It was a cold, snowy night. Snow covers the sidewalks as people wearing thick winter coats with their heavy boots walk through the thick snow. Children laugh in excitement with the holiday season as well as the anticipation of Santa Claus coming in just a few more short hours. Stores play endless Christmas songs, lights and tree decorating each and every shop window. The warm and sweet smell of hot cocoa flowed through the cold breeze, which hits a young woman in red as she passes by them all.

Ruby Rose shivers at the cold touch of the air, even as her nose picks up the scent of the cocoa. It was one of the coldest nights of the year, but here she is in her worn out red flannel jacket and khaki pants. At least her boots are at least in bit better shape, still having a sole in the bottom to protect her feet from the cold snow. She adjusts her once white scarf as she turns into the dark alleyway of a theater, a small spotlight lighting her way. She stops in front of a dumpster which faces the theater door and looks up to the sky, the snow continuing to fall down and onto her dark long hair and what few bits of exposed skin there was. Clutching onto a flyer in her coat pocket, she pulls it out revealing tonight's performer.

Weiss Schnee, the world famous singer, was performing tonight at this theater. Tickets sold out within hours for her special Christmas concert she holds here every year. She looks better and happier than the last time Ruby had seen her. Her long white hair shining and looking as silky as always, her blue eyes still as mesmerizing as ever to her, though her height was still the same. Looking at the flyer, Ruby tries to recall when was the last time she had seen Weiss in person. Three no, six years ago. That's right, it was six years ago, right after graduation.

Sighing, she places the flyer back in her pocket as she notices a car parked right by the door. It was probably there before she arrived and she just now noticed it. Looking at the car's windows, Ruby pays attention to her own reflection for the first time in quite a while. Her hair is a mess as if birds have made a nest in it. Her eyes have deep, dark rings around them, a combination of dehydration and lack of sleep. Her clothes are filthy and patched up, like what you'd expect from someone who has been sleeping in the streets for years. She has lost far too much weight too, her once athletic and muscular frame now barely skin and bones, causing Ruby to chuckle a bit. Four, no six years ago, the school and her classmates would never have imagined seeing her like this. Ruby was the school's well known track athlete and the strictest disciplinary committee member in school history. Smart and cold. If only they could see her now, many of her former victims would be overjoyed to see how the far the once Mighty Ruby Rose has indeed fallen. Yang would be freaking out of course, and would be giving her several earfuls right now. But what could she do? It was her only choice to make sure Weiss would be happy.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she indulges herself by imagining how much better off Weiss was without her before she opens them once more and looks down to her glove covered hands. She slowly pulls off her left glove and stares at her hand. Her once pale skin was as light blue as of that of an Articuno's feathers, while delicate white lines run across her blue hand and arm and onto her body. Turning her ring finger, she smiles fondly as she looks at the source of the discoloration: her soulmate's mark and band. A small white snowflake sits on top of her ring finger as the light blue band stretches and expands around her body. Ruby sighs as she keeps staring at the delicate snowflake permanently applied to her skin as her knowledge of the mark comes back to her slowly, almost bitterly. She had so many plans and dreams before it appeared one day out of nowhere, just like Weiss Schnee did six years ago now.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Six Years Ago…..

Ruby grunts as she finishes another set of push ups in front of her closet door. As the younger sibling, she of course has the smaller of the two rooms in the house, but it doesn't really bother her that much. Yang is a lot more outgoing and social than she is, and needs the space for all of her various friends.

Ruby has her dreams, her classes, and her goals. That's all she needs out of life. She doesn't need a bunch of silly twits in her life to reassure her that she's cool or awesome or any silly shit like that. Might be why Principle Goodwitch made her leader of the Disciplinary committee this year. She's tough and no nonsense, and Ruby respects the older woman greatly. The Principle wanted results, she wanted a tight ship after taking over for that menace to decency Ozpin, and Ruby delivered. Boy did she deliver, especially when she set a new record for detentions handed out her first week alone. Her fellow students quickly learned discipline that first week, and now only a few hold outs are left. A few like Reese Chloris and Velvet Scarlatina basically live in in school suspension these days, and Nora Valkyrie is one infraction away from expulsion. And that suits her just fine.

