A/N: Ho hum, just a quick chapter. I hope you're all having wonderful holidays with your loved ones. Thanks for all the reviews, watches and faves, I'm happy to see that this story is so well received. You make me all squee in joy!

This chapter is in Riza's PoV leading up to last chapter's cliff-hanger, just because I like to mess with y'all!

What You Make of Family

Riza had planned to spend her Saturday like she always did. Clean her apartment, walk Hayate, finish paperwork she brought home from the office and then sit down to a cup of tea and clean her guns. Like much of her life, it was a regular ritual to fill her time but also a relaxation method. The usual grind of the office left her tired once Friday hit so her Saturdays were usually filled with meaningless activities to recoup her spirits.

However this Saturday, she received a call while she in the midst of cleaning her bathroom sink. Riza thought about not answering it but if it was an urgent call from the military, she couldn't let it ring.

"Hello Riza," said Gracia on the other end.

"Good morning, what's up?"

"I was just calling to let you know that I have to go out of town this weekend," Gracia said "and I'm leaving Elicia with Roy."

"Are you kidding me? I could have watched her for you."

"I know," she said "but you could go over and help him."

Riza looked at her receiver and frowned then put it back to her ear, "How thoughtful of you."

Gracia hadn't been actively trying to match up Roy and Riza but it was a common topic between them to talk about Roy. Of course Riza spoke mostly of work and the annoyances that she faced in an office full of men but Gracia always found a way to turn to the subject of her and Roy's bachelorhood. Before Maes died, Gracia had expressed a hope that the four of them could do double dates (and maybe raise kids together).

Riza found all her talk to be simple housewife gossip. She and Roy kept every aspect of their relationship platonic. It just simply made working together easier and if there was already talk about them, and there was, keeping their distance was the only way to not indulge the rumours.

And yet when Gracia painted the picture of a home and kids and a life nothing like her own, Riza had to resist the urge to sigh in desire. The domestic life with Roy was a fantasy that she couldn't afford to entertain.

Gracia must have sensed what was on Riza's mind, "Nothing says you can't be friends outside of work, Riza." Gracia commented.

"I'll visit for Elicia's sake," Riza said "I think you might trust Roy too much."

"Thank you so much Riza, I'll see you later."

Riza looked down at her clothes, she was wearing gray sweatpants and a white tank top with her hair held back with a bandana like she once saw Winry wear. She looked like a housemaid and nowhere near the usual crisp, meticulous look she perfected for work.

Leaving the house Riza felt completely aware of the effort she put in to her appearance. In her mind she felt it was even laughable that she should try to look any different than her usual self in front of the Colonel. At the same time, Riza was aware that she should alter her style to at least give the impression that she had a life outside of the office.

With that in mind she chose a conservative navy dress and legging with mid length boots. Today was too casual to sweep up her hair in a bun but she felt uncomfortable letting her hair hang loose around her shoulders. The side ponytail was the best option.

Her hyper-awareness in her looks made everything from picking her clothes to her makeup a challenge. Normally at work she wore the bare minimum of makeup but once again, Riza calculated that she had to present herself as put-together, strong but still feminine.

Riza rapped the door quickly and turned the knob, which was unlocked, and let herself in the Colonel's house. It seemed quite brazen to let herself in but the alternative was to let Roy come to the door and more or less allow him to give her a once over and focus on her altered appearance.

They exchanged formalities and she even got tackled by Elicia who threw herself at her. The topic of Hughes came up and Riza made herself comfortable on the couch next to Roy.

"You two were more like brothers." Riza said.

"Don't make me feel worse," Roy sighed "I tried calling myself 'Uncle Roy' today and I think I flinched."

Riza suppressed a chuckle, she knew that he was trying to pick up where he left off with the Hughes family but 'Uncle Roy' wasn't a title she could think of him wearing.

She reached across him to replace the picture which she held in her hand but at that moment he tried to snatch it up. She fumbled the frame and it fell in his lap and he instead clutched onto her fingers.

She lifted her head to give him a quizzical look when he didn't let go of her hand. Roy stared into her eyes and licked his lips.

Her heart pounded in her ears and she swore that he was inching closer to her. She shut her eyes tightly and wished that if he kissed her, it would be all a mistake and their tension would be gone, and if he didn't kiss her, she could still keep her deepest desires a secret.

Before she could even meet whichever fate, there was a crash and a wail and the world quickly rematerialized around her. For a moment she felt disappointment but it quickly was overcome with alarm when Roy jumped up and bolted for the kitchen.

A/N: Please R&R, I love the support and you're all fantastic 3