Disclaimer: I don't own FMA!
Hi! I wasn't going to update until Sunday bbut I was quite pleased with this chapter so I thought i'd post early! Plus all your amazing reviews have spurred me on so KEEP REVIEWING! They are enormously appriciated even if it is just a really quick message. THANKYOU.
Apart from that please enjoy :D
Riza opened the last beer and placed it on a Gracia's pink plastic tray. She had a pair of scruffy trousers on and an old t-shirt, the house was a state so no need to wear anything nice. She had finally gained the keys to her house that morning and since midday there had been a constant stream of people through the door. Havoc and Breda where wrestling with the flat pack furniture, Fuery was in the living room setting up her technical equipment, Falman and Brosh had gone on a DIY errand to pick up supplies and Gracia was with her in the kitchen preparing the barbecue food.
There was a groan and then a crash behind them, both women spun around to see Maria unceremoniously drop a large box marked 'KITCHEN' on the table, "What's in here Riza? Bricks?"
Riza laughed and used a knife to cut through the cello tape on the lid, she peeled back the cardboard flaps and pulled out a large cooking pan. Maria narrowed her eyes, "Pans? All your pans are in this box!"
Before Riza could reply Havoc stumbled in from the front with a bigger box, this one had no label and he seemed to be really struggling with it. He gritted his teeth as he heaved the large container onto the kitchen table with a large 'thud'. Riza grimaced, "You need to be more careful!"
Havoc gave her a look, "Yeah, thanks Havoc for carrying my stuff into my new house," he replied sarcastically. Maria turned away from Riza to smirk at his reply and began putting pots and pans into a cupboard as Havoc contiuned, "What the hell is in here anyway?"
"Just some essentials," said Riza nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders and turning back to mixing the lamb with mint and onions to make burgers. Havoc's eyebrow twitched and he picked the knife up she'd left on the side and opened the lid of the box. When the flaps sprang apart he was confronted with an assortment of large metal boxes. His eyes suddenly widened with realisation, "Riza! Are these...are these firearms?" He asked incredulously.
Riza turned back to him, Gracia and Maria also turning to face Havoc with confused expressions. He pulled one box from the pile, he unclipped the fastening and opened the lid, revealing a large assault rifle snuggled up in foam, surrounded by various parts and accessories. Riza watched as Gracia's, Maria's and Havoc's jaws hit the floor.
"Heavens above Riza!" gasped Gracia.
"You planning a war?" questioned Maria, going over to open another metal box, revealing two silver pistols.
Riza stood straight and regarded her friends, "You all know my occupation and my hobbies, does it really surprise you I have a few weapons for practise?"
"No! I expected a couple but not a bloody armoury that could rival Central headquaters!" Blurted Havoc. At this point Breda ambled in with a skrew driver hanging limply in his hand.
"Anyone seen Hav- BLOODY HELL!" His eyes fell on the assortment of weapons on the kitchen table.
"Yes! OK! I have a few weapons!" snarled Riza, going to start packing up the metal cases and put them back into the box. A small had appeared over the wooden edge of the table. It slowly edged towards a hand gun that had been precariously placed on the side as the adults argued. Elysia's pudgy little fingers curled around the barrel. Her eyes wide as she pulled the shiny object towards her. She pulled it over the edge and down to her level, staring happily at the shiny toy she'd found.
"Mama!" She grinned happily up at Gracia and held the gun up, "Bwudy eel!" she laughed happily, trying to mimic Bread's earlier phrase.
Gracia's eyes went wide with horror and she yelped, hands flying to her mouth as she stared at her daughter. Riza was swift to react, moving to swipe the hand gun from her fingers. Elysia stood paralysed for a moment, unsure as to what she'd done wrong. "Aunty Riza?" She questioned, eyes tearing up as they darted between all the shocked adults.
Gracia knelt before her daughter and hugged her before pulling back and saying very seriously, "Those shiny things are not toys Elysia. They are very bad."
Elysia nodded, still dazed from the whole experience. "I'm sowie."
"Thats Ok, dear. Just don't do it again." Gracia gave her another hug and gently pushed her towards the door, "Why don't you go back to the garden and play with Hayate?" The group watched her trot out towards the glass doors in the living room that led to the garden.
