New Chapter! About damn time huh? I am sorry for making you all wait especially since I said that I would do so more often with my last chapter. Work has been crazy as has my personal life (depression and anxiety suck by the way). I will try to update more often but no promises.
Anyways, enjoy the chapter though I must warn you…it is a bit…angsty.
Oh, and I plan on this story being done by chapter 30 just you all know and I have a lot planned before then, so, be prepared.
Edit 11/4/17: I rewrote this chapter as I got a few reviews that said it was basically word vomit and I must agree. I have no idea why I wrote it the way I did but I do hope that the rewrite is much better. Just so you all know, every review is appreciated, even the criticizing ones as they do help.
Everyone stayed seating in the room, neither moving or speaking. They were too surprised at the unexpected arrival of Weiss's mother as well as her stating that she had come to help her daughter. The silence went on for seconds, each person wondering what Weiss will say or do. Needless to say, what she did do wasn't surprising to most of them.
"Help? HELP?! You probably led father here straight to us!" Weiss shouted as she pointed an accusing finger at her mom. "And you helped!" she then pointed the finger at Winter who raised an eyebrow at the accusation.
Winter raised her palms in front of her, "Now Weiss, I know that you are upset."
"Upset?!" She yelled, her icy blue eyes were wide and filled with rage.
Oh boy, she was beyond upset. She was having a good birthday up until now. Got engaged the day before, had great birthday sex, received several wonderful gifts from her friends but now, now it was all ruined. Just the sight of her mother fueled her with anger but not at her sudden appearance. No, it was anger that had been building up for years from both her mother's verbal abuse and lack of even caring about her. Now it seemed that her mother suddenly grew a conscience and decided to help but Weiss wasn't believing any of it.
"You brought mom here and I am sure that father is not too far behind and it's because of you!"
There was a small pause where nobody spoke. There atmosphere around them was getting more tense by the second. Finally, Pyrrha stood up. "I think we should give them some privacy. Come on everyone, let's go outside and talk a walk by the lake." She said to her team along with Yang, Blake, and Tai.
The older man simply shook his head. "No, I should stay. I think it would be best for me to be here for Ruby and Weiss as well as get a better "understanding" of my daughter's future mother-in-law."
"Of course." Weiss's mother said with a small nod.
"What about me?! And Blake?! We're family as well." Yang exclaimed with Blake nodding in agreement. It was understandable as to why she wanted to stay. For a majority of her life she had been watching over, protecting her sister and now she sees Weiss as one as well. She obviously didn't trust the new visitor and wanted to be there in case anything happened.
Blake wasn't completely different. While she had no siblings of her own, she did see the other two members of her team as her family no matter what differences she had with Weiss in the past. The had gotten over it long ago and if anything, it only had gotten stronger in time.
Tai leaned over in his chair with his elbows resting on his knees and hands clasped in front of him. "Only if it is okay with Ruby and Weiss?" he said as he gestured to the two girls.
"I would rather have this conversation in private if you…" Weiss's mother started to say but was stopped by her youngest.
"No. If you have something to say to me then they can be here for it. They are my family and have been a lot better than you." Weiss said stern voice and pointing angrily at her mother.
The woman sighed before nodding her head. "Fine but the others should leave. It would be for the best."
Weiss was about to argue about that but Ren spoke up instead. "She is right. This is a family matter more than anything and we do not want to interfere." He then looked to his teammates who nodded. "We will be outside if you need us." With that, his teammates then followed him outside towards the back leaving the estranged family alone inside.
"Now," Weiss spoke with a glare at her mother. "Why are you here and what do you want?"
"Weiss, please." Her mother looked at her, the older woman's eyes pleading. "Please just give me a chance to explain."
"And why should I do that?!" Weiss yelled. "You were cruel to me as a child?! No matter what I did I was just another disappointment to you and could never live up to the Schnee name!" Weiss could feel her anger building and clenched her fist together even tighter. "A name that I don't care about anymore. A name that is frowned upon and hated by so many in this world and not just by the Faunus! I don't want be a Schnee anymore and thankfully I won't have to be for much longer." The former heiress moved closer to Ruby and took a hold of her hand. "I am going to marry Ruby and take her name and I don't care what you think or about your disapproval and…"
"Weiss." Willow interrupted, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke. "I know that I haven't been the best mother, to you and to Winter." She turned to her eldest daughter as she said her name before turning back to Weiss. "I am truly sorry and I do not expect you to forgive me. Being with your father for so long had changed me so much that whenever I look into the mirror I don't even recognize myself."
