AN: I apologize. I'm serious. I last updated: 3-22-09. In other words, 8 months ago. This is the final chapter before the epilogue, unfortunately. Also, as unfortunate as this sounds, I want to get this done fast. I plan to rewrite it eventually. I'm sorry you had to read such a terrible bit of fanfiction. I am truly apologetic.

In other news, I've done most of this centered on Mustang/Roy, but since the 1st chapter as well as this one and the epilogue will be centered on Hawkeye/Riza, it'll be even. XD

Chapter 5: Almost Yours

She opened her eyes to blinding sunlight and sat up slowly. The curtains were half-open; the woman judged it to be around early afternoon.
What had happened? The last thing she could remember seeing was her colonel's hands forming a snap, the sound of cackling bandits echoing in her ears.

Hawkeye's eyes widened as she remembered the feeling of his strong arms around her and his face beaming, smiling at her. Colonel Mustang was a very handsome and charming man. But how many lovers/girlfriends had he had or pretended to have before? She wondered...
Now was not the time to think about this. She had to find out what the current situation was, where everyone else was.

Her superior had a devastating effect on her. He was sometimes rash, sometimes calm and collected, sometimes a pain to protect. She had vowed to watch his back and should he stray from his path, shoot him. But when that time came, she thought, she would be incapable of doing so.

Now was certainly not the time to think about this.

The lieutenant examined her surroundings in an attempt to stop thinking about that person.

His ordinary charms didn't actually work on her, or so she thought. There had never been a time when she had ever succumbed to anyone's womanizing tactics, or was that thought only present because he had never tried them on her? Roy Mustang was good-looking at least, but that wasn't the only reason why...

No of course these weren't the right things to be thinking about at the present moment.

Someone knocked on the door suddenly.

"C-come in." the blond said shakily.

Her superior, clad in his usual blue uniform, stepped into the room. The ferocity of her glare almost sent him back where he had come from.

"W-what is it now?!"

"Sir. What are you doing here?!"

That defiance went well with her beauty...

"I--what?"

He paused for a moment. Hawkeye closed her eyes and sighed quietly.

"I was worried about you," he continued.

Her eyes widened slightly. She was acting rather embarrassed. What was going on?

"Are you feeling alright?" he intoned quietly, sitting down on the chair at her bedside. Her hair was actually untied for once.

Mustang turned away to stare at a frame on the wall behind him. The situation wasn't supposed to be this difficult to handle. It was her attitude that got to him; her headstrong yet calm front and loyalty to him and the Amestris...

"Colonel Mustang?"

The man faced her, leaning forward and placing his hands on her shoulders gently, bringing their faces mere centimeters apart...

"Lieutenant..."

"Colonel..."

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AN: This wasn't quite what I expected but it turned out alright. Too short. The next chapter will be the last, the epilogue. Unfortunately, I didn't incorporate the others since I really don't have the momentum to find out what they were actually doing and what happened after that and also the fact that I don't really care at this point. For the third time I apologize for this terrible piece of writing, if it can even be called a piece of writing.

The next one will be up soon, really.

Kazuki