Chapter Twenty-two: But We're Both Stronger Than We Know
After Ruby left, Neptune changed out of drag and got into some comfortable pyjama pants and his own ugly Christmas sweater to cuddle on the couch with Chrys and Amélia. They were watching the latest My Little Budgie movie and Chrys was snuggled up to her grandma, clinging to her tight, while Neptune leaned against Amélia with his head on her shoulder.
"I'm going to have to sit on the floor, aren't I?" Weiss said, standing by the couch with her eggnog.
"Your fault for moving, Wild Flower," Amélia teased, her nose crinkling as she stuck her tongue out at Weiss. "Also your fault for not buying a bigger couch or matching loveseats."
"I tried telling her to get some, but she refused to listen," Neptune sighed, spreading his long legs out to cover even more couch space. "Ah, so comfy. Wish you were here, Weiss."
Rolling her eyes, Weiss decided to sit by the kitchen table and wait for Ciel. She said she was at the restaurant waiting for Étienne to finish with his final checks, but that had been an hour ago. Weiss was relieved Ciel took charge and swapped duties with Neptune. Why she asked Ciel to get Amélia instead of the other way around, Weiss may never know.
Thirty minutes later, at 7 p.m. on the dot, Ciel knocked on the door and led four young men carrying piles of food in.
"On the table?" Ciel asked.
"Let me get out of your way," Weiss said, letting Ciel take full command.
Ciel nodded and pointed to the table, turning her watchful eye back to the men. "Lay everything out here."
"Oh, no wonder you wanted to switch!" Neptune eagerly exclaimed. "Hi, boys."
"Pay no attention to him," Ciel snapped when she saw one young man turn to look at Neptune.
"Sorry, ma'am," he yelped.
The men diligently laid out the food, keeping their heads down as they spoke in quiet murmurs, directing each other. Ciel watched them all carefully and nodded when they finished.
"Excellent work"—she checked her watch—"and done so quickly as well. Mrs. Adel?" Both Amélia and Weiss looked up with curious looks on their faces. "Er, Weiss…"
"Yes?"
"Is the work satisfactory?"
"I'll leave that to your discretion," Weiss said, returning her attention back to the television. She trusted Ciel's judgement and knew the only reason she asked for her opinion was to see if the crew she brought deserved the extremely generous tip Weiss was willing to pay.
"Understood."
After thanking the men for their work and escorting them back to their vehicle, Ciel divided the tip four ways and returned the extra she couldn't divide back to Weiss, who in turn gave that money to Chrys to put away in her sharky bank for safe keeping.
"Shall I bring the plates out?" Neptune asked.
"Not yet," Amélia said with her hands on Weiss' shoulders. She kissed her on the temple and said, "We're not all here yet."
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked.
"Secret," Amélia chuckled. A few minutes after she said that though someone knocked on the door. "Ah, right on time. Wild Flower, could you get that, please?"
Weiss rolled her eyes but obediently did as she was told. "I swear, if it's that cabbage your friends keeps insisting I meet, I'm going to slam the door in his face and—Winter! Klein!"
"Who are you calling a cabbage, and why are you going to slam the door in their face?" Winter asked, her left eyebrow arched high. "Hallo, Weiß, wie geht es dir?"
"Winter!" Weiss threw caution to the wind and wrapped her arms around her sister's neck, holding her tight.
"It hasn't been that long since we last met," Winter chuckled as she patted the top of Weiss' head.
"Half a year is far too long," Weiss replied.
"Where's my hug, Snowflake?" Klein asked.
Weiss smiled at her old caretaker as she went to hug him next. Winter let herself in and called for Chrys. Chrys didn't run up to her the way she did for Neptune, Ciel, or Amélia, and if Winter was disappointed by that, she didn't show it on her face.
"You've grown," Winter said in Western Atlesian. She awkwardly patted Chrys on the head and knelt down beside her.
"I'm going to be taller than Mama soon," Chrys grinned, replying in Valese.
"I heard that!" Weiss shouted with a slight blush.
