Fic - In Each Other Chapters 1-3

[cornerofmadness]

Title -- In Each Other
Author-- cornerofmadness
Disclaimer --Arakawa owns all
Genre: romance/drama
Rating -- technically Mature (NC-17) but only the very last scene in ch 6 is. All else is teen.
Characters/Pairing -- Roy/Riza, Ed/Winry, Alphonse, Chris Mustang, Armstrong
Timeline/Spoilers -- post 108
Word Count -- 12,289
Warning -- some potty mouth bits but nothing really worse than that
Summary --They are making the most of their recovery time
Author’s Note --Notes: For the 2012-2013 fmabigbang. This time it’s in reverse, with me basing my story off kriem’s beautiful art. Thanks to evil_little_dog for the beta and to bay115 for the help along the way and to enemyofsleep for hosting this again.


“The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.” – Rumi

Chapter One

Autumn had begun, but Riza could barely tell. She almost regretted the high collar of her shirt as the warm air blew over her form, wafting up from the lake. She had kicked off her shoes, the long grass tickling her toes. If she could, she would freeze this moment forever. She and Roy had so little time to themselves that it was hard to imagine the past two weeks. Her grandfather was taking over in Central and eventually would want them back there, but he had been more than happy to turn a blind eye and okay her time off to recuperate from the wounds she received at the hands of the goldtoothed doctor and his allies. Roy needed to heal as well, his sight improving every day since Marcoh had treated him.





In the chaos, they felt no need to fake alibis for where they were going. His aunt hadn’t left the country like she had promised – Roy should have known better – and had given them the use of one of her properties: a small cottage on a lake in the northern reaches, just past Central. It was nearly deserted at this time of year and she and Roy had slipped away with no more details than “on medical leave.” With everything going on, who would miss them?

With his hands, still a bit swollen from all they had been through, resting on his chest and his head cradled in her lap as he cloud watched, Roy looked younger than he was. Riza couldn’t remember the last time he had looked so relaxed. It might even have been when he was still an apprentice and they had stolen moments together, much more innocent moments than the ones they’d been stealing for the past several days.

She covered his hands with hers. “We could stay here forever.”

Roy sighed softly. “That would be nice.”

Could it be? Had she really heard some hesitation in his voice? “Until…”

“You get tired of me, which would happen quickly. Then there’d be just one lovely lady in the cottage and one well-weighted corpse at the bottom of the lake.” Roy grinned.

Riza laughed. “It probably wouldn’t be that bad.” She thought for a moment, then added, “Unless you plan on never getting another job and being underfoot constantly like Hayate.”

Roy reached over and rubbed her leg. “I might be. You don’t know.”

“I know I have a gun and know how to use it.” She ran her finger through his hair. “And you’d get bored within a month. You’re already getting antsy here.”

He went even more boneless against her. “Not so,” he lied.

Riza leaned down and kissed his forehead. “It’s all right. I am, too. We like working.”

“I like being here with you with nothing to do but relax,” Roy replied. “I miss working even if everyone thinks I’m lazy.”

“You let them and you don’t like paperwork.”

“If you want to work for someone who enjoys it, may I suggest transferring into Colonel Whitehurst’s office? He loves generating paperwork.” Roy grinned up at her.

Riza pretended to mull that over, tapping her chin. “Does he do it on time without someone having to threaten him?”

“I believe he does.”

“Should you be tempting me?”

Roy rolled over, catching her around the waist. He hiked up her shirt with two fingers, kissing the bared swath of skin. “Depends on the kind of tempting you mean?”

She stole another kiss. “I'll allow that kind of tempting.”

“Oh, good.” Roy got on his knees, pushing her back against the grass. Rather awkwardly, he managed to stretch out over her. His tender hands made supporting his weight dicey so Riza flipped her overly-ambitious-and-refusing-to-admit-to-his-current-limits lover onto his back. She pressed her lips to his, his tongue pushing past all defenses to explore her mouth.

Warmed by the sun and surrounded by the sweet scent of grass and autumn flowers, Riza could wish for only one more thing: more transportable condoms. The tins were bulky and it wasn't as if Roy could put a tin in a pocket. She supposed they would have wrapped one in foil or something and risk puncturing it. Someone needed to invent a better way because she wanted to enjoy the hardness she felt against her hip without having to get up and stagger back to the cottage.

