Roy felt the pull of the darkness and almost gave in. He received a jolt, a rude awakening, when a commotion started before him where he lay bleeding out on the Madame's floor. His eyes roughly dragged open just in time to see Riza stab her father through the heart with a dagger that looked frighteningly familiar.

It was his.

The black, intricately carved handle with the sharp blade had been by his side since he was on the streets, so he knew it anywhere. Why did Riza have it in her hands? It should be at his hip, but there was a noticeably missing weight there.

Oh… Holy shit.

"Riza!" Hughes cried in surprise. They both looked on, shocked, as Berthold slumped to the floor. The two men who had restrained Roy and Hughes were next, each with a knife in their chests. Riza turned her back on them in an instant, not even waiting for the light to fade from their eyes, before she was by Roy's side, both hands gripping his face.

"Roy? Can you talk to me? I need you to respond."

This… This was someone completely different to who he had come to know over the last few days. She was in control, she was determined, and she was frantic, but calculated in her movements.

She had also just murdered her own father.

Holy shit!

If his mouth would cooperate, he would exclaim that out loud, but he was still fading, and fast.

"Roy!" she barked. He groaned in response and there was a tight pressure on his wound. Through fading eyesight, he watched as Riza tied something around his torso. He also noticed that his shirt had been torn open so she could see his wound. When had that happened?

"Hold this in place," she commanded Hughes. Without hesitation, he did as was asked. Roy's head was lowered onto the wooden floor gently and he lost sight of his soulmate and his old friend. The ceiling greeted him, followed by a number of screams from his sisters as they entered the room. Riza barked out orders and there was more pressure on his side.

It had finally become too much for him, but Riza was safe, and Hughes was safe. That was all that mattered to him right now, so he put his faith in them and succumbed to the pull of the darkness.

Roy tried to turn in his sleep but was restricted by a pain in his side. Groaning, he opened his eyes blearily, and everything came rushing back to him. He was currently propped up in his bed, his upper body bare aside from the thick bandage that ran across and covered his wound.

"Roy?" someone called to his right. His head rolled to watch Riza pick herself up from the floor of his bedroom and approach his bed hurriedly. Her hand gripped his tightly without hesitation. "You're awake," she breathed.

"Riza?" His voice was hoarse, throat scratchy as he spoke. Riza offered him a glass of water which he drank readily. "You're still here?" he asked dumbly.

She gave him a small smile. "Of course," she replied, taking the empty glass from his hands. It was placed atop his bedside table, the glass catching the light from the oil lamp beside him.

"How long was I out for?"

"Three days."

She had been here for three days.

"How are you? Are you hurt?" he asked, becoming more alert as he scanned her body.

"Roy, I'm fine," she soothed, pushing him gently but firmly back into his nest of pillows. He didn't have the strength to resist. "So are you. You're healing nicely."

He heaved a sigh of relief, but then winced upon realising his mistake.

Riza chuckled and poured him another glass of water. She brought it to his lips and Roy drank, thinking he could get used to this being waited on hand and foot by Riza Hawkeye.

Except, the realised with a sinking feeling in his stomach, she was used to it being the other way around.

"When… When your father said –"

"He was a liar," she cut him off, voice cold.

"Hear me out, please." Roy took a deep breath, steeling himself for her reaction. He needed to give her an out, just in case she wanted it. Sure, they were tied together and sure he loved her with his entire being – something that was still mind boggling to him as they'd only known each other for a short time – but they were from different worlds. In the heat of the moment people say things, things that they may not truly mean and were only said to make someone feel better, ease their passing. Riza didn't strike him as someone who would lie – she seemed one hundred per cent genuine.

It was a chance he would give her regardless of how he felt. He was a lowlife and a thief. Maybe she didn't want to be associated with him.

"He said you don't belong here, and he was right." Her eyes flashed as they met his. "You came from somewhere so much better than here –"

"I came from a cold home where my father didn't even like me, never mind talk to me," she revealed, voice harsh. "I was unloved and locked in that house for years, an inconvenience and nothing more."

"I'm sorry."