"Don't worry, Snowflake, you'll get your growth spurt soon," Klein said as he followed Weiss into the apartment.
"I'll believe that when Neptune grows some shame."
"Not gunna happen!" Neptune cackled.
Weiss sighed and closed the door. "As happy as I am to see you both, I am woefully unprepared to host you…"
"This was preplanned, Wild Flower," Amélia said.
"I'll be staying with Neptune," Winter said with a rare smile.
"I've got the wine, snacks, and Drag Race ready and waiting for you," Neptune said, wrapping Winter in a tight embrace. "Oooh, gurl, I have missed you!"
"I've missed you as well, Neptune."
"Okay, and what about Klein?" Weiss asked, slightly perturbed by how close Neptune and Winter were.
"I was promised a lovely couch in the penthouse next door."
"Well," Weiss paused, tapping her arm twice in thought, "it is a really nice couch…"
"See?" Amélia chuckled. "Everything is right as rain! Now, let's have dinner because I'm starving."
Chrys was first to the table helping Weiss lay out plates and utensils while Neptune and Ciel busied themselves with getting the drinks. Amélia and Klein, however, were far less productive.
"Klein, put that down and take a seat," Amélia ordered.
"It's just a few plates," Klein said, disobeying her by grabbing more plates from the cupboard.
"'Just a few plates' always leads to you serving everyone else," Amélia said, grabbing hold of the plates to stop Klein. "You are on vacation, Klein. Va-ca-tion."
"Yes, paid vacation," Klein stressed, pulling the plates back.
"Vacation!"
"They're just plates, Amélia!" Klein huffed. "Look, even Chrys is helping with the table."
"Don't drag me into this," Chrys grumbled as she meticulously laid out the utensils.
Weiss watched with mild amusement as the man who raised her as a child argued with the woman who shaped her into who she was now.
"Weiss, help me out here," Amélia pouted.
"Let the man put the plates down, Maman," Weiss laughed. "If he wants to be the last to eat Étienne's dinner, then who are we to stop him?"
"Étienne?" Klein blinked. "Why didn't you say so in the first place! Amélia, move your butt, I call the seat next to Weiss!"
"Wha—no! I want the seat next to her!"
"Fine, you take the right, and I'll get the left."
"Deal, you stubborn codger."
"Wrong!" Chrys announced, stealing the seat to Weiss' right. "This seat's mine. Mémère, you can sit next to me."
"I… fine. You know, you are becoming more and more like your mama with each passing day," Amélia sighed in defeat, taking her seat next to Chrys.
"Thank you for the compliment," Chrys beamed.
Amélia patted Chrys on the head and smiled at Weiss. "Take pride in that, mon trésor."
"I will, Maman."
After dinner and one more Christmas movie, everyone went their separate ways. They'd be back in the morning for breakfast and presents, but now, as the clock inched towards midnight, it was time for bed. Weiss, however, had one last thing to do before she could turn in. She knocked on Chrys' door and waited.
"Mm, Mama?"
"Yes, mon coeur," Weiss said as she poked her head into Chrys' room. "Could you turn on your lamp?"
"Mm…" Chrys did as she was told and sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "What time is it?"
"I'm sorry for waking you," Weiss said, sitting down on the edge of Chrys' bed, "but there's something I need to give you."
"We open presents tomorrow," Chrys mumbled with a yawn. "Can't it wait?"
"It can…" Weiss hesitated, "but this is something your maman wanted to give to you."
"Maman?"
"Mm…" Weiss got on the bed and laid down next to Chrys, tucking an arm behind her head. She handed Chrys a large black photo album with their family crest embossed in gold on the front. "Well, she wanted to give it to you when you were a little older… but I think she'll forgive me if I give it to you now."
Chrys opened the album and gasped at the first picture. Weiss was in her old High school uniform with a hand on her barely visible baby bump and a carrot stick in her mouth. She was so engrossed in her textbook she didn't notice the camera.
"Your maman picked up a really annoying hobby when she lived in Vale," Weiss said, kissing the top of Chrys' head. "And when she found out about you, she left everything... school, work, friends… she wanted to be there for you."
