A/N: Thank you to blazedancer1997, dvltgr, blue_moon_wolf, Toph2411, ssadropout, muguetmuse, WildSilence023, Susy and Guest(s) for your review! You guys never fail to make my day! Also special thanks to Cheezus for beta'ing and bouncing off ideas with me.

Rev. 12/31/20

chapter 14: moving forward

Medford, OR, Day after New Year

Winry crumples the paper receipt inside her twill jacket, running her fingertips along the edges, telling herself to think happy thoughts, to think of Edward and the wonderful things he said about her and the wedding.

Anything beside what is to come.

Her one-week visit to Edward's passed by as quickly as they came. But now, instead of catching her flight home after a few days touring San Francisco and Davis and eating one of the best meals of her life, she sits in a coffee shop five hours away up north.

It's impossible to forget what happened to her. But it's also impossible to ignore it, pretend it never happened when it did. Closure is what Winry needs. And if getting married to Edward is the start of her brand new life, then she finds herself searching for the strength to forgive her past.

There aren't that many people the day after new year. Most are still tucked in their beds, catching up on the sleep they missed last night, she thinks. And this makes it easy for her to find who she is looking for, or rather, for him to find her inside a vacant coffee shop.

Russell's hair is still short, sitting just above his nape. It is messy, not as neatly combed as it was before, though Winry expected him to look worse than he actually does. His face is gaunt, the pools of his eyes dull and grey. The collar of his white shirt is streaked yellow—mustard… or coffee stain?—and when he glances at her, all she feels is pity.

Winry gestures to the empty chair before her, telling him to take a seat. Then she leans back, creating just enough distance between them so he can't see the thudding in her chest, and braces the coffee cup in front of her. "You've been wanting to talk to me. Now here I am."

"Thanks for coming, Winry," he rasps. "I could have met you in Portland… it would be less of a drive for you… Warrenton is far from here."

His voice is unrecognizable, hoarse and breathy, like he can't get enough air in.

"I'm in the area," Winry says sharply.

"I chose this place hoping it will make you feel more… comfortable…" Russell continues. His fingers are clasped together, but Winry can see them trembling. "I… I care about you, Winry. And I didn't mean to hurt you… I want to apologize."

It's difficult not to glare at him or treat him with contempt, even in his miserable state. The things he made her go through, the nightmare she's seen. If she has an ounce of malice in her now, she really could shoot him dead.

Bitterly, she replies, "Don't mistake my coming here as accepting your apology. I'm only here so you can stop bothering me with the texts. I hope you know this meeting is for me. It is not for you because I don't give two-shits about you." Everything came out so smoothly, practiced, but her heart quakes, and she can feel heat pooling in the back of her eyes, ready to spill.

Russell doesn't say anything for a minute, but when he finally does, he points to the ring on her finger. "That's a nice ring…. Congratulations, I guess?"

For a while all Winry can see is the strange swirl in his eyes as he stares at her engagement ring. They're dark and full of intention, so similar to that night. Fear begins to loom over her, urging her to cower and look for a safe space in which she can hide under.

Perhaps she really isn't ready to see him.

Perhaps all she needs is more time.

But the desire to put it all behind and start anew is scraping at her. And it won't go away until she gets her say and makes sure Russell understands how he turned her world upside down.

"Winry, I'm sorry… I don't expect us to be friends anymore… But at least hear me out."

"Yes, you are most definitely not my friend anymore," she snarls.

"I've been going to rehab… checked myself in. I know it's exactly what my dad did… and I vowed to never step in his shoes… Sometimes I feel like it's a curse, you know? The kid following in their father's footstep type thing… I swear I didn't mean to hurt you..."

"Well, you did hurt me, Russell," she hisses. Rage is burning her face, and the need to make him feel pain nearly spins her head in circles. "While I wish you could feel what I felt… I never... would wish that... on anyone," she finishes, hearing her own voice crack and stumble.

Russell keeps his eyes on the round table. He hasn't looked up at her once. But he glances at her, finally, full of shame. He murmurs, "Did you… um… report me?"

