For a long time now, I've really wanted to write an AU where Summer is still alive and raised her two beautiful girls. So I finally did it! This is White Rose main with some solid background Bumbleby. Also, assuming they finished Beacon and are huntresses now but somehow Weiss avoided the family up until this point. Let's just roll with it!
"I remember this place now," the taxi driver remarked as the car stopped at the end of the long drive. "This is Summer Rose's place, isn't it? You know her?"
"You could say that." After paying the cab fare, Ruby grabbed the door handle and smiled at the man who drove her out here. "She's my mom, actually."
"Get outta here!" Eyes wide, he turned around in his seat to see her better. Satisfied with the resemblances he found - same silver eyes, fair features, and dark hair - he smiled. "I drove her home once - couldn't believe it when she got into my car. Nice lady though. She signed some stuff for my boys."
"That sounds like her." Heart warmed by the simple story, which proved the type of person her mom was, Ruby said, "Thanks for the ride!" before shutting the passenger door and waving at the driver through the front window.
He waved back before turning the cab around and heading back down the driveway, leaving her to look up at the comfortably sized cabin in front of her and take a deep breath of fresh air. No matter how much she loved her job, which took her to the far reaches of the world on adventures beyond her wildest dreams, there was always something special about coming home.
With healthy, towering trees on all sides, the small clearing offered a sanctuary close enough to town to be convenient yet far enough away to be private. The tranquil space held so many good memories that she found them everywhere she looked. She remembered playing on the tire swing at the edge of the woods and telling ghost stories on the front patio late at night - she'd even jumped off the roof once on a dare.
After glancing at the time, she took a deep breath and jogged up the front steps. She always loved coming home, but today was an extra special occasion. Knowing her family, everything would turn out fine in the end, but the journey could very well be embarrassing, unexpected, or a mixture of both.
"Let the fun begin…" she mumbled while trying the front door. Finding it unlocked, she let herself inside and smiled at the blast of nostalgia beyond.
She hadn't lived here in years, but it was still home. The tall ceilings made it feel open and large while exposed wooden beams lent a warm, cozy feeling. The well-used sofa in the living room, sitting next to the fireplace, still faced the same stack of movies and games from years ago. Family photos still hung on the wall of the staircase, with the wood bannister still faded from how many times she and Yang slid down it.
The house had hardly changed since she left for school, but there were little differences. New photos in the frames. New movies in the living room. Less evidence of two teenage girls claiming this space as their own.
"Ruby!"
Spotting her dad in the kitchen, waving with the spatula in his hand, she hurried over and hugged him.
"Hey Dad! It smells great in here."
"Can you say that louder so everyone can hear?"
"I heard her just fine."
Spinning towards the bemused voice, Ruby grinned as soon as she saw her mom walking over. Summer Rose - one of the greatest huntresses of their time, if not the greatest ever. Powerful, tenacious, majestic - the list of her incredible qualities went on and on. Everyone in Remnant knew who she was and loved swapping stories of the feats she'd accomplished with her team. They talked about how she saved the world 'that one time,' of which there were many times to choose from, and how she probably would again.
To Ruby, she was just...Mom. The person she looked up to more than anyone else in the world, who'd put bandaids on her scrapes, read her bedtime stories, and still teased her about running into a wall that one time.
Everyone said they looked alike but, besides the same dark hair and silver eyes, Ruby thought her mom was far more beautiful. No matter the occasion, Summer always looked poised and confident. And when she walked, it was with an understated grace that Ruby could only hope to one day match.
"Ruby," she said before wrapping Ruby in a warm, loving hug. After pulling away, Summer left her hands on Ruby's shoulders and looked around. "Where is she? She's still coming, right?"
"Yeah, of course! But this last-minute work thing came up, so I caught a cab here and she'll drive up once she's done."
"I see." Still holding Ruby's shoulders, Summer turned towards her husband. "I told you there would be a change of plans."
"Not a change!" Ruby argued. "She'll still be here. Just...a little delayed."
"You mean a little late."
Ruby grimaced at the word, which she'd very consciously avoided. 'Late' was a bad thing, but it was especially bad for a first impression.
"I'm sure it was important," her dad said before gently nudging Summer's side. "And you promised to be nice."
"Don't worry, sweetie," Summer quickly told Ruby. "I made no such promise."
Seeing the playful sparkle in her mother's eyes, Ruby laughed. Her dad, meanwhile, shook his head and returned to the pan on the stove.
"I promised that I'll do anything to make Ruby happy," Summer reminded him as he stirred whatever was cooking. "If that means I can't be nice, or have to meddle, then that's a mother's right, isn't it?" When she turned to Ruby for support, Ruby nodded.
"She's got a point, Dad. Moms get to do whatever they want."
"And what about dads?"
"...they get to do whatever moms want them to do," Ruby said, much to her mom's delight.
Her dad, on the other hand, playfully slumped his shoulders and muttered, "Where's Yang when you need her..."
"I can't believe you think Yang would take your side," Summer teased. "She'll only do that if you bribe her."
"Which I've done before and am not above doing again."
When Summer laughed - the light, happy sound like music to Ruby's ears - he chuckled to himself and went back to cooking.
"What're you making?" Ruby asked before looking into the pan. Finding ground beef simmering in an assortment of spices, she glanced at the other ingredients spread out on the kitchen island. Lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes...
"Tacos?"
"I told your mom that they're the perfect first meeting food. This way, everyone can make exactly what they want."
"Sure, Tai," Summer told him in a playfully patronizing tone before winking at Ruby. "And because no one can eat tacos without making a mess."
"I don't know…" Ruby shook her head and laughed at the mischievous glint in her mother's eyes. "Weiss probably can. She has impeccable manners."
"And taught you what 'impeccable' means, I see."
"I already knew what it meant!" Ruby whined while her mom smiled and patted her arm. "At least, I'm pretty sure I did…"
"While you try to remember your vocab lessons, why don't you put that semblance of yours to use?"
When a cutting board and knife appeared in front of her, delivered by a breath of wind, Ruby smiled and grabbed the head of lettuce. Her mom could finish all of this without even trying, but she usually preferred orchestrating and watching from afar. 'I can't build character for you,' she would say.
Ruby didn't see how chopping up lettuce built character, but her mom had never given her bad advice before. Besides, she loved using these small moments to show off. Because she was fast and she could chop an entire head of lettuce in seconds.
Of course, she chopped so fast that lettuce flew everywhere. By the time she filled the bowl, the island had been bespeckled by flecks of light green.
"What did you sacrifice for that speed, hmm?" was all her mom said before sweeping the mess away. Ruby looked at her dad in disbelief, but he just chuckled and shook his head at another cleverly delivered lesson.
Before Ruby demanded a redo - this time with tomatoes - the front door opened.
"Your favorite daughter's here!" Yang announced while closing the door behind her and her partner-turned-girlfriend, Blake. Summer made a sound of delight and hurried over to greet them.
"You're right about that," she said before brushing past Yang, taking Blake's hands, and kissing her cheek. "Blake, how are you, sweetie?"
"I'm great. How are you?"
"Wonderful now that you've arrived. Has this one proposed yet?"
"Mom!" Yang yelped when Summer gestured her way.
Yang's cheeks turned noticeably pink immediately after, especially when Blake glanced at her and said, "No, not yet."
"Yang Xiao Long," Summer replied in a tone that made Yang cringe. "What are you dragging your feet for?"
"I - I'm not -" Yang stammered as her blush deepened. "You just - you can't rush these things!"
