Chapter Nineteen: What More Can I Do? Part III

Ruby anxiously tapped the steering wheel as she followed the GPS's instructions to the address Weiss sent her. She'd been on the road for a good twenty-five minutes, and in that time she went through twelve full-fledged scenarios of the conversation she'd have with Chrys; none of them ended in her favour.

"Turn right here," the GPS announced in a cold robotic tone. Ruby did as told and continued slowly down the street until the GPS announced "You have reached your destination."

Ruby parked the car and double-checked the address to make sure she wasn't going to crash some random stranger's Christmas by accident.

Yup, this is the place, Ruby thought with dread. She got out and walked to the door, ringing the doorbell once to announce her presence. And while she waited, Ruby texted Weiss to let her know she found the place.

A woman in her late thirties answered the door. "Hello?"

"Hey, hi!" Ruby greeted her. "I'm here to pick up Chrys? Her mom said I was coming."

"Ah, yes, Ruby?"

"Mhm!"

The woman opened the door to let Ruby in and called for Chrys to come downstairs. She smiled politely as she introduced herself as Marie Abernathy and offered Ruby some refreshments.

"Nah, I'm good, thanks though, Mrs. Abernathy," Ruby said, glancing up the stairs for Chrys. "Did she behave?"

"Little Chryssie?" Mrs. Abernathy asked.

Who else? Ruby grimly thought, but she slapped on a smile and nodded her head like a simpleton.

"Of course she was!" Mrs. Abernathy exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "That darling girl is so polite and well-mannered, I honestly wish my kids were more like her—and you can just call me Marie, Ruby."

Ruby's fake smile grew awkward; there was no way in hell she'd ever do that. "Did she eat?"

"Mm, she had a few snacks and had some hot cocoa, but other than that, no." Mrs. Abernathy cupped her cheek and let out a sigh of dismay. "I tried asking her if there was anything I could cook for her, but she still politely declined."

"Ah, okay," Ruby said, filing that information for later.

The sound of tiny socked feet running down the hall above them caught Ruby's attention. Some giggling could also be heard, but none of the voices matched Chrys'.

"So how do you know Weiss and Chrys?" Mrs. Abernathy asked with one curious pencil drawn eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I'm—"

"She's my mama's new girlfriend," Chrys announced in a calm tone as she descended down the stairs with a pack of snooty little girls dressed all fancy in tow. They crowded around her giggling and laughing like hungry hyenas. "Thank you for coming to get me, Ruby."

"No problem, kiddo," Ruby said.

Mrs. Abernathy stared at Chrys with disbelief then eyed Ruby like she was judging her from head to toe. There was absolutely no doubt in Ruby's mind that Mrs. Abernathy wanted all the juicy details right then and there. She seemed like the type to love gossip, especially when it involved a certain young and wealthy widow.

"Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Abernathy," Chrys said, skillfully distracting the nosey housewife. "I had a lot of fun."

"Come by any time, Chryssie, you are more than welcome here," Mrs. Abernathy replied, patting Chrys' head. Ruby almost gasped in horror when the woman squashed Chrys' beret like a croissant. "You're such a good girl, your mother is so lucky to have you."

Pat, pat, pat—this woman was patting her way into an early grave. Ruby wondered if she should intervene or watch it happen like train wreck.

"Thank you." Chrys faked a smile as she pulled off her precious beret and held it close so no one else could touch it. Ruby swore she saw Chrys' smile struggle under the weight of her anger and disdain, but she held firm and didn't let any of it slip through.

"Invite your mother next time. I'm sure she and I have a lot to catch up on." Mrs. Abernathy winked at Ruby, clueless to the fact she just escaped with her life. "Send her my regards."

"I will," Chrys responded as she put on her coat, dodging Ruby—who was standing right beside it—entirely.

Chrys' friends quickly surrounded her and hugged her one by one, each saying some version of "stay longer" or "don't leave" in a dramatic, over-the-top tone that grated on the ears. One of them had even "accidentally" stepped on Ruby's foot to squeeze into the pack.

Ruby bit back the pain and quietly stepped back, giving Chrys and her leeches ample space, but it unfortunately brought her closer to the gossip who was still eyeing her like a juicy steak. Ruby shuddered at the image and awkwardly fidgeted in placed, unsure of what to do.

Chrys looked at Ruby and for a moment it felt like she read her mind because Chrys laughed and said, "I should really be going back now. My mémère is coming to visit."

"Aw, but we were having so much fun!" the leader of the brat pack protested. She turned to Ruby pleadingly and said, "Please let Chryssie stay longer! Just a few more minutes, pleeeeaaaaassseeeeee?"

Ruby recoiled from the shrill noise, but Mrs. Abernathy just chuckled.

"Now, Angel, that's enough whining," she said in a stern motherly tone. "Chryssie has to go home now."

"But, Mommyyyy!"

Ruby winced again. Were all little girls this annoying? She glanced at Chrys, who still had that fake smile on, and silently thanked Weiss and Coco for raising a girl who didn't act like this.

"No, Angel," Mrs. Abernathy said as she touched Ruby's back, "Ruby here has a schedule to keep." The hand dipped a little lower.

"But—"

"Sorry, sorry!" Ruby said just a little too loudly as she ripped herself away from Mrs. Abernathy and her wandering hands. "Chrys' mom said we really have to hurry back." She shot Chrys a pleading look. "C'mon, kiddo."

Chrys tilted her head as a devilish little smile overtook the fake one she'd been brandishing as a shield. "A few more minutes couldn't hurt though…" she said slowly.

"Nope! I got orders, missy," Ruby said firmly.

"Oh, alright," Chrys relented without a fuss. She squeezed past her friends and latched onto Ruby's arm, "let's go."

Ruby opened the door and followed Chrys outside.

"Don't breathe that sigh of relief just yet," Chrys muttered tiredly. "They're still watching us."

"Huh?" Ruby looked back and, lo and behold, they were. Mrs. Abernathy waved and winked. "Ew…"

"Just smile and wave, Ruby. Just smile and wave."

