'll leave, and I won't go any deeper than you ask, ok?"
"Can Uncle Roy come?" she asked, giving the alchemist a hopeful look.
"Sure," he replied, tousling her golden hair affectionately.
So, the three of them headed out towards the waves, Beth clinging to Riza's neck and Roy staying as close by as he could. The water was warm and the waves fairly small as Riza went up to her ankles and paused.
"Are you alright?" she asked Beth, who nodded though her eyes remained on the water below. So she took a few more steps, the water now up to her calves. Beth nodded again, this time shaking a little when it came up to her guardian's knees.
"Relax," Roy told her, putting a comforting hand on her back. "You're safe, see? Nothing can hurt you when we're here."
"Do you want to stop?" Riza added softly.
Shaking her head, Beth seemed to steel herself and said she wanted to go farther out. Riza obeyed, the steps repeating themselves twice more before the tops of the waves touched the young girl's toes and she squealed in surprise.
"It's just water," Roy told her. "It can't hurt you any more than rain can."
"But you don't like rain," she pointed out, giving him a hard look.
"Well, yeah, but it doesn't hurt me, it just annoys me," he pointed out quickly. "And that's usually only when I'm on duty. The other day it didn't really bother me at all."
"It's warm," she said in surprise when they went a little deeper, the water now lapping at her knees. Her grip on Riza's neck slowly loosened, remaining quiet for a little while as she watched the waves brush her legs. Suddenly she looked up with a face of grim determination and declared, "I want to go back."
"Are you sure?" Riza replied, brows raised slightly.
Roy blinked in surprise. "But I thought-"
"Now, please."
Riza relented, turning around to wade back into the shore. As soon as her feet were clear of the water Beth was squirming to be put down, but instead of running back to the umbrellas she paused and stared at the water, lapping only inches from her feet. Screwing her face up, she took one step into the next wave…and popped her eyes open in surprise. "That felt…weird." Looking down at her toes, she moved them in the squishy sand before smiling brightly. "I think I like it. Aunt Riza, can we go deeper?"
Accepting the small, outstretched hand, the woman wordlessly followed, stopping when the water had reached her charge's waist. Years of taking the Flame Alchemist's strange habits into stride had not fully prepared Riza for the screwballs children naturally threw at their caretakers. However, as she watched Beth's face light with joy at the feel of the waves swelling around her, she thought she wasn't cooping too shabbily for a newly-made guardian of two. Not too shabbily at all.
-0i0-
It was their final night at the beach house. All bore various degrees of sun-burnt skin as they sat watching the beautiful sunset. The evening was cool and damp, promising a change in weather, and Roy was about to suggest they head back as the last rays of light disappeared when the men brought forth the paper bag they had been holding all night.
"We've got a surprise," Breda announced as he turned the bag over onto an unoccupied towel. "Fireworks!"
Sure enough, among the pile were bottle rockets, noisemakers, roman candles, sparklers, sky blooms and other assorted toys that went 'bang!'
The men promptly got busy sorting it out and setting up the first to go off. "Sir, would you do the honors?" asked Feury as he produced a lighter, the Flame Alchemist accepting it gravely as he got down to word. The first rockets sent on their way, he then lit sparklers for anyone who wanted them. Beth was scared to hold one alone, so with Riza's help she drew glowing twirls in the air and watched them fade from sight. Zeke and Elysia tried to see who could make the biggest twirl of all, both standing a little ways away and swinging their arms as hard as they could.
Breda busied himself with the task of taking apart some of the noise makers and attaching them to other fireworks to make an even bigger 'boom!' But after one prematurely went off, diverting the path of a soaring bottle rocket and sent it exploding less than two feet from where they sat he was forbidden to keep doing so.
Everyone else, though, had and excellent time and at least an hour later when the last bottle rocket went off, they gathered up the trash and headed it with an air of contentment of a vacation well spent.
-0i0-
The train ride home was long, and the time spent doing laundry when they got back even longer, but there was the second week left of the military personel's leave. Pinako arrived for her visit, declaring Kants 'suitable, if a bit thin' in front of everyone else. She then promptly went with the others to a bar and drunk every one of them under the table. Maria, thankfully, had gone along to keep Winry company and managed to get the men all home without incident.
