The door to Mustang's office opened slowly. Mustang responded by instantly sitting up, pretending that he was actually working.
He glanced across the room and smiled, "Why hello, there."
Riza gave him a look, "My grandfather wants to play chess." she stated simply, "Do you still have the chess board that he gave you all those years ago?"
He stood from his desk and walked over to a nearby table, "Yes, I have it set up right over here."
She followed him over to it and began to gather up the pieces, "I'll be sure that he returns it to you."
Roy stood next to her, looking at his wife, observing her characteristics. "Riza, I have a question for you."
"What is it, sir?" she asked, looking at him.
"We don't need to be formal alone." he replied.
She glared at him, "You know that we don't do that unless we are at home."
"Sorry…" he replied, "Anyways…why don't you grow your hair back out? I really miss it long."
"As soon as you shave off your facial hair. I hate that thing." she retorted, pointing to the facial hair above his lip.
He frowned, running his fingers through her short hair, "So are you willing to compromise?" he asked, messing with the short lochs, "I miss getting to run my fingers through your long hair."
She nodded and finished gathering up the chess board, "Yes, so long as I don't have to look at that thing anymore, I don't mind growing it out."
"Will you wear a skirt too?" he asked, hoping for a yes.
"Skirts are impractical, sir." she replied, looking at him, "I don't like them."
He sighed, kissing her on the forehead, "I guess I am asking for too much." He pulled away and smiled at his wife, "So what exactly are our plans for the evening?"
She shrugged in response, "I was thinking we go to dinner at this special place that I managed to get us reservations at, then probably spend some time together afterwards, just to get some alone time, maybe grab a drink…I don't know…"
Roy smiled at her, "Well, that sounds eventful." his tone was slightly sarcastic, "You seem really unsure about what we are doing."
"Sir, I am not good with these types of things. You are the one who is usually good with this sort of stuff." she retorted.
"Whatever you do I am sure it will be fine." he told her, trying to give her some reassurance as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Either way, I am excited for tonight." He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
She frowned, "Sir…"
He gave her a look, "Can I not hold my wife or something?"
"No, not at work." she replied, pulling away, "We need to maintain a professional relationship here. When we are in these uniforms, we need to act just like we always did years before this. You are my superior and I am your subordinate."
Roy frowned, "Our son is wondering around here, you wear a ring on your finger as do I, everyone knows we are together."
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't be professional." she retorted, beginning to walk towards the door, letting out a sigh, "Look, sir…" she paused, "I'll make it up to you tonight and you can be as lovey dovey as you want then, but for now…I am still your subordinate."
She left the room before the man had a chance to respond and hurried down the hall, holding the chess board while trying to cradle all the pieces.
Riza found Grumman and Maes in the same spot, sitting down in a chair talking. Her son was laughing as he listened to his great grandfather tell stories about Roy and Riza when they were younger, how his father never got anything done and how his mother made him do his work.
Maes turned his head and saw his mother standing there, smiling at the two, "Mommy! Grandpa Grumman was telling me about how Daddy used to slack off all the time!"
Riza chuckled, "Did he tell you that he still does that?"
Her grandfather laughed in response, "Oh yes, that boy never can get anything done! He is quite the slacker if you ask me!"
The woman walked over to the two and sat down in a chair next to them, "Did Grandpa ever tell you about how far behind your father got after I was transferred under the command of Bradley back when he was Fuhrer?"
"There were other Fuhrers besides Grandpa and Daddy?" Maes asked, absolutely amazed.
Riza smiled, "Of course." she replied, "Before Grandpa was Fuhrer, there was a man named Bradley who was in charge. He wasn't very nice."
"What did he do?" Maes asked.
"Well, your father was a Colonel here, and I was his Lieutenant along with Jean, Kain, Vato, and Heymans-"
"Those guys are so awesome!" Maes interrupted, "When will I get to see them again?"
Riza chuckled at him, "Whenever we see them next. They have been awfully busy."
Maes frowned, "Aw…I wanted to see them."
"Don't worry, you will sometime." she reassured, "Anyways, we were all under your father's command, but one day, Bradley decided to transfer all of us to different locations in order to separate us from each other."
"Why would he do such a thing?" Maes questioned in disbelief.
"He didn't like us." She replied.
"He sounds so mean!" Maes replied.
"He didn't separate your father and I though." she continued, "Well…not exactly."
"So you weren't transferred?" Maes asked, a smile forming on his face, "I am so glad that you guys got to stay together!"
"Well, I wasn't transferred to a different branch…" she stated, thinking about those many years ago. She recalled the day when she found Mustang in the hall, right after he had heard the news, how their entire world was flipped and they were left to follow the paths Bradley had carved out for them. "I was placed under Bradley's command instead of your father's."
"Did you get to see him at least?" Maes asked.
She nodded, "Oh, yeah. I would see him during lunch, but hardly outside of that."
Maes nodded, "So that is why he didn't get any work done?" he asked, "Grandpa said he needed you for motivation to work because you made him finish his paperwork."
"Good job, Maes." she congratulated him, "I remember I walked into his office one day when Bradley wanted me to deliver him a paper, his desk was a mess."
"That's because my granddaughter is the one who really pulls the reins around here!" Grumman laughed.
Riza's face flushed pink, "Grandpa!"
The elder laughed, "Haha, you know it's true. This country would be a mess if you weren't there to support that boy!"
She looked away, "He is more than capable to run the country himself, he just needs a little push first."
Grumman smiled, "Every good king has a great queen right behind him." he commented as he slowly stood, "Ah, I really am getting on in age."
"Let me help you!" Maes replied, standing up quickly to pull his grandfather out of the chair.
The old man laughed a bit and managed to get up on his own, considering the small boy held little to no actual physical strength. He acted as though the child was tremendously strong however, "Oh, wow!" the elder commented, "Thank you so much for your help, Maes!"
Riza smiled and stood as well, handing the chess board and the pieces to her grandfather, "You two have fun, okay?"
Grumman nodded, "I'll be sure to give this back to your husband when we are finished."
"Oh, make sure you bring Maes back, too by the end of the day," Riza added, "He is going over to Gracia Hughes' place this evening."
"I'll be sure to return the boy." Grumman chuckled, "We will just be sitting at one of the tables in the lunch room."
Riza watched as the two walked off, the elder walking slowly behind the excited youth who had to keep slowing down to keep pace with his grandfather. It made Riza smile, she was happy to see how she had a family now. It was something she had always secretly wanted, but never expected to have.
The day, many years ago, when Roy first proposed to her, she had finally caught a glimpse that he small desire lying the back of her mind could have been achieved. However, the day when he took it all back she felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her chest. Not only was she going to lose the one she loved, she would lose the chance of ever being a mother, ever being happy. Riza couldn't have seen herself with anyone else and didn't want to lose Roy. The day however, when he actually confessed his feelings, even though the world was falling around them, she couldn't have been more happy.
Her dreams were now a reality, and she was glad.