"Happy birthday Weiss!"

A chorus of cheers echoes out as the blindfold is removed from over Weiss's eyes, the now ten-year-old smiling with glee as she looks around the well decorated dining room. Winter, Whitley, Willow, Klein, even many of the servants had showed up to help her celebrate this momentous occasion. Of course... There is one person who happens to be absent at present, and this is glaringly obvious given the softening of Weiss's expression.

"Mom? Where's father? He was supposed to show up." Willow glances towards the door to the dining room as Weiss voices her question, a quiet sigh escaping before she begins to move.

"I don't know darling, but I'll go find out, you go ahead and enjoy yourself okay? It's your big day after all." Weiss's approving nod is all that is needed before Willow slips out and into the foyer of the manor, the festivities beginning to pick up as food is served. Of course, there are more than a few selections suitable for Weiss given her braces, all of which is to her liking, her bright expression never dampening as she enjoys her birthday as she has many times before.

Eventually, as cake is being served, a commotion becomes apparent from outside the dining area, the partially closed door making it apparent that the arguing voices belong to Jacques and Willow.

"I have more important things to do than attend a silly birthday party, woman, and for that matter, now that Weiss is ten she should be living up to the Schnee name, not be so... So childish." Jacques spits out with clear anger to his voice, his tone souring Willow's expression more and more.

"How dare you! Weiss is your daughter, you should be in your children's lives more, not... Not focusing so much on work, on the company!" Willow's retort draws out a furious scowl from Jacques, who takes a single step closer to her and finally reveals what she had, for the longest time, knew to be true, but hoped wouldn't be.

"And why should I?! The only reason I even married you, the only reason I was so kind to your father, was so that I could take control of the Schnee Dust Company. You surely must be daft, woman, if you even thought I cared one bit about anything other than the SDC." Hearing his admission, that he never loved her, and likely cares not for Weiss, Winter, or Whitley, only the Schnee Dust Company, Willow pales noticeably and takes a single step backwards. Jacques glances over towards the dining room momentarily, then looks back to Willow before once more speaking.

"That's right, woman, you thought I ever loved you? You were a means to an end, and because of you I'm right where I deserve to be."

"Nhh..." A soft yawn leaves Weiss's lips as she begins to wake, her right hand balling up before rubbing at her wet eyes. After taking a few moments to dry her eyes and push herself up so she's sitting, she gently removes her headgear, then stretches her arms out to either side before legs swing off the side of the bed.

"Bad dreams again Weiss?" Weiss glances up at Blake as the feline faunus speaks, a hesitant nod being given while a sigh escapes.

"It was a memory, my tenth birthday..." Blake gives an understanding nod before seating herself beside Weiss on the bed, an arm wrapping around her firmly as she does. Weiss does what she'd do any other time she was being consoled and leans against Blake, eyes clenching firmly shut for a few moments.

"I remember, you told us about it. Ruby and Yang are having breakfast already, I saw you crying in your sleep so I decided to stay behind and make sure you were okay."

"I'm... I'm fine, Blake... It's not the first time I've dreamt of this, and..." A sigh pierces her words before she can continue her thought, Weiss slowly looking over at Blake with a forlorn expression, "It won't be the last..." Blake says nothing in response, instead she simply squeezes Weiss's side and keeps her held close.

"I get nightmares too, Weiss, they're... Similar, but different... I'm sure you remember Adam Taurus, my... My ex... While you had your father abusing you, I had Adam... He attempted to warp the way I saw the world, how I saw other faunus, humans... I wanted to corrupt me into being exactly like him, and if he had his way I'd never have gotten to see my parents again. Leaving him, and... Taking him down with Yang, it was the hardest thing I've had to do, but it gave me closure. Maybe the trial will be what gives you closure, knowing your abuser is locked up somewhere that he can't reach you, just like how Adam is somewhere he can't hurt anyone ever again."

