Hi there!! It's been so long since I've updated so I decided to just put this chapter up as is! Enjoy! -Riss

Chapter 18

Riza opened her eyes slowly and let out a contented sigh.

"Morning, sleepyhead," said Roy, grinning as he lay on his side, watching her.

She moaned softly in reply, stretching her legs out very slowly under the covers. "So comfortable… what time is it?"

"Almost ten," said Roy easily.

"What?!"

"I called the others to tell them that we wouldn't be in today while you were sleeping," said Roy and she frowned.

"Why'd you do that?"

"You needed rest. You know that's it's going to be a while before things go back to normal completely."

"This is more than just abnormal," Riza found herself muttering, but she didn't really care.

Roy just grinned. "Are you hungry? Or you can go back to sleep if you want."

"Mmmm…" Riza made that tiny moaning noise again and he took it to mean her consent to the latter as she closed her eyes and curled back up against him.

Oh well. It suited him fine too.

-

"Where're Hawkeye and the chief? Aren't they in yet?" asked Havoc, frowning as he walked into the office.

"Apparently they're both going be to out today," said Corliss, who had taken the call earlier.

"Really? D'you reckon something happened between them?" asked Breda, grinning widely.

Corliss shook her head. "She, at least, wouldn't."

"How much do you know about Hawkeye, anyway, Sis?" asked Havoc curiously as he sat down at his desk.

"Well, the colonel says that the other homunculi only get snatches of what happened to their predecessors and what kind of people they were -if that, at all. He said that that was because their souls were on the other side of the gate and so far away. But since Lieutenant Hawkeye's is so close to me, I understand more than the others do and I share more of her memories," said Corliss. "I know that she wouldn't do anything with the colonel because I can feel that she's still afraid. She trusts him more than anyone else in the world, but she was just hurt so badly…" she trailed off here and a pained expression passed over her face.

"Are you okay, Corliss?" asked Fuery kindly and she nodded, smiling at him all of a sudden.

"I'm fine, Sergeant!" she replied. "And so is Lieutenant Hawkeye, really! She's feeling much better every day and Colonel Mustang is helping her a lot!"

"Do you know what she's doing right now?" asked Breda, a perverted grin settling onto his face.

Corliss thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Nope. It's possible that she's still sleeping, but shouldn't the rest of us be working anyway?"

"Yeah! You know, we're lucky we have you to pick up the slack when Hawkeye's out," Fuery exclaimed brightly, while everyone else in the office was thinking the exact opposite. It was kind of cute, actually; he really was smitten with her. Then again, he had always had the teeniest tiniest crush on Riza too.

"I'm glad you think so!" said Corliss, beaming. "Now, back to work!"

The men glanced back towards their papers, deflating slowly and a collective sigh issued throughout the room before silence fell upon them once again.

-

By midday Riza was in still in bed with Roy and she had turned contemplative, staring at his left automail arm with a deep frown on her pretty face. She hadn't asked him whether or not it had hurt- she wouldn't have believed him if he said that it hadn't.

"It would have been better for us all if you hadn't done that, sir…" she sighed, slipping a slender leg over his side and cuddling closer to him.

"I don't think so," Roy disagreed. "I mean, at first I did… but then Corliss wouldn't be here, and, if nothing else, Fuery really does seem to like her."

"Yes, I suppose… But your arm-"

"-Has never been more efficient," Roy finished for her firmly. "You know, the other day, my hand got tired doing paperwork so I switched to the automail one and it worked just as well!"

Riza frowned deeply. "Roy, are you telling me that you'd give up an arm just for the chance to do your paperwork faster?"

"But now I'm ambidextrous!" he exclaimed happily.

Riza didn't reply.

"Look, I promise that I'm okay with this arm as long as you are," he went on, softer now, and he leaned forward to kiss her gently.

"…Okay." She moved out of his arms and stood up slowly.