"When you have a beautiful, intelligent girlfriend, you could stand to rush a little." Before Yang could even attempt a response, Summer looped an arm through Blake's and led her to the kitchen. "Don't worry, I'll talk to my daughter," she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
Blake smiled and glanced over her shoulder to catch Yang's gaze. Yang, meanwhile, blew a breath through her lips before her eyes landed on Ruby.
"Ruby! Where's Weiss, huh?"
"Don't use your sister as a distraction," Summer called back to her.
Sighing at the lack of escape, Yang trudged into the kitchen and gave their dad a quick one-armed hug. "Hey Dad," she said and, after he kissed the top of her head, returned to the kitchen island. "I'm just saying that Weiss should be here by now. She takes punctuality very seriously."
"And she's on her way," Ruby replied. "A work thing came up."
"Ah." Wrapping an arm around Ruby's shoulders, Yang leaned close and whispered, "Think we'll survive today?"
"Based on the first few minutes?" Ruby said in an equally quiet voice before risking a glance at their mom, who absolutely noticed their whispering. "No."
Laughing at the honest reply, Yang released Ruby and looked around the island. Blake returned to her side moments later - the two of them drawn back together like magnets.
"I'm your second favorite daughter, right?" Yang asked while Summer walked behind her to grab more bowls.
"Let me meet Weiss before answering," Summer teased before rustling Yang's hair. If anyone else ever found the nerve to do that, they would lose an arm. When Summer did it, Yang just chuckled and smoothed her hair back into place.
"Tacos?" she asked after looking at the meal coming together in front of them.
"Mhm. We got some fish for fish tacos too." When their dad held up a plate of small fish fillets he was about to cook next, Yang squeezed Blake's side.
"Look at that. Fish tacos just for you, Blake!"
"And for anyone else who wants them," Summer corrected. "We weren't sure what Weiss would like."
While Ruby smiled at the thoughtful gesture, Yang grinned at her.
"Has Weiss even had a taco before? I mean, besides the ob-"
Blake covered Yang's mouth so they didn't have to hear the end of that sentence, but Ruby still blushed. That blush only grew when her parents glanced at her.
"Of course she has! At least, I'm pretty sure she has..."
"You're 'pretty sure?'"
If Yang meant to say more than that, Summer cut her off by sliding the cutting board and knife in front of her.
"Why don't you make yourself useful while teasing your sister?"
"I'm on double duty tonight, huh?" Yang joked before obediently picking up the knife and a tomato.
"Blake," Summer said while Yang focused on her new task. "I'm curious...how would you describe Weiss? In a single word."
While Blake thought about her answer, Yang leaned over her shoulder and said, "A princess."
"That's two words," Ruby pointed out, but Yang just laughed and returned to dicing tomatoes.
"I would say...composed," Blake replied - a more appropriate answer that Ruby could agree with.
"Composed, huh?" Summer said before patting Blake's shoulder and rolling another tomato over to Yang. "Can't you cut any faster? Ruby finished the lettuce in two seconds."
"Ruby's semblance is speed! I can fry these in two seconds, if you want."
When Summer chuckled and flitted over to the refrigerator, Blake leaned closer to Ruby and whispered, "I hope Weiss can stay composed…" Ruby nodded at the observation, knowing all too well that her mom had a knack for throwing people off balance. She might look sweet and innocent, but she could easily get under someone's skin if she wanted to.
But, as much as everyone teased otherwise, Summer wouldn't ruffle any feathers unless given a legitimate reason, and Weiss would never do that. Besides, Blake survived the first meeting unscathed; Weiss could too.
Ruby wasn't worried about this being a disaster. If anything, she was worried that her parents wouldn't instantly adore Weiss like she wanted them to. She saw how fast they accepted Blake, and she wanted the same for Weiss. She knew that Weiss wanted that too, though Weiss would never come right out and say it.
As soon as Ruby heard a car pull up outside, and saw her mom turn that direction, she nearly tripped over herself flying to the door first.
"I'll get her!"
Her mom gave her an amused look for the reaction, but she just grinned and raced outside. The front porch disappeared underfoot as her semblance propelled her to the driver's side door before Weiss even opened it. Ruby opened it for her and playfully bowed while motioning Weiss out of the vehicle.
"Your Highness," she teased, earning a slight eye roll while Weiss stepped outside and straightened her skirt. She ran her fingers through her long, perfect white hair next, and then kissed Ruby's cheek.
"Sorry I'm late. One of the regional managers stopped by unannounced and...it was a giant disaster."
"That's alright! Dinner's not ready yet, but Yang and Blake are already here."
"Dammit," Weiss sighed, her gorgeous blue eyes darkening at the news. "I was hoping they'd be late too. Figures this is the one time Yang decides to be on time..."
"You're not late," Ruby assured her. "You're delayed."
"'Delayed' is just another way of saying 'late,' Ruby."
"Wow, you and my mom have way more in common than I thought."
Ruby chuckled at the random, unexpected similarity, but Weiss sighed again. Being late always bothered her, so Ruby wasn't surprised that this particular instance hit harder than usual. Fortunately, Ruby had the perfect cure for that furrowed brow and worried expression. Before Weiss moved away - because Weiss was always one to brush past or through any moments of insecurity - Ruby leaned in and captured her lips in a soft, long, incredibly rewarding kiss.
Weiss always melted into their kisses - that was the only way Ruby could describe the way Weiss pressed against her, gently grasped her elbow, and returned the kiss with a depth of emotions that would never make it into words. When Ruby finally surrendered Weiss' soft lips, she watched blue eyes flutter open and a smile quickly follow.
"How do you do that?" Weiss asked.
"Do what?"
"Melt my stress away with just a kiss?"
"Because it's not just a kiss." When Weiss' brow rose, Ruby grinned and shook her head. "It's all my love for you bundled up and expressed through my lips!"
To prove that point, Ruby kissed Weiss again, slower this time, drawing out every second so that she could savor it all the more. When she finally pulled away, Weiss kept her eyes closed longer this time, hanging onto that moment before finally looking at Ruby.
"See?" Ruby said as Weiss melted further into her embrace.
"Now I want to take you home so you express more love…"
"And miss dinner?" When Weiss bit her bottom lip and glanced at the house, Ruby gasped. "Wait. You're nervous?"
"Of course I am, Ruby. They're your parents. And your mom is literally one of the most powerful huntresses of our time. She can probably blink me out of existence."
"Technically, she'd need her eyes open to do that." Ruby chuckled at the joke but, when Weiss sighed, grew more serious. "Don't worry! They're going to love you like I do." Noticing Weiss' quirked brow, Ruby waved her hands and added, "Ok, maybe not exactly like I do, but you know what I mean."
"They don't have to like me though," Weiss argued. "Especially with...well, my family doesn't exactly have the best reputation. And I'm sure Yang told them plenty of horror stories. And I'm late."
"One, they don't care about your family. Two, they know better than anyone not to listen to Yang. And three...well, you are kind of late, but that's not your fault! They won't blame you for that."
While Weiss nibbled at her bottom lip, her brow deeply furrowed, Ruby decided to put another one of those kisses to good use. She put extra love into it this time, gently pinning Weiss against the car and firmly holding Weiss' hips.
Without resistance, Weiss returned the kiss just as passionately as Ruby hoped for. Her arms wrapped around Ruby's neck, one of her hands weaving through Ruby's hair, while their lips did all of the talking. Ruby knew that Weiss loved her, but this always proved it in a real, tangible way.
