A/N: I didn't get this up as quickly as I hoped. I've already started planning for a new story but I'm going to finish this one first for fear that I get caught up with another project.
This chapter has much more RoyAi-i-ness, so enjoy!
What You Make of Family
Roy reacted like a lioness protecting its cub. He skidded into the kitchen and scooped up Elicia into his arm, who was sitting on the floor, holding her foot and sobbing. Roy didn't even register the shards of his coffee shattered on the floor. He sat Elicia down on the counter next to the sink and looked her over. The little girl continued to wail and clutched her foot which Roy now noticed was covered in blood. He pulled off her sock and saw the inch long gash on the pad of her foot. Roy's face paled, even a war veteran like himself had a difficult time facing a wounded child.
"Riza! Get me a face cloth from the linen closet!"
Riza was already standing behind him holding a clean dish towel. She held it out to him and he grabbed it and ran cold water to dampen it. Roy washed away the blood and then inspected the wound for shards imbedded in the skin.
"Looks clean," he said "we just need to wrap it up."
Roy rushed out of the kitchen, toward the bathroom. Riza approached Elicia and wiped the tears off her cheeks and the little girl calmed down.
"It huuuurts" she whimpered and clutched at Riza's shirt.
"It's alright, Roy will fix it."Riza cooed and smiled at the child.
Roy returned and wrapped Elicia's foot in gauze and then inspected her other foot and hands for any other injury. He nodded as a sign of a clean bill of health and then picked her up off the counter and coddled her against his chest.
Riza held her breath for a moment, watching Roy Mustang's paternal instincts kick in was bizarre but oddly fascinating. He rubbed the little girl's head and she held onto his shirt in two little balled fists, still whimpering.
"I think she needs a nap." Roy said.
"Probably a good idea, Sir."
"Here," Roy said and passed Elicia to Riza "I'll get her bed ready."
Riza watched Roy pull out a kid-sized mat from a bag with blankets. She followed him into his bedroom where he set the mat on the floor and laid out the blankets and grabbed a pillow off his bed. He stood back to let Riza lay the girl down.
"I need ducky!" Elicia said and Roy rushed out and grabbed a plush duck and returned in a flash.
"Ok, anything else sweetie?" Roy said and kneeled down.
Elicia shook her head and Roy tucked her in. She let out a yawn and turned over.
Roy stood up and watched Elicia settle in. He felt Riza's mahogany eyes on his neck and took a moment to compose his face to hide the panicked adrenaline rush he just experienced. When he finally turned around to look at her, Riza didn't say a word. She was too baffled by the fierce parental behaviour Roy had just demonstrated to question him.
Roy cleared his throat, "We should let her sleep."
Riza cleared out of the room first and returned to the living room. This time she sat in a large leather chair across from the couch to avoid coming into contact with Roy again. He chose to sit back down on the sofa and sprawl out.
An awkward silence slipped into the room.
Finally Riza cracked, "Do you uh...want something from the kitchen...sweetie?" she said and covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing too loud.
Roy looked up, flush red, "Oh yeah, ha ha," he said "who knew you had a sense of humour Hawkeye?"
"I'm sorry, Sir!" she stifled a laugh.
Riza stood up, "Where's your broom? There's still broken china all over your floor." she said.
Roy pointed to the closet behind her. She opened the door and found the broom, entered the kitchen and began sweeping the floor. Roy followed her and leaned against the doorway.
"Have you ever wanted kids, Riza?" Roy asked casually.
Riza stopped sweeping and turned to him, "I've...thought about it," she said "but sometimes there's more important things in life."
"I use to think that," he said "Then I hit a certain age and I started to think about my legacy."
Riza frowned, "Having kids shouldn't be to preserve your legacy."
"I meant I would want kids so that all my hard work and effort is done for someone I love, not just for myself."
"Then that is a noble reason."
"I'm surprised someone like you hasn't settled down yet." Roy said.
"Why would someone like me be settled down?" Riza said "I have too much work to do."
"But that's what I mean. You're always looking out for me and our subordinates," Roy grinned "you are very motherly...in your own way."
"True. You are my lost boys." Riza said and mimicked Roy's grin. She returned to sweeping and picked up the larger pieces and disposed of them in the trash can.
"It's nice having people in the house, feels more like a home." Roy mused.
Riza wasn't quite sure how to interpret that comment. She felt her cheeks burn and turns her back on Roy to have a look outside the kitchen window.
"Sir, if you're lonely," she said slowly "why don't you just settle down already?"
Roy laughed and ran his fingers through his hair, "No woman understands the hours I work or the magnitude of my dedication to this country." He said "Except for you!"
Roy laughed and stood next to Riza at the sink. She couldn't help feel the domestic vibe, a child asleep in the house, her sweeping, Roy cooing over Elicia. All they needed was a dog –never mind, they had Hayate- and a white picket fence. Riza frowned at the mental image she was concocting. It seemed like family life would be easy to settle in to if this was the blueprint for their everyday activities. But she knew that Roy was far too ambitious and determined to see his plans through and she herself was too stubborn to walk away from him to find another man and become domesticated. This whole scene was just them playing house.
"Uh Lieutenant? Did I insult you or something?" Roy asked, apparently Riza had drifted off in thought and left the Colonel hanging in dead air.
"Oh, no. Sorry, I was just thinking about it," Riza said "and you're right, the hours you put in would interfere with having a normal family life...I guess you're doomed to bachelor hood!"
Riza laughed and waited for Roy to join in but he dropped his head and sighed. Riza stopped laughing and turned to him.
"Colonel, if there was ever a man who could want and get it all, it's you," Riza said in a low serious voice "but it's up to you to take what's yours. No one just hands over the things you want."
Roy lifted his head and looked into Riza's eyes; she did not look away, but stared at him with assertiveness. This was his invite, he was sure. She said it herself; he had to claim what was his! And all it would take to break the codes and double meanings was to kiss her. He lifted a hand, brushed a loose strand of hair off her cheek and leaned in closer...
Until he felt a tug on his leg and a little face peered up at him.
"Uncle Roy, I want up!" Elicia demanded.
Roy had to compose his face to avoid a freak out but he obliged the little girl and lifted her up into his arms and she rested her head of his shoulder. He looked back at Riza who held her fingers to her lips. Roy could have sworn that, although she looked startled, a distinct blush settled over her face.
A/N: Bahahaha, sorry! Another cop out. I enjoy building tension, it'll make the ending that much more juicy, I promise! Remember to R&R if you like it, hate it or just plain wanna flame me!