First Time at a Second Chance

by The Great Weiss Shark

Working at a café had many perks like free food and coffee, and Ruby honestly loved her job, but it felt lacking. There were days she wanted to give up and stay in bed but something in her gut told her to get up and go. And so she did and now she knows why: a chance meeting with a beautiful stranger and her little patch of spring. GP!Ruby

35. I See Red

Chapter Thirty-three: I See Red

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Being with Ruby was like blindly digging through a bag of mixed nuts filled with all of your favourites and pulling out something you didn't know you needed in your life until that exact moment. Ruby was special like that. She constantly surprised Weiss, and her little quirks made Weiss fall even deeper in love with her. But then there were the extremely rare pecan days. Weiss wasn't fond of them. The duality of their pronunciations irked her. But taste-wise? They were okay. Tolerable at best. Would she rather have a cashew, peanut, or a pistachio? Sure. Absolutely. But going back to hand-select things ruined the point of being with someone so diverse and full of life. Weiss didn't like pecans, but she loved Ruby… even if she was being a little nutty. Emphasis on the nutty.

"Thanks for going along with the 'fancy' theme," Ruby said as she fiddled her tie and folded it in on itself. She looked rather unhappy with her clothes despite the cheery tone in her voice. Weiss couldn't do much to help her at this point though since Ruby was the one who ultimately chose to wear a dress shirt and pants instead of buying the pretty red cocktail dress she saw at the mall–a decision that still baffled Weiss. "I'm so excited!"

Weiss warily glanced at the overgrown child bouncing excitedly in the front seat and sighed. Ignoring the wardrobe hiccup, Ruby had been like an overexcited puppy for the past week and a half, and Weiss, for her part, played the role of the ever-patient girlfriend perfectly. She listened to Ruby passionately ramble on and on about the Fantastic Mr. Branwen without complaint. And at this point, if Ruby hit her with a pop quiz, Weiss was confident she'd pass with flying colours.

"I can't wait for you to meet him!" Ruby said with the biggest, brightest smile Weiss had ever seen her wear. Which was an impressive feat since Ruby was always so generous with her smiles and grins. "I hope you guys get along. Uncle Qrow's a little weird—okay, he's a lot weird—but I swear he's a good guy!"

Weiss casually nodded, eyes focused on the road. "I'm less worried about me liking him than him liking me—if that makes sense?"

"Nope!" Ruby said with a cheery smile. "I think he likes you already though."

"Right…" Weiss replied in a skeptical tone. "Ruby, darling, I love you, but I hope you know that photo you told me about denotes a different kind of 'like.' "

"I kind of regret telling you that," Ruby mumbled with a deep blush. "But he deleted it!"

"Uh-huh."

"Really! Honest."

"If you say so, mon amour."

Ruby puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms. "I promise he'll be on his best behaviour!"

"I don't want your family putting on airs for me," Weiss said with a comforting smile. She patted Ruby's thigh and let the conversation end there.

Ruby was much quieter during the final leg of their journey. Weiss had a sneaking suspicion the nerves had finally got to Ruby. She was looking forward with a serious expression that aroused Weiss more than she'd like to admit. Perhaps it was because she associated that specific look with the act itself since she really only saw it in the moments before they made love or tried something new.

Weiss blushed and subtly fanned herself while Ruby was distracted by her newly wrinkled tie. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about Ruby's irresistible body and the mind-blowing sex they'd been having following Weiss' sudden confession a few weeks back. Frankly, she was still adjusting to this new "normal" of theirs.

"It'll be okay, mon amour," Weiss said after she regained her composure. They were nearing Ruby's apartment complex and the heavy atmosphere in the car was so thick Weiss was tempted to crack open a window. "I'm sure we'll get along fine if my relationship with Tai is anything to go on."

"I hope so," Ruby murmured, wringing her hands together nervously. She bit her bottom lip and demurely looked up at Weiss. "I really hope he likes you…" she murmured. "I've, uh, never introduced someone special to him before."

"Considering the fact I'm essentially your first everything… I assumed as much," Weiss playfully chuckled.

Ruby puffed out her cheeks and pouted. "What if he doesn't like you?"

"So what?" Weiss smiled. "It's not like he can tell us to break up."

"I guess… but family gatherings'll be awkward."

"That's just part of being in a relationship," Weiss said wisely. "More than half of Nicole's family hate me. Every time she took me to a gathering, I'd end up leaving in tears because they'd spend the entire evening collectively shaming me."

"That sounds awful!" Ruby gasped in horror.

"Oh, it was. It definitely was." Weiss nodded, her brows furrowed as she recalled that painful time. "But no matter how awful it was or how hurtful the words were, the people who mattered most were always on my side. And what could those bullies do except run their mouths? Nicole wasn't going to divorce me just because a distant relative of hers thought my hair was too long or that Chrys was too 'immature' for a toddler."

"They said that?" Ruby snorted in disbelief.

