Summary: A mysterious event at the Warehouse 13 lot allows Riza to find out what Roy's life would have been like without her.

Warnings: Royai. Character Death (In an AU way, so...only kinda dead). Mixture of 03 event with Brotherhood, just go with it- in 60k words I'll get to an explanation. Riza-centric.

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA.

Absent

Chapter 1

A Different World

Riza stood in the middle of a dirt patch in the warehouse lot waiting on her dog to dig up his treasures. She was out here with Hayate instead of in the office since the team was exhausted from their ghost hunting adventure last night and the cranky Colonel tried to order her dog to clean up his mess on government property. Annoyed that he would blame her dog for a lost night of sleep, she scooped up her puppy and told him she would do just that. Let them enjoy a day without her in the office, while she enjoyed a day out in the field with her puppy. It would teach Roy a valuable lesson about lashing out at those around him, even if Hayate didn't feel the order was directed at him. Roy's voice was no where near the harsh tone he took with his human staff, however, she could see the kind of day it was going to be with him in that mood and was happy to have an excuse to leave before it began. By noon, he would be out here on his lunch break offering her and her dog and apology in the form of lunch. Until then she would enjoy some time out with Hayate.

Hayate was a excavating fool, happy to obey her orders to seek and find in the dirt lot. She looked around at the warehouses and wondered what building was the famous "Warehouse 13" that had the men so worked up, and when she looked back at her dog the sun reflected off something in the dirt. Riza bent down to see what Hayate had dug up and picked up a coin. It had unrecognizable words on it, almost like the ancient coins they had on display in the history museum, but there was no mistake the symbols on it were alchemy.

She stood up and rubbed it off, trying to see if maybe removing some dirt would allow her to read the text on it. It surprisingly generated a static shock by doing so. Although her father had never formally taught her alchemy, it would have been impossible to not absorb something living in the house with him, especially after Roy came for his apprenticeship. She never had the time to spend studying or working on developing the skill, it was a luxury she simply could not afford if they wanted to survive, however it was hard to deny Roy when he was so excited about it. An enthusiasm that her father tried to crush because alchemy was not "fun" it was serious and a science. She however, couldn't bare to let that joy of his fade away so she made time to study with him.

The runes on the coin were familiar, but the words were of a different language. The coin itself was a interesting method of creating a transmutation circle that she was surprised more alchemists didn't employ. A circle by default, the circle itself would be hard to tear, scratch or break in any way and was more indestructible than say...gloves. Sure it could be dropped or lost, but everything had it's downfalls. The front and back had different circles on them, allowing the alchemist in question to have both at their disposal if they should clap with the coin pressed against their palms. She was actually impressed with the simplicity and practicality of it, and surprised that she had not encountered this method before.

She put it in her pocket and waited for her pup to dig up something else on his treasure hunt. When he finally tired himself out she looked at her watch and determined it was best to go back to work now. Hayate would need some water and she might need some as well to put out fires in the office. As much as she wanted to wait it out, the fear of what was, or was not, getting done in the office made her unable to stay away much longer. She picked up her puppy and brushed off his paws and then walked back to HQ.

When she reached the door to the main office she set the pup down and then checked her pocket to make sure the coin was still there. She pulled it out and opened the door and walked in, surprised when everyone was working and they looked at her briefly before going back to work. The Colonel was on the phone and she walked over to his desk to show him the coin, but Ed burst in and distracted her.

"Hey, Roy!" Ed ran up to the desk and put his notebook down on it for the man to see. "Look, we made a discovery!"

"I'll call you back Hughes." Roy said and set the phone back in it's cradle to see what Ed was sharing with him. "What did you find? And where is your brother?"

"Trying to give someone a cat he found." Ed said and pointed to his notes. "That lead you gave us panned out. We've made some progress, huge progress! Can you come with us?"

"I have my work caught up, I don't see why not." Roy said and then remembered there was another person in line for his attention. "Lieutenant, is there something I can help you with?"

Riza wasn't sure what to make of the friendly interaction between Roy and Ed, nor his good mood. Or the fact that her puppy was whining because his water bowl was missing. The office was quiet except for the sounds of pens tapping against the table. Then there was the nameplate on the desk that said "Lt. Colonel Mustang" and she knew he had thrown that out when he was promoted to full Colonel. Her own desk was noticeably missing. Although the team was fond of a good prank, they never played on on her and Roy never would either.

She walked to his side of his desk, like she always did, and he sat upright someone surprised by this invasion of personal space. Ed put his hand over his notes and slid his notebook off the desk. She then noticed Roy's desk and all the pictures. So many pictures! Pictures of Roy and the Elrics at their house. Pictures of him and a man with blond hair, beard and glasses. A picnic with the young Elrics and Rockbells and even Tricia Elric. The usual picture of him and Hughes at their graduation. One group photo of the team and she was noticeably absent, but there were additions...like an affectionate hand on Ed and Al's shoulders as they knelt in front of the Colonel.

"Lieutenant? Is there something you need?" Roy repeated.

She felt it now, the way they all looked at her and the way the office just felt 'off'. Hayate was practically sitting on her foot, he sensed it too. The men listened in and sent a few glances her way, curious but not in the way they usually smirked and nudged each other when she stood beside their commander. She finally looked Roy in the eyes and she saw him studying her, in the way he scrutinized individuals he didn't know in order to size them up. He could never not look at her and hide the warmth he felt, even in his worst moments his eyes always betrayed him. Right now, they spoke volumes. He had no connection to her whatsoever. "I...have an alchemy related question."

They both relaxed little when she opened her hand and showed them the coin. Alchemists still, no matter what else was going on here. She couldn't help but feel this coin was the reason for all this so when Roy went to grab it from her she closed her hand around it. "What can you tell me about this?"

"Xersesian writing." Roy said. "I haven't seen that since my apprenticeship."

Riza felt the hairs on her neck stand up. Her father never had an interest in or researched anything from Xerxes.

"I'm sorry Lieutenant, who sent you to me with this?" Roy asked and watched her for a reaction.

She felt like she wanted to cry. He showed no recognition whatsoever, he had no idea who she was. Ed was eyeing her suspiciously and Havoc was even preparing to come over and escort her out if given the word. However she gripped the coin harder and said, "Perhaps I am asking the wrong person then. Should I redirect this to the man you apprenticed under?"

"Van Hohenheim?" Ed scoffed. "Good luck with finding that dead beat. If you find him I have plenty I want to ask him too."

Riza took a step back. She needed to figure out what the hell was going on. This was not what she intended when she left this morning and wanted them to see what it would be like without her in the office. "My apologizes sir, sorry to bother you."