Riza, Beth and Zeke made use of their time making up for the week they'd left Black Hayate with Sheska and partaking of lazy pursuits like reading or playing games together. Roy came over every day, for at least a little while, and it seemed their time was not complete without him. Sprawled in the grass together, Riza would read aloud from a book of fairy tales she had loved as a child while her audience listened with baited breath. Or sitting around the kitchen table Beth would give Zeke a triumphant smile and declare 'Go Fish!' while the adults smothered amused looks.
The week could not last forever, though, and neither could the rest of the children's summer break. Zeke was given new uniforms, his pants now two inches too short, and Beth fitted for the skirts and nice shirts that were the uniform of her new school. It being the same one Elysia attended, the pair was looking forward to sharing lunch and recess together. Zeke felt better knowing his little sister would have someone to play with, and Riza satisfied because both girls could be picked up at the same time by Gracia every day without inconveniencing the older woman.
Zeke, of course, continued in the after school alchemy program and was picked up by someone every day afterwards. His school subjects changed little, advancing to the next level in all areas. The only real surprise was the inclusion of hand to hand combat in his gym class. As a student on the Alchemist track, he could opt out after the basics were covered in the first month. However, after learning about how the Elric brother's believed the condition of the body and mind were linked, he decided to stick it out instead. Riza, for one, was glad because it kept him from growing into a lazy bum and Roy agree being in shape couldn't hurt and would probably help in the long run. Especially since the hand to hand was a lot more likely to keep the boy safe than his alchemy if his life were actually in danger.
A week after school started, though, while Roy was shuffling some papers around and trying to look busy with Riza out to lunch, the first major bump in the road of their lives occurred.
-0i0-
Havoc rolled into the room, glancing out in the hall before closing the door behind himself quickly and calling the other's attention.
"Guys, we've got five days, how's the plans coming along?" he asked as the others looked up from their work, all of them seemingly on the same page as him except Roy.
"Food and cake is a go," said Maria from her desk, flashing a quick grin. "Gracia agreed to help, and Winry is arriving in time to give her a hand. They just need help getting it here."
"Got it covered," stuck in Kants quickly. "I have the morning off for an appointment, so I'll just swing by and pick up them and everything they need brought over."
"The decorations?" Havoc asked, looking at Breda.
"Streamers, balloons, and party hats are a go," the big man replied with thumbs up. "All of them are hidden down the hall in the record's office."
"Nice. The kids?"
"Gracia called the schools and arranged to have me pick them up in time to bring them here," Falman said quickly. "Since I'm also out for that morning, it shouldn't be noticed."
"Presents?"
"The funds have been collected and a group gift decided upon," announced Brosh. "It has been purchased and is also hiding down the hall."
"Our concocted emergency?"
"Ready, with the proper bribes insuring no one will give it away," Fuery spoke up carefully. "In fact we've even gotten sanction from the Fuhrer on this, and we've arranged to have drinks brought in from the cafeteria."
"Who's the informer?"
"Me," said Marshall as he raised his hand slowly. "Though if she shoots me I'm holding all of you responsible."
"She'll glare and glower and maybe wave the gun at you if she's short on sleep, but a single bullet will never actually touch your skin," Havoc promised, holding a hand up solemnly. "This I do solemnly swear." Behind his back, though, he crossed his fingers and Breda barely swallowed the snicker that rose in his throat.
"I hope so…"
"Well, it seems everything is in order. What will you be contributing, sir?"
The Brigadier General wasn't stupid. The wheels in his head had started turning the moment Havoc had shut the door and started to talk. It had only taken a few seconds for him to zero in on the topic of discussion. It was August, there was only one person who had a significant date during this month, and that was his Lt. Colonel. Thankfully, he had had several minutes between the time he'd arrived at that conclusion and Havoc addressing him. Mainly because of the major heart attack he was internally experiencing at the time.
Riza's birthday was five days away, and he had no idea what he was getting her.
"I can help if there is something you lack," he heard himself say, though his mind was elsewhere, running through the possible gift ideas he might have. Flowers? No. Chocolate? No. Stuffed animal? No. Perfume? No. Lingerie? Hell no. "Though I wasn't aware of the preparations until now…"
"I thought you told him," Havoc told Fuery, who shook his head. "Oh well, now you do. We could actually use your back up on the concocted emergency. It'll make it seem more real if you're in on it too."
"I can do that," he said as he finished with his pretend shuffling, filing them into the correct cabinets and putting them away. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish some work before she gets back. Let me know if there's anything else I can do." Walking calmly to his office, he shut the door behind himself and immediately let his calm mask drop. "Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap…!!"
