POV: RUBY ROSE

Chapter 45 – Parental Approval

"Tell me, Blake. Your team knows everything about you?" I stop my laughing, looking on at Uncle Qrow as he speaks with Blake. My uncle isn't a person to ask a question without it leading somewhere, and I doubt that streak would change now.

"Certain parts of my past I wish not to share . . . but what does that have to do of anything Sir? I mean, Mister Qrow." I watch as Blake winces from calling my uncle the one title he despises most, but she doesn't know that Uncle Qrow has a really, really, really, long fuse.

"I see, well if that's the case, then I don't think you need to hide your Faunus heritage from me." My jaw drops as Uncle Qrows words. Yang and Weiss quickly turn their heads towards Blake, unable to understand how he was able to find out so quickly, and Blake wastes no time in asking the question all of us are thinking.

"How did you know?" Her tone is harsh, and her eyes are fixed on him, but as usual he is unfazed by the tension in the air, and goes on to explain very simplistically.

"Your eyes are very cat-like. You have a different posture. Your nose wiggles a little when you sniff and . . . okay, who am I kidding? You only tied your bow over one ear." At his words the three of us all look at Blake's ears. From the way she is standing, we can only see her right side, so with a little movement we are able to get a small view of her other ear and are surprised to see that Blake would actually forget to tie her bow over BOTH ears.

"Like I said," Uncle Qrow continues, "There is no need to wear a bow around here anyway. This part of Patch is very anti-discriminatory, as is this family. Though, a word of advice: Take a trip into town with Yang sometime. It will help stop the several exes of hers from attempting to get back with her." I can see Yang lower her head out the corner of my eye. It's very unlike Yang to lower her head when her exes are mentioned. As a matter of fact, it usually has the complete opposite effect. Yang usually boasts about how many exes she has, and doesn't waste a moment to correct someone should they underestimate the amount of hearts she's broken.

I mean, there was that that time over the summer after her junior year at Signal. She was depressed over most of the summer vacation for some reason. She didn't want to leave the house or anything, and a friend of hers who had just graduated from Signal came by multiple times to check on her, but Yang didn't want to see her, no matter how many times she stopped by. I can't remember her name, but she was a really tall cheetah Faunus, taller than Yang even. I never went into a conversation with Yang on it. To be quite honest she was not the most approachable big sis that summer. It was the first time I felt like I couldn't talk to Yang about something.

"Ruby?" I hear Weiss whisper to me.

I shake my head hard, looking at my girlfriend who is sitting on the floor next to me, staring at me with a look of concern on her face.

"W-Whuh?" I look around, seeing that Uncle Qrow, Blake and Yang are all gone. "W-Where'd everyone go?" I ask, and Weiss begins to laugh at me.

"Wow, you spaced out pretty hard. Qrow, er . . . Mister Qrow went upstairs to sleep, as did Yang and Blake. On that note, where am I sleeping? I hear Blake has the attic room, and since your Uncle is here, he no doubt has taken whatever other room is available." Weiss questions, while also pretty much checking off all the options in my mind with her explanation.

I didn't think of that! I mean . . . she could always- No, she'll dismiss that right away.

Actually, maybe if I say- Nope . . . Weiss is stubborn. Oh well. I slept well the past two days, I can sacrifice a night.

"Well, you could sleep in my bed, Weiss. I have a spare I can use."

If you can even call it a spare.

"That seems to be the best option as of now. Thank you, Ruby" I feel my cheeks redden when Weiss leans over and plants a kiss to my cheek, leaving me with a small case of the giggles. You'd think I'd be use to at least this, but honestly I am usually the one to steal the kiss, so for her to give me one without me asking is pretty rare, and it makes me love them even more!

"Not a problem! Now let's get upstairs. Someone knocked on the front door a few hours back and left bags there that had your name on it. I put them in my room since I didn't know where they should go." I say while I stand up and help Weiss to her feet as well.

"I see, that was probably Sebastian. I believe he was on the airship. If there's anything I need, he's the one I call." At her mention of Sebastian I see a smile cross her lips. Whoever he is, he is able to make Weiss smile effortlessly. I'm not so sure I like that.

"Oh? So, who is Sebastian? Old friend?" I ask while I begin walking towards the stairs with Weiss following,

"For formality's sake he is employee under my father, assigned as my butler. Although he goes far and beyond to do anything I need should I ask. He's been more of a dear friend than a butler, and I do my best to avoid overusing his services." Weiss explains to me while we climb to the top of the steps and make our way down the hall to my room. I open the door, but I don't hear Weiss' entering behind me. I turn around to see her standing in the doorway, looking at the wording at the top of my door.

"Summer's Little Rose? Ruby, aren't you more of an autumn lover?" Weiss asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

Weiss . . . why'd you have to notice that?

"Well, you see. It's not really referring to the season. Um" I try to find a way to explain without bringing tears to my eyes.

Too late.

I look at Weiss, her body becoming disfigured and blurry. I know she didn't know this would happen, but I get emotional every time I think about it. I look down and take a chopped inhale, also closing my eyes in an attempt to break my vision with Weiss.