Still, amazing things could be – and were - done with lips and hands, leaving them sprawled, half naked by the end, in the crushed grass. Riza really hoped the lake was as deserted as she thought or someone was going to get an eye full. Roy, ever the exhibitionist, probably wouldn't mind. She would die of mortification but even that did not make her want to hurry and redress. Too sated, too comfortable in the sunlight, Riza planned to linger, no matter what.


XXX

“It's almost a pity that it's too warm to warrant a fire,” Riza said, snuggled into the couch while Roy puttered in the cottage's kitchen. He hadn’t been able to raise a radio station – he did like his music – but he had planned for their rural location and its inaccessibility to modern devices like the radio. He'd brought a phonograph and Central's symphony serenaded them in some concerto Riza couldn't begin to identify. “Setting a nice fire is one of your strengths.”

Roy glanced over at her from across the open floor plan, looking a bit befuddled as if he wasn't sure she had complimented him or if that was a subtle dig. “Not so warm to make hot chocolate out of place.” He lifted the chocolate pot, something she recognized from his aunt's parlor.

“Chocolate is never out of place, Roy. I thought you knew that.”

“I suspected it. What I thought I knew has been greatly challenged as of late,” he replied affably as he put the sugar bowl on the tray with the cups. The bitter chocolate would require it.

“That's an understatement.”

Roy came over with the tray and sat with her on the soft, comfortable couch. He poured the thick chocolate into a cup for her. The smell was amazing. Riza fixed it with sugar and put a dash of cinnamon in it, not at all surprised that Roy had the spice on the tray. He knew her so well.

“I could call my aunt and see if we can stay longer,” he said.

“That would be nice, but we're supposed to start back on light duty a few hours a day,” she replied.

“We could probably get the full leave extended.” Roy sighed. “I knew I should have had Knox fake my death for me. He has access to all kinds of corpses.”

“Now there's a cheery thought and just how would you become Fuhrer if you're dead?” Riza arched an eyebrow at him, blowing across her cup of chocolate to cool it.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his own. “It's just that I like playing house with you. We should be able to have this life all the time." A thoughtful expression passed over his face. "There is an alternative to faking my death.”

“I'm listening.”

“I could retire and you become the general,” he grinned and she was glad he had suggested his own retirement since they had had fights over her doing the same. “You become Fuhrer and I'll be the first man.”


“And what would you be doing in the meantime while I claw my way to the top?”

“Hmmm, I could become a teacher,” he said, and she couldn’t hold in the bark of laughter. Roy pouted.

Riza kissed away a spot of chocolate on those pouting lips. Roy could manage to make a pout look somehow sexy – well sometimes. Others she just wanted to shoot the melodramatic fool. “I can see Alphonse Elric as a teacher, a very good one. Falman would be the professor who knows everything and thinks he's explaining when he’s really not. You and Edward would make frightening teachers. You're far too impatient.”

“Fine,” Roy huffed. “I'll tend bar for my aunt.”

“Yes, that's my dream life. I work in the military all day while my husband is out carousing with scantily dressed beauties all night.”

“So long as I come home to you, it's not a problem.”

“That is such a man's answer.” Riza rolled her eyes.

“I'm afraid that's the only kind I can give.” Roy laughed. “Besides, my aunt is there and she's almost as quick with her gun as you are. The worst part of it would be me straggling home smelling of cigarettes and spilled booze.”

“No, the worst is when your aunt knows you're wasted slinging drinks and turns you into one of her spies and you spend every night huddled up with generals' wives trying to get information.”

Roy shuddered. “I've seen some of those wives, no thank you. I always did pity my sisters, having to cozy up to some of those men. All right then, I don't retire until I find suitable employment.”

“So we have to make the most of our last night here.”

“I already have that planned out complete with toys.” Roy's eyes danced. “And I have arranged for a suite at the Madam's new hotel, penthouse.”

“She did buy that eight story hotel, then?”

He nodded. “I figure we can use that as a meeting place since we'll still have a lot of spare time and we'll have guests.”

Him arranging a place they could call their own for a little while longer didn't surprise Riza. Guests did. “Oh?”

“I'll tell you later. Just a little something else to help pass the time when I'm not working. I can't stay naked all the time,” he smirked.

“No, but I'm sure you'll try.” Riza sipped her chocolate before kissing him. “Starting right now.”

He grinned back and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Chapter Two

“I don't like my brother staying here. It's the third floor,” Ed grumbled, pacing around the suite and apparently finding everything wrong wit hit.

Roy considered chucking him out the window but Riza might frown on that. “There's nothing wrong with this room.”

“I like it,” Alphonse agreed, but Roy hadn't missed the young teen had also liked the girls he had spotted working downstairs.

