So, welcome to my first attempt a writing a story. I want to give a big thanks to both Shaded122 & TigerCritic, who both not only beta'd this story, but also pushed me to actually write to begin with.
Finally, I also want to give a thank you to TeacherYumi which from whom I have learned so much.
But, without further ado, onto the story.

A letter with no return address

Weiss Schnee, head of the SDC, was sitting in her office. It had been several years since her father had stepped down as CEO, and even longer since the fall of Beacon. While Weiss did play her part in the reclamation of Vale, as well of in the defeat of Salem, she never returned to finish her education as a huntress. While she to this day still missed her team, and even more their dolt of a leader, Weiss could not ignore the things she had seen during the war. She knew while as a huntress, she might be able to fight the grimm, as the head of the SDC she might just stand a chance of fighting the beast that was the hatred between the humans and the faunus.

When she had shared her decision with her team, she was not surprised to find Blake in complete support, even offering her help in bridging the divide between the two races, but Yang, Blake's girlfriend at the time -and now wife, offering the same. Yang & Blake had during the war become an example of not only what good cooperation between the two races could bring, but also of love between the two races. While quite a few people definitely did look down upon the idea, no one dared to say that to the two huntress'.

What however had surprised Weiss, was Ruby's reaction. She had thought that as her partner, Ruby would be the most supportive of them all, but instead Ruby's reaction had seemed anything but. Yes, Ruby had wished her the best of luck in her endeavor (Who would have thought that Dolt knew words like that?), but there had been none of the usual excitement in her voice, and Ruby had equally refused to meet her eyes.
What Weiss however had not expected was that this would be the last she got to speak to Ruby. Ruby had returned to beacon to finish her huntress training together with Yang, Blake and the only surviving member of team JNPR, Ren, joining team RWBY in her stead.

Weiss had been there in the auditorium when her team had graduated at the very top of their year. She had wanted to congratulate them all, as well as have another chance to speak to Ruby, however as she went to meet up with the graduates, the only sign of Ruby having ever been there was the smell of roses and a few petals on the floor. She had asked Blake & Yang about it, who both had simply given her a sad look and explained that Ruby had a mission on menagerie she had to rush off to. This was the last time she had seen Ruby in person, with Ruby's constant missions even keeping her away from the wedding between Blake & Yang.

The only way Weiss had to keep track of her old partner was the completed mission reports Ruby would turn in every once in a while, the few times she would appear in various news media, and some sparse updates from Blake & Yang. While Ruby might not be her partner anymore, Weiss still cared for the Scythe wielder greatly, as she know without Ruby she would never have had the strength to get to where she was to day. It had however now been months since anyone had heard from the Rose, and it worried Weiss greatly. While it wasn't uncommon for Ruby to fall of the map, it would usually never last more than a month before she at least would check in with sister Yang, but at this point it had been more than 3 months since even Yang had heard from her younger sister.

Weiss had since then hired an investigator to try and track down the whereabouts of the Rose, and it's in the middle of reading one such report we currently find Weiss, as suddenly the buzzer of the intercom was heard.

"Miss Schnee, there is a Mr. Qrow here to see you", the voice of her secretary sounded.

'Qrow.. Why would Ruby's uncle be here to see her?'

"Send him in, please" Weiss responded to her secretary, and soon after the sound of the electronic lock was heard.

While Weiss' sister Winter & Qrow had always been at odds, Weiss had grown a sense of familiarity with the man, thanks most of all to his niece, and while she never applauded his alcohol habits, they would usually greet each other with a smile.

Weiss shock was therefore complete as Qrow walked through the door, not only very much sober, but also with an angry scowl on his face. The man walked straight towards her desk, constantly keeping his eyes straight on her, and for a second Weiss thought the man was about to attack her as he started reaching around his back. What Qrow however instead pulled out was a medium sized parcel, as well as a letter go with it. Weiss would have breathed a sigh of relief if not the still scowl on the man's face, which she noticed as he got closer seemed to be borne more out of pain than actual anger.