Anger swells like a balloon, and it bursts when Winry jolts upright, pointing brusquely in his face. How dare he ask such a stupid question. How dare he care about nobody else but himself.

She picks up her coffee cup, hot against her palm, and throws it in his face. "Fuck you, Russell! All this time and all you can think about is being reported?"

He gasps and promptly looks around, humiliation in the lines of his expression.

The one patron who entered the coffee shop five minutes ago passes her a curious glance. The barista and cashier stare at her, quiet and observant. They all must think she is crazy. And under a normal circumstance, Winry would be ashamed of herself, perhaps even mortified at what she's done. But she can care less now. Not when Russell is hardly remorseful of what happened.

"Do you know what you did? Do you know what you really did?" Winry snaps, slamming the table in front of her. "The shame and the fear? I feel like I'll never be good enough for Ed because of you!"

Russell shushes her and grabs her wrist, his eyes pleading. "Wi- Winry… please be quiet..."

But she grits her teeth, raising her voice as she bellows at him, "Do you know how hard it was for me to tell my sisters? Do you know how long I waited before I could say anything?" Then she grabs her purse and hangs onto it, praying for courage to finish what she needs to say, dismissing the quivering in her lips. "Do you know how… I kept thinking it was all my fault the entire time?"

Russells merely sits still, his eyes wide with shock. This isn't even close to the retribution she's been seeking, but a local coffee shop certainly does not deserve the brunt of her anger. The workers behind the counter peer up at her and whisper among themselves, wondering if it is time for them to kick her out. A few seconds of clarity makes her apologetic, and she raises her empty coffee cup as peace offering, sidestepping to get out of her seat and leave the store.

With her purse tucked in her arm, her heartbeat hammering beneath her breasts, she confronts Russell one last time. "I'm claiming my life back, Russell. I reported you. See you in court."

Abruptly he spins to her and stammers, "Wha-what are you saying…"

His eyes are full of fear, and his mouth hangs open as if he needs to get a last word out without knowing what to say. And for a second, Winry marvels at how good it feels, how it fills her up with a satisfying sense of victory. Inhaling deeply, Winry turns the door knob and exits the shop.

As much as Winry vows to keep her story quiet, there's a million reasons that beg her to do otherwise. What if Russell causes harm again? What if someone else goes through the same as she did? How would she feel then?

The Medford Police Department is a modern office building in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare. Her palm is stained with sweat as Winry deposits her car keys into her purse, the other opening the door to the precinct. Taking small, reluctant steps, she reaches the first window, a uniformed officer stationed behind it.

She gulps, attempting to swallow her fear. The pulse beneath her ear is so loud that, for a moment, she considers running the other way, turn around and get back inside her car. But she takes another deep breath, exhaling, and braces herself against the onslaught of emotions.

"My name is Winry… I was sexually assaulted and I'd like to report it."

Day after New Year, 5:33PM

Disneyland is for kids as far as Olivier is concerned. But Riza seems to think otherwise.

Her sister is as impatient as ever as they rush through a throng of park attendees, but finally she catches the end of the line and releases a gust of breath. "Riza, this is a terrible idea. Why are we even here?"

"Space Ranger, come in."

Riza takes out her brown clip, pinning her hair into a messy bun. "What is the one place you and Miles have never been to? Disneyland. This makes it the perfect place to get over him, because anywhere else in LA or OC will only make you think of him."

"And Winry's okay with us being here? She didn't wanna come?"

Pointing at the dwindling line, her sister nudges Liv to close their distance from the mother and son pair in front of them. Her hand is itching to reach for her phone, but she keeps it at her side, toying with the fabric of her jeans instead.

"Winry was the one who suggested it, actually," Riza says. "'Did you know Liv likes cute things even though she looks intimidating?' was what she said. Disneyland has cute things."

"Now blast him with everything you got!"

Liv throws her hands up in the air and stares at Riza, incredulously. "Winry thinks I'm intimidating?"

"You kind of are," Riza nods.

Olivier hasn't heard this one before—both of her younger sisters ganging up on her, speaking nonsense.

"So, have you seen anything cute here?" Riza asks, grinning at her. "And no, I'm not talking about men. I'm not Rebecca."

