Author's Note: This is a bit of a time killer chapter, really I need to wait until Volume 3 is out so that I can tie it in propperly. In the meantime I need some ideas for what they will be doing over the holidays. If you have one please send it in. Other than that please enjoy.

Chapter 21: Warm fluffy beds

Blake lay in a dark shroud of warmth and comfort. The air temperature was perfect, a sharp contrast to the biting cold. The bed was soft and comfortable, so different from the thin straw mattresses. The covers were fluffy and free-flowing, unlike the tight confides of the sleeping bag. Most importantly her pillow was firm but comforting, rhythmically thudding at a slow calm tempo. Slow notes rose and fell lulling the happy faunus deeper into sleep.

Oh how good it was to be in her own bed.

The climate control was on in team RWBY's dorm fighting back the bitter chill of winter. It had been this way since the missing team had returned from their somewhat disastrous assignment. Almost two weeks in a stone castle, a fair way south of vale was more than enough time to put the huntresses in training off winter for a good six months.

Sun decided that around 7 am was a good time to wake up. The shining rays filtered through the window waking up the monkey faunus, who in turn woke up the cat curled up beside him. Blake was not complaining, because she had holidays to look forward to, and a birthday to prepare for.

Baise had been living with them at the dorm for quite a few months now. While she originally claimed to be three and a half background checks now showed that she had actually been closer to three and three quarters.

It had rolled around so quickly, the little girl was growing up so fast. For her age Baise was incredibly talented, fast, smart, strong, and dextrous, showing great potential. Now it was time for Blake's little girl to become a year older.

Blake herself had never celebrated birthdays. Needles to say her hard past gave her little time for celebration of such trivial matters. For some strange reason organising her charge's birthday kind of felt like making up for the ones that she'd missed.

Everyone else was organising gifts for the little girl: Weiss was going to take her shopping for a nice dress, Ren was making a cake, Ruby was hand-crafting her a sword to practice with, Pyrrha was going to start teaching her how to fight, Yang was setting off a fireworks display, Nora had made a new mahogany bookshelf, and Jaune had called upon his many sisters to find a live mini-orchestra to play all her favourite songs.

Sun hadn't said anything about his present and Blake simply had prepared a little black bow

Dr Ooblek and Zans were coming too.

Everyone was very exited for this party, Baise in the middle of it all was completely oblivious.

When the day of reckoning came, all the huntsmen and huntresses in training were very busy. First up Weiss took custody of the to be four year-old. The two made their way to the shopping district where they browsed the dresses department for Baise's favourite. It was a deep purple dress that frilled out at the bottom with violet trim.

After the two shoppers had returned Pyrrha took charge showing the little girl the basics of combat (specifically the fun stuff). After that and a few stories of the spartan's grand exploits Baise was thoroughly pumped up.

A few romance stories with Blake soon settled the little girl down enough for a short nap. Once she had woken up it was time for the real party to start. Once Baise was dressed up in her new outfit and the older faunus were also dressed up, Sun Baise and Blake walked through the campus gardens.

Up on a hill looking out over beacon cliff stood a tree. A great oak with strong far reaching branches. Nestled in among those branches was Sun's present: a tree house. Not just any tree house though it was massive, The main hall alone was easily as big as Team RWBY's quarters, there were also hallways leading to smaller rooms with balconies and windows with working doors and real glass. There was a small dust powered winch like elevator that rose up to a platform witch in turn, lead to the front door.

Light shone out of the door and as the faunus trio approached chattering voices could be heard. When the elevator had finished pulling them up they walked up to the door Baises' chaperones opening the double door to reveal a warm glow and smiling faces.

All at once the attendees shouted "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and Baise's small smile grew slowly at first changing faster and faster into a ecstatic grin. Everyone cheered as the stunned four year-old walked over the threshold into the treehouse.

The room was a big octagonal shape, the polished wood floor and log cabin styled walls made it look warm and inviting. The big windows and balcony gave a beautiful view out to the emerald forest, Small tables had been set up in each of the corners with food and drinks. An area had been cleared in the middle of the room for a dance floor as well. The final detail was a carving around the border of the ceiling.

