Four came. Ruby started mopping the floor and fixing some of the books on the shelves as she went. She even closed the doors earlier than normal just to finish everything. She managdd to finish and was getting the trash bag out of the trash can when her phone went off.

Ruby pulled out her phone and saw it was Weiss.

I know he don't have my number I dont know why I thought he was the one texting me.

Weiss: I'll be back next monday! We to Atlas for a family trip. I really didn't want to go but Mom begged me too because she can't stand her in laws and I can't either but... Oh well. We'll hang out when I get back I promise! 3

Ruby smiled. Weiss was good at keeping her promises. It was odd though... She had been pretty quiet lately. She just shrugged and finished cleaning. She locked the door and headed out.

She reached home after buying stuff to make bacon and cheese stuffed chicken. Ruby realized no one was home. Yang's motorcycle, BB was gone along with Blake's car. She sat in the car for a few minutes waiting.

Yang was careful on BB because she didn't want to wreck it unlike when she was in Blake's car...

Did they already... Leave?

Just as she got out, a car pulled up behind hers. It was a nice sleek black and it looked extremely new. The windows were tinted too much to see who it was. She waited and saw the door open. She saw a thick, wild mane...

"Raven!"

Raven got out of the car and grinned.

"Hey short shit!"

Despite everything that happened between Raven, Summer and Taiyang, Raven treated Ruby like she was her own daughter. She hugged Summer almost too tight for comfort then let go. Raven looked into the driveway seeing both Blake's car and BB was gone too.

"Where are the love birds?"

"I don't know... I know they just got a house."

Raven's eyes widened, "They left you?"

"Well...It's fine because I know they want a family. I'm OK with it."

"Are you seeing someone?" she asked and Ruby turned pink.

"He's a friend."

"Uh huh."

Raven pulled her into a hug again.

"Baby, if I had an actual home I'd let you stay with me. I know your mom hates me and everything but I can't help but love you. What's going on?"

"Is it hard to fall in love again?" Ruby asked.

The older woman smiled, "Yes. I haven't found anyone since Tai. No one seems interested in someone who loves seeing nature and new places. I already had my daughter, who is the love of my life. I want someone who loves me for me. What about your friend?"

Ruby told her all about Roman. Raven was so surprised to hear who he was then she went further into the stuff they had done together.

"He likes you."

"I know, that's why we are friends."

Raven started laughing.

"No sweetie! He wants you as his girlfriend! He's a rich well known guy because of his daddy and he's known for hooking up every night yet he's only focused on you... What does that tell you?"

Ruby nodded, "But I feel like..." she trailed off.

"He's just playing games with you and it's on big joke."

She nodded.

"I understand. Taiyang was the one who broke the cycle for me. I had a bad relationship and when he started talking to me I thought it was some elaborate joke. Well then I thought it was when I found out about you."

Ruby shifted uncomfortably.

"It wasn't all bad Ruby. Yang got a sister. I didn't want anymore kids and I was lucky she got someone. Ruby I was never mad at you or Summer. I was mad because he didn't trust me enough to talk about his feelings. Communication is important."

"Thanks Raven."

"Call me when you need to talk," she said and gave Ruby a kiss on the cheek, "I'm going to find my demon daughter. I love you!"

"I love you too!"

X

Ruby sat in the kitchen just staring at her sink. It was her house now since Yang left all the paperwork in the table and a note. They left all the furniture mostly. Their room was empty and so was Blake's book room. She wished Weiss was in town now.

"I almost wanna move back with Mom," she said aloud.

I never actually told anyone I was super upset. I don't want to hurt Yang and Blake's feelings after they did so much for me. I wonder if Roman would be OK talking to me?

Ruby's mind floated back to what Raven had said about communication. If he really liked her then maybe he would be willing to talk to her about it. This was one of those times she wished she had more than four friends in her life. She pulled out the paper again for the hundredth time that day and dialed his number.

