Weiss would have never. Not in a thousand years.

It was impossible.

If she did, that would have been the worst thing she could have done.

And she would know, she had to.

Blake had only confided in her best friend. Or, second best. You know how your second best friend is the one you can talk to about specific things? Well, this was very specific. Something she wouldn't let her best friend know, she wouldn't let Yang know if she could help it.

If Weiss had let it slip to Ruby, who now stood in a very unstill, very mobile manner, then who knows if Yang knew?

"Blake?" Her name broke through her thoughts, breaching her state of panic. She locked eyes with Ruby, who now looked at her with concern.

They were the only two in their room, Yang and Weiss off somewhere else. Yang probably in the gym, warming up or working out. Weiss, odds are she was either rooting around inside a teachers head for ways to exceed expectations, or was in the study hall, grooming her knowledge.

"Uh, sorry, what did you say?" Blake never had actually heard what Ruby had said, just processed a nervous Ruby that was standing in front of her and when to the worst possibility.

Ruby huffed a little, bashful, before toeing the ground then turned towards her bed. "Never mind, just forget it."

Blake blinked, her bow flicking over her ears. Her amber eyes widened before squinting. "Ruby Rose, are you crushing on somebody?"

There was no response, just a flash of red before her top bunk was suddenly very unsteady with the sudden weight that was applied to it. Silver eyes peeked out from under the covers, over the edge of the red bed sheet. "Maybe."

A grin wormed it way into Blake's heart and poker face. "Would you like to tell me who?"

Ruby groaned a long, somewhat pitiful groan, but otherwise teasing one. "Kiiindaaaaa." She rolled over, flipping the comforter off of her. "But only if-"

"If I don't tell him, on my honour Ruby, I will not tell."

A mumbled response that was so distorted came back, not even Blake's cat ears could understand. Ruby's silver gaze rotated back to meet Blake's.

"If you want to tell me, I have to understand what you say."

The silver eyes closed shut tight, before Ruby rubbed her hands down her face slowly. Splitting open her middle and ring finger, she looked through at Blake with one eye. "I said, it's not a he."

Oh. "Oh."

"...that's it?"

"Well...huh."

"You're oh so helpful."

"...Does that mean you're not gonna tell me who?"

"Tell you who what?" Weiss's higher tone voice cut between Ruby and Blake. Their leader's eyes split wide open, as she slowly turned back to lay down.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Just talking about who makes my favourite cookies."

Blake had picked up on the very obvious indication, a grin splitting very wide on her face. "Yes, I'm convinced it's Ren, but didn't you mention that you've had baking experience, Weiss?"

Weiss narrowed her eyes. "...Yes, I have."

Blake turned towards her bed where her book rested, where she had at some point discarded it to stand to talk with Ruby. "Settles it then, I'll go arrange for you and Ren to have a small bake off, to find out who can make the best batch of cookies." Blake picked up her book, heading towards the door. "Obviously there can only be one judge, there's only one person in this school credible enough with cookies to be given such a role."

Ruby sat up in her bed, looking much more alive, and much less concerned. "I look forward to seeing what skills you can bring to the table, Weiss."

"This is absurd, what, no, we don't have time for a cook off-"

"Bake off, Weiss."

"Bake off, whatever, I'm not doing it."

A knock sounded on the door. Blake opened it wide, exposing a Nora who held Ren from his waist, resting on her hip. She's carrying him around like a bag of flour. "Ren has accepted the terms!"

"Terms? What-"

"Good to hear, Nora. Weiss'll be there."

"Excellent! The bake off begins at eight! It will be a perfect evening snack! The two competitors have time to prepare until then!"

"Sounds perfect Nora." Blake shut the door as the ginger dashed off, Ren still feebly dangling from her arms, calmly asking Nora to be careful.

"Weiss!" Ruby now stood dutifully atop her bunk bed, posed like a hero on the frontlines. "Now is not a time for lollygagging!"

"Lollygag-, Ru-"

"Enough! We must prepare your ingredients for the bake off!"

"I'm not going shoppi-"

"We leave!" Ruby dashed, scooping Weiss before booking off down the hallway, likely towards the airship to take them into Vale.

Blake looked at her watch. It was six-thirty. There was an hour and a half until the bake off.

But there was one person missing. And this was something that she would want to see.

In minutes Blake stood inside the doors of the training hall, several students occupying the space. Cardin and his posse stood at the bench press. Or, more accurately, he lay on the bench, while the other three stood above his head and to the sides. Rolling her eyes, she strode past them, past Fox Alistar from team CFVY, who was sparring with Jaune. Pyrrha stood in the blond's corner.

