Hey guys, I would like to give a big WARNING before you read this chapter. I made a warning in the description box of the fanfic, and now is the time that it begins. As you could probably tell by the title of this chapter, it has to do with a traumatizing theme and will have RWBY spoilers in it. It will include an ex-abusive relationship and is based on the events that happen in the volume three finale. If you have problems with this, I advise that you read with caution, or skip over the chapter entirely. I tried not to put too much information in it, so if you do end up skipping over it, you won't miss too much. Just a reference to the Ruby/Weiss/Rex picture Mony made a while back, and Yang's reason why she hasn't confessed to Blake about her feelings. Anyway, without further adieu:

Roses and Thorns
Chapter 9: New Tears Made From Old Scars

The roaring of a motorcycle's engine could be heard through the empty streets, accompanied by the hum of a small pickup truck. Blake followed behind Ruby and Yang, listening to the radio as it rolled through commercial after commercial, eventually giving up on the music and turning it off. She subconsciously clutched onto the stomach of her light purple shirt, letting her mind slip slightly into her thoughts. This has been a small habit of Blake's since about a year ago; always letting her mind wander to thoughts about ...him. 'How is he? Where is he now? Does he regret what he's done? ...Does he even care?' Blake shook her head, trying to snap out of the past.

"...Should I even care?" She asked herself softly. "And if I did, could I even forgive him?" Blake sighed, remembering all of the scars he gave her; both physical and emotional. He hurt her, and he hurt someone dear to her. He painted horrible memories into her brain, and they could never be swept clean.

Blake felt warm tears forming in her eyes, but she rapidly blinked a few times to keep them from falling.

'Not now.'She thought, 'don't think about that right now, just focus on driving.'She put her attention back on the golden yellow motorcycle in front of her, smiling slightly at seeing Ruby holding on for dear life as Yang drove.

Once they made it to the house, Yang pulled up on the left side of the driveway and Blake parked near the curb in front of the lawn. She took the key out of the ignition and exited her truck, locking it behind her.

"You brought the supplies, right?" Yang asked while taking off her helmet.

"Yep," Blake replied. She unlocked the door to the tailgate and popped up the soft top, revealing a few plastic bags filled with art supplies.

"Sweet." Yang reached in the back and helped Blake carry them.

"Is that the stuff for your project?" Ruby asked.

"Most of it," Yang answered, "I have everything else."

"By 'everything else' she means the poster board." Blake said flatly.

"At least I still bought something."

"Yeah, one thing."

Yang pouted. "...But do we really need all of this?" She asked while raising her bags in emphasis.

Blake stopped and looked at her own bags. "...I guess not."

"...I'll get the door." Ruby offered, considering how the other two had their hands full. She grabbed the spare key from under a nearby bush and unlocked the front door, letting the others in first.

"Thank you Ruby… did you guys remodel?" Blake asked once she was in the house.

"A little," Yang answered, "we just repainted the walls and got new carpet. We also switched things around a bit to make more room for Ruby." Yang turned around and winked at her sister, who smiled slightly while closing the door.

Their house was a small, cozy one that had one story and a finished basement. After the front door was a small hallway with two doors on the right, leading to the closet and the garage. On the left side was a half wall that revealed the dining room. Next to the dining room was the kitchen, but instead of doors, there were open spaces to walk through.

At the end of the hallway was the living room, which contained a dusty red three-seat couch, a T.V., and a cabinet filled with few gaming systems. On the far right back side of the living room was another small hallway, leading to the laundry room. A pair of sliding glass doors was on the right of the back hallway, leading to the backyard, and on the other side were the stairs to the basement. Beside the stairs was Taiyang's room and office, and next to his room and behind the laundry room was the bathroom. Across from the bathroom was Yang's room, and the guest room, which was now Ruby's room, was in between Yang's room and the kitchen. The walls were a light beige color, and pictures of their friends and family were hung all over them. The carpet was a dusty light brown, and the kitchen had light red- wood flooring.

Although it was a small house, the inside was always spacious, and whenever Uncle Qrow would visit, he always made sure to say the number one Doctor Who reference of '

It's bigger on the inside!'

Ruby set her backpack on the couch and headed into the kitchen. "Do you two want anything?" She asked while opening up the freezer.

"No thanks," Blake answered. "we have to get started on our poster board."

Yang nodded in agreement. "We'll be in my room if you need anything."

"'Kay." Ruby said while pulling out a carton of ice cream.