Weiss might be nervous or worried about the impending meeting, but she was still here for Ruby - the best partner no matter what situation they faced. Before that kiss moved from passionate to desirous though, Ruby pulled away and watched Weiss' eyes flutter open.
"Feel better now?"
Weiss' smile held the answer, but she rolled her eyes and swatted Ruby's shoulder.
"You know damn well I do." While Ruby grinned at her success, Weiss chuckled and shook her head. "Alright, fine, I'm ready. Because if we stay out here any longer, someone might look out the window and catch us in a compromising situation."
"And that would be even worse, right?"
The glint in Weiss' eyes suggested she would consider going further if Ruby played the situation right, but was also grateful that Ruby wouldn't try. Ruby might be fine with embarrassing herself in front of her family - it had happened plenty of times before and would happen again - but she would never put Weiss in that position. For the first meeting, at least. Instead she smiled, took Weiss' hand, and led her to the front door.
"By the way, you're adorable when you're nervous," she whispered as they walked up the front steps.
"Do you remember meeting my father?" Weiss whispered back, and Ruby promptly groaned.
"I nearly peed my pants, then almost punched him in the face. But I guarantee my parents are nicer than your dad."
"That's a low bar to clear," Weiss mumbled, her gaze trained on the front door as they paused in front of it.
"Last chance to back out," Ruby offered. "I can tell them you don't feel well or something."
"Thank you, but I want to meet them. I really do. How else can I -" Cutting off midsentence, Weiss blushed and cleared her throat. "They're your parents; they're an important part of your life. And I want to be a part of your life too, so...I can't avoid them forever."
"You know...whenever you say things like that, I love you even more." With one hand on the door handle, Ruby kissed Weiss' cheek and whispered in her ear, "Yang called you a princess by the way, so be prepared."
Before Weiss processed the comment, Ruby threw the door open and led her inside. "Look who's here!" Ruby announced, feeling Weiss' hand grow clammy when everyone's attention landed upon them.
"Done ruling the world from a boardroom?" Yang joked, but Blake quickly elbowed her in the side and shushed her. Ruby's mom and dad, however, paused whatever they'd been doing in favor of turning towards Weiss. Ruby's dad dried his hands off on a towel and walked over to greet them. Summer wasn't far behind.
"Weiss, this is my Dad!" Ruby said, holding an arm out towards her dad as he reached them.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Weiss," he said while politely shaking Weiss' hand.
"It's nice to meet you too, Sir."
"'Sir?'" he repeated before glancing at Summer and chuckling. "Please call me Tai."
"Oh. Right. I can do that."
Ruby practically felt another 'Sir' threaten to slip through Weiss' lips, but Weiss managed to hold it at bay.
"And this is my mom," Ruby added while holding an arm towards her mom, who smiled and extended her hand. Were it not for the obvious handshake, Weiss might have bowed - that was how awestruck and nervous she looked.
"Mrs. Rose, it's an honor to meet you."
"Please call me Summer. Or 'Mom.'" Weiss' eyes widened at the suggestion, but Summer winked at Ruby before giving Weiss a good look. "Now I can see why my daughter talks about you so much - you are gorgeous. But I'm sure Ruby tells you that all the time. At least, she ought to be."
"I, um, well…she says it a fair amount, yes," Weiss managed to say while blushing deep red. The flustered response was so adorable, Ruby wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry, Mom. I make sure she knows how much I love her."
Weiss didn't lean into the embrace like she usually would, being too busy watching Summer's reaction to that confession. Summer, however, just smiled at the two of them, her silver eyes sparkling, before looking up at her husband.
"You know...Tai and I were beginning to think you were avoiding us."
Based on Summer's smile, and the way Tai chuckled and returned to the stove, they didn't think that at all. On a normal day, when she wasn't stressed and anxious, Weiss would recognize the joke. Today, however, she looked appalled that they drew that conclusion from this long overdue introduction.
"Oh, of course not. It's just that...every time we thought we found a good time, my family - well, there are responsibilities I can't get out of very easily."
"I can only imagine." Realizing that Weiss had taken the teasing seriously, Summer added, "I'm sure your family is grateful for your help. And I've heard that the company is moving in a good direction - I believe you and your siblings are responsible for that."
"Mom, you've been reading up on Schnee Dust?"
"It's a well-known company," was all Summer said, but Ruby knew better than to believe the simple response and innocent smile.
"The last few years have been difficult," Weiss admitted. "And there's still so much to do, but...progress has been promising, at least."
"How do you balance that with being a full-time huntress?"
"Carefully." The classic Weiss response must have slipped out because she immediately looked horrified by its curtness. "I mean, I make sure to set aside time for Ruby and hunts - those are my top priorities and my future. The rest is just...cleaning up my father's mess so I can sleep at night."
In two sentences, Weiss confessed that Ruby was her top priority and that she was running herself ragged fixing mistakes that weren't even hers. Summer's smile suggested that she picked up on both of those things and understood the type of person they revealed. Weiss, however, interpreted the lack of response as a bad thing so glanced at Ruby before softly clearing her throat.
"Can I help with anything?" she offered while gesturing towards the kitchen, where Yang was laughing at something with their dad while Blake rolled her eyes at what had probably been a terrible joke.
"Maybe you can set the table," Summer replied. "Just napkins and glasses - I imagine most of us will be eating with our hands." Weiss probably internally cringed at the thought, but she didn't let it show as Summer asked, "Do you like tacos?"
"I don't have them often, but they smell wonderful."
"Tai's a wonderful cook," Summer replied rather than prod Weiss for a clearer answer. "But follow me. I can show you where everything is."
When Summer headed into the kitchen, Weiss glanced at Ruby before taking a deep breath and following. Ruby hung behind, watching her mom open a cupboard holding empty glasses and then point out a drawer of napkins. Summer casually explained what glasses and napkins they would use while Weiss hung onto every word as if there would be a test at the end of the night.
As a loving, supportive girlfriend, Ruby wished that Weiss wasn't so nervous, but...this was an unexpectedly adorable side of her. She helped run one of the largest companies in Remnant. She regularly faced the most fearsome, deadly Grimm in existence. Yet a drawer of napkins deserved her full, undivided, intense focus.
After nodding at Summer's instructions, Weiss pulled out a stack of napkins and took them to the dining table. Summer watched her for a second, no doubt noticing how much care and consideration she put into placing each napkin, before catching Ruby's gaze. An amused smile instantly appeared on her lips, and she returned to Ruby as if carried by a swift breeze.
"Ruby Rose."
"Mom," Ruby replied in the same tone only to giggle at how it sounded. "That doesn't have the same effect, does it?"
"Not quite," her mom replied with a soft laugh. "I just wanted to say that she's wonderful."
"Isn't she?" Ruby smiled at Weiss, who noticed the gaze and sent a small smile in return. When Weiss set the next napkin down, however, Ruby frowned and turned back to her mom. "But...you've hardly spent any time with her?"
"I don't have to. I can already tell that she's special."
The assured response warmed Ruby's heart and made her smile return. She loved Weiss in the way she'd only thought existed in books or movies, so the fact that her mom could see that after only a quick introduction convinced her even more that she'd found her person. Her partner through thick and thin. Her soulmate for this life and the next.
"But I can give her the 'mom' introduction if you want..."
Thinking about the offer, which had been practically all Weiss hypothesized about for the past few weeks, Ruby laughed and nodded.
"You know, I think she'd actually like that. It'll make her feel...included?"
"Now I like her even more."