"What the chicken nuggy-nuggies is going on?" Ruby muttered back with a forced smile.

"Schoolyard politics," Chrys replied, tugging Ruby's arm so she'd walk faster.

"I am so confused…"

"I'll explain in the car."

Ruby opened the front car door for Chrys, but she looked at her oddly and opened the back instead.

"I'm too young to sit in the front," Chrys said as she climbed into the back passenger seat and closed the door. Ruby stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds, wondering how she'd forgotten such an important detail. "Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to get in?" Chrys asked after rolling the window down and poking her head out. "I can't drive yet, so I kind of need you to get home."

"Right!" Ruby yelped scrambling around the car to get into the driver's seat. She slammed the door shut and looked over her shoulder. "Soo… you up for a little detour?"

"What kind?" Chrys asked suspiciously as she put on her seatbelt.

"Dunno, I feel like eating something," Ruby said. "You hungry?"

"A little," Chrys replied demurely, "perhaps."

"Okay, be real with me, kiddo," Ruby said, pulling on her own seatbelt, "how bad was the food on a scale of one to ten?"

"Pretty bad," Chrys chuckled. "They had celery with peanut butter and raisins."

"Oh, ants on a log," Ruby said happily, remembering all the times Yang made it.

"I've eaten fried insects that tasted better than what I had to eat there," Chrys said, sticking her tongue out in disgust. "The hot chocolate was practically all sugar too."

Ruby blinked. "You've… eaten fried bugs?"

"Yeah."

"Why?" Ruby practically spat out. Chrys furrowed her brows in confusion like Ruby had been the one to say something strange. "Seriously, why?"

"We were on vacation visiting Vacuo," Chrys replied with shrug. "Maman dared us all to eat some while we had the chance."

"So did Weiss—er, your mama," Ruby quickly corrected, "did she eat 'em too?"

"What do you think?"

Ruby's immediate thought was to say "no." But knowing how competitive Weiss was, Ruby instead said "yes" in a hesitant tone.

"Mhm," Chrys giggled. Ruby blanched in horror. "It didn't taste too bad. Kind of crunchy. I think it's the legs that get to people, they sort of poke on the way down. The scorpion was good though, tasted like chicken."

"Why?" Ruby shuddered. "Just… why?"

"When in Vacuo," Chrys shrugged.

Ruby shifted the car out of park and drove away from Mrs. Abernathy's little house of horrors.

"Okay, since you didn't get to eat much, how do burgers sound?" Ruby asked when they exited the street.

"Did Mama say it was okay?" Chrys hesitantly asked.

"Yeah," Ruby replied. "She was the one that warned me you don't eat much when you're out."

"Oh," Chrys murmured, "okay then."

"Cool!" Ruby cheered. "I know this great place not too far from here. They also serve really good cake."

"Cake?" Chrys perked up. "What kind of cake?"

"All kinds!" Ruby said. "Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla… there some other stuff too, but I haven't tried them yet."

"I wouldn't mind some chocolate cake…" Chrys said softly. "Are you really sure it's okay?"

"Yup!" Ruby looked up into the rear-view mirror, grinning like she had just triumphed over a massive hurdle. "I got your mama's permission to take you out."

Chrys meekly nodded her head and turned to the window.

The conversation ended there and they fell into a somewhat awkward silence. Ruby turned the radio on to try and shift the mood, but it was tuned to the classical music channel.

"Nope!" Ruby immediately turned the radio off.

"Don't like classical?"

"No, I love it," Ruby explained, "but only when I'm trying to sleep."

"Why?"

"Uh… dunno," Ruby shrugged. "No harsh tones or lyrics to distract you or wake you up. It's peaceful."

"I guess…"

The conversation died again and Ruby was at a loss on how to resuscitate it. She was still curious about what Chrys meant when she said school yard politics, but a glance into the back told Ruby that Chrys wasn't in the mood to talk. She was watching the other cars and buildings pass by with an uninterested gaze. She looked tired, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Weiss carried that same look often and it broke Ruby's heart to know she couldn't do much to help.

Gripping the steering wheel tight, Ruby peered down the street and spotted the restaurant not too far away.

"We're almost there," Ruby cheerily announced. Chrys hummed in acknowledgement but did budge inch. "I think I might get a fully loaded burger."

"What's that?"

"A burger with all the toppings! Bacon, tomatoes, onions, pickles—"

"Mama doesn't like pickles."

"Er, yeah," Ruby frowned, "I know."

"'kay."

Convo. Dead. Time of death? 4:48 p.m.

Ruby sighed and let the issue go. She hoped getting some food in Chrys' tank would cheer her up a bit.

After parking the car, Ruby led Chrys into the restaurant and greeted the hostess standing in wait.

"Table for two?" she asked with a polite smile.

"Yup!" Ruby beamed.

The restaurant was decorated to the nines with tinsel and cheerful bobbles. And in the far left corner with presents piled underneath stood a Christmas tree with bright blinking lights and little paper angels hung on its pines. Ruby pointed to the tree excitedly, but Chrys was more interested in which table would be theirs. They chose one close to the back with the least people around it. Chrys took the chair with its back to the wall and Ruby took the one directly in front of her.

"Your menus," the hostess said as she laid them out.

"Thanks," Ruby said as she flipped hers open. "Can I order now or…?"

"I can take your order now, yes."

"'kay, cool!" Ruby quickly flipped through the menu and pointed to the one she wanted. "I want the fully loaded beef burger with a Nuka Cola."

"One beef burger with the works and a Nuka Cola," the hostess said, jotting the order down. "And for the little lady?"

"Um…" Chrys furrowed her brows in thought as she flipped through the menu in a hurry. "Would a cheese burger with extra lettuce be possible?"

"Of course it is!" the hostess smiled. "And what about to drink?"

"Just water, please," Chrys replied politely. "No ice."

"One cheese burger with extra lettuce and water to drink—no ice," the hostess repeated. "Would you like to colour an angel for the tree?"