At that both girls headed to Yang's room, then suddenly, Yang ran back to the kitchen and poked her head through the door frame. "No sweets Ruby." She grinned.

"Darn it!" Ruby grumpily put the carton back in the freezer; she already forgot about the bet they made.

Yang chuckled as she walked away. "You can have ice cream in two weeks, Ruby!"

"But it will feel like decades!" Ruby sulked. She sulked, even more, when she heard Blake's light laughter from down the hall.

Ruby grumbled to herself and walked back into the living room. She plopped down on the couch and opened up her backpack, digging around for her script. She pulled it out and began studying it, thinking about what she wanted her costume to look like.

It was a beautiful day. The clouds looked like white cotton, bathed in the beautiful azure sky. The warm sun reflected off of the deep blue sea, and bells and wind chimes were lightly ringing, bringing a summer feel to the air. The sun's rays shined down on the wooden deck, bringing warmth to the feet of the sailors. The ship rocked gently back and forth; enough to bring peace to the mind, and a queasy feeling to those who got sea sick easily. Weiss adjusted her Captain's hat, making it so that the sun was no longer in her eyes. Despite the warm weather, she was dressed in a long sleeve peacoat, white as snow, but faded to an icy blue. She also wore a matching dress underneath with a white ribbon tied around her waist. Her iron toed white high- heeled boots clicked with each step she took as she strutted from one side of the ship to the other. She leaned against the railing and looked out into the never ending blue sea.

"How long until we reach our destination?" She asked one of the crew members.

"Not too long," one replied. "We're just about another hour away."

Weiss hummed a small note. Suddenly, the ship jerked backward, nearly causing Weiss to flip over the railing.

"What the heck?!"

"Captain! Are you okay?!" One of the crew members asked, and a few others helped her back up.

"I'm fine!" She started. "But what happened?!"

"Look!" Another crew member pointed to the sea… or what used to be the sea.

Weiss looked over the railing to find that the ship was no longer surrounded by water, but sand. "Have we reached land?" She asked. "I thought you said it was another hour away?"

"It is! Or… it was…" The crew member said while rubbing his head in confusion.

"Captain! Over here!" Another called from the back of the ship.

Weiss ran over to the other side of the ship, followed by her crew. Her eyes widened at what she saw... the sea was turning into sand… the

entire ocean was slowly turning into a desert.

"What's going on?!" Weiss asked.

"Well Cap'n, I could ask ye' the same thing!"

Weiss looked down and saw a teenage girl standing beside her ship. She was wearing a cowgirl hat, a black and red dress and combat boots, accompanied by a long red cloak. "Who are you?!" She called down.

"Mah' name's Ruby Rose!" The cowgirl called back with the strongest accent Weiss had ever heard. "Wha' abou' you? And how'd yer ship git' in the middle uh' the desert?"

Weiss straightened up. "My name is Captain Weiss Schnee… and… I am uncertain. I was in the middle of the ocean not five minutes ago!"

Ruby scratched her head under her hat. "Tha's funny. I was jus' walkin' through and all uh'sudden a ship appeared out uh' nowhere!"

Weiss was silent for a moment. "Well… do you know how we can get out of here? I am on a very important mission right now."

Ruby smiled up at her. "Well sure Cap'n! I can get ye' to yer destination...but… I can only take one uh' ya."

"Only one?" Weiss retorted.

"You go on ahead Captain!" A crew member called. "We can stay behind and try to dig the ship out." The other crew members quickly agreed.

Weiss stood in thought for a moment, then sighed. "...Fine. I'll go... but please, be careful."

"We will Captain!" The crew agreed.

At that, the ship's ramp was lowered, and Weiss went along with Ruby, waving to her crew as she left.

"So… how do you suppose we get there?" Weiss asked after awhile of walking.

Ruby giggled. "Ye'll see! Just uhh… stand back…"

Weiss quirked her eyebrow in suspicion but complied. When she was a few feet from Ruby, the cowgirl took a large breath and whistled through her fingers as loud as she could. Suddenly, the sand started shaking in beats, as if something gigantic were taking steps toward them.

"What the heck?" Weiss questioned under her breath. "Ruby… what's going on…?"

Ruby turned to Weiss with a smile. "Ye'll see."

Weiss gave her a skeptical look, but it quickly turned to a look of utter shock as a large animal came running at them.

"Ruby! What is that thing?!"Weiss asked frantically.

Ruby calmly turned to the girl. "Weiss, I'd like ye' to meet Rex."

