Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters. I only am responsible for the (albeit poorly written and devised) plot.

Warning: Very emotional chapter. Sorry it's not well written, though I tried my best.

-Pyro

Riza didn't sleep that night.

She lay curled up in her bed, her golden hair spilling out over her pillow. Her pale skin shone from the light coming in from her window. Her hand lay against her bare stomach, trying to ease her anxiety. Any moment now, she could feel those hands on her face, over her mouth. Or a knife pressed to her throat.

Or even a gun pressed to her head.

Riza Hawkeye was crying.

Loud, heaving sobs wracked her whole body, shaking her tiny frame.

Pathetic, pathetic PATHETIC! She cried even louder now, her self confidence shrinking by the minute.

No wonder the Colonel will ever love you, you're nothing but a pathetic useless mess who can't reel in her own emotions. Suck it up, loser! Don't cry dammit!

Without even meaning to, she reached over to the phone stationed at her bedside table, dialing one of the only people she trusted.

Maria Ross.

Maria answered on the first ring.

"Riza! What are you doing up this late? Are you alright?" Her best female friend's voice was laced with concern.

"...Maria... I... I need you to... pick me up tomorrow... Could.. could I possibly hitch a ride with you tomorrow to work?"

Riza was quick to think of an excuse. Then again, it wasn't really an excuse; she doubted that she'd be in any condition to drive in a couple of hours.

She just needed to hear a voice of someone she cared about. A friend. But who was she fooling? There was only one person whose voice she wanted to hear.

"Yes, yes of course! Riza, what's wrong?!" Maria paused only to hear her beginning to sob again.

"Riza, what is it? Please, let me help you..."

"I.. I can't," she said mostly to herself, as a single tear dripped down her face.

"It's okay. If you don't want me to know, I won't pry." Riza gave a sigh of relief.

"But...I will ask you one thing. Why call me? Why not call The Colonel? Why not call Roy? He lives closer to you than I do, and-"

"No." Maria held the phone to her ear in silence for a moment.

"I will not let the Colonel hear me in this condition. This pathetic, worthless state I am in is much less than he deserves to hear. I will not punish him like that."

Maria blinked. Is she being serious right now? The Colonel didn't care what she sounded like, or looked like, or even smelled like! Maybe the pair a was too oblivious for their own good. Roy didn't care about those things, it was obvious he only cared that his Riza was okay.

She smirked. His Riza. No doubt about it. Everyone at the office saw the two honest-to-god oblivious idiots, constantly ignoring the signs. Every. Freaking. Day.

And it wasn't like they were flirting. They didn't even do that. Gah, they were so clueless it was almost painful to watch. Just a small interaction, the Maria could see her feelings written all over her face. The feeling as if butterflies were frantically fluttering around in her stomach.

The loved each other. And everyone knew it.

"Riza, please, Roy wouldn't care. Just call him. It'll make you feel better." Riza sniffled.

"I won't make him suffer!"

And with that, she slammed the phone back down on the receiver, and started to cry.

The room was dark, dark enough that the Colonel could only see the silhouette of the person laying beside him. He could hear her breathing, the steady pattern indicating she was still sleeping. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, the feel of her pajamas soft against his hands. And suddenly, they were sitting up, facing each other.

The curtains were open, and the moonlight that shone in illuminated her beautiful face. He saw her eyes, staring into his very soul. She smiled, becoming lovelier still.

BANG!

And then there was a small hole, right between her eyes. Blood came trickling out, and she collapsed in his arms.

And the bloodied bullet landed in his lap.

He scrambled frantically, gathering her upright in his arms. In the loudest voice she could muster, the words came pouring out;

"Why couldn't you save me?"

And then she was cold and limp in his arms, her life slipping away between her fingers.

Dead.

And it was all his fault.

Roy Mustang woke up screaming.

He shot up in bed panting, his sheets twisted around his legs and torso.

All...My...Fault..

And then she was dead. His fist pounded down on his legs. Because I couldn't find a damn killer! His fist went haywire, seeking a solid target.

No. NONONONONO! They found his bedpost first. Not Riza! Anyone but Riza! No...

Not my Riza.

He slumped in defeat, fists throbbing with the bruises to come, bawling his onyx eyes out.

Ring!

His hand was on the phone in less than a second. Almost immediately composed, he answered.

"This is Colonel Mustang speaking. What's the issue?" He was a little more than surprised to hear it was Second Lieutenant Maria Ross calling.

"There is no issue sir. I called to ask you a personal favor." He groaned.

"2nd Lt. Ross, I'd be more than happy to hear your request after 2 in the morning." He massaged his forehead, and lay back down on his mattress. Maria rolled her eyes, preparing for the amusement at what the Colonel's reaction would be.

"But sir-"

"Ross, I don't have the energy to deal with a personal crisis this early in the morning. Please, I promise I will help you with whatever you need tomorrow."

"It's about Riza."

For the second time that night, he sat upright in bed.

"What is it? What's wrong?! Is she okay? Is she hurt?!" Maria Ross was wearing a full-blown smile now. He did care. He was concerned about the well-being of his personal body guard.

"No sir. She's fine." She could tell he'd physically relaxed, easing the tension behind his muscles. "But sir, I think something is bothering her. She called me just a minute ago and she was... well, she was... " How could she out this delicately? Hmm..

"Spit it out Ross!"

"She was crying, sir." His eyes went so wide, he suspected they could've fallen out of his head. Riza Hawkeye did not cry. Ever. Even when he'd watched her get shot during combat in Ishbal. She hadn't shed a tear.

"What?"

"You heard me. She was falling apart at the seams. Sobbing, even. I'm not sure what's going on right now. But I know I can't help her. But I'd bet you could. Please help her Colonel. I know you can. She's strong; but every woman has a weak spot."

She heard a sharp inhale before continuing. "She asked me to drive her to work tomorrow. I asked why she hadn't asked you to do it. She said she didn't want you to see her like that. She said she was... pathetic. She didn't want to call you because she said something about not making you suffer."

Him? Suffer because of Riza? What the hell? Was she insane?

"So I was wondering if you'd pick her up tomorrow. I think she's had a late night, so if she doesn't come out when you knock on the door, I'm sure you could use alchemy or something. Climb in through her window if you have to."

"Whatever it is you secret boyfriends are supposed to do," she muttered under her breath.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that. What did you say?" He asked, clueless as usual.

Maria sighed. "It was nothing. Just pick her up in the morning. Got it?"

Rhetorical question.

As if he'd pass up a chance to spend some extra time with Riza.

Hey guys! Can't believe some people actually took the time to read this crap. Thanks! :)

Anyway, just in case you didn't know, my pen name for the moment will be changing soon, so sorry 'bout that. And in case you were wondering, Pyro is me. That's my nickname in the real world. (Long story)You can totally call me that. Well, I'm out. Whoever is reading this a) thank you so much and b) I promise I'll update at least once a week.

Later,

-Pyro