Joy & Sorrow (Part 7 - Parents)

Riza had lots of plan that evening. That was probably going to be the most important day of her life, after all, she was going to reveal to Oliver that she was his mother. She was prepared to apologize to him for hiding the fact. She was ready with all the possible question that her son was going to ask her after the revelation, because she already knew those questions. It was not surprising considering that she always went with Roy to meet Oliver, and Oliver always thought her only as the private assistant cum bodyguard of his father. And because Riza couldn't keep her motherly affection away from Oliver, Oliver used to tell everything to her without knowing that he was talking with his mother.

Roy was also going to ask Riza for marriage, which she could have never denied, now that Oliver knew the truth, and also because everything in Amestris was very stable. Grumman was Riza's grandfather, who also wanted Riza to get married to Roy, so the fraternization law was not a problem for Roy and Riza. Initially, Riza's relationship with Grumman was not good, as he never visited Riza's mother who was also his own daughter, when she was very ill. Grumman didn't even know that Riza had become a mother until she joined as the bodyguard of Roy at Eastern Command. So, to put it simply, he was a terrible person, who was always concerned about his job, and had the strong desire to become Fuehrer. But, later his relationship with Riza started to heal with the passage of time and when he continuously asked for forgiveness.

Everyone was happy as if they were in a dream, until that very day which shook each of their worlds. Someone murdered the only child of Roy and Riza, brutally and left his corpse in an alley like an animal. Riza was holding the half-burnt body of her son in that alley and crying madly. She was not Major Riza Hawkeye at that moment, she was a mother who loved her child more than her own life. On the other side, Roy was sitting on a bench outside that alley, mourning his son's death, but he always avoided showing his weakness in the public.

Roy was in deep thought while sitting on the bench. He didn't even notice that Fuehrer Grumman was there. He only got to know it when Grumman placed his hands on Roy's shoulder from behind and called him by his name, "Roy".

When Roy turned and saw Grumman, he stood up and saluted him. But, the spark from his face had long disappeared.

"Good evening Fuehrer… sorry to disappoint you but, I don't think your granddaughter will marry me even after I become the Fuehrer," Roy said with a sad smile.

"We can't change what has happened, son… you should go to Riza because she needs you the most at this moment, only you can relate to her pain the most," Grumman advised.

But, the last of Grumman's sentence, agitated Roy.

"How can you say that I can relate to her pain Fuehrer? I wasn't even there when she gave birth and nor do you. Even after being a General in the military, did you know that she had a child? You are as guilty as I am, and unfortunately, we were the only family she had," Roy stopped for a moment and took a deep breath, then continued in a calm voice and narrowed eyes, "Do you really think I or you can ever relate to her pain? Our son was the only spark of happiness in her life…My son wanted to know about his mother. Neither had he got the answer, nor did she get the pleasure of the one word she was dying to listen."

Grumman was speechless, he couldn't make any eye contact with Roy at that moment. Meanwhile, Roy walked passed him, into the alley with Falman and Breda. He saw Riza was still holding her dead child. He didn't want to interrupt, but if he wouldn't do so then she would have never left Oliver's body. So, he walked to Riza and placed his hand over her shoulder. Now that he could see her up close, he could see the level of distress she was at that moment. He could even see the fragments of burnt skin were stuck to her hands and uniform.

"You should let him go, Major. The doctors need to examine the body," He persuaded.

Roy tried many times, but Riza didn't listen to him. Finally, Roy had to use force to separate her from her dead son. Riza was so weakened that she couldn't even resist properly. She tried to shout but, she was too much exhausted to do so. When Roy took Riza's hands away from Oliver's body, Breda and Falman took the body inside a medical van and went to the hospital along with the driver. When Roy left his grip from Riza, she sat on the ground in that alley with her head down, and shedding the tears whatever was left in her eyes. In that area, only Roy's team was present except Breda and Falman, along with Grumman and his two bodyguards. There was silence in that alley but, only for a few moments.

"Every time I saw him, I only desired that, one time…just one time, if I could hear the word, Mom from his mouth for me. But, I gave up that desire because of you, and because I wanted him to be safe. I wanted him to live on happily even if something had happened to us… It brought me enough happiness when once in a while I saw his face," Riza sobbed.

Riza was looking toward the ground, but everyone present there knew whom she was talking to. Roy tried to speak, but he was interrupted. Riza looked at Roy with her tired eyes, and said, "Roy, I thought when you will become the Fuehrer, we can make this world a better place, and our son would be a part of that… but, it doesn't matter now." Her chin was trembling and the tears had removed what little makeup she had worn.

Roy had never seen her like that. In fact, no one present there had ever thought of watching Major Riza Hawkeye like that.

"I know you will never forgive me, but it's difficult to watch you like that… be my strength…like you always do…please," Roy requested desperately.

He lent a hand toward Riza to help her stand up. She looked at Roy's agonized eyes, and accepted his help after a few moments, to get up. She didn't even bother to wipe the few drops of tear left in her eyes. Even the fragments of burnt skin from her son's dead body were still stuck on her uniform. Both of them then went to the Fuehrer, who was sitting in his car.

"Fuehrer, do we have the permission to leave?" Roy asked with a weakened voice.

Grumman didn't look at them, just because he wanted to hide his emotions behind the big glasses he was wearing. "You can leave General. Make sure Major Hawkeye is okay, and take care of yourself," he replied.

Roy and Riza saluted Grumman and got inside their car. Roy first helped Riza to get inside the car through the front door, and he took the driver's seat. Meanwhile, watching their commanding officer getting inside the car without any bodyguard, Havoc and Fuery rushed to the car.

"Let me and Fuery accompany you, Chief," Havoc said.

"Not today Jean. Today I just want to be with her," Roy requested.

Havoc didn't argue with his superior and let him go without security. After some time, Roy stopped the car before Riza's apartment.

"We are at your home, Major," He said.

Riza's mind was still occupied. She didn't listen to Roy at first. So, Roy put his hand on her shoulder, and called her, "Major."

Riza looked at Roy with surprise, and responded with a, "Yes!"

"We are at your home," said Roy.

Riza thanked Roy through his rank, and she got out of the car and moved toward the apartment's main door only to find out that Roy was following her.

"You don't need to come, Sir, I will be alright," She said.

He looked into her tired eyes, and responded, "But, I won't be…I am not strong like you, Major," He smiled sadly.

After reaching her flat, she opened the door and both entered inside. On watching his master, Hayate ran round and round around Riza's legs, but she ignored him and entered straight to her bedroom, and sat on her bed's edge. Roy followed her to the bedroom and sat beside her. Hayate didn't bother his master or Roy and went to his regular position at the dining hall.

"It's hard to be a tough man all the time," Roy said.

"It's alright to cry sometime," Riza empathized.

Roy slept on the bed placing his head on Riza's lap. He let his long-held tears out, dropping on Riza's lap.

"Looks like I am failing to protect the people I love," He sobbed.