Train Rides and Haircuts.

The train steadily chugged along in the bright summer day in Amestris. Riza Hawkeye gazed out her window as the leafy trees passed by. She was on a train escorting Ishvalan refugees that were looking to either join the rebuilding with Captain Miles and Scar in the old Ishvalan ruins or settle in East City to wait until their homeland was suitable for living. It had been five months since the promised day.

For the past three months she had been doing the same thing: traveling from Central to East City and occasionally to Ishval. Currently Ishval was a tent city in the middle of the desert. They were razing the rubble from the war and rebuilding a better city on top thanks to some talented alchemists along with the Ishvalans.

The people had understandably resisted the assistance of the blasphemous alchemists. Scar had worn them down with his insisting that their country needed help to rebuild. The plan was to rebuild the city then allow for the people to return and hopefully use it as an economical hub to trade with Amestris and the western nations. It would also serve as a major city along the great desert railroad they were planning to build. It would cross the continent to Xing where hopefully it would make traveling between the countries easier.

It was a five year plan to independence for the Ishvalan's but they hoped eventually the bloodstained relationship between Ishval and Amestris would become a peaceful one.

Riza had been promoted to the position of Lt. Colonel after the promised day. The promotion to her didn't really matter because she still served under the Flame Alchemist who was promoted to Brigadier General now was the commanding officer of the Eastern Headquarters.

The train started to slow as they approached the East City train station. She stood up to get out of her seat. She walked to the front of the car, "Is the platform blocked off?" she said to Havoc who was standing and smoking a cigarette lazily. He was to continue with the Ishvalans that were going to their home city. Riza was staying in East City for a week before following him out East. The General was having her traveling constantly. Her last stay in Central for three weeks had been the longest period of her standing still since she returned to the army.

"Yes, ma'am," he said taking a drag. Riza looked at all of the other soldiers in the car sitting silently on the wooden benches. There was also another car on the train containing soldiers that like Captain Miles were connected to Ishbal through family. They were traveling to join Miles.

The public still didn't trust the red-eyed people of Ishval even after the story of how their refugees saved the nation from destruction. There was no outright expression of hatred but Riza could tell from the suspicious looks from lookers on that stigma still followed the Ishvalans. Just to be safe Riza and the General had agreed it would be better if the trains escorting the refugees stayed a private one.

She looked out the window seeing her friend and subordinate Rebecca standing at the platform with Breda. The train lumbered to a stop and it hissed as she got out.

"2nd Lt. Breda and Catalina," she said to them as they snapped to attention. "At ease," she said smiling to her old friend. "1st lt. Havoc will be going with the red bracelets to Ishval. Those with green, blue and yellow bracelets will be going with you two." The Ishvalans on the train had been separated to reflect their destinations. For example green was the young family and children group sent to an old barrack on the edge of the city to wait before they could return to Ishval. Red was those that wanted to resettle and work in Ishval.

Rebekah's eyes grew wide as she took in Riza's appearance. "Lt. Colonel Hawkeye what in the world happened to your hair?" Riza dropped her usual countenance to self-consciously pat her hair or what was left of it.

"If I'm traveling this much it's not very logical for me to have such a high maintenance hairstyle," she said to Rebekah defensively. She had cut her hair very short like she had when she was a young girl and her early years in the military.

"But it was so pretty!" Rebekah argued as if Riza had done something offensive. Riza frowned; both her grandfather and Havoc had given her a response that was along the same line.

"Lt. Catalina I'll let you know it wasn't easy. I did it to better serve this country. Hair is just that, hair." She said curtly. "Now go to your post and help the women and children off the train."

Looking put out Rebekah saluted and before she walked away said. "You better come over to the apartment tonight for dinner." Riza tried not to smile at her spirited friend while thinking the girl really wasn't suited for military life.

"If my opinion matters I think it looks nice Lt. Colonel." Breda said handing her keys to the car she was to take back to headquarters. "The General is eagerly awaiting your full report." She nodded to him and left the platform to go to the parking lot a private followed her carrying her luggage.