"Um… no thanks," Chrys said, shaking her head.

The hostess pouted but respected Chrys' choice. "I'll be right back with your drinks; sit tight."

Ruby smiled and waved her off then turned back to Chrys. The smile on Ruby's face dropped when she saw Chrys sniffling.

"Oh no," Ruby breathed. "What's wrong?"

Chrys shook her head. "Nothing."

"You're tearing up," Ruby said as she pulled out some tissues from the metal dispenser on their table and handed it to Chrys. "Tell me what's wrong, please?"

"Maman… she…" Chrys sniffed again and took the tissues, "she used to always make up an excuse to get us out of the house before family started coming… last year we went for pizza… she promised we'd go for hamburgers this year."

"Oh no…" Ruby blanched. "I'm sorry, I didn't know! Chryssie, I'm really sorry. We can leave if you—"

"It's okay," Chrys said, crinkling her nose as she sniffed. "I… I want cake."

Pursing her lips together, Ruby leaned back and pulled out her scroll. She shot Weiss a quick message about where they were and how Chrys was doing. She didn't get a response, she didn't get one for the other text too. Ruby put her scroll away hoping Weiss was resting.

The hostess came back a minute later with their drinks and a promise their food would be ready soon. Ruby waved her off again and sighed when she was gone. Things were playing out exactly like she feared—no, it was worse because Ruby had accidentally done something Chrys and Coco did together. If Ruby could dig a hole and bury herself in it, she would because at least she could hide in it.

"I'm sorry for ruining the mood," Chrys apologized with her head hung low. "I know you're just trying to be nice."

"Hey, no," Ruby said, "none of that. No apologizing. You aren't at fault here."

"Still though…"

"Really, it's okay," Ruby insisted. "Chrys, I know things are a little different right now… because me and your mom are, um…"

"Dating?" Chrys said with a frown.

"Uh," Ruby anxiously rubbed the back of her head, surprised by Chrys' candidness, "yeah, that."

"I'm… okay with it," Chrys said, taking a tissue from the dispenser. "Really, I am."

Ruby watched Chrys unfold the tissue and refold it carefully another way. "Are you really?"

Chrys' hands paused as she glanced up at Ruby. "I have to be okay with it. I promised."

Scratching her head, Ruby sighed and unzipped her jacket. It was getting too warm for her liking. Chrys stopped folding her tissue and quickly did the same. Ruby thought it was cute.

"What are you making?" Ruby asked after she'd gotten a little more comfortable.

"A crane."

"Oh… any reason why?"

"It's easy?" Chrys didn't look up, her focus entirely consumed by her little birdie. Then, in a voice so quiet Ruby almost missed it entirely, Chrys asked, "Is… is my mama happy with you?"

Ruby was shocked by the sudden question but readily answered hoping it would loosen the tension. Chrys still wasn't looking at her, but Ruby would take what she could get.

"I hope so," she said with an encouraging smile.

"Are you happy with her?"

"Of course!" Ruby exclaimed. "I'm only certain of a few things in life, but being happy with your mama? Yeah, that's top on the list."

"Oh, okay," Chrys replied like Ruby had told her the sky was blue.

"Why do you ask?"

"No reason," Chrys shrugged. The crane was finally taking shape and Ruby was impressed by how perfect it was. "Maman taught me how to make this."

"Really?" Ruby leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. "It's really nice. How did you get the folds to meet so perfectly like that?"

"Practice." Chrys bent the wings out and set the completed crane down. It stood tall and proud, facing Ruby like a silent guardian. "You can have it."

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked. Chrys nodded her head and pushed her creation towards Ruby. "Thank you, Chryssie. I'll cherish it."

"It's just tissue…"

"Yeah, maybe so," Ruby said, picking the crane up to inspect it, "but it's still mine and I'm going to keep it forever." Chrys looked up, her piercing blue eyes widening. Ruby noticed the look and quirked an eyebrow. "Did I say something funny?"

"N-No…" Chrys shook her head as she pulled her arms back and sat straight in her chair. A small smile graced her lips. "I like you a lot, Ruby."

"I like you a lot too, kiddo," Ruby grinned, her heart swelling from this drastic step forward. "Man, I can't wait for you to try the food here!"

"Is it really that good?" Chrys eagerly asked, sounding a lot more like she did when they first met.

Ruby nodded her head. "Yeah, super good! I was thinking of bringing you and your mama here once our schedules freed up."

"What makes it so good?"

"Well, little lady," the hostess from earlier said as she walked up to their table with their food in hand, "we only use the freshest ingredients. That includes the burger buns, patties, and fries; we make those fresh every morning."

"Wow," Chrys beamed, eyeing the burger and crisp fries hungrily. "These look really good, thank you!"

"Yeah, thanks!" Ruby said with a fry in her mouth already.

"No problem," the hostess said before walking away.

Ruby grabbed a few tissues and handed them to Chrys. "Here, I know you don't like getting your hands dirty."

"Oh," Chrys took the tissues, "thank you."

Ruby nodded her head as she picked her burger and squished it down. She bit into it with gusto and moaned with pleasure as the rich, robust flavour filled her senses; this was the second best thing she had on her tongue today.

"It's so good," Ruby moaned blissfully as she sank back into her chair, melting with satisfaction.

Chrys, however, wasn't as quick to bite as Ruby was. She tentatively poked the burger with a finger to gauge how firm it was. To the restaurant's credit, the burger bounced back, firm and juicy, begging for Chrys to dig in. Her eyes lit up with amusement as she turned her plate trying to find the best angle of attack.

Ruby popped another fry into her mouth to keep herself quiet. She wanted to see what Chrys would do and the little girl didn't disappoint. Chrys unfolded a tissue and laid on top of her burger like a little blanket, wrapping it around until it was snug. She then squished the whole thing down with her palm until it was flat enough for her to pick up without problem. Chrys bit into her burger and, just like Ruby, moaned with delight.

