Sorry this is late, guys. I had another wedding to go to this weekend (seems like everyone's getting married these days) and didn't get back in time to post it yesterday. Forgive me; as a result this chapter is rather rushed as well. I did do a read-through and edit before I posted it, but it's not as thorough as usual. I hope you enjoy it regardless, and thanks to the many of your who reviewed, its always appreciated.

-0i0-

Personal days in the army could be a tricky thing. If you were on the front lines, you got so many weeks of leave for so many months of service each year. At the Head Quarters, one received two weeks of leave during the summer, a week of vacation time, and a one week's worth of personal days. If those days weren't used, they rolled over to the next year for use. Eventually, if one got too many, a person would be forced into a leave of sorts to use up two or three weeks worth of days, but those cases were rare.

No one was sure how many days Riza had stored up, but it was a lot. So when Beth woke up with a fever and needed to be taken to the doctor Roy had no trouble giving her the entire day off on such short notice. However, that put him in a rather odd position later that day.

The call came around lunch time, Havoc handing the phone off to Roy who spoke to the teacher from Zeke's school. Something had happened, she said, and Zeke needed to be picked up immediately. Did he know where his guardian, Riza Hawkeye, could be reached?

Explaining how Riza would not be available for some time, he then asked if he could come and get the boy in her stead. The teacher asked him to wait, and after checking to be sure his name was on the list of acceptable people to release Zeke to she agreed that it would be fine.

The drive over was short, his thoughts more focused on what could possibly have happened. Zeke was a good kid, not given to random fits of anger or violence. He was smart, quick to learn, his teachers liked him, and his peers accepted him. And he hadn't looked sick the night before, while Beth had been a mite pale all through supper. So what could have possibly happened?"

Pulling up to the front of the school, he was somewhat surprised when he was met by the Headmistress at the front door. Ushering him into her office, she shut the door firmly behind them and gave him a hard look.

"While I am sure you believe yourself to be doing Miss Hawkeye a favor, it would have been better to send one of your subordinates this time," she said without preamble, taking a seat behind her desk and motioning to the chairs in front of it.

"How so?" he replied as he sat as well.

"Ezekiel attacked one of his classmates during their lunch period when one of the boys insisted something he had heard his uncle say was true," she explained, choosing her words with care. She began to explain exactly what had been said.

It was the look in the Flame Alchemist's eyes that made her words trail off, first confusion, then understanding and shock that had quickly melted into a seething rage that burned despite the calm mask he had in place.

"Who?" was all he said, and she answered him truthfully as she realized he would work until he ha the tame. A First Lieutenant under a General who worked just around the corner from his office.

"What will happen to Zeke?" he asked as his mind whirled with possible ways to deal with the man.

"You say that Miss Hawkeye should be home by now? Then I will take him there myself."

"Good. I will be heading back to Head Quarters to take care of some…unfinished business. Thank you."

"Of course."

The drive back to Head Quarters was a blur, his mind quickly working through the details of what must be done upon his return. Stopping by the office, he informed Havoc that he was taking the rest of the day off and neither he nor Riza would be coming in the next day either. Ignoring all questions of why, he then walked down to the office of one General Drummond.

The man was in his later years, and heavy set with a salt and pepper beard that contrasted sharply with his bald head. He and Roy Mustang had an easy respect for each other for many years, and had for the most part kept out of each other's hair in the inner workings of the military.

So when the Flame Alchemist requested an immediate audience, it as met with quick compliance. Standing before the General, he asked for the First Lieutenant to be called in as well. Explaining to the General that it would become clear momentarily, Roy then addressed the First Lieutenant as he entered the room.

"It's been awhile, Lieutenant," Roy told the man as he took a seat, leaving the subordinate standing. Tall and well-muscled, the man had won his promotions by being a good solider and not because he could command well. Loud mouthed and brash, his opinions had gotten him into trouble more than once.

"Sir," the man replied, looking a little nervous. "Why am I here?"

"Just to answer some questions." Roy gave a cheery smile, the kind that made several people feel far more nervous than they did before. "Now, I understand your nephew attends Rochester Academy, a good private military school, yes?"

"Yes, sir. A very good school." He hesitated, then added, "I fail to see how this is relevant, sir."

"That is precisely why Lt. Colonel Hawkeye sent her ward there," the Brigadier General replied quickly, ignoring the last part of what the Lieutenant had said. "A good school for him to learn and grown in. Did you know, Lieutenant that Ezekiel, her ward, is in the same grade as your nephew?"

The man was visibly sweating now. "Un, no, sir…"

At this the Flame Alchemist's smile vanished, and the look he gave the man was downright murderous. "And were you aware, Lieutenant, that Slander is a crime we hold very seriously in the martial courts of law?"

The Lieutenant didn't answer his face now ashen and his hands trembling ever so slightly. "Consider this a warning, Lieutenant," Roy went on softly. "General Drummond deserves to know exactly why this warning is necessary. Do tell him, Lieutenant."