Riza was first to break the stunned silence with a nervous smile, "Guess I'm going to have to get rid of some of these before the baby is born." She placed the gun she was holding in a case and locked it.
Havoc surveyed the large casket of cases and then leant into Breda, "God help the Chief if he ever comes back..." Riza suddenly tensed at hearing the whispered words. Sometimes she really hated having such acute senses.
"What was that Havoc?" She bit out. Her hand snaking around the box to pluck one of the pistols lying in one of the open cases.
Havoc gulped and Breda stiffened, "nothing..."
"I think the food is almost ready!" called Gracia, nervously trying to intervene before things got to nasty. Without warning Riza, spun swiftly on her heels, sun up in her hand, she moved swiftly around the table, far faster than an eight month pregnant women ever should. Havoc turned and began sprinting through the house, Riza quick on his heels.
The other's sighed at each other as desperate pleas of mercy and then blood curdling cries of vengeance could be heard through out the house. "She shouldn't be running around like that with a baby," commented Gracia.
"Try telling Riza that,"Maria chuckled and turned back to the cupboard and put the last items away, "and to be honest the comment was uncalled for. The colonel must be a sore topic for her."
Gracia nodded in agreement as Falman walked in sulkily, "I just finished painting that damn wall and now there's a bunch of bullet holes." Gracia and Maria laughed and started taking the food out on plates to the garden for the barbecue.
As Fuery, Breda, Falman and, a shaken, Havoc sipped cool beers on the patio whilst montioring the sate of the burgers, Riza, Maria and Gracia wandered up to see how the guys had done the nursery. Riza pushed the door back and gasped, the room was still thick with pain fumes but Falman and Brosh had been good with the décor.
A set of white shelves were hung above a white changing table, and Havoc had placed a load of baskets on them ready for all the baby essentials she'd acquire. The walls were a pale yellow, which matched the yellow bunny curtains on the window overlooking the garden. What caught Riza's eye though was the beautiful wooden crib that sat in the centre of the far wall. It was a rich mahogany and had a little canopy over it. The room and crib were still bare of items, and baby, but Riza began to imagine rattles and baby books, nappies and powder, a little music player by the crib and then she could almost hear the gurgling of her little baby. She couldn't help herself, it was so beautiful...so wonderful. She walked over to the chair by the cot and bawled.
Maria and Gracia stared at her in shock for a few moments and then went to her side, each kneeling and taking a hand. "Is it that bad?" asked a timid Maria. Riza shook her head, still unable to form words.
Gracia rubbed her back gently and whispered comforting words, "It's...it's so wonderful," Riza finally croaked. Gracia and Maria smiled at her and hugged her.
"It's OK, Riza, we understand," said Gracia, "It's a lot to take in."
Riza was silent for a moment, "I just wish..." she didn't finish the sentence as her throat close up. Maria squeezed her hand.
"Is it Mustang?," Maria whispered. Riza nodded. She wanted him here so bad. She wanted him to be the father, she wanted him to have painted the nursery and to have collected the crib. To have helped her with her new house. She leant into her friends and began to cry again. She hated crying, but she just couldn't help it. Nothing she said of did would stop these tears from falling down her cheeks.
There was a sudden yelp from outside that ripped through their quiet reprieve. All three women leapt up to the window to look at what the fuss was about. Havoc and Breda were trying to regain control of the barbecue as Falman and Fuery were chasing Hayate around since he'd stolen a steak. Riza chuckled, "I think we should go down and save them." Gracia and Maria merely nodded and followed there friend down stairs.
Roy's eyes flickered awake. The room was dim, just the glow of the embers keeping the encroaching darkness at bay. He heaved a sigh and swung his legs from under the blanket. The cold air instantly bit at his skin but he didn't notice. He could hear the howling of the wind and snow outside, it must have been...what? Seven thirty? He groaned and walked to the bathroom, relieving himself and then bending over the crummy sink to wash his hands. He looked up at himself, then peeled the eye patch from his face. He stared at the eyeless socket, his face devoid of emotion but his eyes filled with pain, regret and loneliness. This is what I deserve, he thought miserably.
