A/N: I'm sitting in my astronomy class as I publish this chapter...

Shhh... no one tell...

Roy pushed back his chair a few inches, causing a harsh scraping sound to reach the diners ears. Roy grimaced at the sound, hating the noise.

"So, I assume the meal was satisfactory?" Riza asked him, breaking the extended silence that had so far stretched over the majority of their meal. It was only broken by the clink of dishes and silverware, and the occasional request for seasoning they desired that lay closer to the other.

Relived at the question and that she was initiating a topic of conversation, Roy leaned forward and replied over eagerly. "Yes! I loved it! It was perfect!" Then, as if realizing that his attitude may seem a bit overboard when concerning food, he ashamedly leaned back in his chair.

Riza however just chuckled. "I'm glad that you liked it. Would you like to take any home with you?"

Roy mulled it over for a quick moment, and then began to speak. "No, I-"

"I'm not going to finish all this by myself. So either you take some, or half will go to Black Hayate."

Roy laughed, knowing full well that her well-disciplined canine wasn't allowed to consume human food, and would most likely never do so for fear of a bullet.

"In that case, Riza, I'll be more than happy to take some home."

"Alright. I'll put some in a container for you before you leave."

Again the conversation died, this time into a more uncomfortable silence than when they were eating, if that were possible.

xxx

Riza watched Roy jump a few minutes later when her dog barked at them. He had, until a few moments ago, been sleeping in her living room on his small dog bed. He however, like Riza, seemed to have a clock ingrained into his very core. It was now 8:15, time for his walk.

"I have to take Black Hayate for a walk. Do you want to come, or do you want to stay here?" Riza stood up as the words left her mouth, running her hands down her legs as if to get the muscles moving again.

Roy sighed after thinking over for a moment. "I'll stay here and wash up."

"Are you sure? I can do it aft-"

"Riza, go on. I'm positive."

"Well alright…"

Riza, while seeming hesitant to leave Roy alone to do all the clean up, went to get Black Hayate's leash. Coming back, she bent down to clip the leash to his collar, then stood up and faced Roy awkwardly.

"I'll be right back."

"Alright," he said, turning towards the kitchen. He waved his hand at her, shooing her away so that he could get to the clean up.

Riza walked out the door, her dog walking by her side with a little impatience in his step. He pranced around, clearly needing to go.

The door closed, leaving Roy alone in her home.

xxx

Roy dunked a dish into the sudsy water that sloshed around in the skin. He grabbed the sponge that was laying right on the edge and ran it over the surface of the place, scrubbing the food that stuck to it away. He rinsed it quickly in the clean water that was just to his left before sliding it to dry on the rack that was just beyond that.

Repeating steps with the rest of the dishes, utensils, and other culinary objects, he quickly finished the job.

He wiped down the countertops and the surface of the table, and then put the last few items that were lying around away. That was by far the hardest thing he had done while cleaning up. Finding where things went was a difficult job. Thankfully, nothing was too hidden away.

Just as he leaned back against the counter to relax for a few moments, the door that Riza had just left through a few minutes ago opened, this time to allow her and her dog into the home.

xxx

Riza opened the door of her home. "Hey! I'm ba-" She stopped in astonishment, surprised at how much he had gotten done without her breathing down his neck.

"Hey." He was leaning against the counter in a peaceful sort of way. His hands were still slightly damp, the remaining water catching Riza's glance as light hit it at just the right angle.

"Do you only procrastinate for paperwork?"

His face colored slightly, his cheeks turning ever so slightly pink as he turned his face to the side in minor embarrassment. "Yeah."

She chuckled as she bent down to unclip the leash and let her dog loose. "Alright. Wanna go into the living room and sit down?"

"Sure." He took a step or so forward, crossing the room to stand in front of her. "M'lady," he said softly, offering his hand to her with a slight dip forward at his waist.

"Sir." She took it and allowed him to lead her to her living room, guide her to a seat on the couch, then lift her hand and bring it to his lips and kissing her knuckles ever so lightly.

Letting go of her hand, he sat next to her on the couch.

"Is this why he is known as a womanizer? I really do get it now…"

xxx

Roy watched Riza shift awkwardly in front of him. She seemed unsure of what to do. Clearly she was nervous. Apparently as nervous as he was.

Her hands were in her lap, one rubbing the other slowly. Her back was slightly stiff, and her eyes were blinking a little bit more often than they normally did. She was looking around the room, not meeting Roy's eyes, much less even looking in his direction.

"Nervous and flustered…" he thought as he looked to a table that a book was sitting on.

The book was one that he had seen floating around the office many times in the last month or so. He had also seen it displayed in store windows, in the hands of Central citizens as they strolled down the street, and even in the hands his mother, Madame Christmas. It seemed to be quite popular.

"So, Inequitable Warfare," he spoke, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen. "Is this a good book?" He reached out his hand and lifted the volume from the table.

Riza looked at the book, the allowed her gaze to follow up his arm and to his face. She smiled. "Yeah, it's a really good book."

"What's it about?"

She sighed, a small amount of sorrow and heaviness showing on her face. "It's a fictional story about how unfair, cruel, and bloody war is. It came out really recently, about a month and a half ago, and for obvious reasons it became really popular.

Roy was quiet. It made sense that such a novel became so popular. While many people didn't experience much of the final battle with the homunculi, it affected everyone. Their own president was amongst the enemy, so naturally rumors flew. It seemed as if everyone also knew in some way a soldier that had either died or been seriously wounded somewhere in the midst of that battle. A few even had homes ruined or businesses demolished, be it their own, or somewhere they frequented.

"It wasn't an easy thing to go though, that's for sure," he said, referencing the entire ordeal that had stretched over the time leading up to the battle and the fight itself. He blinked quickly a few times.

"You know, Roy, you really were an encouragement for me during the entire experience. You were so strong." She looked down at her lap. "You helped lead everyone into the battle, you went blind, yet you still fought and managed to lead. I really admire you, Roy." The last sentence was spoken barely above a whisper.

"You were the one who kept me going. Against Envy you were the one I fought to protect. During the final battle you assisted me without fault. Throughout the entire thing, I knew I could count on you like I could depend on no one else."

Riza glanced at Roy. "You know that you can always count on me, Roy. I said that I'll follow your lead until the top and that I would help you achieve what you want for this county. I've decided that even after that, I'll follow you." She bit her lip.

Roy felt his heart rate increase as Riza spoke. He moved closer to her and took one of her smaller hands in his larger ones. "Thank you. I promise that I will be the best leader that I can be so that you can follow me without ever regretting anything."

xxx

Riza looked at him solemnly, then chuckled. "I feel like we're making marriage vows at the alter or something."

Roy's face flushed. "Well you're the only person I'd ever want to take the vows with…" he muttered quietly under his breath. He thought that he had said it quietly enough that Riza wouldn't be able to hear him.

Her hand tightened between his own. "Really?"

His eyes widened in shock and worry. "You heard that?"

She nodded at him.

He might as well say it. No going back now. He wouldn't want to anyway. "Yes. You're the only person I'd ever want to marry and say my own vows to."

A/N: So? What did you think? Only one more chapter and this tale will be complete!

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Until next chapter!