General Mustang had been kind enough for her to hire her own assistant. Like Riza, Private Johnson was no nonsense kind of soldier. He was a soldier Fuery had suggested she hire after serving with him in the south. So far he had been working out well and Riza was getting comfortable having him around.

Riza left the platform with Johnson. She was getting used to having someone take care of her for a change. She hadn't been escorted around like this since she had been a child.

She had grown up in the eastern region. In their moderately sized town her families house was the largest. Her Father was the last heir of the Hawkeye estate. Now Riza owned it. The Hawkeye family had always been scholars. Her father, Berthold, was the first alchemist. His marriage to her mother was seen as a smart one. The Grumman's was an old family like his. Riza was to be sent to the best finishing schools and was expected to form an advantageous union once she left school. Her future had been set until her mother died when she was eight. Her father's interest in Riza faded after her mother passed.

She was sent to boarding schools and only returned to the house for holidays. When she turned ten she started spending them with her warmer grandfather. Her introverted father barely cared that as the years went by his daughter became more and more out of reach.

Riza was standing by the car as Private Johnson put their luggage in the back when a man with a small recorder in his hands came up to her. He interrupted her reverie. He was wearing a suit and a hat on his head. On his lapel was a badge that said press. She looked at him suspiciously as he was about to bombard her with questions.

"Lt. Colonel Hawkeye?" He said. "My name is Harold Jemison and I was wondering—."

"Please contact the Eastern Command Center Media Office if you have any press questions." Riza said automatically cutting him off. She was slightly ticked off. As a Lt. Colonel she shouldn't be bugged by sleezy reporters. "Who do you write for? You should know better than to approach an officer." She said condescendingly.

"I don't want the cookie cutter response," he said grinning. "Come on you're the Fuhrer's granddaughter, Brigadier General Mustang's right hand and you were the late Fuhrer Bradley's personal assistant. I'd say if there was anyone to interview it would be you."

"I have no comment," She said looking up at the reporter. Johnson shut the truck and opened the backseat for her. "Just contact the media office." She got in and watched as the crestfallen reporter backed away from the car. "Johnson let's go."

Johnson dropped her off in front of the building were General Mustang's offices were. "Please park the car and then come up to my office." She said after she got out of the car. Johnson nodded and drove off.

She was holding a manila envelope with the report from the budget meetings she had in Central Command. It was almost five and as she passed through the halls of the command office she saw many soldiers heading to their homes after a long day at work. It was Friday and many were taking off early. She felt tiredness wash over her. Knowing the General she would be stuck there for a few extra hours recounting every detail of the meetings.

She stopped by her office quickly before seeing the general. Her secretary, Taran, was slumped over his typewriter at his desk drooling. She stood in front of him and coughed.

He woke with a start and when he saw his master had returned and started to grab at papers absentmindedly while he said, "Lt. Colonel I'm so glad you're back! Was I asleep? Not sure how that happened. Would you like your messages? There's a fresh uniform in your office and I can call and get you some food if you're hungry from your journey. Would you like me to phone the General and let him know you're here and about to go to the meeting. Would you like me to come and take minutes?" He noticed her new haircut and froze. "Oh… my… gosh…. what did you do to your hair?" He said his eyes wide staring at the top of her head. Riza furrowed her brow and stared at him expectantly. "Am I going to lose my job?" he added weakly.

The Lieutenant Colonel simply said, "No." as she walked past his desk into her small office and Taran sighed in relief. Before she shut the door she said, "Go get me ice water with lemon, I'll be changing so don't come here and once I'm ready bring me my messages. Also call General Mustang and let him know I'll be over in 15 minutes."

She ignored his comment about her hair. She walked into the private bathroom in her office and looked at it. Was she too old to have such a youthful haircut? She stared at herself for a second. Youthful or not it was practical and during times like these practicality suited everyone. Confirming her belief she changed into a fresh uniform.