After gently squeezing Ruby's arm, Summer rejoined everyone in the kitchen. She whispered something in Yang's ear - Yang laughed at whatever it was - before standing beside Weiss at the cupboards. Weiss' posture immediately stiffened, and she set two glasses on the counter while carefully listening to whatever Summer had to say.
Ruby couldn't hear what it was, but Weiss nodded and quickly stepped aside. Unfortunately, she moved so fast that her elbow knocked one of the glasses off the counter. Were it not for her quick reflexes and a hastily enacted glyph, it would have shattered on the floor. Instead, she snatched it out of the air and blushed.
"Catastrophe narrowly averted," Blake whispered, having moved over to Ruby's side so they could watch the interaction. Thankfully, Summer smiled and continued the conversation as if the near-accident never happened.
"She's doing great though!"
At that moment, Weiss said something then blushed deep red when Summer laughed. Whatever it was, Ruby's mom found it infinitely amusing, but Weiss found equally as mortifying.
"'Great?'" Blake repeated with a soft laugh of her own. "I've never seen her so nervous."
"It's cute, right?"
When Weiss glanced over, Ruby smiled and waved. Weiss waved with the glass in her hand - an awkward gesture she would never do on a good day - before returning her gaze to Summer. Looking like she didn't know what to do with the glass, she kept fiddling with it while Ruby's mom moved the conversation along.
"She should really put the glass down," Blake added when Summer said something and Weiss nearly dropped it in response. Ruby wanted to disagree - because Weiss was always calm and collected under pressure - but those nervous fiddles were just asking for trouble.
"Can you hear what they're saying?" Ruby whispered as her mom kept talking.
"Um, yeah, your mom's asking about Weiss' semblance. She wants to know...oh, she wants to see it. No, she wants to spar."
"What?" Ruby looked at Blake in disbelief, but Blake nodded and kept her eyes trained on the pair standing on the other side of the room.
"Yup. She just asked if Weiss wants to spar. You better save her."
If Ruby suspected Blake was making that up, which she didn't, Yang's none-too-subtle head motions proved it to be true. If that was what the 'mom' introduction meant...Ruby hurried over to stop it from happening.
"There's more than enough room in the backyard," her mom was in the middle of saying to a noticeably pale Weiss. "And we don't have to use weapons, if you want -"
"Hey Mom," Ruby interrupted as casually as possible, throwing on a smile for good measure. "Uh, when do you think dinner will be ready? I'm starving."
"When aren't you starving?" her dad teased while carrying two platters over to the island. "And we can eat now. Start building tacos, everyone!"
"Perfect." Summer clasped her hands together before gently touching Weiss' elbow. "We'll discuss later," she added before flitting away. Weiss nodded, but her eyes were still big as saucers while watching Summer hand plates to Blake and Yang.
"You alright?" Ruby asked, drawing that shocked blue gaze her way.
"Well, your mom just asked me to spar, which probably won't go anywhere near as well as in my dreams, and I keep almost breaking things, and I'm pretty sure I told her that I help my family 'obficate' the business, but other than that...I think I'm fine."
"You're doing great," Ruby assured Weiss before lowering her voice to add, "And you don't have to fight her."
"It's Summer Rose, Ruby," Weiss whispered back. After glancing to the side, where the rest of Ruby's family laughed and talked while putting together their meals, Weiss met Ruby's gaze with a serious one of her own. "Will you still love me if your mom utterly demolishes me in battle?"
"You...actually want to fight her?"
"It would be quicker and less painful," Weiss mused while Ruby took her hand and led her over to the stack of empty plates. "Like a trial by combat. If I can hold my own, or at least do better than expected, maybe she'll accept me as your partner."
"Or we could sit down and have a nice dinner. Maybe try some conversation before pulling out Myrtenaster and destroying the backyard?"
While Ruby handed Weiss an empty plate, then set two taco shells upon it, Weiss weighed her options. Eventually, she sighed.
"I suppose we can try that first..." she muttered while aimlessly filling her tacos with whatever bowl Ruby pushed towards her.
"Good. Because Yang and I together can't even beat her."
"Have you come close?"
"Once, but I think she was just taking pity on us."
Thinking about those battles, which always ended the same way, Ruby chuckled and shook her head. She loved that her mom was one of the greatest huntresses ever, but their practices usually became a game of cat-and-mouse - and she had no idea what being the cat felt like.
In a way, it was a good thing. She and Yang still had a lot to learn about being huntresses, and they were fortunate to have the best teacher imaginable. Also, if either of them ever started growing an ego, all they had to do was come home and let their mom show them what greatness really was.
"Do you really want all that lettuce?" Ruby asked after watching Weiss absentmindedly pile lettuce onto her plate. When Weiss looked down and noticed the monstrosity she'd created, she sighed.
"Probably not."
"Don't worry! That's an easy fix."
Setting her own plate down, Ruby took Weiss' and quickly moved some of the toppings from one taco shell to the other. Once everything balanced out, she added an appropriate amount of the final ingredients and presented Weiss with two relatively normal tacos.
"Your Highness," she teased before making the rest of her own dinner.
"Be honest," Weiss whispered while looking at her plate. "Are we having tacos because they're impossible to eat without making a mess?"
Ruby was so surprised by the question, she laughed before shaking her head and saying, "Wow, you're really alike." Weiss' brow furrowed at the response, but Ruby just smiled and led her over to the dining room table.
Being last to get their food meant their seats had been picked for them, but that wasn't altogether a bad thing. Ruby's parents sat along the long side of the rectangular table. Blake and Yang sat catty-corner to each other at one end, their knees casually bumping into each other underneath the table, leaving Ruby and Weiss to take a similar position on the other side.
"Where do you want to sit?" Ruby whispered to Weiss as they approached their seats. Weiss had two options: next to Ruby's mom or across from her. Was it better to sit within arm's reach or to be directly leveled with that intense silver gaze? Ruby honestly didn't know, and Weiss appeared to be at a loss as well.
"Weiss, why don't you sit next to me?" Summer asked while patting the chair nearest to her. With the decision made, Weiss took a deep breath and obliged. Ruby, meanwhile, sat across from her mom and beside Yang. Before anyone started eating, however, Tai set his hand over Summer's and smiled around the table.
"Thanks for coming all the way out here to see us. We know you're all busy, but we appreciate that you made the time to visit."
"We'll always make time for you, Dad," Yang replied before nudging Ruby's side. "Besides, you know Ruby will drop everything for food."
"So true," Ruby agreed before picking up one of her tacos and taking a huge bite. The huge bite translated into a huge mess as toppings fell all over her plate, but she was far more focused on enjoying the taste.
"What do you think? Do they pass?"
Mouth full, Ruby nodded and gave a thumbs up. Her dad chuckled at the response while he and everyone else began their own meals. Several seconds of silence passed, broken only by everyone softly voicing their agreement at how good the food turned out. Only a few bites in, however, Summer turned to Weiss.
"Do you cook, Weiss?"
Ruby was almost surprised that her mom started with such an easy question. Unfortunately, it still made Weiss uncomfortable, as she didn't have what she would consider to be the 'preferred' answer.
"No, not really," she admitted anyway. "I've been learning a few recipes recently, but...I wasn't encouraged to be in the kitchen as a child."
"That's what you had all those chefs for," Yang joked. Weiss cringed at the truthful response, but Summer barely acknowledged it.
"What have you been learning?" she asked instead.
"A few basics. Like pancakes, spaghetti, and grilled cheese sandwiches."
When Tai chuckled at the list, Weiss' brow furrowed.
