Hello, here's chapter 29, on the 2 year anniversary of this story! Hope you folks enjoy it. I apologize for the delay but hope I've made up for it with the size of this chapter. It was very tricky to get it right.

I do not own RWBY and make no monetary gain from this. Writing is for entertainment purposes only.

Please remember that the early chapters of this story was written before volume 3. At the time, we did not know that there were more family members in the Schnee household than Jacques (still unnamed at the time), Weiss and Winter.


Ruby sat in the front passenger seat, looking out at the landscape passing them by. She preferred Patch to Vale. The big city was fun and all, and Beacon was fantastic of course, but there was something about the green forests, golden fields and gently rolling hills basking in sunlight that made her feel at home.

"It's good to be home," she said to now one in particular, her thoughts scattered, just like the landscape before her. It was cozy to let her eyes jump from one familiar point to the next and remembering all the times she'd played out here.

"Yep, it is. Good 'ol Patch. Blakey, on a scale of Cardin Winchester to Yang Xiao-Long, how great is Patch now that you've seen some of it?" Yang asked cheekily.

Ruby turned her head, observing Blake, whose eyes flicked back and forth across the landscape. Blake looked peaceful, a small smile gracing her lips. Her extra set of ears were at ease, only twitching when Yang accelerated or used the break. Ruby had gotten pretty good at figuring out the signs of how Blake felt at any point by now, even if she had an otherwise impassive face. She tried to not abuse that knowledge though, out of respect. However, it was hard with how adorable those cat ears were, especially whenever they twitched.

She smiled. The break wouldn't be the same without Blake either.

"Patch is lovely. Calm, lots of countryside, quiet, full of nice people," Blake turned around and smiled fondly at them, "and you guys."

"Hey, we're nice too!" Ruby protested jokingly, Blake only rolling her eyes at her. "I know what you meant. We're here together, and that's awesome!"

"I don't want it to end," Yang whined childishly. She turned left onto an asphalted road leading into town. "As soon as we get back, the homework will pile up. Ugh!" She slammed her hands on the steering wheel in exasperation.

"You have both mine and Weiss' notes to gleam wisdom from," Blake noted dryly. "You have it easy."

"Don't be like that, Blakey! I'm grateful and you know it. I just don't understand how you can manage to not fall asleep in Port's class, or keep up the pace in Ooblecks. I swear there's more than coffee in that thermos."

Blake smirked. "If you don't drive recklessly enough to kill us, I may just tell you."

"Rubes! Blakey's being mean to me," Yang complained in the most exaggerated manner possible, clearly enjoying their banter.

"S'mores," was all Ruby replied, letting out an evil laugh. Yang grinned too, and Blake just smiled and shook her head.

Ruby's scroll pinged then. She opened it and saw a message from Weiss with an attachment. Curiosity sufficiently piqued, she opened it right away. In the next moment, something akin to a groan escaped her. "Yang," she whined, "Have you given Weiss lessons on how to mess with me?"

"Huh? No? You want me to?" Yang glanced at her and looked very mischievous.

That thought was terrifying. "No, absolutely not! But look at this!" Ruby held out the scroll towards them, knowing that withholding it would only make Yang ask for it more insistently. In the picture, Zwei was laying on his back in Weiss' lap, happy as a dog could ever be from the belly rubs he was receiving. The text "Jealous? :P" taunted her.

Yang burst out laughing, the car swerving precariously. Blake was holding her hands over her mouth, collapsed against the door, silently shaking.

"That one was pretty good, I'll have to give her that!" Yang exclaimed, still shaking and trying to take a few calming breaths.

"I guess it was worth showing you if it made you laugh so hard." Ruby rubbed her forehead, letting out a deep sigh before giving a wry smile. She felt mortified, but she would survive. It also helped that this was the first time Weiss had ever teased her in this manner. It was yet another way Weiss was finding to express herself.

I sound like a mother hen looking after a young chick.

She nearly giggled at that. She was so proud of Weiss. Seeing her girlfriend so carefree and happy… so full of life and blossoming so beautifully with every week… it was enough to make it very difficult to sit still, like she wanted to jump with joy.

However, she managed to subdue the burst of excitement, and the rest of the car ride passed with a conversation about their favorite spices and what would be coming out in theaters over the next months. Once they arrived in town, the first thing Yang did was to refuel the car. After that, they stopped by the library so Blake could peruse the shelves.

Ruby loved the library. It wasn't large, but she'd spent a lot of time here when she grew up. At first, it had only been possible when Taiyang took them into town when she was very young, but later she'd gone on her own, sometimes walking there, sometimes by bike. Whenever a class had been cancelled, she'd usually sneak away to read, and during any break from school she had been a frequent visitor.

The silence, only broken up by subdued voices from the few patrons, and the dry air smelling of ink and paper made her relax. She loved reading, though sadly schoolwork had robbed a lot of time from her fantasy novels. And most of what little remained had been taken up by Weiss, though thankfully that had involved the start of a little tradition of reading books together - either from the same book or picking up copies. A smile pulled at her lips when she thought of the quiet bliss of sitting down and reading together, leaning against the person she loved.

She waved and exchanged greetings with the sweet little white-haired and wrinkle-faced old lady who was the chief librarian when passing the front desk. That turned into a stop of a few minutes though, since Mrs. Maple hadn't seen them for several months. When Ruby was here with Weiss a few days ago, she had sadly been ill, but was now feeling all better.

After catching up on what was going on in each others lives, and after Mrs. Maple had insisted to see a picture of her girlfriend, thereby sending Ruby into an excited rant of how amazing Weiss is, they walked deeper into the library, with Yang leading the way towards the fantasy and comics corner.

"You sure got the hots for her, Rubes." Yang gave another laugh. "I was worried you'd talk old Maple into an early retirement."

"What a sweet old lady she is," Blake added. "Everyone on Patch seems so friendly to each other. You don't really see that in Vale."

Ruby hummed. "Yeah, Patch is special like that. We've always been a pretty self-sufficient bunch, so that means we've stuck together. I can't name everyone, but I recognize a lot of people."

"It must be nice," Blake said. "I think I'd want to live someplace small like that later. Vale feels a bit too crowded for my taste."

Yang hummed in agreement. "Yeah, city life can be fun and all, but for settling down I'd definitely want a more close-knit community. Especially if I'll have children someday." She smiled softly. "I would want any kids of mine to be able to run around in the woods and hills to their heart's content. That's the best, right, Rubes?"

Ruby nodded, fondly remembering her outdoor adventures. "Yep, spending hours outside was super fun."

"But that's some time out, or… ?" Blake asked, looking with some curiosity at Yang. "You've talked so much about wanting to see the world and go on adventures, I mean."

"Yeah, I still want to do all that, Blake, but like, say 10 years out from now. When I'm closing in on 30 and have plenty of life experiences under my belt. We'll see, it's more of a vague notion than a dream, ya know?"

Blake nodded. "I understand. I'm not certain what my plans are beyond woking as a huntress and do what I can for human-faunus relations. I haven't had much time to consider the future. A lot of paths have opened up lately." She seemed like she was losing herself in her thoughts, contemplative creases maring her soft skin.

Yang patted her on her shoulder, breaking her out of her musings. "There's plenty of time for that, Blake. Don't try to rush into it, instead just wait and see what other avenues open up during the four years ahead of us."

Blake nodded, looking faintly embarrassed. "Thanks, I feel stressed out when thinking about it."

"I don't know either," Ruby admitted. "I mean, I really hope I can be together with Weiss and see you two really often, but who knows where work and stuff will take us." Then she grinned. "So I'm not gonna worry about it right now." However, when she thought of all the uncertainties in the future, the smile didn't feel as genuine anymore. There was Weiss' family to worry over, plus the vague sense of her not measuring up and being a good long-time partner for Weiss.

Stop it Ruby, remember Yang's advice! This is all in your head!

She must've zoned out for a moment, because Yang was just asking Blake what she was looking for.

"Poetry," Blake replied. "I don't exactly know why, but I've been itching to read some lately." She shrugged.

Ruby's eyes lit up. "You should ask Weiss. She read poetry a few years ago."