The man was now visibly shaking, his every word halting and weak as he repeated what he had so foolishly told his brother, sister and law and their son the week before. The more Roy heard the angrier he grew, but his flushed face was nothing compared to the purple shade of the General's visage by the time the man was through.

"Thank you for bringing this indiscretion to my attention, Brigadier General Mustang," the man said as he rose from his seat, voice as cold as ice. "It shall be appropriately dealt with."

"I am glad to hear it, sir."

Taking his leave, Roy got back in car and headed towards Riza's house.

-0i0-

A touch of the flu, the doctor had said when the examination was through. A few days of rest and Beth would be right as rain. With Roy picking up Zeke and Gracia out shopping for a few hours, she settled on the couch while her charge slept peacefully upstairs. Expecting to get at least some reading done, she was surprised when there was a business like knock on her front door.

Opening the door proved even more of a shock, for there stood Mistress Hoffenbeck with a sorry looking Zeke beside her. Eyes red and swollen and his nose sniffling quietly, he had a bruise that was turning a lovely purple around his left eye, his lower lip was split and a few deep scratches ran along his chin and neck. His pants had a hole in the knee and one sleeve had been half torn off his coat. He walked with a limp as though he'd hurt his knee and to top it off he looked like he'd rolled through a puddle of mud.

"I never thought I'd see the day you would fight in school, Zeke," she said with a calm that surprised both the headmistress and boy. "My apologies for not picking him up myself. Zeke, go to the kitchen and get out the first aide kit, I will be there shortly."

Zeke did as he was told, head hung sullenly as he did.

"He will be suspended for a day, those are the rules," Mistress Hoffenbeck said with a hint of regret. "I will let him tell you the circumstances, but the parents of the other boy have already forced him to apologize for what he said and firmly stated that it was the uncle, not they, who said such things to the boy. There will not be a repeat of this incident from that particular student, I can promise you that."

With that the older woman took her leave, a confused Riza watching the car as it pulled out of the drive way. In the kitchen she found Zeke sitting at the table, glumly daubing antiseptic onto one of his scratches. Taking the cloth gently from his hands, she took over the operation and asked, "Well?"

"It wasn't my fault," he insisted flatly. "Thomas was saying stuff he had no business saying. Is Beth alright?"

"Just the flu, she'll be fine in a few days. Did you hit him first?" she asked quietly.

"…yes."

They were silent for awhile, Zeke closing his eyes and doing his best not to wince as she probed and bandaged his many scrapes.

"Why?"

Zeke shook his head. "Stuff he shouldn't have said."

Riza frowned, pulling the boy's chin up gently until his eyes met hers. "Did he say something about your parents?" she guessed. "Or your sister?"

"No," he whispered, averting his eyes as much as he could. "Just…bad stuff."

"Zeke, you need to tell me what was said," she sighed as she let go, his eyes once more cast to the floor. "I can't help you work through this until I know what made you angry enough to strike one of your classmates."

The boy lowered his head further and quietly obeyed. "He said…that Uncle Roy doesn't really like me an' Beth that he just pretends so he can sleep with you. An' that the only reason he's got his job is because your grandpa is the Fuhrer. I told him to shut up, because he didn't know what he was talking about, but he wouldn't stop and I got him good right across the jaw…I don't really remember after that, until Mr. Samson and Mr. Dwight were pulling us apart and Hoffenbeck came to drag us to her office by the ear."

The woman across from him had gone completely still, her jaw clenched tight and eyes staring past him at a distant point.

"Aunt Riza?" he called in a small voice when she didn't say anything. Her eyes seemed to snap back into focus, looking at him with a cold anger that would have been frightening had it not melted away the moment eyes met his. Holding her arms open as she leaned forward in her chair, he buried his head in her shoulder and cried for the second time that day.

"I'm sorry," she sighed as she rocked him gently. "I am so sorry you were put in that position because of me…"

"He shouldn't have said it, it's not true," Zeke replied fiercely, fingers digging into the back of her shirt.

"Of course it's not," she murmured, running a hand through his hair comfortingly. "Of course it's not."

A long time seemed to pass before the front door opened again, a worn looking Roy peeking n the kitchen carefully. "Riza?" he said quickly as he came into view. "Zeke?"

"Zeke, why don't you go upstairs, change and check on your sister," said the blonde gunwoman as she pulled away slowly. "Did you eat lunch?"

"No, we were getting ready to when Thomas started talking."

"I'll make you something; if Beth's awake ask her if she wants some soup."

"Ok." The boy gave both adults a long look before he exited upstairs, leaving them in silence.

"Roy," she whispered hoarsely as she mechanically pulled out a can from the pantry and removed the lid, her eyes refusing to even glance at him. "Do you know?"

"I know," he replied, laying a hand on her shoulder. "That's why Mistress Hoffenbeck brought Zeke home."

She met his gaze briefly and gave a weak smile. "You've already taken care of it, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"I'm going to go talk to Zeke," he said as he sensed she needed to be alone right then. "I wasn't able to earlier. Will you be alright?"

