DISCLAIMER: I don't own fma.
Returning to You
Days turned into months. Roy Mustang fought valiantly. Every day he had to make himself promise over and over again that he would return. That he would return to the woman he loved. He pulled back the tent flap and was met by a horrid sight. A city not far away was up in flames. He stood temporarily rooted to the spot watching as the burning flames licked the buildings trapping people in them and killing them.
She felt as if centuries passed. Riza Hawkeye grew sick. Her skin became deathly pale and her superior officer had no choice but to decommission her. Her health steadily declined. Soon she was so sick she was forced into hospitalization. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you wish to view it, her dog, Black Hayate, was able to stay with her in the hospital. It was either he stayed or she would leave. Reluctantly the doctor allowed the dog to stay as long as he was taken care of.
Her health did not get any better while she was in the infirmary but neither did it get worse. A few weeks after she was hospitalized Riza suddenly fell into a coma; a dream filled sleep was more like it. Many of her nurses believed she wouldn't return; there wasn't much hope. One, a young brunette disagreed. She believed that she would wake up sooner or later.
As the weeks passed the brunette, whose name was Claire, prayed that she would wake up sooner than later. Of Riza's countless dreams, numerous of them were very intense. So strong that if the nurses weren't watching her the whole time she would fall right out of bed. Though it wasn't much of a problem with her weight; she was so light from not getting much to eat. Sure they gave her IV fluids and such but it didn't seem like it was helping much. They feared the worse when she stopped breathing after these intense nightmares.
They ran tests on her but they couldn't seem to understand what was happening to her. They studied her brain and chalked her condition up to a psychological problem. The doctors and nurses watched over her carefully hoping for the best.
The war was brutal. The screams of men, women and children dying, rung in Roy's ears long after the struggle was over. The only sane thought that kept Roy going was going back to Riza. He prayed to the gods above him that she was ok since he hadn't heard from her in several months.
It was not only his body that was tired of war, but his mind as well. He soon received his wish of going home. After months of fighting Roy was sent home due to a wound in one of his legs that made it hard for him to walk for very long. This was his chance to see Riza again.
He visited her house first. Not a sound from within. Roy then grew fearful when he went to headquarters to find she wasn't there. He stopped a soldier in the hall and asked Riza's whereabouts. He noticed how the young man paled. Squeakily, reminding him a lot of Fuery, the young military officer told the Colonel that she was in the hospital. This shocked Roy. He inquired the young man on why she was in the hospital. The man fidgeted, shifting from one foot to the other.
"She's not doing well because she worked herself to the bone. Her doctors say she bottled something up for so long that it consumed her." He replied gravely, "And now she's in a coma; been in it for months now. I think the nurses and such have lost all hope for her and was thinking of pulling the plug."
Roy's eyes widened. "What do you mean? When?" he asked very scared.
"Uh… I think it was today –" with that Roy took off, "or maybe I'm wrong! Sir who are you! Where are you going!" the military officer called after him. Roy ignored the man and speedily sprinted out of headquarters towards his destination.
Roy busted down the hospital door and demanded to know where Riza Hawkeye was being held. The frightened nurse asked for a relation. Frustrated Roy shouted, "I'm her boyfriend!"
Reluctantly the nurse gave him her floor and door number, Roy snatched it out of her hand and ran to the nearest stairway. Flying to the fourth floor and the thirty second door he broke down the door. The sight before him scared him nearly to death. They were about to pull out her IV.
"Don't you DARE do that!" he growled at the doctor.
"Who are you?" the surprised man asked. Roy's eyes fell on the ghostly pale skin of Riza's face. A lump grew in his throat. He hesitantly shuffled to her bedside. His hand hovered over her pasty hand.
The doctor was persistent. Roy paid no attention to him or anyone else for that matter. His eyes glazed over with unshed tears as he watched his love on her death bed.
"Oh Riza…" he choked out. He picked up a cold, clammy, white hand and held it to his lips. Kissing each knuckle he nuzzled her chilly hand against his hot cheek.
"Riza…" He mumbled, "Why? How could you do this to yourself?" he asked her as he rubbed her hand with his thumb. They pair stayed like that for a very long time. The other people in the room slowly declined until it was only Roy and Riza. Of course every once in a while, Claire would check on them.
The door opened and the nurse came in. After checking the machines that were hooked up to her she stood quietly on the other side of Riza's bed. It was Claire's voice that broke the silence.