"If there's too emotional of a meaning behind it, just shake your head next time, Dolt. I have my share of sensitive topics as well. Do you forget the type of family I have?" Weiss voice is close. I can guess she is right in front of me now, and that assumption is proven true when I feel one arm wrap around the back of my head, and the other around my upper back. "You don't need to explain everything to me. Some things will come out in due time."

Weiss . . . I want to tell you. I have no problems telling you, it's just . . . my mind doesn't want to let me forget.

I wrap my arms tightly around Weiss, pressing my head against her chest. I find a soothing retreat in her heartbeat, absorbing the light pounding as a soothing melody. It's such a beautiful sound, and I just wish I could hear it louder. I move my head a bit, trying to get my ear in a better position, but Weiss assumes my actions to be a little more perverse.

"Don't use the moment to get yourself some free feels you sneaky dunce." The clear annoyance in her voice is noted, but she doesn't push me away, which I am grateful for.

"Sorry." I whisper with my cheek pressed to her left breast. Her arm unwraps from my head, and instead I feel her cold fingers trailing along my cheek after fighting away my hair.

"I climb up to the attic room to say goodnight to my girlfriend, and you two are already getting romantic in my sister's room." I hear Yang teasing, but Weiss as usual does not realize my sister is just joking around, and makes an attempt to clear things up.

"It's not like that Yang . . . It seems I made a mistake and asked about the text on Ruby's door." Weiss shifts a bit while she speaks, exposing my tear-stricken face to my sister. "It was a mistake, Yang . . . and I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from punching me until after I wake up,"

I rub my eyes, getting the tears away so I can look at my sister who is staring at Weiss with an unamused look.

"Sheesh, Ice Queen. I'm not that bad." Yang shrugs her shoulders." Anyway, are you two sharing a bed or something? If so, big sis disapproves immediately." Yang leans against the doorway, folding her arms while I gently pull myself from Weiss; hold to stand upright.

"No, sis. I was gonna-" I raise my arm to point to my closet with a blank look on my face. Yang gives me a sharp stare, and shakes her head with a loud huff.

"Really? I swear, Rubes . . . Weiss, what did she tell you?" Yang turns her eyes to my girlfriend, and I immediately lower my head, preparing for the scolding I will get when they finish clearing things up.

"She said I could sleep in her bed because there is a spare that she could use. I assume she meant that there is another mattress or something that she has used to sleep in before, but I doubt a mattress could fit in her closet." I can feel Weiss' cold stare piercing me at her last words.

"Nope, the only thing she has that would qualify as a spare bed is the sleeping bag she keeps in there."

Why'd you need to say it like that, Yang?

"What!?" Weiss shouts in surprise, and at the same time I can hear Yang's footsteps come closer, and the squeaking sound of my door closing behind her until it shuts completely. "If you think for one second I am going to sleep on a comfortable mattress while you sleep on the floor, then you are sadly mistaken. The couch downstairs is more than large enough for me. All I need is a"

"No!" I shout, lifting my head to look at Weiss, "This is your first time in my house . . . I want you to at least sleep in a bed. Even Yang wanted the same thing for Blake and slept on the couch two nights ago until we moved one of Yang's mattresses from her bed up to the attic." I flash a gaze over to Yang who immediately look down, and following that I look away. "I just want my girlfriend to sleep comfortably until we get a chance to compromise."

I hear twin huffs coming from the two of them. A heavy hand lands on my left shoulder, and a cold, gentle touch on my right.

"Fine, Rubes . . . Ice Queen can sleep in your room." Yang whispers.

"However, I will be taking the sleeping bag. You have proven you are a good hostess with that selfless attempt of yours, but I will not let my team leader, friend, and girlfriend be treated secondhand in her own home." Weiss whispers in continuation with Yang.

I suppose this is as close as it will get . . . It's far better than Weiss sleeping on the couch. The two people I know who can sleep comfortably on that couch are Yang and Uncle Qrow.

"Okay, but if I wake up early I want Weiss to move to my bed . . . no questions." I answer the two of them.

"That doesn't mean waking up at 3am, Rubes." Yang quickly counters me.

"Nor does it mean sneaking me onto your bed when you simply wake up for a mere bathroom break" Weiss also counters.

Ugh! Why must they know me so well!

"Hmph! Fine!" I pout. I look over towards my bed and make a quick hop towards it. I use my semblance to send me directly above my mattress, twisting my body so I land flat on my bed with my face buried into my pillow.

"She is such a pest." Weiss says to Yang, "Also, could you find the sleeping bag for me? I still need to change into my nightgown."

"Go on. I got it." Yang answers.

I hear the sound of a zipper opening up near me. I placed Weiss' two suitcases near the foot of my bed since I did not know where else they could go. When I hear the suitcase being closed and Weiss' footsteps growing fainter, I lift my head up and shout just loud enough for her to hear.

"Door on the right after the staircase, just past Yang's room."

"Thanks." Weiss answers as she continue walking. I continue to listen, waiting to hear the distinct sound of the bathroom door shutting. Compared to the rest of the doors in the house, for some reason the bathroom door has a more 'hollow' echo to it, so I always know when someone is going in or out of the bathroom based on that.

