Riza grumbled as the bright sunlight glistened through the window. She had finally managed to force herself to sleep and it was just enough to irritate her body and keep her from wanting to get up again.

Roy chuckled at his wife, "Good morning, beautiful."

"Shut up." she groaned, pushing him away.

He pouted, "That's no way to greet your husband." he puckered out his lips, "Whatever happened to a smile and a 'good morning', completed with a kiss?"

"You'll get that when I am awake." she replied, turning over to face the opposite direction.

He frowned for a moment then chuckled to himself, "Someone's grumpy." he commented, sitting up an giving her a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm going to go get breakfast started, considering Maes is probably already up."

"Okay…" Riza replied, pulling the blankets over her, "I'll be out in fifteen minutes or so."

"Take your time." Roy replied, getting out of the bed. "You don't need to rush, he'll still be there when you get up."

She was silent in response.

He sighed an walked out of the room and into the kitchen. Maes was sitting at the table, a bright smile on his face. He was already dressed and looked as if he was about to head out somewhere.

"Why are you up and dressed so early?" Roy asked, joining his son at the table.

Maes smile turned even more wide and idiotic as he looked at his father, "Elicia is coming over. She wants to hang out for a little while before you and I head off to get me registered for the military this afternoon."

His father raised an eyebrow, "You and Elicia, eh?" he chuckled, "Hughes must be rolling in his grave right now at the thought."

Maes looked back at his father, "What do you mean?"

Roy laughed again, "Just be thankful you don't have to meet him." he commented, "Hughes was my best friend, and he loved his little girl more than anything. If anyone dared to lay a hand on her he would have their throat."

Maes gulped.

"Don't worry though." his father laughed, patting his back as he stood, "I think he would of made an exception, considering it was us and all."

"Why is that?"

"He always told me to go get a wife." he replied with a smile, "Preferably your mother."

Maes smiled up at his father. "You never told me how you two got together. How did you manage that due to the anti fraternization laws?"

"That's a story for another day." the elder laughed in return, turning to go begin breakfast.

Maes stood, "Aw, come on Dad. That's not fair at all." he laughed as he walked over, "Why don't you just tell me?"

The man laughed at his son as he cracked open an egg, dropping it into the pan. "Fine, fine. I'll tell you. Where do you want me to start?"

Maes shrugged as he leaned against the counter. "Wherever you think is best."

Roy stood there for a moment, thinking about how he could weave the tale of their past relationship. "It's going to take a while, I might not have time to tell you all here."

Maes nodded, "I understand."

His father nodded and began to tell him of all the events in their lives. It began with the two of them back when Roy worked under her father- Maes' deceased grandfather, and began to expand up to the point of the Ishvalan war.

"It was then, that in the distance I saw her face again." he paused, thinking about Riza's face back in the war. His expression saddened as he thought about his wife back then. A shattered innocence, exposed to the terror of the world.

It was then that he looked back up at Maes. It was as if for an instant, he saw that same innocence and purity that he saw in Riza back before she enlisted…back when she was ignorant to the world and all the horrible things in it.

He now understood. He got the idea of why his wife was so crushed by Maes entering the military. She didn't want to see the same thing happen to him that happened to the two of them.

The boy held the idea that he could make a difference, that he could change the world for the better.

But the world is filled with terrible people. It's filled with liars, deceivers, and the lowest of scum. The boy didn't understand that things don't run as smoothly as they do in the books, that everything has conflict. There is so much damn conflict in this world that something as simple as wishing for a better world wasn't possible.

Roy realized his son was living a false dream.

The same false dream he and Riza once lived.

"Dad?" Maes asked, concerned by his fathers sudden silence.

Roy snapped out of state and looked back at his son, "Huh? Oh yeah, where was I?"

"You were explaining about- Oh good morning, Mom!" Maes said with a smile, looking past his father to see his mother enter the room.

Riza looked tired and drained, but still held a smile on her face, "Good morning, Maes." she smiled as she walked slowly over to the two.

She gave her husband a kiss and he smiled, "Ah, there is my morning kiss." he chuckled. She smiled in response.

"What are you two talking about?" she asked, reaching over the counter to grab herself some tea.

"Stuff." Roy smiled in response, scooping some eggs onto a plate and handing them to her, "Here you go dear."

She smiled, and took it from him. "Of course you are talking about stuff." she replied as she went to go sit down. "How are you this morning, Maes?"

"Great, Mom!" he replied joyfully, taking his food from his dad so he could go sit next to his mother. "I'm going to go hang out with Elicia for a bit!"

"Oh?" she asked, forcing herself to smile still. "Be out as long as you want."

"Really?" he asked in disbelief. He smiled brightly then realization hit him, "Oh, wait!" he said suddenly, "I need to be back by this afternoon so we can head down to the base!"

Riza frowned, she was hoping that he would have forgotten, or at least discarded to idea by this point. "Are you going down there with your father?"

He nodded, taking a few bites of his food, "Yeah."

"Maes, don't talk with food in your mouth."

"Sorry," he apologized instantly then chewed, "Do you want to come though?"

Riza was silent for a moment and poked at her own food, "I'll think about it."

"Aw, come on Mom." he begged, "It'd be really neat if you wou-" there was suddenly a knock on the door, "Oh! That's Elicia!" he smiled brightly and stuffed the rest of his food into his mouth before running to the door.

He quickly swallowed the food and wiped his mouth before answering, "Hey Elicia!"

The girl stood there, smiling sweetly at the tall boy. "Hey, Maes." she replied, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah." he replied, leaning over and giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. "Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" he called out before leaving.

Riza smiled sadly as she heard the door close and began to poke at her food again.

"Riza…" Roy sighed, walking over to her.

"Yes?" she asked, looking up at him.

He leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Try not to think about it too much. It's not good for you to stress."