Chrys turned the page. On the left side was a picture of Coco holding up a picture of an ultrasound with a flustered Weiss glaring at her in the background. On the right was a picture of Coco scratching her head over some instructions, surrounded by pieces of wood, cardboard, and plastic littered all around.
"She had so much trouble building your first crib," Weiss laughed. "I took this picture as proof the great Coco Adel struggled just like everybody else."
Chrys wordlessly flipped through more pictures until she stopped on one where Coco was holding a newborn baby.
"Is that me?" Chrys asked.
"Mm," Weiss nodded. "You look small in your maman's arm, but if you turn the page…" Chrys turned the page, revealing a photo of Weiss holding the same baby, "you'll see how big you were when you were born."
"Wow," Chrys said. "I was really wrinkly."
"Your maman cried so much the moment she got to hold you for the first time…" Weiss said.
"She did?" Chrys murmured.
Weiss nodded and turned the page. "You were the love of her life," she said, pointing to the picture with Chrys sleeping on Coco's chest. "I know you've heard your relatives whisper about how you were a mistake… and I know you've struggled to prove to them that you aren't and show how worthy you are of your name…"
Chrys shrugged. "They're dumb. And I'm better than them."
"That you are, by leagues in fact. But still words hurt, Chrys," Weiss said, lifting her hand so Chrys could turn the page. "And no matter how hard you try to hide it or pretend it didn't hurt you, your maman and I could see how frustrated you were."
"Wouldn't you?" Chrys asked.
"Of course I would," Weiss said. "That's why we left Atlas."
"I thought you said it was because of work?"
Weiss shook her head. "Non, mon coeur. We left because we didn't want you around those people anymore."
Chrys paused and looked towards Weiss. "Just for me?" she asked in disbelief.
"We honestly wanted to leave sooner, but moving takes a lot of time and planning," Weiss said.
"Why are you telling me all this? Why did you give me this?" Chrys tearfully asked as she turned more pages. "I don't understand, Mama."
"Because I think I made a mistake shielding you," Weiss confessed, embracing Chrys. "There is so much going on around you that you don't know… part of it is because I'm your mother and I wanted to protect you, but the real reason is because I was scared."
"Why are you scared, Mama?"
They were nearing the end of the book. And as Chrys turned the final few pages, Weiss felt her resolve crumble.
"Where's the rest?" Chrys innocently asked, her big blue eyes filling with tears. "Why are there so many blank pages?"
"Your maman couldn't finish the book," Weiss painfully replied, unable to stop her own tears. "She started this a few weeks before we were set to move. She actually ordered a bunch of these albums to fit all her favourite pictures of you… they're in storage waiting to be filled."
"How many?" Chrys asked.
"I think… enough to last until you're all grown up," Weiss answered, recalling the fight they got into when Coco showed her the bill.
"Why?" Chrys asked, staring at the blank page.
"Because she loved you," Weiss said. "She loved you more than anyone or anything in this world."
"Even more than you?"
"Even more than me," Weiss chuckled.
Chrys flipped back to the beginning and smiled. "Do you think she's proud of me?"
"Of course," Weiss said, hugging Chrys tighter. "No matter what you do and the person that you become, your maman will always be proud of you."
"Even after I didn't help you with the decorating?" Chrys asked sheepishly. "Sorry again."
"No, you're not," Weiss rolled her eyes. "Chrys, who do you think you got that mischievous side from? Because it certainly wasn't me."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Do you not recall all the times I went hunting for my mug or my granola bars only to find them on the top shelf hours later?"
"Oh, yeah," Chrys giggled. "I remember. You'd always get so angry, but Maman would just hug you and kiss it all better."
"Mhm… just keep being you, mon coeur," Weiss laughed.
"I really am sorry though," Chrys murmured, snuggling into Weiss. She turned the pages sleepily and yawned. "Do you think we can finish the album together?"
"We can do that," Weiss said, kissing the top of Chrys' head. "But if we do, there's one more thing I need to give you."
"What is it?"