After swallowing, Chrys wiped her mouth with another tissue and said, "This is really good!"

"You gotta try the fries," Ruby said, picking one of hers up and offering it to Chrys. "It's crispy and fluffy; you're gunna get hooked."

Chrys happily ate the fry and started eating her own. "I really, really like this."

"I'm glad you're happy," Ruby said. "We'll bring your mama here next time, maybe Neptune and Ciel too."

"And Penny?" Chrys asked before taking a sip of water.

Ruby paused, the churning gears in her brain grinding to a halt. What did Chrys just say? Did she say Penny? When did Chrys start hanging out with Penny?

Blinking away her astonishment before Chrys noticed anything odd, Ruby stiffly nodded her head. "Yeah, her too."

Truth be told, Ruby wasn't sure what was going on with Ciel and Penny. She figured something was up, but neither of them had said anything to confirm everyone's suspicions. Ruby was super-duper curious, but Penny was a surprisingly private person when she wanted to be. If she didn't want to say anything, she wouldn't. It would take some colossal effort to even try and pry her mouth open. In fact, Penny was so good at keeping secrets no one knew she was rich until she offered to pay for Yang's prosthetic—now that was a shock.

"We should invite Yang too," Chrys added. "I really like her, she's funny."

"Oh, Yang's a definite must," Ruby nodded enthusiastically. "She was the one that found this place."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Ruby said. "We were looking for a new place to eat and she stumbled onto this place. It's been a few years now, but we come here every chance we can get."

"Neat," Chrys replied. "Mama doesn't like fast food that much. It was usually always Maman that got it for us."

"What was she like?" Ruby asked. "Your maman."

Chrys tilted her head in thought. "Um… she was… I don't really know how to word it."

"Oh, it's okay," Ruby smiled, "you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Non, non," Chrys shook her head. "I want to answer… I just really don't know how to word it."

"How so?"

"Mama always says Maman was kind of dumb," Chrys laughed.

Ruby snorted. Yeah, that definitely sounded like Weiss.

"But she was really smart though," Chrys quickly added. "She always helped me with my homework even if she was tired from work. She also took really good care of me when I got sick…"

"Your mama told me that too," Ruby said. "When you got sick that one time and I had to watch you? Yeah, your mama told me how your maman would always try to be the one to stay home with you."

"What else does Mama say?"

Smiling, Ruby took a sip of her soda and mulled her next words carefully. Weiss was fairly tight-lipped about her wife, but when it came to Chrys, she was an absolute chatterbox.

"Do you remember when we went to that carnival down by the dock?" Ruby asked. Chrys nodded as she took a bite of her burger. "Well, after you went to bed, your mama and I stayed up for a bit and talked. She told me about the time you guys went to an amusement park and got separated from each other."

"Oh, I remember this," Chrys giggled.

"Yeah, I bet you do," Ruby grinned. "Your mama told me you cried and cried because your maman was—" Ruby stopped, her smile fading as she realized what she almost said.

"It's okay," Chrys said, picking up on Ruby's worries. "Maman's not here anymore, but she isn't gone."

"Chrys… I'm sorry, I—"

Chrys shook her head. "No need to be sorry. The story had a happy ending because Maman found us."

"Yeah… she did," Ruby smiled. "You know, you're really brave."

"Huh?"

"I lost my mom when I was a little younger than you," Ruby said. "I was too young to understand what happened. She was there one day and gone the next. I kept asking Yang and our dad where she was and when she was coming back home, but they just kept looking at me like…" Ruby laid a hand on her tattooed arm and stared at the white rose peeking out from under her sleeve. "They didn't know how to get me to understand."

"It happened really suddenly for me too," Chrys sympathized. "Maman was only going out to see her friend for lunch…"

"Your mama hasn't told me much about what happened," Ruby confessed, dipping a fry into some ketchup. "She's really worried about you."

"Why?" Chrys asked.

"Because you're never home. And when you are, you're not really there." Ruby hesitantly looked at Chrys. "She knows you're still adjusting to life here and that you're working through some things, she is too, but she's scared she's losing you."

"Oh…" Chrys looked down at her half-eaten burger. "Well, things feel weird at home."

"Why?"

Chrys shrugged and took a bite of her burger. She kept her eyes trained on Ruby, watching and waiting. Was she looking for a lie?

Ruby sipped on her drink and ate some fries, the silence between her and Chrys growing more palpable by the second. They were both waiting for the other to speak first and show their hand, but it was clear neither one of them wanted to lose. This was a battle of wills and attrition. Unfortunately, their starring match was interrupted by the return of the hostess.

"How's everything tasting?" the hostess asked, clueless of the silent war raging before her.

"Th-There great!" Ruby said, reluctantly giving Chrys the win. She glanced at her enemy and mentally groaned; Chrys was staring her down with the smuggest look an adorable nine-year-old could muster. "Everything good on your end?"

"Yup!" Chrys beamed, lording the victory over Ruby proudly. She popped a fry into her mouth and ate it quickly. "Everything's great!"

"That's good to hear," the hostess said. "Anyway, I'll leave you two be. Call me if you need anything."

"Will do." Ruby smiled, but when the hostess turned to leave she dropped it and glared at Chrys. "You win this round, but I'll have my revenge."

"I'd like to see you try," Chrys smirked.

A pregnant pause passed, the seconds stretched thin. Ruby was the first to snicker but was the last to laugh. Both she and Chrys started giggling at the silliness of their little game and settled into a comfortable silence. They ate quietly, only glancing up from their plate to try and steal the other's fries. Ruby let Chrys take what she wanted, content with the fact her little friend was warming up to her again.

When they finished their burgers and fries, Ruby called the hostess back and ordered Chrys a slice of cake. Ruby didn't order one for herself, neither her stomach or her wallet could handle the sugary treat. Chrys, however, was extremely pleased by her extra large slice of triple chocolate supreme. The big smile on her face made the ache in Ruby's wallet all the more worth it, but one teeny-tiny thing had her worried.