"I'm fine," she replied automatically, pulling a pan out to the put the soup out. He didn't believe her, but he nodded just the same.

"Ok."

-0i0-

Zeke wasn't sure how long he stood there staring at the torn and bloodied shirt in his hands, but he had just put it down and grabbed a clean on when a light knock came at the door. His hair was wet from rinsing himself off in the tub rather quickly, but at least the mud was gone.

"Come in," he said as he pulled the shirt over his head and winced as his bruises protested painfully.

"It's me," Roy said as he popped his head in. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore," the boy admitted abashedly. "Fighting hurts more than I thought it would."

"It usually does," Roy replied with a faint smile. "I think we need to talk."

"What about?" he asked as he pulled on clean socks, taking a seat on his bed as Roy made use of his desk chair. "I already know what Thomas said isn't true."

"Well, mostly not true," the older man replied hesitantly. "You see…"

"I know you're not sleeping with her," Zeke broke in, rolling his eyes. "So you don't have to lie about that.

"No, I…wait, what?" The Flame Alchemist stared at the boy, Zeke staring back. "Just out of curiosity, what makes you say that?"

"I don't really fall asleep until the living room lights are out," he replied with an easy shrug. "And Aunt Riza never turns the lights out until she goes to bed. She never goes to bed until after you've left, and your car has never been in the drive when I wake up in the middle of the night. I checked."

"…oh." Roy was too stunned to formulate more of a reply, but the boy went on.

"Not that I would really mind if you did, you're a good guy, and Aunt Riza deserves to be happy but that's besides the point."

"That's not what I was talking about," Roy barged in, rubbing his temples slowly with both hands. "Zeke, I have a confession to make. When you first came to live with Riza I didn't…I wasn't trying to help for the right reasons. Selfishly, it was because I wanted to be closer to her, not to you or your sister."

The boy seemed to pause, the asked softly, "Why does Aunt Riza mean so much to you, Uncle Roy?"

Roy gave a bitter laugh with a slight shrug. "Because she once trusted me with far more than I deserved, and I...failed her. What's worse is that it took me two years to admit my failure. I've been trying to make up for it ever since."

"I think she likes you, a lot," the boy offered honestly. "She always smiles when you're around."

"Thanks."

There was a short silence, and then: "So…do you like me and Beth? At all?"

"Yes, I do, and not just because Riza takes care of you," he replied, giving the boy a warm smile. "I think in some ways, you two are the light we needed in our dark lives. You are growing up very quickly, but you are still a boy. There is still so much for you to learn and experience, and I want to help you grow into a man your parents would be proud of. I once promised Riza I would be there for your guys until you no longer needed me, and I intend to see that promise through to the end."

"I hope we never don't need you," Zeke said so sincerely that Roy felt his heart melt a little. "Or Aunt Riza."

"I'll do my best."

Hearing a plaintive cry from the room next door, they peeked in to see Beth lying awake in her bed with her red nose running and a miserable look on her face.

"Not feeling well, little missy?" asked Roy as he sat next to her, Zeke standing by the table and pouring her another drink of water. The little girl shook her head slowly, her lower lip pouting sadly.

"Soup and crackers for you," said Riza as she entered the room, Black Hayate at her feet. "Zeke, yours is on the counter downstairs, and I made you something as well, Roy. Hurry, before it gets cold."

"I'll be back," Zeke promised, giving his sister a peck on the forehead before scampering away down the stairs. Roy did much the same, giving Riza a quick touch on the shoulder before he left as well.

"Why is Zeke home?" asked Beth as she glanced at the clock by the bed. "What happened to his eye?"

"He had a bad day at school, so he's home for today and tomorrow," Riza replied with a faint smile. "He'll be fine, he's just a little banged up. How was your nap?"

"Ok…" Beth nibbled on a cracker as they waited for the soup to cool. "My head feels funny."

"I'll give you more medicine after you eat, you'll feel better in the morning," she promised, putting a hand to the young girl's forehead and finding it less warm than before. Beth ate half her soup before she said she was full, taking her medicine like she said she would and falling asleep again with Riza curled up around her on the bed.

Roy came to find her like that a few hours later, the sun setting outside and the clock by the bed reading a few minutes before six.

"Did I wake you?" he asked quietly as Black Hayate took the woman's place.

"No," she replied, mostly shutting the bedroom door behind herself carefully. "I was just resting. I didn't realize how much time…where is Zeke."

"Asleep in his room, I think the fight and everything just wore him out, he drifted off talking to me after we played chess for awhile."

"Oh."

"Riza, we need to talk."

"Yes," she agreed, her eyes suddenly taking on a distinctively set cast. "We do."

"Don't talk like it has already been decided," he replied quickly, catching her hand halfway down the stairs. "Riza, don't say something you don't mean."

"You know that I mean it when I say I want to do my best for these two," she shot back, her voice short and clipped though she didn't try to retrieve her hand.

"They've had us and half of our command in bed together for years, it's never bothered you before," he argued as he followed her downstairs into the kitchen.