Exchanging a nod with the spartan, Blake continued to where Yang stood, practising a two on one situation. Squared up against Yatsuhashi, and surprisingly enough, Velvet, Yang pressed on. Velvet knew that her ability wasn't in her strength, and from watching her, Blake found herself awestruck of the precision that replaced that power. Each strike aimed for tendons, nerve ends, weaker joints and pressure points. Few were curled fists, most actually extended in a spear hand, dashing in and out.

Yatsuhashi on the other hand, knew that if he landed a hit, it could do damage. Especially in a semblance free session, such as this. Even their Aura's were down, only allowing themselves their actual physical limits. He swung, not wildly, but very controlled. Slower, but significantly more powerful. The combination of VY was a dangerous one, fast and slow, weak and strong, precise and controlled.

Yang, the embodiment of her name truly, a sunny dragon, did what dragon's did best.

Destroy.

Being the combination of the best of both worlds, fast and precise, thanks to her fathers insistent training, as well as strong and controlled, benefits of her personal training and work out. Facing down the monolith and the bunny, they couldn't stand next to the dragon.

Okay, that's exaggerating. They all did very well. Several of Velvet's strikes landed, one making Yang drop her guard. She nearly didn't dodge Yatsu's swing, and when he struck again, she was lucky she had recovered in order to block.

The senior students were clearly putting Yang through the grinder, their experience and teamwork showing through. Yatsu swung high, making Yang duck, right into Velvet's short knuckle strike, right into her solar plexus. Yang coughed, heaving, and desperately waiting for her breath to return, all the while failing to block Yatsu's strikes. The first was a blow that struck hit her kidney, buckling her legs, from there he grabbed her and tossed her into the other side of the ring.

Yang caught herself and began counting. Watching. Counting. Watching. Counting.

Vel moved first, ducking straight for Yang's knee with a sliding hook kick. Going down, Yang waited for Velvet to grab. When she felt her shirt get gripped, she latched on to the wrist launching her elbow forward, landing center of Velvet's chest, who took a gasp for air.

Yang, her own wind finally returning, stood and faced Yatsuhashi, who's hand was decending. Yang seeing a small opening, pointed her own hand into a spearhand, thrusting it up for his armpit. Striking several nerves, Yatsu's arm lost immediate momentum, falling uselessly on Yang's back. Sweeping her arm back, Yang stuck her right foot behind his left, sweeping it back and up into the air. She decked his off balance and partially airborne body with a clothesline, also winding him from landing flat.

Turning to face Velvet who'd now recovered, she caught the incoming long knuckle punch, before twisting her arm and tripping the faunus to now fall harshly on Yatsuhashi's stomach, winding him again. Locking her arm behind the rabbit faunus' back, Yang had one question. "Do you give?"

"Oooouch! Yes we give, Yang." Vel had her face scrunched up, has her free hand furiously tapped on the ground. "You win this time!"

Yang grabbed Velvet by her shoulders, pulling her up and off of Yatsuhashi, who was shaking the last of the winding off. "Good spar, you guys nearly get me every time."

"This is the second time you've won." Yatsu's deep voice vibrated through the air. He stood now, his green undershirt and black sweatpants making his bulking form somehow look bigger. "You're not free of bruises yourself."

"Second time of twenty three, back to back!" She pounded her fist into her palm. "Thats the signs of you guys loosing your advantage, I'd bet against you guys beating me again. And these?" She gestured to the scraps that she had after the spar. "Those are practically not there."

Velvet glanced at Yatsuhashi, who returned it, amusement flickering. "Very well Yang, we'll change things up next time."

Yang's confidence didn't waver. "Sounds exciting." Her teeth flashed, a wicked grin spreading across her face.

Blake stepped up, draping her arms over the ropes of the ring. "Know what else sounds exciting? The Weiss and Ren bake off."

"A bake off?" Velvet questioned. "Of what?"

"Let me guess." Yang pointed at Blake, who was looking back with nothing but amusement. "It's cookies."

Blake faked a gasp of astonishment. "How did you know?" Leaning back towards Yang with a popped eyebrow in a challenge, Blake asked another question. "Can you guess why?"

"A mixture of Nora and Ruby."

"Ruby is the only judge, Nora just happened to be nearby." When I may or may not have made it up on the spot. "They're all in town right now, shopping. It happens at eight."

Yang guffawed. "Of course Ruby is the sole judge. Did Ren even argue with Nora?"

"He was busy, dangling from her arms where she had him tucked under like he was a child."