"Are you sure your mama's going to be okay with you eating that much chocolate?" Ruby asked, her head resting on her forearms.

"She's going to be super upset," Chrys replied, cutting the cake with her fork. Ruby's eyes bulged out of their sockets, sweat suddenly dripping down her neck as she imagined the fury Weiss would rain down upon her. "But I'm just a baby—her baby—so she's going to get mad at you."

Ruby shrunk deeper into her shoulders as dread and anxiety chilled her to the bone. Weiss was definitely going to be mad. All that sugar—and the burger! Oh god. If Ruby knew the day she lost her virginity was going to be the same day she died, she would've begged Weiss for another round.

Chrys offered Ruby a piece of cake with a friendly smile. "I'm kidding."

"Huh?" Ruby didn't think much of the offering and ate it without question.

"Mama won't get mad," Chrys said, pulling the fork back. "Maman always got me a treat and a slice of cake every Christmas eve as a reward for being a good girl." Then in a low whisper she added, "But between you and me, it was really just a bribe to be nice to my cousins."

"They that bad?" Ruby asked, licking the cake off her lips. It was sweet, but not as sweet as Weiss or her lips.

"The worst!" Chrys groaned. "The best thing about moving to Vale is not having to deal with them ever again!"

Ruby laughed. "What did they do that was so bad?"

Chrys ate a big piece of cake and washed it down with some water like a drunk taking a swig before spilling their thoughts. "They teased me about how I was 'an accident' and always try to take my toys!"

"Uh…" Ruby blinked, her jaw growing slack.

"Mama says they're just jealous," Chrys added. "She's right, they are, but only because my parents actually care about me."

"That's… that's really sad," Ruby added.

"Welcome to Atlas," Chrys replied.

"You know," Ruby said carefully, "you don't talk like most kids your age."

"What do kids my age sound like?" Chrys asked, arching her left eyebrow up the same way Weiss would.

Ruby paused and gave Chrys' question some serious thought. She was amused by how quick Chrys was to emulate her mother, but Ruby was worried about how far she'd take it.

Choosing her words carefully, Ruby said, "Whiny, I suppose." Then after a shrug, "Entitled too?"

"And how do I sound?" Chrys asked, taking a bite of cake and slowly chewing it. She was giving Ruby a few seconds to thoroughly think. Weiss used the same tactic too.

More sweat dripped down Ruby's neck.

"You sound… smart—and confident," Ruby replied, her brows furrowed together. "The kids I've seen are usually always screaming or glued to their scrolls. You, you're quiet, and I've never seen you with your scroll out once—I didn't even know you had one until your mama gave me a list of phone numbers."

"I guess," Chrys shrugged as she wiped her mouth clean with a tissue.

"You're also really clean," Ruby added, laughing when Chrys paused to look at what she was doing. "I've seen other kids eat cake here, and it's usually their moms that have to clean up their faces."

"You're not my mom though," Chrys said without hesitation. She stared at Ruby unflinchingly with a completely straight face and thinly drawn lips.

"I…" Ruby sat up straight, her suddenly heart racing, "I'm not… I'm not trying to be your mom, Chrys."

"Isn't what this is all about?" Chrys asked in the same stalwart tone Weiss used when she wanted answers.

A shiver ran down Ruby back as she shook her head and tried to deny the accusation. "No. No! That isn't—is that what you think…" Ruby nervously wrung her hands together. "Is that what you think I'm trying to do?"

Chrys hesitantly looked down guiltily, surprised by Ruby's quick and earnest defence. She knew she said something wrong to get a rise out of Ruby like that and her humbled posture reflected that. Ruby wanted to reach out and comfort her, but Chrys refused to look her way and continued to poke her cake like a child being reprimanded.

"Chryssie, hey, would you look at me please?"

But Chrys didn't budge and ate her cake instead.

"Chryssie," Ruby tried again, "please look at me."

"Why?"

"'Why'?" Ruby blinked, surprised by the sudden attitude she got. "Because I'm trying to talk to you, why else?"

"You're trying to tell me what to do," Chrys stated.

Ruby knew exactly what Chrys was insinuating with her comment and it annoyed her to know they were going back to talking in circles. And from the way Chrys was glaring a hole into her food, she knew it too.

"If you won't look at me then fine," Ruby said after taking a deep, calming breath. She wasn't going to lose her temper. Chrys was only talking back because she was upset. It wasn't personal. "I'm not here to replace your mom," Ruby said in the softest tone she could muster. "Taking you out today was just me trying to spend some time with you. I didn't know this was something special you did every year. Your mama just told me you might be hungry when I picked you up, that's all this is."

"I'm sorry…" Chrys pouted.

"It's okay," Ruby said, "I'm not upset. This was just a misunderstanding."

"Is it really though?"

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked in a steady, welcoming tone. She didn't want to risk letting her frustration out or scare the girl while she was opening up. Ruby wanted to hear what Chrys had to say even if it hurt her feelings.

"You're doing things with my mama that only my maman did," Chrys said. Her angry eyes didn't hide the fact she was clearly talking about the kiss she witnessed the day she was sick. Ruby felt a weight drop into her stomach; she had done more than just kiss Weiss today. "Next you guys are going to get married, and—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ruby held her hands out trying to stop Chrys from saying anything further. She loved Weiss to the shattered moon and back, but marriage? The thought alone made Ruby's insides twist into a knot. "Chryssie, your mama and I aren't going to get married anytime soon."

"Mama and Maman got married after Mama's birthday."

"Well…" Ruby scratched the back of her neck, "that was under special circumstances."

Weiss hadn't delved too deep about what happened when she was younger, and Ruby never pressed for information. All she knew about Weiss' relationship with Coco was that despite the odds, they still liked each other enough to sleep together. Ruby also knew that they had slowly fallen in love after Chrys was born and decided to make their marriage work.

"'Circus stances' has a name," Chrys said.

"Cir-come-stances," Ruby corrected.

