Archive of Our Own

Roy woke up with a groan, his temples pounding. Perhaps he had indulged a little too much at the awards ceremony last night, but one of his students had won the top award, and they’d had to celebrate.

The past few years at East City University had been a dream come true. While he was sad to leave the high school, he knew that, ultimately, it was the right decision. After all, would he have had Edward Elric in class again and helped him win a full ride to a doctoral program if he’d stayed? No, moving to the university level was the right choice. Riza had been right—he could help just as much here.

At the thought of Riza, he turned his head to find her fast asleep at his side, her blonde hair a mess from the activities they’d gotten up to when they’d returned last night. She was peaceful in sleep, her face relaxed and mouth slightly open, light snores escaping. She’d been so embarrassed when he’d told her about the snoring, but he’d assured her he thought it was cute. Adorable, really.

Roy reached over, stroking her hair out of her face, but she didn’t move, completely passed out. She had had several glasses of wine last night, and it had been a while since she’d drank. He chuckled to himself, hoping a hangover wouldn’t hit her too hard. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and then forced himself out of bed. It was Thursday, and he had a weekly faculty meeting to attend, unfortunately.

Thursdays would be Roy’s favorite day of the week, seeing as he didn’t have any classes, if it weren’t for those weekly meetings. They were dull, and he’d actually fallen asleep once or twice. Luckily, the head of the department hadn’t noticed, but the colleagues who woke him up had teased him relentlessly about it until they’d done it themselves. They’d then agreed that the two were even.

Roy went into the master bathroom and stepped into the shower, hoping the steam would cure some of his headache. He washed quickly and stepped out, drying himself off. He went about his business as quietly as possible, so as not to wake Riza, and by the time he stepped out of the closet, fully dressed, it was almost seven-thirty, giving him enough time to stop at Starbucks before heading to the meeting.

Roy went to the bed once more, tracing his fingers along Riza’s cheek. Her eyelids fluttered, but she didn’t wake, so he simply pressed another kiss to her forehead and whispered a good morning that she didn’t hear.

Roy walked through their house, into the kitchen and the side door that lead into the garage. He got into his car and opened the garage door, pulling out and onto the street. He drove quickly, stopping at Starbucks for a black coffee, and then made his way to East City University’s science building. He parked in the faculty parking lot and made his way into the building, seven minutes to spare. He was getting more and more punctual.

Finally, he arrived in the meeting room and found his seat, sipping at his coffee. Several other professors were already there, but they were all absorbed in their own work or too tired, or hungover, like him to engage. The awards ceremony last night for the science department had turned into quite the rager, as it always did. Free alcohol turned even the most sane people a little crazy.

The head of the department entered the room at eight o’clock sharp. He started his spiel, talking about the end of the year. It was finals week, and final grades were due next Tuesday by midnight. Roy did his best to listen, but the vibration of his phone in his pocket distracted him.

He pulled his phone out and looked at it under the table. It was Riza.

You left without waking me?

Riza wasn’t one for emojis, but if she was, Roy was sure she would’ve put a pouting face. He smirked a little too himself and typed a response.

Funny.

Are you still going to the store after your meeting, or is YOUR hangover too much?

Can you add avocados? We’re out.

No doubt.

I’ll let you get back to your meeting. Don’t fall asleep.

I love you, too.

“Professor Mustang.” The department head’s voice was sharp. “Is there something more pressing that needs your attention?”

“Sorry, sir, my wife needed something,” Roy said, wincing a little. He felt like he was the student whenever the department head used that tone. “It’s under control.”

The department head gave a short nod and continued lecturing about this or that. Roy wasn’t paying attention, and he didn’t plan to.

Finally, after an hour and a half, the meeting was over, and Roy was free for the day. He hurried to his car and started it up, heading for the grocery store that was halfway between the university and their house. The sooner he finished the shopping, the sooner he could get home.

Roy pulled into the grocery store parking lot and searched for a cart. He found one easily and then began his shopping. He had a method of doing it, which is why Riza typically foisted it off on him. She claimed it was maddening to shop with him.

He started from the back and worked his way up front. He grabbed milk and eggs, some shredded mozzarella for spaghetti that night, and yogurt. As he walked through the store, the cart’s contents grew. Popcorn, pretzels, and granola bars; fruit snacks, applesauce packets, and peanut butter. He got a loaf of bread and a thing of buns for hamburgers. He reached the front of the store where all of the produce was and got to work. He picked up peaches, Riza’s favorite, as a surprise and the requested avocados. He got tomatoes and grapes and lettuce. He went to the deli counter and got half a pound of sliced ham.

As he finished his shopping and made his way to the checkout, Roy thought about how domestic it was and how much he loved it. He’d always known he was a family man, but it wasn’t until he met Riza that he thought he might actually have a shot at it.

