Riza was worn ragged by the time a rain storm force them from the ocean. After noon, many of the other officers had joined them in the waves and they were obliged to stop surfing so that they wouldn't hurt anybody, but Riza was getting good towards the end. Roy had gone off to a bar with Havoc, Breda, Falman, Furey, and some others, and Riza agreed to meet with Sheska, Rebecca, and Maria for spa treatments at three.

Stumbling into the empty condo, Riza took off her wet, sandy suit and hung it up over the wash stand and rinsed off her sandy feet. Her hair was let down, brushed, and pinned up so that she could ward off tangles in the brisk wind. As she settled down in an armchair, she tried to read, but found she couldn't. She couldn't stop thinking of Roy. What had that kiss meant? It felt like it meant an awful lot. They had been friends since they were little; you don't just randomly kiss your best friend.

Relax, Riza, it was just a kiss, it's not like you've never been kissed before. She tried to talk herself into calming down; she hadn't been able to think things over yet and her mind had wound up like a spring, ready to snap if it wasn't unwound. If you don't, Sheska won't notice you're crazy-minded, but if even Maria doesn't, and I can never count on that, Rebecca defiantly will. She tried mediation and eventually she got her nerves under control.

He kissed me, he kissed me, he kissed me! She just couldn't stop herself thinking. Though she was trying to calm herself, she felt a big smile on her face which wouldn't go away. I haven't smiled like this in a good long time. Then she broke loose and laughed, loud and clear, more like a teenager in love than a dignified military officer, but she didn't care; for the first time in a while, she just didn't care.

Time flew by and she was still bogged down in her haze as two hours later she wandered into the spa room, soaked from the rain, having done nothing productive since they had all departed from the beach earlier that afternoon.

As she had predicted, Rebecca immediately noticed that something was up. "Spill; we know something happened between you and Mustang." Riza grinned and let her head flop a little to the side. "Ha! I knew it! Didn't I say so, Maria?"

This caught Riza's attention. She hadn't thought it had been noticeable before this afternoon, and started playing the day over in her mind. "When...?"

Rebecca laughed, but it was Maria who answered. "We took bets on how long it would take or you two to hook up. I bet before we saw you again but after noon."

"And I bet it would be in the morning. I think Havoc had you pegged for some time this evening," Rebecca chimed in. "So, which was it?"

Riza colored and answered, "I don't know, we were swimming and didn't have our watches. If I had to guess, I'd say morning, but I really can't be sure. But more importantly; you took bets?"

"Relax, you get a 10% cut of the winnings."

"Like I was saying; you took bets?" They all laughed at her sudden change of heart.

Just then, Sheska came up to them panting as if she had just run to be on time. "Sorry I'm late. Riza, you look like you've gotten too much sun; you're all flushed."

Rebecca grinned. "We're all met?" Tuning around, she called out; "Four massage treatments!" to whomever may have been taking note. The four were shown into the changing room where they left their shoes and clothing on heated racks to cool while they were pampered. Each holding a towel, they were guided over to padded mats where they lay down and each was paired with a masseuse.

The hot stones and gentle hands on Riza's back and shoulders helped to ease the excited tension which had been building since Roy had kissed her. She couldn't stop thinking about him, and-

"Riza!" She jumped in surprise and shook some stones loose from her back.

The masseuse was startled and hastily replaced the stones, and Riza apologized. Turning to her friends, she replied, "What?"

"We told you earlier to spill, and you didn't. Now tell us everything," demanded Rebecca.

Sheska looked so confused. "What's happened? Has something happened to Riza?" The other two laughed.

Maria quickly explained, "Riza and Mustang hooked up early this afternoon-"

"Morning," interrupted Rebecca.

"As I was saying! They made out on the beach and now we want her to tell us everything because friends kiss and tell." Rebecca looked pleased; she had trained the reserved lieutenant well.

Riza turned her head away, obviously embarrassed, so that she faced the foggy window with rain dipping down the exterior and condensation dripping down the interior. For a while she looked like she wasn't going to say anything, but finally she spoke. "I don't think either of us would make a move unless we really meant it; we've known each other too long. I don't think we could be closer, even as is, so it's not too much of a change in our relationship. At the same time, it's nice to know he feels this way. We were just messing around in the waves (someone snickered, she didn't turn her head to find out who) and I was flipped around too much and some water got up my nose and Roy told me a story about when he was really little, before I knew him, I think, and then it just happened. (Maria cooed at this and Rebecca hushed her and Riza giggled.) I've done more with near strangers, but this meant more to me because I know we mean more than that to each other."

It was quiet for a moment and they just heard the pounding of the rain on the ceiling. "That's adorable! Can I third wheel?" asked Maria. They all laughed at this; they really were acting like secondary school girl when one got a crush; so immature, but when they were on vacation, there wasn't anything to worry about, least of all reputation. They sank into idle chat as they recieved their massages, teasing Sheska mercilessly and dwelling on how there was such good shopping in town which even Central City couldn't hold a light. They all made plans to buy souveniers together on the last day, and parted laughing as their hour ended.

I'm not entirely sure this is where the chapter break was supposed to go...I think it makes sense regardless and it's not like you can't just turn the page. Enjoy and review.