"Hello?"

"It's Ruby."

There was a a minute pause.

"Hello?"

"Sorry... Um I dropped the phone. You had me nervous. I thought you weren't going to call for a week."

"No... I was nervous. Can we talk please?"

"What did I do?"

"What? No no! I'm kind of upset. Yang and Blake moved out already. I'm... Feeling stupid because I barely like anyone and I'm feeling alone."

"It's not stupid Red. Give me a few minutes and I'll be home. I can't be on the phone OK?"

"Alright, be safe."

Ruby went to her couch and turned the TV on. One of her favorite movies was on do that was the best thing to do without looking on Hulu or Netflix. She was twenty minutes into when there was a knock on her door. Ruby rolled her eyes. It was probably Yang or Blake because they forgot their snacks or something.

"Come in!" she yelled.

She heard the knob wiggle and the door creaked open slowly. Ruby looked but couldn't tell who it was from the couch. A shoe came through the crack then the door was wide open. It was Roman carrying Taco Bell and drinks. He even had a few bags on his arms filled with snacks and two liters of Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew.

"What- I thought you were going home?" she asked trying to figure how he got that much stuff in twenty minutes.

"I... I was already on my way over actually. I was at the store..." he admitted, "I was hoping we could be... Best friends?"

Roman grinned at her with a cheesy expression on his face and she couldn't help but laugh.

"Ok."

She patted the spot beside her on the couch. Roman placed everything on the coffee table then took a spot by her.

"So... This is the inside of your house?" he asked looking around.

"It's actually more empty than normal. Yang and Blake moved everything out while I was at work."

Roman gave her a pat on the back, "That's rough Red."

"Yea I know and even Weiss was out of town."

"Oh."

"She always take me shopping. I was hoping to talk to her about um... Us."

Roman arched an eyebrow, "She doesn't know?"

"She's been gone this whole time. Oddly, her advice was always 'Shop when you're upset and it makes everything better.' she wasn't wrong even if I couldn't buy anything she's still not wrong."

Roman laughed, "Women."

"It doesn't bother you? I mean she's the daughter of your rival company."

"Actually my Dad doesn't get mad. He sees friendly competition only. Jacques is all about sales and shit but he doesn't realize how meaningless it is. Even Weiss doesn't get why her dad acts the way he does. My Dad always invites him to his parties and he never goes."

Ruby giggled, "I take it that's where you got it from?"

"Got what?"

"Your coolness."

Roman short then busted out laughing, "I get that from my Mom actually but thank you. He'll be glad to hear that! My Dad is a fucking nerd."

"Really?" she said looking surprised.

"Oh yea. My Mom loves it. They've been together since fifth grade actually. Would've been a year longer if he had believed her when she asked him out during their class's Valentine's Day party."

"That so sweet!" Ruby said and Roman ruffled up her hair.

"Hey!"

"Eat your tacos. What would you like to watch?"

"What do you want to watch? I'd like to see what you're into."

"Alright."

After ten minutes of searching through horror movies Roman came to Insidious.

"You shouldn't watch scary movies at night!" Ruby hissed.

"What- why? That's when it's the best!"

She gave him a sad puppy face. He couldn't believe she was afraid of watching one at night.

"We'll leave the light on."

"Deal."

After Ruby destroyed ten soft tacos with nachos and cheese they settled in drinking their pop. Both fountain drinks were gone and both two liters were sitting on the coffee table. Neither one bothered to use their cup, instead they drank straight from the two liters themselves. With no problem Ruby was comfortable by him.

Roman stole a few glances over at her. She still had some eye shadow and eye liner on. She had taken off her lipstick but there was a subtle blue tint on her lips. He felt over dressed now since she was wearing plaid pj bottoms and a hot pink tank top with no bra.

"Are you OK?" Ruby asked and he snapped out of it.

"Yea. Why?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

"You look so pretty actually."