"Let me go grab it real quick."
Weiss slipped out of Chrys' room and gasped in fright when she found Amélia by the kitchen table nursing a drink. Weiss signalled her mother-in-law to wait a few more minutes before hurrying into her room. She opened the closet and dug through Coco's side looking for a case. She found it buried in a box filled with some of Coco's old mementos.
Weiss' stomach twisted into a knot as she pulled a few things out to get to the case. There were a few photos of Coco with the friends she made during her time at Beacon, and Weiss couldn't help but wonder if one of the women was the one Coco loved. She never knew her name because Coco refused to tell her, insisting the past should stay in the past. In the end, the only thing Weiss knew about this mysterious woman was that she loved photography.
Weiss opened her hard earned case and inspected the professional grade DSLR camera inside. It was in perfect working condition, and after adding in the battery, Weiss was surprised to see it still had a charge. She quickly sifted through the pictures in its memory bank to make sure Coco hadn't kept any of the pictures she'd taken during their trysts. Thankfully, the only pictures Weiss found were of food, Chrys, and other family friendly photos which brought another question to mind: where were the nudes?
After carefully repacking the camera, Weiss went back to Chrys' room and found her fast asleep, clutching the album tight. Sighing, Weiss placed the case on Chrys' desk and peeled the album out of Chrys' arms. Light footsteps from the hall caught Weiss' attention. She turned to the door and found Amélia leaning against the frame with her drink in hand.
Smiling, Amélia took a sip and whispered, "She's so cute."
Weiss nodded in agreement as she swapped the album for Sharkington and set the album down next to the case. After giving Chrys a kiss goodnight and turning the lamp off, Weiss followed Amélia back to the kitchen and poured herself a drink.
"Sorry for sneaking back in," Amélia said.
"I left the door open for a reason, Maman."
"Still," Amélia said, pulling a chair out for Weiss.
"How are you, Maman?" Weiss asked as she sat down and crossed her legs.
"I've been doing well," Amélia said tiredly. "Work's been keeping me busy, but today was especially difficult." Weiss nodded and took a sip of wine. "How about you? How are you holding up?"
"I'm handling it a lot better than I thought I would," Weiss replied.
"Is it because of Ruby?"
"Partially," Weiss blushed.
"She was a plot twist I did not expect so soon," Amélia chuckled. "I didn't think you'd be the type to move on so easily. I was thinking another year or two at most."
Weiss shook her head and laughed, "Maman, you're so silly."
"Whaaat?" Amélia said. "I'm not saying this is a bad thing. I'm just a little surprised.
"Mm, moving in the right direction, maybe. But moving on?" Weiss let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Hardly… I'm so selfish."
"What makes you say that?" Amélia asked in a kind but worried tone.
"I like Ruby a lot… more than I thought I would," Weiss murmured. "But the longer she's with me, the more I feel like I'm just dragging her along for the comfort of not being alone. Before her, I felt like I was going to crumble… I had no idea how much pressure I was under until I didn't have Nicole to lean on… I don't know how you managed after Papa passed."
"Ah, Alessandro," Amélia sighed wistfully as she swirled her wine. "I was a mess when I lost him, but by then again my children were all grown and one had a child with a loving wife." Amélia reached over and stroked Weiss' cheek with her knuckles, smiling softly. "I had all of you to support me. But you, mon trésor, you only have Chrys and she is far too young to support you the way my Coco did."
"I have Neptune, Ciel, Yatsuhashi, and Fox here," Weiss murmured, leaning into her mother-in-law's touch. "I've also made new friends as well. I'm not as alone as you think I am"
"On the outside, perhaps," Amélia said with years of wisdom backing her confidence. "But in here"—she tapped Weiss' forehead—"not so much."
"Hm?"
"You get lost in your thoughts like you're wandering through a never-ending maze," Amélia said, reclining in her chair. "You plan for things meticulously. And when one plan doesn't go the way you thought it would, you quickly formulate another. You're constantly moving, mon trésor, so you never stop to see what's in front of you."
"And what is in front of me?"