"You mean all of Ruby's favorite things," Blake pointed out. Weiss immediately blushed at the realization.
"I guess those made the most sense since I had a willing taste tester…"
"They're good too!" Ruby added. "And you're a great cook."
Weiss was actually an incredible cook, but Ruby didn't want to embarrass her by gushing about how fast she'd learned and how she'd already mastered those recipes. The effusiveness could come later. Right now, Ruby just smiled at Weiss, who returned it with a smaller one of her own before beginning her meal.
Ruby tried not to stare, but she also wanted to know how Weiss would approach such a messy food. As Weiss' longtime partner and girlfriend, she should know random little things like this - it made them that much closer! Plus, her mom was watching just as subtly and with nearly as much interest.
As it turned out, Weiss didn't have an expert, mess-free way to eat tacos. She simply turned the shell sideways and took a small bite. Of course, the shell cracked in all the wrong places and toppings escaped regardless of how small the bite was or how carefully it was taken, but she somehow made it look better than when the same happened to Ruby. But Weiss made most things look better than Ruby did, so that wasn't a surprise.
Summer had anticipated the inevitable mess, but Weiss' nonchalant response amused her in some way. Rather than say anything, however, she returned her attention to the rest of the table.
"What have you girls been on any hunts recently? Anything good?"
"Blake and I took down a huge Death Stalker a couple weeks ago," Yang answered. "Mom, you should've seen this thing - its stinger was the size of a car."
"How'd you kill it?" their dad asked.
"Blake fooled it into running into a tree, then caught the stinger with her ribbon while it was dazed," Yang explained while miming the motions. "Then I blasted it away."
"What I'm hearing is Blake did all the work and you took all the glory," Summer teased.
"Well, yeah. That's kinda how we operate."
"That's how you operate," Blake corrected with a playful roll of her eyes. When Summer laughed at their banter, Yang beamed at Blake.
Yang was the flashier fighter out of the two of them, but everyone knew that she pulled her own weight. Besides, even if the Death Stalker's stinger was immobilized, she still had to deal with those claws at close range - no easy feat for many people.
"What about you two?" Summer asked Ruby and Weiss next. With Weiss in the middle of chewing, Ruby mentally combed through their recent hunts so she could answer.
"Oh! We cleared out a big nest of Nevermores the other day."
"How many?"
"Probably around...thirty?"
When Ruby turned to Weiss for corroboration, Weiss said, "Twenty-seven, actually."
"Twenty-seven Nevermores…" Ruby's dad said before letting out a long, soft whistle. "Juveniles?"
"Mostly, but there were some big ones!"
While Weiss nodded, Summer looked between them. Ruby recognized that analytical look anywhere - it was the look of her mom seeing a battle without even being there.
"Your aerial combat must be excellent."
Ruby grinned at the conclusion, but Weiss blushed at yet another compliment.
"They're untouchable," Yang agreed. "You should see it - Ruby might as well be on solid ground with how fast Weiss whips her around."
"Without talking either," Blake added. "They just know where each other will be."
"The mark of a great partnership," Tai surmised, beaming at Ruby with pride.
"That sounds like so much fun…" Summer mused before gently slapping her husband's shoulder. "Tai, we should get the team together for a hunt. Show the girls how it's done."
"Or come with us!" Yang suggested. Ruby perked up at the idea and readily nodded when Yang glanced at her. "Wouldn't that be fun? Right, Blake? That'd be fun?"
"That would be."
"Summer…" Tai said before they got too excited. "You're supposed to be keeping your head down."
When Summer sighed, Ruby and Yang shared a curious glance. They both knew that their mom hadn't gone on any hunts recently, but this was the first they'd heard that it wasn't her decision. Before either of them asked for an explanation, however, Summer refound her smile.
"Well, I suppose there's nothing wrong with taking it easy for a little while. It's given me plenty of time to spend with you."
When Summer patted Tai's hand, Yang chuckled.
"Poor Mom...stuck here with the hottest member of her team…"
"Oh, sweetie…" Summer replied with a good-natured shake of her head. "Your father is the third hottest of my teammates."
"But...you only have three."
When Summer simply smiled, Ruby started giggling. Yang laughed soon after, and their dad joined in with a chuckle.
"I can't argue with that," he added while Summer affectionately patted his cheek.
"He's the sweetest though. But if you've ever seen the Branwens in uniform…" Summer blew a breath through her lips before nodding to Yang. "Especially your mother."
"What you're saying is Ruby and I are lucky to exist."
"What makes you think you two weren't Raven and I's idea?"
Summer waggled her brow at the suggestion, and Yang's eyes widened.
"What? Was it?"
"Let's save that conversation for another time," Tai cut in before nodding at Weiss. "When we don't have a new guest."
"You're right. Why are we talking about Raven when we could be talking about the beauty Ruby brought home?" Again, Weiss blushed at the compliment, but Summer smiled at her. "So Weiss...how many children do you want?"
Ruby nearly spit water all over the table at the question, but her dad beat her to responding.
"Summer..."
"Tai," Summer replied in the same tone before innocently smiling. "I'm just trying to get to know her better."
"You know exactly what you're doing," Tai said before turning to Weiss. "You don't have to answer that. Summer's just teasing."
"It's alright." Weiss smiled through her blush, but the shy glance she sent Ruby's way captured Ruby's full attention. "I haven't thought about it much, but…probably as many as Ruby wants."
"Wait...really?"
Ruby was too shocked to ask more than that, but her heart did a somersault when Weiss finally met her gaze.
"If you want any at all?"
Honestly, Ruby had never thought about kids - they weren't even married yet! - but was that in their future? Sometime far away from now, once they settled down and didn't have so much work to do? Her mom and dad obviously made it work. And if she thought about sharing that responsibility with Weiss...
"I...think I do," she said before quickly backtracking. "I mean, if you do? Later - like not now or anytime soon -"
"Right, of course. But someday, maybe."
"Right."
Ordinarily, they would have much more to say than that. Instead, Weiss softly cleared her throat and stared at her plate, her cheeks bright pink. Ruby, meanwhile, felt a rampant blush creep up her neck and ears when she realized her entire family was watching. Yang was going to make a joke any second now, which was why Blake held her hand so tightly. Blake was also infinitely entertained, something her eyes said but that words never would. Ruby's dad wanted to laugh but was trying hard not to. And her mom...
"Oh, now they're embarrassed," Summer almost-gleefully mused before motioning to Yang. "Hurry, Yang - now's the perfect time to propose."
"Mom!"
While Summer laughed at the reaction, Yang dropped her half-eaten taco onto her plate and buried her face in her hands. Blake smiled and patted Yang's shoulder, enjoying the endless teases aimed Yang's way. Yang was often the teaser not the teasee, but their mom had a way of flipping that on its head - something Yang knew all too well yet couldn't change no matter how hard she tried.
"What've you guys been up to?" Ruby asked her parents, hoping to direct the conversation to any other topic.
"You know your father - he's 'building' things."
"Not 'building' - building!" he protested. When Summer just smiled, he turned towards Ruby and Yang. "I built a chicken coop in the backyard."
"Did you get chickens?"
"Well, no. But if we did, we'd have a place to put them."
"I told him he should build a bird stand for Qrow and Raven next," Summer added.
"You know, I would, but I enjoy living. What would my two incredible daughters and amazing wife do if the Branwens murdered me?"
"They could try to murder you..." Summer mused.
"But you can beat them both!" Ruby piped in.
"Mom can beat anyone," Yang quickly agreed.