"He only kept me alive because it would be too much trouble to stage a disappearance or kill me. Believe me, he told me that on a weekly basis."

Roy's hands clenched into fists.

"Riza, I'm so sorry."

She let out a breath, closing her eyes. She was so vulnerable as she did so, and Roy saw just how much pain she harboured in her heart. He vowed that if she stayed, he would do everything in his power to ensure he eased that pain for her. Riza Hawkeye deserved that much after saving his life. Twice.

"We were from two different worlds, but I never belonged in my father's one. You came from love and support and what I would give to be a part of that." She blushed and Roy's eyes widened slightly at her admission. Riza coughed, excusing her boldness and Roy chuckled in response.

However, there was a question knowing at him. A question about the future.

"What will happen now that… Now that he's gone?" Roy asked.

"The Madame and I dealt with the body, if that's what you're asking," she smiled wryly, picking up on his hesitation. Her expression sobered before she continued. "She… Well, we dealt with it. Let's just leave it at that at the moment." Her face turned pained for a split second before she got her emotions under control.

"Okay," Roy agreed. That was fair enough, she did kill the man. Roy knew there was no pleasure derived from such a task and he didn't want to push her.

The other question was just how she had managed it.

The woman he had spent time with – not that it had been a long time – prior to Berthold's invasion of his Aunt's bar didn't appear to be capable of hurting a fly, never mind committing patricide and murdering two of his goons.

Had that all been an act?

"If… If you don't mind me asking…"

"You want to know why I killed my father?"

"Please, but only if you want to."

Riza nodded in understanding. It wasn't every day you were stabbed and then discovered your soulmate planned to kill her father.

"He… He was a bad man. A very cruel man. He did many horrible things." Roy squeezed her hand in comfort. "He got everything that came at him. Actually," she huffed a laugh. "I just realised it when I met the Madame. We had been meeting undercover and never saw each other in person, but it was the Madame who helped me arrange the whole thing." Roy frowned. His Aunt had brought Berthold here? "It wasn't meant to happen here though. It was meant to be an accident while he was out riding – the movement I am with worked it all out, we just needed more intelligence and some more creative input."

"Movement?" Roy queried, brow furrowing.

Riza nodded, smiling. "We have the same goal you have. Basically, take from the rich and give to the poor."

"Like Robin Hood," Roy grinned. Riza laughed, her head tilted backwards slightly, and it was the purest sound. Roy wanted to bottle it and keep it forever.

"Yes, that is one way to view it, I suppose. It helped to have someone on the inside and I didn't approve of his methods at all. I… I didn't exactly plan on stopping him here, but after what he has done to me over the years and when he stabbed you, I was more than ready. I made my peace with that years ago. He had done too much to me – not to mention to others – and it was about time I took matters into my own hands. Not just for you, but for… personal reasons too."

"I'm sorry, Riza."

"It's okay," she smiled, a long exhale leaving her lips. "You came back for me, that's what matters most. And you knew who I was, didn't you?" There was a knowing glint in her eyes, accompanied by a wry smile. "Why didn't you tell me your first name?"

"I was afraid you wouldn't want to be associated with the likes of me, so I kept it hidden."

Riza brushed his fringe off his face again, sympathetic expression on her face. "I understand your hesitation, and people in my social circles were always quick to judge, but not me. I knew as soon as I looked at you, you were my soulmate. It hit me like a punch to the stomach." She grinned. "That's why I hid you in that cupboard."

Roy chuckled, bringing their joined hands up so he could kiss the back of hers. "It was a fantastic idea."

"Glad you thought so," Riza winked.

"So, what about this movement?"

"There were others in the house who were part of the movement with me, and I have a grandfather in a high position in the government who is trying to reform it from within. It will take time, but we are confident we will get there. We want to restructure things, give those less fortunate more opportunities." Roy was impressed. This… This far exceeded anything he expected of the heiress Riza Hawkeye. "That's the gist of it."

But that was before he even met her.

"Where… Where will you go now?" Roy asked quietly, looking down at their clasped hands. His thumb brushed over her knuckles gently, eliciting a visible shiver from her.