"It's never affected someone else before. Roy, Zeke lashed out at one of his classmates because of this, physically struck one of his peers. He's not a violent boy, and I will not be the reason he has to raise his hand against a friend."

"Forcing me out of their lives won't stop the rumors."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do." Trapping her front of the sink, with a hand on either side, she held his hard gaze for a few moments. Turning around, she began to rinse the dishes as though it was what she had meant to do all along. Roy sighed and let his head drop to her shoulder, drawing his hands hesitantly about her waist when she went still. "Please," he whispered his voice hoarse. "I have done everything I know how to be there for those two. This isn't my fault, so don't take it out on me. I've come to need those kids as much as they need me; I want to be here for them as long as I can. Don't push me away, please, don't make me leave now."

"What am I going to do, then?" she asked, surreptitiously wiping something from her eyes though he pretended not to notice. "I'm supposed to be raising them, not teaching them to fight off criticisms about their guardian."

"I don't know," he admitted, enjoying the smell of her hair despite the severity of the situation. "But getting rid of me is not the answer."

Falling into silence, both were brought out of the moment by the sound of the door to the other duplex opening slowly.

"Hello?" Gracia called tentatively.

"In the kitchen," Riza replied, Roy already moving away and taking a seat at the table.

"Roy told me earlier when I peeked in and saw Zeke's face," she said, coming and giving Riza a warm hug. "How are they now?"

"Resting, though they'll both be home tomorrow so I suppose I should be too…"

"You already have the day off," Roy replied from where he sat, putting the chess board away. "Coincidentally, so do I."

Riza gave him an odd look, but he just smiled and kept on stacking the pieces in their box. "So you won't need to watch Beth tomorrow, or pick her up from school."

"Alright. Are either of you hungry? I have some chicken that will be ready in a bit."

"No, thank you," said Riza as Roy shook his head. "I only ate a little while ago and I haven't had much of an appetite today."

"Well, then I'll just head back over. If you need something you know where to find me."

"Aunt Riza?"

Gracia disappeared as the pair went back upstairs, Riza crawling back in bed with their invalid and Roy pulling the rocker over so he could talk to the little girl until she fell asleep again.

"Uncle Roy?" she asked, eyes half closed as she nestled deeper into Riza's side. "Are you gonna be here for always?"

"Yes, dearest, I am," he replied, meeting Riza's gaze with an air of defiance. When she nodded slightly, he smiled back and reached forward to stroke the young girl's cheek gently. "Uncle Roy will always be here for you."

"Good."

It wasn't long before she was asleep again, the adults heading back towards and when Zeke woke up a little while later with his tummy rumbling they were playing a quiet game of chess.

"Aunt Riza?" he asked as she made both males a sandwich, Roy checking the boy's cuts and scrapes again. "Are you going to make me promise not to fight again?"

"I should," she replied, putting the sliced ham and cheese between rye with mayonnaise and mustard. "Why?"

"Thomas or anyone else ever talks like that about you again I'm gonna break it," he replied firmly, his chin set mulishly. "If the say something that stupid, they deserve to get knocked down."

"No, people are going to say stupid things, Zeke, it's not your job to knock them down for it," Roy broke it, surprising Riza until he smiled broadly and added, "You leave that to the adults."

"What your Uncle Roy means," Riza broke in, giving the alchemist a sharp look. "Is that justice sometimes means being the bigger person and letting the wrongs that have been done to you pass without retaliation."

"But what if he really deserves it?"

"If everyone gave everyone else their just desserts everything they were wronged society would crumble into chaos. We gave up the right to strike our neighbor for striking us, but often times the punishments they received down the road are far more fitting then the revenge we would have wrought."

"But it made me feel better."

"Zeke." Roy spoke with a seriousness the boy had never heard before. "You should never, ever take pleasure in the pain and suffering of others. It may have felt good for a moment, but young become such a monster you would eventually hate the creature you had become."

He seemed to consider that for a moment, then tentatively asked, "But what if he hits me first?"

Roy nodded once. "Defend yourself if you must, and always your friends, but never throw the first punch again."

Zeke nodded as well, his mouth settling in a firm line. "I understand."

"Good."

-0i0-

Roy showed up bright and early the next morning, carting Zeke off to the park where they played fetch with Black Hayate, walked the many paths through the trees and ate two ice cream cones each. They tossed pennies into the fountains and made wishes, but refused to tell each other what they were, and then they accused each other of making a silly wish.

"I bet you wished for a day off of work or a date with a pretty girl," Zeke scoffed scornfully.

"I already have a day off of work, and your Aunt is making us dinner tonight. If she's not pretty then I don't know what is. What about you? I bet you wished for a pocketful of candy or a good grade on your next test."

"Pfft, that's kid stuff."

"And what are you?"

"A half-grown adult."

"Of course."

The fight was never mentioned, and neither was anything spoken of the night before. Together they played a few of the games the vendors offered along the way, and won a teddy bear Zeke declared would go to his sister to help her feel better. Roy agreed it was an excellent plan, and so ended up being the one to carry it for the rest of the morning.

