December 31, 1904

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Sergeant Major Roy Mustang: 19 years old
Sergeant Elizabeth Hawkeye: 18 years old
Private Maro Otori: 17 years old
Corporal Edwin Hawkeye: Died 18 years old, 1904

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"Happy New Year, Riza; Maro," said Roy, coming out to join her and Private Maro on the balcony and attempting to hold three glasses of wine at once. Each relieving him of a drink, the two girls smiled- Maro, brightly, but Riza, a little far off.

"It's not New Year yet, sir," she said, looking away.

"Less than an hour now," he told her. "And I believe that, since I left the military, it would be more suitable for you to call me Roy."

Riza didn't say anything for a while, staring down into the deep red liquid in her glass and swirling her finger around the rim absently. "You shouldn't have left," was her eventual reply and Maro nudged her disapprovingly.

"I want to continue my alchemic training with your father."

"You want his secrets," said Riza, eyes hard as she turned her gaze up to the night sky. "You want his Flame Alchemy so you can kill again- kill people like Edwin. I'm sure many of our victims had families…"

"That's why I want to become a State Alchemist," said Roy firmly, "so I can protect those I care about."

Maro stood back a little and watched them standing side by side- saw his arm move to encircle her waist, then stop and draw back. Her eyes honed in on her best friend's face- she seemed oblivious to all but the sky before her… the beautiful black sky- perfect as it was.

"State Alchemists… were never as 'for the people' as they claimed."

"I will be- I'll be different… you won't have to hurt any more."

Riza turned around suddenly and set her cup down on the small glass table, glaring down at it for a moment, "you don't have the authority to tell me that, sir. I'll hurt as I want and I need. You can't take Him from me."

"Riza…" said Maro softly.

"Happy New Year," she muttered and left.

There were a few moments of silence, then, before Maro stepped forward and placed a sympathetic hand on Roy's arm.

"Aren't you going to go after her?" he asked in some surprise.

"She wants to be alone," said Maro, "you don't- you can talk to me if you want. It makes some people feel better…"

"I'm fine."

"I don't think so." Roy put his glass down and started to leave but Maro's next words made him halt.

"You like her, don't you?" It wasn't really a question.

"I want her to be happy," was all Roy would say.

"She's worried. You should try to help her with the baby when it comes, okay? Console her… but don't try to make her forget."

Roy walked over to her side, "you and Riza are good friends then?"

"I knew her vaguely in the academy, but we have grown closer these past two months since I came to work under her," said Maro, looking up with a smile as distant fireworks sprung up from behind the neighbouring houses. "I should probably go and wish my mother and General Grumman a happy New Year… be patient, won't you? I can see Riza ending up liking you- just give her some time. Don't think too far ahead. You'll see."

"But I didn't even say that I liked her!" Roy protested.

"You didn't need to," said Maro, smiling. "Take care of her for me, okay? I'm counting on you."

"But… okay. Thank you."

"No problem- happy New Year, Mr Mustang."