The Game of Three Generals
by Lady Norbert
A/N: Was it a bit cliche to get Riza pregnant? Yes, possibly. But if you can believe it, there's actually a very good plot-relevant reason that I did so, and I think when the time comes you'll understand why. However, if you haven't worked out what it is by the last chapter, don't worry. I'll be ending the trilogy with author's notes that should explain everything. In any case, I'm so happy about all the reviews from people who are excited by the idea of a Mustang baby, so thank you all!
Also, I've been left speechless by a comment on the last chapter. No, I am not Arakawa. But I am so moved that someone would ask that I'm going to cry.
This is not the chapter I intended to write, but this is what came out. The bit Havoc tells Becky about Fuery? I had no idea until it appeared on the screen.
Chapter Three: Line
Line: A sequence of moves.
Havoc is in hot water.
He's confused when Rebecca tells him that the Mustangs need an evening alone; that by itself isn't all that strange, considering, but normally it's Mustang who makes some kind of indication that no, the security detail shouldn't invite themselves to dinner. In this particular instance, though, Mustang seems to be as baffled as Havoc. Weirder, Becky refuses to clarify the statement, and the more Havoc presses for an explanation, the more annoyed she gets.
"Let it go, Jean! I can't tell you because it's not my secret to tell, all right?"
"You took her to the doctor earlier! Is she all right?"
"She's fine."
"She's not still suffering from what those maniacs did to her?"
"No."
"You promise?"
"Yes. For the last time, stop asking!" In point of fact, she looks pretty pissed, and Havoc wilts a little.
"Sorry."
"It's all right. I know you're concerned. Can we just go get some dinner?"
"Yeah, of course."
Unfortunately, Havoc just doesn't know how to drop the subject. They go to a little Xingese hole-in-the-wall, where the service is terrible but the food is so good that they put up with it, and sit at a table with plates of noodles and chicken. He tries to discuss something else, he really does, but there are really only two things on his mind right now and one of them involves a piece of jewelry he hasn't bought yet, so the other one keeps reasserting itself in his thoughts and, consequently, his dialogue.
After the third conversational reboot, or maybe it's the fourth, Becky blows a lock of hair out of her eyes and glares at him. "Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"You're pretty damn fond of Riza."
Havoc blinks. That's a given. "What about it?"
"Am I just some kind of pale substitute?"
That almost makes him fall out of his chair in shock. "Are you what?"
"You couldn't get the original so you settled for the next best thing, is that it?"
"What the hell would make you think that?"
"Gosh, Jean, I can't imagine - unless it's the fact that you can't go three sentences without mentioning her name tonight, and you can't just trust me when I tell you she's fine."
He fishes around for something to say in his own defense, and comes up with not much of anything that won't run the risk of making things worse. "They're like family," he tries. "Of course I'm worried."
"Even though I told you not to be."
"Well..."
Becky eats in silence, glaring at her plate, and Havoc feels...horrible. "I'm sorry," he says, and means it.
She relents, although not all the way. "Can I ask you something in all seriousness?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Well, you obviously care about her a lot, so I'm just curious. How come you never asked her out? You know, back when she was single. I know you didn't because she would have told me."
"Oh." He rubs the back of his neck. "Do you remember my telling you once that she and Mustang weren't always part of what the four of us did because they were a little removed?"
"Yeah?"
"That sort of factors into it. Back when the unit first formed, we all considered it - the four of us had a chat about this one day." He gives her a wryly apologetic smile. "Fuery was actually the worst, if you can believe it. He's not that much younger than we are, but sometimes he seems like it, and he had a terrible crush on Ladyhawk. Especially after she took Black Hayate so he wouldn't have to go back out on the street."
"I can picture that, actually."
"Well, we all compared notes. And we agreed on two things. One, that we all had a little bit of a thing for her, but two, that none of us could ever act on it."
"Why not?"
"Because Ladyhawk was never, to use your word, single. Even back then, she was already Mustang's. So we all agreed to respect that, and not mention it - well, much - and let it go. That little bit of a thing is long gone."
"You're sure?"
"Look, I love you, okay?" Becky turns red, and too late he realizes that this is the first time he's saying it in so many words. He plunges ahead anyway. "Not because you're some kind of substitute, that'd be ridiculous. Just because you're you. That's all there is to it."
"Oh...okay," she mumbles.
"And I trust you when you say she's okay."
"You'll find out tomorrow. I just think you should hear it from her."
"That's fair."
Naturally, when the news is broken to them the next day, Havoc feels like some kind of an idiot for having ever doubted Becky.
"So the king and queen are having a prince, huh?" he asks, grinning.
"Or a princess. It's a little early to tell," Ladyhawk points out, looking amused; Mustang, for his part, has never worn a bigger or more stupid smile in all the time Havoc's known him - and, all things considered, this is saying something. Actually, there are quite a few stupid smiles in evidence, and he supposes that his own might just be one of them.
"Wow!" Fuery nearly squeals, which startles Black Hayate, who has been dozing under his chair. "Um - I think that covers it, actually! Wow! Congratulations!"
"And you're okay?" Breda asks Ladyhawk, who nods. "So this is why you've been sick so much lately, huh?"
"Ugh. Yes." She puts a hand to her stomach, looking slightly queasy almost on cue.
"What do you need from us, ma'am?" asks Douglas, respectfully.
"In the short term, nothing more than what you're already doing. Except to please pardon me if my hormones get the better of me," she adds with a laugh. "I think I'm all right so far, but I've heard some stories of peculiar behavior in the later months. So if I ask you to bring me something weird to eat, or I start crying for no discernible reason, please try to just bear with me."
"Is that likely?" Mustang asks, and the grin has been replaced by a slightly panicky expression.
"We'll find out as we go, sir. I'm as new to this as you are," his wife reminds him.
"I'm sure Mrs. Hughes would be happy to offer you any advice you might need on the subject, ma'am," Douglas suggests.
"That's a very good point. Thank you, Lieutenant, I'll give her a call this evening."
"Well, now that most of the 'extended family' has been informed," Mustang says, "we should celebrate. Suppose we all go out for dinner tonight?"
This is met with a general murmur of approval. "I assume the Fuhrer knows?" Fuery asks.
"He's thrilled. Admittedly, with everything that's going on the timing could probably be a little better...but these things happen in their own time, or so I've been told." Ladyhawk smiles.
"How about your mother?" Havoc asks Mustang. "How'd Madame take the news?"
"Oh, she gave me a hard time about wanting her to feel old, or something ridiculous like that." He shrugs. "My sisters couldn't stop squealing. Madame's more excited than she cares to admit, though, I can tell. She said she wants regular status updates on how Riza's feeling."
"Now do you understand why I didn't want to tell you?" Becky asks Havoc as they leave the office.
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"I'll let you live, I guess."
"You guess?"
"Well, you were being a stubborn jerk about it. But you also said you love me so I guess that counts for something." She eyes him sidelong. "No takebacks, or I will kick your ass."
"No, no takebacks." The fact that she very possibly could kick his ass is one of the reasons he loves her, as strange as he knows that sounds.
"Good."
"So...does that mean you love me too, or what?"
"You can't tell?"
"Becky, when we're together, sometimes I can't even tell for certain that I'm not dreaming."
"That's the most awkwardly adorable compliment ever," she decides. "Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
"Oh. Good. That's - that's good."