Coming to her feet, she begins to do squats as she stares at a schedule on her bulletin board. Today she jogs the park, since there are no special events or big groups to annoy her or get in her carefully planned route. And today is the particularly grueling portion that passes by the especially tall monkey bars. Ruby smirks as she thinks of the last time she was there, when Neon Katt had her little boy there. A simple glare had scared them both off, and she had been free to exercise to her heart's content. Finishing her last set of squats, she nods to herself as she looks at her clock. Ten minutes ahead of schedule? Excellent! She needs to remember to tighten it up some more. Life is not without challenges, and if she is going to follow her beloved father into the Special Forces, she needed to be even tougher on herself than she is now.

After all, Taiyang demanded no less than perfection from her, since Yang turned out to be such a disappointment in the end. And she will not disappoint him. Opening her door, she quickly walks to the front door and once outside sets a brutal pace, all while repeating to herself that she will never be a disappointment.

Never….

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Her soulmate band changed all that. Everything changed on that fateful day. And Ruby can't help but reflect on the basic lesson every child learns back in kindergarten. A soulmate's mark and band appears when it's time for you to meet your significant other. It has been a mystery since ancient times as to when and how this happens, but it has its desired effect of making people happy, as it makes life easier for everyone. But every teacher warns everyone too that there is so little knowledge about the marks and bands that people have simply stopped searching about it, and simply started accepting it. But there are a few things Ruby knows firsthand about them. First, the marks and bands appear randomly to everyone, from a tender young age to late adulthood. Second, they always know the perfect time to appear and they will always lead you to your soulmate. Third, to defy the band can lead to certain, increasingly harsh consequences in life. And fourth and most importantly, you can never forget your soulmate and you can never be with someone else other than them.

Denial, rejection, abandonment, hate and distance. These things are forbidden when you meet your soulmate. Doing any of them can make the band stretch and expand around your body, letting other people know that you indeed do have a soulmate. And the more and more you do these things, the more of your body the band covers and bad luck follows you.

Ruby sighs as she places her glove back on, she returns again to staring at the car window. Her scarf loosens from a particularly strong gust of wind that chills her to the bone. Looking again once the shivering calms down a bit, she sees that her band has reach the side of her face. All those years of distance and abandonment is now showing so much, she starts to think how she would look like in light blue skin. She'll probably start looking like a smurf by New Year's.

Ruby chuckles at the thought. She could be Skeletal Smurf, the half dead homeless smurf. She would be too busy being half dead from starvation and dehydration to run away from Gargamel! Ha! Who said she doesn't have a sense of humor, morbid as it may be now?

Silence. Weiss' performance starts in 15 minutes. Ruby starts to think, when was the last time she heard Weiss sing for her? When was the last time she held her in her arms, kissing her and holding her and hoping she never woke up from the perfection she found herself in? She can barely remember them now. Another side effect of the band? No, probably the cold, thirst and hunger. Does she regret leaving everything? Her warm bed, her dreams, her parents and her life? No. Ruby doesn't regret it. As long as Weiss is happy and living her dreams, she will never regret it.

Never…..

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Weiss Schnee stares at the mirror in her dressing room. Her right hand massaging her left ring finger, as her fingernail traces the silver burning rose mark on it. The band itself is a bright and vibrant red color, which she always associates with her missing soulmate, who's own spirit had burned brightly with her own determination. Looking closer at herself, her hair is done in her signature side ponytail, while her outfit was more than appropriate for the holiday season. Although why wardrobe always insists on her showing so much leg she will never know. The makeup artist had applied light makeup on her face like she wanted, well to be precise it's what Ruby had prefered for her. Remembering the time Ruby told her that made her smile.