"I hoped for the best you know. I was the only one to believe she would get better after she fell into that coma." Her accent slurred, "Even I started to lose hope when she would have these extreme nightmares that made her body go haywire. Though, I never gave up. I suppose that my hopefulness alone couldn't save her." The nurse stopped as her voice broke.
"You two are very close, I can tell. She would talk randomly about a man. She would talk about his faults so often I became suspicious. Even though she wouldn't say it when I pestered her, I knew she loved him. It was obvious. I believe it was her feelings for him that drove sickness into her. She told me his name once, it was Roy Mustang."
Roy visibly tensed.
"Though she would rant and rave about his imperfections, sometimes she would get this look in her eyes when she described him. She told me that he was a handsome man and that he was caring and thoughtful. He never forgot her birthday even when she did. Then, the day just before she fell into her coma, she asked me to listen to her once more. She asked me to promise her that if that man should ever show up that I was to tell him that she loved him." Claire paused letting her words sink into Roy.
Tears formed in his eyes and silently they rolled down his cheeks. His vision blurred as he kept his gaze on Riza's cold body. A sob escaped his lips and he laid his head down on her bed.
"I know who you are, Roy Mustang." Claire stated, "The funny thing is that you're in love with her as well. Aren't you? It's not my place but why were you off fighting a pointless war while the woman you loved was lying on her death bed? Are you really as kind and caring as she says? I think not-" her interrogation was cut short.
"You know nothing of that 'pointless war'. Do you think I wanted to be there? It was only after I was wounded that I was able to go home. You know the first thing I did when I got back? I went straight to her house. Then I find out she's in the hospital. Do you know how that made me feel?" Roy's voice was distant, "No you don't. No one understands how much she means to me. She's my angel. She's practically my life." He gave a half hearted chuckle. He lifted his head and looked at the nurse across from him.
"And now my life will die with hers." he smiled weakly as he brushed his fingers across her cheek.
"No." Claire sobbed. Roy looked at the woman across from his love. "No, that's not how this can end. It can't end sorrowfully. Kiss her. See if she wakes up." She encourages.
Roy turns back to Riza. "It won't help you know. That only happens in fairy tales." Roy replied sadly.
"It doesn't hurt to try!" Claire sniffled.
"I suppose not." Roy agreed wearily.
He stood and bent over the woman in the bed. He ran his fingers through her messy hair and cupped her cheek. Leaning in further he glanced at her eyes once more before whispering,
"I love you Elizabeth Hawkeye."
He captured her lips in their very first kiss. He pulled away not getting a response from his love. More tears streamed down his face. The room was quiet for a long time even after Roy pulled back and laid his head on her bed.
The nurse sitting in a chair watched the couple. She felt her heart go out to them. They never told each other they loved each other. That thought brought more tears to her eyes and she decided she must leave. She stood and crossed the room to the door.
"I'm sorry I'm the one to inform you but the doctor told me you only have an hour left before they…" she pauses, "before they… do, IT." She waited for a response from the man beside her patient. He nodded and she left.
Alone in the room with Riza he began to bawl. For the first time in his life he actually loved a woman and now she was going to die in an hour's time. He stroked her hand.
"Please don't die on me Riza. Please don't die on me." He pleaded with her, "I want to be with you. I want to see you baring my children. I want to take long walks in the park with you and Hayate. Please at least give me that. Please give me the chance to tell you I love you." He kissed each finger while he spoke.
He stared at her for a long while, willing her to wake up and jump in his arms. Alas an hour passed and the doctor stepped in with his team.
"I'm sorry sir but it's time." The medical doctor told Roy gravely. Roy looked at the old man but retained his hold on his beloved's arm.
"No." He said simply. The doctor sighed.
"I really didn't have to do this but it seems I must." With the flick of his wrist three men came out of nowhere and restrained Roy, making him let go of Riza's nearly dead arm. He struggled screaming,
"NO! YOU MURDERER! DON'T KILL HER!"
The team stared at the crazed man struggling but their attention was directed to the task at hand by the doctor. Throughout the time the group spent releasing Riza from her cords, Roy thrashed about trying to get the men to release him. When her breathing ended Roy suddenly ceased fighting. The men dropped Roy to the linoleum floor in a heap.
His world went blank. He couldn't move. He didn't want to move. Claire dropped to his side and helped him into a chair. The medical 'helpers' exited leaving only Roy and Claire in the room. She pulled him into a friendly hug but Roy did nothing but stare ahead into oblivion.
Neither said anything for the longest time. The silence swirled in the room like a deadly disease. It suffocated the two mourners.
