Finally! A update for crying out loud!

Enjoy.

It might have been around eight in the morning when Riza finally woke up, she couldn't really tell.

The guest bedroom she had been offered by Maes and his family didn't have an alarm clock so she could only judge the time by the angle of the sun from the window. A very useful trick she had been taught by a female comrade in Ishbal who she quickly became friends with. There weren't many woman in the military during that period of time and Riza had found it reassuring to be around someone of the same gender. Though it made it all the harder when that faithful comrade was killed. The ironic thing about it was that the war ended just a couple of days later.

The room she was in was simple, a queen size bed up against a cream coloured wall, a wooden bedside table holding a lamp, and a picture of what Riza could only describe as a 'kitty' hanging in a pink frame. Probably one of Elicia's drawings Maes had been far too proud of.

There was also a wardrobe standing opposite of the door, already filled with her own clothes and a few new things Gracia had offered her the moment she mentioned she was pregnant. The military woman could guess that Gracia had given her maternity clothes she would need in a couple of weeks time and she was very thankful that the married woman had offered them.

Riza soon found herself appreciating not only Gracia's gifts but also her company, surprised but also ashamed of how she quickly she had judged the woman. Thinking that she would just be someone who refused to understand the military, gossiped about meaningless topics with other wives and mothers and then paid the rest of her attention and thoughts on her daughter and being a so called 'perfect housewife'.

Of course Gracia proved Riza wrong. She was a woman devoted to her family but she was independent, practical and strong-minded on her own views. Which kept her and Riza talking for hours during the day while Maes played dress-up with Elicia in the background. It was hard for both women not to laugh when the little girl tried to dress her father up as a 'beautiful' princess.

During their conversation Riza quickly realized that the other woman hardly engaged in gossip, in fact she loathed it.

Now said woman was knocking on the other side of the door. "Are you up yet?" She asked quietly.

"Yes, I'm awake," Riza answered and pulled herself up into a sitting possession, she watched as the door opened and Gracia walked in carrying a tray of food. Riza began to move out of the bed, "let me help you."

"Oh don't get up, this is hardly what you would call heavy." Gracia smiled and lay the tray on Riza's lap, as if almost using it as a weight to keep her in bed. "I heard from Maes that you found a new passion for coffee," her finger pointed to large mug on the tray and Riza's mouth tugged upwards as she reached for it. "Though I have to remind you to cut down in a couple weeks time."

"Don't worry, I will." Riza said.

Gracia nodded and she moved to sit down on the edge of the bed. She watched Riza take her first sip of the caffeine drink and scan the only other thing on the tray, toast with strawberry jam. The military woman took her first bite into the food and let the taste linger on her tongue before washing it away with the coffee. It wasn't long until the plate was almost bare and now on the floor along with the tray by the bed.

Gracia finally decided she would now ask about the topic that had been bothering her since their guest had mentioned she was pregnant. "My guess is you haven't told the father yet?"

Riza choked on her coffee and Gracia softly patted her back, "sorry about that, perhaps a bit too strong of a opening?"

"You could you say that" Riza gasped, her throat still sore from her short coughing fit. "Has Maes told you who the father is?"

"No. I would rather hear the news from the mother's mouth."

Riza's lips tugged upwards, "You really do despise gossip. Don't you?"

"That's not what we're talking about here" Gracia answered with her own little smile, "you're not trying to change the subject here, are you?"

Riza raised her hands in defense, "goodness no. Wouldn't think of it."

"Well?"

Riza sighed and reached over to drop the mug on the floor and sat back up, her mind puzzling on whether she should tell Gracia or not about the father. She had already told Maes and even Major General Armstrong about the child and wondered if she should wait until she told the actual father before anyone else. It wasn't fair on Roy, he really should have been the first person to know but stress and worry had made her turn to the Hughes family.

Though Gracia had already done so much, she had welcomed Riza into her family's home and put everything on hold while she helped her out. She had given clothes and kindness as well as good advice to calm Riza down when she started to worry. In fact stress wasn't really a problem anymore, Riza could talk to Gracia about almost anything. After all, the two women could now relate to each other.

In the end, Riza could make her choice.

She held up three fingers, "I'll give you two clues. There's three syllables in his first name and his last name is the same as a horse."

Roy didn't wake up alone.

Though some part of him wished he had.

While he did sometimes enjoy the company of his new companion, he would rather wake up to the eyes of a certain blonde sharpshooter he had fell in love with. Not to a small black and white dog with a horribly cold nose.

"Hayate, get off!" He grunted as he pushed the dog off the bed. He almost smirked when he heard a soft thud from the other side of the bed, before hearing Black Hayate walk over the closed door. Though Roy had already turned over, perhaps now he could sleep for another five minutes or so before getting ready for work. He pulled the covers over his head and tried to fall to sleep again.

