A/N: Ok now. Since I can't get in touch with my Beta for a longer time now, I post this chapter in its raw version. This means that no errors have been checked and corrected. Hope there won't be as much as to put you off from reading.

The last chapter for you (I've made you wait long enough, haven't I?).

It was worth it

Roy was sitting in his bedroom, looking outside the window. It was a bright, starry night, but he wasn't quite in the mood to admire it. His gaze was fogged and his face serious. His thoughts were occupied with a certain blonde-haired woman.

It's funny how they had always been together, but now they were so distant from each other. The emotional separation proved to be much more painful that the physical one. Roy couldn't stop considering that fact ever since he saw Riza and Havoc enter the office together earlier that day. Why did he always have to screw things up?

He sighed. "I guess it's just my second nature. Well…Riza, please be happy with him."

His gaze dropped.

"And what, are you contended now?"

Roy spun around in his chair at the sudden voice behind him. He saw a woman with red hair, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed.

"Err…do we know each other?" he asked hesitantly, wondering how the hell did she get here. Maybe it was just one of his one-night-girlfriends, who stole the keys to his house to haunt him forever…or something. He struggled to recall her name, but ineffectively.

"Well…I guess we do," Love answered, slowly approaching the spot he was sitting at. "But I don't think you recognize me… I'm Love," she smiled cheerfully, as if it was the happiest night in her life.

Roy eyed her suspiciously and said tentatively: "You're crazy, aren't you?"

The woman's head and shoulders dropped. "Why do people always greet me like that? She said the same thing back then… Guess it's some freakin' fate upon me…"

"What are you muttering there?" asked Roy with his eyebrows raised.

"No, nothing. Anyway, believe it or not, but I am Love and I've come here to help you solve your problem."

Roy shrugged, his eyes down again. "What could you possibly know about my problem?"

"Actually everything," she frowned in thought. She nodded. "Yes, absolutely everything."

"What do you mean?" Roy was slightly intrigued. He decided to ignore the fact that he hadn't even seen that woman before.

"You still don't believe me. And you should. It was me who started this all…you know, with Riza and Havoc."

Roy straightened himself on his chair. "What?!"

"Yeah," she sighed again. "It was me who lured Riza into that bet and forced her to love that second lieutenant guy…but then again, had it not been for me, you two would probably never have gotten together."

"We are not together, for your information," he stressed. "And could you explain this to me more clearly?"

Love sat on the bed. "Long story. But I guess I owe you this. So…where should I start?"

"I suggest from the beginning."

"Oh yeah, right. Thanks a lot."

Roy didn't know what to think about that woman, but she felt familiar somehow. Moreover, she knew about him, Riza and Havoc. Maybe she really was…nah, it couldn't be.

"First of all, you have to know something. I think you've never noticed, but Riza has almost always loved you."

"What?!"

"Yep," she nodded. "Ever since you met in her father's house. But you," she pointed at him, "you have never returned her feelings or even acknowledged them. Riza was patient, very patient, but everyone has their limits. Finally, she decided to give up on you."

She glanced at Roy, who was slightly pale. "I…I didn't know…" he uttered.

"Of course you didn't. Frankly speaking, everyone but you knew. You don't like it, do you?"

He shook his head, still in shock from what he'd just heard. "No, I don't."

"Good. I didn't like it either. So I visited your dear lieutenant, but I was unable to persuade her not to surrender. I knew that you loved her too, but I didn't want to tell her, I wanted you two to find out yourselves…I was naive…" she added quitely, looking aside. "Nevermind. Since that was the case, I suggested a bet."

"You…you two have bet?" Roy was shocked again.

"Yes. Because she stated that she was stronger than me, and I wanted to prove that it wasn't true. The conditions were that she would fall in love with a guy that I would have picked and then she would have to dump him, even if he would still love her."

"And she agreed?"

"Yes, because I promised to grant one her wish if she won."

"And if she lost?"

"In that case she was to recall her feelings for you. Because you know, Riza is smart," Love nodded in appreciation. "It wasn't that she had just given up on you, but she had also suppressed her feelings for you to a great extent so that she wouldn't have to suffer. I admire her, not many people are able to do such a thing."

Roy dug his hands in his dark hair. "I'm a complete moron, aren't I?" he asked in horror.

"Err…no," she shook her head totally insincerely. "Um…back to the story. So we reached an agreement, and the whole action started. Soon Riza got to know who that guy was."

"You picked Havoc," Roy guessed.

"Yeah, that's correct. You know, she almost gave up when she realized that she would have to hurt him. I talked to her on that day, and I must admit that it was hard to convince her not to cancell the bet. Fortunately, I managed to talk her into this and…you know more or less what happened next, I guess I'll skip that long part when they were getting closer and closer to each other…"

"Don't remind me."

"Sorry. Then that whole fight between you two…that was funny indeed. But everything is almost over now. What a pity."

"So…" Roy gulped, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer to his question. "So…what about that bet? Has Riza…has she won?"

