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.

I checked the reviews, rating and comments.

Oh, my….

THANK YOU!

I know it might not seem like a whole lot, but now I have 30 reviews! And thank you SO much for taking the time to favorite, follow, and share your thoughts on this story.

And without further ado, thank you to:

GrimCreeper

RavenBlacknight

DarkWinxGirl (I responded to your PM, not sure if you got it…. But thanks)

WhispersOfWings (of course you made it to the 'thank you' list…..)

The two Guests. I just assumed that you're two different people, and the first two comments were from the same person. But seriously, log in and then leave a review. I can't thank you properly if I don't know who you are!

Sigh.

Any questions? Ideas? Critical comments?

Nope?

Well then, the story goes on.

Riza was in for it now.

Oh god, she was going to die at the hands of a hot-headed, dark haired woman who swore like a sailor. Of course, Riza could have easily broken free from her hold. If she hadn't been so busy feeling guilty.

Rebecca had stormed upstairs to Roy's bathroom, and came back with bloodly bandages. Bloody, bloody bandages.

She shouldn't have done that.

Not just the burning a new array into her flesh thing. The forgetting to dispose of the bandages was a stupid thing to do; she wouldn't deny that. But not telling Roy? Doing it in secret? By herself?

She was in the shithouse now.

Now I can't even tell a little white lie and say it wasn't that bad. Riza thought to herself, as strips of stained cloth were waved in front of her face.

And Riza would tell as many small-lies as she had to if it meant keeping the concerned look off Roy's face.

I'm an idiot.

I could've sworn it wasn't that bad… Riza thought with a wince.

Rebecca impatiently tapped her foot on the hardwood floor, irritation levels slowly growing.

Riza raked her hair out of her eyes, securing her long locks in a ponytail.

"Fine. I'm sorry I hid it, okay?" Riza spit out, forcing her self to look at her nails. The floor, the ceiling, Rebecca. Anywhere but Roy's face.

"Hid what?" Fuery asked, stepping out as he made wild arm movements "What, that you almost bled to death? That you had an injury from the tussle with Lacey and Peter? Jesus Christ Riza, why would you keep that from us?"

Anywhere but Roy. Anywhere but Roy. Riza desperately tried to keep her eyes and thoughts focused on Fuery.

"The box," she began slowly, "the one no one could open. There was a key, on Lacey's body when I killed her. I kept it. Why, I'm not sure, but it just seemed… important. I guess I should be glad that I did, because it was a perfect fit." She unfastened the simple piece of string from around her neck.

She held it out shamefully, offering it to Rebecca. She suspiciously snatched it from her grasp, and proceeded to examine the key.

"A key. For the box. That no one could open. And why did you feel the need to keep this from us again?"

"The Fuhrer told me to consider it." She said, her head hanging low.

The Fuhrer? Maes' question seemed to be one that everyone was dwelling on.

"He said that I should open it first, then share it with you. But I saw what was inside, and I just-" she gasped, emotions overwhelming her. "I thought that I could save you the trouble. But I went too far with it, I-"

"Riza," Rebecca hissed, leaning in close. "What. Was. In. The. Box?"

Riza motioned her head towards the hallway on her left.

"Under Roy's bed. Check under the bed." Riza said, hoarsely, as she fell into a chair.

"No, first you tell me why you didn't tell me about this," Roy interrupted, shoving past Breda. He bent down, forcing her to meet his gaze.

She looked at him through her hair, as she began to tear up.

Not that he could tell, of course.

Meanwhile, Roy had never felt so useless in his life.

"Riza, the blood. Where did it come from?" He asked, looking her dead in the eye. "Lacey hurt you? Or was it Peter? I swear, if that son of a bitch was still alive, I would burn-"

"I did it to myself."

"And there she goes, blaming herself again," Falman muttered.

"I bled half to death in your bathtub a few days ago. I passed out from the pain and woke up floating in a mixture of ice water and my own blood he next morning. "

1….2….3….

"I'm sorry you did what?!" Roy asked, shaking her shoulders. He abruptly stopped when she winced at the sudden jostling of her back.

