Author's Note

Current timeline: 2, 8, 12, 3, 11, 1, 10, 5, 7, 6, 9, CS, 4.

I feel like I've given ample warning, but I'll say it again, sadly there is no Ruby/Weiss in this chapter. Please put down the pitchforks though, I'll make it up to you all with the next chapter within a couple of days hopefully. As previously stated, I mentioned Ruby and Blake being close in chap 1, which I'm finally getting around to explaining now..

It's not intended as Ruby/Blake as it is part of the R&W continuity, but if you want to look at it that way I'm not gonna stop you. I seem to be writing a lot of Blake recently, as after the next chapter to finally scratch the Ruby/Weiss itch I'll start my Yang/Blake series of stories.

Italics are flashbacks. Same deal as way back in chapter 2.

Title: Faded Memories and Rediscovered Bonds

Characters: Ruby and Blake.

Genre: Friendship, Hurt/Comfort.

Summary: She isn't sure, but Ruby believes that she has met Blake once before, long ago. A half forgotten memory of an older girl that helped her out once when she needed it most.

"Blake..." Ruby called out softly.

She had been looking for the raven haired girl for most of the day. She hadn't given too much thought about her when they...first met, when Blake had stood up to Weiss for her. When she had seen her reading later that night it triggered a faint tickle in the back of her mind. After she became Yang's partner, and their team was formed, Ruby came into contact with Blake more. But even then, the other girl always remained somewhat aloof. Yet that nagging the back of her mind only grew stronger.

Eventually though, she had remembered it. A half forgotten memory long since faded, but something which had never quite left. It was a light amidst the darkness for her, a moment amongst other times she preferred not to dwell upon.

A young girl clad in an oversized red cloak stood silently, her expression downcast. Next to her the matron of the orphanage she had now became a ward of spoke as she gestured towards something in front of them. The girl with her face downward did not see what she was pointing to, nor had she been listening to most of the matron said.

"-en here long, but she has been a great help." Turning to see that her charge was not looking at the other occupant in the room, the matron gave her a gentle nudge.

Looking up, a pair of dull silver eyes met gold.

Ruby had never gotten her name at the time, and with the many years that passed since she saw her the memories of her appearance had faded. But now that those times were stirred up once again, when she really thought about it, what she could remember of the other girl's features were unmistakable. Ruby felt that she had to confirm whether or not it was her. It took her a while, but she had eventually found Blake in a hidden corner of the school curled up with a book. She felt like the raven haired girl spent a lot of time alone with a book.

"Hmm?" hummed Blake as she looked up from her book. She looked back at Ruby for a moment who was staring at her before Blake blinked. "Ruby? Did you want something?" Short, abrupt, and to the point.

Ruby's eyes glided over every inch of Blake's face, as if searching for something. "...I wasn't sure. I didn't even realize at first." she whispered softly, perhaps more to herself than to Blake. Her gaze strengthened, staring solidly into her amber eyes. "But it was you wasn't it?" Blake continued looking at her with a blank expression as she waited for Ruby to add to her statement. "...Almost ten years ago, in that small town orphanage. That was you, who spoke to me." Ruby's words were uncharacteristically quiet, spoken deliberately and methodically.

Blinking once again Blake took a moment to think about it. A second later though, she slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry...but I don't recall."

A small frown came on Ruby's face, but she pressed on undeterred. "You gave me a book..."

The young Ruby was once more by herself. She had managed to find her way on to the roof of the building once more. It was quiet up here with nobody else around. Pulling her knees to her chest she looked down at the surrounding areas. It was so quiet, so peaceful and still. So empty, so dead. Just like how she felt inside. Looking over the edge of the building it didn't seem that high, but sometimes she wondered...

"You probably shouldn't be up here you know." Ruby started at the sudden unexpected voice. Looking over she saw the girl the matron tried to introduce her to sitting beside her with a book. She had never even heard her come up. Ruby was about to snark back to her repeating what she said before the older girl's next statement caused her to flinch. "If you fell off the edge, you could really hurt yourself...maybe even die if you landed badly." Her amber eyes stared at Ruby knowingly. The words were without accusation or judgement, but she felt petrified under the other girl's gaze regardless.