"She loved you, you know." She cried on Roy's soldier.
He didn't reply to her statement. He felt as if he had died along with Riza.
"There's nothing left for me." Roy coldly declared. He stood from the chair leaving Claire to sit on her own.
Roy stepped beside the bed to pay his respects. The way her face was graceful yet pasty killed Roy inside although on the outside he remained indifferent. He picked up her hand once more feeling how icy it was and kissed her hand on last time.
"Goodbye my love." He bid his Riza good bye. Tipping his head he offered his farewell to Claire.
"Thank you for caring for her Claire." He respectfully told her. Roy slowly walked towards the door that led out of his love's life; his steps resounded on the linoleum. He took a short breath and gripped the doorknob.
"Roy…" a small breathless gasp called for him. He knew that voice. He hadn't heard it in such a long time it was like music to his ears.
"Roy…" that same voice beckoned to him. The owner of that voice was gone. He was hearing things; yet he still couldn't open that door. He was stuck in his shoes, which were rooted to the floor.
"Roy…" the voice gasped. A second woman's voice caught.
"Miss Riza? Miss Riza!" it was Claire. Roy wanted so badly to turn around but he knew that if he did he might just be disappointed.
"Miss Riza you shouldn't try to get up! You'll hurt yourself!"
At that Roy spun around. There standing shakily on her own legs was Elizabeth Hawkeye. She took a step toward him but stumbled. Luckily Roy was fast and he caught her. He looked down at the woman in his arms.
"Riza?" Roy asked shocked.
"Roy…" She smiled feebly at him calling her by her first name, "I have to tell you myself –" she began as she clung to him faintly.
"I'll go get the doctor!" Claire exclaimed and hurried out the door. Roy look on at Riza sprawled in his arms. He could feel how frail she was by how little she weighed. Gazing upon the once strong Riza Hawkeye he wanted to weep.
Riza went on, "I have to tell you that I love you and I never wanted to leave you."
"I know Riza, I got your letter. I understand… and I love you too." he whispered into her hair, "For now you should lie down."
As soon as those words were out of his mouth the medical team re-entered to room. They reinserted the IV tube and ventilator pipe, telling her to lie on her back. When she wouldn't Roy conned her into it. Lying beside her on the unusually large hospital bed he brushed her hair out of her face and gave her a peck on the forehead.
"You're safe Riza. I'm here for you, always and forever." He whispered his promise to her.
Riza eventually got better and within a month's time she was able to return to work. She requested Roy to help her seeing as she wasn't able to walk just yet on her own. Her request was approved.
One afternoon nearly a few weeks after her return to work, Roy helped her into the car. He climbed into the driver's seat and took off. When she realized they weren't going home she began to question where he was taking them. He would respond vaguely by saying, "Oh you'll see."
They stopped at the hospital where she had been staying.
"Oh no! I don't wanna go in there again!" Riza complained.
"Don't worry, you're not going in for a surprise check up." Roy assured her and ushered her in as she huffed.
They walked down many hallways until they reached one near the staff lounge. Roy opened the door and everyone hollered, "Surprise!"
Riza, to put it simply, was shocked. There was food stacked along the side of one wall and a small table with many assorted presents. Her friends from the office including old their old gang of Fuery, Falman, Havoc, Breda and Alex Armstrong was there. Claire stood talking to Sheska.
"What's this for?" She turned to Roy. He merely smiled.
"It's an engagement party." Roy responded simply.
"A what!" Riza bugged out. Roy sunk to the floor on one knee and pulled a black box from his jacket.
"Riza Elizabeth Hawkeye, will you marry me?" Roy asked as he fumbled with the ring nervously. The surprise overwhelmed her.
"Wh- What?" she asked astonished. Roy sucked in a breath with difficulty.
"Would you marry me?" he asked as his face burned bright red with embarrassment. She gazed down at him. Suddenly it clicked in her brain.
"WHAT?" she shouted again.
"I said-" she cut him off.
"I heard what you said and yes! YES I will marry you!" she jumped into his arms and held him close. They shared their first kiss as an engaged couple.
Rizahawkeye21
A/N: Aww a happy ending. I know medically what the doctor did to Riza wasn't legal but bare with me (for those who aren't familiar with the medical field, the doctor isn't allowed to "kill" the patient or disconnect the breathing and IV tubes unless the family says so and since Roy was the only "family" there and he didn't want it what the doctor did was illegal). It made the story a little more interesting no? I hope you enjoyed this. It's pretty long, nearly 8 pages. Well please review!