"What were you thinking? God, Riza why would you do something so stupid?" Riza bit her instinctive sharp retort back, knowing he had every right.

"I'm not going to apologize," she said. "I'm not sorry, and I'd do it again if I had to."

Roy's gaze hardened.

He straightened.

"Rebecca. Go get the box."

Rebecca scurried away, not wanting to further evoke the fury of the Colonel.

"Riza," he said, clearly trying (and failing) to appear calm. "What have you done?"

"I found it," she whispered brokenly. "The key."

"Yes, yes, I know already!" Roy said, exasperated.

This conversation with her seems to be going in circles.

Before Riza could explain that the stupid key wasn't what she had meant, Rebecca burst in.

Heaving, she lifted the solid, heavy chest onto the table. It landed with a thunk, heavy wood on polished marble.

The kitchen island seemed much smaller now, with a huge wooden box resting on top of it.

Roy stepped forward, and Rebecca wordlessly handed him the small key.

He straightened, hands shaking as he turned the key in the lock.

When he lifted the lid, he wasn't quite sure what the big deal was. Papers had been hastily stuffed in (courtesy of Riza, if you remember from earlier). Crumpled sheets poked out, and Roy snatched one out at random.

This one just so happened to be an early draft of the array. Fortunately for Riza (for this moment, she knew it was inevitable), this one didn't have the description, information, or research relating to the image as a side note. It seemed that this one was absentminded planning, a crude design. Probably the most simple, earliest design.

But even to Rebecca, who probably knew the least about alchemy, she could tell it what it was.

An alchemy circle.

Roy's eyebrows puled together, as he tried to decipher the problem laid out in front of him.

"Roy, trying and uncode someone else's research without at least a little of their previous work is next to impossible. You should know that," Maes chided.

"This is probably the most complicated thing I've ever seen," he said, just as Havoc's hand came out with another paper.

"This looks like another version of that," he said, holding the two designs next to each other.

"Yeah, except, this one looks a bit different." Roy noted. Havoc pointed to the top right hand corner. "And much, much more complex."

"Look at the date! See, this one is a later model,. And look! They're numbered!" Havoc said as he took the other page from Roy's hands.

Each page had a number on top, starting at twenty three and going backwards. Old numbers had been crossed out, sometimes more than once on specific papers.

"So they were probably counting down to one," Fuery muttered, his reasoning making more than enough sense.

"Let's see if we can find the latest one," Havoc suggested as he arranged papers on the floor in front of him.

Riza was mentally bracing herself.

Luckily for her, no one was paying attention.

This was the first productive lead they'd gotten so far. They were desperate for information.

Havoc was quickly smoothing out papers, scanning them, and sorting them into piles.

He muttered to himself as he did, alarming Roy with how uncharacteristically efficient he was being.

The others were pushed aside in a neat stack.

As he worked, Riza recognized a sheet he'd put aside.

Lines of text, in tiny, neat printing.

A rough draft of the instructions.

Which… no one was taking the time to look at right now.

There were at least twenty different versions laid out on the floor when Havoc was done. Some were copies, reproductions of the authentic ones.

All lined up in order, the most recent one holding the most detail.

Havoc moved aside, giving way to Roy. The Colonel quickly began to compare the research 'notes,' trying to spot the differences.

"See, this symbol, this one isn't in the one before it. But they took it out in the next one. So it must not have been contributing to the information. But this line, once it's added in the fifth diagram, it's kept the whole time. See?" He asked, pointing to the various locations of the mark on different papers.

Maes scratched his head.

"I don't get it."

Roy sighed.

It was like trying to explain why breathing was important.

"Don't you get it? It means that this symbol, whatever it means, is a crucial part of the array. They wouldn't have kept it so many times if it wasn't essential!"

He was greeted by blank looks.

Gah, this was getting him nowhere.

"Why would one tiny symbol matter?" Falman asked, whose area of expertise was clearly not alchemy.

Maria even rolled her eyes and smacked him upside the head.

"Even I know it matters, idiot!"

She paused for a second and shrugged her shoulders.

