Note: Part of the dialogue from this chapter is direct/adapted from the manga itself and © Hiromu Arakawa.
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June 11, 1905
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Major Roy Mustang: 19 years old
Captain Maes Hughes: 19 years old
Private Elizabeth Hawkeye: 18 years old
Private Jean Havoc: 18 years old
Private Maria Ross: 17 years old
Corporal Edwin Hawkeye: Died 18 years old, December 1904
Private Maro Otori: Died 17 years old, April 1905
Maro Eleni Hawkeye: 15-16 weeks old
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Roy and Maes spent most of their free time together. Hughes had kept true to his promise not to tell his friend about Riza's involvement in the war, though it was no secret that he was unhappy about it- and it took a lot to make the guy unhappy.
"A gunshot?!" Roy yelled, stating the painfully obvious as he and Maes found themselves in the debt of a sniper who had saved them from an approaching Ishbalan.
"It's okay, Roy. We have a 'Hawk's Eye' on us," said Maes calmly.
"Hawk…?"
"Yes," said Maes, urging his friend to make the connection as they stared up at their saviour, hidden in the watchtowers above them. "Still a nameless sniper- it's become quite a topic among us. She's still a private but at any rate she's got a good arm. It seems she's been brought all the way out here. Hah… to think they have to pull out even a little chick like that… this must be the end…"
Roy was hardly listening anymore. Whether or not he had made the connection between 'Hawk's eye' and 'Hawkeye', his old friend, it didn't matter- it still had him thinking about her… wondering if she was okay back home- how the baby was doing. He had never realised how much he had missed her before…
"Hey, Roy- snap out of it," said Maes, waving a hand in front of the Major's face, "look, we gotta get someone on this Ishbalan guy, yeah?"
"Huh? …Yeah, I'll call someone…"
"Thinkin' 'bout your girl back home?" asked Maes sympathetically.
"Riza's not my girl, Maes."
"Ah! But you still knew who I was talking about, didn't you?!"
Roy just rolled his eyes, "are girls all you ever think about, man? It's always 'get a girlfriend- get a girlfriend' with you- like a broken record! You know, the moment I do get a steady girlfriend, you'll be telling me to get a wife!"
"Haha! Probably, Roy!"
"Well marriage worked out so well for Riza, didn't it?"
"She did get that beautiful baby girl of hers," said Maes, heart twinging as he remembered how Riza had given it up to rejoin the military.
"Hey, now what's wrong with you?" said Roy, noticing the change in his friend's expression.
"Nothing… just thinking about- just missing Gracia, man."
"You and that girl of yours, Maes- you're totally obsessed!"
Maes just grinned sheepishly, glad his feeble excuse had been accepted without any question, "sure, man. Sure…"
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Riza sat down around the fire pulling her unpalatable dinner into her lap and shifted as the hot bottom of her plate burned her thighs through the thin material of her trousers. She was looking down- trying not to draw attention to herself. She knew that Maria and Jean would be looking for her but, honestly, she just wanted to be alone.
Then she saw Maes looking over at her.
He winked and turned to Roy, saying, "there she is." Riza saw Roy look up, surprised. "Yo!" Maes called. "You were the one who shot that, right?"
Riza stood, nodding and pulled down her hood, "it's been a while, Mr Mustang… no, maybe I should call you Major Mustang now." Roy just blinked in reply, looking completely and utterly shaken- Riza just looked sad. "Have you begun to remember?"
Roy shook his head, shock fading to sadness, "how could I forget?"
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Later, around the fire, only Roy and Riza remained.
"You left the baby?" asked Roy after a long silence.
"I had to," said Riza, eyes downcast.
She had expected Roy to be angry with her but he only seemed sad, defeated- had war done that to him? "I'm sorry…"
"For what, sir?"
"You left to protect me."
Riza shook her head, "I wanted to- and it's a good thing I did, too, sir… considering this afternoon."
"I'd rather you'd stayed home with your child- this is no place for you right now."
"Says you!" said Riza, looking up, suddenly quite angry. "I made this decision by myself for myself- it's not your place to tell me where I do or do not belong!"
"I had forgotten how quick-tempered you always were… Well, I wish you happiness in the military. It's funny… the one thing that has always separated us has now brought us together again."
Riza's anger faded into peaceful contemplation, "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, sir… I shoulder have listened to Captain Hughes but I didn't want you to worry."
"Well, I'm glad you're alright… still, I wish you could have kept Maro."
"I've already lost my husband, sir- and my father, and my best friend… I didn't want to lose you too- not if I could help it."
Roy took her hand and squeezed it gently, "you're too kind."
Riza blushed, "I have recently come to believe otherwise, sir."
"Fool… poor dear fool…"
Riza recognised his tone and sympathised. It was the same tone with which she had criticized Edwin when she received the news of his death- miserable, empty, defeated. "I'm… sorry for upsetting you."
Roy looked up, surprised and shook his head, "let's get to bed- we have a big day tomorrow."
"Goodnight, sir."
"Goodnight, Riza."