Liv rolls her eyes, though she can't help smiling. "Sure. The bunny was cute."

Riza laughs. "That's Thumper for you, Liv. And yes, he is cute."

They step onto a moving walkway, entering into a pod sprayed in a comical purple and green. There's plastic guns in front of them, and Riza rolls up her long sleeves, taking the left side bench. And for the hundredth time that day, Olivier asks herself, what is she doing there?

"So, what do I do here?" Liv says.

Smirking, Riza replies, "Just shoot things. You're good at it right?" The ride jerks forward and Riza turns to her, lifting a single, challenging brow. "You think you can beat me, Liv?"

Olivier has no more appreciation for the theme park than she had before, but she finds the attraction enjoyable. It definitely allows her to forget, if only for ten minutes. Riza seems to have fun, and while Liv has never seen her whimsical side, it only reminds her that her adoptive sister's childhood was not as happy and gratifying as hers was.

Plus, Liv discovers that Riza is strangely precise with her aim.

Perhaps she would make a decent officer.

"Did you learn how to shoot from dad?" Liv asks, curious.

"No, but I did watch you two shoot more than I could count."

"How come you never asked if you wanted to learn?"

Riza shrugs. "I never worked up the courage back then, I guess."

And Olivier learns that she doesn't understand her sister as well as she thought. At the end of the ride, Riza beats her score by fifty thousand points.

Liv gives her a gentle nudge with her elbow, teasing her sister, "Do you think Roy will get scared if he knows how well you can shoot?"

Riza gives her a funny look. "What is this? You approve of him now?"

"I never said I don't approve. I just like to give him a hard time, that's all," Liv says truthfully.

For a minute, Riza is quiet as she considers her. Her expression is solemn now, and she confronts Liv as though she has a million things to say, not knowing which one she wants to say first.

"I like Roy. I like him more than I've ever liked anyone before," Riza says. "And if knowing him for four months can make me feel this way... I can only imagine what you must be going through." Then she loops her arm around Liv's, dragging her away. "Are you still thinking about him?"

Olivier's hand dawdles with the leather strap of her purse, sliding down to impulsively reach for her phone. She wants to see if Miles has texted her at all. But she knows better. "Well, it's kind of hard not to think about someone you worked with for a long time…"

"Why did you stop seeing him again?" Riza asks, weaving her way through eager children and frantic parents.

"Things just aren't working as well as I thought it would."

But Olivier becomes silent again when she thinks of Lilian, her excitement at the news and her burgeoning belly. What does Miles think about all this? What are his reactions? Is the baby truly his? A part of her hopes it isn't, and the desire to label Lilian a liar and a cheat is all she can think about at night. But isn't that what Liv was when she decided to date a married man?

Her sisters are still in the dark about what happened, and for a second, Olivier senses the urge to spill everything.

Riza joins the line for a churro stand, and she smiles. "Don't worry. Sugar will make you feel better."

While Liv isn't a big fan of deep fried dough and cinnamon, she takes the pastry offered to her. She takes a bite, trying not to count the calories in her head. "Okay yeah, this is pretty good, but I really need to watch what I eat and it's almost dinner time."

"Relax, Liv. It's just today," Riza says, waving her off. "Dinner will be a little later. I already made a reservation for us."

At this, Liv stops herself from taking another bite. "You did? Why?"

And Riza shrugs then, averting her gaze. "It's not often we spend time together like this."

"But I want to be home for dinner."

"Oh, do you?"

"Yeah," Liv says with a finality.

Riza bites her bottom lip, but she stays mute as she guides her to a nearby empty bench. Promptly, her sister swivels to her, her brown eyes looking at her, searching for something. "Okay, I do have something to tell you but… please don't get mad."

Anticipation is keeping her pinned to her seat, but she faces Riza and says, "I'll try not to."

"I, uh," Riza begins, tucking her hair behind her ear.

What can be so difficult she can hardly say it?

"So, I would really like to know what you think if I tell you that..." Riza says slowly, quietly. And Liv can see her throat working, trying to voice her thoughts. "If I tell you that I accepted a position at a publishing company..."

