How Could You Forget

Author: MoonStarDutchess

Part 2: Reasons

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no monetary profit for this fiction. I do own any OC's if present.



Reasons

"What in heaven's name?" Christmas said when Scarlett came through the door, her hand wrapped firmly around Riza's wrist.

"I should just go ho…"
"No," Scarlett snapped as she led Riza over to Christmas.

"What is going on?" Christmas questioned. "Where is Roy and why on earth are you crying Riza?"

Riza pulled her wrist away from Scarlett and wiped her eyes. "I'm not," she said. "I don't cry over stupid things like this. I'm not supposed to."

Christmas raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Whether you are supposed to or not isn't the issue. The fact is that you are crying and I want to know the cause young lady," Christmas said, using her motherly tone with Riza.

"Roy decided to go on a date. He completely forgot about his get together with Riza!" Scarlett said, her voice vehement.

"What!" Raven and Riri walked into the room, aghast at what they heard.

Raven growled. "They do this every year and there's no excuse that he should forget!"

"It's . . . well it's not like. I mean . . ." Riza didn't know what she wanted to say. Her thoughts were spinning, and forming any potential excuses into illegible blurs. She hated the way her voice was shaking as she spoke. She despised how she felt like some little high schoolgirl who was rejected by her crush. "I just. . . I just want to be left alone, okay? Let me go home."

"Riza dear," Christmas said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you go up to the room and stay here for the night. You can be alone up there and in case you want someone around you can always come down here."

Riza stared at her a moment, that familiar motherly attachment forging in her heart. Christmas reached out and put a strand of hair behind Riza's ear. "Please stay. It will save me a lot of worry about you."

After a moment, Riza found herself nodding at the woman's request. She walked past Christmas and up to the room that the girls always called hers and Roy's.

"This is unbelievable," Riri said. "How could he forget?"

"Oh, he's a man."

"Now that's unfair," Christmas said, earning incredulous looks from her daughters. "We women forget just as much. I'm sure Roy had an excuse."

"Oh, he found another woman. That's his excuse. And I'll be damned if he didn't go for a plain one. Though she is better looking that Riza."

"Scarlett!" Raven scolded.

She shrugged.

"If you were going to say negative things then why'd you bring her here? In fact, you don't' even like her so why are you so angry."

"I don't like cheaters," she said, "so when it comes to the cheater or someone I don't care for, I'm siding with the cheetee."

"Cheetee?" Riri asked.

"The person that was cheated on. You know, like an employee is someone that works for the employer."

Raven shook her head. "That's not even a word Scarlett.

"Oh please girls," Christmas scolded. "Do you honestly think Roy would cheat on Riza?" She couldn't believe the thought even crossed their minds.

"Normally no," Scarlett said, "but I saw it."

"And what if you saw a misunderstanding?"

"It doesn't matter. Roy knows how much this time means to Riza and he forgot and went out."

"He's not allowed to forget anything?"

"He's still out with that girl mother!" Scarlett snapped. "She's not one of his contacts obviously because we know all of them. She was an average girl, obviously wife material."

"Let's not jump to conclusions before we know the entire story. Raven, why don't you go and get her something more comfortable to sleep in?"

"I'll get her something. We are closer to the same size than Raven and her," Scarlett said and walked up the stairs. She went into her room and, after shuffling around in her closet, pulled out a comfortable pair of pajamas. She walked down the hall and knocked on the door. After she heard Riza give permission to enter, she twisted the knob and walked inside.

An unfamiliar pang branded her when she saw the blond woman sitting on the edge of the full sized bed. Her hair was down on her back and her shoes kicked to the far side of the room. Her small jacket was in a lump of fabric on the chair, obviously tossed there haphazardly. Riza's hands were gripping the blankets on either side of her as she stared down at her toes. It just wasn't right seeing her look so lost and hurt.

"Um…" Scarlett began, while closing the door behind her, the latch clicking softly in its place. "I brought you something to relax in. That dress probably isn't that comfortable for you is it?"

"No, actually it is comfortable. You are going by a big misconception by making that statement."

"Um . . . what?" Scarlett was rather confused at the woman's words and looked around to make sure she didn't spot any empty liquor bottles in the room. Perhaps she did some champion chugging.

"Despite being military I like to dress up and big surprise, I like perfume and makeup. Oh, and I can actually walk in heels and talk at the same fucking time," Riza snapped while jerking out her hair clip and throwing it at the chair. " Scarlett jumped slightly at the caustic tone Riza employed. Riza looked up at her and frowned. "I'm sorry. Did that scare you?"