Yang let out a loud bark of laughter, Velvet nearby chuckling and even Yatsuhashi had a grin on his face. "Sounds about right." Facing the second years, Yang thanked them before facing Blake again. "Imma get cleaned up, give me fifteen?" She jabbed a thumb at the change room.

Blake held up her book from earlier. "No problem."

Ten minutes into the fifteen, Blake's scroll blipped into existence, a text lighting up the screen.

WS: What was that?

Me: Gotta admit, this is going a lot better than I hoped.

WS: Did you seriously plan this. If so, I am having choice words with you.

Me: Didn't plan it. Was have a talk with Ruby, but I didn't want to give her any more nerves, so out of humor I said the bake off thing. But then Ruby was all for it. And well Nora was just being herself.

WS: You're very lucky Nora has ears for her ears, specifically waiting for anyone to mention Ren's name.

Me: Super lucky.

Me: Gotta admit I had a scare earlier. Ruby kinda cornered me a little, but I immediately had the worst case scenario in my head where you told her.

WS: You're more crazy than I thought. Sure, Ruby is our leader and friend but thats definitely something that only you're allowed to tell people.

Me: Thank's Weiss, I appreciate it.

WS: While we're on the subject, have you talked to her at all about it?

Me: Not a chance, however, she is coming to the bake off.

WS: Blake, you will be my downfall.

WS: In all seriousness, do you think you'll do anything about it?

Me: No idea. In real life, are you more likely to approach them about it, or wait to see how interested they are before you try?

WS: I'd think that approaching them about it would be best. It's normal to have a crush, and crushes either pass or grow. Neither will interfere with our team work.

"'Kay Blake, thanks for waiting!"

Me: Thanks Weiss. Gotta go. See you at 8.

WS: Good riddance.

Blake looked up into the brilliantly lilac irises. "I'm always willing to wait. Especially with a book in hand."

"So it wasn't just because the most fabulous person you know was coming?"

Rolling her eyes, Blake stood, shouldering her bag and putting away her book. "That's certainly a plus."

"So." Yang clapped her hands together, leading the way back up towards the co-ed dorm hall. "Who do you think will win?"

Blake scoffed. "Weiss is probably excellent, but if Ren's cookies are like his pancakes, victory is his."

"Do you like his pancakes more than mine?" Yang threw up a horrified expression. "My sister excels in what I do so much, she jumps to the same year as me, and my partner betrays me for another man's pancake?" She scoffed playfully. "What is this world coming to, honestly."

"Even with your years of making them for Ruby, there's something so special about his Yang. I'm sorry, it's just so much better."

"Bah-humbug." Yang waved it off. "You're probably right though, but I've got a good feeling about Weiss. I'll put fifteen lien on the Ice Queen."

Blake nearly guffawed at the blonde. "Are you serious?" She stuck her hand out. "Deal. But I'm putting twenty on Ren."

Yang grasped her hand firmly. "I'll match the twenty as well on Weiss. And a free movie of the winners choosing."

Blake finished the shake. "Agreed. That new Revenger's movie looks pretty fun. For you."

Yang grinned wildly. "I've been waiting for that to come out, was planning on seeing it this weekend." Resuming their walk, she continued. "That new Landra Ullock movie about the blind dates looked good." She prodded Blake's side, squeezing a yelp from the faunus. "For you, at least."

Shielding her sides with her hands and leaning away from her partner, Blake scowled. "Sounds like we have our selections made." The frown transformed into a grin. "Can't wait for my money and movie date."

Yang laughed. "It's a plan. Winner gets a paid movie date, to a film of their own choosing, with the loser."

"Sounds wonderful." Blake hadn't smiled this much in a long time, and it felt like it was just growing bigger and bigger. All these jokes, they had been the type that Blake had shied away from, with anyone who tried them. Except Yang. The girl had certainly wedged her way into Blake's life in an unusual way, but she was immensely grateful that destiny had brought them to Beacon together. Because, as Weiss knew, Blake had a serious crush on Yang Xaio Long.

"Kick her butt, Ren!"

"Don't give in, Ice Queen, make the best damn cookies around!"

Yang was her usual enthusiastic behaviour, but oddly enough, Blake was actually cheering on Ren from beside her partner. Like, proper cheering. Clapping him on, shouting words of encouragement, it was very un-Blake.

Nora on the other hand, was practically hovering over the poor boy. Yet somehow she managed to stay far enough away from him in order for him to actually be able to do everything.

In minutes, the dough was completed, chocolate chips mixed in of course. The ovens had been preheated and soon enough, the trays had been loaded up and loaded in, the smell of cookies baking quickly invading the kitchen.