Amélia tapped her finger on the table twice and said, "Today I saw a young woman so in love with you she silently suffered through my torment just to please you."
"Ruby is… special," Weiss smiled. "And she does love me. I know she does."
"Mm, I can tell," Amélia nodded. "But you're still not happy about something. Bedroom troubles?"
"Yes and no," Weiss blushed, shying away.
"Oh," Amélia grinned, sipping on her wine. "Do tell."
"Maman… it's kind of embarrassing talking to you about these things."
"I'm not asking for the sordid details, Wild Flower," Amélia said, running her finger over the rim of her glass. "I'm just asking about what's troubling you."
Weiss bit her lip and hesitantly said, "I felt disgusted with myself…"
"Why?"
"I've only been with Nicole… and we were together for so long."
"Were you planning on remaining celibate for the rest of your life?"
Weiss shrugged but, after a moment of serious deliberation, she nodded. "I didn't think I'd ever take another lover… and yet here I am half a year later."
"I see…"
"A part of me thinks it's because I'm not ready yet, and I'm inclined to believe it… if it wasn't for the fact I had no trouble with the other things we did," Weiss said with a blush. "I had no quarrels with touching her or having her touch me. I also felt no shame baring myself to her… but having her… um…"
"Say no more, I get the picture," Amélia chuckled, clinking her glass against Weiss'. They both took a drink and laughed. "Alessandro wasn't my first, nor was he my last…"
"Maman!" Weiss gasped, surprised by her mother-in-law's stunning revelation.
"I am a woman with needs, mon trésor, as are you," Amélia grinned. "And I'm well aware you weren't my Coco's first."
"Well, I'm Ruby's soo…" Weiss tucked a bit of hair behind her ear and grinned. "It's kind of flattering," she whispered.
Amélia let out a roaring laugh but quickly caught herself and covered her mouth. "Woops, apologies."
"It's fine, I doubt she'd wake from that," Weiss said.
"Aaannyway, back to the topic at hand," Amélia said, pouring herself another glass of wine. "From what I understand, your issue isn't about whether you're ready or not because, as you said, you like this girl. You enjoy her company and her touch, but when you were intimate, you were uncomfortable."
"How so?" Weiss asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Sex—especially good sex—is an experience, mon trésor," Amélia said wistfully with a far-off gaze. "And when you're with someone for as long as you were with my Coco or I with my Alessandro, trying to overcome what you're used to for something new is difficult."
"But Alessandro wasn't your first," Weiss said. "Did you ever get this awful feeling before?"
"Non… well, maybe a few times," Amélia said. "But those times were only reserved for when I had an emotional attachment to my lover. Losing them was always hard, but my heart would always find another and another until I found my soulmate in Alessandro."
"And yet you have no problem being with other people?"
Amélia nodded and took a drink. "My heart will never belong to another the way it belonged to my Alessandro…" she looked at Weiss and held her hand, "but if I find myself falling in love again, I will not oppose it. I will welcome it."
"L-Love?" Weiss blushed. "No one said anything about love here."
"Oh, mon trésor, there's no need to," Amélia said. "I see it in your eyes and the way you talk about her. You're on the cusp of a burgeoning new romance and you're scared."
"I…" Weiss took a deep breath and blinked back the tears. "No, I…"
"It's okay to love again," Amélia cooed as she got up and held Weiss against her chest. "Do not close that heart of yours because of fear. I don't know much about your Ruby, but for her to be here on such a day… I must agree, she is special."
"She has been… absolutely wonderful," Weiss said. "I want to be with her, Maman… she makes me feel so happy and loved, but what would Nicole say?"
"'Git it, gurl'?" Amélia laughed. "Mon trésor, you can't honestly believe my Coco would ever fault you for falling in love again—in fact, I'm sure she'd never be anything less than supportive."
"But it… feels wrong sometimes," Weiss frowned. "Like I'm betraying her memory."
"Oh, mon trésor, being celibate would betray my Coco's memory."