A wide grin spread across Love's face. "No, my dear. She's lost."

Roy proccessed this information for a moment and then it hit him. This means that…

"When did it happen?" he asked in a weak voice.

"Last evening…actually last night," she answered, making it very clear what truly happened.

That was a nail in his coffin.

"She…she chose Havoc…" he said in a shaky whisper. "And it was my fault… I…I scolded her yesterday…though it was her who was right… Why have I been born anyway?"

"You've forgotten about the second part," Love pointed. "She chose him, but since she's lost the bet I forced her to restore her feelings for you."

Roy looked up at her thoughtfully. "You…you really are Love, aren't you?"

Her eyelid twitched. "That was what I tried to tell you all this time…and you believe me only now?"

"Sorry," he apologized quickly. "So…she loves…me?"

"The hell she does! She's had feelings for Havoc just because I forced her to, but even then she couldn't forget about you! There were times I was afraid that she would win that stupid bet…sheesh, what I have to go through for you humans…"

"Why did you want her to lose the bet so badly?" he asked in confusion, at the same time however extremely relieved. He still had a chance!

"Because I know what her wish would be, dummy. She would want me to make you love her. Of course, I wouldn't have to do that, since you love her anyway, but she would think that it was a fake love…and eventually she could do something stupid. I can't even imagine what, you humans are so unpredictable," she complained. "But now she would see that you love her just because you do, and not because I made you to."

Roy frowned and thought for a moment. "So actually…if you wanted her to lose the bet…and her feelings for me have not changed…what did you do it for in the first place?"

"Well, it's not like nothing has changed," she reminded him. "Riza's love for you has returned, and, what's more important, you have finally realized your feelings for her. I've done everything for this to happen. I've even told her that Havoc would be extremely hurt if she dumped him just for her to go serious about this all and for you to be serious as well. I'll release him from his love for her, of course, but if I had told her that, she would have considered it a game and you wouldn't have believed in their relationship at all. But! my plan has worked perfectly," she leaned back, finally relaxed and very self-contended.

"You…you did this all just to get us together?" Roy asked in disbelief. "That was your plan?"

"From the very beginning," she conceded.

"You're impossible, you know?"

"Phew, many have told me that," she smirked, apparently proud of herself.

There was a short silence before Roy spoke again: "So…what should I do now?"

Love looked at him encouragingly. "Go to her and tell her everything."

"Will she listen to me?"

"You have to see that yourself."

He thought for a moment and then lifted his gaze to meet her eyes. "Thank you. Really, thank you very much."

She watched as he grabbed his coat and went outside. She grinned warmly. "You're welcome, my dear."

"We shall see about that."

What did she mean by those words?

Riza sighed as her gaze dropped. "I've done a lot of stupid things, Black Hayate," she adressed her dog, who had placed himself on the bed beside her. "And what have I gained? Nothing. Roy doesn't care anymore…and Havoc…I just hope that Love will somehow help him go through it all…"

Her grim thoughts were occupying her for about half an hour as she was going over and over the whole situation in her mind. But after that time she didn't come to any conclusion as for what to do now, so she decided to go and drink some tea. Yes, tea was a good idea indeed.

Just as she put the kettle on the stove someone knocked at her door. She frowned; she wasn't in the mood to talk with anybody. Still, she went to answer the door. And she froze at the spot when she saw who was standing at the other side.

Roy reluctantly lifted his gaze from the floor. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and somewhat unsure.

"May I come in?"

Riza stared at him wide-eyed. Did it mean that… She snapped out of her thoughts.

"Oh, of course," she moved aside so that he could enter the flat. As she closed the door behind him, she decided to speak frankly. "Why have you come?"

"Because we have something to…clarify," he replied, looking her deep into the eyes.

"What…what do you mean?" she asked in an undertone.

He spoke straightforwardly: "She visited me today."

"Who?"

"Love."

Roy watched as her lips soundlessly repeated that word. Riza knew he couldn't possibly be lying, for how else could he know? "What…" she asked eventually, "what did she tell you? How…how much?"

"Everything."

Riza breathed in and gulped uneasily. "Everything? Meaning what?"

"About your bet, about Havoc and the relationship between you two, about you losing…and…" he stopped, deciding that it might not be the wisest thing to say. At least for now.

Riza looked quite shocked. "I'm…I'm going to make the tea," she said finally, hearing the whistling.

Roy followed her to the kitchen.

"Do you want some too?"

"Yeah, I'd like a small cup."

She pulled out two mugs from the cupboard and made the tea. Not until she put the mugs on the table did she ask:

"Did Love tell you about…about why we have bet?"

She had to know. It was better to know if he was already told about that.

"Yes…she did."

Riza was terrified. Wait, where was that large and deep lake around here? Maybe she would be able to rush there and drown before she got burned with her own shame…

"She told me that…that you were in love with me." He managed to lift his gaze so that he could see her beautiful, amber eyes. "Riza, I need to know…is that true? Did she tell me the truth?"