She sat nursing the satisfaction she was keeping her secretary in line and her ice water as she listened to Taran read off her messages. They were mostly messages to do with troubles the Ishvalans were having in East City. One was from that journalist that had cornered her in the train station. Riza had little tolerance for newspapermen. She told Taran what to say in reply and dismissed him for the day.

She grinned, she found Taran the first day she spent in the slums in East city. He was a half Ishvalan kid around 20 years old. He had stolen a typewriter and was training so he could try and get a job as a secretary to provide for his little brother. He was a lively kid with red eyes and a matching fiery spirit. She had fast tracked him through the system so he could be her personal secretary. He had lighter skin for an Ishvalan brown hair but he still had the trademark eyes.

When Johnson found her without speaking she made her way to the General's office. She turned her head slightly to look at Johnson. He also was of Ishvalan heritage. Early on in their rebuilding efforts she and the General had decided to find as many Ishvalan decedents as they could in the military and surround themselves with them. When they sent out a flyer asking specifically for soldiers of Ishvalan descent willing to transfer to East City Johnson was the first to sign up. Fuery had remembered him and suggested Riza take him on as an assistant.

Apparently he was Ishvalan on his mother's side. Her great grandfather was an Ishvalan that left the country because of Religious prosecution. Johnson was so diluted he didn't even look Ishvalan but he still felt like he owed it to his ancestors to rebuild their country. He was as tall as Havoc with light brown hair and tan skin. He wasn't as buff as Captain Alexander Armstrong but he still was considerably muscle bound.

She made it to Mustang's offices and opened the door. Fuery and several other soldiers were working on some paperwork. Fuery looked up and saw his old friend.

"Lt. Colonel welcome back! Wow nice haircut!" he added when he saw her new haircut.

"Kain thank you," she said she said smiling. At least one person had received her hair change well. Like it or not Riza was a woman and cared a little what people thought of her hair, just a little. "Let's catch up after I speak with the General." She turned to Johnson, "Stay here." He nodded and found a seat. As she was walking into the General's office she pondered the thought she treated Johnson a little like Black Hayate.

The office faced west and was basked in the afternoon sun. The General had his back turned to the door. She looked happily at his desk. There were more papers in his out basket than his in. He was finally growing up. About time she thought he was going to be 31 that November. He was well on his way to being the leader she knew he could be. He was stronger than ever.

He was asleep.

She walked up to his chair prepared to dump him. She stopped when she noticed that face. He looked like he did back in the hospital. He looked like he was in pain and his brow was wet with sweat. Back then when he was blind she would have held his hand until he woke on his own, trying to pull him out of his nightmares somehow. Since he got his eyesight he had seemed to try and separate from her. Reluctantly she stepped away from him and stood on the other side of the desk.

"General Mustang," she said emphatically. He woke with a start breathing hard. In her heart she felt concerned but didn't show it. He straightened himself and swiveled around.

"Ah Lt. Colonel Hawkeye," he said smiling. She saluted him. Mustang looked her up and down. When he got to her head his jaw dropped.

"Are we going to have this meeting or not?" she said annoyed.

"N-No please sit down," he said stammering not taking his eyes off her hair. She handed him her notes from the meetings and paper with all of the main points before sitting down. They sat in silence for a few minutes. Riza waited for Mustang to get over the shock. After a few deep breaths he composed himself and said smoothly, "If I didn't have the newspaper on my desk I would say that we time traveled Lieutenant Colonel." Riza's lip twitched as she stared coldly at the General. "Why in all that is good in the world did you chop off your hair?" He said pathetically. "It was so pretty."

"What I do or don't do to my hair is none of your concern General," Riza boldly said. "Now if you look at my notes you'll see what we discussed in Central."

Roy sullenly grabbed her notes and looked them over nodding. "So of course they're not giving us as much money as we want. This budget we can work with."

"They also are not favorable to the idea of giving up Ishval." She added

"Well once you have gained a territory it's hard to let it go. We'll jump the independent Ishval hurdle when we get there. Right now it hardly matters since without the Amestris government they wouldn't be able to rebuild." He kept reading the paper. He stopped at one point. "What is this Alchemy Contracting firm?"