"Wherever you go." Roy looked up and met her gaze. "But only if that's all right with you."

His side strained painfully, but he leaned forward slowly, eyes locked onto her.

"That depends," he stated, his lips brushing against her ever so softly. Their noses bumped together.

"On what?" she asked in return, trying to appear casual but Roy smirked at the hitch in her breath.

"May I kiss you?" he asked, opening his eyes to see her reaction.

"Of course," she murmured, gripping his shoulder gently and holding him in place as she kissed him.

"Roy!" Madelaine cried as she noticed him enter the room. The other girls whirled in the chairs and squealed in delight. Roy grinned sheepishly, Riza helping him shuffle over to the couch where the Madame currently sat. One of Riza's arms was wrapped around his waist while the other was pressed against his chest. Her fingers grazed across the bare skin around the neckline of his loose shirt and he almost shivered in delight.

"You're okay!"

"Oh, we were so worried!"

"Poor Riza has been by your side ever since, helping you get better."

"She's a keeper!"

Roy looked over as Valerie revealed her secret, seeing Riza blush. She helped him sit down and Roy grasped her hand as she begun to move away, refusing to let go. "She definitely is," he murmured, giving Riza's hand a squeeze, bringing it to her lips to kiss the back of it. After rolling her eyes at his grin, she took up a perch on the arm of the couch, just like his sisters across from them. They each beamed at Riza, proud and happy about what she had accomplished.

"How are you feeling?" his Aunt asked as the girls chatted animatedly to one another, excited their baby brother was now up and among the living again.

"Sore, but better."

"Good." The Madame reached across and gave his free hand a squeeze. "It's good to have you back, Roy boy."

He heard Riza snicker to his left at the use of his childhood nickname.

"Thank you, Chris."

"And thank you, Lady Hawkeye, for bringing him back to us," Vanessa piped up.

Riza shook her hand in front of her, dismissing the formality between them with a light blush. "Please, Riza is just fine. The Lady Hawkeye died many years ago."

"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that," the Madame stated, sympathy on her face. That was a new look, Roy noted.

Roy looked up at his soulmate, judging the look on her face. Her sheepish look turned into one of fondness, clearly living in a memory from a long time ago. "It's okay, it was a long time ago," she replied wistfully.

So maybe her upbringing hadn't been entirely bad.

He would have to find out more when she was ready.

Ever since he'd woken up, he'd wanted to know everything about Riza Hawkeye. His soul rejoiced at the closeness they shared for the last few days. Riza never really left his side unless the Madame or one of his sisters were visiting him in his room. She briefly left – her whereabouts becoming unknown – but Roy was overjoyed to discover she would return no more than five minutes after his visitors left.

They talked about a lot; their future as soulmates, what her plan was with this movement she was working with and how he could help, what would happen now her father was no longer with them. Apparently, Riza would inherit the family home and its assets. The money would be funded back into their project to give those in poverty the money they needed to break past that line.

Roy didn't think he could fall in love with her anymore, but he did.

Since her home would be gone – good riddance, Riza had announced – she had nowhere to go. The Madame had offered her to stay her without hesitation. It was clear she and her nephew were inseparable, so why make it more difficult for them, especially after all Roy had been through.

His Aunt always had the best ideas.

Riza snapped herself back into the present with a quick shake to see Roy staring at her, and she gave him a soft smile. Roy squeezed her hand in comfort, leaning his weight – and head – against her side.

"They're so cute," Rachael stated wistfully, a sappy smile on her face as she watched Riza and Roy interact.

Roy chuckled, wrapping his arm around Riza's waist to pull her even closer, if that was at all possible.

They were both safe.

She was out of the clutches of her father, finally free of his cruelty and oppression. He was on the mend.

The tattoo on each of their wrists had already begun to lighten, Roy had noticed, turning to a burning gold colour. Right now, it reminded Roy of Riza's eyes, and when he told her she blushed and shushed him. Roy had just grinned while a chorus of "ohhh" and "so cute!" sounded in the room.

Yeah, they were going to be okay.