"I mean, I don't know why it matters, but I know it does!"

Roy groaned, his hand flying up to smack his forehead.

"Really? If a person's entire life's work is compacted into a single, elaborate array, how much could one symbol be worth? A month? A year? Maybe even a decade!"

Havoc whistled.

"Wow."

Roy grinned.

Finally. We're getting somewhere. Baby steps, but steps nonetheless.

"So… that tiny symbol is a ten whole years?" Havoc asked from the back.

Roy's grin melted into an exasperated scowl.

Idiot.

God help me...

"So what you're saying is that this thing could've taken a lifetime? Or maybe even more?" Kain asked, clearly lightyears ahead of the others.

Roy nodded, glad that someone was following.

Well, someone other than Riza.

Riza clearly knew exactly what Roy was going on about, and the look on her face proved it.

But… Roy was too upset to deal with her right now. Though, not upset with her. More at himself.

"Look at the side notes. Some are just useless babble, but others are somewhat useful. See-"

How am I supposed to help you if you won't let me in? He thought to himself as he talked on. I was supposed to be your protector. But I'm failing you, over and over again. Do you even know what I'd do if something bad happened to you?

Riza was thinking in pretty much the opposite direction.

He's gonna explode. He'll explode, and I'm gonna cry again, because it's Roy. And then he'll get upset t me crying like a baby. And it's all because I'm an idiot!

Yeah. The self-hatred was strong in these two. And slight idiocy.

Riza cringed at the thought, silently crumbling to pieces inside as she thought of the worst possible outcome.

I could lose Roy!

I mean, dealing with flame alchemy in one thing, but the secret to human transmutation? The key to the biggest taboo?

The worry was eating her up, and though he was slightly pissed at her, Maes was worried.

"Riza, any chance that you'd like to explain this thing?"

In all honesty, Riza hadn't noticed the numbers. She just quickly located the one on the newest-looking paper.

"Hey guys," Havoc called out just as Riza had opened her mouth to speak.

"Anyone notice anything off?" He asked, gesturing to the mat of paper currently spread on Roy's floor.

Rebecca glanced at it for a moment, trying to spot the error in the pattern.

"I don't see it."

Havoc made an impatient noise as Maria pointed at number fourteen.

"This one is on a different grade of paper?"

"What? No! God, who even notices something like that?" Havoc asked, throwing his hand upwards. "It's so obvious!"

Havoc showed them some thing, a motion that Riza couldn't see from her chair. They all crowded around the kneeling figure, packing in to see what was happening.

Besides, even if they'd all parted to show her, her elbows were resting on her knees, and her head was being propped up by her clenched hands.

"Oh, wait… Is that…?"

"Did we not notice that?"

"Good eye buddy!"

Riza spoke up from the back.

"There's no number one, I'm assuming."

All eyes were on her.

"How did you now that? You can't even see it!"

Riza grimaced. She looked up.

"Lucky guess," she said in a monotone voice. They didn't believe her for even half a second.

"Don't give me that crap Riza. I can assume that you've already looked in the chest. Where's number one?" Maria asked.

"I burned it," she replied with no emotion. No regret was evident in her response.

"Or, at least, I think that the paper I burned was number one. It looked more intricate than those alchemy marks, I can tell you that."

"What is wrong with you lately?" Rebecca asked, obviously bothered by this.

"Ever since a few days ago, you've been moving funny, you're hiding things from us, and you're a lot more sensitive. Girl, what the hell is going on? Your first time was with Roy-"

"Excuse me, she did what?"

"And you just decided to mention it yesterday-"

"No, sorry, I'm really gonna need an answer for that question I asked earlier."

"After all these years. And of course the Fuhrer show up and just so happens to know about your back-"

"Someone answer me!"

"Jean, shut up for a moment, would you?!" Maes yelled impatiently, annoyed at his outbursts.

Jean shut his trap, though he was obviously going to bombard his 'little sister' with questions later. And then maybe kick Roy into next Tuesday.

"I've been moving funny?" Riza asked, having caught that first part.