"Good, I don't even really know where to start so I'll ask her later. For now, I'll see if I can find some introductory work to famous poems and take it from there." She scanned the signs hanging over the shelves until she found what she was looking for. "I won't be too long."

"Take your time." Yang then sniggered. "Now we get to observe Blake Belladonna in her natural habitat."

"I heard that," their black-haired friend whisper-shouted back at them, sticking her tongue out before disappearing behind a shelf.

"So, Ruby," Yang began in a quieter tone after Blake was gone, "I have noticed something about you and Weiss…"

Ruby imagined her heart stopped in that moment. At least it felt like it did. It certainly skipped a few beats. She fixed her gaze on the row of books in front of her, hoping with all her might that this wouldn't be about what her mind had immediately jumped to.

"O-Oh, what?" It came out in a flustered, high-pitched voice. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting with bated breath. A searing blush began to burn her cheeks.

It's all over, isn't it?

"You're really clingy and more affectionate than usual. Did something good happen?" Her sister's voice was practically oozing with mirth.

Ruby felt her face turn even hotter, mind racing from one explanation followed by deflection to the next.

Yang knows! What do I say?! What do I do?!

But before she could open her mouth to respond, Yang patted her back. "Good for you, Rubes. Both you and Weiss have been absolutely awful with how you've checked each other out ever since we went swimming. Seriously, some of the looks I've seen was enough to make me blush."

Ruby made an incomprehensible sound, something akin to a groan mixed with despair. She did so not want need to hear that! Had it really been that obvious? If Yang knew, that meant Blake knew and… her stomach dropped.

Don't tell me Dad's noticed too?!

"Just make sure you talk to each other, alright?" Yang interrupted, continuing to rub her back soothingly. "Communication is important in all parts of a relationship, including sex. I learned that the hard way, and I don't want you and Weiss to make the same mistake."

Ruby nodded slowly, finally daring to look at her sister and sending her a weak smile. Yang returned it, eyes full of kindness. Despite how mortifying beyond belief the topic was, she was still grateful to her sister for being so supportive. "Thanks. We… do, but I'll remember it."

"No problem, that's what a big sister is for. And between you and me, I'll make sure to make Blake and myself scarce over the next few days."

The knowing grin was too much. Ruby instantly averted her gaze, nervously scraping with one foot on the carpeted floor. Sure, she appreciated it a lot, but she didn't like the thought of knowing her own sister would make sure she had the opportunity for some more… private fun time with Weiss.

But the private fun time will definitely not be stopped… it's only been a day since last time and I'm already longing for more. I wonder what we're going to do at Beacon; I can't exactly kick Yang and Blake out of the dorm room...

Ruby hadn't anticipated how even the slightest touch would put her in the mood. All it took was for Weiss to brush her hand along her back and she would feel the primal need to jump her. Or, as yesterday morning had attested to, just waking up next to Weiss had nearly been enough. Only the knowledge that Yang and Blake were awake prevented further escalation. She still felt embarrassed by how irritated she'd felt around the breakfast table that day. Weiss had later asked her about it and they'd promptly made up for the lost opportunity when Yang and Blake stepped outside later; It turned out that Ruby hadn't been alone in her suffering.

Yang dropped the topic after that and they headed over to the comics section instead. Sitting around reading the new issues reminded her of all the times they'd done it over the years. Wasting time like that had been so much fun. With a content sigh, she sunk down on a beanbag.

However, their talk had gotten her thinking about Weiss and it made it difficult to focus on the new issue of X-ray and Vav. She recalled the way Weiss' pupils seemed to narrow and her gaze grow intense when she felt aroused...or how her breathing would grow shallow, eyes glazed over and unfocused as she looked down at her, and how little twists and strokes could get her to make such lovely noises…

Stop it! Seriously, Ruby Rose, you're in a library and your sister's right next to you!

A deep breath later, Ruby tried her best to focus back on the comic in front of her, with mixed success. She squirmed in the seat, avoiding letting the friction send a small amount of pleasure through her. Though when she did succeed, she quickly lost herself in the world of superheroes and villains. Thankfully, Yang didn't bring up anything embarrassing again either.

Blake soon found two books she wanted to borrow, and she joined them in the reading corner, which led to a lively discussion.

"I don't see the appeal of a guy transforming into a beowolf. It seems like he causes a lot of collateral damage wherever he goes from what little I know," Blake noted.

Ruby pouted and Yang did her best dramatic impression of someone deeply offended. How couldn't Blake see the awesomeness? "Smashing through anything is pretty cool," Ruby explained, with Yang nodding. "So who do you prefer instead?"

Blake frowned slightly as she though. "I'm not sure. I'm not too familiar with the world of superheroes, since I've always stuck with books."

"Then you'll have to borrow a few issues when we're back to figure it out." Ruby grinned at her, relishing the opportunity to rope someone else into her hobby. "Jaune and I have assembled a big stash, and it's pretty fun to get into."

"You should," Yang added, "they can be pretty childish at times, but that's half the charm."

Blake looked at Yang. "Let's make a deal. I recommend you a book and you must read it from cover to cover. In return, I'll give the comics as serious try."

Yang grinned. "Deal."

"Oh, and we need to see the next superhero movie that's coming out," Ruby added enthusiastically. Her voice was a bit too loud, with a quick glance towards the clerk's desk confirming the sweet little old lady was observing her with a raised eyebrow. She managed an apologetic gesture towards her.

"Sure," Blake said.

"Will Weiss enjoy it though? Pure action isn't what she prefers, Sis," Yang cautioned.

Ruby mulled it over. "I'm sure she wouldn't be bored. Maybe not thrilled, but who knows, it may surprise her. And in worst case scenario, she doesn't have to come along if she's completely against it."

She'd never managed to get Weiss interested in comics. Recreational reading was one thing. Music they did get along pretty nicely with, even if Ruby mostly preferred a heavier kind of sound. Weiss was more in favour of jazz, classic music, ballads and the occasional pop song. For movies, they'd found common ground with crime, comedy and drama. Not so much with action. That said, breaking out of the mould and the beaten path wasn't necessarily a bad thing, no matter how small the change.

Blake smirked. "I didn't think it was possible for you to stay away from her."

Ruby stuck her tongue out at her friend. "I'm not that bad," she defended, but faltered under their raised eyebrows. "Okay, okay, maybe I am. But Weiss is just so cute and cuddly I can't help it." A blush spread across her face at the confession.

Eventually deciding that they'd lazied around long enough, Blake checked out the books, thus concluding their visit. With a last forlorn look at the half-finished issue the library sadly didn't allow to be borrow, Ruby left for this time, promising to herself that she'd be back during the autumn break if they didn't get another chance this time.

Next stop was the grocery store. Immediately, Ruby made a bee-line for the s'mores ingredients. The disappointment when Yang had forgotten last time they went camping was still fresh in her mind and camping just wasn't the same without s'mores. Not that she was mad at Yang, but it was so much fun to bring it up and play up the hurt a bit. While that happened, Yang and Blake picked up potato salad and meat, along with soda, chips, chocolate and cookies.

"Yang, we need some vegetables too. Corn, bell pepper, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, onions. And what about barbeque sticks? Do we have those?" Ruby asked when she'd rendezvoused at the fruits and vegetable section.

"Yeah, Dad bought a set of stainless steel sticks, so we're good."

"Okay, so what else have we missed?" Ruby asked. "Oh, zucchini for Weiss! At least I think she likes it?" She frowned, forehead creasing in thought as she tried to remember. "Didn't she eat some of that stuff when the cafeteria had a BBQ day?"

Yang nodded and pursed her lips as she thought. "Yeah, I think that was it. Let's buy it just in case. It's pretty good when you grill it and have sauce to the side. Hmm, can't think of anything else… Blake? Anything you want?"

"Maybe a fish or two." She gave an awkward hum. "I feel like I'm reaffirming a very stereotypical view about cat faunus, but I can't help what I like."

Ruby giggled and patted her shoulder gently. She was secretly glad Blake brought it up, not having wished to approach what could be a sensitive subject without an invitation. "Maybe, but there's nothing wrong with that. Fish is pretty tasty and Patch has some of the best fish in this part of the world."