Quickly realizing he had no idea what he could get his long time aide that wasn't far too personal or too formal, he called the next person who he thought might be of help.
"Gracia?" he said when the person on the other end of the line answered the phone. "I need some help…"
Unfortunately, that source wasn't as helpful as he thought it would be. Riza kept her secrets just that, secret. No one knew really what she wanted; the crew had actually purchased a weekend vacation in the mountains for her and the kids where Black Hayate could come along too that would be good for the next year. And Gracia's other ideas were much like his, jewelry wasn't something that Riza exactly wore, ever, and even if she liked the a piece she would be reluctant to wear it if it ever interfered with her duties. Clothes was a territory he was staying far away from, and he felt bad getting her another gun related something or other when that was what he had routinely purchased for her in the years past. He had to come up with something new, something useful, and yet something personal that would be especially from him.
Hours passed as he agonized over the knotted problem, actually eliciting more threats from his aide upon her return to finish his work than he had earned in the last few months combined. When she seriously asked him what was wrong, with a concerned look that made him realize how much he was letting this affect him, he smiled and shrugged his shoulders, blaming it on a lack of sleep. Getting down to work, she had left him alone for the rest of the day when he finally proved to be making some headway. Waiting for her to leave first, though, he went out to find all of the men save Marshall and Maria still there finishing up a few last minute details.
"So," he said as he leaned against one of the empty desks, immediately catching all of their attention. "I have run into a small problem…"
"What, you're trying to decide which way you should flip your hair tomorrow?" asked Havoc with an impertinent grin. "You always look better when it's to the right, sir."
"I'm trying to decide what to get the Lt. Colonel for her birthday," he admitted with a defeated look.
"Wow, you've probably been searching for weeks, huh," said Kants as he rubbed his chin, Roy not bothering to correct him though he did shrug in embarrassment. "Well, what is the Lt. Colonel into, other than guns?"
"That's the problem, no one really knows," Roy replied roughly. "She cooks, but I wouldn't even know where to begin or if she needs any other new pans. She shoots, but I'm not buying her more bullets or a new rifle. She takes of Zeke and Beth, but what could I possibly get to help her there? And she works, which I'm not springing for a new uniform or something."
"Jewelry?" offered Brosh before he realized how stupid that was. "Sorry."
"Flowers?" added Falman, feeling just as dumb a few seconds later. "Never mind."
"Hey, I got it!" said Havoc, rummaging around in his desk and tossing something at his superior officer's head. Roy caught it and found himself holding a bow.
"What's this for?" he asked, raising a brow skeptically.
"You put it on, duh," Havoc replied. "Its pure genius, for Riza's birthday, you give her you!"
"I'm not even going to begin formulating the reasons why that is a bad idea," Roy growled, throwing it back shortly. "Fine, I'll go find help somewhere else."
Unfortunately for him, somewhere else was even harder to find. Winry could only suggest various tools she thought might be useful in the repair of guns. Maria had shrugged, at a loss, and suggested a night on the town. He wasn't about to push his luck when he'd already had one date with her just over a month ago so that was nixed as well.
Three days later, and no closer to his goal, Roy was finally desperate enough to try the one source that might backfire on him: the children. He was fairly certain the pair could keep their mouths shut about things if they wanted to, he just wasn't sure how much incentive he could give them to do so.
So, with Gracia keeping Riza busy helping make dinner with Elysia watching on the sidelines, he slipped off with the pair and explained his need to them.
"I dunno," Zeke replied with a shrug. "I've only been in her bedroom maybe four times. There's lots a books there, and guns, but I dunno what else."
Beth, however, had a sparkle in her eyes as she motioned for her Uncle Roy to come closer. Listening carefully, the alchemist smiled when she was finished and thanked her. If there were a few conspiratorial smiles over dinner, the Lt. Colonel didn't seem to notice, and the few extra bills both kids slipped into their piggy banks went without observation as well.
-0i0-
Birthdays were something Riza had an unusual opinion of. The celebrating, the cake, the presents, all of it was fine and welcome so long as the person in question enjoyed it as well. Because she advocated for these people who didn't enjoy the communal celebrating, she expected the same to be done in return. Since none of the people in the Flame Alchemist's command agreed she had come to her face her birthday much like a convicted criminal facing the hangman's noose.
