I do not own Full Metal Alchemist or any of its characters.

"Sorry."

"Hm?"

Movement went to a halt in the slightly crowded office, The golden haired woman looking up in confusion to her superior officer. It had been about 6 weeks since the incident in Rush Valley, with the raven haired alchemist finding her distraught and full of despair in a hospital room, putting two and two together and finally unveiling the 9 month secret.

Days after that were awkward and depressing, words abandoned from their minds and only their eyes portrayed the true reality. After that, it was Riza's decision to end this brick wall of tension between the two, by refilling her position as Colonel Mustang's 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye, thus returning to Central.

It seemed it was a silent promise between the two to leave whatever happened in Rush Valley to stay there, and to move on without lives, drifting into old routine, without the late night visits and the marks reminding us of the day before.

So, with that, it was the end of their secret relationship, which in fact due to its secrecy, did not change them outwardly at all. Havoc, thought, was a bit of a problem, coming back to Central and finding the tall man bombarding them with questions and assumptions that were partly true was worrying. But with a few false explanations for the slightly gullible man his suspicions had vanished along with the rumors that had been going around the office.

But, today it seemed, would be the first time in almost a year that the remembrance of their relationship would be brought to light.

His voice was strained with a hint of defeat. "I'm sorry…for not being there for you."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Please don't apologize sir, after all I was the--"

"No!" The sudden outburst had stunned the honey eyed snipe shooter. "I mean, not being there for anything. I'm sorry if I wasn't caring enough."

A brief smile was etched onto her features, lingering for a good moment of time. "Thank you, Roy."

As if the world had been lifted from his shoulders, his skin seemed much brighter, and his eyes screamed relief, she noticed as she removed the filled out paperwork from his desk and walked to the door.

"Riza." Her hand rested on the door handle, her body turning slightly as in response to the flame alchemist.

"I want-" He took a deep breath, his voice shaky and uncertain. "I want to try this again. I really want to be with you. I want this to be right."

Her eyes softened, and returning to her task of opening the door, her voice had found its words. "Okay. I'll think about it."

"Okay."

And the door was closed. But with a hopeful smile, Roy felt another was being edged open.

Okay, its done. No more. Phew! What a journey! A story that wasn't even that long took a while, huh? Sorry for the long wait, for those who probably forgot about this story! I will be changing the first two chapters sooner or later, revising and making less dramatic and better. Thanks for those who kept with this story!