Chapter 12-Finale

Three months later

After that time, together in the bath, Neo still hadn't been able to work up the courage to tell Ruby what she knew or rather what she thought about Ruby's intentions so instead she remained quiet on it until she could truly ask Ruby about it.

Over the three months Neo had slowly began showing more and more of her pregnancy and the baby in her stomach. They continued their daily lives and whenever Mia had time off school then Ruby and Neo would take time off to be with her and spend time with her.

During this time, as well they had spent a long time with both of Ruby's parents and Blake and Winter who easily became Mia's aunts.

Strangely enough after Mia's mother was seen in court and put away in prison for twenty years because of everything, it was barely a week later that it was Ruby's birthday, something she didn't tell Neo or rather anyone but her parents let it slip to Neo at one point.

On that day, Ruby had gone to work alone while Neo decided to stay home, claiming that she was tired and caught up on work so Ruby went to work alone.

Unbeknown to Ruby though was that Neo was faking it and while Mia went to school that day she started getting everything ready for Ruby's party that evening. Summer and Mizu arriving not long after Ruby had left alongside Winter and Blake and the five of them all started getting it all ready.

Summer smiled encouragingly at Neo as she helped the younger woman get dressed in a beautiful red dress that she had picked out the other week with Summer's help. Which wasn't easy for a pregnant woman. After talking it over with the older woman Neo decided it was best to confront Ruby about it at last, and what better day then her birthday?

"I can't do it…what if I'm wrong? What if Ruby doesn't want to be with me? What if I'm just making it all up in my head?" Neo started stammering out as she paced in her shared room with Ruby.

"Neo dear, trust me. You are not imagining things. My little rose hides a lot of things extremely well, but there's one thing that no one can hide and that my dear is love. If anyone else came to her office begging her to take them on as a patient she would refer them to Chloe or even someone else. Not invite her home and take her in at her own house. Anyone else and she wouldn't have let them even see her bike. Trust me when I say this is true but she will never come to you. Not now." Summer explained.

"What do you mean never come to me?" Neo asked in surprise.

"After the fighting ended she severed all ties and chose to help people in a different way. That is one thing I love about Ruby but hate at the same time." Summer explained, smiling lightly.

"What is it?" Neo asked.

"Ruby's selflessness. She was like that when she wanted to become a Huntress, she wanted to protect and help people. During the fighting, she forsakes her own needs and feelings to focus on ending it quickly. Even now she doesn't allow herself that much happiness but instead helps people while she doesn't help herself." Summer answered.

"But why wouldn't she come after me?" Neo asked, trying to get back onto topic.

"Because she's selfless. You came to her in a…not the best way and Ruby cares too much to try and initiate something with you so she simply contended with helping you and being close with you. But she wouldn't come to you in case your freaked out or something happened negatively." Summer answered.

"So, she's waiting for me to make a move?" Neo asked.

"Yes." Summer answered bluntly. "Come on, she'll be here in a minute." Summer said, gently moving Neo out of the room and with the others who were all waiting for Ruby to come home.

As if she knew when her daughter would arrive home within a minute they all heard the lock being unlocked and then saw the familiar face of Ruby, looking rather worn out and still in her lab coat.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone cheered at once, shocking Ruby to the point that her eyes started to glow slightly and a hand reached towards one of her concealed weapons before she realised what was going on.

"What's this?" Ruby asked everyone in the room.

"Happy Birthday Ruby!" Everyone called out together and Mizu brought out a cake with everyone singing happy birthday to Ruby.

"Thank you." Ruby said as she was smiling widely at everyone as she blew out the candles.

After cake was divided up between everyone and they had sat down eating it they got to presents and slowly Ruby started to open them.

From Winter and Blake, she had gotten a series of books she was interested in but never had time to go and get. Which made Ruby very happy with something to read on evenings now.

Her mothers had gotten her a new necklace but something vastly different to her normal jewellery. It was a mixture between a silver and red rose alongside the blue snowflake of the Schnee family. The two blended together perfectly with the necklace and they seemed to change colour and mix between the two.

Immediately upon revealing it Summer came over and helped Ruby put it around her neck, proudly displayed there.

Next came Mia's gift which seemed the smallest as it came into an envelope and without any words she just handed it over to Ruby to open.

Ruby opened the brown envelope carefully and removed the paper inside and it was silent as Ruby read what was on the paper.

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked as her voice was soft and full of emotion.

"I am. Neo has already signed them but I want you to as well…that is if you want to." Mia explained though she shyly looked away as if expecting the worse.

Ruby smiled at Mia and brought her into a hug, unshed tears gathering in her eyes. "Of course, I want to sweetie. I just want to make sure you're happy, it's…it's so soon." Ruby answered.