She lowered her head slightly and turned away as a tear fell down her face. "Your father," she took a deep breath, "when we were first married, he was actually a kind man. It wasn't until he took the company over did he reveal how he truly was. Over the years he became cruel and abusive, especially when I questioned him on what he was doing with the company. After so many years I was slowly started to care less and less. When he wanted a child so he may have his heir, things got worse."
Winter moved and place a hand on her mother's shoulder to comfort her. Weiss watched the act and wondered as to why her sister was suddenly being so kind to their mother. While her mother's words did make her less angry, it still didn't make her trust the woman and only wanted her to say what she needs to say and then leave.
"When we had Winter, he was very disappointed. As you can probably guess, he wanted a male heir and the fact that I delivered him a female made him enraged. He blamed me for it and after that, the yelling and the abuse only got worse. To him I had ruined the Schnee name and he practically forbid me from being able to properly take care of Winter, deciding to leave the raising to him."
Her mother then scoffed. "Raising her. Years later he decided to try again as apparently Winter was not living to his expectations as his daughter. When we had you," she looked at Weiss with a sadden expression, "things got even worse. A second daughter only made him furious and when he tried to raise you to become his heir after Winter left, he only saw you as another failure. While I know I was cold and seemed uncaring, I still did love you as a mother could."
Willow took a step forward and placed a hand on Weiss's shoulder. "I saw how he treated you and I did try to help even when you didn't notice. When your father wanted to fire Klein for giving you candy and other treats when you were little, I talked him out of it stating that finding another caretaker would take too long while in truth I knew that Klein was your only true friend. When you brought home that dog and secretly hid it in your room for a month, I knew."
Weiss suddenly looked at her mother in surprise both at her words and the smile on her face. "I told Klein to buy food and treats for him and whenever your father got close to finding out, I was able to lead him away. When he did find out, he wanted the dog put down but I made sure that he was given a proper home. I have even been sabotaging your father's attempts to get you married the past few years by revealing some unwanted information about the other families to the press."
Weiss lowered her head as she could feel her eyes begin to water. She tried to fight the tears and keep them in but one managed to escape as she felt it fall down her cheek. Suddenly, a hand brushed against her cheek causing her to look up to see her mom looking back down at her as she wiped away the tear.
"I do love you Weiss. I truly do and I am very happy to see that you have found someone to spend your life with." Willow said as she looked at Ruby with a smile who smiled back. "I only want to help so please, let me make up for everything."
"Weiss…" the snowy haired girl turned to her side to see Ruby looking at her. Her silvers eyes almost pleading to her. "Please just, just listen to what they have to say. Do you honestly believe that your sister, who by the way has done so much to keep us safe, would put all that in jeopardy by inviting your mom if it was not worth it?"
Weiss thought for a moment. Ruby's words did have merit and proved a good point. She turned to her mother who was standing patiently, waiting for her decision. Weiss tried to read her face, to see if she could find any hint of deceit but could not. It was then that Weiss noticed that her mother looked much older than she should and after a further look, she made a note that she was also quite thinner than the last time she saw her.
Taking a sigh, she made her choice. "Fine." Ruby smiled and squeezed her hand. Winter and her mother smiled as well. "But!" she shouted with a raised finger. "I do not trust you. I trust Winter and it is thanks to her and Ruby that I will listen to you."
Her mother smiled. "Thank you, Weiss. You will not regret it."
"That has yet to be seen." Weiss mumbled with her arms crossed and sending a glare at her mother.
The older woman sighed before her eyes landed on Ruby. A moment later she took a step towards her. "You must be Miss Ruby Rose. My daughters team leader, girlfriend, and the carrier of her child." She then stuck out her hand towards the shorter girl. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Willow Schnee and as you can already guess, I am Weiss and Winter's mother."