Liv doesn't think it's a big deal, but there must be a reason her sister is shaking in her seat.

"What's the work environment like?"

"Oh, definitely much friendlier than the current one," Riza replies. A little too quickly, Liv thinks.

"Have you met your team? Do you like them?" Liv asks, truly curious.

"So far, yes. They're all very friendly, and we seem to be getting along well…"

"Does it pay well?"

It is merely a question, but Riza stares at her in horror. It's as if Liv's some big, scary monster, waiting to devour her at the first hint of displeasure.

Raking restless fingers through her blonde hair, Riza murmurs, "Well, not as much as now… but I promise I'll pull my weight on our rent and the bills." Then her sister starts going off, speaking so fast Liv can hardly digest the information offered to her. "And you can take the car, Liv. I'll take the bus. It's only about thirty minutes from our place. Oh, and they also offer free lunch so I'll save some money there. I'll even stay after hours so I can eat dinner there to save some more money-"

And Olivier puts a hand up, stopping her. "Stop, Riza. You don't have to say all that." She pauses then, and looks her in the eye. "Do you want to work there?"

Riza bites her inner cheek, puckering her lips. After a moment, she sighs and answers, "I do. Very much."

Liv smiles then. "Then what's the problem?"

Her sister's eyes widen with disbelief. "You're giving me your blessing?"

At this, Liv's eyes narrow. "Why would you need my blessing?"

"Because… you usually care where I work and how much I make. It's just surprising that you're… not against it."

Her frank admission makes her contemplate. It's true Liv's been hard on her sisters, taking the role of their mother even when no one asked her to. But who would look after them if not for her?

Liv sighs, dawdling a finger on the churro wrapper in her hand. "You're right. I probably would have said no if you had asked me this last year…" she confesses. "But with Winry being back and after what happened to her... I think everything could have been prevented if I hadn't been so… harsh."

A gentle hand squeezes her shoulder, and Riza peers down at her. "You can't keep blaming yourself for what happened to Winry, Liv."

Olivier shakes her head, sensing remorse churning in her belly. "I'm not... but I am admitting that I haven't been fair to you both. I need to remind myself that you and Winry are adults now. You don't need big sister Olivier to protect you from bullies and terrible parents, you know?" Then she looks down on the ground and scoffs at herself, disbelieving at all the things she did, even if they started out with good intentions. "I get overprotective with you. You were my best friend, and I hated seeing you cry as a kid. It was heartbreaking. Your father was a real bitch, Ri."

Riza smiles weakly, "He was, wasn't he?"

"Yeah."

Companionable silence seeps into the fold, and Olivier takes a minute to take in her surroundings, mulling over the truths and confessions that occurred between them. Speaking with candor has always come easily for her, but tonight, it is harder than it has always been.

Her fingertip runs over the edge of the cellphone in her pocket as she arranges the thoughts in her head. And she looks up then, seeing a family of four standing under the huge Christmas tree, the children striking ridiculous poses that make their parents laugh. The little girl looks positively happy when her father scoops her up and places her on his shoulders.

"Riza, can I tell you something stupid?"

Riza lifts her head from her churro and looks at her. "Sure?"

Her cheeks are set ablaze as she lends voice to her deepest, darkest secret. "I never wanted kids until I met Miles... but it turns out he will be having a kid… with his wife. That's why I broke it off with him."

When she glances at her sister, she has a hand over her mouth. Riza seems completely shocked. But then she extends an arm and pulls Olivier into her, hugging her, consoling her with a gentle sway side to side. "Liv, I am so sorry."

Time is all she needs, Liv knows. Even if she can hardly sleep at night and thinks of nothing else but him during the day. Miles was a big part of her life, the only one who could wheedle her out of her musings, the only man who listened to her confidences about Winry.

For a time, he seemed to be the only person who understood her.

Liv takes a deep breath and sighs, defeatedly. "It's just not meant to be, I guess. I'll get over it."

And Riza is still rocking her, kissing the crown of her head and whispering in her ear, "Do you want to go home? Get some rest?"

"No," Liv mumbles.

"No?"

