CHAPTER VI

Us

"Are you gonna go before Ellie wakes up?" Roy asked as he sat in front of Riza who was eating some of the pancakes he cooked. With her mouth full, all she could do was nod. Roy smiled at her and said, "Okay, let me at least walk you to your car. After you eat, of course."


The street was still empty on that Saturday morning. Riza had slipped on her jacket, which Roy insisted she should wear 'coz it was cold and he didn't want her to get sick or something like that. Riza, as confused as she was, still conformed to his request. They walked towards the sidewalk side by side, their bodies only a few inches apart.

Finally, they arrived at her car, it was parked just behind his. They stood beside it. "Thanks, Roy." Riza said in the sincerest way she could. "When can I see you again though?" He asked. "Well," she started, "I'll be back next Saturday. I still have to visit Ellie." Roy frowned. "Just Ellie?" Riza laughed, which made Roy laugh too. "What?" He asked, still laughing slightly. Riza stopped herself and just smiled. "Nothing. And yeah, I'll come visit you too." Roy took on a serious tone. "Riza, I know I was a moron last night. What I did was so...stupid and insensitive. But I am willing to prove to you that you can trust me. That I can do more to help you in the best way that I can." Riza was surprised, he was definitely asking her out. "Hey, stop worrying. I told you not to dwell on it." She sighed. "And about...uhm, about us. Maybe, we can wait until Ellie's out of my class 'till we like, go out and see each other more often. I wouldn't want other parents to think that I'm giving Ellie special treatment just because her dad's my boyfriend."

Boyfriend?! Roy was happy, surprised and excited at the same time. "Oh, so you're...you're really...my girlfriend now?" Riza grinned. "That is if you want to." Roy gasped. "Wow, I'm speechless." Riza took his hand and held it. She looked at him quite seductively. "You know for a lawyer, you run out of words pretty often." With that, he leaned in and moved his face closer to hers. "Only when I'm in the presence of someone as astounding as you." He closed the distance between them and kissed her, pushing her gently to the side of her car.

After the kiss, Riza blushed like crazy, her heartbeat was erratic and the butterflies in her stomach went wild. It was strange to think that a few hours ago, they were just friends. She squeezed Roy's hand which she was still holding and told him, "But we're gonna have some limits if we want to make this work. Like at the Kindergarten. Act, you know, natural. And in front of Ellie too. You should still address me as Ms. Hawkeye." Roy let out a low grumble with his face looking like a troubled puppy. "But I love you and I want to show the whole world just that. Especially Ellie. She's gonna love it. You have no idea how many times she's asked me if you could be her mom."

Riza was very flattered, she pinched his cheeks and said, "Aww, you're just as adorable as she is. And I love you too but come on, Roy. It's only a few months from now." Roy just sighed and kissed her hand. "Okay, if that's what Miss Hawkeye says, then I'll do it."


"YOU WHAT NOW?!" Rebecca shouted loudly. Riza had invited her over as soon as she got home. "Calm down, Becky." Riza said in a hushed tone, contrasting Rebecca's loudness. "Sorry but...I AM SO SHOOK. How would he react if he knew about the...you know, ex-boyfriend?" She asked with concern. Riza looked away from her and leaned her back on the sofa. "He already does. I told him. It's kinda how it all started." Rebecca's mouth gaped open. "Oh, wow. You really trust him, don't you? That man's lucky. I mean, like a shit ton of men are probably after you but you chose him; a guy with a child." Riza smiled, more to herself than to Rebecca. "Because he's different and I have so much respect towards him." Rebecca raised an eyebrow and asked, "Really? Why?" A frown formed on Riza's face. "Do you know how difficult it is to raise a child? Especially on your own? And be a lawyer at the same time too? I just admire him for all that. He's just amazing. Not to mention his cooking skills and that goddamn face of his." She paused for a few seconds then continued, "And also, how he still accepted me after I told him about my past. I expected him to be like disgusted or something but no, he wasn't. He was very...sympathetic."

Rebecca looked at her with a grin on her face. Playfully raising her eyebrows at her, expecting something juicy from her friend. "Tell me just how sympathetic he was then." Riza scoffed. "No can do. That's a night for me to remember and for you not to know at all." Rebecca gasped as dirty thoughts filled her mind. She was funny that way in Riza's opinion. "Oh, dear God, dear Lord, please tell me you didn't do it with him?!" Riza threw a pillow at her which directly hit her in the face. "Is that how you really see me, Becky? And for the record, we didn't. People nowadays!" Riza chuckled, knowing Rebecca was just trying to make her laugh.


After Riza left at around 6:30, Roy decided to call Jillian. He thought not telling Jill was just wrong. If anyone deserved to know it first, it was her. She did suggest enrolling Ellie in Riza's class after all. Roy stood by the window in the living room. Glancing at nothing in particular as he waited for her to pick up. After a few rings, she finally answered.