Serena, his ex-girlfriend, the woman he dated for two years before he and Riza got together, had been nice. And he’d loved her. But he hadn’t loved her the way he loved Riza. When he met his wife, things had fallen into place for him, like a puzzle you thought was finished but found the missing piece to. He’d still been with Serena at that time, and he’d pushed his feelings for Riza to the wayside, convinced it was just a little infatuation because he loved Serena. But she caught on and broke up with him, admitting that she’d fallen out of love as well in the recent months. It had hurt, but he’d had Riza nearby, soothing every ailment like a balm with just her presence. He didn’t need anything but to be near her.

Roy checked out with his groceries and took the cart to his car, switching the plastic bags to the trunk. He’d forgotten the reusable bags, something Riza was sure to comment on. She was trying to be more sustainable, insisting that even the small things they did was working towards a better future. Roy knew that, as a man of science, he should be more conscientious, but he was forgetful.

Finally, groceries loaded up, Roy got into the car and headed home. It was a short drive, only ten minutes, but it seemed to take a lifetime. That drive home always did, when he had people he wanted desperately to see. He reached their cul-de-sac and pulled into the driveway, opening the garage door to drive in. He got out of the car, popping the trunk to get the groceries, but those could wait. First, he had someone to see.

“I’m home!” Roy called as he walked inside. Riza was in the kitchen, at the sink, but she turned around when she heard him come in, their daughter in her arms.

“Look who it is!” she cooed to Maisie, only nine months old but already so observant. Maisie grinned at her father and reached out her arms. He eagerly scooped her up, dropping kisses on her cheeks.

“Were you good for the Madame, Maisie?” he asked.

“Chris said she was very good,” Riza told him. “Apparently, she slept through the night, but she did wake up at five.”

“Early riser, huh?” Roy bounced Maisie on his hip, causing her to giggle. “You take after your mother.” And she did, at least in her facial features. She had Roy’s dark hair and slanted eyes, but she had Riza’s eye color, the shape of her nose, the curve of her mouth. Maisie was a perfect amalgamation of the two of them, and she took Roy’s breath away every time he saw her.

He thought he’d known love when he had Riza, but it was nothing compared to when his daughter was born.

“Chris also told us that we should utilize her babysitting skills more,” Riza added, breaking into Roy’s thoughts. “Something about giving her another grandchild?” She smirked a little, though a light blush colored her cheeks.

Roy let out a laugh. “Who knew the Madame would be such a softie for children?”

“I figured you of all people would.” Riza raised an eyebrow. “She did take you in.”

“Right, right.” Roy waggled his own brows. “And what do you think of giving Maisie a little sibling?”

“I think we should wait until she’s older,” Riza said, hitting him on the shoulder. “Plan it so they’re two years apart.”

Roy faltered. “You’ve really thought about this?”

Riza blushed and shrugged, not saying anything. She headed out to the garage to start getting the groceries, and Roy hurried to set Maisie down in her high chair to help.

“Daddy will be right back,” he told her, kissing her nose. She giggled.

Roy and Riza made short work of bringing the groceries in, and then they began to unload them, moving around the kitchen and each other with ease.

“Principal Bradley called me today,” Riza mentioned. “Asked if I was still planning on coming back next year.”

“And?”

“I said yes, of course. I just wanted this year with Maisie, but I miss teaching. We’ll have to find a good daycare, though. I don’t want to send her just anywhere,” Riza told him.

“We should start looking now, then,” Roy said. “They can be competitive. Remember the trouble Maes had with Elycia.”

“Maybe we should have already been looking.” Riza worried at her lip. Roy was at her side in an instant, pulling her lip down with his thumb.

“Hey, there’s nothing to worry about,” he told her. “We’ve got this. And if worse comes to worse, I’m sure Chris would help out. And Vanessa.”

Riza snorted. “And Inez and Hilary and Rachel and—”

“I have a lot of sisters, I get it,” Roy said, raising his hands in defense.

“Where does Elycia go? She’d probably love having Maisie around,” Riza said thoughtfully.

“I’ll ask,” Roy said. He shelved the last food item as Riza pulled out an avocado and a knife, cutting it up to hand over to Maisie in her high chair. She squealed at the sight, immediately smashing it down on her tray, the green insides smushing through her little fingers. Roy hurried to put a bib on her, then stepped back, watching his daughter play with her food.

He wrapped an arm around Riza and leaned down to kiss the crown of her head.

“I love you,” he said softly.

Riza looked up at him, smiling. “I love you, too.”

“I hate leaving you,” he said, “both of you.”

“You’re so ridiculous,” she told him, laughing a little. “It’s only for a few hours.”

Roy shrugged, but Riza dragged his chin down so he would look in her eyes, reaching up to kiss him softly.

“Besides,” she said, "you always come back.”