Riza picked up her bag as her shift ended. Most of her work in South City was the same as it had been in Central. The weight on her chest was gone, and she was able to do her job with no interruptions. She had adjusted well to her new life. Even so, for some reason, Riza could never quite bring herself to really smile. She couldn't figure it out, but she didn't think of it much.

She whistled sharply. Black Hayate lifted his head and looked at his "mother" before jumping to his feet, barking happily as he trotted to Riza's side. She looked down at the dog and gave a half-hearted smile. "Good boy. Time to go home." Black Hayate followed Riza as she walked down the street to her new apartment.

"Hello, Ms. Hawkeye." Riza froze in her tracks. No, it couldn't be. Black Hayate turned and barked loudly. "Shh. It's okay Black Hayate. It's only me."

"No. It can't be you." Riza turned to face Roy, taking a step back. "I left you in Central."

"I retired to South City." Roy smiled, "I'm not an officer anymore, Ms. Hawkeye."

"Stop calling me that."

"Would you prefer Lieutenant Hawkeye?"

"No. Just go away. Leave me alone." She turned away from him again, tapping her hip with the ball of her hand to get Black Hayate's attention.

"Can I ask you something first?"

"Fine." The dog whined and trotted to her heels.

"Would... you like to have dinner sometime?" Roy gave a comforting smile when his former Lieutenant looked back at him with those pretty brown eyes. She looked confused, and a little hurt.

"Why should I go with you now?"

"Because there's no one to say we can't. There's nothing to say an officer can't go out and have dinner with a civilian."

"Why did you follow me out here, Roy?" Riza glared at him. Roy slowly, cautiously, took a step toward her.

"I know it's bold of me to ask, but I wanted to try again."

"No." Riza snapped quickly. If it wasn't for the small, playful smile on Riza's face as she turned her back to him, he would have given up. But that one glimmer of emotion, of hope, told Roy what he needed to know, and caused him to persist.

"That's a shame. I know of a very nice little place on the edge of the city. Very good food." Roy looked upward.

"Perhaps just to humor you, just for old times sake." Riza pulled a hand through her hair with a gentle laugh. She looked over her shoulder at Roy with the first real smile she'd given since her move to South City. She realized how much she'd regretted leaving. But now, she didn't regret her decision anymore.

"When should I pick you up?"

"Let me take Black Hayate home, and we'll go from there." She reached over and took his hand, "And I want you to call me Riza."