As Qrow finally made it to the desk, he simply looked her in the eyes, an almost apologetic look coming to his face, as he handed her the letter, left the parcel on her desk, and turned to leave without a single word. It took almost a minute for Weiss to compose herself, an exceedingly long time for the normally composed CEO, as she almost did not dare to even look at the letter. As she however started to breathe in to calm herself, a scent so familiar and yet one she hadn't smelled in ages, hit her nostrils… Roses…

As Weiss looked down upon the letter, there was no doubt who it was from. Equally as she could never mistake that scent for anyone else, Ruby's handwriting had equally become very familiar to her during their first year at Beacon where she would help Ruby study. On the envelope was written 'To the best partner I'll ever have', a title that might have made the woman smile, if not because how ominous the entire situation felt to her.

With bathed breathing and now shaking hands, the white haired woman, opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Weiss

Did I ever tell you that you were my first friend too? I remember you telling me about how cold it was growing up in Schnee Manor. How people were only interested in you because of your surname. Well for me it began with my choice to isolate myself after my mother's death. I became very dependent on Yang, and as such did not really open up to other people. When I finally however outgrew this, people chose to avoid me instead because I was different. I mean, here was this little girl running around in her deceased mother's cloak and wielding a scythe more than twice her height. It really didn't help that I was more skilled at combat either, as it for a lot of them seemed more embarrassing to be beat by the 'weirdo'.

When I got accepted into Beacon, I honestly was excited simply by the prospect of having a new chance to start over. To prove that I deserved my place at beacon, and that I was worth being friends with.
I recall the 'explosive' start we had, both literally and figuratively, and how even after you had scolded me, I had still in my head decided I was going to somehow prove to you how 'awesome' I was. As such when our eyes met during initiation, I felt as if fate was giving me another chance, and even with our conflicts, I couldn't have been happier. I just knew I had to make you my friend.

I still can also clearly remember our argument during our first year, about my lack of leadership skills, but even more I remember you waking me up that night and telling me 'So I just want you to know that I will be the best teammate you've ever had'. I remember the warm feeling I felt inside my chest, and swearing to myself that I would be the same for you.

I remember the first time meeting team SSSN, your infatuation with Neptune, and even more the dance. You looked so beautiful that night, and I remember thinking that Neptune must have been the biggest idiot in the world for not going with you. I also remember wishing I had asked you to dance with me instead…

I obviously recall the fall of Beacon, an experience I could never forget even if I have tried.
I remember my relief at seeing you were alright, us fighting through to the tower and I recall seeing Pyrrha die. I remember everything going a pure white as my powers triggered, but I also remember my last thought before I blacked out being 'I hope Weiss will be alright'.

I can in my head still hear the song you sang in performance after the fall, and just how hauntingly beautiful it was. I knew then you hadn't given up, and that I had to come find you. As such I also fondly remember finally arriving at Schnee Manor and having to sneak past the guards as Jacques wouldn't allow me in to see you. Even more I remember getting to hug and hold you, as I finally made it to your room. It felt like a part of myself that I had been missing finally was back with me.

I remember the challenges we went through to first of all reclaim vale, but furthermore to finally bring down Salem.
I am certain you however recall these times as well as I do, remember the losses suffered, the pain, and the betrayal of some of the people closest to us. It's a time I avoid thinking about if I have the choice. What I however also recall, and this time sadly far from fondly, is having to say goodbye and return to Beacon without you.

I to this day can't blame you for your decision, as I know of all the good you have done since that time, but I also knew that when you made this decision, you went on a path where I couldn't follow.

I was back then, and will always be just a simple huntress. I can fight grimm with the best of them, but when it came to the things you had to do, I knew I couldn't be of help, and that if I tried I would only become a hindrance. So while I might back then have said that I would see you soon again, I knew that it was actually goodbye.

