Title: Paths

Genre: Drama, Romance.

Pairing: RoyxRiza

Rating: M

Disclaimer: *sigh I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. If I ever did... Well... Roy and Riza would have a seperate manga by now. ;)

Chapter 9: A NEW Royal Road Opened

"Falman. Any news?"

"I'm sorry Sir. But I cannot find any news about the lieutenant's whereabouts? Second Lieutenant Catalina will shoot me if she only could in the phone. Even she has no idea if she's in the East or somewhere else." Falman reported.

Roy has ordered Falman ever since Riza resigned to look for her whereabouts. It's been almost 6 months and still no single lead. But of course he was very suspicious of Rebecca. Riza's best friend in the Military and no single idea about where she is? Impossible. She was just very lucky to be stationed in the East. If Rebecca were here, Roy would threaten her every day just to get that information.

Little did he know that he can get that information from his subordinate Havoc. Havoc and Rebecca have been exchanging calls every time Rebecca gets a letter from RIza or if she gets to go visit her at Resembool. But of course Havoc did not mention anything in the office, no matter how sorry he felt for the Colonel.

Meanwhile in Resembool, General Grumman just arrived in Riza's house. He has been regularly visiting her granddaughter. But these last few weeks, he has been in Resembool for almost every three days. Riza's stomach was now big. Grumman wanted to make sure that his granddaughter and great grandchild will be okay.

"This is very annoying. You are almost here everyday. Why not just sleep here instead of going back and forth you geezer?" Pinako annoyingly said to Grumman.

They were in the living room with Riza while Winry is in the kitchen making tea and snacks.

"I still have some duties in the East Command you know." Grumman answered with his usual smile. "How are you Riza? Is my grandchild kicking?"

"Actually I feel him move more often in these past few days." Nervousness can be sensed in her voice, but it can also be seen that she is really excited and happy.

"Oh. You already know it's a boy?" Grumman excitedly asked.

"I just have it in my gut feel." Riza said with a smile.

"Do you have a name in mind already?' Winry asked as she brought and served the tea and snacks.

"I still don't know yet. But Christopher seems to be lingering in my mind."

"You are really bad with names Riza. " Pinako remarked as she looked at Hayate. Everyone just gave a laugh.

"Why do you call him Prince? If you are really sure my great grandchild will be a boy? A really fierce and simple name if you ask me." Grumman suggested.

"Well… He will be the prince in my life. " Riza answered. Grumman kept in his mind of course what Roy wanted to call his son. He hoped that he can help the two say the things they need to say.

Grumman left before the sunset.

Night came. Winry and Pinako went to sleep in the room beside Riza's. Riza was sitting in bed, her legs under the blanket. Lamp on as she's reading a book as usual before going to sleep. While she was reading, she suddenly felt a pain in her stomach. She tried to ignore it but it was just getting worse that she was already screaming. Winry and Pinako rushed to Riza as soon as they woke up hearing Riza's scream.

"Her water broke!" Winry exclaimed panicking.

"She's going to give birth soon. You should boil some water Winry."

2am in the morning, Hayate barked and Al opened the door and found Grumman standing in Riza's doorstep.

"How is my granddaughter? Where's my grandchild?" Grumman asked excited.

"They're both upstairs." Ed said.

"It's a boy sir!" Al informed the General with glee.

"Oho! I have a great grandson!" Grumman then rushed to Riza's room.

"Where's my grandson?!" Grumman immediately said as he barged inside his granddaughter's room.

"SHHHHH! You will wake him up!" Pinako warned the old man.

"Well grandfather… Here he is. Your great grandson." Riza said happily while looking at the sleeping handsome baby in her arms.

"He's got your nose and the color of your skin. And your great grandpa's looks." Grumman happily said.

"Poor child then." Pinako commented.

"He got Riza's amber eyes as well." Winry added.

"But I think our blood does not run that strong. Everything else is his father's already. The hair. The rest of his face." Grumman said.

Riza fully knew this. The moment she saw the baby, he really did look like a baby Mustang. There was still pain in her heart, yes. But the joy of finally seeing her son was even a greater feeling.

"So, did you name him already?" Grumman asked.

"I was just about to. Maybe I will call him Prince. Just like you suggested Grandfather.". Riza answered.

"My great grandson Prince. Great grandpa is soo happy to finally meet you!" Grumman blurted out with glee.

"By the way grandpa, how did you get here so quickly?" Riza asked.

"I was just about to board the train when one of the hotel staff rushed to my platform and told me that Ed called to inform me that you were about to give birth. But of course, it took me awhile to get a transportation as it was already dark." Grumman explained.

It was indeed a very tiring night for everyone. Meanwhile, miles away in Central city, Roy Mustang was lying in his bed, wide-awake. The only thing in his mind is Riza. Where is she? Why did she leave? He had no idea that somewhere in Resembool, Riza was carrying his son Prince who just looked like him. The woman he loves just has just given birth to his child.

弓子のノト (Yumiko's notes): So… Hello everyone. First. I have to apologize to everyone who is waiting for this fic. It has been *gulp* more than two years. SORRY! :( Well first, I was (and still am) busy with college. So I had a hard time finding time to write this. Second.. Well, there were not really a lot of demand for the story and FMA just ended. So… I lost hope in writing this.

ANYWAY. 2 years has passed and I hoped my writing has improved. Warning though, these two recent chapters are rushed. You see, I decided to continue because I received an email just days ago that the story just gained a new follower (to my surprise). Then, I read all of my fics here again. I just managed to say "Whoa! I wrote this?!" (not to brag). I just realized how much I loved writing and so here I am… continuing the story. SORRY AGAIN. :( Well, here are two chapters. Chap 10 is already in its works and its gonna be a flash forward chapter but really long…So… I will post it….depends on my sched.

So again. I'm so sorry for the neglect and the rushed two chapters. But I really want to thank the most recent follower of the story for making me realize why I joined FF in the first place. I hope you guys still leave your reviews, comments, violent reactions, etc. :)