cornerofmadness

Title-less (because I’ll go into a longer story later)
Author – cornerofmadness
Disclaimer – not mine
Rating – pg-13
Timeline – future fic, several months after the end game, spoilers up to FMA 90
Pairing Roy/Riza and hints of Ed/Win
Summary – The icicle festival makes for a romantic setting
Author’s Note- written for

evil_little_dog's challenge. Warning, this is like honey and maple syrup all swirled into a massive sugar-coma sapfest. No, really. Here, have some insulin

“Yeah, that’s a bonfire, all right.” Gracia grinned over at Roy who eyed his creation with the pride and glee of a little boy with his favorite toy. The center of Central Park had been cleared for the annual bonfire. Later fireworks would snap over it. Now, the bright glow reflected on the snow and gave the ice rink a golden sheen.

“It’s for the Icicle Festival.” Roy gestured to the crowds in the park. “Had to make it a good show.” He pointedly ignored the twin eye rolls aimed at him from Gracia and Riza.

“I remember when you and Maes would build bonfires for fun. There were times I swore I was afraid you’d burn the house down.” A fond smile lit up Gracia’s face as Elicia tried to tug closer to the flames then flickered as her loss hit her anew.

Roy caught her up in a tight hug then kissed her cheek before ruffling Elicia’s hair.

“You can be a very sweet man,” Gracia said, tapping his chin. “Riza’s lucky.”

“Isn’t she though?” Roy beamed, pulling his lover close to him.

“Then he says stuff like that.” Riza nudged him. “What now, sir?”

“Well, I have to find you some hot tea as promised.” Roy heard a disparaging snort and added, “And I’d like to see how badly Ed is failing in the unknown-to-him area of romance.”

“I am not !” Ed shouted back from where he watched the fire. He wrapped his arm tighter around Winry. “Mind your own damn business.”

Winry elbowed him then nodded to Elicia. “Watch the language, Ed. Come on, we promised Al we’d go for a sleigh ride.”

“Great, open sleigh, freezing weather,” Ed grumbled, oblivious to Winry’s scathing look.

“Ah, such a romantic.” Roy snorted, his fingers toying with Riza’s scarf.

Ed let go of Winry, flailing. “You’re not half metal!”

“I’d tell you to keep an eye on your brother, at least he knows how to be romantic but I’m sure Winry has ideas for you all her own.” Roy smirked, catching his own elbow to the ribs from both Riza and Gracia.

“Die,” Ed volleyed back cheerfully as he led Winry off.

“You tease that boy mercilessly, Roy,” Gracia scolded, wagging a finger at him.

“Nothing he doesn’t deserve.” Roy grinned, far more proud of himself than repentant.

“Edward does his fair share,” Riza added.

“Sleds now, Mom?” Elicia begged.

Gracia nodded. “We can do that,” she said and let her daughter took her to the spotlight-illuminated hill.

“Tea, sir?” Riza asked.

Roy wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his well-bundled body. He nuzzled Riza’s neck, finding skin between collar and scarf, before lipping her earring-studded lobe. “You’ve resigned, Hawkeye. You have to stop calling me sir.”

She leaned into his touch. “And you’ll have to remember to use my first name.”

“Riza,” he whispered. He rested his chin on her shoulder, watching the flames dance. “Even after all we’ve done, I still love the smell of a clean, wood fire and watching the flames cavort.”

“You always have.” Riza looked into the flames, her body completely relaxed. “It is impressive.”

Roy guided her to a bench where they could watch the flames. “Before I find you tea, and maybe a sleigh ride of our own, I wanted to do this. It’s a pretty setting, don’t you think?”

“Roy?” Riza gave him a quizzical look.

“Beautiful fire, snow on the hills, starry, clear sky.” Roy dug into the inner pocket of his coat, pulling out a small, mother of pearl box. “We’ve waited so long and I don’t want to waste another moment.”

Riza started shaking, her eyes frozen on him. She started to say something but couldn’t.

Roy opened the box and lifted out a platinum band etched with dogwoods along the sides and studded with tiny glittering diamonds, notched ever so slightly to accommodate the wedding ring, a diamond set with four sapphires, making it into a star. “Riza, I have loved you practically from the first moment I stepped foot into your father’s house. You have already given me more than any man could ask for, things I wish you hadn’t had to do and I can’t promise the future will always be bright.” He paused, trying to catch the tears before they fell. Failing that, his voice broke as he added, “But I can promise I’ll always love you.”

Riza leaned in, catching a tear on her lips as she peeled off her glove and let him slip the rings onto her finger. “They’re so beautiful.”

“I was afraid you would think it too much…that you might say no.”

Riza pinched his side. “How could you ever think I’d say no?”

“Because I can be stupid sometimes.” Roy wiped his face with his hand then kissed her until they were breathless.

Riza tugged her glove over her rings. “So they won’t get lost but I will have to show everyone.”

“Absolutely…only when we tell Fullmetal, you can’t tell him I cried.” He couldn’t help the embarrassed look dancing across his face.

Riza laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Or Al. The romantic in him would understand but he’d tell Ed,” Roy continued. “Or Havoc…you can tell Armstrong.”

“He’d be disappointed if you didn’t cry.” Riza took his hand in hers. “No mention of tears.” She wiped her own eyes with her free hand. “And that goes for you, too.”

“But it’s okay if you cried,” Roy protested.

Riza just tugged him along. “No tears, just joy.” She brushed a kiss against his jaw. “If you’re done admiring your fire, I think you mentioned tea and sleigh rides.”

“So I did.” Roy slipped an arm around her. “Maybe a snowball fight.”

“Just remember Winry and I have much better aim than you boys,” Riza gave him fair warning.

Roy laughed. “I know, dear,” he said, leading her toward a tea stand, just hoping that when they did find their friends and tell them the news he wouldn’t start bawling like Armstrong again. Hell, even if he did, nothing would tarnish his joy.