She smiled and looked back at the movie. They were half way through when the movie started to get more 'scarier' as Ruby had put it. She was clinging onto his arm tightly.

"Are you OK Red? You seem tense."

"I'm fine!"

Roman put an arm around her and pulled her closer. She seemed to ease up some. He kissed the top of her head and continued watching the movie. He didn't see it but Ruby had a big smile on her face.

The movie ended and they sat there watching the credits in silence. Once they were over Roman pulled away some and looked al down at the small woman beside of him.

"Did you want to talk now."

"If you want too."

Ruby turned to face him.

"Talk."

"I'm happy for them but I feel abandoned at the same time. I kind of felt like they would stay around me. Do you know what I mean? Yang said we could have sleepovers and stuff but I feel like I would be intruding."

Roman nodded, "Why do you think you would be?"

"They were my sense of normal. My whole life has been chaotic even before I was born... Unfortunately."

"How is that possible?" he asked.

Ruby shifted in her spot and took in a deep breath.

"I learned the truth a few years ago. Yang's mom Raven and our Dad was together ten years. Starting their eleventh grade year of high school. They made it through college together. She took art while he wanted to be a professor in physics.

"They had Yang but things were rocky for about two years. Raven is like me, closed off with most but she trusts a few people. Well... I guess Dad got bored... Found my Mom. She was nineteen when she got pregnant with me.

"She found our about Raven and literally hated her since then. My Dad divorced Raven after I was born and married my Mom. Although Raven had my sister most of the time, whenever she brought Yang over she was nice and sweet. From Yang can remember was Raven liked my Mom and never hated her."

Ruby grabbed a bag of chips and opened it.

"I guess Mom was afraid he would go back to her. I know though Raven wasn't a bad person. I had asked her about things before and she told me she just felt more betrayed by the one person she trusted more than anyone in her whole life. She is great though. It seems she would be more my mom than Yang's personality wise."

"Wow..."

Ruby nodded, "My life was a wreck. Still is. Even now... My Mom and Dad get into some ugly fights constantly. That's why I envy Yang and Blake. Yang makes sure things go through so smoothly. I just don't want to follow in the same oath as my Mom."

"I have no intentions of impregnating someone else. Besides kids aren't on my mind unless someone super great comes along and changes it. We've all been hurt Red. Even me."

"You've had your heart broken?" Ruby asked.

"Yep. Even I have. Should've seen it a mile away. No one knew who she was when she walked in that night but it didn't turn me away. She had mint green hair and blood red eyes. She had dark skin and she toyed with that whole night with intense flirting before she agreed to be with me..."

X

Roman didn't care who she was but she was the best looking girl there and there was just something about her he couldn't ignore. She had a slight accent but it was hard to tell where it was from. She was actually a year older than he was but that was quite OK with him. They slammed the hotel door shut together.

Emerald pushed him onto the bed. She crawled on top of him with desire in those fiery red eyes. He wouldn't mind being her play toy especially if she lived in town. She pulled her dress off and threw it on the floor.

"You've been chasing me all night and you don't even know me."

"I don't need to know you to see you're a beautiful woman. I love those eyes and your carefree attitude. Can't blame a man can you?"

Emerald sat down on his groin and stared at him.

"You like my eyes?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I? Eyes are the best part of a person then everything else."

"Wow."

"I'd like to know... Is your name really Emerald?"

She nodded.

"It fits you."

"Awww."

Every night he would meet her at Junior's night club. It had only been open a short while but it was picking up in popularity. Every night they would hit a different hotel and have sex but for him it wasn't sex anymore. After a month straight, he asked her out.

"You... You're kidding right? I'm nineteen and you haven't even hit eighteen yet."

"Emerald, don't play this game with me. If my age mattered, you wouldn't be in a hotel with me every night. I think you're amazing and I want go be with you."

"I bet you're just saying that."

Roman took her hand and kissed it sweetly.

"I don't just say that to anyone. Give me a chance."