"Bleh," Chrys stuck her tongue out at Ruby. "Valese is weird."

"It is," Ruby chuckled awkwardly. "And I'm sure there were more reasons than just you for what they decided."

"I know," Chrys said. "Mama's papa tried to take me away once. That's why Mama doesn't let just anyone watch over me."

"There is so much unpack in that one sentence," Ruby said, rubbing her forehead. "Chrys, can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

"Chrys."

"Sorry…"

"It's fine, whatever. Look, do you want me to break up with your mama?" Ruby hung her head, tired from whatever the fuck was going on right now.

"No?" Chrys said plainly, looking like she'd just been asked to confirm a silly rumour. "Why would I want that?"

Ruby blinked. "What? But isn't… isn't this what you want?"

"When did I ever say that?" Chrys asked, her brows furrowed together in question and confusion.

"Uh," Ruby felt her mouth go dry. "C-Can you explain? Because I am really confused right now…"

Chrys sighed in exasperation and pushed what was left of her cake to Ruby. "I'm not hungry anymore," she said, drinking some water.

"Okay."

"Thank you," Chrys said. "It was really tasty."

"Yeah… no problem," Ruby replied, picking the excess frosting off. She finished the cake and drank the last of her soda before acknowledging Chrys again. "Okay, so explain."

"What's there to explain?" Chrys said. "Maman made me promise to support Mama if anything happened to her. Something happened and now you're here. Mama's happy, so I'm happy."

"But you're not happy, Chrys," Ruby said. "You're avoiding your mother when she needs you the most!"

"She has you for that!" Chrys shot back angrily, her small fist crashing down onto the table.

Their raised voices and clattering plates caught the hostess' attention. She immediately rushed to their table with a look of worry, ready to intervene. "Is everything alright?"

"Y-Yeah," Ruby said, shaken. "Sorry about that. Can I get another Nuka Cola and some water for her please?"

The hostess eyed them warily, but she nodded her head and took their plate and cups away. She rushed back with fresh glasses and a smile.

"Anything else?"

"No thank you," Ruby said. "Sorry about the noise, we'll keep it down."

"Okay, sugar."

After the hostess left, Chrys apologized. "I'm sorry for yelling."

"I'm sorry too," Ruby said with a guilty frown. "Chryssie, I get what you're saying. Really, I do. But while I'm here to support your mama, there are things only you can help her with. She lost your mom just like you lost her. But with the way things are going between you two, your mama's going to lose you too. And if I'm the cause of that… I-I don't think I can ever forgive myself."

"Ruby…" Chrys folded her hands over her lap and sunk into her shoulders.

Ruby held her head in her hands and sighed. "I really, really love your mama, Chrys. Being with her has changed my life… I've never loved anyone the way I love her. But part of loving your mama means loving you too, and because of that your happiness means more to me than you realize." Breathing in deep, Ruby took a good long, hard look at Chrys. "I want you to be happy. Your mama wants you to be happy. And if that means we stop whatever it is we have… then we'll do it."

"I am happy though," Chrys murmured, her eyes downcast.

"You don't have to pretend," Ruby said. "I've been there, I know what it feels like… and it really, really, really sucks."

Chrys quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I lost my mom too, remember?" Ruby smiled. "But the big difference between me and you is… you still have a mama that loves you more than anything in the world. When my mom passed away, my dad shut down. He was there physically, but emotionally? All I had was Yang and she's only a few years older than me."

"Mama is… hard to talk to sometimes," Chrys confessed.

"Why do you think that?"

Chrys shrugged. "I don't know… I get scared she'll be upset at me… and when I think about that, I can't talk."

"Oh…"

"I want to be a good girl, Ruby," Chrys sniffled, her eyes growing teary. "Maman made me promise to be a good girl. I-I promised."

Ruby got out of her chair and slowly approached Chrys. She knelt down beside her and took both of Chrys' hands into her own. "You are an amazing little girl, Chryssie."

"No, I'm not," Chrys argued, taking her hands back to wipe away the tears stinging her eyes. "I hurt Mama. I made her upset!"

"She isn't upset at you though," Ruby insisted. "She misses you so much."

"No," Chrys cried. "She has you now."

"You're right, she does have me," Ruby said, "but I'm not you. I'm not your maman either. I'm just me—a normal girl with normal knees."

A quiet giggle slipped past Chrys' lips. "Isn't it 'bee's knees'?"

"It would be," Ruby chuckled, "if I was anything special. You, however, are the bee's knees."

"If you say so," Chrys shyly smiled.

Taking a pause, Ruby thought of her next words carefully. She knew what she wanted to say and how to say them, but she wasn't exactly known for her ability to be articulate during precarious moments—and this definitely counted as a precarious moment.

"Chrys, I want you to know that I am on your side. Just say the word and I'll make things right," Ruby said without a stutter or hiccup. "Your mama and I can go back to being just friends. Or if you want, I can go away forever."

Chrys looked at Ruby in shock, her mouth dropping open as she tried to voice the many thoughts that were undoubtedly racing though her mind.

Ruby smiled at her encouragingly and wiped away the tear sliding down Chrys' cheek. "You come first, Chrys. You will always come first."

"I don't want you to go away," Chrys said in a quiet, pained voice. She wrung the hem of her dress and shook her head. "I like you a lot, Ruby."

"I know you do," Ruby said. "But I don't want to come between you and your mama."

"You aren't…"

"But I am, Chryssie. If I wasn't, then you would have helped your mama with the decorating."

"Oh… that wasn't because of you," Chrys blushed.

"Huh?" Ruby blinked. "Then why?"

Chrys cracked a wry grin and said, "I didn't help because I wanted to see how bad it would get."

"What? Why?!"

"Maman never let Mama decorate because she always does too much."

Ruby thought back to the catastrophe in Weiss' apartment and nodded her head. "Yeah, you can say that again…"

"It's really, really bad," Chrys laughed, wiping away more tears. But the more she wiped, the more they came out. And soon enough, Chrys was a sobbing mess. "I should have been helping her… she kept trying to get me to, but I kept saying no and making up excuses. I've been a bad girl, Ruby. I broke my promise."