Blake's wish came true within a minute and then they picked out the vegetables, BBQ sauce, a package of charcoal and a few other items like spare batteries for flashlights, paper plates and so forth. It was excessive for what they had planned, but they reasoned that they could always stuff themselves full of the leftover food tomorrow.

"Blake, what should we do with our morning runs?" Ruby asked while Yang was hunting down the final few items they needed.

"Hm, what do you mean?"

"Do you want to rest the last few days, or do we go as usual if we're awake early?" Ruby liked going on those early morning runs. The forest was quiet and it was still cool outside. With the forest full of morning dew and sometimes a layer of mist, it was really pretty and cozy in the early morning light.

Blake considered it for a moment. "I think we should keep it up. Weiss and Yang will sleep in anyway." Her gaze grew sly then. "And I'm sure it must be terrible to come back exhausted, eat a fruit, take a shower and then cuddle up against Weiss and nap for another hour or two before you come down to a prepared breakfast table."

Ruby giggled, blushing slightly. "Weeeeel," she drawled, "I can't say I don't enjoy that a whole lot. Weiss is super cuddly and she's so adorable when she wakes up and is all sleepy and whiny." She laughed again. "But don't tell her I said that last part."

Blake chuckled. "I won't say a word."

"Speaking about Weiss, she said something about wanting to go running with us when we're back at Beacon. I don't think early mornings would do though, so can we switch to the evening?"

Blake nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't make much of a difference to me when I run. Both times have their pros and cons, so I can switch."

After that, Yang returned and they went to the cashier to pay. When they walked out from the grocery store, Ruby's scroll pinged for the second time that day. She opened it and saw another message from Weiss with an attachment. She couldn't help but to a little bit worried she'd be at the receiving end of a joke again.

"Another another message from Weiss?" Blake asked, a little too happily for Ruby's taste.

Ruby schooled her expression and huffed. "Yeah, it's probably just another picture of Zwei. Yang, why did you have to rat me out that evening?" Having to admit to her crush that she was jealous of her puppy was one of the most mortifying things she'd ever done. She still wanted to crawl under a rock when she recalled how everyone had laughed at her.

Yang, looking distinctly unrepentant, didn't say a word.

A strangled sound escaped Ruby once she had she opened the message. Her eyes widened in disbelief. It was a lot worse than anything she could've imagine. "Yang, we need to drive home right now!"

Blake looked startled, eyes suddenly alert, her ears standing at attention, twitching fiercely. "What's wrong?"

"Ruby?" Yang asked, not quite alarmed yet, but clearly cautious.

Ruby's heart sank, oblivious to how the others were on their toes. "Dad is showing Weiss the photo albums! She's fawning over pictures of when I was little," she whined and held out the Scroll to them. Several photo albums laid splayed out over the living room table. The text "You were an adorable kid" didn't help in the least.

Blake glanced at the message, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "She's not wrong. I'd like to take a look at pictures of both you and Yang if you don't mind."

"But, Blake, it's embarrassing!" Ruby complained.

"Why not? You were super cute, still are," Yang interjected. "Weiss will have the time of her life. I'll be supplying her with a stack before we leave anyway." Her sister just shrugged like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ruby let out another groan at that. Her sister just didn't understand. She looked at the picture again and concluded that it was too late. Weiss would go through hundreds of pictures before she had time to stop her.

And my reaction is really immature too. I mean, wouldn't I fawn over photos of Weiss if I had the chance? I totally would!

The hypocrisy wasn't lost on her, but on the other hand, it wasn't the best comfort either. Despite that, she made up her mind to better herself; how she was acting right now was downright childish. With a sigh, she admitted as much out loud. "You're right. I just become so self-conscious for some reason… but I'll look at them with her when we're home. I've already promised her that we would sometime, so I should probably make good on that promise." She pressed her lips together, barely keeping a frown away as she jumped into the car.

The drive home was uneventful and filled with unimportant but fun small talk. Thankfully, both Yang and Blake had dropped mentioning the albums. While Ruby partook in their conversation and it gave some respite, her stomach was still filled with low-key jitters.

She didn't understand why those photo albums were such a big deal to her. It had always been, and no matter how much she thought of it, she didn't get any closer to figuring it out. She always liked to look at the pictures the pictures of mom though, so there was that to look forward to, even if it would make her a bit melancholic. She also wanted Weiss to learn more about Summer Rose.

I need to visit her grave before we leave. It may be too early but I'm going to ask Weiss to come with me. I want her to meet mom as well.

She was broken out of her thoughts when Yang pulled parked the car outside their home. "I can help you you unpack first," she offered, despite how much she reluctantly wanted to check up how far along her dad and Weiss had gotten in the albums.

"Don't worry, we got that covered. " Yang let out a laugh. "You have more important stuff to do."

"I guess so…" Ruby squeezed her eyes shut, frowning for a moment before exiting the car and marched up to the front door.

Taking a steadying breath and steeling herself, she opened the door and was immediately met by the beautiful sound of her girlfriend giggling. It blanketed some of the anxiety she felt.

"I'm home," she shouted, quickly kicking off her shoes and walking into the living room.

She found Weiss and Taiyang sitting on the sofa, a photo album in hand. Weiss had a wide smile on her face, reminding her for a brief moment of how she looked when she was playing with Zwei. Her own lips twitched as she tried to rein in her own smile as her heart swelled with affection.

"Welcome home," Weiss greeted.

"Welcome back. Did you get everything you need?" Taiyang asked. He almost managed to pass his question off like he was innocent. Almost. The laugh lines were more prominent than usual though, and his voice had this strained quality from trying to sound normal. Without a doubt, he was enjoying all of this immensely - teasing her included.

Ruby nodded amiably, trying to look as calm and composed as she could. "Yeah, we've bought everything. Yang and Blake are carrying it inside." At that moment, they heard the front door open again and her sister and friend's voices travelled into the living room.

She walked forward, meeting her girlfriend's borderline challenging blue eyes grew cautious, anticipating some form of good-natured retaliation, but Ruby only gave her another smile and a light hug from over the back rest. One of Weiss' hands came up and gently grasped her wrist, giving it a light squeeze and rubbing her thumb in circles over the smooth skin.

She glanced at her dad, who only smiled at her mischievously. Her face flushed when she again worried over that he knew that she'd been intimate with Weiss. She hoped not. She turned her head and gave Weiss' cheek a kiss to distract herself.

It's best to not think too much about it….yup, definitely not going to be a problem… not at all.

"Well then," Taiyang said and stood up, clearly intent on giving them some time alone, "I guess I'll go and help them out." With those words, he left the living room.

"You've had fun," Ruby stated once he was out of view, dipping down and peppering kisses along Weiss' exposed collar bone and up towards her neck. She smirked when Weiss tilted her head for easier access, but pulled back. They could do that later and she didn't want to distract Weiss. She had a promise to uphold.

Weiss turned her head to look at her, her face holding a light pink hue. A moment later, she leaned her head back, resting it against Ruby's chest, stiffening for an almost imperceptibly small moment before relaxing. "Yes. Taiyang has told me so many stories of all the hilarious and cute moments you've had. It has been a real treat. I'm sorry though, I should've asked him to wait until you were home."

"No, it's fine, I was stalling anyway because I felt embarrassed so I kinda deserved it." Ruby looked at the page they were on, her face turning scarlet as a vivid memory hit her. "... The time I discovered my semblance and faceplanted in a puddle of mudd, huh?"

Weiss valiantly tried to stifle a laugh but was unsuccessful.

Ruby unhooked her arms around her catch, jumped into the sofa and grabbed the album, putting it in her lap. "You're going to love the next page," she promised with a grin.

"Thank you, Ruby. I know it makes you very self-conscious," Weiss said and took her hand in her own, giving it a light squeeze, "but I love seeing what it was like when you grew up. I love learning more about your life."

Ruby again felt sorrow as she thought of how the lovely girl sitting next to her had been bereft of a normal childhood. The familiar anger she felt towards Jacques Schnee surfaced again, but she forced it down before it could show, instead sending a smile at Weiss.