“What if there's a fire? He couldn't use the elevator then. He does have a broken ankle. He can't hobble downstairs on his crutches.”

“For one, I'll be staying here myself most of the time and if a fire broke out, I'm pretty sure I can handle it. Two, unlike you, your brother can still do alchemy and he could make himself a slide right out the window. You're just grouchy because I'm the one providing the room,” Roy replied and Miss Rockbell rolled her eyes. Apparently this was not the first time Edward had been accused of it.

Edward's cheeks reddened. “Is this even a hotel? Those girls down in the hotel bar didn't look like bar maids.”

Roy laughed. “Since when have you become an expert on bar maids? Have you even been in a bar before today?”

“You know what I mean. My brother doesn't need to be around those kinds of women.”

“Brother!” Alphonse barked, his own face going red.

“Those women are my sisters, Edward,” Roy replied.

Ed snorted. “There were women of every kind and color down there and not one looked like you.”

“I'm adopted. Most everyone here is. The owner of the bar -,”

“The big woman?” Edward interrupted.

“Yes, is my aunt, my dad's sister. I wasn't going to put you anyplace unsavory. Well, maybe you Edward, but not Alphonse or Miss Rockbell. Madam Christmas runs a hostess club, so you would be better off not going down in the bar for too long and for all you know, your brother might enjoy having the girls wait on him hand and foot because they would.”

Alphonse went red to his hair line and crossed his crutches in front of his face.
“Besides, you'll be one floor up, you and Miss Rockbell, so what harm could come to Alphonse?”

“Both of us? In the same room?” Miss Rockbell asked, finally finding a way to get a word in edgewise around her boyfriend, or Roy assumed they were an item.

“I wasn't sure if you were ready for that,” and he didn't want anyone saying he was contributing to the delinquency of a minor, not that he was sure Fullmetal qualified as one. He was of age surely by now, but in Roy’s mind Ed was still thirteen. For that matter in his mind, Roy was still twenty-nine. Ugh, where did the years go? “Two rooms. What happens when I'm not looking, I’m not worrying about.”

Winry blushed. All three of them were red; maybe Resemboolers were easily embarrassed or maybe after growing up with his aunt he just had no sense of decency.

“Shut up, bastard.”

“The point is, Alphonse is not alone here, ever. My aunt lives here full time and if you ever need help, Alphonse, you can ask her. She might like having a young man to pamper. It's been a long time since she's had that chance.”

“I'm sure it'll be fine, sir. Brother has been imagining worst case scenarios ever since I've been back,” Alphonse replied.

“All right, then let me show your brother and Miss Rockbell to their rooms and while they're settling in, I can come back and help you get settled, Alphonse.”

“You can call me, Winry, sir,” Miss Rockbell said, looking a bit more composed.

“Winry, don't let him get informal. If you knew his reputation....” Edward shook his head.

“While Winry is a beautiful woman, she is a bit young for me,” Roy smiled. “But you can call me Roy, all of you.”

“You already have a name, bastard,” Edward replied and Roy sighed. He hoped his sisters wouldn't hear that. They'd be too amused. “And my brother doesn't need your help. I'll come help him. Besides, are you even allowed to be lifting things yet?”

“It's been weeks.” Roy looked at his scarred, painful hands. “No, not really I'm not and are you?”

“Part of my therapy.” Edward jerked a thumb at Winry as if to suggest she was the one who had laid out his regime.

“I'll help Al. It's no trouble,” she agreed.

Nodding, Roy took them upstairs where their belongings had already been brought by some of his more industrious siblings. He let them sort themselves out and returned to Alphonse's room. He wasn't tremendously surprised to see Alphonse sitting on the bed with a pile of hangers as he emptied the suitcase. Roy took the shirts Alphonse had already hung and put them in the closet.

“When you called me about this venture, you didn't mention you broke your leg.”

“Ed was in the room. He feels guilty about it,” came the surprising reply. Roy turned to the young man, eyebrows raised. Alphonse shrugged. “We were goofing around and I fell off the porch. Granny said it was only a matter of time any how. My bone density is poor from being...” His face paled a bit. “Over there.”

Roy nodded. “That's too bad. Is there a cure for that?”

“Exercise, which is hard to get with Ed trying to baby me.”

Roy snorted. “I can't imagine that.” He took the next shirt from Alphonse. Just how many did the boy have? Why wasn't he more surprised that Alphonse would be a clotheshorse, as if he had any room to talk? “I mean he's always been very protective of you, but he doesn't seem like the type to cater to anyone.”