The music started up and everyone enjoyed themselves. Everyone was dressed well, in suits and dresses, even Zans had a tuxedo. The two children ran around the hall and the area around the tree giggling the whole time. Once everyone had had their fill of food and talk, the dance music started up, there were a few slow songs mixed among the more lively tunes.

Everyone took turns dancing in pairs while the others watched. The highlight though was when Zans asked Baise to dance. He had lead the way perfectly executing a simple waltz. Now it was time to receive her plethora of gifts.

Each room had a gift from a different person. Baise had to navigate the tree house to find them. The first place she found was the armoury. It was a small room, against the right wall stood an armour stand. Specialised light combat armour sized to fit the little girl perfectly adorned the stand, the crown of the dummy's head was decorated with a gold circlet embedded with a sizeable onyx. This had been made by Celebrimbor. Mounted on the left was a weapons rack with the two wooden practice swords and Ruby's gift. It was a short sword of similar design to the wooden ones. The blade was made of blue steel that had been tempered and coloured with charcoal fires to form a strong blade of black metal. The hilt was curved for better protection and the handle was bound with black leather. In the middle of the room was a glass display case on a table. In it the gauntlets from Beacon castle were displayed.

The next room was one on the higher branches, there was a rug and an armchair looking out a large window onto the now dark forest. Along the wall was a large mahogany bookshelf laden with Baise's favourites.

The next room was a small kitchenette, the floor was polished hardwood and the counter even had a stove and a sink. The only downfall was the pumping was pretty… well it sucked. The water was drawn from a wooden water tank hidden higher up in the tree. Most importantly was what Zans gave her in the kitchen. A small mug, just the right size for the young girl. She now had her very own hot chocolate mug.

After the kitchen she visited the master bedroom. It was off to the side near the kitchen it took the form of a small peeked tower. The room itself was broken up into two floors, the first floor was taken up by stairs and several wardrobes there was also a full length mirror opposite the door. On the second floor was the actual bed, it was large and quite comfortable looking. It faced a wood framed glass door that lead to a private balcony. Beacon academy in all it's splendour was visible from the balcony.

Next was the library it was directly above the main hall in the form of a tower like structure. At the base was a veranda occupying the partially flat roof of the hall. Inside was walled with bookshelves. It was broken up into several floors joined by a ladder. It went up a long way often merging with the main trunk of the tree until at the very top it's peeked roof broke above the tree. Just above the treeline there was a circular balcony wrapped around the tower giving a 360 view of the treehouse's surroundings. The best part was on the bottom floor in the middle was a pedestal holding an ancient book. The book told of the tales of a young cat faunus, who started off as a renegade then became a knight and met a monkey faunus, it told of how they saved a little girl and raised her. At the end was a page that folded out to form a long banner. On this was a artwork that followed the whole story. The exact piece had been copied out and carved into the board that wrapped around the inside of the main hall. This was Blake's gift to her little girl.

There was also a bathroom stocked with very pink very fluffy towels, a study, several spare bedrooms and a playroom.

Blake on viewing each of the rooms asked "How on earth did you do this?"

To witch Sun replied "An idea, a lot of wood and an insane amount of debt." Then from the main veranda everyone enjoyed Yang's fireworks display.

The guests were about to turn in for the night when the front doors burst open. Behind them stood none other than professor ozpin.

The white haired headmaster stepped into the room wearing an expressionless mask. His eyes wandered around the room finally stopping on Baise.

"Hmm I've heard that you're celebrating a birthday here… I thought it would be rude for the head master to ignore his youngest student's birthday."

It seemed that everyone in the room sighed a breath of relief. Building a massive tree house just off campus was a first, and it was debatable how well it would go down with the higher ups.

"As such I too have brought you a gift he brought his hands from behind his back presenting her a black scroll with grey-silver accents. This here is a specialised combat scroll pre-set to your specifications. It also has the contact details of all the staff, including an emergency line for me. Hopefully you won't need to use it but it is there just in case."

Now turning to the rest of the attendees he said "It is well past curfew so I trust you will all be going to bed now." Once the headmaster was satisfied that everyone would obey he returned to the emerald tower.

The party was now over and everyone made their way back to the dorms.