Weiss gave her a genuine smile in return and Ruby wasn't able to detect any sadness in her eyes. That was a good sign; she didn't wish to bring Weiss down with snapshots of what her life could have been like. Ruby knew that her better half was making efforts to not be burdened by her past, instead looking to the present moment and the future.

And as for herself, the album held many moments she cherished, like pictures of when Dad had given them ice cream, let them try riding ponies or taken them to a day of fun at the playgrounds. Those were fine, but she couldn't help but to feel a creeping and very familiar sense of sadness from the other kinds of pictures she knew one of the albums on the table held: Pictures of her mom and dad. Pictures of herself being held in a caring embrace by her mom. Pictures of when the family was complete and everyone was happy. She loved those of course, but seeing them was always conjured bittersweet feelings within her.

She gave the hand she was holding a light squeeze before cuddling up to Weiss.

With her by my side, I'll be fine.

Some time was spent like this, with Ruby doing most of the talking as they browsed through page after page. It was cathartic for her to bring up her childhood now that Weiss knew most of it. There were still a few things she hadn't mentioned, like how her Dad had spent years battling depression, but that was for another time and maybe not even her story to tell.

"Weiss, would you like to come with me to visit mom's grave before we leave?" Ruby asked slowly as she turned another page. With some nervousness, she met Weiss' surprised gaze. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I understand it's asking-"

Weiss put a finger to her mouth to silence here. The sincere intensity with which Weiss looked at her nearly took Ruby's breath away. "Ruby, I'd love to go with you. It's very important to you, isn't it?"

Ruby nodded and Weiss removed her finger, electing to rest her hand on her chin instead. "Then I will gladly accompany you."

A lump formed in Ruby's throat. "Thanks, Weiss. I love you," she whispered.

In the next moment, Weiss leaned in and kissed her temple, then enveloping her in a hug. "And I love you, Ruby Rose."


Later in the afternoon, they set out. The sky was clear and the sun was still high. Birds chirped in the trees and the forest was alive with critters who rustled the undergrowth.

Yang and Blake carried a tent each, while Ruby and Weiss had backpacks with food and assorted items. Zwei wasn't straying far away from the group, but was constantly sniffing on whatever he found interesting or began barking when he smelled an animal close by. Weiss had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on him and was trying to train him to respond to whistles. It was mostly successful, depending on how insistent she was.

Even though it was warm, walking was pleasant. Ruby's backpack wasn't heavy enough to be much of a challenge, despite having grabbed several items designated for Weiss to carry. In addition, revisiting the familiar forest paths was fun. Each season brought with it it's own changes, and yet the overall features were the same. They walked past the oak tree she had napped under sometimes, the little creek she'd fallen into that one time a few years ago, and many other places she could tell Weiss about.

Patch was full of places that held precious memories to her, and there were plenty of stories left for her and Yang to entertain their guests with. Laughter filled the air, drowning out the soft crunching of their shoes against the undergrowth that had sprung up on the familiar trail they were following. Like strawberry cake in the summer, this too was tradition.

Truth be told, Ruby preferred following interesting-looking animal trails and letting her feet take her wherever she fancied, but with a place in mind it was better to stick to a more familiar route. The destination she and Yang had decided on was about a two hour walk away to the north; they'd camped there before and knew it was a good spot. With the forecast promising a clear night, Ruby planned to be as cheesy as she could and stargaze with Weiss. She'd brushed up on her knowledge of the constellations beforehand to try and impress her love and had made sure to pack an extra cozy blanket.

The further north they went, the more elevated and densely forested the landscape became. Even the worn deer trail gave way and Ruby navigated with the help of her memory. She was so grateful for her strong sense of direction, otherwise she was sure she'd veer off course. Thankfully, the underbrush was easy to pass through, and the mood in the group was pleasant.

Weiss took the opportunity to ask questions related to camping and navigation, both things her upbringing had not prepared her for.

It's so cute how Weiss always strives to learn as much as she can.

Blake's knowledge surpassed even theirs though, helping them add to their own repertoires of skills for surviving in the outdoors.

Why that was the case remained unsaid, but they all knew it. It didn't bother them, though Ruby discerned the slightest hint of discomfort in her friend. Even if no one else batted an eyelash at her past, Blake still held herself accountable for her past associations.

In the next moment, Blake found herself covered in a oak leaves thrown her way. She sputtered something fierce. "Yang, what was that for?"

Yang shrugged, playfully nudging her. "There wasn't any snow around, so had to improvise." She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, scooping Zwei up in her arms to prevent him from running all around Blake's legs.

Weiss let out a laugh,and Ruby joined in, followed by Yang at the look Blake gave them. It wasn't often they got to see Blake staring at someone with incredulity. It only lasted a moment, as Blake joined in. "Alright, I can see why you opted for leaves, but why did you do it?"

"You were brooding."

Blake sighed, eyes cast downwards, not quite willing to meet theirs. "I'll admit I was."

Weiss spoke up then. "You know we don't care, right?" She reached out a gently placed a hand on Blake's shoulder.

Yang let down Zwei and slung an arm around Weiss, causing the girl to let out a surprised squeak. "What she said!"

"Agreed," Ruby added.

"Thank you." Blake's smile was radiant, mirroring everyone. "I wouldn't know what I'd do without all of you."

"Read more books," Weiss cheekily retorted, causing another round of laughter.

With everyone so close together, there was only one logical course of action for Ruby. "Group hug!". Yang instantly caught on and they managed, somewhat awkwardly due to their packing, managed to share a hug.

All was well again after that, and Blake looked as happy as ever. Ruby smiled as she walked behind her friend. She wouldn't let Blake spend too much time pondering over the past either. She knew from experience that nothing good would come from that, though their circumstances were of course vastly different.

"How far until we've reached our destination?" Weiss asked after a while, looking just a little bit longing over the prospect of sitting down. Ruby could see small beads of of sweat clinging to her hairline.

"Fifteen min tops. It'll be worth it. You can't see it for the trees, but there's this grassy plateau...thingy," Yang waved away Weiss' objection over the butchered scientific term, "with an awesome view and we'll camp there. There's a stream nearby so there's plenty of drinkable water too."

When they crested a particular tall hill, the woods opened up and allowed them an unobstructed view south. In the orange twilight, it was an awe-inspiring sight; they could make out the town of Patch, the golden wheat fields and the green grazing areas where cows and sheep roamed. Houses dotted the landscape. Beyond all of that, the ocean glimmered in the tranquility of the slowly setting sun.

"We're here! Pretty place, right?" Ruby asked.

"Beautiful…" Weiss said, taking it all in. From the side, Ruby saw how her eyes darted back and forth. It reminded her of the first time her dad had taken them here and how awed she'd been. Those memories always managed to send a warm, cozy feeling through her.

"Yep, it's why we come here at least once each summer," Yang replied.

"I didn't realize we were so high up. How far above the ocean are we?" Blake asked.

Ruby shrugged. "I'm not sure. Probably no more than 500 feet. It's a very slow uphill walk."

"Ruby, you said that you always come here each year, but why is that?" Weiss asked. She gestured to the scenery. "It's very beautiful, don't get me wrong, but how did you find it in the first place?"

Ruby smiled softly. "Dad found it when he was clearing out Grimm. It was a long time ago. These days, the Grimm are contained to a small part of the island, just big enough to give Signal students something to hunt. He fell in love with the view and it became tradition for us to camp here. It was before mom died, but we've kept the tradition going since then."

Weiss' eyes widened. "Oh, I see. It's a beautiful spot."

"The old fireplace is still standing," Yang noted, beginning to clear it out from leaves and remove refuse from the surroundings. The fireplace was composed of a circle of rough stones, with felled logs resting on three sides as improvised benches. Ruby though back to the times she'd spent together with her family, eating delicious food, telling stories or playing games.

"Weiss, Blake, can you set up the tents? Just clear out the are over there," Yang asked and pointed to a particularly flat area nearly. Weiss and Blake nodded began unpacking the tents.

"I'll help you, Yang," Ruby offered and put down her pack and stretching to alleviate how stiff she felt.

