Note: Mum and Kim're coming back from Ireland tomorrow so I probably won't get much finished, but I've still got two week-ish left of holidays so I should be right for a while. Cyaz! –'Riss
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January 10, 1917- Part 2
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Colonel Roy Mustang: 31 years old
First Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawkeye: 30 years old
Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc: 30 years old
Second Lieutenant Maria Ross: 29 years old
Maro Eleni Hawkeye: 12 years old
Corporal Edwin Hawkeye: Died 18 years old, December 1904
Private Maro Otori: Died 17 years old, April 1905
Brigadier General Maes Hughes: Died 29 years old, 1915
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"So you're Mom's sister, Aunt Riza?" asked Maro, sitting down next to her 'long lost aunt' at dinner that night.
"Yes, I am," said Riza, then she turned to Mr Waters, "thank you very much for inviting us to stay for dinner, sir."
"Please, call me Jeremy."
"Sorry, sir, force of habit."
"So you're in the military, huh?" said Maro, grinning widely, "how cool is that?! You know, you should talk to my friend Rosie- she'd die to hear about that kinda stuff."
Riza just smiled a little, "you know, I haven't seen you since you were a little more than a month old- what do you like now?"
"Ponies!" said Maro, eyes glittering, "I want one but Dad says we can't keep one in the city… but I have a pony poster, a pony blanket, a pony pillow case and tonnes of pony dolls-"
Roy interrupted her with a light laugh.
"Are you making fun of me, Mr Alchemist?!"
"No," Roy amended quickly as he was faced with two matching Hawkeye glares, "I was just thinking that Riza's grandfather father has a house in the country- there are a few horses there."
"Can I come go play there sometime, Daddy?!" Maro cried excitedly, "please, please, please, please, pleaaaaase?"
"You'll have to ask your Aunt to take you some time, won't you?" said Jeremy, smiling warmly and Riza nodded.
"Can you ride, Aunt Riza?!"
"Not without falling on her head, she can't," Roy snickered before he could stop himself.
"My brother happens to be an excellent rider- I'm sure he could teach you," said Riza, still glaring at Roy across the table.
"Really?! Wow!"
Conversation continued in the vein for most of the night and when dinner was over with and it started getting late, Maro found she was sad to see her newfound aunt go.
"You'll come and visit again soon, sometime, right, Aunty Riza?! You too, Mr Alchemist?"
"We'll see," said Riza, looking over at Jeremy, who was still wearing that broad grin of his.
"And don't forget about the horses, will you? Promise me!"
"I promise," said Riza and Roy found, with some great note of amusement, that she was glowing.
Half a second later, Riza found herself pushed back onto the front step by the sheer force of the hug the little girl afforded her, "thank you for coming today, Aunt Riza. We can be friends now, huh?"
Riza smiled and hugged her back before drawing away.
"You will come again soon won't you?" said Jeremy, as she turned to leave. "Maro would be gravely disappointed if you didn't."
"Uh-huh!" Maro agreed fervently.
Riza nodded deeply, "I'll visit sometime," she assured them and she and the Colonel turned to head down the path. As she heard the door shut behind them, Riza dropped her big 'I am the adult here' act and let out a tiny shriek-like giggle of pure mirth, "and you thought this would be a bad idea, sir!"
"I stand corrected," said Roy, the tiniest hint of a smile edging his lips.
"Isn't she perfect? Just how I always imagined, sir! So young and innocent!"
"Careful there, Riza- you're starting to sound like Maes."
Riza sighed contentedly, "I'm glad," she said, "Maes was always so happy…"
"You'll have to take a camera next time," Roy suggested, grinning and Riza nudged him, too excited to shoot him one of her signature glares. "You know, you'd make a good mother, Riza- if you were to ever settle down again, I mean."
Hawkeye shook her head, losing just a little of her uncharacteristic pep, "no," she said, "I've already decided where my loyalties lie… but maybe I'll make an okay aunt."
"Can I walk you home?"
Riza blushed a little and nodded, "yes, sir."