"I know but you've helped me for so long and no matter what's happened you've always been there for me…even…even when my own mother never was so it isn't really that long and well…I…I want to stay with you." Mia explained rather emotionally.

Ruby hugged her even tighter as she happily accepted her. She had known Mia ever since she arrived back in Patch and was one of her first patients at her clinic. On that first day Ruby already knew about Mia and what was going on and as she had explained to Mia not long ago that she wanted it to be completely her choice and she simply made it known that she would always be there for her.

Though some, like Winter had questioned her before on why she would allow her back into an unsafe environment but she said that she had no evidence of this but also, she gave the benefit of the doubt.

Ruby didn't question on why Neo had signed them as well but she simply assumed that it was because she wanted both to look after Mia.

Everyone stayed for another hour before deciding to go their separate ways after having fun with everyone there though it was unlike Ruby's other birthdays where she had more people there but in a way less family.

As Ruby climbed into bed that evening though Neo spoke up, "I have got you a present." Neo said softly, handing a small wrapped present over to Ruby.

"You didn't have too sweetie but thank you." Ruby replied as she calmly unwrapped it and read the cove of the book hidden underneath.

"'Parenting. How to raise a baby with your partner.'" Ruby announced as she read the title, turning to Neo to look at her confused, "You know I specialised in babies and pregnancy, don't you?" Ruby asked.

"I uh, I do know that. It's different, I uh…" Neo trailed off, struggling to explain what she had attempted to say but she knew she couldn't back out now. "Oh, fuck it." Neo said and leaned into Ruby.

Ruby was stunned as Neo leaned in and kissed Ruby on the lips, slowly the two worked together into the kiss as Ruby recovered within seconds and reciprocated the kiss.

Their lips used in unison together as Ruby brought up a hand and wove it into Neo's hair gently pushing her further against Ruby's mouth. Neo however was the first to ask for entrance with her tongue, which Ruby allowed and returned as well.

It lasted for almost a full minute before the need for air became too great for either of them to ignore so they broke apart, breathing heavily.

"What…what was that?" Ruby asked, sounding confused but also hopeful as well.

"I was trying to give you a hint with that book but well, I was worried." Neo explained.

"Worried about what?" Ruby asked, cocking her head to the side.

"How you would react…why are you so caring for me? Why did you happily accept me when I changed sides? And when I just turned up? Your mother said you wouldn't do that for anyone else, why me? And no avoiding it this time. I want an answer." Neo said desperately.

"I…it's a…it's complicated." Ruby said, looking away from Neo a little. "I know we explained this before, about Mate's but well. This affected my reasons." Ruby began to explain, stopping as she tried to sort her thoughts out. But she raised a hand before Neo could interrupt.

"When I saw you that first time with Roman, escaping I knew from that moment who you were. Just instantly and I knew what you were to me, even though we hadn't met. After that I wasn't in the best ways, I finally found my Mate and she was beautiful but on the wrong side. At least she was at the time." Ruby explained, smiling sadly down at her lap.

"I threw myself into training to avoid the feelings and any way to distract myself. Then she appeared at the tournament in disguise and she was still beautiful. Eventually when she switched sides after the battle of Beacon but by that point I had buried my feelings too much and it wasn't the time to get involved in a relationship, at all. I gave up hope after a few years but things changed." Ruby carried on.

"Though not in a good way but she was back again and I couldn't help but feel a little bit of joy that she was back but anger at the same time, something I had to restrain quite a bit. But well, I was too scared. She wasn't in a way that at least I thought would have been stable for a relationship." Ruby finished explaining, turning to look at Neo, eyes meeting.

"But it seems like I'm wrong, but…are you sure?" Ruby asked, staring into Neo's eyes.

"I'm sure…I've known for a while now but I want this. Please." Neo practically begged Ruby.

Ruby didn't speak as she brought her hand up to Neo's cheek and pulled her into a kiss that slowly deepened much like the first one but this time both pulled all their feelings into it.

When they broke apart again Ruby was still hesitant in starting this and so asked, "Do you know what this will entail? What the bond means and how it forms?" Ruby asked shyly.

"I know it all. Summer told me and…I want it…all of it but we should go slow, I…I don't want to rush things with you, we've got time." Neo explained.

"Yes sweetie, we have all the time we want." Ruby said, bringing Neo into another kiss.

The next several months the pair slowly worked on their relationship, getting stronger everyday though they haven't done the deed much to Neo's annoyance as she believed it was due to her pregnancy as she had hit her third trimester now and was about a quarter of the way through it.

But unknown to her it was Ruby's nervousness and scared side which wasn't sure about going all the way because of how permanent it was with it all.

But this caused several arguments between the two of them over the months where Ruby would, begrudgingly deny Neo's advances and attempts to go further.