Weiss nodded, not wanting to delve any deeper into her painful past. The things Coco's relatives said and still continue to say weren't worth mentioning. Weiss didn't want Ruby to ever worry about that side of Weiss' life.

After clearing her throat and shaking the intrusive thoughts out, Weiss said,"The moral of this story is that even if Qrow and I don't get along, your father, sister, and the rest of your found family will still support us."

Ruby carefully mulled over Weiss' words, her expression slowly shifting from sad to worried and finally to acceptance. She flashed Weiss a bright smile and said "thanks, Weiss" with the utmost gratitude.

"No problem, mon amour." Weiss parked her car in front of Ruby's apartment, but before she got out, Weiss turned to Ruby and stole a quick kiss. "I love you," she whispered. "No matter what happens tonight, just remember that I love you, okay?"

"Yeah," Ruby replied, resting her forehead against Weiss'.

Weiss smiled and savoured the intimacy while it lasted. She needed it for courage later on because, despite the confidence she exuded, Weiss was so nervous she was shaking. This wasn't just another normal get together with Tai and Yang. This was the night Weiss finally met the man her girlfriend idolized. She needed to win his favour at all costs, so Weiss wore a sexy but respectable black dress with matching heels and did her hair up to give herself the sharpest look she could manage. Her makeup also accentuated her best features, and to top it all off, she wore her lucky ruby red lipstick. Neptune called it the "Your Daughter Calls Me 'Daddy' " look and Weiss couldn't agree more. This was a war and Weiss was dressed to kill. And if the night played out well, Weiss had a special surprise waiting for Ruby underneath the dress.

"You ready?" Weiss asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

They got out of the car and headed up to Ruby's apartment hand in hand, ready to face her family as a united front. Tai opened the door before they even had a chance to knock and warmly welcomed them in, giving Weiss and Ruby each a hug, though there was still some slight hesitation on Ruby's part. Tai wasn't offended though and graciously accepted what affection Ruby gave him.

The apartment was warmer than usual and it smelled like a peppercorn bomb went off in the kitchen, but Weiss could tell from the tasteful tableware and the cloth wrapped utensils on the foldout table that Yang was doing her best to give Weiss a fighting chance. She didn't know what Yang had planned other than the main course and their usual sides, but to see a restaurant setting in the comfort of a close friend's home was beyond Weiss' expectations; however, the chef herself was missing. Weiss thought Yang would be right at the door ready to gloat and rub her skills in Weiss' face, to which Weiss would genially accept. Instead, Weiss caught someone else's attention—the man of the hour himself.

Qrow sat on the couch looking tired and unamused with a glass of amber liquid in hand. He was dressed in a wrinkled suit that was one size too big for him and his hair looked like it hadn't been combed in days. But despite Qrow's shabby and haggard appearance, his eyes were sharp and focused like he was analyzing Weiss' every move. She nervously waved at him, but he grunted with displeasure and continued to silently watch the event at the door unfold.

Tai, bless his giant teddy bear heart, tried to ease the situation by taking Weiss' jacket and making small talk, but it was Ruby who came to the rescue. She turned her attention towards Qrows, and just like the sun breaking through the storm clouds, his grizzled features lit up with an easy smile that showed how much he loved her. Unfortunately, that warm reaction didn't extend to Weiss.

"So you're the chick that's sleeping with my daughter," Qrow growled at Weiss as he set his glass down and got up to hug Ruby. "What makes you think you're good enough for her, huh?

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shrieked in shock. She pushed Qrow away and took Weiss' hand, ready to whisk her away to safety within a moment's notice.

But Tai stood firmly behind them like an impassable wall made of pure muscle. He crossed his bulky arms and cut an impressive shadow much like Yang at her fiercest. But instead of focusing on the reason why Tai's hackles were up, Weiss was more interested in how his suit was holding together. The man was built like an armoured tank and his arms alone made the seams on his sleeves look like they'd snap at any second.

"What the hell, Qrow?! Show some respect and apologize!" Tai said in a loud booming voice that snapped Weiss back to attention. "You promised you'd be on your best behaviour, man."

"What—why are you mad at me?" Qrow groused. "Are we not doing the 'grill the girlfriend' bit anymore?"

"I'm sorry, the what?" Weiss narrowed her eyes at Qrow.

"Y'know, that thing parents do when their kid brings home a date for the first time?" Qrow explained, trying to get his family back on his side. "C'mon, Tai! You gotta remember what we promised!"

"Remind me," Tai said.

"Back when Ruby was a teenager, remember?" Qrow said. "We said we'd play good cop/bad cop and interrogate the poor sucker Ruby brings home!"

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby whined. "Whyyyyy?!"

"I only agreed to that if she brought some sleazy deadbeat," Tai said. "Weiss is nothing at all like we expected."

"Expected?!" Ruby cried out. "What kind of person did you think I'd bring home?"

Tai guiltily looked at Ruby and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, you saw the kind of people Yang hung out with after Pyrrha…"

"Wooooow, thanks, Dad," Ruby muttered.