"Yeah, sometimes when you sit, you stop for a second before using your arms to pull yourself up. You need to see a physical therapist or something?"

Havoc nudged her in the elbow. She shook her head.

"Sorry, wrong time. But Riza, what's really going on? What was the array even for? And why does the Fuhrer seem to know everything that's happened so far?!"

Riza ignored all questions and concerns regarding their leader. And planned to keep on doing that, for as long as she could.

"It was too dangerous to keep lying around on a stupid piece of paper."

"That wasn't the question."

"I had to save it, just in case. Whether it was for the greater good, or the Elric brothers, I don't know."

"Riza…"

"Human transmutation."

"Oh, ha ha. Riza, this isn't a time for jokes."

She blinked at him, daring him to say that again.

Roy stumbled back, crashing into the table.

"No."

"I wish that I hadn't, that I'd thought it through a bit better. I acted on impulse, and it was a rather foolish and thoughtless decision."

Roy held his head like it was gonna explode.

"For real? Like 'bring back the dead' transmutation?"

"What have you done?" Maes asked in horror.

"Does it really work?"

"I don't know," she lied through her teeth.

It's not really lying… I know it works on plants, and animals too, but on humans? It's all theoretical.

Even though it probably does work.

No one had gotten past the surprise of her 'great reveal' to think that far ahead. No one had figured it out yet.

Riza took a pen, and drew several curves and lines over the most recent paper.

"There. That was number one."

"Did you memorize that?" Maes asked skeptically. "That seems a bit complicated to know off of the top of your head."

Riza pulled her shirt over her head, and halfway down her arms as her answer.

"Keep your clothes on! Save that for Roy!" Fuery cried, shielding his eyes before someone *cough cough* Roy *cough cough* or Havoc *cough cough* punched his lights out.

He was not going to die from seeing a superior officer half-naked.

She turned, before Havoc could make some sort of sexist comment.

Even though the back of her bra was in the way, it was clear that an addition had been made.

"Riza, did you… draw that on your own back? How on earth did you manage that?"

"Roy, tell them."

"I don't know."

"Take a closer look. Tell them."

With much effort, Roy stood, and traced the thin line curving away from her shoulder blade. The precise mark were in perfect position, never once deviating or bending the wrong way.

It couldn't be… These are too..

"They're burns," Roy said flatly, feeling tears blur his vision of yet another burden on the back of his Riza.

"She burned it into her skin."

He didn't bother looking up to see the reactions. He didn't care.

"The piece of paper, on the floor. It's by your foot, Jean. Read it," Riza instructed.

And as he read aloud, the horrible reality was exposed.

Riza pulled her shirt back on, and turned to face him.

"Damn it Riza!" He snarled, backing her up against the wall. "Why would you do this?!"

"It was a stupid risk! It was reckless, and so idiotic! Did you not even stop to think of the consequences?"

She bit her lip, hard enough to draw blood.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again. I will do whatever it takes to keep you from harm. That is what I promised to do until you make it to the top, and even after that, if I'm needed."

"But what about you? Fuck it all Riza, I love you! I hope you know that. You don't seem to have gotten that into that stubborn mind yet! Hell, I've even said it! For some stupid reason, you don't seem to believe me! I'll do anything for you! But it hurts. It hurts so much, watching you struggle so much because of me! I can't just stand by and watch as you try and take on the whole world to keep me from getting hurt. Riza, how could I live with myself if something happened to you?"

She let him crush her in his arms, holding her between his chest and the wall. Looking over his shoulder, she watched the rest of the group smiling, despite the horror at her actions.

"How you could do that to me?" Roy asked with a whimper. "Why does this keep happening?"

She let a few tears trickle down.

I hurt him.

I hurt him.

This wasn't supposed to...

I'm sorry.

He felt something wet fall into his hair and roll down to his forehead.

He looked up, annoyed at himself for giving her a reason to cry.

"Hey you," He said, his tone an obvious attempt at cheering her up. "I'm sorry for yelling. You're not allowed to cry anymore. Okay? That's an order."

She hugged him tighter, wondering how in the world she'd gotten such an amazing person in her life.