So when she arrived early and Ross sparred with her without comment she thought it might be a good day after all. They actually ran over a bit, and both women were barely on time much to the surprise of the others. None of them said a word about Riza's birthday, though, and she even had to resort to her usual threats to make sure they stayed on track. Settling into the usual routine, especially when Roy arrived fifteen minutes late and had to be goaded through the stacks of paper on hid desk, she thought of nothing else but work until a white-faced Marshall brought a sealed letter from the Fuhrer himself into the office.
-0i0-
Riza grumbled under her breath, brushing the dust from her sleeve and checking the next file with the mind-numbing detail it required to be sure their many cases would hold up to examination. Everything that she had personally handled was flawless, of course, but she had run across a couple of files the men had poorly put together. Havoc and Brosh, who worked on either side of her, seemed to flush with guilt whenever she pointed that out. Especially if it was a file one of them had personally handled.
It was around lunch time with Brosh and Havoc withdrew and the same time, begging off on the need to get a drink or use the restroom. Waving them away, Riza plunged onwards as she was determined to get as much done as possible with in the time left. Closing another file with a satisfying thunk, she was about to open another when one part of arms latched around her leg and the other her waist. Glancing down, she was met with the large smiles of her charges.
"Surprise!" they said, grabbing her hands and dragging her towards the door where everyone else was bursting into a rousing if off key rendition of 'Happy Birthday' with a big cake in the middle of them. They had settled for about twenty candles, since that was all that would safely fit on the top, but on the sides of the vanilla frosted chocolate was a giant 26 in bright blue.
Normally, right about then would be the time Riza would pull out her guns, shoot over their heads and ask what the hell they thought they were doing. The men had done their homework, though, and had found two guaranteed safety measures to be present. One was the children, the other was her grandfather.
Of course, that left the only plausible course of action as graciously accepting the place they had set for her before blowing out the burning candles. It was very wise of them that they had not tested her patience further with trick candles, but as the cake was cut and the punch served even Riza had to agree that the celebration wasn't all that bad. The men were polite, there was no mention of presents, and her grandfather left soon after her had wished her a happy birthday. A small, unobtrusive envelope was tucked in her purse for later, and that was it. As the children had to be back at school in time for their next class, the party was short-lived with the group's immunity leaving soon.
Falman drove the kids back to their respective schools, and Riza accepted the card and vacation inside from her subordinates with a small smile. For those who had known her the longest, there were brief hugs, for the rest, sincere handshakes and as she finished thanking her way through all of them a thought occurred to her.
Roy had been absent or far in the background for the entire celebration. She wasn't sure if she was pleased or not by this development. Deciding that shoving it to the back of her mind as unimportant was the wisest course of action, the Lt. Colonel exited the main room and into her office for the remainder of the day.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was finding her superior officer seated at her desk positioning a small spot of daisies in an opportune ray of sunshine.
"A little bird mentioned you might appreciate these," he said as he looked up at her with a bright smile. "And a little extra color certainly won't hurt this place."
"Thank you, sir," she replied with a nod, too stunned to formulate a more sincere reply though it was sincerely meant. Who could possibly have told him…? "I do appreciate them, greatly."
"Good, I'm glad." Relinquishing her seat, he left and wasn't seen again away from his own desk until it was time to go home.
-0i0-
Riza walked in her front door to the smell of her favorite meal already waiting on the table, and Beth and Zeke eager to share their gifts with her. The home make picture frame with a photo of them at the beach was given a treasured place on her night stand, and a painting of their home with everyone around it placed on the refrigerator for everyone to see. Elysia's present came in the form of a picture of Black Hayate that she drew with markers, and it joined the painting proudly.
The evening passed quietly, and surprisingly Roy-free, but as Riza shut Zeke's bedroom door behind her gently for the night there came a soft knocking at the front door. Answering it after checking the peephole with a gun handy, she gave the reather disheveled Brigadier general an odd look and moved to let him in.
"Sorry for the late hour," he said quietly as she shut the door behind him, noting the lowered lights and closed doors in the hallway above. "I had thought to give you this earlier, but I wasn't sure how you would react…"
Raising one brow skeptically, Riza accepted the small velvet box and hesitated to open it.
"It's not a ring, I swear," he added when he realized how it must look. "Just something else a little birdie mentioned."
"Does this little birdie have a name?"
"Yes," he replied slowly. "But I promised not to tell."
