In your place
Disclaimer: I still don't own RWBY.
"Gotcha!" Yang yelled as she grabbed a giggling Ruby and the two little girls fell to the ground.
"Hihihihi, that tickles, Yang," Ruby laughed as Yang hugged her.
"Ruby! Yang! Come on, it's time to go home!" A woman called to them. She had long red hair, silver eyes and wore a white cloak.
"Oh, but mom," Ruby complained.
"No buts, honey! Now come on!" The two girls begrudgingly walked over to her. She picked up Ruby, who waved Yang goodbye as she walked over to her parents. "Come on, honey. You'll see her soon enough."
"But we were having so much fun."
"Well, if you're having so much fun, why don't you just live her?"
"Can I?" Ruby asked enthusiastically.
Her mother just gave her an amused look. "You could. But you'd miss me so much that you'd come back home, crying." Ruby pouted and turned away. Her mother giggled and petted her head. "You're so cute."
Seeing the smile on her mother's face, Ruby couldn't help but smile back and hug her.
(**)
She felt cold. She still couldn't comprehend it. 'Your mother is dead.' She just felt numb. She barely registered the tears streaming down her face.
"Ruby?" She didn't react. "Ruby!" She felt two large hands grip her shoulders and looked up into the face of a man with blonde hair, a beard and blue eyes.
"Mr. Xiao Long?"
"Ruby, I'm...so sorry." She looked down. "You'll be living with us now." She nodded. He then stepped to the side to reveal Yang standing behind him.
"Ruby." She slowly walked towards her and took her hand. Ruby looked up at her, then, after a few moments, wrapped her arms around Yang's neck, dug her face into her shoulder and started crying heavily.
"Mom! No! Why? MOM!"
(**)
Ruby walked up to the grave with a bouquet of roses. She knelt down and set the bouquet on the grave. "Hey, mom. It's been a long time since I came here. A lot has happened since I entered Beacon." She smiled, but the smile slowly vanished. "When you died, it felt like I died as well. Colours seemed dull, food seemed tasteless. Living with Yang and her family made it better, but I still felt empty. You were always there. Always at my side. I won't lie. I took you for granted. But you were practically everything to me. When you were gone, I desperately searched for something to replace you. But during my time at Beacon, I realized nothing could take your place. I didn't need anything in your place. I just needed to accept the fact that you were gone. I met someone at Beacon, you know. She helped me. Everything I ever did was in an attempt to replace you, but since I met her, I've been thinking about you less and less. It scared me at first, but then I realized it was a good thing. She helped me let go. I wish you could've met her. I bet you would've liked her." She noticed a tear in the corner of her eye and wiped it away. "I'll always love you. But I have to move on." She gently ran her fingers across the gravestone. "Goodbye, mom." She got up and turned around to face Blake, who had accompanied her to the grave. She walked over and hugged her. "I'm glad you came."
Blake just nodded. She then stepped back and kissed her. "Feeling better?"
Ruby nodded with a smile. "Much. Let's go."
Blake nodded and put her arm around Ruby's shoulder as they walked away.