"Should a mother really be this supportive of her daughter's promiscuity?" Weiss asked. Amélia shrugged and went back to her chair. "So you're saying I should do the same when Chrys is older."
Amélia gasped in horror and sandwiched Weiss' face between her hands in one lightning fast motion. "You shall do no such thing, do you hear me, Weiss Adel?! No such thing!"
"Maman!" Weiss whined.
"Promise me you will not let ma vie take after my Coco like that!" Amélia shook Weiss' head. "Promise me!"
"I promise! I promise!" Weiss yelled. "Now release me!" Amélia kissed Weiss' forehead and let her go. "You have the grip of a gorilla, Maman," Weiss grumbled as she massaged her cheeks.
"You can't hold onto a company for as long as I have without a good grip," Amélia chuckled.
"I feel sorry for the men foolish enough to try and oust you from Nobility incorporated."
"There have been many," Amélia said, raising her glass high, "but they were all far too weak and honestly quite dense if they think I haven't already chosen my successor."
Weiss took a sip of wine and quirked an eyebrow, her attention piqued. Amélia had been extremely tight-lipped about who she wanted to succeed her after she retired. The most likely candidate was her oldest son, Leandro, who ran the Vacuo branch. Dario, Amélia's second son, was in the running as well. But unlike his older brother, he didn't have the drive or ambition to take the company higher; he was content managing the company's charity department. There were a few other people in the family Weiss thought were viable candidates, but her brothers-in-law were the two she wouldn't mind working under.
"Weiss, mon trésor, stop. I know you're trying to figure out who my successor is," Amélia said, poking the crinkle forming between Weiss' eyes. "And I can tell you're passing over who they are."
"Who?" Weiss asked, pouting.
"You, my girl," Amélia said, laughing out loud when Weiss balked at the announcement.
"What?! No, no, no… Amélia, you can't!"
"And why the hell not?" Amélia asked, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand. "You are everything I want in a successor."
"But…"
"You are smart, ambitious, and strong," Amélia continued without pause. "But most of all you are kind and understanding. Weiss, you took a massive pay cut to ensure your employees got their full benefits and pay above minimum wage. How could I not want you?"
"I'm not an Adel," Weiss whimpered.
"Oh, mon trésor, you've been an Adel the moment that bastard threw you out on the street," Amélia said, taking Weiss' hand. "Even if Coco hadn't married you and you legally remained a Schnee, I still raised you to be my successor."
"Maman…"
"I did not put you through school out of the goodness of my heart," Amélia said. "I saw potential in you. Potential I refused to let go to waste."
"I'm honoured, but I still don't think I'm worthy," Weiss said, looking down. "What about Leandro and Dario? Surely they'd object to this?"
"Leandro has known of my choice since the moment I brought you into our home," Amélia said, lifting Weiss' chin up. "You have his full support. Dario's as well."
Weiss looked into her mother-in-law's eyes and shied away, unable to comprehend the things she was hearing.
"Weiss, I did not take this decision lightly," Amélia said in a stern tone. "When you wanted to take that teaching position at Beacon, why do you think I fought so hard to keep you?"
"Because you wanted Hawthorne out?"
"Well, yes, but I also wanted to prepare you," Amélia chuckled. "That tiny little office of yours in the logistics department could never show you the full range of your capabilities. You needed a challenge that only the Vale branch could give you."
"Are you the reason why Nicole wanted to move to Vale?"
Amélia shook her head. "My Coco could have opened that restaurant anywhere in the world, but she chose Vale because she knew you would flourish here."
"I have no say in this matter, huh?"
"Mon trésor, you can say no if you want to, but it would be a waste if you did," Amélia said.
"Surely there are other people more qualified?"
"Name one person you personally think could do a better job than you?" Amélia leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms, head tilted back haughtily. "Name one person."
"Um…" Weiss blinked, her mouth suddenly dry.
"I'm waiting…"
Weiss had secretly always hoped she'd be in the running. But in a company with so many talented people who had far more experience than she did, Weiss never thought she'd ever hear these words.
"It's okay to be selfish, Weiss," Amélia said. "Whether it be in love or work, you're allowed to think of yourself."