-0i0-

Riza was just finishing their sandwiches when the boys stepped in the door, Beth waving at them from the living room floor where she sat ensconced in a dozen blankets drawing pictures on the coffee table. Black Hayate lay beside her, dozing in a patch of sun.

"Well, aren't you looking better today!" The Brigadier General said as he plopped down beside her.

"By node id blugged ub," Beth complained, adding another tissue to the growing pile to her right.

"That just means you're getting better."

"I hobe so."

"Go eat in the kitchen, you can come visit when you're done," Riza said as she came in with more crackers, a fresh cup of tea and the bottle of syrup the doctor had prescribed.

"Bleh, thad stuff id icky," Beth said as the pair left, making a face as Riza poured her a spoonful.

"I know, but it's just for a day or two more and you'll neer have to have it again," her guardian replied, helping her drink it down and putting the sweetened tea in her hands immediately afterwards.

"Can Zeke color wid me?" she asked when the mug was empty, picking up her crayon once more. "He colords really good."

"I don't see why not."

The rest of the day was spent around the low table, Roy drawing various alchemy circles in different colors and explaining their various uses to Zeke. Riza helped Beth with her artistic creations and ferried drinks and tissues from the kitchen as they were needed.

Elysia joined them when she got home from school, exclaiming over Zeke's black eye and asking if it hurt. When he puffed up his chest and said he didn't even feel it, Riza had reached over and tapped it lightly. The yelp and wince that followed was enough to make the adults chuckle and Zeke flush in embarrassment. However, he did stop boasting and soon all three forgot about it as they played together on the coffee table.

Gracia came over as well, offering to share dinner with them and Riza helping her in her kitchen while Roy kept an eye on the kids.

"How was your day off?" she asked as she sliced the vegetables for a salad.

"Quiet," Riza replied with an easy shrug. "Beth is doing better, and Zeke seems to have forgotten about yesterday entirely."

"Good. And Roy?"

"He's fine. He took Zeke to the park for awhile."

Gracia just smiled a little smile that she kept to herself. "That's nice."

-0i0-

Riza was in the middle of filing papers with Fuery flew into the records room, gasping something about the school and a phone call and waving an arm in the direction of the office. She ran in the door just in time to see Havoc putting the phone down, the chair-bound man telling her in hurried tones to go to Beth's school immediately, and that he would handle Roy and her paperwork, and someone would get Zeke if they had to. Giving a quick nod, she grabbed her things and obeyed as quickly as possible.

A worried administrator met her at the door, explaining that the girl had been crying for almost an hour and was completely inconsolable. The nurse was afraid she was going to make herself sick if she kept it up much longer, and no one knew what had caused the out burst in the first place.

They found the small girl in question curled up in the nurses office, still sobbing so hard her little body shook. Riza wasted no time in sitting down and pulling the child into her lap, holding her close as the sudden affection brought on a fresh wave of tears.

"Shh…shh…breathe, Beth, breathe, I'm here…"

Slowly, Beth began to calm down, hiccupping a bit as she buried herself in the older woman's shoulder. Hand running comfortingly through her hair, she seemed to sigh to herself when she was finally through. She leaned weakly into the Lt. Colonel's body, seeming spent of all her energy.

"Aunt Riza?" she asked after a long spell of silence, voice raw from her emotional expenditure. "Will you adopt me?"

"Why?" Riza replied in honest surprise, drawing back a bit so she could see the girl's tear-stained face. "I thought you were happy the way things were."

"I don't wanna be an orphan, so you gotta adopt me so I have a mommy again!" she cried, clearly becoming upset again until Riza let her bury her head back in her shoulder and rocked the small body gently for a bit.

"Shh…shh…just breathe, Beth…I need you to just breathe…"

"I don't wanna be an orphan," Beth cried in a faint voice as she allowed herself to be soothed. "Don't wanna be alone…"

"You have a family, you aren't alone," Riza tried to reason with her quietly, combing the blonde hair back from the sticky face and wiping the snot off with a tissue. "What about Zeke and Elysia, and Black Hayate and Gracia. Aren't they always there for you? And myself and Uncle Roy, have we ever left you alone?"

"But am I an orphan?" she demanded, balling her hands into fists as her face scrunched up again. "I don't wanna be an orphan; they're set away to live with mean people and are never happy again! That's what they said, that orphans are never, ever happy at the end!"

"Who told you this?"

"Some boys in my class," she sniffled in a pitiful voice. "They said their cousins were orphans, and had to live with their mean old aunt who smells like sour milk and dusty cats. I don't wanna go live with a mean old witch that smells like sour milk, I wanna live with you! You gotta adopt me an' Zeke, Aunt Riza, you gotta!"

"I believe you need to come with me for awhile," she said loud enough for the nurse and school administrator to hear. "We'll get this sorted out tonight after you've rested for a bit. Is that alright?"