Gently, Olivier releases her sister and pulls herself upright. Her mind is still weighty, her heart full of grief, and yet…

A small smile tugs at the corner of her lips, and Liv gazes down at Riza, who looks up at her expectantly. "We're at Disneyland, Ri. Let's get on that ride one more time so I can beat your ass."

Variety Building, Two Weeks Later, 5:56PM

Everything about today makes Riza feel as light as a feather. Without her two-inch heels and the stack of documents in her arms, she probably would have floated to the ceiling.

She knocks on the door to Roy's office, prompting him to lift his head up from the paper in front of him.

Roy grins when he sees her and beckons her to come in.

"Here you go, sir. Twelve signatures from the board, all agreeing to fund the affordable housing project," Riza says with a smile, piling the folders atop his scattered desk.

He slides a page out and studies the bottom, where fresh inks bleed into the backside. He drops the paper, looking back up at her again. "Good work, Riza."

"I was just making sure you did your job, sir. You did everything yourself." And Riza thinks Bradley must be fuming in his own office. Not that she cares. "And you didn't even tell me you approached the board. That was bold of you."

"I was this close to telling you, Riza," Roy says, touching his index finger to his thumb, showing her what he means. "And I was planning to tell you the day we were supposed to be on a date. But Bradley ruined it all, of course. After that, I made sure you were kept out in case he asked around. It wouldn't be good if they found out how involved you were with my… side project."

"Will Bradley ever find out?"

"Probably." Roy shrugs. "But by then, the board will see how much of an asset I am to the company. There will be nothing he can do at that point."

"That's good to hear." And Riza sneaks a glance at her wristwatch. Two more minutes until the end of her last day at work. It feels so freeing and relieving she considers skipping through the hallway as she makes her way out of the building.

Roy rises to his feet then, and he rounds his desk to stand in front of her, inches away. "I'll miss having you at work, Riza. Any last minute advice for me before you leave?"

She looks up at him and smiles. "Don't slack off, Mr. Mayor, and don't give Rebecca too much of a hard time. She's not as patient as me."

He laughs. "Alright. Anything else?"

Her hand reaches into her pocket, and Riza takes out the crumpled piece of paper she's prepared before she stepped into his office, holding it between her fingers. "Your friends at the editorial building are very interesting, by the way. Especially Maes."

Roy squints an eye and asks, reluctantly, "Do I even want to know what he said...? And what's that in your hand?"

She dismisses his question and taps her lips with a finger, pretend-considering, "Hmm. Let's see… Maes said you don't like talking about women."

"Right. What's that in your hand?" he asks again, lunging for the paper.

Clearly, Roy remembers that by the end of today she will no longer be working for him. He doesn't even care that the mailroom clerk peeks into his office from above the frosted glass, looking bewildered at the impropriety between boss and subordinate.

Riza twirls away when he tries to reach for the note and laughs. "But when you do talk about women, you make fun of the ones you like."

His brows lift in surprise. Immediately, Roy ceases his attempt for the paper and shakes his head, as if disbelieving his friend did such a thing. "He did… yes, of course he did."

Riza chuckles at his reaction. "I guess I should feel flattered. You did say I was boring."

"Whoa, whoa, I only said that to throw Maes off course. I did not mean it one bit," he corrects her, smirking. Then he steals a glimpse at the wall clock behind her and remarks, "It's six o'clock, by the way. Congratulations on finishing your last day."

Riza nods and gathers courage to close their distance, taking his hand into hers. When she does, Roy stands only a breath away, making her heart leap and stumble. Sheepishly, she gazes up at him and slips the paper into his clutch. "Six o'clock means I don't work for you anymore, Roy Mustang."

"That's right," he says, grinning.

"Then I am hoping you are free tonight," she murmurs.

Roy opens the memo, and she watches him with her breath caught, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth. It takes him less than two seconds before he promptly looks back up at her.

His mouth is smiling, and his eyes bright. "I'll be there, Riza."

A/N: We are now nearing the end (one more chapter and an epilogue), so I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been following the story so far, reviewing, commenting, favoriting, kudo-ing. I would not have made it this far without all of your support. 3