“Probably only because he knocked me off the porch. So, this set of books I heard about,” Alphonse changed the subject.

Roy sat on the opposite side of the bed. “Yes, I'm very curious. A set of books from Xing, here in Central?”

Alphonse nodded. “Mei said they comprise of a set of Xingese alkahestry tomes and an accompanying set of translations done by the Great Sage of the West. She said he brought them back here and rumors have it, they ended up in the possession of a collector of rare books. I guess that's better than the Library because they'd be gone otherwise.” His gold eyes lit up. “Can you believe it? A set of books translated by my father who knows how many centuries ago. Well, I guess the Xingese know, but you know what I mean.

“I still find it fascinating about your father.” Back when his sight was still gone and his hands inflamed and excruciatingly painful, Roy had opted to sit with Alphonse in his hospital room. The young man had readily shared his father's story. “How did you even find out about this collector?”

“Brother and I decided that we wanted to continue studying alchemy and alkahestry even if he couldn't do it any more. Mei mentioned this collector to me. I think she wanted the books back for herself, but when she realized that the Sage was Hohenheim she thought I should have them. It would mean a lot to me to have something of Father's.”

“Yes, I suppose you did torch everything else.”

“Not everything.” Al leaned toward Roy conspiratorially. “I saved a few of his journals and hid them in Granny's attic. I haven't been back up there to get them. Ed doesn't know yet. I was planning to surprise him on his birthday with them.”

“He'd like that. I'll be glad to help you get these journals back. Of course none of us might be able to read them. The language would be archaic,” Roy said.

“I know, but between the three of us we should be able to make some headway. Can you read the Xingese? It occurs to me that Dad's translation might even be in Xerxerian which is a dead language.”

“Ishvalan is derived from it and I might be able to help. Hawkeye's father had some Xerxerian texts. He claims part of Ishbalan heritage went back to that dynasty. I had to learn to read some of it.”

“I didn't know that. You'll be really helpful then. I figured you might be interested. You've helped us before after all, even though I was never really sure why you did that unless Ed was right.”

“That I did it just because I wanted his power?” Roy smirked and Al rolled his eyes.

“You heard him say that?”

“He said it to my face more than once in briefings. I won't lie to you. He's not wrong. I'd be a fool to pass up on that power,” Roy admitted, not feeling the least bit ashamed of that.

Al scowled. “But it's more than that. You could have gotten in trouble covering up what we did.”

“A whole lot of it, you better believe it. But I felt sorry for you and I did understand why you did what you did.”

“How could you?”

The sound of Ed's voice dragged both of their attention to the door. Winry was already inside the room and Ed leaned on the door frame, as if daring Roy to answer.

“My aunt raised me, Edward. My parents were murdered when I was four. There is an inherent danger to the family business. I do understand the urge to want to have your family back at any cost. But you two and Winry have it worse. You were old enough to remember your parents. I have only vague memories of my own. I have always lived with my aunt and her girls as far as my memories are concerned.”

Ed's face softened a bit. “I didn't know what.”

“I'm sorry, sir,” Alphonse added.

“Thank you, it was all long ago.”

“You don't have to tell us that. We know you're old,” Ed replied.

Roy's shoulders sagged. “I'm never the right age. Only a teenager like you could think I'm old. Everyone else is screaming I’m too young to be promoted to general.”

“Wait? They're promoting you? For what? Everything I did on the Promised Day?” Ed huffed, glaring at Roy.

“Brother, we would never have won without Roy and his men and you know it. He got all his men and General Armstrongs on our side, not to mention General Grumman.”

“My aunt helped with all of that, too,” Roy said.

“She's a spy isn't she?” Alphonse asked.

“After a fashion, yes. She prefers information broker. My father was like Hughes, in information. Hmm, never thought about it before, but he'd have been the same age as Maes when he died.” Roy frowned, feeling that helpless rage boiling up in him. He still should have killed Envy himself. It wasn't crossing a line no matter what anyone said. “I was only a few months older than Elicia when I lost my dad.”

“That's very sad,” Winry said.

“And you should know, having lost yours, too. Well, regardless of what you think about my promotion, Edward, you're invited to the party my friends are throwing me.”

“Didn't know you had any friends outside of Hughes and he said you were a potty-mouthed bastard.”

“I think he might have been talking about you both, Brother,” Alphonse put in, eyeing his elder sibling.

“No doubt and he wasn't wrong and I have friends. This is why I asked you to pack a set of dress clothes,” Roy said.

