Chapter 1: Mistletoe

DISCLAIMER: All recognizable material belongs to the great cow Arakawa.

~Mistletoe~

"Are you enjoying yourself, Lieutenant?"

Riza looked up. She stood by herself under a door frame in Maes Hughes's house, at a Christmas party thrown for all of Mustang's men as well as Major Armstrong. The Colonel was sauntering towards her, a smile on his face and scotch in his hand. She could see he was loosening up; she just hoped he didn't let himself get too intoxicated. Alcohol shouldn't be allowed around so much hot open flame.

The Lieutenant blushed at the double entendre in her own thought.

Shaking her head to clear it, she looked up at him and gave him a half-smile. "Yes. I'm having a wonderful time. It was very thoughtful of Hughes to invite us all, though I'm not sure how he managed to convince his wife…"

Mustang shrugged. "Their daughter's staying with family for the night, and we all promised not to get too drunk. I don't think Mrs. Hughes minds too much." He changed the subject, looking her over. "You look lovely tonight," he told her simply. "I don't think I can remember the last time I saw you out of uniform."

Riza was suddenly very conscious of the modest piece she'd picked out for the evening, glad it was appreciated. She tried not to let it show how much it pleased her to hear it. "Thank you, sir. You clean up well yourself."

They stood there in the doorway, smiling softly at each other for a long moment. Suddenly, out of the dull roar they'd been tuning out, they heard Jean Havoc yell, "Aw, just kiss her, Mustang!"

The pair froze, shocked. Had they heard him right? Was he serious?

Roy was the first to regain his composure. "What the hell, Havoc?" He meant to play it off cooly, but his voice betrayed him by shooting through a few octaves.

Breda, Fuery, Falman, Hughes, Armstrong and even Gracia had all gathered to see what they were yelling about. Riza got a very bad feeling when each of them registered the same expression.

"What are you all staring at?" Hawkeye asked sternly, crossing her arms, trying to mask her embarrassment with irritation.

Hughes pointed to the ceiling above their heads. "Mustang, you dog, getting your First Lieutenant under the mistletoe!"

Mistletoe?!

Roy and Riza's heads snapped up in unison, both their eyes widening at the plant taped up there. In all honesty, neither had noticed it until it was pointed out. They both started spluttering, trying to explain that that wasn't why they were standing there, that wouldn't be appropriate, etc., etc. The men weren't buying it.

"You can't back out now!"

"Mistletoe rules!"

"It's a Christmas tradition, you have to do it!"

Roy, his face red, turned his head towards Riza. "They're not gonna drop it."

She nodded, sure own her face matched his. "I know."

He faced her full on. "Would… would you mind?"

Yes. She would. Or at least, she was supposed to. She wasn't really sure. All she knew was that, miraculously, she somehow hadn't fainted of embarrassment yet.

Riza didn't really see a way out of it. If they didn't do it, The men would pester them about it all night. If they did, they'd bring it up every chance they got for the rest of their lives. Either way, she and the Colonel weren't going to live this down.

Suddenly she made up her mind. If they were going to be ridiculed for it, she may as well get something pleasant in return.

"No, I wouldn't."

Roy's eyes widened - she could tell he hadn't expected anything less than getting slapped for even asking. But once he realized she wasn't going to hit him, he smiled and took her chin, leaning forward and closing his eyes. She felt his breath tickle her lips before the soft flesh of his mouth pressed against hers. It was brief and gentle, but it was still enough to make her gasp and blush as though she were a child who had never been kissed before. Though it was true she had never kissed him before, and she found she rather liked it.

The hoots and hollers brought the pair back to their senses and they quickly pulled apart, embarrassed. They did their best to shoo the men off; Gracia, noticing the color of Riza's face, graciously dragged her husband away, intending on giving them some space. Hawkeye was grateful to the woman and made a mental note to find a way to thank her.

As the rest of them settled down and followed the Hughes's, the blonde motioned to follow suit, but was surprised to feel Roy's hand reach out and intertwine with hers. She gazed up at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

He gave her a small smile. "Merry Christmas, Riza."