Yanglet out a laugh. "Rubes, do you remember when we almost burned down the forest."

Face rapidly colouring from shame, she caught how Weiss rolled her eyes and exchanged a playfully resigned look with Blake. "I was 8 and thought it would be fun to see the grass burn. Dad had to smother it with his jacket before it spread too much." Ruby didn't think she'd ever forget the stern talking she had gotten. Suffice to say, she had ever since exercised caution whenever there was a fire nearby.

While they were working, Zwei was busy exploring their surroundings and taking a particular interest in a pile of deer dropping.

Half an hour later, the tents were set up and they had a small fire going. While Weiss and Ruby cut the vegetables, Blake and Yang got started on the meat. Sturdy forks, knives and plates meant for the outdoors was brought out, and a metal grate was placed over the stones. A safe distance away, they'd gathered a pile of sticks for additional fuel. A bucket of water to put it out properly was also waiting there. With how little it had rained lately, they didn't want to take any chances, even though the stream was less than 300 feet away.

By now, the sun was setting and the world was slowly becoming coloured in a deep orange. Zwei rested off to the side, intently watching the flames flicking to life in the dry wood. The air was slowly becoming colder and soon they would appreciate having a fire.

Weiss sat next to Ruby, on her right, resting her head on her shoulder as they waited to turn their spits to roast. Laughs and merry conversation filled the evening air.

Oddly though, Ruby began to detect a hint of tenseness in Weiss after a while, and a rapidly growing one at that. It made her forget how her stomach rumbled from the smells wafting from the fireplace.

"What's the matter?" she asked quietly, gently nudging Weiss.

Her girlfriend jerked, startled. "It's… embarrassing. Cheesy, if you will."

"Really?" Ruby asked. "Come on, Weiss, you can tell me, you know that." She gave Weiss a light hug for support.

"You're right, Ruby." Weiss was quiet for a few seconds before speaking up, addressing everyone. "Yang, Blake, there's something I want to say to you too." Her words caused both Blake and Yang to turn around and give her their attention. "But I don't know if it's too early or presumptuous of me, even even." It came out in a softer, hesitant voice and Ruby imagined she heard how Weiss gulped.

Blake and Yang drew closer, giving Weiss their undivided attention.

"What's the matter, Weiss?" Blake asked.

"I…," Weiss had a difficult time saying it, her jaw working as she lingered on the cusp of vocalising her thoughts. Ruby squeezed her hand, smiling at her. Conviction took hold in her girlfriend's eyes, and she finally spoke. "I love you guys."

Her eyes were suddenly misty. Before they could speak, everyone still working through expressions of surprise, Weiss spoke again. "I really do. Maybe I'm not good at showing it, but I want you to know that all of you mean so much to me. I'm thankful every single day that I met you. I finally understand what it's like to have friends… family."

Everyone was quiet for a moment, Blake and Yang visibly surprised as they took in their friend's words. However, the happiness they showed spoke more than words could. Ruby's heart felt like it was going to burst from the affection welling up in her. She knew exactly how Weiss felt. Living together, training together, studying together, relaxing and spending time together, and them trusting each other with their lives had in a short time forged a very strong bond between them.

This is a what team is supposed to be like. I'm glad it isn't something just Yang and I were feeling. She was right when she said that we've family, even if Weiss and Blake hadn't figured it out yet.

"I feel the same way, Weiss," Blake announced. She had donned an embarrassed look, the colour to her cheeks not merely from the fire. "Before Beacon, I was so lost, caught up in circumstances I didn't want to be a part. Learning how to separate myself from that was a process which took time, and afterwards there was an… emptiness in me, even if I knew what I wanted. It felt daunting and unrealistic to push onwards,like a dream of sorts." Blake looked at each one of them in turn. "But the more time I spend with you, the smaller these feelings become and I feel a growing sense of contentment and happiness instead. I can trust all of you to have my back no matter what it is about, and that means a lot to me."

Yang grinned. "I don't have any fancy word to spill, but to me, both Weiss and you are family. We've only known each other for a pretty short while and in spite of that, family is without a doubt the right word. I love all of you."

Ruby nodded vigorously. "Yep, I feel the same way too! I've been thinking of us like that for a while, actually." She smiled. "It feels good to say it out loud."

Ruby heard how a small sniffle escaped Weiss, and she saw her futilely wiping at her eyes to keep the moisture away. She enveloped her girlfriend in a hug and motioned for Yang and Blake to join her.

It only took a few moments before that came true, with everyone hugging and their eyes turning misty.

Yang suddenly jerked and spun around. "The food!" Luckily, she was just in the nick of time.

That broke the somber mood and laughter again filled the clearing as they ate and talked.

It grew late and the fire waned. The conversations grew quieter, taking on a content and sleepy quality. With nightfall, the cold came back in full force and stood in stark contrast to the embers in the fire pit. Warm blankets were brought out. Chips, cookies and chocolate were consumed, but not even the inrush of sugar could contain the drowsiness forever.

Eventually, Yang and Blake headed to bed, both girls giving Ruby knowing looks. She shot them smiles as silent thanks for giving her and Weiss some time alone

They sat there for a while, all cuddled up together in a thick blanket and warmed by the gentle smoldering of embers.

"Tired?" Ruby asked.

Weiss hummed. "A bit. I ate more than I should have done."

"We can go to bed, but I have one more thing I want to do tonight. Can we walk just a little bit away from the fire?" She brought out a flashlight and lit it.

"Of course. What for?" Weiss asked.

"You'll see. The less light we have, the better."

Ruby didn't really enjoy the thought of trekking through the dark, but she had put her mind to it and would see it through. She moreover wanted to be able to talk privately to Weiss, away from well-meaning if prying ears. If she was going to pour her heart out to her girlfriend, her sister and Blake couldn't very well be close enough to listen in. Just the thought was enough for her to feel super embarrassed.

Holding hands, Ruby led Weiss through the dark just far enough away for both requirements to be met. Low bushes and wild grass littered the area, but she navigated through it until they reached a fallen tree, near the edge of the clearing. Maybe twenty feets ahead, the glade ended in a sharp cliff edge that fell a hundred feet. The spot had the added bonus of giving an unobstructed view of most of Patch.

She sat down and wrapped their shared blanket around Weiss the moment her girlfriend joined sat there in silence until their eyes had adjusted to the minimal amount of light and they could take in the splendor of the night sky.

There were scarcely a cloud in the sky and the stars shined above. A soft breeze rustled through the trees, but for once, Ruby didn't find the quiet disconcerting. She'd never handled the dark well, always imagining monsters and dangers in the shadows. She knew it was silly, but it had stuck with her from when she was a child. However, right now none of that unpleasantness made itself known. She felt completely calm, all thanks to her girlfriend.

"It's beautiful," Weiss whispered, as her eyes roamed over the sky. Ruby turned her head. Her girlfriend was illuminated by the faint moonlight and Ruby's breath caught in her throat. Weiss' hair shined like silver and the light reflected in her eyes spoke of wonder and joy.

"So are you," Ruby said automatically, causing her girlfriend to giggle and move a bit closer to rest her head on Ruby's shoulder.

They sat together for a while in quiet contentment, just enjoying the view and each other's company. "Weiss, how familiar are you with the night sky?" Ruby eventually asked.

"Not very. I can spot one or two constellations but nothing else," Weiss admitted.

Thankfully, Ruby had previously read up on the subject in preparation for this day. All the nights she'd spent staring out a the night sky from her room had led to a natural curiosity of the universe. Thus, she began with pointing out the most common constellations and show Weiss some of the other planets.

"We're so small," Weiss mused after a while. "So small and insignificant in a vast universe."

"We are. It's awe-inspiring, isn't it? There's so much out there we can only imagine. Now imagine if we had a proper telescope. Wouldn't that be cool?"

"Yes, it would be. Perhaps Vale's astronomy society would allow us to borrow one?" Weiss mused.

Ruby's eyes lit up as she recalled something she'd read once. "I think you're right, Weiss! They do guided night tours at their museum and those end with a short drive outside the city limits for a stargazing session."