“Alphonse brought enough for me and him.” Ed rolled his eyes, taking the pants Alphonse had put on hangers and put them in the closet. “And I said you didn't need to help Al.”

“It was no big deal and Alphonse did not bring anything for you, Edward. His clothing all has style and flare, something you do not possess,” Roy said. Al beamed, Ed glowered and Winry just shook her head.

“Bite me, jackass. Oh hey, that'll work. General Jackass, it's almost alliterative.” Ed flashed his signature huge, scary smile.

“Oh Ed,” Winry sighed.

"It's all right. It's exactly what I expect of Edward." Roy waved her off.

Winry's eyes narrowed as she turned on Edward and Roy tried not to smile. He knew exactly who wore the pants in this relationship.

"What we need is a little help with the collector, Roy," Al said. "He didn't seem too excited about letting us see the book."

"Ah, I can see what I can do," he replied, thinking more along the lines of what his aunt's influence and reach could do for them. "What's his name?"

"Walter Tarr," Ed said. "Mean anything to you."

"No, but I'll see what I can do. I'll let you guys get settled. I'll be downstairs for a while if you need anything." Roy got up then paused. "Oh, you may see Hawkeye around here. Please keep it to yourself."

"Why would she be here?" Ed asked and Roy gave him a look. Ed flushed. "Oh, here I was hoping she had better taste."

"Edward," Winry hissed, elbowing him. "We won't tell anyone, sir."

"Yeah, we actually like Hawkeye. We wouldn't want her in trouble," Edward added.

"Glad to hear it." Roy headed for the door, already mulling over the possibilities of these new alchemy books. He could look them over, still have time to be with Riza and put in a few hours at work. He'd be busy enough but not so busy that he'd waste his time with Riza by reading alchemy tomes. Okay, who was he kidding? He'd get caught up in the alchemy and she'd be knocking his head against the wall. He'd have to remember to bring an alarm clock or something to help monitor the time in the loudest most obnoxious way. That in mind, Roy headed to talk to Aunt Chris. If this Tarr fellow was wealthy enough to collect rare books, she might know who he was and what his weaknesses were. It was a place to start at any rate.

Chapter Three

"Are they settled?" Riza asked, peering into his aunt's office. She had stopped off at her apartment to change out her uniform for a soft green dress that reminded Roy of the grass around the cottage they had shared.

Chris beckoned her in. "You might recognize the name," his aunt said, severely lacking any segue into the topic of conversation.

"They're upstairs. Ed refuses to settle," Roy replied. "And she means Walter Tarr. He's the book collector who has the alchemy texts Alphonse wants, but I know your father never mentioned him."

Riza gave him the look that said he was such an idiot. "They both knew Mrs. Jeter." Riza sat in one of the madam's leather chairs.

Roy shot her a perplexed look. Mrs. Jeter? The name sounded vaguely familiar. "Who?"

"Jeter, the bookseller. She had an arrangement with Father to pull anything that remotely looked like alchemy or Aerugian poetry," Riza said, pouring herself a glass of applejack from the crystal decanter Chris had on her desk. She swirled the golden liquor in her glass before taking a sip.

Roy stared at her as if she'd suddenly grown a third eye. He didn’t know what shocked him more; that he had never known this, or that his Master had collected poetry.

"Told you she'd know." Chris sat back, her lips pulling into a smirk around her cigarette holder.

"Poetry?"

"Mom loved it." Riza shrugged. "I'm not sure that Mr. Tarr would remember me."

"It's better than nothing. Alphonse said that the man was reluctant to let them see the alchemy tomes. Do you think you could give the man a call? Maybe he'll do it for old time's sake," Roy said.

Riza wrinkled her nose, a dubious expression veiling her face. "I suppose it couldn't hurt."

"If it doesn't work, then I'll send on of the girls to sniff around." Chris sent a cloud of smoke skywards.

"Thanks, Auntie. It's a good start. I don't want to disappoint Alphonse."

"Not to mention you can't wait to look at a new alchemy book." Riza rolled her eyes.

Chris snorted, smoke billowing out of her nostrils. "It's always that way with him."

“I think it’s all the same for every alchemist. I have no doubt Edward and Alphonse are upstairs salivating over the books while Winry is sitting there giving them the stink eye,” Riza replied, a small smile tugging the corners of her mouth up.

“And on that thinly veiled insult, I have things planned for this evening. If you’d like to come with me, m’lady,” Roy said, bowing his head to Riza.

“Are you living in a fairy tale tonight, my prince?” Riza’s grin broadened.