"And what do you want to hear?" the question was barely audible.

"I want to hear a 'yes'."

This firm answer startled her a little. "Why?"

"You know well why."

She sat on a chair and sipped some of her tea. "Would my answer change anything?"

"It can change everything," he replied. "Please, just tell me…"

"It's true."

Silence fell between the two before Roy spoke again: "Why haven't you…why have I not known?"

"Because I didn't want you to know, it wouldn't do if you knew. You have never felt the same way towards me, so…what would be the point in telling you?"

"You're right…" he sank his gaze into his mug. "It's been tough for you, hasn't it?"

"I have managed to deal with it somehow."

"But you suffered from that. I can already tell that it is painful to love someone who doesn't care about your feelings. Guess it's exactly what I have been doing all that time."

"Don't blame yourself. And…there has never been even a single moment when I didn't care about you," she added quietly.

He glanced at her and then dropped his look again. "Yeah, that's right. You've always cared. It's just me who was so blind as not to notice anything…"

"Stop it," she demanded suddenly. "I've had enough of your self-complaining. Just tell me if…if you still have some feelings for me. If not, then I'll understand. I just want to have that matter clarified."

The answer came in a sincere undertone.

"You still ask me that question?"

Their eyes met as they stared at each other seriously. Finally…

"I'm sorry," Riza hid her face in her hands. "I feel terrible, like I did this all just to make you jealous and…"

"You know very well that it's not true," Roy was beside her in an instant. He took her hand in his one to comfort her. "We both know that you're not like that…though I did feel quite jealous," he smiled under his nose.

"Yeah, I realize that," she responded with a faint smile. "Your fight with Jean…oh my, Jean!" her eyes widened anxiously. "What about him now?"

"Don't worry," he calmed her immediately. "Love said that she will release him from…from his feelings for you."

"Really?" Riza looked at him with doubt. "She has told me something different."

"She told me that she had lied to you just because she wanted you to take the matter seriously. She won't torment him any longer," he smirked.

"But I have tormented you long enough, haven't I?" she asked with a hint of guilt in her voice.

"Yes, you have," he conceded. "But it was worth it."

She smiled shyly. "You think so?"

He reached to touch her cheek.

"I'm absolutely positive."

She looked at him with bright eyes. He responded with the same gaze. Their lips met and everything else became just insignificant. They have found each other…finally.

Riza woke up and slipped off of her bed, careful not to wake Roy and Hayate, still sleeping under the sheets. For a short moment she admired the sight in front of her: a raven-haired man covered with a blanket and a black-and-white dog, laying on the pillow right beside the man's arm. Both looking so peaceful that it made her smile widely.

Riza went to the bathroom. She rubbed her messed hair before the mirror. And then, just above her shoulder, she saw Love standing behind her.

"Congratulations," she heard. "I see that you have finally made up for everything."

"It's all thanks to you," replied Riza gratefully. "How can I pay you back for that? It's a huuuge debt, really huge…"

"No need to do that," Love smiled warmly. "I'm just glad that you are together. It is my reward for all my hard work. Do you even imagine how difficult it was? To convince you to bet with me, to get you and Havoc together, to make Roy jealous, to force you to lose the bet, and finally to explain everything to that guy… I don't take it, really. You've loved each other for such long time, you should've been together a long ago. Man, you humans are such troublesome creatures…"

"Forgive us," said Riza with a smile. "We will behave better from now on, I promise. But we really do owe you one."

"Forget it. Well," Love sighed. "I guess it's goodbye then."

Riza wanted to protest, but…what was the reason to make Love stay?

"Yeah, you're probably right…"

"You are sad, aren't you?" asked Love, grinning.

"Yes, I am," Riza mirrored her smile. "I kinda grew on you with time. Initially, you were just my bet opponent, but now you're my…"

"Friend?"

Riza nodded. "Yes, something along those lines."

"Consider me a friend then, if you wish. And remember that I won't be gone completely. I'll keep an eye on you two," she waved her finger threateningly. "You'd better be good or else…"

"We will, don't worry," Riza assured her.

"Fine. Don't forget that I'll be watching you! And…goodbye."

"Yeah. Goodbye."

With that final word Love dissolved in the air. Riza stared at the place she was standing just a few seconds ago. And then she whispered:

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

She didn't know it, but Love heard her words. And then a huge, contended smile spread across her face. She stole one final glance at Riza and then turned away. Her red hair brushed the air when she walked away to bring help to another couple.

"So, what was her name? Oh, I remember now. So, Sheska…"

A/N: And that's it. The end. Congratulations, you managed to read through this all the way here… Cookies for you! (throws cookies all around).

Thank you to all those who have been with me during all that time, to all the Rewievers, to all the Readers and everyone who likes the story (or not)!

I don't know, I think this isn't a story as good as I wanted it to be, but…it just is. My first chaptered fanfic has been completed. So leave your opinion and till the next time!

It was fun, wasn't it?