Written for FMA Week, Day 5: Reunion

Cool metal pressed into Riza Hawkeye's arms as she leaned over the railing of the hospital roof. She watched the top of Dr. Marcoh's head until he disappeared through the hospital doors. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and Riza took pleasure in closing her eyes to let the warmth of the sun fully kiss her face.

The hospital staff had given her permission to wander as she wished three days ago, even though she was still technically a patient; the wound on her neck had healed enough that they trusted her on her own, as long as she wasn't gone too long. They still wanted to be the ones to change her bandages for at least a little bit longer, to ensure that the wound wouldn't reopen, and had thus not yet discharged her. Roy Mustang, however, wasn't allowed out of the hospital room without a nurse to escort him. While his hands had healed efficiently, the staff had some concerns about letting the blind colonel roam free.

Hopefully, that would change within the next hour. Both Jean Havoc and Roy Mustang were currently waiting together in the hospital room for Dr. Marcoh to arrive with the philosopher's stone. Havoc was temporarily occupying Riza's bed so that the doctor would have full access to his spine and legs. Riza had considered staying to offer support, but ultimately decided that the small room would be much too crowded and that the doctor most likely needed his space to work.

So Riza had escaped to the roof, where she could enjoy the fresh air that she had been deprived of for weeks while in her hospital bed. The sound of birds in the nearby trees and the breeze on her skin were welcome solace after enduring the maddening squeaking that the hospital carts made for so long. Time ceased to exist as Riza stood there with her eyes closed, just enjoying the peace.

If the stone worked, Roy would be back on his path of pursuing his dreams. Riza knew that nothing could truly return to the way it was before the ordeal with Father and the homunculi, but at least she and the colonel could tackle any future problems together, without anyone threatening to split them apart again.

The door to the roof creaked behind Riza. She snapped open her eyes and whirled around, coming face to face with the colonel, a sly smile on his face. Riza inhaled sharply when she noticed that his eyes were once again pitch black, devoid of the gray that had recently clouded them.

"Colonel-"

"Really, Riza. We've been sharing a room for several weeks now. I think you can call me by name when it's just the two of us, don't you?"

"Roy." Riza smiled. "They already let you come up here on your own, just like that? You must still be at least a little disoriented."

Roy reached forward and ran his fingers through her hair. "I didn't ask for permission; I simply told them where I was going and left." He grasped her shoulders and pulled her into a tender hug. "I said that I wanted to see the sun for the first time since losing my sight, but that was a lie." He gently cupped her face in his hand, meeting her eyes with his once more. "I really just wanted to see you again."

(Thoughts, feedback, suggestions? All feedback is appreciated!)