Ruby stood there awkwardly and looked at the outstretched hand for a second, clearly not expecting such a greeting. She finally struck out her own hand and grasped the woman's before lightly shaking it. "Thank you. It is nice to meet you too. I guess now I know where Weiss gets her good looks from." She joked with a smirk.
What happened next surprised almost everyone in the room but Weiss most of all. Her mother laughed. Not just a sarcastic or dry chuckle but an actual laugh. At a terrible joke, even. She still held Ruby's hand as she used the other to cover her mouth to try and contain her laughter. Her blue eyes sparkling with life for what was probably the first time in years.
Weiss couldn't understand her mother's actions. First, she never would've believed that she would willingly shake hands with someone of lesser class unless she absolutely had to and there was a bottle of hand sanitizer to use right after. But, here she was, shaking hands with Ruby and with a smile on her face no less. A real smile.
'Maybe mother has started to change.' Weiss silently wondered but shook it from her head as she refused to believe it.
"You really must keep this one Weiss. She's cute." Her mother laughed as she let go Ruby's hand, who was blushing, and looked to her daughter.
"I am surprised that you aren't upset that Ruby and I are together." Weiss questioned as her and Ruby took a seat on the couch, hands entwined.
Willow said nothing at first as she was led by Winter to a seat across from Ruby and Weiss. "Well, yes I did. At first at least." She said as she crossed one leg over the other and clasped her hand over her knee. "You must understand that given your position in both terms of power and riches that many will try to fool you into a relationship only to take what is yours. That and the fact that Miss Rose is somehow carrying her child which is impossible for two women to do, did earn some questions."
"But it is Weiss's!" Ruby almost yelled as she leaned forward from her seat on the couch. She looked down and placed a hand on her belly before looking back up to Willow. "It is and only is Weiss's baby and if you think that I would try to trick Weiss into thinking so, you are wrong. I would never do such a thing for something as stupid as money or stuff like that. I love Weiss and…"
"I know and I approve." Willow interrupted, making Weiss and Ruby look at her with a surprised and wide-eyed expression. The older woman simply smiled. "Ever since I found out about you and my daughter I have been looking into your life very thoroughly and everything that has happened since you two met. When I discovered the DNA test, I knew that the child was Weiss's. Something like that isn't something you can plan for even if you are trying to only gain entry to the family. That and the fact that you were willing to leave Beacon and put your career as a Huntress in jeopardy especially since it is your dream only proved your dedication to my daughter. What I want to know is how exactly you became pregnant in the first place?"
"Well," Yang started with to say with a smile. "when a mommy and another mommy love each other very much they…" she then earned a slap to the back of the head from Blake. "Owwwww." She whined.
"Not like that you brute!" Weiss sighed. She really didn't want to repeat what Ozpin told them, especially to everyone in the room but least of all her mother. She decided to keep it simple and pray that she wouldn't have to go further into detail. "You remember that Dust that father sent to me a few months ago at the beginning of the school year?"
"That new stuff that they made to improve your aura and glyphs?" Willow asked to which Weiss nodded. "Yes. Then I remember."
"Well, when I used it, it did in fact improve my abilities but it also had some…side effects." Weiss blushed and looked slightly embarrassed as she spoke, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. "One of which is that I was somehow able…to impregnate Ruby."
"So, the Dust did this?" Willow said in shock and surprise. Weiss and Ruby nodded. Willow let out a hum before nodding in understanding and letting out a small laugh. "If your father was to discover that it was because of him that you two were able to have a child he would be furious."
"More so than he already is?" Blake sarcastically stated.
"Touché." Willow said with a slight nod and smile. "Now, you must be wondering why I am here if not to bring you back home."
"Yes." Weiss stated with a flat tone.
Willow hummed as if she was amused by her daughter's action. "Well, as you know, your father is not a true Schnee. He married me to gain entry to the family and only became the CEO after your grandfather passed away." Her mother's expression as well as her own and Winter's turned to one of sadness as they remembered that day.