He slowly and painstakingly cleared out the socket with the medical swabs he had and then applied a clean eye patch, throwing the other in the wash box along with his boxers. He walked back into the one room that made up his living quarters, over to the chest of drawers and began opening and rifling through the drawers for underwear and clean uniform. He pulled his clothes on unceremoniously, stuffed a lump of bread in his mouth and slumped down in his desk chair.
He looked at the piece of paper in front of him. It had four words written on it. It had been like that for sometime now, well since he'd arrived almost nine months ago. He picked the pen back up and it hovered hesitantly over the paper. He remained like that chewing his lip for several hours.
Occasionally he got up and paced. Then he would sit back down stare at the paper, then get back up and pace. A small smile gracing his lips when he thought of how Hawkeye would have shot him by now if they were in the office, but that made his face falter and contort in pain. He couldn't think about her. Eventually he resigned again. He picked up his large woollen trench coat, gloves and pole. He opened the door and he stepped out to start standing guard.
An icy blast leapt around the room, tickling the paper on his desk, still only four simple words written there...Dear Riza, I'm sorry....
Havoc burst into the waiting room, a very tired looking Fuery and Maria raised there heads to look at him, "Is she OK?" he blurted running over to them.
Maria nodded, "They just took her into delivery," she motioned over to a pair of crystal white doors, "She called me at one o'clock saying she was feeling contractions, then I called the rest of you. Falman is away and I don't know where Breda is. Obviously Gracia had to stay with Elysia."
Havoc nodded and was about to sit down with Fuery when there was a loud scream and then a moan, "I want Roy!" from the delivery room. They all looked at the floor uneasily and another scream tore through the waiting area causing Maria to flinch. Havoc glanced at the door and then put his mouth into a determined straight line, pushed up from the seat and marched towards the doors.
"Havoc! What are you-" started Maria but he didn't hear the end of her sentence as he forced his way into the room. The doctors spun around the face him, they looked shocked but he paid them no attention. His eyes fell on Riza, she was on her back staring at the ceiling, sweat beading on her forehead, she was mumbling about Roy and her fists gripping the sides of her bed. He pushed aside a nurse that had come to remove him and got to her side. He took her hand and stroked her matted hair, her eyes opened and she turned her big hazel orbs on his worried face.
"I know I'm not the chief Riza but I'm here for you so just squeeze my hand and we'll get you through this, OK?" Riza looked up at him, every emotion known to man flying through her eyes. She just nodded and as another contraction hit her she squeezed Havoc's hand so hard it made a sickening cracking noise.
He cringed but said nothing, just surreptitiously swapping his hands so she wouldn't do his right one any further damage. The doctor looked up at them, "Alright, the baby has crowned so we just need you to give one last big push, OK?" The midwife glanced at Havoc to signal he needed to help.
Havoc turned to Riza and leant in close, "Alright, Riza, we're almost there you just got to give one more huge push."
"I can't," she moaned close to tears.
"Yes you can! Come on Lieutenant!" He called as if she were on a battlefield and it was the last push out of enemy territory. She took a deep breath, screwed up her eyes and gave one last push, screaming as she did so. She then fell back exhausted and spent on the bed, breathing heavily. She remained like that for a few moments and then sat bolt upright.
"Why aren't they crying!" she called almost hysterically. The midwife smiled at her reassuringly as she held up a wiggling bloody baby and wrapped it in a blanket before placing them on their mother's chest. Riza was still breathing heavily as she gripped the little bundle close to her chest. After a few short seconds the babe began to wail. Riza grinned and began to cry with her baby.
Havoc knocked quietly on the door to Riza's room. There was no initial reply, so he slowly peeked the door open. Riza was curled up on her bed, sound asleep, her hair a halo around her tired face and snoring lightly. He walked over to the bed and then to the small plastic cot. The baby was lying wrapped up in multiple blankets, it's little hands and face scrunched up, and it was making little grunting noises and kicking it's feet feebly.
Havoc grinned at them and bent over to have a closer look, he noticed that they had a small baby blue cap on their head. "So a little boy, eh? Lets hope your not as arrogant or as a pig headed as your father, shall we?" He sheepishly pulled up a small paper bag and pulled out a little rabbit with a blue ribbon around it's neck, he placed it in the crib next to him, "There you go, now you have a friend, OK champ?"