Weiss looked pleased with that idea. "Then we have a next date location in mind. All we have to do is ask for permission to leave the school grounds at that hour, though that shouldn't be a problem as long as they know we have somewhere to stay for the night too."

Ruby began to connect the dots, relieved Weiss already had a plan. In her excitement over the suggestion, she had not considered that right away. "At a hotel? Just the two of us?"

She wasn't sure, but she was fairly confident Weiss was blushing. "Yes, just the two of us," her girlfriend confirmed.

"That sounds great! It'll be like a mini-vacation and date all rolled into one. Plus, it would allow us to have some privacy" she let her fingers ghost over the fabric over Weiss' stomach, enjoying the way Weiss' breath every so subtly hitched from the possibilities.

"You know exactly what you're doing to me, aren't you?" Weiss asked, failing miserably with sounding upset.

Ruby let out giggle. "Yup. I like to see the way you react. Say, can you sit in my lap?"

"You dunce," Weiss protested out of formality, but she promptly moved around until she was sitting sideways in Ruby's lap."I like it though. Both when you tease me like that and right now," she admitted, pressing herself as close as she could.

Ruby tightened her grasp around her girlfriend. Weiss was soft, warm and smelled nice; three very good reasons for her request. As soon as that thought had passed through her, she slowly began to close the distance between their lips. Weiss caught on and they met in a soft kiss. Weiss lips were cold and Ruby was determined to change that by ways of repetition.

A minute or more - Ruby didn't care - passed in this manner. The pace was languid, even when Weiss swiped her tongue across Ruby's lips to ask for access. There was no rush as they deepened their kisses and lost themselves in each other, both girls more than content to not go overboard and change the romantic mood.

"This day been fun, hasn't it?" Ruby asked once they parted for a moment.

"Yes, it has." With the hand not clinging for support, Weiss had begun to play with Ruby's hair. "Camping has its charms, though I'm still coming to terms with the lack of proper sanitation facilities."

Despite the poor light, Ruby could make out the genuine smile on her lips. Ruby giggled. "Oh, Weiss. I'll still love you no matter what."

"That's a relief. It's been an eventful day, though." Weiss said.

Ruby hummed. "Anything in particular you're thinking about?"

Weiss was silent for a moment before she spoke. "I talked to Tai about our relationship while you were away."

Ruby blinked. "You did?"

Ruby felt how Weiss buried her face in her hair. Her exhales tickled and Ruby giggled, both from that and from imagining how embarrassed Weiss must feel.

Partially muffled by her hair, Weiss elaborated. "Yes, before he brought out the photos. I felt it was proper of me to speak to him about my intentions for us."

Ruby let out a surprised sound, feeling how her cheeks began to grow very warm. 'Us'. Such a short word and yet it encompassed so much. She hoped that the us would be something Weiss and her would share forever.

"What did you say?" Ruby could only hope the reply would mirror how she felt.

Weiss as my future wife.

A brief daydream of Weiss in a wedding dress passed through Ruby's mind. It was silly of her, but she had begun to fantasize of such a visage lately.

Weiss pulled back until they could look at each other. "It's like I said on our last date. I hope we'll be together for a very long time, Ruby," she revealed, in a tone laced with love and affection.

In the moonlight, Weiss' eyes shimmered brilliantly. Ruby's breath hitched, and a silly grin began to spread over her lips, mirrored by her girlfriend. "I'd like that too, Weiss. Nothing would make me happier."

In the next moment, Weiss closed her eyes, grasping her shoulder for support as she leaned in. Ruby let one hand gently rest again her girlfriend's cheek to guide her. She closed her eyes and their lips met in a soft kiss again.

Another followed, and then another. Each brush of their lips was a reminder of the bond and feelings they shared. And each kiss magnified the love and happiness within her. She was indeed the luckiest girl in all of Remnant.

Suddenly, she felt a wet sensation against her hand. Weiss sniffed.

Alarm shot through her immediately and she pulled back, examining Weiss worriedly. In the faint light, Ruby could make out tears slowly working their way down her girlfriend's face.

"Weiss, what's wrong?" she asked and grasped her hand, rubbing soothing circles with her thumb against her palm. However, she calmed down, because now that she'd had a moment to consider the cause, her worry abated.

Weiss sniffled again, chuckling softly to herself and wiped her eyes. Ruby couldn't be sure, but it looked like Weiss was blushing fiercely. "Nothing's wrong. I'm happy. I'm so very happy I started crying."

I was right. She's just really happy.

Weiss for crying because of how much she liked her. Ruby's eyes began to sting, so overwhelmed was she with affection and gratitude for her love. It suffused her entire being with warmth and happiness, promising a bright future ahead for them.

"Dummy, now I'm going to cry too." She futility rubbed at her eyes, but her own tears of happiness came pouring out despite her best efforts. "God, I love you so much, Weiss." She abandoned the attempt and wrapped her arms around Weiss, pulling the girl as close to her as she could and burrowing her face in the crook of her neck.

"I love you too, Ruby. Thank you for always being there for me," Weiss whispered.

Ruby didn't respond verbally, instead tightening the hug. Slender arms encircled her, and she felt how Weiss rubbed her back. Ruby took slow, deep breaths and revelling in the lavender fragrance and the warmth Weiss exuded.

They sat together like that for a minute, just listening to the quiet night and looking at the twinkling lights of the town in the far distance.

"Tired?" Ruby asked when she noticed Weiss stifle a yawn.

"Mm," Weiss murmured. "You're quite the comfortable pillow."

Ruby giggled. "Let's go to bed, alright?"

Weiss smiled. "Only if I get to be the big spoon tonight."

"The things I do for love," Ruby lamented jokingly as she stole another kiss.


Weiss slowly approached the grave, hand in hand with Ruby. Blake and Yang stood a few feet behind to give them some space.

Weiss had never liked to think about death. Her grandfather died of natural causes after a period of illness, so even though she was young, Weiss had been able to reconcile herself with that fact. However, her mother had been murdered and that had been much more difficult to deal with. Just thinking about it made her gulp to try and steady her emotions; the trauma was past her as much as it would ever get, but the pain would linger forever.

Death was in general unpleasant to consider for that reason, particularly so an early one. A sense of dread mixed with sadness filled Weiss when she thought of Summer Rose. Ruby's mother had been young when she died on what was a routine mission that had gone horribly wrong. She looked at her girlfriend, who now sat on her haunches and gentle caressed the top of the gravestone, and sympathy welled up in her. In front of Ruby was a bouquet of wildflowers they had gathered during the walk out here.

Being here with Ruby was a special moment. Over time she'd come to know just how much Ruby loved her mother, particularly after the time spent going through the photo albums. Ruby hadn't cried then, but she'd come close on a few occasions and had unconsciously huddled closer to Weiss for comfort.

"Hey, mom," Ruby whispered, continuing to pat the gravestone, where the text "Thus Kindly I Scatter" was chiseled. The stone and its surroundings on the cliff were well-kept thanks to Taiyang's weekly care. "Hope you're doing okay. Today, I have some pretty awesome news. I have a girlfriend!" She gestured to Weiss, a smile wiping away her somber expression for a moment. "Her name is Weiss and she's kind and pretty and just so amazing you wouldn't believe it!"

Blushing faintly from the praise, Weiss stepped close, kneeling down next to Ruby. "Hello, Ms. Rose, I'm Weiss and I'm the girl who's been lucky enough to meet your daughter." She spoke in a slow, gentle tone, as much for Ruby as for the gravestone in front of her. Logically, she wasn't sure why she spoke. She didn't have any real notion whether there was an afterlife or not, but somehow, it felt right to do so.

"And she's the best girlfriend ever," Ruby continued with a giggle, then motioned for Yang and Blake to come up to them, eyes still glued to the stone.

Yang leaned close to Blake and they carried out a whispered conversation, too low for Ruby to make out. Weiss saw Blake's cat ears wilt a bit and then Yang patted her friend on the shoulder before walking up and standing next to Ruby. Weiss made a note to bring it up with Blake later. When they had all been invited here, Blake hadn't made a fuss about it besides politely inquiring if they'd rather not want the time to themselves - a notion both Ruby and Yang had waved away. To them, it was natural to bring their friends.