And this day was no different, at least at first it wasn't. They took Mia to school and after dropping her off Neo started the argument once more, or at least started with the small comment.

"Do you not like how I look?" Neo asked as they were getting out of the car.

"What do you mean? Of course, I do, I love you Nea, what would make you think that?" Ruby asked as she was opening the door. Though she was meant to be the first one here and to unlock it she just guessed Chloe came in early which wasn't unusual, but what she didn't consider while looking at Neo was the lock being broken.

"Then why won't you have sex with me. Is it because of the bump?" Neo asked, getting angrier with Ruby.

"Do you know what it'll mean? If we have sex, what it will all mean between us? Your emotions are all over the place, what if you change your mind the day after? Or the month after?" Ruby asked bluntly in response, walking through the waiting room and towards her door but out of nowhere Ruby felt something wrong in the air.

Moving in front of Neo, Ruby was careful as she looked around for any threat and before Neo could even see anyone she shot forward with her semblance and immediately took hold of a woman wearing a white fang mask over her face.

Knocking her legs out and down to her knees, Ruby tightly gripped her hand behind her back as she removed the mask. "Leave now and I will never speak of this again. Stay here and I'll break your arm…please don't make me do this." Ruby said, her voice though was warm and rather soft considering the threat.

"I…I'll go." The woman stuttered out as she saw the look in Ruby's eyes, glowing bright silver so there was no white there.

"Good choice." Ruby said, releasing the woman and crushing the mask in her hand.

As the woman scrambled away from the two trained fighters she practically flew out of the door but Ruby's feeling wasn't gone instead it only got stronger. "Stay behind me!" Ruby ordered, her eyes glowing harshly in the light as she didn't even try to reign in her anger.

Entering her office, she saw who was sitting there, his feet up on her desk with a cigar in his mouth and cane pointed at the door.

"Well hello Little Red, and little traitor." Roman stated in his cheerful tone but he was angry as well and Ruby could spot a small scar on his face from where her scythe had left its mark.

"Roman. I've been waiting for you to show up." Ruby growled out, her eyes now glowing even more as her silver eyes and Maiden powers attempted to fight between each other but her silver eyes won and the glow was even stronger.

"Oh really Red? I see you've taken the little traitor in, I wonder. Is that my child she carries there? Who knew I would leave such a lasting mark on her." Roman asked, sounding even happier. "I wonder, whenever that baby kicks do you think of me? Of how I held you down and you didn't even fight me. Did you know that? She didn't even fight me, I bet the little slut even enjoyed it, especially how rough I was and the way I ripped her clothes apart. She used to be all so high and mighty but now, now she's a weak slutty girl who goes to the first person that shows her any sort of affection." Roman sneered out, attempting to get a rise out of the two.

"I'm curious, did you bed her within the first day? I bet she jumped you, didn't she? Just wants to fuck you all the time. That little sl…" Roman started to say again but was interrupted by Ruby.

Ruby was in front of Roman in seconds and in the scariest look that she had ever seen, her silver eyes bleeding out past her eyes around her face and back to her hair, even that turning slightly as well.

"You deserve to die you piece of shit. For ever thinking of touching my mate. Against her will." Ruby growled out, lifting him up by his neck. "If it wasn't for this being her kill I would happily kill you now but it is not my place. But if you ever even think about her again, I will kill you. Slowly and painfully. But you, you deserve to rot in hell for eternity and longer." Ruby growled once more, watching as Roman started to choke but before he could completely die Ruby smashed his head against the wall, knocking him out completely cold but still alive although barely.

However, as Ruby turned around she saw Neo who was gripping the wall in a death grip but her other hand was grabbing her stomach as she was in pain, tears streaming down her face as it was scrunched up in pain.

"Neo?! What's happening?" Ruby asked, practically shouting as she rushed over to Neo's side to see what was happening. Instantly her powers sought Neo out to try and help her but soon she discovered what it was she started to panic, even against her better trained judgement.

Luckily at that moment though Chloe came through the door calling loudly, "Who broke the lock?" She asked as she had already seen Ruby's car in the drive.

"Chloe! I need help!" Ruby yelled out, cradling Neo as she cried out in pain again as another cramp hit her.

"Shit. What happened?" Chloe asked, taking in everything and quickly crouching by Neo to check on her.

"Roman. He came here, Neo. She's gone into labour. Too early but I think the stress of it all and what's happened has caused it…I…I don't know what to do." Ruby cried out, unsure.

"You should hold her hand. Have you discussed what you want to do? Like who's going to deliver the baby and everything?" Chloe asked as she pulled her phone out to get extra help in.

"She…she wants you to deliver it. I was going to stay by her side throughout it all as she preferred me with her and she trusts you with the baby." Ruby explained as she gripped Neo's hand.