Hearing the strictest person in school say that was pretty normal, but hearing the reason was what made her remember it. 'A Natural look looks better on you, so just use light amounts of makeup.' It was adorable the way she said it, while looking around and blushing. How Weiss, wishes she could just go back in time and find out what she did wrong. She would do anything to have Ruby back in her arms, to hear her voice call out her name again.

Weiss closes her eyes, just like every performance she has done in the past six years. Letting the memories of her final year in high school flow through her head. And she smiles as her first memories of Ruby come to her, like a river of the brightest quicksilver.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Six years ago

It was fairly early on a Saturday morning, and Weiss had gotten up early for a jog around the park. Dressing in her usual running outfit of compression shorts and a tank top, she leaves a small note for her roommate Blake to know where she is on the fridge. With that done, she grabs her water bottle and heads out. Her usual route passes her favorite cafe, a bakery with the most delicious blueberry tarts she has ever tasted, and the candy store she is almost single handedly keeping in business since they can order all her favorites from back home in Germany.

Arriving at the park, she feels a slow breeze of air, the leaves of the trees and bushes rustling gently as few falling down to the ground here and there. It's early morning and only a few people were around the park at this time. Most were taking a run just like her, some were walking their dogs, and others were simply enjoying the cool and crisp morning air. Shaking her head to clear it as she does a few stretching exercises to finish loosening up, she starts off at a slow, comfortable pace. She is in no rush, and the Wolf and Boar is already open and waiting for her to finish so she can indulge is some of their high quality coffee she has grown quite addicted to. So slow and steady it is today.

As Weiss pasts the playground she spots a splash of red and slows down to investigate. She easily spots the source of red hanging from the monkey bars, a younger woman hanging upside down on the bars doing what looks to be sit-ups. Messy black hair with red tips, pale skin, muscular body and silver eyes. She was wearing a red sports bra and black shorts matched with running shoes. And was practically covered in sweat. Weiss smiles as she slows to a stop and watches for a moment, after all, she doesn't have a soulmate mark yet and as recently as she just moved to the states to finish high school after getting into a lot of trouble with her twin sister, she is most definitely on the prowl.

Besides, she lost her wingwoman after Noir met her own soulmate, a beautiful young woman with amazingly beautiful chocolate brown eyes, and a strange fondness for bunnies. But whatever, Noir's thrilled beyond words and Weiss couldn't be happier for her. Even her parents adore Velvet, and consider her the best thing to ever happen to the wild red eyed whatever, the black haired girl with red tips is just her type and she has never been known to pass up a good opportunity. Putting on her best and most charming smile, she approaches the girl she would find out would change her life forever.

Whatever...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Present

There was a knock on the door, snapping Weiss out of her thoughts. Turning to the door she spots a tall blonde and smiles. Yang Xiao Long, her best friend and manager Blake's soulmate for almost seven years now, stands in the doorway holding a one year old little girl in her arms. The little girl has black hair like her mother and lilac eyes like Yang's. She is wearing a black winter coat and purple pants. The little girl looks at Weiss and smiles brightly as she waves .

"Hello Amber, Yang" Weiss greeted.

"Hey Weiss." Yang replied. "Blake wanted me to tell you, it's showtime."

"Shutim" Amber repeats excitedly.

Yang smiles at the little girl. "Thats right, its showtime!"

Weiss smiles and stands. "Yang you should really correct her pronunciation."

"She's still young, she'll eventually learn. Besides, I thought it was your language prodigy twin that's the grammar nazi?" Yang counters with her trademark smirk on her face.

"If you say so. And don't let her hear you call her that." Weiss then makes her way to the stage amidst the roars and cheers of the massive crowd. Taking a quick peek into the stands, she spots the empty reserved seat in the front row. She takes a deep breath to calm herself, even though she once again feels the familiar sting of disappointment.

