It took Roy longer than he thought to adjust to his restored vision but it was the most satisfying thing he could imagine. Dozens of colors erupted around him as he was driven back to the hospital, from the green on the trees to the grey of the street to the blue of the sky and the varying colors on the cars. Now, he sat up in his hospital bed resting as he had been for ten minutes (he'd in fact requested the same room he's been in from earlier that week). While he was grateful to have his sight back, he felt he needed to rest his eyes. After another two minutes, a knock came at the door.

"Mr. Mustang?" a nurse called out.

Roy groggily opened his eyes as the sunlight temporarily blinded him and yawned as he winced. As his eyesight adjusted he looked to the door as the nurse knocked again on the other side.

"Yes, what is it?" he finally responded.

"Mrs. Hawkeye's here to see you." the nurse replied "Should I let her in?"

Of course you should, dummy. Roy thought to himself.

But not wanting to be rude, especially in front of his lieutenant, he instead chuckled.

"Send her in." he said.

On the other side of the door, Riza prepped herself. This was it. She now had to tell Colonel Roy Mustang how she felt. She went through it in her head. She'd do it calmly and professionally, just how Roy would want it, even if she wasn't wearing her uniform at all but rather a simple dress. What she was really nervous about, however, was Roy's response. He obviously wouldn't send her away but she was hoping he felt the same way. Or at the very least, he respected her enough to let her down easy. As the nurse opened the door to let her in, she took a deep breath and exhaled.

Only one way to find out. she thought.

She walked in slowly and approached him. He certainly had his sight back. To her, his eyes looked warm and inviting with brown irises. Her shoes clinked and tapped against the hospital floor as she walked towards the bed and stood in front of him on the right side of the bed. Roy, meanwhile, had to sustain a gasp when he saw her as she walked in. Everything looked filled with life and color now that he had his sight back, but in that moment of silence, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He felt his heart beat accelerate slightly as he gazed at her hair and face, with part of her hair dangling in front of her face.

The nurse was holding the door open but then seemed to know what was coming and then gently shut the door. Now it really was just the two of them alone. The tension itself was silent but so thick you could cut it with a knife. It was Roy who finally decided to speak up and begin the conversation after this uncomfortable silence.

"Lieutenant, it's nice to see you again." he said chuckling "Or anything really."

"Thank you, sir." Riza replied "You...um...you look well."

"Well, so do you." Roy said.

Riza's cheeks started burning as her blushing reached critical mass and she struggled to find what to say next, finally settling on the simplest one she could think of.

"Colonel, there's something I need to tell you." she said with a slight quiver in her voice.

"What is it?" Roy asked.

All of a sudden, Riza hit a blank. She started losing her nerve and could feel her whole face turning red with embarrassment. She began twiddling her fingers nervously. Roy himself had kept himself reserved and calm, but noticed Riza's fear in her body language.

"Lieutenant, is something wrong?" he bluntly asked.

Riza gasped softly but then sighed. "Yes, sir."

"Then why won't you tell me?" he asked in a surprisingly calm tone "Just say it."

In those few seconds before her response, Riza felt like she'd explode into a million pieces. A mixture of emotions boiled and flowed through her body, sweat started dripping down the sides of her face and her hands suddenly started to tremble. So it came as a surprise even to her what she said next.

"With all due respect, sir..." she blurted out as she stood at attention "...I would like to send in my resignation!"

Roy blinked in shock as he gasped. The mere thought of being without Riza seemed almost unholy to him. Nevertheless, he did his best to maintain a sense of calm.

"Whatever for?" he inquired.

"I-I-I can't be around you anymore, sir." Riza replied as the quiver in her voice increased noticeably "Not like how it used to be."

"Lieutenant, please, speak plainly." Roy said "Why do you want to suddenly leave?"

"Because...I can't do this." Riza moaned.

"Can't do what?!" Roy's irritation growing as he suddenly started to feel the urge to tell her how he felt.

"I can't tell you, sir!" Riza continued as her eyes started welling up.

"Tell me what?!" Roy demanded loudly.

"THAT I LOVE YOU!" Riza finally barked.

Riza immediately covered her mouth with her hands as she gasped while Roy looked at her with stunned amazement. She did feel the same way he did for her. But he'd never seen her like this. So afraid. So brutally honest. He quickly realized he was partly to blame and sighed as Riza lowered her hands off her mouth.

"Is...is this true?" Roy asked.

Riza lowered her head, looking towards the floor instead of at Roy. Her cheeks were still blushing but now a tear slid out of her eye and then fell and dripped onto her shoe. This was her moment. She had to tell him now.

"Yes. Yes, it's true. I-I've tried telling myself that it would never work and I've tried to ignore these feelings. Feelings for you." she said finally in a soft but somewhat broken hearted tone. "But I can't anymore, sir. No matter how hard I try, they won't be quieted." she paused as she lifted her head up to look back at Roy "I love you, Colonel Roy Mustang. I'm ashamed that I'm only realizing this now but I truly do love you. From the moment we first met. I can accept if the answer is no for what I'm about to ask...but how do you feel about me?"

Roy took a moment to think about what had transpired. He tried thinking of a way to tell her that yes, he did love her back. Wholly and sincerely. But none of the responses he thought up worked. It was rather absurd how he was unable to respond. But then he found the perfect way to do so. A way he hoped she would understand.

"Lieutenant, come sit with me." he said.

Riza nervously approached closer and sat down on the bed next to Roy's legs. The two then looked at one another, with their cheeks practically exploding with how much they were blushing. Roy smiled gently at her as he noticed the strand of hair in front of her face. He then carefully moved the strand of hair back into place and it disappeared into her golden, flowing hair. His left hand, however, gently touched her cheek. Her skin was soft and gentle, with it being somewhat wet from her crying. But it was in this moment Roy asked the question Riza never dreamed he'd ask.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye, may I kiss you?" he asked in the most subdued and calm tone imaginable.

Riza couldn't believe what she'd heard. And yet, she felt happy about it. That was all she needed. His response to her question was simple but it said more than any grand gesture would have. So, she decided there was only one answer to that.

"Yes." she said with tears in her eyes "Yes, you may."

And then finally the two closed the gap with one another. His left hand still gently cupped her face as he kissed her. Both their eyes closed as the kiss deepened, with some of Riza's hair becoming tangled in Roy's fingers. Her hands grasped the covers of the bed tightly. It was in reality nothing like how Riza had imagined it. It was better. In that moment, as they kissed, they forgot all the pain in the years before. All the trauma, grief, scars both mental and physical were forgotten as they were overcome with what can only be described as pure joy as years of unspoken love were poured out in one simple kiss. A breath escaped Riza's nose as the two broke the kiss, not wanting for it to end but knowing it must. Roy looked lovingly at his once lieutenant now turned girlfriend and she looked back at him, their faces just inches apart from each other. He then took her hands into his and then gently kissed them before looking back at her.

"I love you, Riza Hawkeye." he said softly.

Riza smiled. "And I you, Roy Mustang."

And from that day forward, they loved each other wholly and completely, as a husband and wife should.

Fin.