“With another princess if this one doesn’t work out and appreciate my flare.” Roy smirked.

“He’s touchy. Good luck to you.” Chris laughed.

“She’s known me most of my life. She knows what she’s getting.” Roy shrugged. “Edward thinks Riza is out of her mind.”

“He finally figured us out?”

“I told them to ignore the fact that you may be here. It was a clue.” Roy got up, extending a hand to her.

Laughing, Riza took it. “I’ll confess, you have me interested, prince.”

“If you keep calling him that, it’ll go to his head,” Chris warned.

“What doesn’t?” Riza wanted to know.

“Seriously, I could throw a stick in here and hit a woman who wouldn’t tease me so much.”

“Not in this bar.” Chris laughed harder.

“I better go with him now, Madam, before he digs the hole any deeper.” Riza joined arms with him.

“That’s for the best,” his aunt agreed.

Roy huffed at them before leading Riza to the elevator. He thought it was one of the finest aspects of his aunt’s newest place. Their brass doors decorated every floor and were beautiful, decorated with filigreed ivy and roses. Chris had them so polished, they could blind a person at midday.

“So what do you have planned?” Riza leaned into his touch as the elevator headed up.

“Patience.” Roy grinned at her and she hip bumped him.

The elevator stopped earlier than expected. The doors slid back to reveal Alphonse, waiting there on his crutches.

“Oh, I pushed the wrong button. I wanted to go down.” He offered up a lopsided grin.

“Escaping?” Roy asked.

Alphonse bobbed his head. “I had to. Ed and Winry are bickering over…well, I can’t figure out what. I think over me because I wanted to go downstairs. Ed said no. Winry said why not and I figured this would be the best way to handle it.”

“Come for the ride. It’ll just confuse Edward if he stops arguing long enough to notice you’re gone.” Roy stepped back after pushing the first floor button.

Alphonse hobbled in. “Thanks.” His eyes shifted to Riza as if he was wondering if he were interrupting something.

“When you get downstairs, ask for Vanessa and Lilirose. Vanessa will take good care of you and I think you’ll like Lilirose. She’s just a few years older than you,” Roy said.

Al’s eyes sparkled. “Really? I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

“Tell them to set you up with a meal. Just keep in mind, there’s a fine point between looking like a poor injured boy who needs pampering and looking needy.”

Al blushed. “I wasn’t planning on doing that,” he protested as the elevator ground to a halt.

Roy clamped a hand on Al’s shoulder. “You should. Pampering can be fun.”

“Roy, don’t warp the boy. Alphonse is a gentleman,” Riza said, slapping his back. “Don’t turn him into you.”

“Why not?” The doors slid open. “He’ll have fun. Seriously, Alphonse, talk to Vanessa and Lilirose.”

“I’ll do that.”

Roy led Riza out, not feeling at all bad that he tried to guide Alphonse into a little fun. He pushed the injured young man out of mind as he walked down the short hall to one of the two penthouse suites. Al could take care of himself. Roy unlocked the door, almost holding his breath. He hoped Riza liked the grand gesture. He had set it all up just before going to his aunt’s office.

The lights in the suite were down low and the phonograph set up to repeat the album of one of Riza’s favorite composers. She wasn’t into flowers all that much but, oddly, he was. His aunt’s influence, no doubt. Several arrangements of roses – his favorite – and other blossoms dotted the room. On the dining room table were domed plates and tureens along with a bottle of wine that he had opened to breathe.

“I saw no reason our time at the cottage had to end now that we’re here. So, do you remember Quinn’s?”

“How could I forget?” Riza went over, running a hand over one silver dome. “Is this really from Quinn’s?”

“I hope I remembered your favorites.”

“I have no doubts.” She lifted the lid off the tureen, her eyes lighting up. “Their beer and cheese soup! That’s all you had to do to get right.”

“So, I shall go get the play box out right now?”

“Dinner first, sir. I’m predicting that our three young guests might come calling, especially if Alphonse doesn’t find Lilirose.”

“Or worse, if he does find her and Edward finds Alphonse with her on his lap. Edward will be knocking our door down to yell at me for corrupting his brother.” Roy snorted.

“I have a gun.” Riza smiled.

“That’s my girl.” Roy pulled her close, kissing her.

“So fancy dinner, a little dancing,” she pointed to the phonograph, “and then more dancing.”

He beamed. “All night long was my plan.”

Riza took his hand. “I trust you to be as good as your plan.”

Roy smirked. “I usually am.”


on to chapter four