"Didn't the mute one get thrown in jail for arson?" Qrow said, scratching the scruff on his chin.

"I think so," Tai replied.

"Okay, okay, let me get this straight," Weiss huffed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She could feel a headache coming. "You don't hate me?"

"Of course not!" Qrow let out a hearty chuckle and moved to pat Weiss' left shoulder, but he quickly changed course and patted her right shoulder instead. "I was just teasing, I'm happy you're here. Really, I am," he said, smiling at Weiss warmly. "I know quite a bit about you, little lady. These two"—he pointed at Tai and Ruby—"won't stop talking about you."

"Oh?" Weiss quirked an eyebrow and smirked at Ruby. "Good things I hope?"

"Not a single bad word about you," Qrow laughed.

"Well, that explains how you knew not to pat my left shoulder," Weiss thoughtfully replied, smiling at Qrow. "Thank you for that."

"Look, I'm real sorry if I spooked ya." Qrow held his hand out to Weiss. "If I offended you, I'm sorry. While I wanted to play a little, I really didn't want to scare you away."

"You had me going there, Mr. Branwen," Weiss chuckled warily as she shook Qrow's hand.

"Just call me 'Qrow.' "

"Alright then, Qrow."

"Wow, my name sounds so different with that accent of yours," Qrow said with a surprised look.

"Finally, someone that gets it!" Ruby giggled excitedly as she high-fived her uncle who half-heartedly high-fived her back. "It makes me feel all sophisticated and smart."

"Mm, not the words I'd personally use, but okay, whatever you say, squirt," Qrow said with a lopsided smile as he ruffled Ruby's hair.

"Not cool, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted, fighting off his hands.

Qrow eventually backed off and moseyed back to the couch, but after he got comfortable again, he suddenly shot up and shouted, "Shit, I completely forgot to say thanks for the whisky, Weiss!" Qrow grabbed his glass of the table and held up in Weiss' honour before downing the last of its contents. "This stuff is amazing."

"'No worries, no worries,' " Weiss chuckled as she moved into Ruby's waiting embrace. "Ruby said your preferred poison was whisky—it's mine too—and I just so happened to have a spare unopened bottle in my office."

"I see she talks about me too," Qrow grinned.

"She hasn't stopped talking about you all week," Weiss said, rolling her eyes. "Every day it was Qrow this, Qrow that. Honestly, if it went on any longer, I'd be tempted to tape her adorable little mouth shut."

"Weiss!" Ruby yelped, her face turning red.

"Nothing to be embarrassed about, kid," Qrow said. "I thought you'd be happy to see me and your girlfriend getting along?"

"I am…" Ruby pouted.

"See? I told you everything was going to be okay," Weiss cooed before kissing Ruby's cheek.

"Yeah…" Ruby blushed.

Tai patted Weiss' back on his way to sit on the couch with Qrow. "It's good to see you again, Weiss. Still no Chrys?"

"Unfortunately no," Weiss replied. "She had this sleepover planned three weeks in advance."

"Three weeks in advance?" Qrow whistled. "Girl's got a good head on her shoulders."

"Thank you, though I do hope she doesn't take too much after me and learns to live life a little more spontaneously."

Qrow and Tai nodded in agreement. That was when Yang walked into the living room looking like a kicked puppy.

"Oh, hey, Weiss, Ruby, glad you guys could make it," Yang said with a sad smile when she noticed them in the room. "Dinner's almost ready."

"Hello to you too, Yang," Weiss replied, looking worried. "Everything alright?" Yang wordlessly shrugged as she made her way to the kitchen. That seemed to be the end of the conversation, but Weiss couldn't let it end there in good conscience so she turned to Ruby and whispered, "You should go check on her. I'll be fine with your uncle and Tai."

"Okay," Ruby replied, kissing Weiss on the cheek before going to check on her sister.

"Pull up a seat, Weiss," Tai said, patting the cushion beside him. "Let's catch up."

"Yeah, I wanna know more about you," Qrow said as he poured himself another tall glass of whisky. He offered to pour one for everyone, but Tai and Weiss politely declined. "Suit yourselves."

Tai shook his head and turned to Weiss. "So how's life been treating you lately?"

"It's been good for the most part," Weiss replied.

"Finally settled into the swing of things?"

"Hardly!" Weiss chuckled. "Every day is something new, and I honestly believe that if I didn't have such a fantastic team working with me, I would've crashed and burned by now."

"What exactly do you do?" Qrow asked.

"I'm the current acting president of Nobility Incorporated's Vale branch," Weiss answered proudly.

"That's a lot of words to just say you're the big boss."

"I-I suppose," Weiss blushed.

Qrow rubbed his chin and nodded in approval. "This means you're making some serious bank then, eh?"

"In a word… yes."

"Treating my Ruby right?"

"Considering the fact we're still together after all these months, I should hope so," Weiss replied.

"She happy?"