"Alright, Rubes. Why the hardcore pouts?" I lift my head again to look at Yang who is unrolling a 6-foot sleeping bag at my bedside.

It's a crimson sleeping bag and it is a bit loose around me, even when I zip it up. Now that I think about it the bed will be perfect for Weiss. She sleeps with a very light blanket to avoid using anything heavier since she tends to like the colder breeze. Even the outfits she wears are pretty light and nearly paper-thin. She even has this very pretty bolero jacket that she can put over her usual dress, but it is very light as well.

"I just want Weiss to like the house, Yang. So she'd want to come by again, y'know?"

"Sis, she isn't coming here for the house. She's coming here for you. I'm sure Ice Queen has some fancy ass property somewhere in Vale that she could have gone to spend her vacation in, or even invite the rest of us to spend the vacation over there with her. BUT, she came here and you know why?" Yang smiles, looking up at me with her lilac eyes.

"Why?" I ask, biting on her question.

"Because that fancy Ice House of hers doesn't have Ruby Rose." Yang states proudly, causing a smile to cross my lips.

"Thanks, Sis." I reach out, bringing my upper body off of the bed and hugging Yang, relying on her to not let me fall.

"Psh, thanking me for what? I'm just the beautiful, attractive, jaw dropping interpreter." Yang gloats and stands up, carrying my hanging upper half back over to the bed before prying my arms off of her and letting me drop.

"Oomph! And modest!"

"Extremely modest! I didn't even go into how much of a sexy piece of-"

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaang!"

"Fine, fine . . . I'm still the most wanted girl in Patch, and Beacon."

"For multiple accounts of assault." I state bluntly.

"What? Me? Assault someone? I would never!" Yang does her best to act shocked and surprised, even adding a fake gasp to it all that makes me shake my head.

"Goodnight, Yang." I shake my head, giggling at her terrible acting while she walks out the room and waves.

"Night, Sis. I better not hear either of you two fuc-"

"YAAAAAAAAANG!"

"Alright, alright. Sleep tight." She says while closing the door.

Sheesh. Weiss and I wouldn't do that. It was that one time, and you helped provoke it, dummy!

I take a moment to climb off my bed to pull my blanket out from underneath me before hopping back in and covering myself. Weiss is taking a bit longer than I expected, but she is probably going to sleep the moment she comes in, so I might as well not get my hopes of having a little more chatting time with her. I close my eyes, facing away from the door, thinking of where exactly to bring Weiss in the forest tomorrow.

Well, if I take her to the baby waterfall, and follow the creek downstream, then we may end up at the lake. That may be nice. Upstream also has a very pretty opening and a little grassland, that would make for a perfect picnic spot.

I think of every possible place I know inside the beautiful, yet Grim-infested forest. Ultimately I decide that the picnic spot may be better, even if we do not eat since there are most likely not as much Grim over there as compared to the lake. I have no idea how long I have been lost in my decision making, but suddenly I feel my bed sink behind me a bit. I peek over my shoulder, eyes going wide when two pale hands grab my cheeks and Weiss's lips press to mine, although only for a few seconds.

"That's for being sweet enough to volunteer yourself a sleeping bag and leaving me a bed . . . but never do that again." Weiss smiles at me and slides off the bed to climb into the sleeping bag. I roll to the edge of my bed and look at her, a portion of my conversation with Yang popping into my head.

I wonder if she really does have a house in Vale.

"Weiss, how many rooms does your house in Vale have?" I ask with an extra sweetness to my words.

"Two bedrooms with two beds in each, a bathroom in each bedroom, a big shower room, a living room, a kitchen and ummm . . . I think there's a dining room." She says after thinking on it.

Wow . . . Good guess, Yang.

"Wait, how'd you know I have a house in Vale?" Her eyes look at me in realization. I should have thought this through a little more.

"Well ummm . . . lucky guess?"

"Such a liar. I don't use it since I am very happy dorming it with the three of you. I haven't had reason to use it, and have an account building up interest since I never used the money to refurbish the place." Weiss shrugs her shoulders and seems to find a comfortable position in the sleeping bag pretty quickly.

"Could you show it to me sometime?" I ask, laying my head on my pillow, but still able to see Weiss.

"Last day of the winter break we can spend the night there. How's that sound?" Weiss asks, smiling at me.

"Sounds great!" I answer, closing my eyes to sleep.

"Also," Weiss starts, making me open my eyes to look at her, "Halfway through the break . . . hopefully I would have already met your dad by then . . . I want you to come with me to my home and meet my parents."

Her parents!?

"But Weiss . . . What about all those things about your parents not approving, the press eating you alive, and all the other stuff?"

"I've said this to you a few times, Ruby. I am not ashamed of our relationship, nor am I making attempts to hide it. I want you to meet my parents and let them take it as they will . . . if my father gets angry, I suppose it can be looked at as a bonus . . . the man annoys me."

Weiss . . . you're too rebellious for you own good . . . I thought my Winter break was going to be relaxing.