Once the large animal was a few yards in front of them, it slowly skidded to a stop and looked down at Weiss, letting out a loud huff.

Weiss' jaw hung open as the beast made eye contact with her.

A dinosaur.

Ruby's mode of transportation was a freaking

dinosaur.

"W-w-w-what is this?!" Weiss gestured to the beast with both of her arms. "Aren't dinosaurs supposed to be extinct?!"

"Well, that's mighty rude." The beast pouted.

Weiss turned to Ruby with pure shock. "Why is- how is it talking?!"

"Because he learned how." Ruby said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"But... how?!"

"Because I am well educated." The dinosaur, Rex, adjusted the top hat on his head. "It's that simple. Grass is green, water is wet,"

Ruby turned to him. "Actually the water is sand right now."

"Ah, yes, I suppose that's true… the sun is hot,"

"Pineapples belong on pizza,"

Rex stomped his foot. " We've been over this Ruby! Pineapples do

notbelong on pizza!"

"Yes they do!"

"Preposterous!"

"Oh, what would you know, you've never even had pizza!"

"What makes you think I've never had pizza?!"

"Because you're a raptor!"

"What does being a raptor have to do with anything?!"

"It has to do with the fact that animals can't have pizza!"

"Well, why not?!"

"It isn't healthy for them!"

"Well it's not healthy for you either, but you still eat it!"

"Because humans can digest it!"

Weiss looked back and forth between the two, utterly amazed at how they can be fighting about

pizza when the entire ocean just turned into a desert.

"Listen, my point is that pineapples do not belong on-"

"ENOUGH!" Weiss snapped, startling the two out of their argument. "Look, I reallyhave to get back to my mission, so if you could please cut it out with all this nonsense and help me get to my destination, it would be much appreciated!"

Rex and Ruby looked at each other then back at Weiss. "Ah, yeah... sorry about that..." Ruby scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.

"Yes... we seem to have gotten carried away." Rex agreed, awkwardly rubbing his toe in the sand.

Weiss took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Thankyou. Now, how exactly are we going to get there?"

Ruby smiled at Rex. "Well, I didn't call this big guy over here for nothing."

Rex returned the smile and readjusted his top hat. "Yes, please, allow me." Rex bent down so Ruby could climb onto his back. Once she was seated, she motioned for Weiss to follow.

'Of course,' Weiss rolled her eyes, 'we're riding him.'

Once Weiss was seated on his back, Rex rose up and began to walk. "So where are we heading to?" He asked.

"A small island by the name of Patch," Weiss answered, "I have business with the General Xiao- Long."

"My dad?" Ruby asked, surprised. "What business do you have with him?"

"Wait! General Xiao Long is your father?!" Weiss' eyebrows shot up in shock.

"Yep. We have different last names, though... I kept my mother's."

"Oh..." Weiss adjusted her hat in embarrassment. Had she known Ruby was his daughter, she would have treated her with a little more respect. "Well, I am to send him a message from my own father... about the war going on in Remnant."

"Oh... yeah, he was talking about that earlier this morning." Ruby suddenly pulled out a red and black scythe. "That's why he gave me this."

Weiss nearly fell off of Rex. "Gah! Ruby, how long have you had that thing!"

"This whole time." She answered simply. "My dad gave it to me in case if I run into the enemy."

"Wait..." Weiss noticed something was off with Ruby. "Say that again."

"Uh... My dad gave it to me in case if I run into the enemy?" She repeated.

"Ruby... what happened to your accent?"

"My accent...?" Ruby quirked her eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Yes, Ruby has never had an accent." Rex added.

"Yes she did- yes you did!" Weiss furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "It was an incredibly strong southern one! I could hardly understand what you were saying!"

"Weiss I think you're confused..." Ruby said.

"Surely," Rex added.

Weiss opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, trying to form a sentence. "Bu- yo- I-"

Ruby looked at her over her shoulder. "Weiss I can't understand you..."

Weiss stared at her, completely stumped. "But..." she sighed, "You know what? Forget it. Let's just get to Patch."

Ruby and Rex shared a worried glance, but chose to ignore it. "If you say so..."

"Sure!" Ruby gleamed.

"What? But Ruby, we need to get to-"

"Oh, come on Weiss, it's just one picture!" Ruby begged.

"It would make a great souvenir." Rex added.

Weiss sighed, giving in. "...Fine."

"Yay!" Ruby and Rex cheered. The man motioned for them to follow him, and he led them to a wall that had a large painting of a rainbow on it.