"I… yes, I think she is."

Qrow nodded again. "Y'know, jokes aside, I was always worried about the day she'd finally bring someone home to meet us."

"Why?" Weiss asked.

"Well… as you saw earlier, we aren't the most functional family out there," Qrow answered, taking a small sip of his whisky. "We've all made mistakes. Tai's still trying to rebuild that relationship with Ruby and Yang. And as much as I tried to be there for 'em, I still wasn't around much either…"

Weiss went silent, unsure of how to respond.

"I think they turned out well on their own," Tai said with a sorrowful expression, his gaze lingering on his daughters. "If I could go back in time, I'd kick myself and tell him to man up before he ruined things forever."

"Give the old Tai a kick for me too," Qrow laughed.

"I wish I could relate." Weiss gave the two men a wry smile. "My bad choices probably saved me, to be honest."

"Oh?" Qrow leaned back into the armrest and pointed his glass at Weiss. "What's the story there, Atlas?"

"Controlling father and absentee mother," Weiss said, suddenly regretting her decision to stay sober tonight. "My whole life was planned out for me. Graduate school with honours. Marry the man of my father's choosing young. Have children. There was never any room for doubt or question. If my father said I was going to do something, I had to do it."

"That sounds rough," Qrow grumbled.

"Mhm… it was suffocating." Weiss ran a hand through her hair and caught a glimpse of her wedding ring by chance. "And then I met my wife. She… she was a lot like me. She came from an equally wealthy family and had the same social pressures, but unlike me… she was free. She got to do what she wanted, dream as big as she could, and just live. So when she set her sights on me, I didn't see her as a person."

"Oh?" Qrow raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was the perfect plan," Weiss chuckled. "I'd get my rebellion and my father would never know. But then I got pregnant and everything went downhill…"

"But it all worked out in the end, right?" Qrow asked, completely engrossed in Weiss' tale.

"Yes," Weiss nodded. "It was a rough start, but I was happy and free… however, life happens in the most unexpected of ways and you can suddenly lose the people you thought you'd have forever."

"Right… Ruby, she, uh, told me you lost your wife last year," Qrow said in an apologetic tone. "You've been doing okay though, right?"

Weiss gave the question some serious thought before nodding. "Meeting Ruby and everyone else has made the transition so much easier."

"Can I ask something personal?"

"I'll answer if I can."

Qrow set his empty glass down and looked Weiss dead in the eye. "Do you seriously care about Ruby? Wait, uh, let me explain a bit—I'm not trying to look down on your relationship. I just need to know this isn't some sort of fling to you."

"Qrow, what the hell?!" Tai growled as he smacked Qrow's shoulder.

"Wha—hey!" Qrow pushed Tai's fist away and smacked him back. "I know she's not bad, Tai. But you must've been worried at some point too."

"I trust, Ruby," Tai growled.

"I do too, but Weiss is a stranger to me and—"

"Okay, enough," Weiss cut in with a huff before the boys started throwing fists again. "I get what Qrow's saying, Tai. It's okay, thank you for defending me."

"But…" Tai sighed as his large shoulders sagging in defeat. "I know this isn't some 'fling' to you, Weiss. You care about my girls."

"I do, which is why Qrow's question is so easy to answer," Weiss replied with a comforting smile. "I love, Ruby. There's no question about that. I was attracted to her from the moment we met, and the desire to be with her crossed my mind many, many times, but Qrow's concern is something I had to think long and hard about."

"What do you mean?" Tai asked.

Weiss blushed and said, "I didn't know if what I felt for Ruby was genuine. I was lonely and single for the first time in a decade, and Ruby was just so eager to be with me… but she was so sweet and always put me and my daughter first."

"That sounds like Ruby," Qrow chuckled.

"Mm… I tried to deny my feelings and Ruby accepted we'd never be more than friends, but at what point is fear worth more than happiness?" Weiss crossed her legs and leaned back into the couch. "I chose to be happy."

"Huh, good answer," Qrow said with a proud grin.

"I appreciate you asking the question outright instead of silently thinking about it like some others," Weiss said. "Ruby's friends were welcoming to our relationship for the most part, but I do believe they were all worried about her at some point—which is completely understandable."

"I like you, Weiss. You've got a good calm head on your shoulders." Qrow nodded and flashed her another grin. "You're way better than any of the losers that showed interest in Ruby. Penny was okay though, I guess? But she's kinda nutty sometimes."

"I'm fairly certain Penny's the one that worried about Ruby the most," Weiss laughed. "She still doesn't like me."

"Ah, give her time."

"We're actually working together on getting Yang a new prosthetic," Weiss said eagerly.

"Really?!" both Tai and Qrow exclaimed at the same time.

"Oh thank god!" Tai cried out. "I've been begging for her to try and get a new one for years, but she kept blaming money and scheduling issues even though me and Qrow have been offering to foot the bill."

"Seriously, how'd you convince her?" Qrow asked.