She turned towards the administrator, who quickly said it would be fine and that she would inform Mrs. Jones immediately. Bundling up her small charge, the Lt. Colonel headed out of the school and to her car, driving home immediately and calling the office the moment she arrived to inform them that she would not be returning until the next day. With a quick assurance that everything was fine, she just was needed elsewhere for a bit, she the settled Beth down at the kitchen table and prepared them both a soothing cup of hot cocoa. With the wonderful powers of warm chocolate working their charms, it wasn't long before the young girl had regained a semblance of herself and was in a better frame of mind than before.

"Alright," said Riza when she was sure another outbreak of tears wouldn't occur, "I want you to tell me exactly what happened this morning in class."

"We were sharing our family pictures," the girl explained slowly as she sipped at her hot chocolate. "The ones that we drew awhile ago. Mine had the most people, so Mrs. Jones let me go last. I had to explain a lot, like how most of them aren't related to me but that they come over all the time and play and eat with us. It took awhile, but at recess some of the boys came over and said I was an orphan 'cuz I don't have a mom or dad and that I'd be sent off to live with an evil person soon 'cuz that's what always happens to orphans unless they get someone to adopt them real quick. I told them you'd never send me away, but they said it didn't matter. That it always happens in the stories and that it was gonna happen to me too. I don't wanna be an orphan, Aunt Riza, so you gotta adopt me so they can never, ever send me away!"

"No one is sending you anywhere," Riza promised, brows firmly knit together as she tried to hide her displeasure with whoever those boys were. Beth crawled into her lap, and she cradled the small body once more as tenderly as she knew how. "You and Zeke are in my care, and I'm not giving you up to anybody."

"But, they said…"

"I don't care what they said," Riza broke in gently, holding the girls' face so their eyes met. "They were wrong. I would sooner let them cut off my arm than let them take you or your brother away."

"I don't want them to cut off your arm!" Beth cried in alarm, sitting up straight as her eyes went wide with fear. "Please don't let them, I'll do whatever it takes, just don't let them cut off your arm…!"

"No one is coming to cut off my arm," the Lt. Colonel assured her young charge quickly, feeling rather exasperated with the entire situation. "Beth, what I'm trying to say is that you are very important to me, you and Zeke both. There is nothing in this world that could convince me to give you up, nothing at all. Adopting you wouldn't be difficult, but what I want you to understand is that my feelings will not change whether we go through with that or not. You will be just as precious to me before and after, and nothing is going to change that."

The small girl seemed to think on that for awhile, slowly sipping down the last of her hot chocolate in a contemplative manner. When the tears didn't seem to be close to resurfacing again, Riza placed the girl back in her chair and cleaned up the remains of their snack before popping over to Gracia's to let her know she wouldn't need to pick up Beth at school. Their neighbor was surprised to see her out of the office at that time, of course, but she just nodded and reminded the sharp shooter it was her turn to make the community meal that night. A trade was made when Riza realized she wouldn't have time to go buy groceries before then, and Gracia was more than happy to let Riza cook for the rest of the next week.

The rest of the day was spent quietly playing, reading, and coloring together until Roy brought Zeke home and the brother was enlisted to keep his sister occupied for a bit while the adults talked.

"She wants me to adopt her and Zeke," Riza said without preamble when they were in the kitchen alone, cleaning up the carrots and celery from the afternoon snack. "And as soon as possible."

"Why?" Roy replied, washing the few dishes in the sink if only to help out a bit. "I thought they were happy the way things were."

Riza explained about the outburst at school, and the ideas that had become fixed in the girl's mind since then. "I'll look into it this weekend," she said absently as she mulled over the situation itself. "I never thought they would want me to, so I never brought it up before. Zeke especially, I know he is handling things much better now but I always thought he might take it as an insult to try and change his last name."

"Perhaps it would be best," the Brigadier General agreed, putting the dried dishes away in their respective cabinets and drawers. "She needs some sort of reassurance, perhaps this is it. How difficult do you think it would be?"

"Not very, the trickiest part is the name change and that doesn't take more than a week to get through the court system," she mused aloud. "There would be fees and paper work to go along with it, but nothing too strenuous. A meeting with a lawyer, perhaps, to be sure the correct measures are taken…"

"Graica said to tell you dinner's ready," Zeke said as he popped into the room, Beth right beside him. "Can we go ahead over?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there."

"I can keep an eye on them for you while you're out on Saturday," Roy offered as they both washed their hands before following the kids. "Gracia and Elysia have a doctor's appointment and Zeke wanted me to look over some new arrays with him anyways."

"That would be great, actually…"

-0i0-

Gracia was the only one home when Riza returned on Saturday, her mouth set in a grim line as she set her purse and papers down before removing her light jacket.

"Is something wrong?" the mother asked, having popped over to borrow some eggs for a cake. "Riza…?"

Wordlessly, the sharpshooter handed over the papers, pointing to one paragraph specifically before she set about making herself a cup of tea.

"I see," Gracia said quietly after reading through the specified area. "Then…you won't…?"

"How could I?" Riza's voice was low, her head bent towards the empty mug as her hands went still. "How to choose…?"