He tossed and turned for a few minutes before giving up and threw the covers off himself. He wasn't doing any favors for himself, he wouldn't get back to sleep. Mustang normally wouldn't get any sleep at all without Riza snuggled up next to him, that or he was haunted by memories of Ishbal. He pulled himself out of the bed and left the bedroom, the small dog following him like his own shadow.

"Guess you're hungry right?" Mustang asked the dog following him. The bark he got in response almost surprised him. "I'll take that as a yes." Another bark from Hayate, confirming his answer.

Roy followed Riza's instructions she had told many times before and found the dog's meat strips sitting in the bottom of the fridge, he took them out and put them in the tin dog bowl. "Here you go, Black Hayate." He dropped the bowl close to the floor, "don't eat it in one go." Hayate ran up to him and dunked his nose into the food and Roy could almost say that the dog was ignoring him.

Still it didn't matter at the moment, Roy needed to get ready. If he didn't get to headquarters then Havoc and the others wouldn't get any work done. They'll probably end up betting money on pointless things and the result would be the same as always. Havoc and Breda would lose all their money and they'll both come whining to Roy, asking if he could lend them a few notes for their lunch, drinks or whatever they need at that moment of time.

He was getting tired of running out of money because of those two.

He dressed quickly and spent most of his time walking around the apartment trying to his military jacket he had carelessly threw off yesterday when he came home. He made a mental note to stop doing that and store all his uniform in the same place. Eventually he finally found the jacket lying under the table and the puzzlement of how he had found it there left him to stare in Hayate's direction, who was still eating though the meat strips.

Mustang threw on his jacket along with his black trench coat that was hanging as usual on the coat rake by the door. He then turned back to Black Hayate, who had just strolled over from his now half empty food bowl.

"See you later Hayate." Roy said and he shut the door behind him, leaving the small dog alone in the apartment.

It wasn't long until Hayate got bored of just eating his food and started to chase his' own tail, giving no regard to the objects he bumped into.

Such as the bin.

It fell sideways onto the ground and spilled everything on the ground. Though the mess went unnoticed as Hayate raced off into the next room.

"That's so sweet of him." Gracia said as she inspected the silver necklace she held between her fingers, "and smart too. Who knew he would give you a engagement necklace instead of the traditional ring?"

Riza laughed as she pulled her usual short sleeved turtle top over her head. "Well I couldn't walk around with a diamond ring on my finger. Besides, I'm not too fond of tradition."

"I thought you might not." Gracia laughed and handed Riza her hair clip. "Still it's very beautiful."

"Thank you. I thought so too when I first saw it."

Gracia nodded and handed back the necklace to it's rightful owner. "I'm going to wake up Elicia for her breakfast, if you need anything then don't be scared to come downstairs. I'm making pancakes."

"Of course, thank you for everything Gracia." Riza said, "you don't know how much your help means to me."

The other woman smiled. "Oh, I think I do. You forget that I was once with child too." Gracia headed to the door and disappeared behind it, leaving Riza alone with her thoughts once again. She listened to the fading footsteps before continuing to get dressed in her military uniform.

As she had already discussed with Maes the day before, going to see a doctor wasn't really needed. Three pregnancy tests all saying the same result wouldn't lie and the mood swings were only further proof.

Riza Hawkeye was pregnant and there was no point in denying it.

Of course, Central had the best doctors in the county that money could buy. Their profession were only needed by the wives and children of Generals as they were paid by the military. So they would hardly treat someone who had just walked off the streets and that made Riza uneasy. Weren't doctors meant to help anyone who was sick or injured? Did they only care about the money they had in their pocket of the rank their husband or family member held?

Being only a Lieutenant, Riza would probably have to pay and she'd be damned if she had the money to pay for just for someone to confirm what she already knew herself.

Riza blinked at the knock on the door and quickly pulled on her jacket. "Who is it?"

"Only me." said the male voice on the other side. "Gracia said you wanted to come to headquarters?"

"Yes, there's some paperwork the Colonel sent off I want to check on."

She heard a chuckle, "of course. Do want want a lift?"

"It would be grateful," Riza answered as reached her boots and put each one on. "I'll met you at the door."

"No problem, see you in a minute."

Again, Riza listened to the footsteps of Maes Hughes fade away and it wasn't soon after that Riza opened the door herself and followed Hughes to the front door.

She reminded herself that when she came back, she would find a phone and call Roy to tell him everything.

Either that or ask Maes to do it.

Thank you for all your patience and reviews. It's brilliant to see that people still read this and like it despite my lack of updates.