Blake and Yang now leaned with their elbows resting on the counter island. Ruby was hovering over both ovens, peeking inside, visibly drooling. Weiss was tapping her foot impatiently. Ren had taken the unusual posture of sitting on the counter, waiting for the time to pass. Nora buzzed around the entire co-ed room, doing who knows what. Maybe collecting final bets.

The hollering had quieted. It was appropriate since all that was left was to bake for ten or so minutes. And with the volume dampened, so was Blake's overall enthusiasm. Instead, what seeped in was homely. A little festive feeling, but it was November. It was getting colder, and a light blanket of snow had arrived a day ago, just to quickly melt away. But, fires were being started this time of the year. And with the scent of warm, home baked cookies added to the warmth that was radiating from the ovens, it was cozy. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, unaware of how she was leaning into the nearest source of warmth.

"Well, hey there."

Blake, now rather dozy, just opened her eyes and locked on to Yang's lilac ones. She'd come to rest her head on Yang's shoulder, leaning on what had to be a somewhat uncomfortable angle. "Hi." Was the now tired response.

"Oh man, can't even get past the oven warmth can you?"

Blake would've normally scowled. Now, she just lazily, playfully, and gently, smacked Yang on the cheek. "Hush. Are the cookies done yet?"

"Not yet. Don't worry, we'll be seeing the Revenger's soon enough."

"Landra Ullock all the way."

"What's that movie even called?"

"Who cares, she's great."

"Right." Yang nudged her. Lowering her voice, she whispered to Blake's bow. "Ready for the holidays?"

Blake mumbled and gave a content sigh. "Absolutely. Think of the fire's, the bundled up nights, and all the hot tea I'll have."

"Careful, you might lull yourself to sleep thinking like that."

"I've still got a bet to win."

"So sure of yourself, huh?"

"Nora." Blake slapped her hand on the counter, only for the ginger to quickly appear next to the faunus, who was still leaning into Yang.

"Whatsup Blake?"

"Who'll win?"

"My Rennie, duh!"

"Case closed." Blake waved goodbye and just as quickly as she was there, Nora vanished. "It's inevitable Yang."

Rolling her eyes, Yang gazed down at the increasingly tired girl. "When have we ever taken her seriously."

"Fair point."

"...know what I miss about Patch during the holidays?"

A little taken back by the sudden change and the sorrow that tainted her partners voice, Blake was suddenly much more awake at the different topic. "What?"

"The camp outs. We'd do the same if there was a thunderstorm. They started when I was eleven, around the time dad started coming back to us. It was his idea. Ruby woke me up one time, in tears from the thunder. Dad woke up too, not in a stupor and suggested we have a large camp out in the family room." Yang looked up at Ruby, who was still enraptured by the now nearly done cookies. "We stripped the couch of cushions to use as mattresses and even pulled out another mattress from the closet. And the blankets, my god. We used every blanket in the house. An impervious bundle of warmth. We huddled up, got the candles out and had a fire going in the fireplace."

Blake had a rough image of what it was like. Candle lit large room, make shift bedding on the floor for two children and a grown man. That was humorous looking enough. Now, she tripled the amount of blankets and it's image was pure childish joy. The warmth undoubtedly from those blankets and quilts would've been heavenly. However the atmosphere set by the candles, added with the tickling image of a fire, small or large, made the scene just perfect. It was homely, it was cozy, and it was shared with loved ones. "Let's do it."

Yang looked down at the amber eyes gazing back. "You think?"

Blake just grinned. The smiling today, it never ended. "It sounds amazing, Yang."

"I'm positive you'll like it. It was something. And it's certainly something I hope to do with my kids one day."

"It sounds like something worth passing on."

Nora's shout alerted, probably the entire dorm, all those gathered for the bake off. "Results! Get ready everyone. Weiss' cookies are first!"

Refocusing on the red themed girl who sat on the counter, a plate on each side of her, with four cookies each. Picking up the plate from Weiss's side, Ruby picked up a single cookie, inspecting the outside. Even going as far as closing one eye, she inspected the chocolate chips, the delicacy of the exterior, and the colouring. Then she broke it. Pulling it apart gently, chocolate pulled from each side like melted cheese on a pizza. Then, she looked at the inside. Judging the thoroughness of how well it was baked, not too firm, but fluffy. Not too fluffy, soft enough that the cookie didn't disintegrate. Then she bit into one half.

And she moaned.

"Weiss these are soooo good." Ruby mumbled. She generously gifted herself to the rest of the cookie before looking back at the plate, clearly tempted to go for a second. "Those are really good cookies."