Listening to Blake's words, Weiss tenses up noticeably, hands balling up while she looks away from her friend and instead focuses a misty eyed gaze on the floor. "But what if he doesn't go to prison? What if he's found innocent, Blake? If... If all of this was for nothing, this trial, this misery, if nothing comes from it? I don't think I can handle it..." Just as the first tear breaks past Weiss's left eye and rolls down her cheek, Blake pulls her into a proper, two armed embrace, holding her close while she begins to cry once more.

"Weiss, it's going to be okay. There's no way he could possibly win the trial, there's just too much evidence against him, and, even if he did win, with what's come to light, no one would ever support him anymore. Your abuser is alone, he has no one but himself, and he has to live with that for the rest of his life, prison or not." Despite her attempts at consoling Weiss, even going so far as to refer to Jacques as not her father but her abuser, Blake can't seem to help her calm down, and instead resigns herself to just keeping Weiss held close until she cries out the frustrations.

Ruby and Yang enter the room just as Weiss finally calms down and dries her tears, a glance given towards her and Blake before they settle on their respective beds and watch in silence. Eventually, Weiss parts from Blake's embrace, a weak sniffle given as she does, Blake smiling when she sees that Weiss too is smiling, albeit slightly and with parted lips that expose her braces. Noticing this, the feline faunus slips her retainer down into view for just a few moments, reminding Weiss that she's not alone, but those few moments are just enough for Ruby and Yang to notice, Yang quirking an eyebrow rather curiously.

"A retainer? Since when have you worn a retai- GAH!" Before she can finish her question, Yang is startled by a pillow impacting with her face, Weiss unable to resist giggling while Blake frowns up at her girlfriend. "Not another word Yang. I had braces when I was younger, just like Weiss did, and no, you can't see me with them. I made mom and dad swear to never show any of those pictures unless I allowed it." Now feeling better, Weiss stands up, then moves to her dresser and fishes out an outfit before slipping into the bathroom.

Coming out not long after, dressed in jeans, a sweater, and fur lined boots, she looks to Blake, a warmer smile now shining. "Would you care to join me for breakfast Blake? I'd rather not miss out on a meal, and I could use the company." She offers, Blake nodding before pecking Yang on the cheek and moving over to Weiss who immediately departs with her and makes a bee-line for the cafeteria. With time having passed not many people are left lingering about, so the two make their way through the line and get their chosen meals, then settle at a table with a familiar set of faces.

"Well hey there you two, looking all bright eyed and bushy tailed." Coco teases, Blake simply smiling over at her while Weiss blushes a little. Instead of speaking immediately, Weiss elects to distract herself by sipping at her mug of coffee, letting Blake do the talking for her.

"We've been up for a bit now, we just... Had a few things to take care of before we could come to breakfast. What are you guys doing here so late? I figured you'd have eaten by now and would be off training, or accompanying a huntsman on a mission." Coco chuckles a bit before glancing over towards Fox and Velvet, both of whom look off to the side sheepishly.

"A certain two somebodies couldn't be bothered to get out of bed on time, so we had to come to breakfast late." Blake chuckles a little before shooting a wave to Velvet who waves back, the rabbit faunus glancing towards Weiss for a few moments but not saying anything. "Anway, you guys got any plans for today? We have the day off from shadowing huntsmen, and aside from training we don't have anything going on."

"Ah... I have the day off from missions as well," Weiss says, finally looking up from her mug and focusing on Coco, "It's... Been hectic lately, so I've had some time to unwind and deal with things, but I still go on missions when possible."

"I have the day off as well, last mission was yesterday, and Ironwood has been kind enough to give me a choice on my days off, so I elected to take today off and relax. Why do you ask?" Blake's question is met with a grin from Coco who glances over to Yatsuhashi, ever quiet and composed as he tends to be.

"We were all going to head into town after training, get a bite to eat and go see a movie, do you two want to come with?" Both Blake and Weiss mull over Coco's offer, then nod in acceptance, their smiles growing a little.

"Alright, that sounds like it'll be fun, just..." Weiss pauses for a moment, then glances down at her mug, "don't offer me popcorn, it's too tempting and I can't have it."

"Noooo promises snowflake."