The silence that fell between them was deafening, Gracia withdrawing quietly when she realized the other woman wished to be alone. Resuming making her tea, Riza picked up the stack of papers as the water heated, looked over them once more, and threw them in the trash.

-0i0-

Beth was the first one to burst in the door when the four of them returned from the park, Black Hayate barking happily as he pranced next to Roy and Zeke laughing at the dog's antics. If Riza seemed a bit slow to react to their enthusiastic greeting, no one seemed to notice, and when she was quieter than usual at Gracia's dinner table the mother didn't try and draw her out of her shell or tease her about her less than cheery smile.

Still, dinner progressed, nothing happened, and Riza headed back to her side of the duplex with Beth and Zeke in tow. Roy followed, the boy having asked him to help with a paper he was writing, but Riza stopped him at the door.

"Not tonight," she said with a solemn smile. "I…have something I need to talk to them about."

Roy paused at the odd request, then asked, "…is everything alright?"

"There are…complications with the adoption process," she explained in a low voice, giving a slight shrug at the same time. "I need to…it will take more time, and they should know…"

Immediate understanding flooded his face, and his posture relaxed once he was sure there was nothing to be worried about. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Just let me have them to myself tonight, please."

"Alright. I'll come by tomorrow, if you want."

"That would be fine, Zeke will still want you to help him with his paper."

"I'll be there around lunch time."

"Alright."

-0i0-

Zeke sat in the living room with Beth on the couch, both of them wondering what was so important they discuss that their aunt had actually sent Roy away before his usual late hour on a Saturday night.

"Are you sure we're not in trouble?" Beth whispered as Riza came back from the kitchen, her hands gripping a mug full of tea firmly.

"I don't think so," he replied just as quietly. "Unless she knows about the cookies, but we only ate a few, Black Hayate is the one who ate the rest…"

"That's cuz you dropped them on the floor."

"I didn't mean to!"

Both of them fell silent when Riza sat in front of them on the coffee table, setting her mug beside her before looking at them solemnly.

"You're not in trouble," she said after a moment's hesitation. "Though I did wonder where the cookies went, that's not what this is about."

"You're not sending us away, are you?" asked Beth, her voice suddenly tight with fear.

"No, I'm not," Riza quickly reassured them with a slight smile. "But…I'm afraid adoption is not an option at this time."

Beth's eyes began to fill with tears as Zeke scowled darkly. "But why?!" the little girl cried as she grabbed Riza's hand. "I don't wanna be an orphan, Aunt Riza! You gotta adopt us so we're not orphans no more!"

"I don't care if you adopt us or not," Zeke added as the sharpshooter pulled the small girl into her lap. "It's not important to me, but it is to Beth. Why can't you just do it and get it over with?"

"You must be under my guardianship for a very long period of time before I can officially adopt you, and there are many rules and procedures you must follow…" Riza trailed off with a sigh. "More than I ever imagined. Beth, please understand, it's not that I don't want to adopt you, and the amount that I care for you and your brother doesn't change because of this. Nobody is taking you from me or me from you. I promise."

"I just don't wanna leave…I don't ever wanna leave…"

Riza cradled the small body all the closer, blinking back the tears that came to her eyes. "You won't have to. Trust me, please."

It was quiet for a long time, Zeke scowling as he stared at the floor and Beth huddling herself into Riza's chest as her tears subsided.

"I wish I knew how to take away your fear, your pain," the older woman said after a long time, her voice strangely tight as she began to blink furiously. "Reassure you that I will never let you go…all that I can do is promise that when I can adopt you, I will."

Nothing more was said after that, Beth continuing to sniffle sadly until she fell asleep from exhaustion in her guardian's arms. Zeke followed as Riza carried her upstairs, and after tucking them both in bed she went downstairs and locked herself in her room once the house was secure for the night. For the first time in a long time, Riza wept.

-0i0-

Well, things aren't quite on such a high note for once. Really rather depressing actually. And wait until the next chapter; you'll really love me then. Well, review please, it makes your author happy, and replies are down below this. I think that's all for now, so bye until next time.

Review Replies:

Ruki44 : Yep, interesting is definitely the right word. Thanks for the review!

OTP : Hey, I'm lazy too, the important part is having the chapter mostly ready far in advance to posting it so you're not trying to chug out twelve or thirteen pages (single spaced) fifteen minutes before you said you would post. Thanks for the review!

Dennisud : Another convert! You know how many times that has happened to me? Teen titans, for example. I never would have read any of the fan fics, let alone watched the series on youtube, had someone not written a fantabulous one shot in another section that I love and then I find out by checking her profile that she's got all sorts of stuff just as good in other areas. And thus, I became hooked. But hey, you'll live, at least you won't lack for something good to read! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for the review!

Causmicfire: Wow, thanks for your many, many comments. You definitely have lots of favorite parts in each chapter, don't you? Let me tell you, the details you bring out really make my day, it's nice to know someone is noticing the little things. Thanks for the review!