She was rather alarmed as Rebecca opened a notebook she'd pulled from the open chest.

A journal.

Lacey's journal.

Oh fuck.

"That's Lacey's," Riza said, having accepted that they'd all figure it out eventually. "And from what I can tell, she has some mental disorder. Read it, and you'll understand."

Twenty minutes later, Riza had a soft smile on her face, and Roy had a raging...

Headache. (Gotcha!)

His head was going to explode from all the stupid, repetitive questions regarding basic alchemy.

Riza held a cup of hot chocolate between her hands, and couldn't be happier.

Havoc had taken the news pretty well when he'd heard the whole story. Yeah, he'd broken Roy's coffee table, and was now being held in the corner for 'time-out,' but it could've gone worse.

Riza had decided to let it slide when Bread had slipped him a twenty when they'd thought Riza wasn't looking.

Joke was on them. Riza Hawkeye saw everything

"So," Rebecca came over with a lazy smile, and draped her arm around Riza's shoulders. "Everything seems to have worked out nicely for the perfect couple."

Riza scoffed.

"I am not perfect. Have you even seen me? I mean I'm-"

"Strong, loyal, fearless, have perfect aim, and really very gorgeous on an unfair level?" Rebecca cut in, suggesting qualities as she counted off on her fingers.

Riza gave her an expectant look. Rebecca rolled her eyes.

"C'mon Riza. You always do this. You never see the best in yourself! I mean, I'm straight, and I can admit that you've got curves. You really have curves. And besides, I know you're not perfect. No one is. I never said you were."

"But-"

"I said you were the perfect couple. Colonel-hothead certainly has his flaws, I can tell you that. I mean he's arrogant, cocky, irritating, useless in water, has an over-inflated ego-"

"Rebecca!"

"But when you two are together, you just seem… perfect."

Rebecca was gushing happiness.

She smiled into the distance, imagining a possible future for the happy couple. Riza in a pretty white dress, being hugged from behind by Roy. He had his hair combed back, and she wore a dazzling smile.

"It's so cute!" She squealed.

"What is?" Came an amused voice behind her. Rebecca spun on her hello, fearing that Maes had caught her looking like an idiot on camera. Again. Just this once, fate was on her side.

Jean.

He wore an cheeky grin, clearly chuckling at her antics. Rebecca put a hand on her hip, sauntering closer. She leaned in.

"Oh, y'know, jaust this person…. That I know…." Havoc raised an eyebrow at her, realizing what was going on. Riza faked a gag and rolled her eyes behind Rebecca's back.

"Like what you see, Havoc?" She purred.

He smirked.

The shameless flirting is making me sick.

Riza began to retreat to the other room. But before she did….

She shoved Rebecca forward, briefly connecting their mouths.

Havoc's eyes bugged and a strange, squeal-like noise came from Rebecca.

They jumped apart, as if they'd been shocked.

Riza calmly walked away, her steps echoing through the hall.

"You'll thank me one day," she called over her shoulder.

Rebecca pressed a hand to her lip, blushing.

Her and Havoc looked over at one another, wondering what on earth they were supposed to do now.

Meanwhile, Riza smirked as she entered the kitchen.

"What's the reason behind that smile?" Maes asked suspiciously. Riza poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Oh, nothing. Just doing some meddling of my own," Riza said, taking a sip out of her mug.

Maes' eyes lit up.

Kain walked in, and easily recognized the looks on their faces.

"Can't you guys ever take a holiday? Jeez, what did you do now?" His voice had a nervous edge to it.

"Nothing." Riza said innocently.

Kain blinked, and Maes craned his neck back to look at her.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing, it's just, uh… You sounded a lot more… feminine," Kain explained, trying to put it into words that would not result in his death.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"No! I mean, I'm not saying that you're not feminine, because you obviously are. I mean, duh, just looking at you- No, I didn't mean it like that. I meant, usually you're too busy protecting the Colonel or too preoccupied trying to save his sorry ass to act any different. I mea, 90% of the time when I'm around you, you're trying to keep him and Jean in line," Kain hastily explained in a nervous stutter.