So, I went back to beacon, deciding that if you were going to make the world a better place with your work at the SDC, I would become the best huntress I possibly could. I was going to fight the evil of the world my way, just as you were going to do it yours.
As you probably know, I graduated top of my class, but still, while it should have felt as an accomplishment, all I recall is feeling empty inside, as you were missing there next to me.

I remember not as much seeing but simply feeling your presence at the graduation party, and I remember running as I could hear your stilettos coming nearer. I knew that if I saw you, I would have asked you either to 'come back to me', or asked you to allow me to join you at the SDC. I wanted to be with my partner again, as I just felt incomplete without you, but I also knew that it would stop you from accomplishing the good you could do, something I would never allow to happen.

Still, as time went on, the feeling of being incomplete never went away, no matter how many missions I completed, how many grimm I killed or how many people I helped, it still couldn't fill the void. It was about a year after I graduated when I finally realized why. I was reading the wedding invitation sent to me from Yang & Blake, when I couldn't help but picture you in a wedding dress, but more importantly, with myself standing next to you. I was, probably had been since those first days at Beacon, and still am to this point, irrevocably in love with you.

It makes so much sense to me as I look back on it now. The feeling in my chest whenever I looked at you. The heat that would spread all throughout my body when we hugged, and the need to break eye contact whenever I looked at you, because I was certain I was blushing. Even more there was the heartbreak when we were apart, and how much it even hurts now that you're not here with me.

But what could I do? I know you cared for me greatly as a partner, and we probably were closer to each other than anyone else... but if you could ever see me as more? I have my doubts. Finally, even if I had somehow had been lucky enough to have you return my feelings, I knew neither of us could, or perhaps rather should, act on them. You still had a job to do with the SDC, and in between the trouble it would cause for your family being together not only with a commoner, but a girl nonetheless, it would only make your work that much harder.

I have however still, time and time again, wanted to be selfish & ask you nonetheless. To at least have an answer if nothing else. However again, I know by now that is not an option either.

I do have one last, perhaps selfish, request. Ever since I said goodbye to you all those years ago, my biggest regret has not been able to get to be near you. So, if you to some extent feel the same, no matter if as a friend or more, I ask you to please keep what I sent you close to yourself and take very well care of it.
As such, even if I am meant to never be close to you again, at least part of me will be.

I love you Weiss, and will keep doing so with my last breath and even after.

Your dolt,
Ruby Rose.

Weiss' hands were shaky, her breath unsteady and her eyes unfocused as she put the letter down. She honestly had no idea how to process what she had just read, she only knew that her heart hurt, and that tears were slowly starting to fall from her eyes.
She followed the tears with her eyes, and just as the tears, her sight landed on the parcel she had first seen Qrow leave, but since had completely forgotten about until the last few lines of Ruby's letter.

She as carefully as she could manage, with her still shaking hands, began to open the parcel. She soon was met again with the familiar scent of roses, but also with a very familiar red colour. Weiss' mind for a while completely refused to process what it was seeing, but as she finally managed to opened the parcel and pull out the content, it was indeed Ruby's cloak.
The same red cloak Ruby had gotten from her mother so many years ago. The same cloak that Ruby never went without…

As that thought registered in her mind, she dropped the cloak as she rushed back to the report she had just started reading when suddenly Qrow arrived. She raced through the report, scanning over the words frantically as her mind screamed out. It couldn't be true, it had to be a joke or something. So she held to that belief, until a certain line appeared on the paper. She dropped the report, and soon that line was soaked through with tears as a heart wrenching wail was heard from the office of Weiss Schnee.

Ruby Rose has been declared killed in action on Sunday the 5th… Only 2 days earlier.

So yeah, as Yang would say, 'That's a thing'. I would say 'I'm sorry', but that would be a lie. Please do feel free to leave a review with your thoughts.