She was only four when it happened and didn't have very many memories of her grandfather but did remember him as a loving man. He took her and Winter out on many adventures and seemingly treasured every moment he had with them. There was one time where he practically kidnapped her from her babysitter one day just to take her out for ice cream and to play at the park because she wanted to. It was her first time having such a treat to his surprise and after that he made sure that every time they did something together, they would get bowl or cone of ice cream as a treat. Thinking back, she was thankful she didn't get fat with how much she had. It wasn't until she was much older did she discover that he hated ice cream but managed to eat it just for her.
When she found out he had died, she was confused but given how young she was it wasn't a surprise. Her father became CEO and almost immediately changed everything her grandfather did, making it almost as if her grandfather was ever CEO at all. Bringing everything back and doing this as her grandfather did was one of the many things she wished to do when she was heiress to the company but now, she was powerless to do so and could see that she never even had the chance to change it.
Ruby must've noticed the change in her attitude as Weiss soon felt an arm wrap around her as she was pulled into a small hug and given a small kiss to the temple from her fiancée. It was in moments like this that made Weiss question how she was so lucky to have someone like Ruby to love her. She must've saved a bunch of orphans or something from a burning building in a past life to earn this.
"So. what does that have to do with Weiss and Ruby?" Tai questioned.
"The point is that it was never supposed to be your father in charge at all. He was never chosen to take control of the company. You and Winter were."
Now Weiss was confused. "What?"
Her mother took a deep breath. Winter appeared next to her and handed her a cup of tea for which she thanked her for and took a sip of before continuing. "When your grandfather passed, he left a will. In it, it said that you and Winter were to inherit the company once you were twenty-one years of age. Winter gave up that right when she left for the military leaving it to only you. Your father knew of this and when Winter left he tried to make you his puppet so that even when you became CEO he was still in control. After a few years and your wish to attend Beacon, he knew that you were not going to just become his puppet like he wished and hatched a plan."
Willow took another sip of her tea before handing it to Tai who was clearly confused before taking it and placing it on a nearby table. "He knew that you wished to destroy everything he did once you took control and needed a way to do that but he also wished for a proper heir to take his place once it was needed. He wanted us to have another child but after a failed assassination attempt by the White Fang years ago, I am unable to have child."
Weiss frowned, saddened by this sudden news. She knew about the attempt on her mother's life and believed that she had gotten away with only a few scars but never did she imagine that it was something of this magnitude. To hear that you can never bring another child, another life into this world, was something nobody wished to hear. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know." She said as she looked at her mother.
The woman only gave her a sad smile. "It is fine my dear. Very few people did and it wasn't something so easily talked about. After your father found out, he pushed me away, clearly not happy that his chance at conceiving the perfect heir wasn't something that I could do."
"Couldn't he have just adopted a child and left Weiss alone?" Blake asked, making a good point.
"Yes, he could have but then that child would not be a true Schnee.: Willow then let out a sigh before continuing. "You see, Weiss's father may not be of Schnee blood but he considers himself to be what it is to be a true Schnee. In a way, he is erasing the past and stating that if you are to be a Schnee then you must be like him or at least of his blood. Now, he could just have a child with another woman but then it wouldn't be a Schnee as the name is mine and not his. So, he needed another way. He plans to marry Weiss off to Mr. Hendrix, to which you would produce him a proper heir to the company."
"Wasn't that always his plan?" Weiss inquired as she crossed both her arms in front of her. "I mean, I know that I never lived up to his expectations and that he would do what he could to make sure I was never CEO. But if I am to take the company when I am twenty-one anyways, what can he do? Besides, even if I did go with his plan it would be my child to raise and not his so he wouldn't exactly get his proper heir."
"Yeah! It's not like he can kidnap a kid and get away with it. Even if he were to kidnap our child, my father and even Glynda have the right to take care of him or her before he ever could." Ruby exclaimed in clear and anger. It was rare to see her girlfriend so angry but when she did, it made her fear for whoever was on the other end, even the Grimm.
"He doesn't want your child." Willow stated. "He deems it unfitting to be a Schnee and wants nothing to do with it. If he could, he would probably kill you and the child so that there couldn't be any other claim to the company."
"If he even thinks about laying one finger on Ruby I will personally beat him within an inch of his life." Tai growled. "There would be no place safe for him anywhere on Remnant."