Ever since her rise to fame, she has always kept one seat reserved in every performance, just in case Ruby decides to come out of hiding and see her. Looking down at her ring finger she smiles and gently places a kiss on it. It has and always will be her lucky charm. Hearing the MC call out her name, she heads out on to the stage as she waves and smiles brightly. Looking around, she spots Velvet and her little girl Silk sitting next to her parents, as well as several old friends from school and beyond. But no Ruby, no matter where she looks. Whatever, she won't let her absence keep her from giving the audience only her very best performance. After all, they are giving up their Christmas Eve to listen to her sing, so she could do nothing less for them in exchange. But God does she wish Ruby would finally come out of hiding. She misses her so much.

Opening her mouth, she begins to sing her first song, a simple little thing she loves to start every show with, even as her mind wanders to the first time she ever sung it. It had been a lovely fall afternoon at the park where she enjoys jogging, where she had met Ruby…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

It's a warm autumn afternoon and Weiss decided to head to the park and relax a bit and do some of her required reading for English. As she walks looking for a good spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine, she thinks back to her latest confrontation with Ruby Rose, which of course had started as a simple misunderstanding over a cultural difference that had rapidly escalated. And all over a Kinder Egg her older sister had sent her as an Oktoberfest treat. Winter had meant it as a simple treat for her, but of course she had forgotten an important fact: Kinder Eggs are banned in the US. A fact that Ruby Rose obviously knew of course.

But she didn't have to confiscate her damned egg and turn it into Principle Goodwitch. Even she had told Ruby that it was going a bit too far. And of course Ruby had pled her case rather passionately to the older woman. She never saw her Kinder Egg ever again, and she once again wondered who she had pissed off badly enough in a past life to get Ruby Rose as a soulmate? Whatever. She did her time in detention without complaint, got her studying done while she was trapped under the watchful gaze of Ms. Peach, the Health Sciences teacher, and went back to her shared apartment with Blake.

Of course, Blake listened to her whine, bitch and complain about her lost egg for a while before handing her a controller and telling her in her soft Italian accented voice to take it out on a game. Which is how she now finds herself in a battle of the princesses on Mario Kart while swearing in fluent German at her twin, who keeps defeating her every race.

"You really need to calm down Weiss. It's only an egg." Noir tells her just as she Thunderbolts her for the millionth time.

"It's not just about the egg, Noir!" She screams as she power slides through a sharp turn. "She treats me like a stranger! She refuses to take the time to get to know me, she gives me constant hell at school, and she acts like it's the worst thing ever to even have a soulmate!"

She hears Noir's chuckle as she red shells the CPU Mario in front of her. "Well, have you even tried to get to know her? Ask questions about her? Hell, have you even Google searched her?"

Weiss groans as she runs out of bounds again. "Yes, yes, and I wish I hadn't! And she is universally hated by the entire student body. For the love of God Noir! She even got a teacher fired right before I arrived!"

She hears her sister's gasp right before getting blasted by a blue shell. "That's pretty fucking bad sis. Thank God Velvet is sweet and lovable. I don't think I could deal with a shrew for a soulmate. One of me is bad enough."

"Oh shut it, you red eyed dolt!" Weiss tells her as she crosses the finish line for her third and final lap. "She would make you look like a saint!"

"Ehhhh?! Someone can make me, the wildest Schnee in centuries, look like a saint?! Impossible! She must reveal her secrets!" Noir declares as she reclaims the lead from Yoshi.

"Yes, you red eyed dolt! She makes animals run in terror from her! Neon Katt and her son both are so terrified of her that they piss themselves when they see her!" She declares as she spies Princess Daisy and prepares a red shell for her.

"Jeez, calm down you blue eyed twit!" Noir tells her as she suddenly fires a green shell behind her, laughing when it finds its mark on Princess Peach. "Sounds to me like she is perfect for you then. Mama and Daddy both say you should follow Winter into the Bundeswehr."

"You can, if you want. I however still wish to sing for my supper." Weiss groans as she bounces off the track once more. "And that was a bullshit move, dolt!"