"No, no. What makes you say that?"

"You jumped."

Scarlett laughed nervously but didn't say anything. She calmly walked over and sat down beside Riza. She sat the pajamas between them. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

"I know."

"I'm sure there was a misunderstanding that made Roy forget."

"I don't. I believe I was kidding myself this entire time."

"What do you mean?"

"Giving myself false hope that he actually loved me. Maybe he just felt sorry for me or maybe I was just something for his entertainment. When he finds someone new he just forgets about me."

"I think that's the broken heart talking. You confidence is waning because you've never seen him with another girl. You've never even seen him when he takes one of us out. He has to pretend to be interested. Maybe she was a contact."

Riza glanced over at her. "You don't believe that do you?"

Scarlett sighed, "No, I don't. I want to, but I don't."

"Maes was with him too. He wouldn't go out with a contact if he were there. All this time I was just fooling myself. Besides, I'm just not worth him."

Scarlett studied Riza and shook her head. "No, that's not the case. Damn though, I always thought you were so confident. I'm angry that he forgot. I'm even angrier that he was out with another woman. I am angriest at you and the way you are acting and the way he acted!"

Riza looked back down at her lap. "You should be tickled pink. You never liked me anyway right?"

Scarlett sighed and fell back onto the bed, her hair scattering behind her like a fan of tresses. "I …I've never been friendly toward you."

"Yes, I know. Wasn't that just another version of what I said before? That's why I'm questioning to myself whether or not I should throw you out on your head," Riza said.

Scarlett sat up quickly and looked at Riza, knowing the woman could very well do as she threatened. When she saw a small quirk of the left side of her lips, she knew Riza was kidding. "Very funny," Scarlett muttered.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Why don't you like me? I've been nothing but civil to you but you've always shown distance or made snide comments."

Scarlett growled. "I don't like you cause. . ." she trailed off, racking her brain for a way to say it without hearing the woman gloat.

"Go on," Riza prompted.

"Give me a minute," she said. Finally, she decided to tell the truth. To just come out and speak what she'd been denying. "I'm jealous."

Riza's eyes widened and she looked toward Scarlett. "Jealous? What in the hell for?"

Scarlett fiddled with her newly manicured fingernails. "The relationship you have with Roy."

"Are you in love with him?"

Scarlett wrinkled her face unattractively, "Hell no, he's practically blood! That would be disgusting." She then relaxed her features. "Before you came along, he told me everything. We always had a lot of fun together. Then after getting back from Ishbal, after you joined his command, Roy changed. He told us nothing about Ishbal and stopped coming around as much. He always puts on this happy mask in front of us and though I can see through it, he insists nothing is wrong."

"All of us do that. Everyone that was at Ishbal," Riza said, "It's nothing personal at all."

"What do you mean us? You were there?"

Riza nodded. "Yes and believe me, you don't want to know anything about what happened there."

"I see. Was it really that horrible?"

"Horrible isn't a strong enough adjective to describe it."

Scarlett withheld a shudder and glanced over at the pictures on the wall, several of them of the family together on holidays. "I love my brother and hope he gets everything he's striving for. I know now that he needs you to do it. I feel horrible for thinking he would cheat."

"Sudden change of mind," Riza said.

Scarlett huffed. "I'm only human. I'm allowed to do that." She stood and walked over to the pictures, studying the visual records of the past. "When he's with you, he is this Roy in the pictures. Seemingly so carefree and happy. His mask drops. He needs you just as much as you need him."

Riza shook her head. "That's not true."

Scarlett turned to her, offering a small smile. "Oh, yes it is." She sighed. "I envy your goals you share with him. I'm just a prostitute that can't help much. And besides that, I have no chance at a happy marriage and no future career prospects."

Riza realized that Roy never told Scarlett and his other sisters that if they succeeded in their goals, he and other participants at Ishbal would likely face execution for war crimes. There would be no marriage for Roy and her, and the only aisle they'd be walking down would be the one toward the execution grounds. "If you want prospects then do something about it," Riza said, wiping thoughts of the future out of her mind. "You make good money I've heard. Put that money to use."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Go to college," Riza said. "I know that Madame Christmas made sure you girls were well educated right?"

"Yes, but no one has ever even mentioned the prospect of going to college."

"They might have thought you wouldn't be interested. You mentioned masks. Well, as

much as I hate it, the profession a person is in and the looks a person displays creates masks with people. They can't see the inside so they go solely on their preconceived notions. I know how it feels."