"Ah." Carefully lifting the lid, her eyes widened at the sight of a new hair clip. It was shaped much like her old one, a rectangle that doubled back on itself, but it was a slightly darker brown. At the very back, in think sliver lines, there was a picture of soaring hawk that you could only see completely if you caught it in a certain light.
"Your little bird wouldn't happen to be five years old and sleeping upstairs, would she?" the woman asked with a hint of amusement. Beth had been the only person around when she'd dropped her favorite clip and it had cracked in half not that long ago. Since then she'd been using hair ties and bobby pins, but it just wasn't the same.
"She's a very wise little bird," he replied, giving an easy shrug. "Do you like it?"
"I do. Thank you, Roy."
"You're welcome." The Brigadier general then hesitated, a shy smile on his face. "Well, it's late, and we both are up early tomorrow. Here is my last present, though it's more like returning something you have already given me twice."
With her thoughts firmly fixed on what she possibly could have given him twice, her pensive look was replaced by one of wide-eyed surprise when his lips brushed lightly against her forehead. Bidding her a soft goodnight, he left and shut the door behind himself. Feeling as though she had just let something very important slip out of her grasp, Riza sighed in frustration and got up to lock the door, turning out the lights as she went to bed.
-0i0-
The new clip was slowly noticed by the others at the office, though no one was sure who it was from or when she had received it. The only thing they knew for sure was Roy would sometimes get a very pleased look on his face when she walked past, and Riza would sometimes let a hand stray up to it when turning down a date with one of the officers that were appearing with increasing frequency. Ever since the fraternization laws had changed she had been propositioned at least once a week by men at Central, especially when they realized Roy didn't have an open claim on her. Yes, they were careful not to do it in the presence of the Brigadier General, and yes, no one had managed to secure a date with her yet, but there was hope. There was always hope.
-0i0-
And that is chapter 11. Please review, it makes my day to hear from you guys!
Replies:
SxL : You were the first to review chapter 10, congratulations! Yeah, I thought it should start and end with Roy, it makes sense that way. Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the review!
Bark-Ohki : Who'd of thought that little brat would be of use, right? Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed it!
Bizzy : Lack of coherence is something I experience too. I, too, would have preferred the 'virginal' Riza history, but the fact is the original storyline suggests otherwise. Especially when concerning the way Riza and Roy acted at the end of the anime and movie. And Riza's never struck me as the 'inexperienced' type. She just seems like she'd know her way around a bed. 'Coordinated as a dead cow' is great, it makes me laugh too. : )
Kurissyma san Tybalt : Pfft, that's the point, Roy never loses no matter what. Then again, if he'd won it'd have been more like losing because I bet Riza'd been pissed…yeah, it was much better for him to lose. Glad to hear you're on break, yay for vacations! And good luck practicing violin, especially with the finger cramps. I used to get those all the time.
Anne Packrat : Everyone seconds the marriage proposal, it'll just take forever to get it to happen. : P Thanks for the review!
Momiji-k : Yeah, I realized that after I posted the chapter and was too lazy to fix it. Sorry! You knew who I meant, though. Wow, a whole hour? That is pretty impressive! Hope your dream with Roy was good, whatever it was that was in it, and hopefully you were able to catch up on that lost sleep later on!
OTP : It is a talent, and a discipline. Anyone can write this much, really, it's just teaching yourself to do so that's the hard part. Thanks for the review!
Crystal Mage : Only two chapters at the beach. Not even, really…we could have done more, but I'm anxious to keep things moving along and much more would get repetitious, I think. And there's more fluff, just like you asked! And hey, reread all you like, I always reread my favorite stories later on, you should do the same too!
SakuraAyanami : Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed it!
Winglessfairy25: Yeah, I know about the typo, sorry! And one thing I think Riza most certainly is is shockingly honest. Once you have her friendship, you have all of her, and when you ask her something she's going to give it to you point blank. Do I think that varies from the guys to the girls a bit? Yeah. But I think if Roy flat out cornered Riza and asked if she found him attractive she would say yes, but then be so pissed she wouldn't speak to him for a month. That's just who she is. Sorry for the mini-rant, hope you enjoyed the new chapter!
Causmisfire : You had so many great comments, I wish I could reply to all of them but I'm trying to get the chapter posted before midnight so I can get some sleep. So…here's the short version. Of course Roy tricked them, men and alcohol means trouble, always gotta remember the details (like tattoos and scars), Havoc is good with kids, Zeke is opening up to Riza, the men always have another lesson to learn, kids always parrot back what their elders say, and character history is always fun to explore. Whew! Anyways, thanks for the review, hope to hear from you again!