"No, you haven't," Ruby said, pulling Chrys' hands back so she could see her face. "You're upset from the sudden changes around you and that's perfectly normal."

"I shouldn't be upset though," Chrys cried some more. "Good girls don't cry and make their mamas upset."

Ruby grabbed a few tissues from the dispenser and offered them to Chrys. "What makes you think good girls shouldn't cry?"

"Because…" Chrys blinked as she stared at Ruby dumbfounded.

"See?" Ruby smiled. "Whoever said good girls don't cry is dumb. Good girls cry all the time. They can be upset too."

"Does Mama cry?"

"Yeah, she does," Ruby nodded sombrely, her thoughts drifting back to the first and only night she stayed over. The feel of searing hot tear drops on her arm had roused Ruby from her drowsy state and alerted her to the quiet mumblings next to her. Weiss had whispered Coco's name and ripped away any chance Ruby had of sleeping that night. "She cries a lot, I think."

"Ruby," Chrys said with a sniffle, "what can I do to make it up to Mama?"

"Well, for starters, I think you should spend more time with her," Ruby said. "Your mama doesn't like you going out so much."

"Yeah… she already said that," Chrys frowned. "If she didn't like it, why would she let me do it?"

"Because she thinks it'll make you happy," Ruby answered. "Your mama is learning how to take care of you on her own. She's bound to make mistakes along the line which is why you need to be there to help her."

"I guess…"

"My Uncle Qrow had to do a lot of learning when he took me and Yang in," Ruby said as she got up and stretched. "He made so many mistakes, but we both knew he was trying his best."

Chrys regarded Ruby carefully and nodded her head. "Spending more time with Mama will make me a good girl?"

"Yup!"

"I won't be a bother to you when you want to spend time with her?"

"Huh?" Ruby blinked. "You think you're going to bother me?"

"My friend's papa has a new girlfriend and she doesn't like my friend at all," Chrys explained.

"Oh, that's awful," Ruby said, crossing her arms.

"Yeah… my friend is really sad because she loves her papa, but he won't spend time with her anymore."

Ruby knelt down to Chrys' eye level again and said, "You don't have to worry about that with me."

"I won't?"

"Nope, never," Ruby confirmed. "I really like you, Chrys. I like spending time with you, you're me and Yang's little buddy! Getting to hang out with you is, like, half the fun of being around your mama."

"You really mean that?"

"Yup!" Ruby grinned. "Plus, it's like I said before, you will always come first. If I didn't like you, or if I made you upset, your mama wouldn't waste her time on me."

Chrys nodded her head and giggled. "She is kind of protective over me."

"Because you're her baby," Ruby said, smiling softly. "She would do anything for you."

"Thank you, Ruby," Chrys smiled, her tears all but gone now. "Thank you for making Mama happy again."

"Hey, it isn't just me doing that," Ruby said. "It's me, you, and all of our friends that do that. It's a team effort."

"'Team effort…' " Chrys said with a thoughtful expression. "Maman used to say that Mama was high upkeep."

"I think you mean 'high maintenance,' " Ruby said, getting up. "And she can be, I guess. But even if we all went our separate ways, your mama would still be able to smile because she has you."

"You think so?" Chrys asked.

Ruby drank the last of her soda and nodded her head. "I know so."

"How?"

"Who could be sad when they have a little patch of spring with them? I mean, sure, Weiss is a little on the icy side, but—whoa!" Chrys shot out of her chair and tackle hugged Ruby, nearly knocking them both down. "Careful, kiddo. What was that all about?"

"Nothing," Chrys said, hugging Ruby's midsection tightly.

Smiling, Ruby patted Chrys' back. "Ey, you're looking a lot better."

"I feel better," Chrys replied.

"So we're cool then?"

"Yup," Chrys nodded.

"C'mon then, let's pay the bill and get you home," Ruby said. "Did you wish your mama a happy birthday?"

"Oh no!" Chrys gasped in horror. "I knew I forgot something!"

"If it makes you feel better, I didn't know it was her birthday until today."

"No, no, no!" Chrys groaned. "Maman and I always went out to buy Mama's present today!"

"That's a little last minute," Ruby commented.

Chrys shook her head. "Non, we had to buy it today or else it wouldn't be good anymore."

"What did you guys get her? Maybe we can go out and grab it here."

"Can we really?!" Chrys asked with wide hopeful eyes.

"Yeah, of course!" Ruby said. Whatever it was and no matter how expensive it may be, Ruby was going to swoop in and be the hero Chrys needed. "So what are we getting her?"

"Roses," Chrys answered, stepping back so they could both get their coats. "We always got Mama red roses—they're her favourite."

"Yeah, sounds good," Ruby said. Shit.

"Is there a flower shop on the way home?" Chrys asked excitedly.

"Yep."

After letting Chrys take a quick bathroom break, Ruby led her up to the hostess and asked for the bill. She did her best not to weep at the number on it as she swiped her credit card. She should've taken the money Weiss offered.

"Happy holidays," the hostess said with a smile.

"You too," Ruby replied.

"Bye-bye!" Chrys waved.

The drive to the florist was a lot livelier than the one to the burger joint. Chrys spent a majority of it telling Ruby all the intricacies of the Adel family Christmas. Ruby learned a lot of things that she tucked away for later use like how Weiss was really fond of eggnog.

"Wow, this is close to my house!" Chrys said when they joined a major downtown road.

"You recognize the area?" Ruby asked, keeping her eyes peeled for the florist.

"Mhm," Chrys nodded. "Are you sure they're going to have the flowers for Mama?"

"They should," Ruby said. "If they don't, we'll look for another one. We're going to get you those flowers no matter what."

All the spots closest to the florist were taken so they had to park a little ways away. Chrys didn't mind the walk at all and clung to Ruby's side. When they entered the shop, they found five other people lined up at the counter with bouquets in hand. Ruby was a little worried Chrys would run off, most kids would in this situation, but she stayed put beside Ruby and followed her wherever she went.