"Yeah, that's true. I'm seen as a bitch that only cares about money and fashion."

"I'm an ice queen who doesn't know how to have fun," Riza said.

"You know, the more we talk, the more I can see why Roy likes you," Scarlett said. "You won't pussy-foot around things with him will you? You don't hold any illusions about him or exalt him. You just treat him like a man."

"That's all he is. Just a man."

"That's why he loves you so much."

Riza tensed and looked at the clock on the wall, reading it was an hour past the time they were supposed to meet. "I don't know," Riza said. "I think a girl like the one he was with is better suited to him. She could take care of him better than I could."

"Confidence is something you really need to work on too," Scarlett said. She walked over to the door. "Get some rest."

"Still hate me?"

"Never hated you. Just disliked you. I'll work on my feelings if you work on your confidence."

Riza laughed halfheartedly and nodded as Scarlett left the room.

---

Maes, Gracia, Annabelle, and Roy walked through the park after having dinner. Maes looked over at his best friend whom through the entire dinner, seemed only to be there in body. He gave short concise answers to questions and small sounds to comments spoken. The entire time he just stared down at his plate and ate, probably not even tasting his food. Roy and Annabelle looked so adorable sitting near each other but his friend paid no mind to her. If he wanted Roy and Annabelle to get married, he'd have to be much more cunning. He couldn't think of a better woman for Roy than his kind sister in law.

"I think its time to call it a night for married folk. Why don't you two go out and have some more fun?"

Roy and Annabelle stopped walking as soon as they heard Maes' words.

"What do you mea--" Annabelle started to say but Gracia interrupted her.

"I think that's a great idea! You two have fun!" Gracia said, for once going along with her husband's plan. Her sister was exactly what Roy Mustang needed.

The married couple walked away before the two single people could do any protesting. Annabelle sighed and sat down on the bench beside a large light post. "I'm sorry about them doing this," she said.

He stared at her for a moment before sitting down beside her, putting his arm over the back of the bench. "You don't have a reason to apologize. Maes is always trying to fix me up with someone. I'm used to it by now."

"Gracia is the same way with me and apparently she got Maes in on the act. They can't seem to accept that I want to wait to get married. That I don't need help finding anyone."

"I don't know about getting Maes to listen but I think if you told Gracia how you felt, she would stop," Roy said.

"Maybe I should. How about you though? Are you interested in getting married to anyone?"

Roy gazed into her green eyes and smirked. "I am but I can't, not right now. It's not even public that she's my girlfriend."

"And Maes doesn't know that either right? Otherwise he wouldn't be trying to fix you up."

"If Maes knew, I'd never hear the end of it. Someday I'll marry her and he'll stop nagging."

"Well your secret is save with me, but I don't think he will stop nagging you once you are married."

"What makes you say that?"

"You'll have to have a kid first," she said.

Roy laughed aloud, his voice carrying into the city sounds. "Yeah, you are right."

Annabelle smiled and it grew quiet between them. She stared at him for a moment before asking a question that had been plaguing her mind. "You needed to be somewhere else tonight right?"

Roy turned toward her, shock on his face at her inquiry. Soon, it turned to one of neutrality and he nodded. "Yes, but I completely forgot. Maes does that to a person. You see, my sister slapped me because I forgot. I saw my girlfriend walk away with her after that when we were in line."

"You jerk!" Annabelle yelled, "Why didn't you go after her?" Her eyebrows were furrowed, her eyes narrowed, and her mouth was twisted in an anger painted frown.

Roy scooted a few inches away from her. "Well, that's because I didn't remember why she would be with my sister until I got inside the restaurant and found out the date."

"If you saw your girlfriend leaving after you are standing in line with another woman then common sense dictates that you messed up and it must be rectified. I swear, you men are useless!"

Roy shook his head. If you knew my girlfriend then you wouldn't be saying that. She would have probably knocked me out. She's the type that doesn't show her anger. She pushes it back and needs time to herself to cool off for a while. I'll go see her after I walk you home."

Annabelle stood from her spot and grabbed Roy's hand. "Come on!"

"Wha . . .Where are we going?" he questioned, letting her drag him along the sidewalk.

"To get your girlfriend a present before the shops close. You are going to need something major to make up for this!"


AN: Decided to make it more than two chapters instead since I found all of this already completed in final draft form. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and Roy finally makes up with Riza next chapter. Please drop a review my way if you have the time. Much loves and massive hugs.