Riza relaxed, folding her arms to her stomach.

"Thanks Kain. You know, I think out of everyone here, you are the overall least-trouble some. You always apologize, and take responsibility for your actions."

"Hey!" Maes cried out indignantly. "I resent that!"

"You know it's true," Riza shot back. Maes considered the statement, before shrugging.

"Yeah, I guess so." He stuck his finger up to make a point.

"But, when I do something you deem to be wrong, it always turns out better in the long run! Most of my schemes turn out pretty successful. " He declared.

"Remember when I used to call Roy everyday, saying that he should find a wife? And he'd get so upset and yell 'SHUT UP!' before slamming the phone down? I pestered him so much, that he admitted he couldn't marry someone. When I asked him why, he nearly singed my eyebrows off! That's when I began to suspect that…." Maes began to lower his voice and finished.

"That he liked you. Like, liked you liked you. I figured, who else could it be? It had to be you. Y'know, because of the whole 'fraternization laws' thing…"

Maes stopped, aware that he'd just stepped into sensitive territory.

Riza brushed that comment off, knowing it was easily rectified. In fact, it was probably being rectified at this very moment...

"Wait, that's the reason Roy broke so many phones?"

Maes groaned.

"That's not the important part! This is just one of the many times where I was right! And, Roy had a huge thing for you, and everyone knew it but you! The whole office practically died laughing once you two left. He was such an obvious idiot!"

"I'm sorry, what?" Riza asked, bewildered.

"Haven't you seen him looking at you in the office? Why do you think he barely gets any work done? Most of the time, he's just being a lazy dumbass, but other times… I mean, usually he can work through the distraction, but some days, no way in hell."

"No kidding. The dude is totally wrapped around her pinky. I swear, he'd do anything for her if it made her happy. Maybe even give up his rank in the military if it meant getting to stay with Riza. Give up on Fuhrer," Kain commented to Maes.

Maes nodded in agreement.

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Riza asked, thoroughly confused.

"I mean, he loves me. I can't say that he doesn't, because at this point, that would be stupid. But his whole world doesn't revolve around me. I'm not 'his reason for living' or anything. Sure, I'm important, but not his 'bane of existence' or anything. He wouldn't just abandon his dream for me, and Maes, don't you dare correct me," Riza sternly added.

She glared at him.

"No. You're wrong," Maes warned anyway.

"Roy would give his life for you. Compared to that, what does a stupid title mean?"

"It's not the title that's important! It's the chance he'd be getting at fixing this country. He'd be able to help the Ishvalans. That's been his ambition ever since he joined the military. Thinking he'd choose me over that goal, that's unrealistic. I'll stick with him forever, I can assure you of that. And he won't get rid of me, I know that as well. And sure, Fuhrer Grumman it doing a decent job so far. That still won't change anything in his eyes. If he really did have to choose? I would beg him to make the better choice, and see to it that he did. Even if I had to do it against his will."

Shocked, Maes and Kain stood gaping at her lack-of-faith in her importance to Roy.

"If it would mean he has a better future, a bigger role in Amestris, then I would do it. Even if it meant giving him up. I would ensure he got what he always wanted. I might not be part of that picture, and I've already thought about that. I can't be selfish about Roy and his priorities. He is too damn important. I'm… not."

And unbeknownst to them, around the corner, that man stood hiding in the shadows.

At that moment, the man hiding in shadows with the dark hair and sad eyes swore to change her mind.

Even if it did mean giving up everything.

"Do you love me?"

Roy's question hung in the air for a second.

Well, almost a second.

"What kind of stupid question is that?" Riza asked, coming over to lean on his shoulders.

Roy was seated at her kitchen table, bent over some report that had been sent for him to take care of.

Her stomach pressed into his back, as he gazed off with a doubtful look on his face.

"Of course, you idiot. We've gone over this, haven't we? What's gotten into you?" Riza asked, concerned at his less-than-confident strength behind his voice.

"What did you expect me to say? Roy, you're acting strange. Did I do something?" Riza asked, turning him towards her and putting the back of her hand against his forehead.