"Ooh! A rainbow!" Ruby's eyes lit up and Rex smiled, but Weiss just looked at it with a dull look.

"It's not that exciting." She said under her breath.

Rex walked over to the wall and got into position. The man with the apron had them all pose and readied the camera.

'We don't have time for this…'Weiss thought, but then she was suddenly caught off guard by Ruby pulling out her weapon.

"Can I have this in the picture?" Ruby asked, and the man nodded, telling them to all smile. Ruby and Rex complied, but Weiss was so caught off guard that she didn't have time to smile before the man took the picture. The camera flashed, and-

Ruby's eyes popped open as she suddenly jerked awake. She looked around confused, noticing that she was still sitting on the couch and that someone put a woven blanket on top of her. The room was dark, the only light source coming from the kitchen and dining room. She could also hear and smell someone cooking in the kitchen.

'...That… was quite a dream…'She thought while stretching. She stood up and folded the blanket and put it back in the closet, wondering who put it on her. She looked at the clock on the wall above the kitchen doorway, the small hand was on the six and the big hand rested just past the three. Ruby walked into the kitchen to see her dad making dinner.

"Hey Dad." She said while rubbing the sleepiness out of her eye.

He turned and smiled at her. "Oh, hey kiddo. How was your nap?"

"It was alright… I didn't mean to fall asleep, though." Ruby took a glass out of the cabinet and filled it up with water. "By the way, were you the one who put the blanket on me?"

"Blake put it on you when she left." Yang answered as she walked into the kitchen. She put two blocks of cheese and a cheese grater on the counter. "Here ya go, Dad."

"Thanks… but, uh… may you also get the basil?" He asked apologetically. "We ran out in here..."

Yang sighed as she went back to the garage.

"Thankyou!" Tai called. "Ruby, you mind grating that for me?" He asked has he went back to frying the meat.

"Sure." Ruby put her glass down and unwrapped the cheese. "What are we having?"

"Homemade pizza."

"That explains my argument with the raptor."

"...What?"

"Nothing..."

"Alright Dad. Here's your basil." Yang said while re-entering the kitchen. "Do you need anything else?"

"Nope." Tai grabbed the seasoning and shook some of it into the sauce. "But may you help your sister?" he laughed, "It looks like she's struggling."

Yang turned to see Ruby on her tiptoes, trying to reach a plate from one of the higher cabinets.

"Wait! I got it!" Ruby said with effort in her voice. She kept trying to reach the plates but was still off by a few inches. After a few more seconds of failing, she sighed and gave up. "We really need to put those on a lower shelf..."

"You really need to grow taller." Yang chuckled.

"And you really need to understand that I can't and won't." Ruby deadpanned.

Yang laughed as she reached up to grab a plate. When she did, her short sleeve slid up past her elbow, and Ruby was shocked to see a long scar running two-thirds of the way around it. Yang's sleeve fell back down when she handed Ruby a plate. "Here ya go."

"...Thanks…" Ruby grabbed the plate and set it on the counter. "...What happened to your arm?"

The room suddenly froze, and a strong tension filled the air.

"What do you mean…?" Yang asked almost softly.

"I saw a scar…"

"Oh… uh… skateboarding accident…"

"Oh, okay." Ruby started to grate the cheese. "I've just never noticed it; probably because you're always wearing your jacket," she smiled, "though I guess I don't really have room to talk."

"Heheh...yeah." Yang smiled nervously, but Ruby didn't seem to notice. The tension seemed to calm down, and she turned to Tai. He gave her a knowing look and motioned for her to go to him.

"You have to tell her eventually…" He whispered.

"...I know… I will..."

Tai patted her shoulder and gave her a comforting smile. She returned the smile, then walked out of the kitchen. "I'll be in my room if you need me."

"Alright." Ruby and Tai said, and continued to cook.

"...Hey, Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Are we putting pineapples on the pizza?"

"Absolutely!"

"I knewit!"

Ruby put the last dish in the dishwasher and closed it, drying her hands on the dish towel. She and Yang started taking turns washing the dishes since their dad did most of the cooking. This became a small routine ever since Ruby moved in, and she only found it fair to help with the chores since she'd be living there now. She hung the towel on the rack and went into her room to change into her pajamas. Once she was done, she plopped down on the living room couch and turned on the T.V., switching through the channels until she found a show she liked.

"What'chya watchin'?" Yang asked while sitting down next to Ruby. She was in her pajamas as well.