Riza Hawkeye 9 : I update almost every Sunday night, or as close as I can get to it, and I'm glad you're enjoying the progress Riza and Roy are making in their relationship. Thanks for the review, hope to hear from you again!

Bar-Ohki : Yeah, I would say he is. She hasn't shot him yet, and that's certainly saying something. Thanks for the review!

Bizzy : I should amend that statement but saying it's not specific instances that give details pertaining to a past love life or anything. It's more like the way she handles herself and the men around her that gives me firm reason to believe that Riza knows how to handle a man in all areas of her life. And yeah, the idea for the hairclip took me hours to come up with. She really is a hard person to shop for! Thanks for the review!

GreyBlue Angel : I do my best, being IC is one of the marks of caring about the characters, and I really try to. Oh, and I don't think Roy will find out, because they fear him too much to ever let him do so. That, and murder would kind of ruin the way the fic is going, no? Thanks for the review!

Crystal Mage : I can understand that, going through fic withdrawal and finding one of your favorite ones has updated with a big juicy chapter right after you get back. It's like finding an ice cold water bottle when you're been dying of thirst or a fresh chocolate brownie with icing when you've been craving sweets. Now I'm drooling. Let's see, I think I have read it but it's not fresh in my mind. Elysia and Zeke is not serious, it's a little boy showing off for a little girl. And they'll probably just be friends when they're older. Hope you slept well, and thanks for the wonderful review. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Kurissyma san Tybalt : Gift giving is so bloody hard. Half the time when you rush it at the last minute they love what they got, and the other half you spend hours agonizing over it and they're like 'oh, that's nice' in the I'll keep it because you're my friend but that's it sort of voice. Yeah, totally sucks. Oh, I love Bubblegum2040. Stayed away from the fanfiction on purpose so I wouldn't have yet another thing to check every day, but I did give into the art cravings for awhile so I have a nice folder of collected fan work. Priss is the best character, in my opinion, and nothing will probably change that. You should write something, though, if the straight pairing is under represented. I just don't know what people are thinking these days. Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed the chapter!

SxL : Glad to hear it's making you even happier! Hope I haven't disappointed you yet, and that it never will. Thanks for the review!

Dailenna : Wow, your reviews are like a delicious slice of chocolate cake. They last forever, and at the end leave you feeling oh so satisfied and good inside. I dunno if anyone else is gonna ask if they're a family, but it's possible. I don't think Roy would've actually proposed, I just think he might have discussed the possibilities of why he would or should have in the past due to whatever circumstances there might have been. Zeke is becoming a miniature Roy, but I don't think Riza minds, and Gracia thinks he's adorable so he's fine. It's if he keeps trying to flirt with Elysia when they're like 13 and he's not so cute anymore. Beth will always be cute, though, because she's Beth. I think Roy's men learn very quickly and are quite innovative about getting their way and yet not getting killed in the process. Thanks for the review, can't wait to hear from you again, hope you enjoyed the chapter!

SakuraAyanami : Glad you liked it, thanks for the review!

Leigh : There's going to be around 15 or 16 chapters in this story. I don't really know which yet, but I think that means we'll be finishing in the next month or so. Kinda sad, huh? Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed it!

FFVII : Well, I hope the picture is finished eventually. Just take your time, it's not like we're in a rush here. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for the review!

Winglessfairy25 : Glad you're having fun, thanks for your many, many kind words, and I'm doing the best I know how. Thanks for the review!

Jacksparrow589 : Brats seem to grow on everyone after awhile because the fact is, they're never really as bad as they seem at first. You just gotta get to know them to get past the tough streak. Anything is allowed when it promotes Royai, right? I'm glad you approve of Kants, Ed is gone, everyone else needs to get over that fact. I think everyone has a fireworks story, especially when it comes to guys. And don't worry, there will be plenty of opportune times in the future of lots of chances to be taken. It wouldn't be a good story if there weren't. Thanks for the review!

Blknblupanther1: No cliff hangers yet, and I don't think there will be. I'm not a fan of them. Glad to see you're enjoying it still, thanks for the review!

Aindel S. Druida : Hey, you can repeat words of praise, it's not like I keep track! More has been written, I hope it was to your satisfaction! Thanks for the review!

Yun Min : Thank you very much! Glad to know you're enjoying it, and hope to hear from you again!

Humor Queen Merc : Hope you weren't disappointed, thanks for the review!

Free Hero : Hey, personally I take it as a compliment that you actually felt guilty enough to review after all this time period. I can't tell you how many stories I've read and reread without actually ever reviewing even though I love them just because I'm that lazy. I hope it continues to be just as good, and I hope to hear from you again. However, if I don't I'll just nod and know you're every bit as lazy as I usually am.

Momiji-k : Hope this one was just as good, thanks for the review!

Jennlyn78 : Here it is! Thanks for the review!

WingedChunsa : Huh, that's an interesting name. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for answering my question. Hope to hear from you again!

Well my friends, that's it for now. See you in about a week!

CB

If I were half as smart as you are stupid I'd make Einstein look like a moron.

-Berber