While Yang and Ruby beamed at their mom, who could beat anyone and everyone, Summer smiled back at them. Their father, meanwhile, chuckled and shook his head.
"I don't know...Raven fights dirty. She won't hesitate to use someone's weaknesses against them."
"Mom doesn't have any weaknesses," Yang pointed out while Ruby nodded.
"None that either of you could take advantage of," Summer told them, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Unless you were especially devious...which you're not."
Yang's brow rose as she and Ruby shared a surprised glance. As far as they knew - and they had countless futile sparring attempts backing up this belief - their mom had zero weaknesses. With how quickly and easily she defeated them, she might as well be predicting every move before they decided to make it. But if there was a chink in her armor...maybe one day they could find it?
"Oh!" Ruby said as soon as another thought popped into her head. "Do you think Yang and I could beat them?"
"Without a doubt."
The certainty in Summer's answer caught Ruby so off guard, she sat back and frowned.
"Really? How are you so sure?"
"Because your uncle's a giant softie when it comes to both of you. And Raven knows better than to touch a hair on either of your heads, even if it's for training purposes."
Summer's sweet smile masked an order that had probably been accompanied by a significant threat. Knowing this was a potentially thorny subject, Ruby glanced at Yang, whose small smile suggested she loved the protective response, before chuckling to herself.
"The same goes for anyone who hurts you," Summer added lightly. "Physically or otherwise."
There it was - the thinly veiled threat Ruby had expected. Weiss had expected it too - as she said just last week, 'What parent wouldn't suggest that harming their child would result in retaliation?' - but she still froze mid-bite. The pause lasted only a second though, as she shook off the surprise and quickly finished eating. She then brushed off her hands and cleared her throat.
"If anyone hurts either of them, I'd like to join you in dispensing whatever punishment you deem fit."
"Me too," Blake added with a firm nod. While Summer beamed at the responses, Yang waved her hands.
"Alright, woah there. Ruby and I aren't getting hurt anytime soon. No need to start plotting a revenge tour."
"And why isn't Dad joining?" Ruby pointed out before pouting at her dad. "Do you not love us enough?"
"I'm with Yang," he said, though he chuckled at the situation. "Let's put down the pitchforks for this imaginary future. Neither of you will get hurt because you know your mother will destroy half of Remnant if that ever happens. And you don't want half of Remnant destroyed, right?"
"Well…" Ruby began before laughing when his brow rose. "Of course not! It would be kind of fun though."
"That answer concerns me..." he muttered while finishing the rest of his meal.
"It wouldn't be half of Remnant," Summer assured him before grinning at Ruby. "It would be however much I deem appropriate. Half of Remnant...all of Remnant...that won't matter to me."
Imagining her mom destroying Remnant was enough to make Ruby giggle before finishing her last taco. The scary part was that her mom could do it if given enough motivation. So...maybe Dad was right - she and Yang should be a little more careful while out on hunts.
"One day, maybe the six of us can go out there together," Summer added. "Though I hope it's on our own accord."
Ruby frowned when her mom shared a concerned look with her dad, who gently clutched her shoulder in response. Ruby knew giant, formidable beasts lurked in the depths of the forest, but she couldn't imagine anything that would require all six of them. When she glanced at Blake and Yang, then at Weiss, she could tell they were thinking the same thing.
"You know we'd love if you came with us," Ruby said, hoping to erase whatever worry her parents had. "Especially since Weiss and Blake have never seen you in action!"
Just like that, Summer's gaze returned to Weiss, and her teasing edge reappeared.
"Well, Weiss might get to see soon if she'd like. It's been a while since I've fought someone new, and I've heard such great stories about the Schnee semblances."
"You have?"
"Of course." Summer smiled at Weiss' surprise. "Between Ruby and Qrow, I have a good idea of what you can do, but there's nothing better than experiencing it in person."
Weiss looked at Ruby as if she couldn't believe what she just heard. Then she smiled - the first true smile Ruby had seen since they walked through the door.
"I'd be more than happy to show you. Though I'd prefer if we were working together rather than at odds."
Summer smiled at the response, but Ruby positively beamed. Not many people turned down her mom's invitations to spar - as Weiss said, it's Summer Rose - so doing so set Weiss apart from everyone else. Weiss didn't seem to notice though, as she glanced around the table and gently cleared her throat.
"I can help clean up?" she offered upon seeing that everyone had finished their meals.
"I can too," Blake added. The two of them hardly got to their feet, however, before Summer waved a hand to stop them.
"You can leave those for Tai. He's in charge of dishes for the next few weeks."
"I might have lost a bet," Tai explained before standing and shaking his head at Summer. "I still don't think it was a fair bet though."
"You had a chance to win, and you didn't. What's unfair about that?"
He chuckled and started stacking empty plates rather than respond, but Ruby caught Yang's gaze and grinned. They both knew how sly their mom could be, especially when it came to any sort of wager. From how frequently their dad was on the losing end of those bets, they'd concluded that he either liked losing or played along just to make Summer happy.
"While he does that, why don't we chat in the living room?" Summer suggested. "I have more questions."
"Normal questions?" Ruby asked, but a wink was her only response. Considering the mixed bag of questions asked so far, she could only imagine what might be in store next. When she looked at Weiss, however, Weiss didn't look nearly as nervous anymore. In fact, she smiled and reached over to hold Ruby's hand.
"It sounds like fun," she said before standing up. Ruby shot to her feet immediately after, unwilling to release Weiss' hand so soon. Instead, she tugged Weiss closer as they headed to the living room.
"You sure?" she whispered in the few seconds they had to themselves.
"I'm sure," Weiss replied just as softly. "You happen to be one of my favorite subjects, after all."
Weiss' adoring smile warmed Ruby's heart like sunshine on a pleasant day. "You're my favorite subject too," Ruby wasted no time admitting. If they were in private, she would have added all of the reasons why Weiss was her favorite person to talk about. That would have to come later though, as they made their way over to the sofa instead.
Yang and Blake sat beside them. In typical fashion, their teammates sat more on top of each other than separately, with Yang wrapping an arm around Blake's waist and pulling Blake's legs over her lap. Weiss was no stranger to their constant intimacy, but she gave them a curious glance before subtly checking Summer's reaction.
Ruby's mom was also no stranger to their intimacy though. She seemed to enjoy it, actually, as her smile suggested while she sat in one of the comfortable chairs situated on the other side of the coffee table. Ruby recognized the smile. Yang surely did too, but neither of them were fast enough to stop their mom from speaking her mind.
"You two look like you could be married."
Yang immediately sighed and buried her face in Blake's hair. Unbothered by the continued teasing, Blake just chuckled and tenderly brushed her fingers across Yang's cheek. She must know that eventually it would happen, and her reactions proved that she was only waiting for Yang to summon the courage to ask.
When Summer looked at Ruby with the same mischievous glint in her eyes, Ruby's breath caught in her throat. Fortunately, Summer didn't say anything about Ruby and Weiss getting married. Even if she thought it, and Ruby thought it, and Weiss probably thought it too, she didn't say it out loud - yet. It was probably only a matter of time before Ruby suffered a similar fate. Surprisingly, that didn't sound so bad if Weiss was as open to the idea as Blake was…
"Weiss, do you have any plans for the holiday?" Summer asked, drawing Ruby away from that daydream. "Tai and I usually have a big celebration with the girls. You're more than welcome to join us."
Weiss already knew about the infamous 'Holiday Gathering' - Ruby had recounted many tales from previous years. But whenever Ruby invited her, she declined because it was a 'family thing.' Based on the glance she sent Ruby's way before answering, Summer's invitation gave her reason to reconsider.