"This is really pretty," Chrys said pointing to a elaborate bouquet with lilies and other colourful flowers. "It kind of looks like candy."

"I guess it does." Ruby blanched at the price tag and hoped to whatever god was watching over her that Chrys didn't pick it.

"Ruby! Ruby!" Chrys tugged on Ruby's arm.

"Yeah?"

"I found the roses!" Chrys announced, pointing to a row of refrigerators packed to the brim with a rainbow of long stem roses. "Come on!"

"Okay, okay," Ruby laughed as she let Chrys drag her along. The price tag on the individual roses weren't too bad, but they'd still cost quite a bit. "Go ahead, Chryssie, pick the ones you want out."

"I can pick them myself?"

"Yeah." Ruby opened the fridge with the red roses inside. "Knock yourself out."

"Huh?" Chrys tilted her head in confusion. "I… what do you mean?"

"Uh," Ruby blinked, "I meant, go have fun?"

"Oh!" Chrys' smile bounced back. "Okay!"

Chrys carefully inspected the flowers and picked the twelve she thought were the prettiest. The roses were going to cost more than the bouquet from earlier, but the smile on Chrys' face was more than worth it. And since she was going to spend that much anyway, Ruby went and picked one out for herself.

"Is that everything?" Ruby asked.

"Yup!" Chrys beamed. "Is it time to line up now?"

"Lead the way, kiddo."

Chrys happily bounded up to the line with Ruby hot on her heels. The man in front of her looked back and smiled.

"Buying something for your mommy?" he asked in a friendly tone.

"Yup!" Chrys said. "Are you?"

The man nodded his head and showed Chrys the bouquet he chose. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"That's really pretty," Chrys said. "I like the big pink one in the middle."

"The chrysanthemum?" the man said.

"Mhm," Chrys giggled.

"Next please," announced the girl working the register.

The man looked up and saw hew as next. "Excuse me for a moment, little miss."

Chrys turned her attention back to Ruby. "Do you think twelve is enough?"

"More than enough, I think," Ruby said.

"Hm," Chrys looked at the roses she had, "maybe I should get more…"

Ruby bit the inside of her cheek, her stomach twisting at the thought of telling Chrys no.

"Excuse me, lil'miss?" the man said, tapping Chrys' shoulder. Ruby's gaze shot up, her defences ready. "This is for you," he said, offering Chrys a small bouquet featuring the pink chrysanthemum.

"Are you sure, mister?" Chrys asked.

"Yeah," he smiled.

"But what about your mama?"

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind," he laughed. "Go on, take it."

"Ruby?" Chrys said with a puppy dog stare.

"It's okay," Ruby said before turning to smile at the gentleman.

Chrys happily accepted the bouquet and thanked him profusely. "Thank you, thank you so much, mister!"

"Thanks," Ruby said.

"It's no problem," he replied. "That smile was definitely worth it. Anyway, best be off now."

Chrys waved the man goodbye and walked up to the counter with all her roses in hand. "What kind of wrapping paper do you have?"

The clerk stepped aside and pointed to a tall stand behind her with all the styles available. "We also have cellophane wrap if you don't mind spending a little more."

"What do those look like?" Chrys asked, not at all caring about the price. The clerk showed Chrys a few samples with some intricate designs and colours. But after a minute of thought and deliberation, Chrys settled on the clear plain cellophane and a red ribbon.

"Is that everything for you then?"

"Can you add some of these?" Chrys asked, pointing to the baby's-breath framing her chrysanthemum.

"I can certainly do that for you," the clerk said, quickly putting Chrys' bouquet together. She set the finished product aside and turned to Ruby. "Would you like that one wrapped up as well?"

"Oh, nah, just like this is perfect," Ruby grinned sheepishly.

"Okay, that'll be 6,500 lien," the clerk said.

Ruby felt the wind get knocked out of her. That was a lot of money.

"Can I pay with this?" Chrys showed the clerk her debit card. "Also, can I have the receipt, please?" Both Ruby and the clerk stared at Chrys with wide eyes. "What?"

"Chrys, kiddo," Ruby laughed nervously, "that's a lot of money."

"Ruby, I'm rich," Chrys said without a hint of shame or remorse. "I'm pretty sure I can buy all the roses."

"Uh…" Ruby picked her jaw up from the floor and shook her head. "What would your mama say if she found out you spent this much?"

Chrys shrugged. "I earned the money with my chores and good grades. As long as I'm not spending it on my friends, Mama says I can do what I want."

"Oh, uh, in that case," Ruby turned to the clerk, "can you just subtract that one rose from the total?"

"Are you sure it's okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah," Ruby nodded. "I'm gunna trust her on this."

"If you say so," the clerk said as she cancelled the transaction and redid it without Ruby's single rose. "That'll be 6,000 lien."

Chrys looked at the card machine and asked, "Is there tap?"

"Uh, yeah," the clerk said, still looking shell-shocked.

"Thank you," Chrys said, tapping her card on the screen. Ruby watched the exchange curiously and sighed with relief when the payment went through. "What?"

"Nothing, nothing!" Ruby yelped, slapping on a fake grin.

"Did you think it wasn't going to work?" Chrys asked with a sly grin. "I can buy your present too if you want."

"You're pushing it, kid," Ruby grumbled as she poked Chrys' forehead.

"What was that for?" Chrys pouted.

"For being too much like your mama," Ruby said as she dropped a 500 lien bill on the table.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Chrys haughtily replied, sticking her tongue out.

Ruby rolled her eyes and smiled at the clerk. "Thanks for the patience."

"It's no problem," she replied. "Happy holidays."

"Happy holidays to you too," Chrys said as she gently picked up her bouquet and hugged it to her chest. "Time to go home, Ruby?"

"Yeah, it's time to go home, kiddo," Ruby said.

Chapter three's edit is up. Slight changes were made.