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“Ignorance is bliss, the less you know, the less you worry about.”
That’s what her mother-in-law had told her. She said it was practically the motto of military families. Ignorant of what their husbands, wives, children, did inside and outside of Amestris. Rosemary didn’t have that luxury.
She couldn’t afford it.
Not when she was married to a State Alchemist. Not when she was married to the Freezing Alchemist, Isaac McDougal. She remembered when she greeted him home from Ishval, she knew about a civil war, she expected the usual horrors of war and the military but not genocide.
Rosemary looked up, blinking. She remembered the day Issac returned for the Civil War, collapsed, clutching her apron as he begged for forgiveness.
Forgiveness from her.
“Isaac. Isaac, honey, w-what are you talking about?”
“I killed them, we all killed them, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Rosemary. Please forgive me.” He broke down in sobs.
Rosemary wiped her eyes, glancing at a photo of her and her husband. It was the day they got married, it was a simple ceremony. She was dressed in a simple white dress holding a bouquet of flowers and Isaac was dressed in his uniform. She was smiling, snow white hair and eyes full of life. Rosemary frowned, rubbing a strand of her hair.
Black and greasy.
Her mother-in-law begged her to dye her hair black the day after Isaac came home. Rosemary wiped her fingers on her apron.
She was half Ishalvan but not culturally or religious, however, she felt insulted on Ishvala's behalf.
Of course, her husband felt more grief and guilt than normal when he came home. Isaac didn't dare to look her in the eye.
“I killed your friends, your friends! You could have easily been there...I-I- ” Isaac choked on a sob, burying his face in her apron.
His grief and guilt turned to anger and mania. Rosemary sighed, every married couple had their arguments. It was their first fight. Isaac wouldn’t hit her, he was manic but not crazy. Not if he didn’t want to pick himself up from the floor.
It was after dinner, after his parents had left and she was almost done cleaning up. It was the calm before the storm. Hurricane Issac had yet to pass through.
“You’re Ishvalan! How could you fall in love with a piece of shit like me?”
Rosemary sighed, turning off the water, and drying off her hands on the hand towel.
“I thank you for waiting until your parents left. ”
She turned around to be met with a distraught Isaac. Hair in disarray, snot dripping from his nose and pupils unfocused. It was amazing how his mother, of people, didn’t catch her son's distress.
"Elizabeth wasn't the brightest," Rosemary mumbled. She would have to visit her in-laws soon.
“Isaac, we already discussed this. What you did in Ishval does not change my love for you.”
"Look me in the eye and say you love me. Look me in the fucking eye and say that. ”
Rosemary glared at him, before sighing and walking up to him.
“I’ll do you one better!”
“Wha-”
Rosemary grabbed a hold of Isaac’s face and kissed him on lips, Isaac’s hands landing on her hips. Rosemary didn’t miss the way Isaac gripped at her shirt, whatever water was soaked in her shirt was becoming steam.
Rosemary pulled away, a strand of saliva connecting their lips. Isaac looked dazed. Rosemary giggled, wiping her mouth with the back of her sleeve.
“As they say, actions speak louder than words,” Rosemary said with a grin.
Rosemary sighed, looking up to meet Isaac. Red eyes meeting stormy blue, Rosemary wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Now, can we put this stuff to rest? I know you’re going through...a lot but questioning my love for you isn’t going to help you or me. Remember our vows?”
Rosemary brushed a thumb over Isaac’s cheek. He leaned into her touch, light finally returning his eyes.
“To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death,” Isaac mumbled.
“I mean it. You know I’m a woman of my word, yes?”
"Yes, you are.” Isaac tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He grimaced.
"I know, you don't have to remind me," Rosemary said, taking his hand and wiping it on her apron.
Isaac kissed her forehead.
Rosemary smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
It was a bittersweet memory. All memories with Isaac were now bittersweet.