"Thank you, but I don't want to impose..."
"Nonsense." Summer waved off the concern. "You wouldn't be imposing at all. The more the merrier, as Tai would say."
"Are you putting words in my mouth again?" Tai called out from the kitchen. Summer smiled but didn't respond. Her soft, earnest gaze returned to Weiss.
"We'd really love it if you came, just like we love when Blake's here too. You're both like extended parts of our family."
Ruby beamed at the sincere comment, which successfully washed away Weiss' lingering concerns. Weiss relaxed even further - Ruby saw it in the way tension released from her shoulders as she settled into the sofa - and another real smile appeared shortly after.
"Then yes, absolutely. I'll be here."
Ruby was so busy watching her mom's pleased reaction that several seconds passed before she realized what just happened.
"For real?" she asked as soon as her mind caught up. "You'll come home with me for the holidays? No more boring Schnee parties?"
"I'll just have to convince Winter to cover for me."
Ruby nearly asked if that would be difficult, but Weiss' small smile and nod suggested it wouldn't be. And Weiss wouldn't have promised if she had any worries about not being able to make it, so...she would make it.
"One more for drunken karaoke and ill-advised weapon swapping!" Yang said. "Can't wait to get my hands on Myrtenaster again."
"'Again?'"
Caught red-handed, Yang could do nothing but chuckle and shyly play with Blake's hair. Fortunately for her, Weiss wouldn't commit murder in front of Ruby's parents. Doubly fortunately, Ruby's dad chose that moment to join them.
"What'd I miss?" he asked while dropping into the seat beside his wife.
"Weiss agreed to visit for the holidays, and Yang accidentally admitted that she used Weiss' weapon...I'm guessing without permission."
Yang cringed at the look Summer gave her and muttered, "Sorry..." while rubbing the back of her neck. Weiss, however, leaned back and smiled.
"Well, now I don't feel as bad for that time I tried on Ember Celica."
"You - what?"
"I just wanted to see what they felt like." While everyone else chuckled at Yang's shock, Weiss shrugged and hid a smile. "They're...heavy."
Yang's jaw dropped while everyone else laughed. They all knew how much Yang hated when people called her gauntlets 'heavy.' 'They're supposed to be heavy!' she always said. 'They're packed with power!' Realizing that Weiss had just gotten the better of her, however, she eventually joined in the laughter.
"Alright," she acquiesced. "I guess they are."
Weiss looked pleased with the positive reaction, and Ruby was ecstatic to see more of her true personality show up. Because she was smart, sweet, and sharp-witted enough to trade teases with the best of them. Maybe one day she would feel comfortable enough to match wits with Summer - now that was something Ruby would love to see.
"I have an idea," her mom asked rather than pile onto Yang's plight. "Why don't we play something? How about a friendly game of charades?"
While the rest of them nodded or shrugged at the idea, Tai's brow rose.
"Charades?" he asked, giving Summer a curious look. "But you hate charades."
"Usually, but it could be fun with everyone here. Plus, Weiss can be my partner."
"What?" Ruby said before glancing between her mom and Weiss. "But...she's my partner. Like, literally, my partner."
"And I picked her first," Summer replied before winking at Weiss. "I think she and I will make a great team. We both enjoy winning."
That was fundamentally true. Ruby had always considered her mom to be one of the most sneakily competitive people she knew...before she met Weiss. Although Weiss wasn't sneakily competitive - she was just plain competitive.
"Well, what about me then?" Ruby asked rather than start an argument she was destined to lose.
"You can be on a team with your father."
After glancing at her dad, who was the antithesis of Summer and Weiss in terms of competitive spirit, Ruby wrinkled her nose.
"I also like winning, you know."
"Hey, be easy on your old man," he said. His laughter, however, suggested he agreed with Ruby's assessment.
"Doesn't matter anyway," Yang piped in. "Blake's a pro at charades. You're all going down."
"I'm only a pro because you regularly refuse to use words."
"Why would I use words when you understand my hand gestures?"
Blake shook her head at the response, but her smile suggested she actually loved their unique ability to communicate in any way, shape, or form. One time, Ruby watched Yang throw an apple in the garbage bin and Blake accurately deduced that Yang wanted to take a nap. Ruby never figured out how those two things correlated, but she also wasn't glued to Yang's side every hour of every day.
"It's settled then," Summer concluded before fetching the unloved game box from the cabinet.
While Summer set the game up, Weiss squeezed Ruby's knee and smiled once she had Ruby's attention. She didn't have to say anything for Ruby to know that she was expressing condolences that they wouldn't be playing together, and possibly apologizing for whatever competitive behavior emerged once she and Summer got on a roll.
Honestly, Ruby didn't mind losing if it meant her mom and Weiss got to know each other better. And what better way to get to know someone than by making frantic hand gestures about obscure topics?
"Alright," Summer said after stuffing several random cards into a small cloth bag. "Since Yang's so confident, she can go first."
"Really?" For a split second, Yang seemed genuinely caught off guard by the suggestion. After Summer gave her an encouraging smile and nod, however, she chuckled and separated herself from Blake. "Alright," she said while walking over to pull a topic. "Let the masters show you how it's done."
After shaking her head at the bravado, Ruby held Weiss' hand and watched Yang read the word on the card. Once done, Yang took a deep breath, nodded, and shoved it into her pocket.
"I really hope you get this," she told Blake, who leaned forward on the sofa.
"You just said I'm a 'pro' at charades."
"Yes, but...you'll see."
The instant Yang got down on one knee, Blake sat back and rolled her eyes.
"A proposal."
When Yang nodded once, Ruby nearly complained about how easy that was - but then Yang reached into her back pocket and pulled out a dazzling silver engagement ring. As soon as Blake saw it, she covered her mouth with one hand. Ruby's jaw dropped at the same time Weiss drew an audible breath. And Summer smiled while reaching over to hold Tai's hand.
For a second, no one said anything. They sat in stunned silence and stared at the scene unfolding before their eyes, which had been a running joke up until this moment.
"Yang?" Blake eventually asked, looking to Yang for the explanation they all wanted.
"Guess I need to use words after all," Yang chuckled before tenderly picking up Blake's hand. "Blake Belladonna, I love you so, so much. I can't imagine my life without you, and I never want to. So...will you marry me? ...keep in mind my entire family's watching."
The tears in Blake's eyes said that Yang had nothing to worry about. Yang realized it too - that was why she was already smiling when Blake threw her arms around her neck for a hug.
"You know I will," Blake said before capturing Yang's lips in a kiss.
"Awe…" Ruby said while the two of them shared that moment, laughing now with unconcealed joy. "That was so cute!" she told Weiss, who squeezed her hand in agreement. Or squeezed her hand to get her to stay put, since now all she wanted to do was rush over and congratulate her sister.
"This is for you," Yang said, offering the engagement ring to Blake.
"You know I didn't need one..."
"I know, but I wanted you to have one anyway."
Blake made no argument while Yang slipped the ring onto her finger and lifted her hand to kiss the back of it. Yang then kissed Blake again before the two of them beamed at each other, looking exactly like the fools in love that Ruby knew them to be.
Only when Summer stood up did they remember they weren't the only ones in the room. Yang glanced up before smiling and pulling Blake to her feet, where she was immediately enveloped in a hug.
"Congratulations, sweetheart." After patting Blake's back, Summer beamed at her. "Welcome to the family - officially."