"I offered her a job," Weiss answered plainly.

"Right, I heard you got Ruby and Yang out of that shithole," Qrow said. "You paying 'em well?"

"Yang's salary is more than sufficient, and Ruby's only working part-time as her assistant of sorts."

"Still paying her more than her last boss?"

Weiss snorted out a laugh and said, "Definitely."

"Not spoiling her too much, I hope?" Qrow asked with a sly smirk.

"Oh, I spoil her plenty, but not in the monetary sense," Weiss replied, crinkling her nose. "But that was a trick question, wasn't it?"

Qrow held out his hands and nodded. "You got me."

"Out of all the people I could've seen Ruby be with, I didn't expect you at all," Tai said with a laugh. "But I'm glad. Really, I am."

"I hate that I'm about to say this, but I gotta agree with him," Qrow said, hitting Tai's arm. "Ruby chose good with you so I guess this means welcome to our dysfunctional family, Atlas."

"Thank you," Weiss smiled, though she wondered why Qrow suddenly decided to give her a nickname.

"I think I got a pretty good handle on the sort of person you are," Qrow said as he poured himself a new glass of whisky.

"Oh?" Weiss quirked an eyebrow. "What sort of person do you think I am?"

Qrow ran a hand through his bangs and smirked. "You're a risk-taker, but you're also smart and calculated so you never take an obvious loss. You're also hung up on the whole concept of 'freedom,' so you go out of your way to help—for example: Ruby's car. You saw her struggle, you had the means, so you fixed it… but it's also a double-edged sword. You have difficulty setting boundaries and being firm with your kid because you're scared of repeating your father's mistakes. Which leads me to the conclusion that you're not entirely over what happened to you as a child. Well, how close am I?"

Weiss sucked in a breath and awkwardly laughed. "Spot on," she reluctantly replied. "My therapist would be proud."

"Thanks, that's a lot of praise," Qrow grinned. "In my line of work, being able to read someone is as essential as being able to breathe."

"What exactly do you do?" Weiss asked.

"Oh, I'm a de—"

"Are the lame grownups done talking?" Yang shouted from the table. She showed off the bowl of buttery mashed potatoes and grinned. "Din-din's ready, geezer! Don't break ya hip getting up."

Weiss rolled her eyes. Complain about hip problems once and you're suddenly old enough to be in a retirement home.

"Coming," Qrow said as he got up, grabbing his bottle of whisky on the way to the table.

Ruby pulled a chair out for Weiss and took the seat next to her while Yang sat beside Qrow and Tai got the seat at the head of the table.

"Wow, Yang, this looks amazing. You really outdid yourself," Tai said with pride as he marvelled at the spread his eldest daughter prepared.

"Thanks, but we wouldn't have any of this if Weiss didn't foot the bill," Yang said.

Weiss shook her head and said, "Money is nothing compared to the amount of effort this took. All thanks should still go to you, Yang."

"Aw man, Ruby, you sure you don't wanna share her?" Yang asked with a sad sigh and pout. "I promise not to steal her away with my charms and good looks."

"Nice try, Yang, but nope!" Ruby grinned as she greedily pulled Weiss in and kissed her cheek. "I'm keeping Weiss forever."

"Wow, thanks for rubbing in your perfect relationship, Rubyn," Yang grumbled. She crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks like a child throwing a tantrum over a toy they couldn't have. "One of these days Blake'll budge and realize I'm way better than Sun and his stupid abs."

"You'll get her one day," Ruby said encouragingly.

Weiss nodded in agreement but said, "Be patient. If she feels for you the way you claim she does, then it'll only be a matter of time."

"I say cut her loose," Qrow said as he nudged Yang and pointed to a new bottle of spiced rum. "When a girl plays with your heart like that, she really isn't interested."

"Other girls maybe, but Blake isn't like that Uncle Qrow." Yang handed Qrow his rum but yanked it away in the last second, surprising him.

"Hey!" he shouted, trying to reach for the rum again.

But Yang held the bottle up higher and said, "Not so fast, Uncle Qrow! Instead of dissecting our love lives and being a nosey douche, why don't you spill the beans on yours?"

Qrow quickly recovered from his shock and smirked at Yang. He snatched the bottle back and said, "My stories aren't meant for polite company."

"Polite? Who? Her?" Yang quirked an eyebrow then pointed at Weiss who was equally perplexed. Qrow nodded. "Oh hell no!" Yang exclaimed in a fit of laughter. "Ruby, did you hear what the old man said about your girlfriend?"

"Uh-huh!" Ruby laughed.

"Oh come on, you guys!" Qrow grumbled. "The woman showed up in a slinky black dress and heels."

"That's probably more for Ruby than any of us," Tai said with a quiet chuckle and a slight blush. "You look lovely, Weiss."

"Thank you, Tai," Weiss replied. "You look quite dashing yourself."

"Aw, this old thing?" Tai rubbed the back of his neck and shyly smiled at Weiss. "Anyway, everyone looks good especially this food. Now let's eat before it gets cold."