He stared at her intensely with those deep green eyes and she looked away.

"Why do you have to stare at me like that?"

"Because you're the only one I see. I want you Emerald. Give me a chance, please."

"Alright I will but don't make me regret it."

After eleven months, Roman proposed to her the day after he turned eighteen. He had taken Emerald to Atlas three months ago when she turned twenty. She stared at him in shock and disbelief. For some reason he saw something else in her eyes... Almost like regret and sorrow.

"Roman I can't."

"Well why not? I'm old enough now!" he said looking hurt.

"You wouldn't understand."

"I would if you explained why! I can wait longer if you feel it's too soon Emerald."

She smiled and touched his face, "I have to go Roman. I won't be back for a while."

"Wait what?"

They stood there in silence for a long time. He didn't know what to say to her. Roman went through his head trying to think of all the things he could've done wrong but nothing came to mind. She walked away leaving him behind with a broken heart.

"Well then I had discovered she had jacked my bank card every night we had together drawing out almost a thousand each time. She was a con artist and one of the best apparently. Came to find out her and her friend had a falling out so she was working alone.

"She did come back to Vale a month later and caught me. She beat the shit out of me in an alley and stole the money I had including my bank card. Dad cancelled it once I called him. The thing was she looked rough as hell. I don't know if it was drugs or she had run out of money or whatever."

Ruby's eyes were filled with tears with her lip trembling.

"Damn Red! I didn't mean to make you cry!"

"That's so sad!"

Roman smiled and reached over hugging her.

"There's no reason to cry. It happened and it's over with. I have moved on. My point stands though- you can move on and love someone even after being hurt. It just takes time."

She nodded wiping away her tears.

"I guess since I told you that, this makes us best friends now for sure."

She laughed, "Alright."

"Mom was super pissed. She almost sent a bunch of men to hunt her down. My Mom can speak different languages and she lost me after a while. She's normally a sweet person like you saw."

"Yea."

Roman reached over and chugged some Mountain Dew. Ruby picked at her shirt feeling nervous.

"Can I ask you something without it sounding stupid?" she asked.

Roman nodded as he wiped his mouth.

"I had talked to Raven and she definitely thinks you like me. I guess part of me is afraid you just want to play so I have to ask. Do you actually like me, like like me?" Ruby asked with her face heating up again. Her heart was pounding furiously.

Roman smiled and leaned in. He grabbed some of her hair and stroked it with his fingers, "I like like like like you Ruby."

She smiled more widely than she would've liked.

"Um... I know sex comes with liking someone but I'm not very good since I've only done it once."

Roman chuckled, "Ruby, I'm not worried that right now. Whenever it happens it will happen. Besides, when you're with the right person, you become good with them and only for them. I mean one night stands are fun and all but it doesn't have all the intimacy of being with someone. If you don't know what I'm talking about then your ex wasn't right for you."

"I really like you Roman. I get butterflies all the time when you look at me."

Roman grinned, "I feel the same Ruby. I just want to make sure you felt the same but you kept talking to me anyways."

Ruby looked away trying to hide her blushing face, "You want to watch another movie?"

"Sure. I'll let you pick this time."

Ruby ended up picking out Die Hard. Even though the movie was playing they spent most of the night talking. Ruby ended up laying down and falling asleep. Roman rubbed her leg as she started snoring softly.

He was trying hard to fight off sleep but he ended up falling asleep too. It was around five in the morning when Ruby woke up cold and saw he had his head on her stomach. She ignored the fact he was laying between her legs because it was embarrassing and she grabbed the bigger blanket covering him up.

Roman didn't move an inch as she grabbed the smaller crochet blanket covering her arms and shoulders so she wouldn't cover his face. She knocked back out until eight when the alarm on her phone went off.

Thanks! I always try to fix my spelling mistakes. Thanks Amethystlover02. I'm trying hard to fluff this one up as much as I can : ),