"I am… so incredibly honoured, Amélia…" Weiss said, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Are you sure you really want me though?"
Amélia nodded her head. "Ten years, Weiss. I have spent ten long years teaching you to be better than me. And don't get me wrong, there will be many more years before I'm ready to retire. I just want you ready and willing."
"Okay," Weiss laughed. "I accept."
"That's my girl," Amélia said, caressing Weiss' cheek. "You know, when my Coco first introduced me to you, I had hoped you'd be the one for her. You charmed me instantaneously with that razor sharp wit and ingenuity, I begged to the gods above you'd stay."
"Really?"
Amélia nodded her head. "Granted, I didn't wish for things to turn out the way they did…"
"Oh…" Weiss blushed. "Haha… yeaah… me too."
"But I still wouldn't change a thing," Amélia said, smiling sadly. "It's… so hard to think she's gone."
"Dinner didn't feel right without her," Weiss said, drinking the rest of her wine in one gulp. She poured herself and Amélia another glass, emptying the bottle. "I'm so grateful Neptune kept Chrys preoccupied throughout the whole thing… I was worried she'd start crying before we even got to the entrées."
"I was worried I'd cry myself," Amélia chuckled sardonically. "Make sure to invite Ruby next year, have her whole family come if need be."
"Do you really think she'll be here next year?"
"I'm certain of it," Amélia said. "I'm no stranger to puppy love, mon trésor, but that girl had a look of conviction in her eyes that you cannot deny. She will fight tooth and nail to be with you."
"What makes you so sure of that?"
"You're a lot like me," Amélia said. "You're closely guarded. And if all you wanted was to have someone make love to you, then you wouldn't have introduced them to Chrys. You would have kept them as far away from your family as you possibly could…"
"Is that what you've done?" Weiss asked.
"Mm," Amélia took a drink. "I refuse to call any of my lovers the way you call Ruby yours."
"'Lovers'?" Weiss chuckled. "Spicy."
Amélia let out a roaring laugh and hummed. "A single man could never satisfy me."
"And Alessandro?"
"My desert stallion ruined me for the rest of mankind," Amélia grinned.
"And womankind?" Weiss raised an eyebrow.
"I have a young lady in Kabo I visit sometimes," Amélia said, hiding her blush and smile behind her glass.
"I'm beginning to see where Nicole got that promiscuous side from," Weiss chuckled.
"I've seen the telltale signs you left on my Coco, Weiss," Amélia teased. "You're no delicate lily."
Weiss held her hands up in defeat. "No arguments here."
"Tell me, mon trésor, do you think Ruby will be able to satisfy that fire of yours?"
"Perhaps," Weiss said, swirling her wine. "She has a talented tongue… and a body to die for."
"And below the belt?"
"Perfect fit," Weiss laughed. "Do you think I'll ever overcome that feeling of shame?"
"Hm?"
"I felt so dirty when I was with Ruby… I could barely look at her after," Weiss confessed. "I'm scared, Maman… what if this feeling never goes away?"
"It will with time as long as you keep fighting against it," Amélia said. "You did absolutely nothing wrong. Do not let your anxieties stop you from falling in love."
"Anxieties…" Weiss gnawed on her bottom lip. "Neptune told me to slow things down. What do you think I should do?"
"That boy has a good head on his shoulders," Amélia said. "And I agree with him. Slow down a bit and find where you're comfortable."
"It was just the sex that made me uncomfortable," Weiss said. "I had no problem with anything else we did."
"Then you're well on your way, mon trésor," Amélia replied, caressing Weiss' cheek. "I'm certain Ruby won't mind. Plus, penetration isn't the only way to make love. You're a creative girl, I'm sure you'll figure something out."
Weiss let out a chuckle as she raised her glass up. "I'll drink to that."
"À la tienne," Amélia replied, clinking their glasses.
"Now tell me about this girl in Kabo," Weiss grinned.
"Oh, mon trésor, the stories I can tell you."
"I've got all night."
"Well…"
Chapter six has been updated.