Feburary 13, 1905
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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
Maro Eleni Hawkeye: 5 weeks old
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"You're leaving then?" came Riza's small voice as she placed the book she was studying from back on her shelf to properly farewell her old friend.
"Not disappointed are you, Riza?"
Riza blushed a little, "the baby likes you… I was hoping you'd stay a little longer- for her, I mean." Crossing the room to the small lavender crib from her childhood, she made to wake the baby, but Roy stopped her.
"I'd rather you didn't," he said. "Wake her up and I'll never be able to leave."
"That's the point, sir," said Riza, but she obliged. "Little Maro would miss you sorely."
"I'm only going for a few days- then I'll be back," Roy promised.
"But then you'll get dragged into the Ishbal travesty and get sent out there, won't you," said Riza, looking down.
Roy didn't reply for a while, merely placed a hand over hers on the side of the cot, "I'll always return- don't ever doubt that, okay?"
"I'll hold you to that, sir- don't let me down." Roy nodded firmly and Riza pulled her hand away. "You'd better go before you miss your train," she told him, shaking her head.
"Take care of yourself, Riza."
"Likewise, sir."
Face hard, she watched the door close and listened for his retreating footsteps before moving to the window and watching from there as he climbed into a black car, manned by a man she recognised vaguely as Maes Hughes, an old friend. A slight wind caused the old cot to creak and the baby to wake, crying, but Riza hardly noticed- waiting a few moments more before closing the windows and whispering, mostly to herself, "stay safe… Roy."