"All's fair in Mario Kart and war, my dear twit." Noir chuckles as she crosses the finish line. "But seriously, it sounds to me like your trying too hard. Slow down, and let things happen in their own good time. That's what I did with Velvet, and look at how happy I am now. And we both know I am the more patient of the two of us."

Weiss sighs as she sets her controller down and stares up at the ceiling. "I wish I was as patient as you sometimes. I still remember when you stalked Penny Polendina for months until she finally agreed to go to that party with you during Fasching."

Noir laughs. "Just to find her soulmate in our own little brother the moment their eyes locked together! Oh but what an awkward night for them both!"

Weiss giggles at the memory. "Ah, but you still managed to work your way into Ceil's open arms to be comforted that night anyway. Bitch! I was after her!"

"All's fair in love and girl stealing, twit! Especially considering the way things are here at home still. Half my teachers were ready to strangle me or condemn me to hell the other day when I wore a pride shirt to school." Noir declares with a laugh. "But seriously, I need to call it a night. I have an early morning class I can't miss. Again."

"Again?" Weiss asks as she sits up straight and raises an eyebrow.

"Yes, again. And you can drop the eyebrow. And no, I'm not telling why. A girl has to have some secrets." Noir tells her with a laugh. "Love you, you blue eyed twit!"

Weiss smiles even as she shakes her head. "Love you too, you red eyed dolt." She tells her before breaking the connection on her Discord app and logging out. More than once, she wishes she had Noir's courage back home in Germany to be out and free at such an early age. It had taken years for their parents to get over the fact that both their twin daughters were lesbians, and it certainly didn't help matters that Noir embraced it so readily while she still played the role of the dutiful daughter. But Noir insisted on it. She bore all the hateful looks and ridicule while she focused on her studies. Noir sacrificed much to make sure Weiss would gain her freedom in the exchange program this year, and Weiss wouldn't let her down. She was just grateful Noir had found the American exchange student who had taken her place in school when she had. If anyone deserves a reward for the sacrifices she has made, it's her.

She sighs as she looks around for a spot to sit. Noir had managed to calm her down as always, and she just wants to forget all about her soulmate problems for the time being and get lost in a book while enjoying the climate. It was a huge change from Bayern, where she and her family have lived since she was seven, and almost as far of a cry from Niedersachsen where they were all born. Hearing the sounds of laughter, she follows them out of curiosity to a small playground, where kids of many different ages are playing and running around without a care in the world.

Smiles at the sight, she slowly starts humming a popular song from home as she continues to walk past them. One child hears her and starts walking behind her as she starts singing the song in perfect German. Weiss stops and turns to the child and starts singing along as her smile grows on her face. Soon, the rest of the children as well as their parents stop and listen to her in wide eyed amazement, none of them able to tear their eyes away from her clarion voice and surprisingly entertaining showmanship. But for Weiss, this is why she dreams of being a singer. To bring the beauty and harmony of song to the world, and expect nothing in return but her own satisfaction that she is making a difference somehow.

But Weiss never noticed the silver eyes staring from the nearby jogging path, or the open mouthed stare. If she had, she would have simply ignored her for now. She was bringing music to an audience, albeit a small one, and she is where she belongs. But Ruby Rose watches almost enraptured by the sight and sounds before her, even as she ignores her cell phone ringing constantly. For the first time in her short life, she only had one thought for whoever was calling.

Whatever...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Ruby leans on to the wall and slides down to the ground, her legs finally giving up to the cold. She shivers even more than before, and it feels like she will never be warm ever again. Looking up to the sky she hears the crowd shouting and cheering inside. Taking off her left glove and reaching to the pocket of her coat, she pulls out a lone red rose carefully wrapped to protect it from the cold and wind. She had stopped by a flower shop with greenhouse that has managed to protect their roses from the cold winter weather, and used the last of her money to buy the beautiful, fragile flower. Running her fingers across the petals, the cold winter wind blows slightly, causing Ruby to shiver uncontrollably. Pulling her left glove back on and taking the right off, she struggles to tie a strip of paper around the stem of the rose, her trembling growing worse and worse as the wind begins to blow harder, bringing fresh snow with it. Once she finished, she sighs and leans her head against the wall, even as she curls up into as small of a ball as possible.