"Achievement Hunters." She answered.

Yang hummed a note. They both sat there and silently watched the show. When the episode came to an end, Yang fidgeted awkwardly and turned to Ruby, acting as if she wanted to say something. Ruby didn't seem to notice as her eyes were glued to the T.V., but then Yang cleared her throat.

"Hey, sis…?" She sounded weary.

"What's up?" Ruby asked, putting her attention on Yang instead of the screen.

"Soooo…. I have to tell you my share of the lost bet…" Yang said awkwardly.

Ruby suddenly perked up. "Oh yeah!" She smiled. "So… why haven't you told her?"

"May we talk in your room?" Yang blushed.

"Sure." Ruby giggled, figuring Yang wanted to keep the conversation private. She stood up and turned off the T.V., motioning for Yang to follow her. They went into Ruby's room, and she shut the door behind them. She sat on her bed and patted the spot in front of her, motioning for Yang to sit down. Yang sat cross-legged in front of Ruby and took a deep breath.

"Sooooooo," Ruby asked again, "why haven't you told her?"

"Well," Yang looked down at her lap "to be completely honest… I'm scared."

"Hm…" Ruby's expression became more serious. "Why? I mean, on the queer side of things, I can understand… but Blake is your best friend, and she's bi, so I'm sure she won't react too awkwardly if you told her."

"No," Yang corrected, "I'm not scared of her reaction… I mean, I know she wouldn't react badly, but… still, that isn't it."

"Oh… then what is?" Ruby asked softly.

Yang looked up at her and took a deep breath through her nose. "You know how dad and I had to cancel our family meet up last summer...?"

"Yeah." Ruby answered, wondering what that had to with anything. "You guys called us on the second to last day before we left because you got really sick."

Yang looked down to the side almost shamefully. "... I… wasn't actually sick…"

Ruby's heart skipped a beat, and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "...You weren't?"

"No...I… I was in the hospital."

"..."

"...what…?"

Yang looked down at her lap again, as she wasn't able to look Ruby in the eyes.

"You were in the hospital?"

"...Yeah…. Dad and I were planning on telling you and Mom after you got here… but…" Yang looked at a picture frame sitting on Ruby's bedside table. A picture of Summer laughing filled all four corners of it, a picture that had been secretly taken two years ago. "...things changed."

Ruby sat there stunned, still trying to process what Yang said. Her thought process snapped as she noticed Yang move.

Yang pulled up her right sleeve, once again revealing the long scar just above her inner elbow. "I didn't… actually get into a skateboarding accident…"

Ruby figured that out by now, and she understood why Yang lied about it, but she still felt a little hurt that Yang didn't tell her the truth. "So… what happened?" She asked softly.

"..." Yang took another deep breath, trying to figure out where to start. "First… let me tell you about Blake's ex-boyfriend, Adam."

"...Blake had a boyfriend?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah… he's a bull faunus; has two little horns peeking out of is bright red hair…. He also has major anger issues…" Yang's voice caught at the end of her sentence, and she squeezed her eyes shut to keep herself from crying.

Ruby sat patiently, waiting for Yang to further explain.

"He um… I was at their shared apartment, studying with Blake for a big test coming up. And I don't know what came over him, but when he walked in… he was furious. Blake asked him what was wrong, and he just… he gave her this look, and then he asked me to leave the room for a minute. I was hesitant at first, but… I did as he asked." Yang stopped and took another breath.

"I didn't want to eavesdrop, but… he was yelling. I don't remember exactly what was being said, but it was along the lines of him thinking Blake was cheating on him with me… considering how Blake and I were together constantly. She… she tried explaining to him that we're just friends, but he didn't believe her…" Yang paused to calm herself down, as she had begun crying. Ruby crawled over to her and hugged her, waiting until Yang was ready to speak again.

"After a few minutes of them arguing, he-" Yang's breath hitched, and it was becoming harder for her to talk. "...His anger got the best of him and he…. he took one of their kitchen knives….."

"Yang…" Ruby hugged her tighter.

"I-I-I heard her scream a-and he….. I ran out there to help and she was on the f-floor bleeding and…"

"Yang."

"She was holding her s-stomach and he was still yelling… I...I ran at him without thinking and fought him… he swung at me with his kn-knife and he… nearly cut my arm off…"

"Yang." Ruby cried. She could feel Yang shaking uncontrollably into the hug, and Ruby did her best to calm her down. "Yang… it's okay, it's okay, I'm here…." She spoke softly. "I'm here."