FinlandGirl : Sorry, the action doesn't really come into play until the 13th or 14th chapter. This is a fluff, non-action story. Can't change that now. Hope you enjoyed it!
Rizalicious : Of course it's fantastic, I'm busting my butt on this fic! Glad you enjoyed it, please review again!
Dailenna : Yeah, Grandaddy Grumman footing the bill does rock. And of course Zeke got the message across, it's kind of a given that kids will see what adults refuse to acknowledge. It was a full chapter, but I tried to balance it out a bit. This one's shorter, I think. Hope you enjoyed it, though, and thanks for the review!
Blknblupanther1 : I'm glad you just LUVED it! It wasn't really a cliff hanger, I haven't put you guys through one of those yet.
Winged Chunsa :What is a Chunsa, just for the record? It's been bothering me for awhile ;; I am glad you enjoyed the chapter, though, and thanks for the review!
Aindel S. Druida : Of course you must visit the beach, if you don't the world will end! Glad you enjoyed it, and sorry for the typos. They just always seem to happen whether I try to catch them or not. Thanks for the review!
Yun Min : Updated! It is a pretty full chapter, but I think it was fairly well balanced out. Glad you enjoyed it!
Leigh : Oh, that's alright. BUT YOU MAY NOT EVER, EVER, EVER MISS ONE AGAIN! Not like I can do anything if you do, though : P. Thanks for the many compliments, hope you don't miss another chapter!
Jacksparry589 : Oh, so you really have no idea where this story is going most of the time? Well, that makes my day! I love to be able to say that I'm unpredictable in my plots, it makes me feel sneaky. :3 Aww, starting to like Zeke, huh? And trust me, you'll only like him more in a few chapters, it makes my heart break to think of what's to come. And sorry, the guys have learned their lessons in the past and have strictly behaved themselves. Besides, the peaking gimmick is so overdone it's really easy to see coming. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for the freaking long review, hope to hear from you again soon!
Dennisud : Hehe, you're jumping a bit ahead but it seems you have caught on to one of my probable end pairings with this fic. I like the idea of Maria and Havoc because he needs someone down to earth enough to keep him grounded, and she needs someone light hearted enough so she's not so serious all the time. That, and he is more mature than Brosh, so it works out well. And yeah, Zeke's about to get tons of screen time, stay tuned!
Jennlyn78 : Yep, lots did happen, and there's lots more to come. Thanks for the review, hope to hear from you again!
Riza Hawkeye 9 : Wow, glad you liked it! I hope the next chapter is just as good, and that your enjoyment of this story continues to grow with the characters and plot. Thanks for the review!
So Like Riza : Well, now you know. Thanks for the review!
blaznXrapture : Welcome, my new friend! Um, sorry, no Ed or Al. At all. They're somewhere else not here, and we do not know where. So, yeah, no. If you want to catch up with the manga I suggest getting an account at www dot narutocommunity dot net . They have all of the current FMA manga, as well as lots of others available for download free. It's good stuff! I try and update about once a week on Sunday night, Monday morning at the latest. Glad you enjoyed it, and hope to hear from you again!
Humor Queen Merc : I didn't think it was that perverted… O:) Glad you enjoyed it!
Hawkeye Chuui : Updated! Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the review!
FFVII : Aww, well, take your time and when you finish let me know. I don't really see Riza 'waiting' for Roy forever in that sense. I see her more likely to realize through trial and error in her younger years that there is no other man for her than Roy, and then sticking by his side for eternity. And Riza said they weren't in love, but I tried to give it a sense of her once more just trying to push Roy away, like it wasn't that important because it was just 'hormones'. Sorry if it didn't come through. Glad you enjoyed it, though.
GreyBlue Angel : Yeah, gotta love getting back to civilization. Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed it!
Deadly-bliss : Yeah, that's pretty much the setting of the story. And now Riza is the last person in the bloodline available to watch the kids. Hope you're catching up and figuring things out!
Well, guys, that's it for now. I'm off to bed, hope you enjoyed it, please review! It's better than crack and guarantees a good chapter!
CB
'It's not that I want you to die so much as I want you to stop being alive…'
-My sister, who rarely makes sense.