"Hey, Jill."

"Roy, hi!"

"I probably should call Maes but I might as well tell you first."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Roy took one deep breath and said it directly.

"I'm dating Riza."

"Are you serious?!"

"No, I'm Roy."

"Roy! I don't have time for your dad jokes!"

"Chill, Jill. And yeah, seriously, we're dating now. And don't worry, we don't intend on going public yet. We'll wait 'till Ellie's out of her class."

Jillian was quiet for a few seconds but Roy could still her breathing. So she couldn't have had a heart attack and died, he thought.

"Jill? You okay?"

"I wanna cry."

"Wait, what? Why? Do you hate Riza that much?"

"No, you idiot brother! I LOVE RIZA THAT'S WHY I'M TEARING UP! And you're in love with her. Oh, my goodness. After almost 5 years. Oh, I'm really crying now. I can't keep my shit together. Should I tell mom?"

"Uhm, please don't. I'll tell her. I guess I'd have Riza over and introduce her to mom formally. She is coming back to see Ellie next Saturday."

"Ooh! Me too! Me too! I'll come too! I'll drive mom to your place! No problem! You're welcome!"

"Creep. Okay, then. I'll see you guys next Saturday."

"See ya."

Roy was extremely happy. The day was barely even starting yet things have been going his way. He received an E-mail which informed him of an emergency meeting. It made him disappointed but he was still mostly happy.

Ellie woke up a few minutes after he hung up on Jill. Her eyes were still kind of droopy as she greeted her father who was just serving up some pancakes for her. "Morning, daddy." She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Finally! My princess wakes up from her slumber." He picked her up and kissed her cheeks. "Go on, eat up and we'll get you ready. I'm going to drop you off to Grandma's. Daddy has an emergency meeting today. Are you okay with that?" Ellie nodded. As soon as she did, Roy let her down and she went on to eat her breakfast.


"Grandma!" Ellie's little red dress flowed gently as she ran off to hug her grandmother who was standing by the porch. Roy followed not far behind. "Hello, Elizabeth. What a beautiful dress that is. Come on in." Roy's mother – Rose – held Ellie's hand as soon as she was close enough to her. Rose was fairly short, to which Roy blamed his lack of height. He was 5'8" but he always wished he could grow even a little bit taller. Rose's hair was still mostly dark, except for a few grey strands here and there, it was almost completely black. It reached down to her shoulder blades. Her eyes were hazel, far too different from Roy's dark brown - almost black - eyes.

The moment they all got inside Roy went to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. "Hi, mom." Rose looked at him. "Look at you with your silly eyeglasses. I haven't seen those in a while. You look so much like your father when you have them on. Get your eyes regularly checked, okay? You youngsters don't know how to take care of your eyes." Roy smiled. "Yes, mom. Anyway, I'll try to pick Ellie up, uh, before lunch I guess?"

She shook her head and held him by the shoulders. "Oh, Roy. I'll just prepare enough for all of us. Just call if anything changes." He nodded. "Okay. And, mom, one more thing. Please. PLEASE. I beg you, don't feed Ellie too much sweets. She complained of a toothache the last time she came here. I asked her what she ate, she told me you gave her candies and cookies." He said looking sincerely worried. Rose laughed. "I'm sorry. But you know how grandmothers are. I love spoiling my grandchildren. But yeah, I'll try to control myself." Roy sighed from relief. "Thanks, mom. I gotta go."

Before leaving, Roy approached Ellie. He squatted so he met her blue eyes. Blue eyes that still bring a small sting to his heart every time. "I'm going now. Please behave, okay? Grandma's kinda old so..." Rose, who was standing by the door and listening to him, shouted. "Who you calling old?! I'm only 65!" Roy snickered and kissed Ellie on the top of her head. He loved being in the house he grew up in and listening to his mother nag. It makes him feel almost nostalgic.

Both Rose and Ellie watched as Roy walked towards his car. Before completely being out of earshot, Rose called out to Roy. "Roy!" Without a moment's hesitation, Roy looked back at his mother. "I love you. Take care and drive safely please." He smiled at her and nodded. She was always like this, overprotective of her only son. He answered back, "Yes, mom, I will. And I love you too."


A/N: I bet you thought you've seen the last of me! Unfortunately for you, you're wrong! MWAHAHA. Just kidding. I love you all. Thank you for your kind words.

You make me wanna criii. ;_;

Fun facts:

Ellie is based off of a kid I know. She just turned four the other day.

Roy's overprotective personality is loosely based off of my dad who wouldn't even let me drive a bike because he's afraid I might fall off it and die and his conscience would blame him for my death. Resulting to the fact that even at 21, I still don't know how to ride a bike. Now i crii ;_;

That's it! See you on the next chapter!

iBrows out!