Yang had truly outdone herself. The steak was done to perfection as well as its accompanying sides. It physically pained Weiss to eat such a decadent meal without her daughter by her side to enjoy it with her, but thankfully Yang was kind enough to cook a little extra for Chrys.

"Hey, Weiss, you sure you don't want anything to drink other than water?" Yang asked with her mouthful.

Weiss shot her a disdainful look, but it quickly dissolved into a fond smile. "I'm fine with just the water, thank you for asking."

"'fraid to let loose a little?" Qrow asked. He was on his second glass of spiced rum, and by the looks of it, he was steadily heading towards his third. "C'mon, Atlas, let that ponytail down and have some fun!"

"I would love to, believe me on that, but I have a business call tomorrow at 6 a.m. sharp," Weiss groaned.

"Yikes, is that a regular thing?" Qrow asked with a shocked expression. Ruby ruefully nodded and Weiss sheepishly smiled. "Well shit. And here I thought I had it rough."

"It's usually only on weekdays and I'm up by then anyway, but the client's completely booked until after office hours, so tomorrow evening for them this is the only chance we have to speak before finalizing the contract."

Qrow stared slack-jawed at Weiss. "Ruby, how the fuck did you land this girl again?"

"Dumb luck?" Ruby said with a shrug.

"It was more than just 'dumb luck' that brought us together," Weiss said.

"Still pretty lucky in my book," Qrow said before shovelling some mashed potatoes into his mouth. "Say, Ruby, how's school?"

"Oh, um, it's okay…" Ruby half-heartedly replied. She cut a small slice of steak and ate it with some potatoes and green beans. "Food's great, Yang, did you do something different to the potatoes?" she said, trying to shift the subject.

And it would've been well and good, but Weiss' curiosity had hit its peak and now was a good time as any to finally learn what Ruby wanted to do in the future.

"It's really not a big deal," Ruby said rather awkwardly. She avoided Weiss' gaze and hunkered down over her meal to stuff as much food into her mouth.

"Ruby, we've been together for over half a year… most people usually know this sort of information by now," Weiss said. "I'm sure that whatever profession you choose will be a noble one."

"It's noble alright!" Qrow exclaimed with a big beaming smile. "Ruby's gunna join the force and work her way up to detective like me!"

"Not now, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby screamed in a panic, her wide eyes darting between her uncle and Weiss.

"What? Why are you screaming at me now?" Qrow shot back, looking hurt and confused. "I was just trying to express how proud I am of you."

Everything slowed down to a crawl and the voices booming across the table became garbled and muted. Ruby was saying something angrily while Qrow held his hands up in defence. Weiss blinked. Did she hear it correctly? No. No, she must've heard wrong. Ruby wouldn't…

Weiss swallowed, but her mouth was drier than a desert during a heatwave. She needed a drink.

Water. She had water.

Cool, refreshing water.

Weiss took a tentative sip.

It didn't help, so she drank more and more until the glass was half empty.

Her throat felt like sandpaper and her left eye itched something fierce.

She wanted to cry, scream, and hideaway.

This was a mistake.

Clearly.

Time sped up again and the whole family was yelling at each other to simmer down. Weiss watched them like an outsider looking in. She felt helpless in that moment.

"You guys, now isn't the time to be yelling like this!" Yang shouted above everyone, but Qrow yelled even louder trying to gain at least one person onto his side.

"Uncle Qrow," Ruby begged, "please—"

Weiss cleared her throat and effectively silenced the table. She gave Ruby a small smile and held her hand underneath the table for support. Ruby looked like she was about to cry. Weiss could tell she had something to say, perhaps it had to do with the "secret" she'd been keeping—no, this was the secret.

"Uh… sorry, Weiss," Qrow said with his head hung low.

"No, it's alright… but I'm sorry, could you repeat what you said? I was a little distracted by all the noise," Weiss asked with a barely noticeable tremble in her voice.

"Weiss, please, I can explain," Ruby begged, but Weiss gripped her hand without looking in her direction, silencing her.

"I was just saying Ruby's studying to be a cop just like me," Qrow answered, his bloodshot eyes darting nervously between Ruby and Weiss. "I'm sorry, was that some sort of secret, or is this a money thing? I know cops don't make nearly as much as a company president…"

"Money isn't the issue," Weiss murmured. She looked Ruby in the eye and waited for an explanation, but Ruby was uncharacteristically silent. "I see… forgive me, but I'm suddenly not feeling well. I think I'll head home first."

"What?" Yang blinked. "Weiss, I don't know what's going on, but please don't leave, you're the guest of honour here."

Weiss shook her head. "I'm sorry, Yang. I-I really need to head home."

Weiss left the apartment before anyone could stop her. She felt like she'd been thrown through the ice of a frozen lake. Everything was so cold, but she was burning inside. The image of the woman she thought was quirky but perfect was ruined. How was Weiss going to face her now that she knew Ruby wanted to go down the same road Coco did? How was Weiss going to tell Chrys that the person Weiss had brought into their lives might leave the same way her mother did?