"They would like us to contract out our alchemical labors. There is a firm in Central that has given them competitive pricing to do some of the main infrastructure work as well as the railroad once we get there." Riza said not knowing how the General would take this information. Everyone aiding in the rebuilding effort was handpicked. Would he easily accept help outside of the military and his brain trust?

"Land surveying won't be done for another month." He said he rubbed his chin in thought. "I don't like the idea of strangers coming in and messing up my work. But contracting is the first step for our country to become more independent of the military. If we ever want this to become a truly parliamentary republic we need to contract these kind of services." He thought for a second and asked her "What was your impression of them?"

"They seemed like fairly intelligent people, very different from the usual scholars. They have a sense of adventure and justice that usually doesn't come from bookworms." Riza said recalling her meeting with the head of the crew the firm wanted to send over. He had short wavy blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a charismatic smile. "They had good references."

"Well then," Mustang said "I guess I'll give them a call see if we can set up a meeting here. They need to understand this isn't like fixing a roof. This is going to be major alchemical work in an undeveloped territory."

"They seemed strong enough. Their leader Josef Konrad was a very fit man," she offered remembering the way she could see the alchemist's arm muscles bulge beneath his shirt. Recalling the attractive man she almost blushed but caught herself.

Mustang went over each bullet point with her. They decided what she was to report to Miles and others in Ishval when she left the next week. She was also going to go with him on Monday to meet with the higher ranked officers in charge and give them their orders. They finished their meeting and he dismissed her.

"Sir, may I offer a suggestion?" Riza asked. Roy leaned back in his chair and nodded. "You should really get to bed earlier so you're not sleeping on the job." She offered. Back in Central he used to hit the bars until late and occasionally would come into work the next day in the same clothes and a little hung over.

"I would if I could sleep," he said unconsciously rubbing his forehead and turning away. Riza stared at the general. He had been distant since they had been released from the hospital. She had barely had stayed a week in same place. But she still knew her general was suffering. "I just have trouble sleeping, but I guess a man living with so many wrong decisions shouldn't be able to sleep." He looked like a man with the weight upon his shoulders.

She wanted to ask him about them. The nightmares he had. Then a thought occurred to her. "Sir, I'm only going to say this once so listen up." The general looking confused looked at her. "It's the weekend. I've been working like a dog and so have you, perhaps it's time to partake in a sort of diversion." She said nervously. The general's mouth crinkled as he tried not to laugh.

"And what kind of," Roy paused his smile starting to form, "Diversion do you suggest."

Riza started feeling uncomfortably. She tried to think of what she did with her friends as a student, "We could see a picture show, or go bowling and there are these dances at the parks 2nd Lt. Catalina is always trying to get me to go to. She's says they're an awful lot of fun." She said rambling on, trying to dig herself out of her hole.

"A dance in the park?" Mustang said grinning, "Lt. Colonel Hawkeye am I so pitiful you would lower yourself to such frivolity just to cheer me up?" He got up and walked to the corner to grab his hat. "You're right Hawkeye I feel like the whole gang needs a little levity, we have been working so hard." He walked next to Hawkeye and patted her shoulder. "Plus I'm not sure the next time you'll give me permission to go out and have some fun. I better take this chance and run."

He left her in the office alone. Had she just told the General to go out and party? She thought in her head. It would be worth it if he could finally get over whatever was preventing him from sleeping. She went to go back to her office to have Taran type up her notes from the meeting. She and Johnson left the boy typing away. She was tired and just wanted to sleep in her apartment with her dog at this point.

She really hoped the General wasn't going to hold her to her word. She really hated dancing.

A/N: There's chapter 2! Let me know if you like this chapter length I like to keep it somewhere between 2,500-3,500 words.

I've also decided their birthdays on my own

Roy November 11 Scorpio

Riza February 2nd Capricorn

Please stay with me as I'm setting the stage :D

If you love this story READ AND REVIEW!

Coming soon: A little diversion posted Wednesday 8:30 p.m. pacific time