She closes her eyes as Weiss' voice come to her ears. The sweet voice she has missed for six long years now. "Weiss." she whispered to herself. "You did it. You made it. I'm so happy for you." She says softly through chattering teeth.

"I didn't fail you in the end.."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Six Years Ago

Ruby smiles as she lays on Weiss's bed at her apartment, listening to her sing a brand new original song. Their school books lay all over the floor, long forgotten when Weiss tackled the serious student and started making out with her over a wrong answer in Anatomy. Of course, making out had led to other things, and now Ruby is wondering how in the hell she is going to get her bra off the ceiling fan.

"Ruby, are you even listening to me?!" Weiss glares at her as she stomps one of her tiny, yet utterly adorable feet in irritation, causing other petite parts of her anatomy to bounce as well.

Ruby smirks as she links her fingers together before putting them behind her head and enjoying the view. "I listened to every word until you reached the end."

Weiss just pouts as she looks away, her long curtain of silky white hair moving along with her. "Sure you were. Just like I was imagining things when I saw you staring at my crotch and not my face during the chorus, you dolt?"

Ruby can only chuckle as she slides off the bed and wraps Weiss into a tight hug. "Well I can't help that you have the most perfectly trimmed bush I've ever seen. Granted, yours is the only one I've ever seen, but still."

"You dolt!" Weiss screeches as she struggles to free herself. "I changed my mind, you are an insufferable, idiotic dolt! And I still maintain that I must have made someone truly angry in a past life to earn you as my soulmate!"

This has its desired effect, as Ruby takes advantage of the situation to nibble gently on her neck, getting a deep moan in response. She continues to nibble around the back of her neck as she gently lifts the tangled mess of white hair away to continue her assault, while Weiss leans back against her taunt, muscular body. "Oh God Ruby…" She breathes out gently as she clings to Ruby's left arm, which is still holding her tightly around her own muscular midsection.

But Ruby is surprised when Weiss suddenly pushes her arm down towards her core. "A bit eager Princess?" She whispers teasingly in the white haired girl's ear as she strokes her bud gently, getting several long breathy moans in reply.

"Yes. Please…" Weiss suddenly begs as she takes her own left hand and cover's Ruby's own. "Blake won't be home tonight…" She whispers breathily as her own right hand snakes around to Ruby's bud and gives it a gentle flick in return. Ruby can't help her own moan as Weiss flicks her bud again and smiles as she pants. "Or shall I take you myself? Prove that I'm the alpha of this relationship?"

Ruby only growls as she slowly circles the entrance to Weiss's tunnel with her fingers ever so gently as she returns to nibbling on her shoulder. Alpha huh? Well she does have admit that Weiss is the more experienced of the two of them, and a confirmed lesbian. And she has taught Ruby so much one tender caress, one soft kiss, and one slight lick at a time. But damn it, she's supposed to be the best of the best, and she is about to prove it! Adding pressure to her circling finger, she takes her thumb and presses it against her bud as she moves her finger, giving Weiss that extra bit of sensation and causing the shorter girl to rise to her tiptoes.

"Ah fuck yes! Just like that!" Weiss suddenly cries out as her hips begin to buck slightly from Ruby's tender caresses. But Ruby is surprised as Weiss pants and glares at her as she runs her own fingers rather hard against her own clit. "What are you waiting for dolt?! A written invitation?! Fuck me already! Show me what I've taught you!"

Ruby doesn't need anymore of an invitation than that, and slowly enters Weiss's corridor. Curse at her will she? She'll show the white haired girl who's boss! Bottoming out at the knuckle, she slowly starts pumping in and out of her as she keeps her thumb planted firmly on her clit, moving it in time with the rest of her hand. She smiles wickedly as she keeps up her slow but steady rhythm, as Weiss begins to cry out in an almost musical fashion, her voice rising and lowering in full octaves with each stroke. But she knows she is going to have to speed up soon, as she feels Weiss start to arch her back against her as she reaches a fever pitch with her moans and cries.