"Not so fast!" Weiss slid the plate away, gesturing to Ren's plate. "Who's are better? You pulled me away from my studies, so you need to tell me whose are actually better."

Ruby nodded somewhat sullenly, turning to look at Ren's cookies, humming in content when she saw them. Picking one up, Ruby began the process again, quickly drawn to how practically golden the entire exterior was. The bottom was normal browned, but not overdone in the slightest. The chocolate chips held firm, but when she poked it, the exterior quickly gave to envelope her finger tip in warm, dark, gooey goodness. Breaking it and pulling it, she got the same reaction as last time, the chocolate pulling itself apart. You could see how soft the cookie was, not a single extra crumb falling, holding together with the cookie. Then she bit into it.

And she froze.

Yang had never seen Ruby freeze at the taste of baking. And she reckoned she never would again. When Weiss snapped her fingers in front of Ruby's eyes, the rest of the cookie was immediately devoured and the second was in her mouth, third and fourth in hand.

"Winner!" Nora held up Ren's hand, who had a small grin.

"No way. Ruby, is it really that good?" Yang reached onto Ren's pan, pulling away a cookie, before taking a generous bite herself. When she stopped chewing for a second she let out a long content sigh. "Oh my Dust." Yang held another two cookies to Weiss and Blake. "You gotta try."

Weiss took one, and as graceful as a Schnee, took a bite. "Oh wow."

Blake took one, bit into it, and immediately was returned to her drowsy state, dreaming of warm fires, delicious cookies, tea and a massive bundle of blankets. With a very, very, content sigh, she lay her head down on the counter before continuing to eat her cookies.

"I haven't had a cookie this good since Summer made us cookies." Yang said, praising Ren for reaching her and Ruby's mother's peak cookie making skills. "There's no better than these."

"Thank you." Ren bowed slightly, taking one of Weiss' before taking a bite. "These are also very good."

"Thank you, but I'll have to get from you the difference."

Ruby fiercely agreed, nodding viciously. "Definitely. As your team leader, I expect you to be making as good of cookies in a matter of days!"

"How well do you remember mom's cooking, Ruby?" Yang asked, still working on her cookie.

"It's one of the biggest things. I'll never forget her hugs, kisses and cookies." Ruby nodded very happily. Sure, she may be gone, but the fact that she just got to relive a little of her past through cooking, washed any sorrow away. Looking at Ren, she sniffed a little brushing away the lone tear that came to her eye. "Ren, seriously thank you. With out realizing it, you've given me a little bit of my mom back."

Ren, suddenly much more aware of what he had unintentionally done, offered a smile. "One of the things I learned from my mother, and perfected, was making cookies."

Yang laughed. "All perfect mothers use the same damn recipe." She held out her cookie. "To moms."

Several hands extended, cookies in hand. "To moms."

"If you ever need a good flash back cookie, Ruby, I'd be happy to make some for you." Ren offered. "Just keep it at a reasonable pace."

Ruby squealed, leaping over to hug the boy. "Thank's Ren!"

Blake just looked on, cookie in hand, a sobering thought crossing her mind. Mom, how are you?

"A camp out?" Weiss asked. "And where do you suggest we do that?"

"Well," Yang began, having sold Blake already, and at the mention to Weiss and Ruby, the latter already had begun nodding her head, clearly all for a camp out. "We'll just occupy the space in the co-ed hall, by the fire. Shut off the lights, candles up, lots of cushions, and more blankets."

"Seriously Weiss, you'll love it." Ruby encouraged. "I'll talk to Goodwitch about occupying the space for a night."

"Do it tomorrow, it's getting late."

"Right."

Weiss looked at Blake. "And you're for this?"

"Honestly, I was sold at candles, so when the blankets and fire came up, it was just bonus'."

Signing, before looking at Yang, she agreed. "Alright, but, you'll make the fire, and Ruby does not touch the lighter."

"Deal."

"Hey!"

Blake tapped Yang on the shoulder, cutting off any jab she had for Ruby. "Ahem." She held out her empty palm, expectantly.

"Wha-? Oh. Right, that." Yang reached into her back pocket, pulling out her wallet, a small smile on her face. "Always trust Blake's gut from now on." She placed two ten lien notes in the faunus' awaiting palm.

Weiss turned on Blake now. "Did you really bet against me? Your own partner and friend?"

Blake scoffed. "Please, you've eaten his pancakes, did you really think you could win?"

"Oooooh." Ruby reacted in the corner. "Gotcha there."

Weiss blew a raspberry before smiling a little. "Got me there."