"Thank you." As Yang's hand settled on her shoulder, Blake smiled up at her. Only a second passed, however, before she turned back to Summer. "Did you know?"
"I might've asked for help," Yang admitted when Summer deferred to her. "Didn't realize that meant I'd get psyched out all day..."
"But it worked. You didn't expect her to ask, did you?"
When Summer looked to Blake for an answer, Blake laughed and shook her head.
"I had no idea."
Ruby had never seen Blake smile so much, but it didn't look like she would stop anytime soon. Once Tai joined them for a celebratory hug, Ruby hopped to her feet and raced over to her sister.
"You're getting married!" she said as she launched herself at Yang. Yang had to separate from Blake in order to catch her, but she laughed while lifting Ruby's feet off the floor. After setting Ruby down, she accepted Weiss' much more muted hug next.
While Weiss offered her congratulations to Yang, Ruby gave Blake a big, happy hug. She was allowed to do that now, both because Blake had gotten used to it and because she'd just agreed to stick around forever.
"I've always wanted another sister," Ruby said, letting go and smiling at the girl she'd considered like a sister all along. "Couldn't have asked for a better one."
"Thank you, Ruby...that - that really means a lot to me."
Noticing the shimmer of tears in Blake's eyes, and knowing that Blake would be embarrassed if she actually started crying right now, Ruby gave her another quick hug before retreating to the sofa. While Weiss hugged Blake last, Ruby looked at her mom.
Hands lightly clasped in front of her, Summer beamed at Yang and Blake. She looked elated at what just transpired, but Ruby knew that happiness wasn't just from her role in it. She'd always said that her greatest desire was seeing the two of them find the type of true happiness she had with her team, and she believed that Yang found it with Blake.
Now, Ruby wondered if her mom thought the same about her and Weiss. She knew that she loved Weiss more than anything, and that Weiss made her happier than anyone else ever could, but could her mom glean that from one short meeting?
While Weiss settled in beside her, sitting closer now than before, Ruby knew that it would happen eventually. If today wasn't enough to convince her parents that she was as committed and happy as Yang was, she would bring Weiss back as many times as needed until that happened.
But that was a goal for the future. With the excitement over for now, Summer and Tai returned to their seats. Yang and Blake got cozy on the sofa, though this time Blake ended up fully in Yang's lap while Yang kept pressing kisses to her cheek.
"Do you still want to play charades?" Tai asked, but Summer scoffed and shook her head. When her gaze moved to Ruby next, Ruby instantly recognized the look in her eyes. That was the look that preceded something embarrassing - for Ruby, at least.
"Uh…Weiss?" Ruby said before her mom spoke. "I think it's time to go -"
"Or she could stay and watch some of your baby videos."
Ruby groaned at the response, but Weiss glanced between them and smiled.
"Baby videos?"
"Tai and I have quite the collection," Summer explained. "First steps, first words, first time running into a wall because they couldn't control their semblance…"
"I tripped on something! It wasn't like I was trying to run into the wall."
When her family chuckled at the excuse, Ruby gave up with a wave of her arms. They knew it hadn't been intentional - who tried to run face first into a wall? - but the video evidence suggested otherwise. Unfortunately, Weiss would learn that soon enough.
"Wait a second," Yang said, her laughter abruptly cutting off. "I'm in those too!"
"And I don't mind watching them again," Blake said while patting Yang's knee. Under ordinary circumstances, Yang might have complained more. Today, she took one look at the ring on Blake's finger and grinned like a fool instead. Unfortunately, that left Ruby as the only fighter in this increasingly lopsided battle.
"I'm half naked in most of them!" she whined before turning to her last bastion of hope. "Dad!"
"Now you want my help," he said before laughing and shaking his head. "Sorry, Ruby. It's tradition."
"If it's tradition, we couldn't possibly leave now," Weiss replied.
"Oh I do like you," Summer said while Ruby sighed and sank into the cushions.
Even though she knew what those videos held - plenty of reasons to dig a hole in the ground and hide in it - she smiled when Weiss laughed. Seeing her mom and Weiss get along so well, even if it was only to cause her incredible embarrassment, was one of the best feelings in the world. Two of her favorite people laughing, smiling, and having a great time together? She would run into a wall any day for that.
"Where would you like to start?" Summer asked while scrolling through their options on the video screen. "Most or least embarrassing?"
"Most," Weiss quickly said before looking at Blake, who nodded nearly as fast. "Definitely most."
"You organized them by how embarrassing they are?" Ruby asked while her mom selected the first video in a long list of them. Unsurprisingly, her mom returned her disbelief with an adoring-yet-playful smile.
"Of course I did, sweetie. How else will I find my favorites so easily?"
The answer made logical sense, but Ruby knew an ulterior motive when she saw one. Her mom couldn't have known Weiss would be the beneficiary of that work, but she surely knew that eventually it would pay off. Either Ruby brought someone special home, or a close friend, or came home alone and needed a reminder of what an awkward child she'd been.
Even though she sighed at the incoming embarrassment, she accepted her fate. Her mom started the first video shortly after and, while everyone's attention shifted to the screen, Weiss subtly leaned into Ruby's side.
"Is it always like this?" Weiss whispered as the video began to play. When Ruby's brow knit together, Weiss lightly motioned around the living room, where Tai whispered something to Summer while Yang played with Blake's hands. They all had separate lives now, Ruby included, but that didn't stop them from getting together and having a good time like they always had.
"Well, Yang doesn't usually propose, but other than that...yeah, pretty much."
While Weiss ruminated over the answer, Ruby watched her rather than the video. She carefully weighed her next words, and when she finally looked up at Ruby, her blue eyes were bright, clear, and happy.
"I wouldn't mind being part of your family some day. Officially."
The response would have sent Ruby straight to the moon if Weiss hadn't been holding her hand. Instead, her heart raced with joy unlike anything she'd felt before.
"Yeah?" she asked, only for her happiness to grow when Weiss nodded.
"Yeah."
It felt like there should be more fanfare marking the monumental moment - fireworks or confetti or giant banners announcing their love. Instead, it was quiet, intimate, and Weiss ended it by softly kissing Ruby's cheek and snuggling into her side.
When Ruby looked up, wondering if that had even been real, she discovered that her mom had witnessed the entire thing. Summer didn't say anything though. She just smiled and winked at Ruby before turning towards the screen.
The simple gesture made Ruby's heart want to jump right out of her chest, but she didn't leap to her feet and fly around the room like she wanted to. Instead, she pulled Weiss closer and watched her rather than the video.
For as teasing, playful, and downright embarrassing as Ruby's mom could be, she knew how to make someone feel welcomed and included. What Ruby hadn't expected, however, was just how much her mom's approval meant to her. She knew that she loved Weiss, but for her parents to accept Weiss in the way they already had...making Weiss comfortable enough to admit what she just did...
Ruby had never felt more grateful for her parents. Her dad might be the third hottest teammate on an exceptionally accomplished team and the perpetual loser of any bet he ever made. Her mom might be Summer Rose, the legendary huntress who everyone turned to in their darkest hours.
But when they were here, they were just...Mom and Dad. They teased, poked fun, and thought nothing of dragging out the most embarrassing videos in existence. They taught the hard lessons, and the easy ones too. They offered a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or a hand in planning the perfect proposal.
Life wouldn't always be this carefree, and they would face challenges both big and small, but Ruby couldn't imagine anyone else she'd rather have by her side. Her mom, her dad, her big sister, her new sister-in-law, and Weiss - that was a team she would follow anywhere.