Yang latched onto Ruby and took shaky breaths, trying to calm herself down.

They both stayed that way for a long time; hugging each other until they had calmed down. After a while, Yang spoke again.

"...Th-the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital... Dad explained to me that the neighbors in the apartment room above heard the commotion and called 911, but when the cops showed up, Adam was nowhere to be seen…"

Ruby thought for a moment, "And… he's the reason why you won't confess to Blake…"

"Yeah… I fear that if I did tell her, and if something were to happen between us… he'd somehow find out. And I know it doesn't really make sense but-"

"No, it makes perfect sense, I mean, from your point of view... He thought Blake was cheating on him with you, so he acted out with rage, so from that you're scared that he'll come back for you two if you were to tell her… right?"

"...Yeah, something like that."

"Hm..." Ruby thought for a moment. "Well, the police are still looking for him, right?"

"Yeah…"

"So with that being the case... if he were to find out about you two, I don't think he would try to go after you because then he'd make himself an open target to the police… and if they have yet to find him, that means that he's making sure it stays that way... So why would he risk it?"

A slight look of realization swept over Yang's face. "Yeah… I guess that makes sense…"

Ruby tried to think of something that could cheer Yang up. "And... even if Adam tried to go after you two, I know that Dad and Mr. Belladonna wouldn't have it. I may have been young, but I still remember how powerful those two are together; that douche bag wouldn't stand a chance. Oh! And Uncle Qrow would be there too!"

Yang laughed slightly. "Yeah, I suppose. But… still, I'd rather wait to tell her… at least until I know for sure that Adam is behind bars."

"Well, rather you tell her or not, I'm here for you Yang. We all are." Ruby invited Yang in for another hug, and she graciously accepted it. "You're in a safe place, Yang. Never forget that."

"Thankyou Ruby," she smiled, "It means a lot."

Ruby nodded into the hug. "Feel better?"

Yang pulled away to wipe a remaining tear out of her eye. "Yeah."

"Good. That means I'm doing my job right."

Yang chuckled. "That's my line."

"Yeah… hey, do you wanna spend the night in my room? I mean, my bed is big enough for both of us…" Ruby offered. When she and Yang were little, they would spend the night in their rooms as a way to cheer each other up whenever they were sad.

"Sure." Yang smiled warmly. "That'd be great."

Ruby got up and grabbed a few spare pillows from her closet. "It'll be like old times."

"And I'm sure we both could use the comfort." Yang added. "It's been a rough day for the both of us."

"Haha, yeah..." Ruby put the pillows on her bed and they both got under the covers. Once they were situated, Ruby reached over and turned off her lamp, bathing the room in darkness. "'Night Yang."

"Goodnight."

"Hey, Ruby?"

"Yeah?"

"Tomorrow's another day. Let's make it a good one."

Ruby hummed in agreement. "Love you, sis."

"I love you too."

At that, both girls went to sleep, waiting for the new day ahead of them.

To be continued.

Hello again, c59t here.
I would like to apologize once again for the delay… and I would like to explain.
Before I posted this, I explained how I wanted to make it up to you guys for being so late by making a Christmas special, and a long chapter…. Well, although I did make this chapter long, I haven't worked too much on the Christmas special. I only have a few lines written, and I have yet to finish it. It has also taken an extended time for me to post this chapter…

Usually, the reason why it takes a while to post is due to the constant loophole of work and writer's block… though this time, it is not the case… the reason for the extended time it took is because very recently I have not been in a well mind to write… or do anything. Very recently, I was given the news that my mom passed away… and since then it has become emotionally difficult for me to write Roses and Thorns, considering how it is based around Ruby coping with the loss of her own mom. Due to that, I have abruptly stopped working on it, and I needed time to be with my family and some time to myself. But now I am feeling ready to start writing again, and even though it will be difficult emotionally, I also feel that it will help me to give a more realistic feel to the things Ruby is going through, personally. As I write, I will put more of my own feelings into Ruby, as I feel it will help me cope as well.

Once again, I would like to apologize for the very long delay, and words can't describe how thankful I am that you all are being so patient with me. From here on out, I will try my best to move onward not only in coping, but in writing as well. I would also like to apologize if this chapter was a little messy, as I made a few pauses in between. Also, starting February, I will make it my goal to post every other Sunday, and will be writing a Valentine's day special to make up for the Christmas one.

Thankyou all again,
-c59t