A/N: Wah wah waaaaah! So I'm a little late updating, I blame the liquor. I had hoped to get this up before New Year's but I had not anticipated drinking at 4 in the afternoon and end at 3 o'clock this morning.

I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the reviewers, I'm glad my story is being so well received. It's a huge boost to me and I'm excited to keep writing for you all. So I hope you all had a good New Year and let's hope that 2010 is the year of Royai!

What You Make of Family

Riza couldn't tell if what she was feeling was disappointment or shear panic. Her heart was racing and a flood of cold washed over her body, she felt numb. This time she was sure that she wasn't dreaming it; Roy Mustang really did try to make a move on her. He brushed her hair away from her face, his hand grazed her cheek, and he would have kissed her.

She wasn't stupid. She always felt the mild sexual tension between herself and Roy. It was impossible to work so closely with someone for so many years and there not be some banter and affection for one another but they had always kept their relationship platonic. It was an unspoken rule between them that neither would cross the invisible line of commander and subordinate. They cherished their working relationship too much to jeopardize it, not to mention that any bond between them could be exploited if they weren't careful.

What was the sudden change in Roy that made him finally crack? Despite being the Flame Alchemist, he was always; ironically, cool headed and in command of himself. But this time he reached out to her.

Maybe he interpreted her answers as ambiguous, which admittedly, they were. But his questions were also misleading and apparently not so innocent.

Roy walked into the living room with Elicia in his arms and left Riza still standing at the kitchen sink. She tapped her finger against her mouth, contemplating what she should do. Was there a way to end this mess without causing embarrassment to Roy? She couldn't stop herself from frowning while thinking about the predicament Roy had put her in. Despite her resolve, she stole a moment to visualize that kiss.

"Hey Riza, could you get the tin of cookies from the cupboard? Elicia needs a snack." Roy asked.

Riza shook her head and looked up at Roy, "Eh...Of course, sure..."

She reached into the cupboard and pulled out a lovely decorated tin and opened the lid and grabbed two cookies. She held out her hand to give them to Roy. He paused for a moment before taking the cookies from Riza's palm. He returned to the living room and gave the cookies to Elicia. Roy did not return to the kitchen, which Riza took as a clue that he was busying himself with Elicia rather than face her.

Riza poured herself a glass of water and sat down at the kitchen table.

It wasn't that he wanted to avoid Hawkeye. Roy just felt the sting of embarrassment and now wasn't sure how he could approach that topic again without being shot down by his lieutenant. In fact, the notion of even being smitten with Riza Hawkeye was hard to admit. It had been many years that she stood next to him and all he had ever wanted to do was reach out and hold her hand.

Although he ignored his feelings toward her in the past, he had to admit that he had always felt the twinge of jealousy whenever she had a boyfriend. It was a territorial instinct he assumed, for he was the first to see her unclothed and still innocent.

Roy could still picture her, back turned and skin glowing from the dim light of the afternoon sun peaking through the dusty attic window of the Hawkeye manor. She held her arms over her breast to cover herself while Roy studied her tattoo. She was visibly embarrassed; he was in awe of her delicate form.

He cringed at the thought of another man running his hand over her back.

Luckily for Roy, Hawkeye never maintained any longterm relationships past a few months. Yet during those times it increased his irritability at work, which in turn stressed her out and likely caused her relationships to fail. His handful of relationships over the years seemed to cause the same reaction in her. Neither spoke of this predicament but after a while it was apparent to both parties that they worked best together when neither was attached to someone else.

Roy left Elicia sitting on the floor with a puzzle and walked into the kitchen gingerly. Riza was sitting at the table and lifted her eyes as he walked past.

"I should start supper." he said.

Riza stood up, "Oh, yes...I should get going." She said and made for the door.

Roy side stepped and put out his hand to stop her.

"Stay," he said. "for supper."

"Colonel-"she began but he cut her off.

"I'm sorry, I stepped out of line."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Sir." She said and coughed nervously, "We were just having a conversation."

Roy felt like Riza landed a sucker punch to his stomach. She was trying desperately to save face for her sake and his. Every action she did was cool and calculated, Roy knew, but this response upset him. She would rather pretend that there was nothing between them than admit that there was something at all.

"You won't even talk about it?!" he said.

"You weren't even going to raise the subject," she said seething, "Sir."

He threw up his hands in exasperation, "I was going to bring it up later!"

"So avoiding me and starting a conversation about supper is supposed to signal to me that this isn't over?"

"Just-"he said and sighed heavily, "Just stay for supper."

Riza crossed her arms and sighed heavily. Roy knew he coaxed her for now but her temper was flared and now she would be harder to approach.

"Go sit down and I'll get this ready." he said.

Riza heeded his command and she joined Elicia in the living room. She beaconed the little girl to sit in her lap and she busied herself with combing and braiding Elicia's hair. The pair played together and Riza couldn't help but be reminded again of how quaint all this felt, father in the kitchen, mother watching the baby.

Half an hour passed and Roy called them into the kitchen. Elicia got up and ran, well, slightly limped to the kitchen. Riza followed and the three of them sat down to a spaghetti supper.

They ate in mostly silence except for the interjections from Elicia"

"I want a roll!"

"Mama makes yummy spigatty too."

"Can I have milk Riza?"

They finished supper and Roy hoisted up Elicia, who was now covered in tomato sauce.

"I gotta clean her up," he said to Riza, "make some coffee and have a seat in the living room."

Riza nodded and made herself a coffee and returned to the living room. She listened to Roy fuss over Elicia and then the bedtime story and finally she was in bed for the night and he returned to the living room.

"So." he said and took a seat on the couch next to Riza.

"So..."

A/N: Stay tuned, same bat place, same bat channel and remember to R&R :D