Hey look! I updated sooner! Well, today the past 12 hours (that is... it's currently around 12:30 am of Thurs.) was my birthday, so here is my birthday treat to you!

To my reviewers: I love you all! Your words of encouragement enlighten me :hands out cookies, brownies, and chocolate:

Chapter 15

Roy and Riza walked down the streets, and usually Roy would be the one everyone was eyeing: the ladies for his good looks (he was eye candy to them); the men for his looks and the ladies he sported on his arm (they were envious of him). But today, Riza was the one people were staring at. Women envied her beauty and the man she was with, and the men practically drooled looking at her to which Roy glared at ("stupid perverted bastards").

"Gee, Roy. A bit jealous?" she asked playfully after he attempted to burn a man after hitting on her.

"Please. Jealous of him?" he snorted.

"Well, you didn't have to bite his head off. A simple, 'please leave her alone' would suffice."

"He was trying to grab your ass!"

"If he did, you know I could take care of him myself."

"So you're suggesting that you'd rather let him… harass you and then pull your guns on him, than me saving you?"

"If you think about it rationally, me attacking him would show other guys to lay off me; they'd know not mess with me after that. If you were the one who was always 'saving' me, as you say you were, I'd look like some helpless damsel in distress, which you know I am not."

Roy sighed. "I know you aren't. Geez, I try to protect you and you hate me for it…"

"I don't hate you. I just think I could do it myself."

"…and I don't even get a simple 'thank you.' Oh, the things I do for you!"

Riza smiled at his sarcasm, but decided to thank him anyways. He did do her a favor in getting rid of the guy… and it was pretty funny watching Roy get angry. She rolled her eyes and said in a somewhat sarcastic voice, "Fine. Thank you for 'saving me.'"

Roy smirked. It was ironic really. She was always the one saving him from danger or trouble, whether it was from life or death situations or because he hadn't done his paperwork in time. But here she was thanking him for "protecting" her from perverted, idiotic men. She is really something, he mused.

"So… this is your new girlfriend, huh?" Roy broke from his thoughts and looked at the owner of a new voice, which he knew wasn't Riza's. It was a girl, and a familiar one at that. Wavy chestnut brown tresses flowed down the middle of her back and framed her heart-shaped face. Striking big blue eyes peered out of thick, long eyelashes, with a clear glimmer of disgust in them as she looked at Riza up and down. A frown was placed on her full pink lips, and in the depth of his mind, Roy knew that wasn't good. He just couldn't remember where, when, or how he had acquired this information.

"You!… um… uh…" Damn it! He couldn't even remember her name. That was sure to piss her off even more.

"Chelsea? Is that the name you were looking for?" The girl, Chelsea, as she said she was, crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one side. Roy mentally slapped himself on the forehead. Oh yeah! Chelsea! She was his ex-girlfriend as of a couple months ago. He watched as Chelsea examined Riza the way women do to each other: chest, waist, legs, back up to chest, then to the face. Riza felt a little insecure under her gaze and tugged the hem of her skirt downward as casually as possible. Chelsea, being done with her… inspection, turned up her nose and sniffed. "Wow, Roy. You've really outdone yourself. She's as slutty as they get."

The reaction from Roy and Riza were completely different. Riza looked down and flushed red from embarrassment and humiliation. She couldn't do anything in this situation. As skilled as she was in defending herself from men, she was totally inexperienced in handling situations like these from women. She had never been insulted like this, nonetheless been called a slut. Roy, however, was completely appalled at what Chelsea said. He was enraged. No one had the right to call Riza slut. She was not even the least bit of what Chelsea said she was. Roy's eyes flickered in fury and hatred for that woman, no that bitch, and he was seriously considering burning her down.

"So are you going to introduce me or what?"

"Why should I? She doesn't even deserve to meet someone like you." Roy grabbed Riza's hand. "Come on, Riza. Let's go."

As they started to walk away, Chelsea grabbed Riza's arm. "Don't fall for that stupid macho, but Mr. Nice Guy act he pulls on you. He doesn't even care about you; he's just looking for a good screw."

"Shut up, Chelsea!" She had driven Roy over the edge this time, so he let go of Riza's hand and snapped his gloved fingers sending a stream of fire toward Chelsea. She screamed, but quickly recovered when she realized when her body wasn't on fire. She laughed somewhat evilly.

"You, the great Flame Alchemist, missed!"

"Oh no. I didn't miss. I got my flames exactly where I want it: in front of your feet. Why? Because I don't intentionally hurt women." He grabbed Riza's hand and walked away, leaving a gaping Chelsea in the middle of the street.

After he was sure Chelsea was out of sight, Roy turned to Riza, a despondent look on his face. "Riza, I'm really sorry about what happened back there. I mean, if I knew she was going to—"

"But you didn't, Roy. You can't predict the future. It's not your fault."

"But the reason she came up was because of me. If I hadn't broken up with her—"

"You'd still be living a miserable life with her. You need to stop blaming yourself for every little thing that goes wrong. Again, it wasn't your fault. Even if it was, you knew how to take care of it." Riza paused and smiled at Roy. "And that's why I want to say… thank you."

"What?" Roy cast her a bewildered look. Here she was, thanking him, because his ex-girlfriend called her a slut after seeing them two together? "What for?"

"You stood up for me. Truthfully, I never knew how to react to these kinds of situations. I could handle dealing with men, but women… they're harder to contend with."

"You're telling me," Roy murmured.

"…so thanks, again, Roy."

"…" Roy didn't know how to respond to this. It was quite unexpected, like the encounter with Chelsea. But he still felt guilty for what happened. After all, it was he Chelsea wanted hurt, not Riza. "Riza… I'm still sorry that this whole thing happened."

Riza mentally sighed. God, this man was stubborn! "I told you it's not your fault." Roy merely looked at her with pitiful eyes begging for forgiveness. This time, she literally sighed. "If it makes you feel better, then, yes; I forgive you." He grinned at her and she grabbed his hand, smiling.

"Come on! We don't want to be late for dinner."

I wanted some kind of villain in it, so I added Chelsea. I apologize to anyone who's name is Chelsea. I hope I don't offend you. This name was picked randomly so it's not like I hate everyone named Chelsea.

Well, the dinner is next and I don't know when I'll be updating.

But please do review! It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside! Try it!