Ruby shifted uncomfortably in the silence that followed. Her unnamed companion however remained serene, calmly flipping through the pages of the book she held. "Do you read much?" the girl asked Ruby. She shook her head causing the other girl to look over. "You are old enough to know how to read though right?"

This time Ruby gave her a petulant look as she nodded. "Of course I know how to read. I'm not a baby," she grumbled childishly.

A smile of amusement appeared on the other girl at the first sign of life from Ruby. "Well, how's about you give this a try then?" She handed the book she had been reading from over, which Ruby tentatively accepted.

She looked down at the book, there was no title. Opening it up she took a minute to slowly flip through it and found that it was a compilation of what looked like fairy tales and fables. Looking up Ruby intended to ask the other girl why she wanted her to read this book, but she was already gone.

"...I couldn't find you again after that time, you just disappeared. And nobody would answer when I asked about you," Ruby finished her explanation softly. Looking up she could see the flicker of recognition in Blake's eyes now. "That was you though, wasn't it? I never got your name back then, but I am certain of it."

"...Yes," Blake admitted after finally remembering. She looked a little surprised at the thought that she and Ruby had actually first met so long ago. "Yes it was." She paused again, gaining a contemplative look as she thought back, trying to remember what she was doing all those years ago. "I was just...passing through town at the time. While I was there, I spent some time helping out around the orphanage." While Ruby felt that Blake was leaving something out, she didn't call her out on it.

"I still have that book you know. I read it like you told me too. Many times." Ruby looked directly at the other girl as she spoke, Blake having long put aside her book. "In many of those stories, the characters went through some hard times. But things got better in the end. I was going through some dark times myself, and those stories really helped pull me through. Thank you."

Blake looked pleasantly struck in surprise by the heartfelt thanks from Ruby. A faint but sincere smile ghosted it's way across her lips. "I'm glad that I was able to be of help to you."

"You gave me hope," Ruby started off her next statement. "That maybe my life would get better, just like in the fairy tales, and it has. But you said something that first night here at Beacon, that 'The real world isn't the same as a fairy tale.' but I don't believe that." She strode towards Blake, closing the distance between them. "I don't know why you left. I don't know why nobody would answer when I asked about you. I don't know why you've become so jaded since then. But it doesn't matter. There's always a better tomorrow."

Blake just looked at her sadly before shaking her head and looking downward. "As I said, I'm glad that things worked out for you," she began as she looked up once more at Ruby. "But life doesn't always turn out that way for everyone. Not everyone get's a happy ending."

"But that's what we're here for. To make things better." Ruby stepped in and pulled the surprised Blake into a sudden hug. "You don't have to be alone. You have me, and Yang. Even Weiss on a good day." Blake didn't say anything, or even move. She simply remained still in Ruby's embrace. "You were there for me once. You helped out a little girl you didn't even know. A girl that had no one else at the time. But you're not alone. You have us now, and this time you should let somebody else be there for you."

As Ruby pulled out of the hug she saw that Blake now had a bittersweet smile on her face. Putting on the biggest grin she could manage, Ruby grabbed Blake lightly by the wrist. "Come on, Yang wanted the whole team together later for something. We should probably go find Weiss before we meet up." As she turned to leave, Blake followed quietly behind.

Author's Note

There we go, explanations for Ruby and Blake being close as mentioned in chapter 1. Chalk up her still kinda OOC behaviour at the end of that first chapter as influence from Yang and the happier Ruby as well as some lightening up over time. This turned out with way more of a feel of Ruby/Blake than I originally intended...which is odd as I don't actually like the pairing. Still, I'm putting it in Red and White because of the aforementioned reasons, tying up loose ends and whatnot.

This chapter kinda made Ruby's personality a little more muddled though. While she isn't exactly suicidal or anything anymore, she's still a little reckless. Puts others before herself as well.

Next chapter will have Ruby/Weiss. It feels like it's been a while. I'll try and have it up soon.