"That is why he won't do it." Willow said with a small shrug of her shoulders. "It would raise too many questions. So, he instead wants to make sure that Weiss can produce him a proper heir as quickly as possible. After that, he will place Mr. Hendrix as CEO and control the company through him as a proxy while raising your child to be his proper heir."
Weiss scoffed at the thought of that moron become CEO. She highly doubted that he even knew anything about the company. Probably doesn't even know what Dust is. "And how exactly does he think I would even let him take my child even if that were to happen or even stop me from taking the company once I am old enough at the very least?"
Her mother looked away and seemingly refused to look at her. The woman's expression changed to one of deep regret before a tear fell down her face. "He, he plans to kill you once you have the child."
….
For the seemed like the hundredth time that day, the house sat silent. Everyone remained seated and shocked by the news that Weiss's mother told them. Ruby herself was shocked to her very core. To hear that the love of your life's own father wished to kill her was something she could barely comprehend. She knew that the man was cruel in many aspects but to want to kill your own daughter? And only so that you can stay in power? That was pure evil. As she thought about it, her body filled with rage at the man known as Jacques Schnee and the wish to see him beaten to a pulp.
Suddenly Ruby felt a ping of pain in her hand. She looked down to see that the glass of water that she had in her hand was shattered in her hand as trickles of blood dripped down.
"Oh my God, Ruby!" Weiss shouted in worry next to her. Her fiancée quickly moved and grabbed her hand, opening it to see a few cuts. "Oh my God. Tai! Go grab a few towels, alcohol, and bandages!" she yelled at Tai who was already gone and heading back with the items.
Before Weiss could take them, her mother walked over and did so, kneeling in front of Ruby who was surprised to see the woman in front of her. She looked at the wound on Ruby's hand for a moment before pouring some of the alcohol on her hand causing Ruby to cry out in pain.
"Sssh Ruby it's okay. It will only hurt a bit." Weiss said calmly as she ran a hand up and down the redhead's back. Willow then took the towels to soak up the blood in Ruby's hand before inspecting it once more.
"It will be fine. Just a few cuts and they aren't deep enough to need stiches so these bandages will do." She said as she wrapped the wound up. "Should be healed up in a day or two depending on your aura. Just make sure to clean it again and change the bandages later." She finished and smiled up at Ruby before getting up and returning to her chair.
Ruby looked at her hand bandaged hand before a light flick to her head caused her to shriek in surprise. "You dolt! What the hell were you doing?!" Weiss yelled.
"I'm sorry Weiss. I guess my anger got the better of me. I didn't mean to break the glass." Ruby muttered as she poked the tips of her index fingers together. She looked up to see Weiss's angry expression soften before she wrapped her up in a hug.
"It's okay dolt. Just be more careful. Okay?" Weiss mumbled into Ruby's shoulder.
"Yes dear." Ruby smiled before placing a kiss on Weiss's head. She then turned back to Willow who was watching them in interest but with a smile on her face. "How did you know how to do that?"
"Well I am a doctor. I didn't exactly get my doctorate with good looks thought I am sure they helped." The woman joked with a small chuckle.
"You're a doctor?" Ruby asked, clearly surprised.
"Of course." Willow said with a smile before looking away from her. "That's how I found out about Jacques's plans."
"His plan to kill his own daughter you mean?!" Ruby shouted. "What kind of sick and twisted man would even think about doing something like that?!"
"What do you mean that is how you found out? How exactly did you?" Blake leaned forward in her seat with a look that would make many piss themselves.
Willow however just took a deep breath and looked over at Winter who slightly nodded before turning back to everyone. "Because he wanted me to help him."
"What?" Yang growled as her fist clenched.
"His plan was to have Weiss to suddenly die in childbirth and then take the child to raise while Hendrix ran the company which would make him look like a saint to many. He wanted me to be the one to do it as it would raise less question if I was there to help deliver the baby and when you died."
"He, he wanted you, to kill me?" Ruby turned to Weiss and could see the tears falling down her face as just the idea that her own parents were to kill her. She quickly wrapped the crying girl in her arms and allowed her to rest her head on her shoulder.