"Thank you," came a quiet croak. Havoc turned to see Riza's eyes open and her staring at the baby. All at once they watered up and she buried her face in the pillow to hide her tears. He paled and sat down next to her.
"Riza?" he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Riza what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she mumbled defensively, "There is nothing wrong, I have a beautiful and healthy baby boy to take care of...alone..." Havoc smiled understandingly.
"You're not alone Riza, you have the best set of soldiers in the city to help take care of the squirt!
Not to mention Gracia's amazing cooking!" Riza chuckled through her tears but it faltered and
Havoc knew what was wrong, "I know Riza, it's going to be harder because he isn't here. Not necessarily taking care of him but...I guess emotionally for you but you have to believe me that it will get better, trust me I have a lot of experience in the heart break field!" He tried to make the last part light hearted and it did work to some extent. Riza offered a weak smile.
He sighed and looked back at the baby, "What you going to name him? Any ideas?"
Riza lay there thoughtfully for a moment, surveying her son, "I want his middle name to be Berthold."
"After you're father?" Havoc questioned.
Riza nodded, "He did love and care for me...he just struggled after my mother left and wasn't sure what to do with a young daughter." She smiled weakly at her father's memory, "He was a wonderful man before she died...I'm sure he was afterwards, just didn't know what to say."
Havoc nodded, "So Berthold Hawkeye?"
"Maes..." Riza muttered.
"Huh?"
"Maes Berthold Hawkeye." She confirmed.
"Sounds good," commented Havoc and then he frowned slightly, Maes and Riza had never been that close, in fact, he really annoyed her.
Riza must have seen his face or read his mind because she decided to explain her name choices, "Maes was Roy's best friend...he would want his son called Maes in his honour."
Havoc's jaw set but he didn't say anything. Riza frowned and looked up at him, "What's the matter? Don't you think it's a good name."
Havoc sighed and stood up, a hand running through his dirty hair, "It's just..."he shook his head "...I'm sorry it's not my place."
"Havoc?" she said sternly.
Havoc looked at the baby and then at her, "How can you still talk and feel about him the way you do after what he did?" he snapped.
Riza was taken aback by his comment. The normally easy going Havoc had just snapped at her...over Roy no less. "Jean, I..."
"He hasn't done a single thing for you or his son. He pissed off up north and left you in this state. He...it just makes me angry to see you so upset! And to think it was him that did it..." Havoc turned away and paced to get out some of the frustration..."It's not right."
Riza lay silently. They were soon interrupted by the piercing wail of Maes. Riza shifted back on the bed and gathered Maes into her arms. She glanced at Havoc who swiftly turned around and looked at the opposite wall while she pulled up her gown and let the child drink. "I love him..." she whispered into the room, "I just do and I can't describe it...and...and now that I've had his son...despite him not being here, I feel closer to him than ever." She swallowed and looked down at Maes, "I...I never told him..."
Havoc froze slightly, "What?"
"I never told Roy I was pregnant."
Havoc almost turned to look at her but remembered she was half naked and feeding Maes. He replied through tight lips, "You never even told him about the baby?"
"How was I suppose to Jean!" she yelled, "He was gone before I knew!"
"You should have gone and told him or at least sent a letter! Here we all were thinking he'd just up and left you with a baby and in actual fact you never even gave him a chance!"
Riza's throat went tight, "you don't understand," she croaked, "I didn't want him to stay with me just because I had a baby on the way, nor did I really feel like talking to him again after he didn't even say good bye!..even after we...made love."
"Riza...it's his son...you're denying your son a father!"
Riza stared at Maes and she was overcome with rage. "Get out." She commanded.
"w-what!"
"GET OUT!" She screamed at him, her eyes welling up and her arms tightening around Maes making him cry. Havoc went to say something but closed him mouth and walked out. She hugged Maes hard and whispered, "We're going to be OK...just us Hawkeyes."
So say hello to Maes Berthold Hawkeye everyone! Thanks again for all the support and I hope you enjoyed it...now review...you know you want to XD