"Fuck Ruby! Faster! Fuck I'm so close!" She moans out breathily in that voice she can never get enough of. Picking up her pace a bit, she also pushes down a bit harder against Weiss's clit, getting a scream of joy from her. "Like that! Just like that! Don't stop!" Ruby does as she asks of course, since she can feel her walls tightening up on her fingers. But she knows exactly how to get Weiss over the edge. Leaning over once more, she slowly bites down on her delicate looking, yet amazingly strong collarbone, getting a shriek from the other girl as she explodes in orgasm. Ruby keeps her pace up as Weiss moans loudly and screams as orgasm after orgasm shake her petite frame until she collapses against Ruby panting heavily, almost knocking them down in the process.

"Well? I think that made me the top for the night." Ruby smirks as she holds her princess in her arms.

Weiss just looks up at her with sex glazed eyes as she smiles dreamily. "Hush, I'm enjoying the sensation of my legs being numb, dolt." She replies in a an almost whispery voice as she stares into her silver eyes. "I would almost rather spend my life doing this with you than following my own dreams."

Ruby stops for a moment. All Weiss talks about is her music. It's all she ever dreams about and works towards, even as they get closer and closer to graduation. For cookie's sake, she spends all her waking hours writing songs, composing music, and working hard to achieve that one goal. She works even harder than Ruby does at her exercises and studies as she herself prepares to enter the military, something she keeps meaning to bring up to the white haired girl the closer they get to the end of the school year. Her father has already made all the arraignments for her to go straight into boot camp less than a week after graduation, and then MOS and other special training after. She's looking at almost a year before she returns home for any kind of leave, as Tai wants to keep her on the fast track goal she herself still keeps pace with.

But could Weiss live with that? Would she be willing to put her own dreams and goals on hold for her as she moves from base to base? Or would they have one of those long distance things like her own parents had as her mom refused to surrender the family business and her dad refused to relinquish his own growing career. She admits, they are still in love and all, but they aren't very close. There have been many a family meal spent in complete silence over the years as Summer reads many different reports, and Tai studies his own files and documents. She realizes with a start that they don't even sleep in the same room, not like she and Weiss have taken to doing since she all but forced Ruby to start spending time with her after losing a bet over a school rule.

She doesn't want that for Weiss. She deserves better, far better than a life like that. Looking down at the now sleeping woman, she comes to a decision. Weiss's hopes, Weiss's dreams are far more important than hers. She wants to follow in the footsteps of a man that is distant at best, simply absent at worse. And that's something she can't allow. Getting up slowly so as not to disturb her, Ruby sneaks out as quietly as possible from the room before getting dressed and leaving. Weiss is far more important than she is, and she will be damned if she has to live a life full of disappointment because of her. She can do this. She can sacrifice her own happiness for Weiss. She never wants her parent's life for her.

Never….

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Present

Bright lights illuminating the stage. The sound of the orchestra filling the room. Spotlights shining straight at her. All eyes and ears on her. This was her dream, well part of it. The only thing missing was Ruby. Those bright silver eyes watching her every move. Those calloused hands holding her tightly. sweet scent of roses filling her senses. taste of chocolate on her lips. Ruby. Ruby. Ruby.

"I love you, Weiss."

Black.

Weiss' scream fills the theater surprising everyone. She falls on her knees clutching her left hand. "NO! NO!" She repeats. "Please, please…."

Velvet runs up to her ignoring all the whispers from the crowd. "Weiss!" she calls out. "Weiss, what's wrong?"

Weiss doesn't say anything and just clings on to Velvet, crying as she stares in horror at her ring finger, with it's black band and slowly shattering the burning rose symbol.

Meanwhile, the wind blows harder outside as the snow continues to pile up. A lone single red rose sways with the wind as it's petals fall one by one, still clutched in one pale white hand...