"Right, talk to her and reassure her. Keep her talking. I'm going to give her some morphine and then we need to get her onto a bed, alright?" Chloe explained.

"Nea, sweetie it's alright. The babies coming, I can feel it sweetie but it's going to be alright ok? It's going to be just fine sweetie." Ruby said reassuring.

"It hurts…so much." Neo cried out, gripping Ruby's hand in a death grip.

"I know sweetie, Chloe's going to give you something for it. Are you still happy for her to deliver the baby?" Ruby asked, wanting to check.

"I trust her and I need you. Please." Neo cried out as she held onto Ruby.

"Of course, sweetie, I'm right here. We'll get through this together." Ruby said, putting both hands-on Neo's single hand to help her.

Ruby and Chloe lifted Neo onto a gurney, even though they were a small clinic they had everything prepared for hospital procedures and the equipment for them.

"Call Winter and Blake, get Mia from school and come here. And call my parents. I'll get Neo to a room." Ruby said quickly, already moving Neo to a private room as nurses started to arrive to prepare an operating room.

It took several hours for everything to happen; Ruby's family were sitting outside while Blake and Winter were working with the local police to sort out Roman and clean up what had happened there.

At the same time though Ruby was with Neo, who was in surgery because of a complication and had to have an emergency C-section. Ruby had stayed by Neo's side throughout and her eyes hadn't even dulled since she saw Roman.

Neo though had been in and out of consciousness as the drugs took effect on her body. But afterwards when she could hold her new baby girl she couldn't help but feel the delight even after everything that had happened with her.

One year later.

But now looking back on it a year later Aria's birthday it was something to be remembered in more ways than one. Of course, it was Aria's birth but at the same time it symbolised a key point in their relationship.

Two weeks after that had happened they fully bonded together, having a rather romantic night together as Summer and Mizu looked after Aria and Mia for the night. And since then things had been near perfect with them.

But on that same day Ruby was thrown back into the limelight, at least for a small amount of time but while it was confirmed that Ruby was in patch and had been the one to capture Roman, Winter and Blake made sure that no one even got close to where Ruby was living and doing as they knew she wanted her privacy, especially now with another child.

Now though a year later, while Ruby had gone to Beacon on a few occasions with Neo since she had recovered she still wasn't full time back there but Ruby would help Neo out in her classes.

Though it was a mixture between a house they now owned in Vale and at their house in Patch, spending most of it in Patch.

"Happy birthday!" Everyone called out to the surprised baby who was sitting in Ruby's arms cheerfully playing with her mother's long hair.

Presents were all given to the one-year-old and it seemed everyone just played with Aria as it was her day, though near the end of the night when the kids had gone to sleep and the adults were still awake talking amongst themselves when Winter announced some surprising news.

"We're having a baby." Winter announced suddenly.

"Congratulations!" Ruby said happily, immediately hugging her two dear friends. "How long?" Ruby asked, going into doctor mode.

"Three weeks now. We uh, wanted to make sure before we told anyone. Mizu helped us with it." Blake explained.

"So, Winter's the one carrying then?" Ruby asked, already knowing the answer though.

"I am. I always wanted a child and we decided I'll carry this one." Winter explained to them all.

"We uh, we wanted you to be our doctor for the pregnancy Ruby, that is if it's alright with you." Blake asked for both.

"Of course, I can, I would be a little offended if you went with anyone else." Ruby said teasingly as she sat next to Neo again.

After that revelation and promises to see each other the following week for a check-up and simply seeing each other again.

Ruby and Neo settled down into bed together, as they did every night they cuddled together though this evening was a little different with everything that had happened.

"It's been a year since then, and so much has happened. Look at Blake and Winter, having a child together." Neo said softly.

"I know. So much has happened in that time, it's almost crazy." Ruby replied, kissing Neo's neck.

"Thank you. For everything, you've done so much for me and I felt alone for the longest time but now, now I don't." Neo said.

Ruby hugged Neo tighter and buried her face into her neck and hair, "You'll never be alone again Sweetie, I promise you that."

A/N

So this is the end, the story has a lot of time skips simply because nine months is a long time to write for and, well I didn't want to. The ideas for this were rather sporadic and I had a set plan for it. I quite like how it's come out in some ways.

Thank you everyone for your support and reviews for this story.

In the coming weeks, I'll be uploading my next story which is called The Nazara or as the translation I use in the story The Warrior. If you recognise the word then well done.

Now another question as well, I want to write a Mass Effect Andromeda story, I've already got some ideas but I'm curious.

Would people prefer to see it happen as the game did? So basically, Ruby and Neo would be on Arc Hyperion and replace the Ryders or would people prefer something slightly different? With there being another Arc commanded by Ruby and Neo instead?

Please let me know as it'll help massively. Thank you.

That's pretty much it now, so until next time. Thank you for reading.