"Wow, you're burning up," she said, feeling the intense heat radiating off his skin.

"Well, now you and me are just the same," Roy joked. He stood, only to sway slightly his feet and sit back down.

"Roy, you seem kinda stressed. Is everything alright?" Riza asked, filling a glass with cold water.

"I'm fine, I promise," Roy said, gratefully taking a sip of water.

In reality, his head was spinning, trying to recall something he could've done to instigate her idea of his priorities.

Why...

What...

But she thought….

I mean, being the Fuhrer would be… amazing. I'd be able to achieve all the things I ever dreamed of. But without Riza, would I even know the first thing about being responsible? What to even do with that power with no one to keep me in line? If I make a mistake, who'd be there to shoot me in the back, and draw me back from the edge? I wouldn't have everything I wanted if Riza wasn't there.

The wasn't really even a question about it: Roy was not taking position of Fuhrer. Not without Riza behind his back.

Or by his side.

Grumman could carry out his ideas. Roy knew for a fact that the (slightly unsettling) old man agreed with his values. He would happily put his ideas into consideration.

I am not going anywhere without Riza.

Riza took the now-empty glass and placed it aside.

But that won't change the fact.

I can't be with Riza.

I keep trying to put it off, but we all know it's inevitable.

When all of this settles down, and we return to the office, our 'unproffesional' relationship will be forbidden.

What am I supposed to do?

Four more days.

In just four days, everyone was going back to their respective homes.

It would be a bit strange. Adjusting back to normal life would take time.

Roy and Riza wouldn't live in fear or Maes' dreaded camera. (Not that they really cared anymore. It was kind of expected.)

But everyone was a bit preoccupied at the thought of Roy and Riza not dating.

Not holding hands, not ignoring their feelings anymore. Riza not blushing when the Colonel smiled at her, or Roy not openly showing the goofy smile directed at his Lieutenant.

Though, the command Grumman had called in just the afternoon was of great concern as well.

"Three hours, all of you. In the office, full uniform. No excuses. And Lieutenant Hawkeye, I suggest you confiscate your superior's gloves before arriving."

That was the call Maes had received before the head of the military had promptly hung up.

So here they stood, pondering the future of Roy and his girl. Riza could feel the slight weight of Roy's gloves in her pocket.

Something weird was going on.

Something big.

"This man is the one who devised the plan to kidnap Riza Hawkeye. He instructed Lacey and Peter Stoker to carry out his will. He was captured and detained this morning at 8:00. This is Samuel Stoker, father of the two," Fuhrer Grumman informed the shocked crew.

They were alone, besides the figure in the corner.

In the interrogation room, a man radiating pure hatred was chained to the table.

He was broad-shouldered, with long, lean fingers. He was scowling at the group, and seemingly out of nowhere, he lunged at Riza.

The chains jerked his wrists, yanking him backwards and to the ground.

He snarled, jumping back to his feet.

"You!" He snarled. "You ruined everything! I almost had my wife back, and now I've lost my children too!"

"Then maybe you shouldn't have treated them like slaves!" Riza snapped back, bouncing forward. She almost immediately composed herself, stepping back.

"We were so close! Years of tracking, watching, and research, all wasted because of you! We hired photographers, private detectives, every expense was paid in effort to find your father's research! Lucky for you, your father was clever. We had a list of candidates, and you were the least likely, so you stayed at the bottom. We lost track of a few of the girls, you included. I mean, who thought a weak, stupid, little spoiled girl would actually join the military?" He scoffed.

Roy whipped a hand to his forehead.

He did not want to go there.

Riza smiled, an emotionless gesture.

She drew a chair up to the steel table, the scraping sound bouncing off the walls.

She slammed her palms down on the table.

"Well, at least I'm not an idiot. If you were really half as smart as you think you are, you would've realized the truth about my 'piece of the puzzle. I mean, you kept me under surveillance for more than half my life, and you never realized that the information I carry has another purpose."

He blinked.

"You little liar. You shouldn't bluff with no cards, sweetie. I would have known if you-"

Riza set her hands on fire and roughly grabbed his wrists.