Weiss reached the bottom of the stairs and rushed to the front door, desperate for fresh air. She heard someone chasing after her and calling her name, but the world was spinning too fast for Weiss to care.

When the cold spring air hit Weiss' heated skin, she let out a shuddering gasp that opened the floodgates that held her overflowing tears back. She openly sobbed into her hands and cursed herself for not being more careful. She fell so hard and fast, she'd forgotten to think. She should have known something was wrong the moment Ruby learned what Coco did to support her family.

This was all Weiss' fault. She had no one else to blame but herself. She was stupid, reckless—

"Weiss, thank god I caught you!" Ruby shouted with relief as she threw her arms around Weiss and hugged her for dear life. "Baby, please, you need to listen to me—"

"When were you going to tell me?" Weiss murmured through her tears. She didn't dare turn around in fear of the words she'd say to Ruby's face.

"Um…"

"When were you going to tell me?" Weiss repeated, the hurt in her voice as clear as the shattered moon above them. "When were you going to tell me, Ruby?!"

"Weiss, please…"

Weiss whipped around and pushed Ruby away. "When where you going to tell me?" she asked again in a firmer tone.

"I-I don't know," Ruby whimpered.

"You don't know? You don't know?!" Weiss screamed. "Ruby, my wife died because a xenophobic wife-beating asshole got scared because she pulled out her badge!"

"Weiss…" Ruby tried to reach out again, but Weiss stepped out of reach and wrapped her arms around herself. "Baby, please, I need you to listen to me."

"No, Ruby!" Weiss shouted, standing her ground. "I need you to listen to me first."

Ruby dropped her hands and nodded.

"Five years, Ruby. I spent five years living in fear of the day I get a knock on the door telling me that the love of my life would never be coming home," Weiss said through her tears. "She'd come home with cuts and bruises and she'd never tell me how she got most of them because she didn't want to scare me. But that idiotic plan backfired because all I could imagine was the worst! Tell me, Ruby, how do you tell a child she can't hug her mother because she broke two ribs trying to settle a domestic call?"

"I don't know," Ruby replied.

"Ruby, what you want to do with your life is up to you… but my life isn't just my own," Weiss said, the anger in her voice dying. She dropped her arms and stepped into Ruby's embrace, head resting on her shoulder. "I love you with every fibre of my being. I can't picture my life without you… if it was just me, I think I'd be able to handle it… but Chrys—I can't let her live that way anymore."

"What was it like for her?" Ruby asked. She held Weiss tenderly and kissed her temple.

"Awful," Weiss replied, leaning in to nuzzle her nose against Ruby's neck. "She'd stay up some nights waiting for Nicole to come home. I can't even begin to recount all the times I found her asleep by the window. Nicole also missed so many events because she couldn't take the day off—Chrys never complained though because she knew Nicole was keeping the streets safe…"

Ruby cupped Weiss' face and kissed away her tears. "I'm not going to be a cop anymore," she whispered, her chapped lips tickling Weiss' skin. "I wanted to be one for so long, it was my dream as a kid… but after meeting you and Chrys, I have a new dream."

"Ruby…"

Ruby looked Weiss in the eye and smiled at her with tears streaming down her cheeks. She was scared and her hands were trembling like this was the last time she'd ever touch Weiss.

"I want to be with you for the rest of my life too," Ruby said as Weiss gently wiped away her tears. "I want us to be a family. I want to watch Chrys grow up and see the amazing woman she'll become. I want to marry you, Weiss. I want to take you to the pier and get down on one knee… I want to have kids with you. I want everything."

"Ruby…"

"I know you might never want to remarry, and even if you say you're open to the idea, it's okay if we never have kids… but this is my new dream, Weiss. And if I want even a fraction of it to come true, I need to let go of what I wanted in the past." Ruby cupped the hand Weiss had on her cheek and rested her forehead against Weiss'. "I've been in talks with some student advisors to see what I can do with the credits I have so far. I just finished my second year, but I'm told I still have quite a few options… I think you might be dating a broke college student for a couple more years."

"You can be a broke beggar on the street and I'd still love you," Weiss chuckled.

"Gee, thanks," Ruby laughed.

They stared longingly into each other's eyes and kissed. It was salty from all the tears they shed and Ruby's nose was wet and cold, but Weiss didn't care. She'd savour this kiss and remember it forever.

"Come back inside," Ruby pleaded after they broke for air. "Dinner's still warm."

"I can't, Ruby," Weiss replied, caressing Ruby's cheek as she engraved her beautiful face to memory.

"Why not?" Ruby asked.

"Tonight has been extremely overwhelming…" Weiss replied. "Everything that's happened, everything you've said… I-I need time to process."

"What are you trying to say, Weiss?" Ruby asked with fresh tears welling in her eyes.