"Where are you going?" asked Roy, sitting up and watching as she moved towards her wardrobe to pick out a civilian outfit for the day.

"It's already late… Besides, there's something that I need to do today."

"What is it?" asked Roy, pouting.

"Nothing," Riza assured him. "Just something I need to do. Don't wait up for me."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Roy asked her worriedly.

"I'll be fine by myself."

He didn't look happy about it, but he nodded. "…Just call if you need me, okay?"

"I will."

-

"Lieutenant Hawkeye!! Is something wrong?!"

Riza shook her head. "No, nothing's wrong exactly, Edward. There's just… something I need to speak to you about. Would you mind if we spoke in private?"

"Sure thing," said Ed, without hesitation, then he called across the hotel lobby to his little brother, speaking to the receptionist, that he'd see him later. "Let's go up to me and Al's room and you can tell me what's bothering you there."

"Okay… sure."

-

"Corliss-"

"Second Lieutenants- for the last time, I am not spying on Mustang and Hawkeye for you!!"

"But why nooooot?!" Havoc whined. "I'm bored! I just wanna know what they're up to!"

"No!"

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!"

"NO!"

"Are Colonel Mustang's injuries looking any better yet?" asked Fuery in his adorable little boyish voice.

"Hai. They're looking good," said Corliss, smiling at Fuery.

"And the Lieutenant?"

"She's gone to see Edward Elric at the hotel where he's staying"

"Oh, she's feeling better, then," said Fuery, smiling.

"Yeah, she is."

"Hey!! How come you're telling Fuery but you didn't wanna tell me?!" Havoc cried out in anguish and Corliss glared at him.

"Because Fuery is actually concerned about them, whereas you just want me to tell you how far they went when he was at her house last night!!"

"SO THEY DID DO SOMETHING!!" Breda and Havoc yelled.

"NO!!"

"Must you really aggravate her, you two?" sighed Fuery, shaking his head reproachfully.

"Hey!! How can you take her side?!" Havoc wailed.

"Because she's right!!" said Fuery and Corliss nodded determinedly.

"See?! " she huffed. "Now back to work! And don't dare to make me take out my gun because I will not hesitate to shoot each and every one of you mens' Little Happies off!!"

-

"Edward, I'm scared."

Ed's eyes widened slightly. "Huh? About the guys that that bastard Envy is supposed to be working for? The ones who hurt you?"

"No. Well, yes, I suppose… but no."

"What is it then?"

Riza bit her lip worriedly. "About the Colonel… I- I wanted to ask you some questions."

"Having problems with the automail already?" Edward sighed loudly. "Weakling!"

"No, there are no problems with it," said Riza, her voice growing quieter by the second. "It's just that… just that…" she took a deep breath. "Edward, I want to know whether or not he can feel me?"

"Feel you? How do you mean?" asked Edward.

"…When I touch his arm," said Riza and all of a sudden she seemed to be holding back tears. "Can he even feel me?" She reached out to touch Ed's arm timidly.

Nothing changed in his face and he shook his head. "Not touching like that," he told her cautiously. "He'll only be able to feel it if you jostle his shoulder where the joint is- that's the only place that there are still nerves… I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I understand," Riza sighed, climbing to her feet sadly. "It's not your fault… I was only curious." She turned around and made to leave but Ed's voice, from behind, held her back.

"…Lieutenant?"

"Yes, Edward?"

"You won't let a little thing like automail stand in the way of you and the Colonel, will you? I mean… if you really love each other and all, then it shouldn't matter."

"It doesn't matter," Riza agreed, shaking her head. "At least, not in the way that you mean, I promise you. And I… the Colonel does know that I love him no matter what-" she blushed as she said these words. "I only wanted to know… I'm sorry for bothering you."

"Not at all," said Ed, getting up to see her out as she headed for the door. "If you ever have any more questions, you can ask me, or whatever…"

He seemed a little embarrassed and Riza just smiled at his adorable discomfiture. "I will. Thank you, Edward."