"Yes." Willow herself was now in tears, Winter was not doing much better beside her. "I told him no and he threatened to have me killed as well if I did not" She then let out a dry chuckle as she wiped away her tears. "My fate though, is not in his hands. Once I discovered everything I called Winter. "
She then looked at her eldest daughter and smiled. "I told her everything and together we worked up a plan to stop your father. Over the past few months we have been trying to gather enough evidence against your father on everything from his illegal corporate dealings to his treatment of the Faunas but so far it has not been enough."
"Couldn't you just tell the police everything and get him arrested?" Yang asked. "I mean, planning to kill your own daughter is more than enough for them to get him."
Winter shook her head. "That won't work. For one, nobody would believe her and two he could make sure anybody who did would disappear. We need enough evidence to make sure he would be arrested and removed from power. The problem is that he is good at covering his tracks. Ironwood has secretly been investigating him for years but turned up very little. Hopefully with moms help we can find something to bring him down."
"What do you need us to do?" Weiss had removed herself from Ruby's embrace and now stood up straight with her fist clenched by her side. She was willing to work with her mother if it meant no longer living in fear of her father. She may not trust the woman at the moment but she seemed sincere enough about wanting to help, plus Winter seemed to trust her and her sister had a good sense of character.
"To stay hidden. You, Ruby, and the baby need to stay safe. Father cannot find you. If he does, who knows what will happen or how he will force his plan to work." Both Ruby and Weiss nodded in understanding.
"Don't worry. He won't get even close to you. We will make sure of that and I am sure Pyrrha and the others will help as well." Yang said as she stood up and wrapped an arm around Weiss's shoulder.
"We're a family and that won't change no matter what. We will be there for you when you need us." Blake said as she stood up and walked beside her teammates.
"You're damn right." Tai said as he stood up as well beside the group. "Now let's stop with the depressing talk. We have a wedding to plan!" He shouted in cheer and his fist raised in the air and a smile on his face.
"Yeah!" The four girls joined him in his cheer before screeching in surprise as the man wrapped all of them in one giant hug.
"Dad! Need…air." Yang wheezed out before her father dropped them, laughing as he did with the girl's joining him.
…..
Willow smiled as she watched as everyone besides her and Winter embraced. She was happy that her daughter was able to find a true family. One that would always be there for her whenever she need them. She then frowned. 'Unlike me,'
She got up from her seat and silently headed out the back door. She made her way to the railing on the end and rested her arms on it as she looked up at the night sky. It was only moments later that she heard the door open back up and footsteps head her way. With a quick look, she saw Winter take the spot beside her.
"You okay?" Her eldest daughter asked with concern. Willow nodded. "You do know that she doesn't hate you right? She hurt is all. She will understand everything in time and forgive you."
"What if I don't deserve to be forgiven?"
"I forgave you. Weiss will to. Just give her time." Winter said as she placed a hand on her mother's shoulder.
Willow let out a chuckle. "Time isn't something we have a great deal of nowadays."
The pair remained silent for a few moments, simply enjoying the night and each other's company before Winter finally spoke up.
"You do know that you will have to tell her eventually."
"I do. Just," The mother took a breath. "Just not now. She has a lot to deal with."
"Then when?" Winter asked with a soft glare.
Willow looked away. She remained silent for a while before speaking. "I don't know."
Winter sighed. "You will have to tell her soon because if you don't, I will. She has a right to and she needs you now more than ever and you need to be there for her while you still can. Please mom, don't make a mistake that you won't be able to fix."
Winter than moved and headed back inside where it seemed everyone was saying their goodbyes. Willow looked back and say the smile on her daughters face as she was given one last hug by Tai before he ruffled her hair earning a laugh.
"I'm sorry Weiss." Willow said as a tear fell down her face. "I'm so sorry."
Well…that was a chapter. Was a tough one to write as Weiss's mother isn't well known and not much has been said much about her either. Had to do a few rewrites and discuss things with my reviewers (big shout out to Gorsouul who has been helping me for so long and has taken time to review my stories and another to HellTurkey for helping me for both this story and Every Day. Check out their stories if you can!)
If you liked this story, please check out my other ones and please leave a REVIEW! I love them and they help me with my depression. Hearing from you guys and how you like my stuff is amazing.