"Hey mom," Yang said, her eyes softening as she too placed her hand on the stone, "It's been a busy but awesome year. Dad, Ruby and I are all doing well, and I hope that goes for you too."

"Yep," Ruby confirmed. "We have so much to tell you."

Blake stepped forward to join them at that point. To Weiss, her friend looked pensive and a bit uncomfortable, but she didn't shy away. "Hello, Ms. Rose. I'm Blake, a friend and teammate of Yang, Ruby and Weiss. I'm very fortunate to have met them."

"So, Mom," Yang began, "a lot has happened since we left for Beacon, but let me first tell you how Ruby and Weiss met!" Ruby's instantaneously whined to the merriment of the others."Alright, so what happened…"

With that, they started to reminisce about the past semester. It turned more away from a retelling for Ruby's mother and instead pivoted into a conversation about school and life in general. In a philosophical sense, Weiss thought that was fine since the moment was just as much for the living as for the dead. Perhaps it was even better this way. Ruby and Yang did most of the talking, but both Blake and herself pitched in with commentary from time to time.

They probably spent close to an hour there, as the sun slowly descended and the shadows grew longer. "Mom, it's time to leave or we won't make it home in time for dinner," Ruby eventually said and stood up. She sniffed. "I'll see you again during the autumn break."

Towards the end, her voice broke. Weiss grasped Ruby's hand, stepping closer so their shoulders brushed. Wiping her eyes with her free hand, Ruby nuzzled closer."Sorry, Weiss. This is always happens."

Weiss wrapped her girlfriend in a side-hug and gently caressed her arm for comfort. "Thank you for letting me share this moment with you. Ruby, can I ask for a few moments alone with your mom?"

Ruby looked surprised, but nodded. After a final look at the grave she walked towards the edge of the forest. Blake was next after saying her goodbye, and Yang followed after stroking her hand over the stone one final time. "Bye for now, mom. Take care." As she walked past Weiss, she patted her shoulder. "Thank you, Weiss. This means a lot to Ruby."

Weiss smiled at her friend, then turned back around, kneeling down once more in front of the gravestone. During the time spent here, she had pondered the emotions and gratitude she wanted to convey to Ruby's late mother, and she felt the finally knew what to say.

"Mrs Rose, I promise you that I will cherish Ruby and watch over her, just as I know that she will do the same for me. I love her with all of my heart, and between you and me, I think I've found the girl of my dreams. She gives me strength and makes the world a brighter place. I promise I'll take care of her, so I hope that you will give us your blessing when the time is right."

Satisfied with her commitment to the second of Ruby's parents, she stood up and walked towards her friends. Her heart felt both light and heavy at the same time, filled with gratitude that she had been entrusted by Ruby to meet her mother, and grief over the fate that had befallen the woman.

When she joined the others, Ruby's hands slipped into her own of its own volition and Weiss grasped it without a second thought, enjoying the affectionate gesture as she entwined their fingers. "Weiss, what was that about?" Ruby asked.

Weiss gave her a cryptic smile as they walked on the forest path back towards home, unable to keep her cheeks from growing pink. "I made a promise."

"Will you tell me what?" Ruby asked, doing a poor job of hiding how much she wished to know.

Weiss giggled. "One day I will, Ruby."


Weiss sat in the sofa in the living room. She had already packed all of her belongings and was busying herself with doing absolutely nothing. Upstairs, she could here the shuffling of feet and muffled voices as her girlfriend and friends were packing and debating what extra items they should bring with them. They needed to depart in a few hours and the thought of leaving Patch field her with sadness. She'd never had so much fun as during these past two weeks. It would be a memory to cherish for life and she already looked forward to the next time she could visit.

A subdued knock on the wall broke her out of her musings.

"Weiss, do you have a minute." Taiyang stood in the doorway.

She nodded and sat up a bit straighter in the sofa. "Of course, Tai."

He walked around it and sat down on the couch next to her. "Thank you." Taiyang was quiet for a few moment, like he was searching for words. "I've given more thought to what we spoke of a few days ago".

She tilted her head questioningly. "Of what in particular?"

He looked oddly apprehensive and embarrassed, seemingly mentally double-checking his decision before pushing through with it. "You and Ruby."

Immediately, Weiss's face grew warm even as a small smile unconsciously tugged at her lips. She had, for all intents and purposes, stated that Ruby was the most important person in her life and someone she would treasure. "Yes, I remember."

He fiddled with something in the pocket of his vest for a moment, proceeding to bringing out a small jewelry box. "Summer Rose once started a tradition that I was hoping to pass on. Granted, this may be too early but I'm willing to take that risk." He opened the box and Weiss's eyes widened at the content. Inside was two silver necklaces, each containing a small ruby pendant encased in more silver. They were simple in design but very pretty. "This is the necklaces Summer Rose gave the two of us as a token of the love we shared. It's not a promise ring, but it's a symbol of two people in love."

Weiss' heart skipped a beat. "Tai, I'm grateful but that is a precious memory of you and your late wife. I couldn't possible-"

She was interrupted by Taiyang holding up his hand and shaking his head. "I don't wear mine anymore. It didn't feel right after… you know," a pained expression flashed across his features before he picked up the train of thought again, "but the plan was always to pass them on once we decided that our little girl had found the right person for her."

Weiss was silent, her complexion growing redder by the moment over his words. The level of trust he wanted to give her was rendering her speechless, overcome with bashfulness and gratitude. It was hard to look him in the eyes after such a profound endorsement.

Taiyang took note of her plight and sent her a reassuring smile. She knew roughly what he was he was going to say before he did, but when he spoke, it still sent her heart soaring with joy. "Weiss, I think you are the right girl for Ruby. I know that you care so much for her. The necklaces are a sign of trust me from me, but you should not interpret it as a commitment; I'm just giving you the option if you're still together further down the road. Ruby is aware of the history of these so I know they will mean a lot to her."

Weiss reached out and carefully took the small box from Taiyang. She met his gaze, trying her best to convey her sincerity and determination. "Thank you, Tai. I will treasure this gift. I very much", her blush renewed and she had to avert her eyes over what she was about to say, "want to give them to her one day."

He chuckled merrily. "I figured as much from what I've seen of you two so far. However, take your time, Weiss; there is no rush and it should feel right for both of you. And thank you for indulging this old man and his idea of romantic gestures."

"No no, it's quite alright," she hurried to reassure him. "I'm very grateful."

He rose from the chair then. "Now, I was hoping you would help me with lunch. Are you up for that?"

"Of course. I'm not as awful as I used to be in the kitchen but I have plenty to learn still," she responded and slipped the small box into a pocket.

Taiyang laughed. "Oh, don't sell yourself short. You don't burn the food anymore and that's half the key to a successful meal."


Team RWBY was assembled on the airship dock of Patch. It was time to say goodbye. To Ruby, it felt both real and equally unreal. These past two weeks had been the best in her life. So much had happened that it was almost dizzying. She and Weiss had grown so much closer, Ruby's love for her girlfriend increasing tenfold in that time. hey had laughed and cried, had learned to cook food, had spent lazy days together doing nothing, had trained, played video games, read books, and the list just went on and on.

Weiss' arrival on Patch had been nothing short of alarming but together they had quickly turned it around into a fond memory for life.

God, I love her so much!

She felt closer to Blake too, the shared time allowing them to learn of each other and spending time together in a relaxed environment away from school. Board games, video games, morning runs before Weiss was awake and just relaxing together had been great. Ruby had also gotten to see her dad for the first time in months, along with Zwei. She'd miss both of them dearly and was already looking forward to the next time.

And it looks like both Weiss and Blake will come along next time too! I can't wait!

"I'm going to miss this, Blake stated then and looked towards Ruby and Yang. "Thanks a lot for inviting me." They were waiting while Taiyang were helping the pilot, another old friend of his, load the last few pieces of luggage into the cargo hold.

Ruby grinned. "Don't worry, it wouldn't have been nearly as fun with you!"

"I think the second semester will be even more enjoyable than the first," Weiss added. "Because of the break, I mean. Because we were here together."