Weiss didn't want to see the heartbroken expression Ruby wore, but she needed to stand her ground and face her properly.

"I need some time apart to think and organize my thoughts," Weiss said, brushing Ruby's tears away. Every teardrop was like a brand seared into Weiss' heart. She knew she was hurting Ruby, but she was hurting too. "Just a little time, Ruby, that's all I'm asking."

"How long is a 'little time,' Weiss?" Ruby asked.

"Just a few days, mon amour," Weiss replied. "I know this is asking a lot, but please give me this time."

Ruby sniffled and snorted her nose, but the dripping didn't stop. "This isn't a breakup, right?"

"Oh, mon amour, no!" Weiss said as she used her sleeve to wipe Ruby's nose. "I'm just asking for a little space. I'm not going anywhere, and from the sounds of it, neither are you."

"Mhm," Ruby murmured with her head buried in the crook of Weiss' neck.

"A little space might do us some good," Weiss said, embracing Ruby fully.

"Maybe… we have been spending a lot of time together," Ruby replied.

Weiss ran her fingers through Ruby's hair and kissed her temple. "Just a few days, mon amour. Can you give me that?"

"If you're for sure not breaking up with me, then take all the time you need, Weiss," Ruby bravely said. "I'll be here waiting for you. And when you're ready, we'll sit down and talk because there's so much I want to say."

"Thank you, Ruby," Weiss said.

"I love you, Weiss."

"I love you too."

They shared one last kiss before Ruby walked Weiss to her car and sent her off without a fight. Leaving Ruby's embrace was hard, and seeing her wave from the rear-view mirror made Weiss want to turn her vehicle around and apologize for everything she said. But when Weiss looked back, she saw Qrow rushing out to stand beside Ruby, frantically pointing and gesturing to her car.

The guilt hit Weiss harder than she expected it to. Despite the awful prank at the start of the evening, Qrow had grown on her. He was crass and rather uncouth, but he was devilishly smart and he loved Ruby beyond words. Weiss could relate to him. She loved Ruby too, and if the situation was reversed, she would be the one pointing and gesturing, no doubt offering to give chase.

Maybe she should stop. It wasn't too late to.

"Don't do it, Blue."

Weiss jolted upright, her eyes wide with shock.

"Don't do it."

Blinking, Weiss looked around the cabin of her car looking for the owner of the voice that haunted her, but she was alone.

Cold sweat began to drip down Weiss' neck.

"Don't back down."

"N-Nicole?" Weiss murmured.

"I know you want to give in and let these people take their pound of flesh from you, but you're stronger than that." Coco was in the passenger seat with her cheek resting on the back of her hand as she stared out the window, her signature sunglasses hiding her eyes from view.

"You don't understand," Weiss replied, the grip she had on the steering wheel tightening.

"Tell me, what exactly do I not understand?"

Weiss glanced at her wife and frowned. "They're your family…"

"And you're my wife," Coco muttered without pause or hesitation. She took off her sunglasses and rubbed her eyes. They were red and puffy with tears Weiss didn't know Coco was capable of. "Whether we're bound together by accident or not, I still chose you. I chose you, Weiss. So tell me, why do you think I don't understand?"

Weiss was speechless.

Coco hadn't spoken much during the evening. And when she did, her choice of words were always less than polite, a total opposite of her usual genial attitude during parties. She had also stayed beside Weiss the entire time with her hand somewhere on Weiss' person. That wordless physical contact helped Weiss retain some sanity, and she supposed the lifeline extended to Coco as well.

"I had to stand there and listen to those overstuffed chickens insult my wife and child. If it was just about me, fine. I was already the family disappointment, but you and Chrys are innocent," Coco continued, the frustration in her voice bleeding towards anger. "I'm just as angry as you, Weiss… so don't. Don't tell me I don't understand."

"I-I'm sorry," Weiss murmured.

"No, I'm sorry too," Coco replied, placing a hand on Weiss' thigh. "I should've been more vocal in your defence. It was wrong of me to just stand there."

"I could have done more to reach out to you," Weiss said, refusing to let Coco take more of the blame. "And you weren't silent. You were careful with your words, but you were insulting them back… and I don't think they noticed."

"Oh, they definitely didn't notice," Coco laughed. "Did you see that one lady wearing that ugly ruffled dress?"

"Which one?" Weiss smirked.

"Touché."

"I like it when we do this…" Weiss murmured with a shy smile. "Talking like we're on the same page."

Coco nodded and patted Weiss' thigh. "Feels like we're an actual married couple, huh?"

"What do you mean by 'actual'?" Weiss huffed.

Coco snorted out a laugh and—HOOOONNNKKKKK!

Weiss rapidly blinked, her eyes wide with shock. She was breathing hard and her heart was pounding so loud it was all she could hear. Looking behind her, she saw a white sedan stopped in the middle of the road—an intersection. Weiss had run a red. Her hands were shaking now. She needed to get home. She needed to think.