Author's Note: I don't own FMA or its characters. This is AU and set after the end of the manga.

Something Between a Shotgun Wedding and an Elopement

It wasn't really a shotgun wedding. For one thing, both the participants were willing. For another, it wasn't the scandalized parents insisting on the marriage. The truth of the matter was that their friends had decided that since they were probably going to get married any way, they had simply needed to speed up the process. Two days before their deadline to leave the country, Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye found themselves in a small chapel in Central saying their vows.

Gracia, Havoc, Edward, Alphonse, and Winry had appeared at their front door that morning at an insanely early hour. The boys had hauled Roy off on some unspecified mission and left her with two women who seemed very pleased with themselves.

"Maria's going to meet us at the dress shop, we'll go to the florist from there," Gracia informed her. "She's making arrangements to use that little cottage by the rose garden. You remember the one?"

Of course, she remembered it. Maes and Gracia had gotten married there. The question was why did they need it? And for that matter, what did they need it for?

"Gracia, you have five seconds to tell me what is going on before I go back to bed."

Her friend smiled. "You're leaving in two days. We can't change that. But none of us are willing to miss out on your wedding."

"Wedding? Gracia, Roy and I haven't even thought about that yet. We haven't had a chance."

Gracia smirked. "You accepted Roy's proposal of marriage. I was there, remember? I bet you even have your engagement ring somewhere close. As for the wedding, I know you haven't had a chance to think about it. That's why we decided to take care of for you. Now come on, we have a lot to get done."

And so Riza found herself trying on wedding dress after wedding dress, attempting to find the right one. She had rejected a number out of hand due to the fact that they were just too frilly. She was halfway through her pile of possibilities when she found it. It was a simple dress, sleeveless, strapless, and with no train to speak of, but she knew it was the one the minute she tried it on. The ivory taffeta dress would also bare her back, but at this point that didn't matter so much anymore.

Once her dress was taken care, Riza was called to consult on the bridesmaid and flower girl dresses. Within a half hour, they had baby blue dresses for the attendants and a veil for Riza. She then found herself being dragged off to find lingerie. Once that ordeal was over with, they moved on to flowers. There was brief stop for lunch, and then Riza was dragged home for more preparations.

"Take a bath and wash your hair. We should be ready when you're done, and we'll do your hair and make," Maria pushed her towards the bathroom. "Do you have any jewelry you want to wear or should we make that your something borrowed?"

"There's a jewelry case in my suitcase. There's something in there. Actually, it could probably serve for my something old."

"Great, now scoot. We don't have a lot of time."

Riza slumped in the tub of hot water. This entire thing was insane. She had to be out of the country in forty-eight hours or she'd be facing death, and her friends were hijacking her into marriage. Not that she minded marrying Roy. It was something they had both hoped for, but neither of them had ever really expected to survive long enough to wed, despite the engagement ring she had worn with her dog tags for years.

"Riza? Are you ready yet?"

"Coming." She sighed, pulling herself out of the tub.

Riza found her bedroom turned into a boudoir. Maria and Gracia bore matching grins. Winry and Maria were now wearing matching knee length dresses of light blue while Elysia wore a skirt that matched their dresses and a white top with a matching blue ribbon around her waist.

"Shall we, my lady?" Maria laughed.

Before she knew it, Riza was dressed in her gown with Gracia and Maria fussing over her hair and make up. Gracia had simply swept her hair up into a neat bun and was anchoring the veil with three red camellias.

"You never said way you wanted these specifically." Gracia put the final bobby pin in. "There, you're set. All that's left is your jewelry."

"Red camellias mean 'you're a flame in my heart'. Did you find my jewelry case?"

"Here." Winry handed her the box with a shy smile. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

Riza opened the box and lifted out the three items that she would wear. Her engagement ring: a simple gold band adorned with a solitaire diamond. Then there were the pearls. They had been Roy's mother's, part of her dowry. He had given them to her for her twenty-first birthday during their private celebration. She had never actually worn them but had tucked them away for a special event. It was a simple set of drop earrings, three pearls each strung on a slim gold chain, and a necklace, three slender chains of gold with varying sized pearls twisted together to form a collar.

The others looked properly stunned.

"My god, Riza. Those are gorgeous." Gracia reverently took the pearls from her and slid them around her neck, fastening the clasp. "How long have you had these?"

"They were my twenty-first birthday present from Roy. They were his mother's."

With the jewelry on, Riza was finally ready.

"Do you have everything?" Maria asked. "Old, new, borrow, and blue?"

Riza smiled. "The pearls are old, the dress is new, the veil is Gracia's, and my garter is blue."

"Wonderful. Denny's picking up our flowers, so we'd better scoot and head over to the wedding house."

Riza was quickly installed in the bride's room while Gracia disappeared to 'go make sure everything was ready'. Riza studied her bouquet while she waited. It was a simple bouquet, ivory roses and ivy. She was the only one carrying roses. Maria and Winry both had bouquets of bluebells and lily of the valley while Gracia's also had forget-me-nots. Elysia wore a crown of apple blossoms and carried a basket of orange blossoms. All was prepared it seemed.

"Are you ready?" Gracia stood at the door. "It's time."

They headed for the back door that would lead out to the garden where weddings were held. She took a deep breath as she heard soft strains of music start. She was actually going to marry Roy Mustang. After years of sacrifice and keeping their relationship a secret, they finally had a chance to be a real couple. She was going to be able to spend the rest of her life with Roy, and they finally had a chance at a future together.

Her smile only grew as she started down the aisle. There were not many attendees, but those who were there more than made up for it. Her grandfather and Pinako Rockbell sat in the front row along with Alphonse, Ling, and Ranfan. Armstrong and both his sisters were present as well as Sheska and nearly everyone from the office. The only one missing from the group was Havoc.

But then he was the best man. He, Edward, and Denny stood next to Roy, waiting for her under the wisteria trellis. Roy's eyes met hers, and suddenly, there wasn't anything else. Her world narrowed to the only man she had ever loved. The next thing she knew her hands rested in his, and she was repeating her vows after the officiant.

"Roy, you cannot possess me for I belong to myself, but while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give. You cannon command me, for I am a free person, but I shall serve you in those ways you require. I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care. I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine. I shall honor you above all others. This is my wedding vow to you. This is the marriage of equals."

Then it was his turn. When his vows were complete, the officiant spoke again.

"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud.
It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Do you have the rings?"

Gracia slipped a silver band into her hand.

Roy smiled at her and slid a matching ring onto her finger. "Riza, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity."

Hands trembling, she repeated the phrase and motion. "Roy, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity."

"With the exchange of these rings, you are married. You may now kiss the bride."

And for the first time in the presence of their friends and family, she kissed Roy without any fear or need for discretion. Roy gently pulled away, and they turned towards the waiting group.

The officiant smiled. "I am pleased to present Roy and Riza Mustang."

That prompted cheers. Riza reclaimed her bouquet from Gracia, and hand and hand with Roy, she stepped forward to celebrate with her friends.

Theme: Meaning of a Flower