Roy struggled with her jacket, trying frantically to discover the source of the bleeding. There was so much blood, so much... His hands shook violently against her waist, her stomach, her breasts. He couldn't determine a source, couldn't cauterize the flesh, could do nothing but kneel and hope and pray that something would stop the bleeding. Oh God, she was going to die. Oh God, oh God, oh God.

"Roy, stop fidgeting," his mother chastised, smoothing a hand through his hair one last time, "we'll be there soon."

He watched eagerly as the train rolled by, trees dotting the surrounding landscape in a way he hadn't seen living in Central. He wondered excitedly what kinds of secrets lay hidden in their midst; wondered what he might discover among the soft colored grass that lay beneath the shade of elms and oaks. Would his sensei teach him to navigate the world of alchemy as the birds did the sky?

This was truly paradise.

Why had he let her follow him? Why hadn't she stayed with the others? He thought he could protect her, he thought... Oh God. But her bullets didn't work. Oh God. He felt her shudder beneath him as a shallow breath escaped her throat. Everything around them was red. Oh God.

"Roy, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Riza."

Hawkeye's daughter was ushered forth, discomfort written plainly on her face. Roy scrunched his nose distastefully, eyes skeptical as he turned towards his mother.

"A girl?"

His mother had barely enough time to react before Riza punched him.

He couldn't stop the bleeding, he needed help, he needed them all to stop fighting the homunculi and call an ambulance, do anything, do something. He clutched her body to his chest, squeezed his eyes shut. Oh God, oh God, oh God.

"Do you remember?"

He fought the surprise as she stood, her eyes stony amidst her soft rounded face. Of course he remembered her, of course he did. How could he forget?

He watched in horror as her eyes began to lose focus, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Colonel..."

He clung desperately to her body.

She yelled at him as she trailed him to the car, voice shrill in the relative quiet of the abandoned building. His mind played out scenarios, each one more morbid than the next. If he hadn't made it in time, if he hadn't... She could have...

His voice shook when he spoke, "I'm glad you're alive."

She stumbled, anger quickly dissipating. When he turned towards her he tried his best to concentrate on the softness in her eyes instead of the bruises that were slowly beginning to ghost her neck.

"Hawkeye, don't you dare close your eyes! Don't you dare... You made a promise to me! Don't you dare go against it. That's insubordination. I'll have you court-martialed!"

His voice was raw with his pleas, barely containing the desperation that bit at the corners of his eyes. A strangled sob escaped his mouth as he felt her body sag against him. No, he couldn't lose her. No, please God, no. No, no, no, no, no.

"I forgot something."

He watched her carefully as she entered the office and reached towards the file cabinet, hands groping for something unknown. He committed to memory each subtle movement she made, wishing he could keep her there, in this moment until he figured out some way to wrestle her from Bradley's terrifying grip. She made her way towards his desk, straightening the forgotten files against the hard surface. Her eyes flickered for a moment something hesitant and fearful. "Please don't die."

Roy wrapped himself around her lifeless body, ignorant to the shouts of the people around him. It didn't matter that they had been fighting Bradley, it didn't matter that the Promised Day had come. Every second of this was agony, every breath a razor against his lungs. His whole body shook as realization hit him, fingernails digging into her chest that did not rise with breath. Riza was dead.

Riza was dead.

"Promise me something, Hawkeye."

She stared at him curiously. "Sir?"

"If we survive this... Promise you'll be there with me. Promise me that we'll grow old together. If you give me that, if there's you at the end of it all then I think, I know, I can survive this."

Her gaze lingered sadly on him for a moment and she hesitated before she spoke, "Sir, if I die..."

"No," he cut her off forcefully, waving the notion away. It was unacceptable, to think that she'd die, to think that this world could continue on without Riza Hawkeye in it. He would not allow it.

"But Colonel-" he pressed his hand to her mouth, silencing her protests. She frowned.

"You cannot die, Hawkeye. That's an order. If you disobey it I will be very displeased."

His eyes strayed for a moment to her curves and he wished desperately to take her in his arms. If I die...

"Riza, please. Promise me."

She sighed, "alright, yes. I promise," and then as an afterthought, "though you have to promise not to let yourself go. You seem to have gained a little weight recently." She poked at his stomach, a grin betraying her serious features. He laughed, snaking his hand around her neck, pulling her closer, closer...

There was no question in his mind that they needed to survive this. He loved her too much for there to be any other option.

A/N: I hope that wasn't too confusing alternating between present and flashbacks. I feel kind of bad that I'm starting this endeavor by killing Hawkeye... Ah, the Royai 100 themes. I don't know why I'm torturing myself with them, but I hope that you all at least enjoy the outcome. :)