Ruby couldn't agree more with that, but she was feeling a bit nervous for the second semester. The coursework would increase, and there was the upcoming Vytal tournament. However, she had Weiss by her side and Blake and Yang as well. Team RWBY would surely not have any problems excelling. As for the tournament, she really really wanted to win it, but knew that would be a difficult goal.

"Alright, girls, I'm done," Taiyang said as the pilot entered the cockpit. The airship wasn't very large, holding at most twelve passengers plus cargo. In a few occasions it doubled as an emergency air ambulance for patients who needed transport to Vale. Heavy cargo and larger groups of people were transported by ship due to cost concerns.

Ruby immediately rushed forward and jumped into her dad's arms. "I'm gonna miss you so much," she exclaimed as she hugged him as tightly as she could. "Thanks, Dad," she said in a quieter voice. "You made the break super awesome for us. I love you."

He chuckled. "I love you too, Ruby. I'll miss you, but I know you'll have a great time at Beacon. Autumn break isn't that far away either," he consoled her and patted her back. "so I'll see you soon enough. When you're as old as I am, time has a habit of rushing along."

Ruby giggled. "You're not that old, Dad."

He let her down and ruffled her head affectionately. "Maybe not, but when my two daughters are growing up into splendid young women, it sure feels that way."

Next was Yang, who he hugged just as fiercely. "Love you Dad," she said, squeezing extra hard when he made a show of how strong her grip was.

"And I love you, firecracker. Have fun at Beacon."

Then Blake stepped forward and gave him a soft hug, the first ever. "Thank you for allowing me to spend the break here, Tai. I've had such a good time."

He returned the hug. "Then I hope to see a repeat of that later this year."

She nodded, smiling softly to herself. "Plans have already been made for that. Thanks again."

Finally, it was Weiss' turn. She stepped forward and was immediately swept into a hug. "Weiss, I'm really glad I got to meet you. Take care at Beacon and call me if there's anything you need, alright?"

Ruby felt so happy over the sight. Her dad and girlfriend hugging each other was just so wonderful. The first few days had been hesitant, with both Taiyang and Weiss keeping a respectful distance for their own reasons, but now they acted so comfortable around each other. Ruby hoped that Taiyang would one day be like a dad for Weiss. It wouldn't fill the hole of not having a real father that cared, but it would be the second best. Besides, to Ruby, family was more than blood. Family was the people you loved and associated with, regardless of if they were related to you or not.

With goodbyes done and well wishes exchanged, they boarded the aircraft and took their seats. Ruby had a window seat with Weiss next to her. Blake and Yang had the seats in front of them. Over the intercom, the pilot advised they would depart in a minute.

Next to her, Weiss let out a subdued sigh.

"What's the matter," Ruby asked, gently squeezing her hand.

"I'll miss this…" Weiss blushed. "I felt... at home."

Ruby nuzzled closer to her, letting her head rest against her shoulder. Weiss instantly relaxed from the familiar sensation. "I'm glad, Weiss. That's exactly what I was hoping to let you feel. Let's go back during autumn break, okay? Let's go home again."

Weiss smiled. "I've already promised and I wouldn't miss it for anything. I take it the break exceeded your every expectations you had?"

The look of pure adoration Ruby sent her way said it all. "It was perfect," she added for good measure.

"Perfect is really the best way to describe my stay here. There's nothing I would've done differently," Weiss replied.

Ruby leaned more of her weight against Weiss, prompting her to wrap an arm around her girlfriend to support her. She craned her head and their lips met in a soft kiss. Then one more followed, until it devolved into a game of trying to sneak in a kiss before the other could manage.

The airship rumbled to life and began to take off, prompting them to put their flirtations to the side for the moment and instead holding hands over the shared armrest.

As Ruby occupied herself with staring out the window, Weiss found herself lost in pleasant memories.

These past two weeks were indeed the best in her life. While her time away from Beacon had started on a sour note, her desperate and not very well-planned trip to Patch had turned out to be the best decision she'd ever taken, possibly only rivaled by enrolling at Beacon. Ruby and her had finally spent countless hours together outside of school and that had deepened her love for the girl next to her. They had played, rested, cuddled and even experienced the joy of physical intimacy together. They had talked, laughed and learned more about each other than either of them had thought possible. Painful memories had been brought up, bringing them closer as they shared their troubles and fears.

It didn't mean that everything was perfect though; there were uncertainties over what the future would bring. Taking stock of her relationship with her father was her chief concern. She was still angry with him, and saddened by his attitude, but now that going back to Vale was imminent, apprehension crept up in her too. She still held the upper hand on account of Winter having rejected the position as heiress, but her father could be spiteful and make her life difficult anyway.

As for Beacon, her goal of having top grades made her feel slightly nervousness over the next semester. However, she knew that would abate when they settled into their everyday routine again.

I'll just have to be careful to not let Ruby distract us too much...as enjoyable as that might be.

Finally, and this was something she had deliberately avoided thinking much about, she was already experiencing anxiety over their new level of affectionate displays. Here on Patch, it had been easier than she had thought to show their love in public. She loved it, she really did, but she was unsure if she would be as comfortable when they were back in Vale. She didn't want to disappoint Ruby or herself and had resigned herself to take a wait-and-see approach.

Weiss looked down at the armrest. Ruby's hand was resting in hers. Such a simple gesture that had been so difficult to pull off previously. The break had allowed her to be herself - to walk hand in hand with another girl. She had until that day when she reached for Ruby's hand and held it as they walked on the streets not thought it ever possible. Being daring enough to challenge her own fears like that was perhaps one of the most important things she'd ever done. It was something she didn't want to back down from; she didn't want to see all that progress crumble.

"Ruby, I love you so much." Her eyes drank in the cuteness of the girl next to her, sending a warm and happy feeling through her. It made her feel strong, like she could do anything and take whatever the world threw at her.

Ruby turned her head and shot her a dazzling smile, cheeks red with a cute blush, happiness shining in her eyes. "I love you too, Weiss. Not a day goes by without me thanking whatever fate or lucky star exists that I met you."

They very deliberately ignored Yang's subdued cooing from the seat in front of them. They were both quite used to the lighter attempts to turn them into stuttering, blushing messes by now. It didn't stop Weiss from growing rather red though.

She caressed her girlfriend's hand again, confidence swelling in her. "It's the same for me, every day."

Deciding the no more words needed to be said, Weiss tilted her head and leaned forward again. Catching on, Ruby closed the distance. As their lips met one more time in a by now very familiar display of affection, only one thought passed through Weiss' mind:

With Ruby by my side, I can do anything.


Well, well, well, here we are. Two years later on the dot, 29 chapters later and over 200K words later, the 2nd act is finally complete. Initially, my plan was for it to be 4 chapters long, but it ended up 17 chapters instead! So much fluff and character development~

Now, I have a third and final act planned but I've unfortunately run out of steam. It's paradoxically, or perhaps not much so actually, stemming from the fact that what I've achieved most of what I set out to do - deepen Weiss and Ruby's relationship substantially, explore their past, grow their characters and finally to get them laid. The last point is cheekily written in a blunt manner, mostly because I made it very difficult for myself and had to spend tens of thousands of words trying to ensure that Weiss dealt with her self-esteem and insecurities in a realistic manner. I can only hope I succeeded with that.

There are still issues to resolve though, like Ruby's feelings of inadequacy and worry she's not worthy to stay by Weiss' side, meeting Winter, Weiss taking stock of her relationship with her father and growing more confident in terms of her sexuality and as a person. There is of course also the matters of what Yang and Blake respectively will be up to.

So, I obviously want to cover that and bring complete closure to the story. However, I noticed fairly early that keeping a deadline of posting once a month was interfering with, and actually detrimental to, my ability to enjoy writing. These last five chapters have quite frankly been a pain to work through for that reason, hence the delays. For that reason, I plan to take my time with the 3rd and final act and only publish it after everything is written. I understand that this is disappointing to a lot of you, but it's at the same time the best path for me to take going forward.

I hope these past chapters have brought you much enjoyment and, as always, please leave a review if you want to.