"Believe me now?" she asked, throwing his hands down into the table. Hard.

He screamed in pain, trying to yank his wrists back.

"You tried to take me from my home, hurt my friends, and for what? A woman who's been dead for decades? Those who have passed on should stay that way. That's not how life is supposed to work. Resurrection is a power that belongs to no one."

Roy was about to step out to grab her hand, when the old man stopped him.

"No. Let her. She deserves at least this much."

"I hope you find a way to pay for what you've done. You killed my friends, threatened the people I consider my family, and violated my privacy for years."

She was losing her temper.

This man had angry red marks circling his wrists, an trophy of sorts that would stay with him for a long time. Forever, even.

"Your father was a clever one, you know. He made sure to hid his research a place that only his student would ever see. He trusted that you'd be a good judge of character, and you'd only show the research to someone you deemed worthy. I'm right aren't I? See, I might not have figured out your true power, or found a way to make the symbols work, but I've figured you out."

"Shut it. I'm warning you, playing games with me is a dangerous game," Riza growled.

"Oh, are the big guns out now? WELL TOO BAD! You can't scare me! I've been to hell and back! You want to know something? I watched you, For years on end, when it was my turn to keep you under surveillance until it was time to bring you in, I followed you. Closely enough to hear about you and your precious Roy, the man who you'd die for. Even more pathetic; you didn't expect him to do the same. Am I really the idiot here?"

He was mocking her now, trying to get a rise off of her.

Sad to say, he was working.

"Aww, is the brave little soldier embarrassed because her feeling were so easy to read, a stranger picked up on them? You're nothing more than a lovesick girl with a crush, just waiting for your heart to be broken. I'm just lucky that my little girl isn't a wacko and has her priorities set straight."

Awkward silence dragged on...

Lacey wasn't a wacko…? I'm pretty sure she qualifies… Havoc thought doubtfully.

"Umm, I hate to interrupt but," Grumman piped in from behind Riza, next to Roy and Breda. "Lacey's dead. Oh, and that Peter fellow as well. Lieutenant Hawkeye and Sergeant Major Fuery took care of them."

"Oh, I'm well aware of what she did to my children. Whether your team helped you or not, that doesn't change the fact that it was you who foiled my efforts. You're gonna burn in hell. You're a sinner, just like the rest of us. Just like me"

"Me?" She laughed, pointing to herself. "I've committed no crimes against anyone, except for those who have wronged me, or anyone else I care about. I can't just idly sit by as they struggle on. That's what you expect me to do? If you think I'm a sinner, call it as you please. But I know I've done the right thing, protecting good people."

She pushed her chair back, letting it fall over.

"I don't care what you think of me, or my morals. I am proud of what I've done, and I will not ever repent for my actions," Riza spit at him.

Sha walked away, handing Roy his gloves. He pulled them on, no hesitation.

Oh, he was gonna make Samuel pay when Riza was out of the room.

He's gonna regret making Riza so upset.

Roy cracked his knuckles.

"Understand that, bastard," Riza said as she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

And then poor, poor Samuel began to scream.

So, Roy's not exactly in a merciful mood...

Anyway, thanks for reading guys, I really appreciate it. I'm sorry this chapter took so long, and it's really crappy. It's just, I've been really freaking out about shit at school, and...

*sigh*

So, that's why this chapter was crap. That, and I was too tired to write this week.

Clarifications:

-Alphonse has his body back [it's after Brotherhood, remember…?]

-Edward is still a State Alchemist, though he can't use alchemy. He just does research, and Roy is still his commanding officer.

-Roy and everyone else will eventually learn of Riza's relations to the Fuhrer

-Yes, This story might be coming to an end in the next few chapters. (Or, this might actually be the second to last chapter.)

If you have any ideas for my next fix, I'd be happy to hear. I was thinking of doing a Soul Eater one next, but I'm open to suggestions.

If you're bored, have questions, or just wanna talk, my computer is checked every 10 hours.

No, really. I don't have a life outside this computer.

PM me. I hate my real friends.

See ya,

-Pyro