Ruby watched in horror as the room beyond the door began to shake. Vibrations came from it, traveling through the floor and her thick boots.

Loud sounds, muffled by the wall and door, implied that the operation was beginning, and a million terrors and worries flooded through her.

"O-Oscar, no!" she cried. She stood up and practically threw herself against the door, ignoring the heavy impact.

She tried to open it, but found it was locked. Her eyes went wide and she began frantically twisting and turning the knob, banging on the door with her other fist.

"Oscar!" she screamed, "Oscar!"

A wave of weakness came over her and she dropped to her knees. It hurt to have them smack on the floor like that, and she let out a whimper. She sagged onto her legs, leaning backwards so her bottom touched the floor, and began panting from her exertion.

"Oscar..," she whined, beginning to tear up again, "Oscar, c-come back..."

Next came a spike of worry. Would things work out?! Was she going to lose him now?! Was everything going to wrong, and they would lose Ozpin and Oscar?!

She staggered to her feet and made her way fitfully to a chair, plopping down in the seat. Her face grew warm and sweat began forming, slowly running down the sides of her head.

No, it wouldn't work. It was completely based on false hope that either of them had decided to do this. Desperation was going to steal him away from her. Maybe they had more than 3 months! Maybe it was a fake estimate to provoke them to do something about it.

Her breathing grew heavier and her eyes widened further.

Yes, that was it! Ozpin had wanted this to happen! Everyone in the group had! No one cared about Oscar at all! They all wanted him to die, die die…

All of her negativity and insanity gave way to sheer fear and she felt her stomach completely flip. She clasped her hands over her mouth, sprung to her feet, and rushed into the bathroom.

She fell onto her knees, grasped the sides of the toilet, and vomited all of her emotions and thoughts out into that basin. She heaved until her ribs hurt, gasping for air as her body mercilessly sent her hurling time and time again.

When she had finally finished, she fell against the wall, weakly panting. She had lost her mind and she knew it. She didn't know what to think, how to feel. She just wanted to vanish into thin air.

A small part of her managed to say that she ought to get up and sit down. She did look quite odd the way she was at the moment. Skirt strewn awkwardly around her thighs, round belly sticking out amongst her slouched body, hair messily covering part of her face...

She pulled herself together and slowly rose to her feet. She wanted to crawl rather than walk, but the thought of her bump dragging across the non carpeted, cold tile was not a pleasant one.

She made her way over to a chair, sat down, and leaned her head back on it. The taste of vomit lingered in her mouth, a sickly sweet with a hint of acidity. That combined with her exhaustion and bad mental state, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

"I hope everything's going okay in there..," Nora said a bit nervously. She was leaning her chin on her hammer, which she was standing up on its handle.

"Yeah..," Blake agreed slowly, "It's been an hour now."

"How long did they say this whole thing would take?" Weiss asked. Her hands were on her hips and wore a skeptical face as if some kind of injustice had been dealt to her. It definitely stuck out against the anticipating, worried group.

"They didn't say," Yang replied, " But at least they're not doing anything to Ruby. I mean, it'd be pretty bad if something happened to Oscar, but my main concern right now is my sister."

She turned to Qrow, wondering what he'd say. He hadn't said a word this entire time, even when asked a question. Instead, he had just been staring at the sky or at the snow. Never did he make eye contact with anyone.

"Hey, Uncle Qrow?" she asked. She rarely addressed him as that, despite the fact that he literally was her uncle in blood. He actually looked at her in the eyes, showing his attention.

"What," he said.

"You okay?" she asked him, "It's like you're worried or something."

Qrow frowned. He actually frowned.

"I am worried, Yang," he grunted almost darkly, "I'm worried about Ruby. I'm worried about the situation with Salem. I'm worried about Remnant as it is. I'm worried about the Relics. I'm worried about everything." He stood up and slouched over like he always did, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I'm worried about Oz and his plans," he continued, turning his back to everyone, "I'm worried about the direction James is going. I'm worried about the way the academies have been targeted."

He paused for a moment and then finished. "And I'm worried that I'll lose Oz entirely."

"How is that?" Ren asked. Everyone else either nodded or gave a look of agreement and confusion. Qrow didn't respond and started walking away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yang called, "Get back here!"

"I'm getting a drink," he replied, "I'll be back in an hour or something."

Yang's eyes glinted red for a second before quickly flashing back to purple when Weiss grabbed her arm and shook her head. Yang sighed, nodded, and then sat back down on the steps to the building.

"I hope Oscar's okay," Nora worried, "I'd hate to lose Cute Boy Oz!"

"He isn't very small anymore, Nora," Ren said, walking over to her. Nora frowned at him and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, but he'll always be like that in my heart," she shot back, smiling sweetly and crossing her hands over her heart. Jaune looked down, his shoulders following him a little.

"If...if things actually don't go right..," he began hesitantly, "Then...then...well, I'll miss the guy. I was always so hard on him after things with Ozpin got all heated, and then when I found out what he and Ruby did...well, I lost it there, too."

"Awww, Jaune..," Nora said, going over to him and putting a hand on his shoulder, "It's okay! Oscar forgives you; I just know it. And besides, you already apologized for that! You know how forgiving he is."

"Yeah," Jaune sighed, "He is."

"That makes him all the more adorable," Nora giggled.

"Your reactions were also understandable," Ren said, "No one was surprised that you acted the way you did. You have been through a lot, so I'm certain Oscar understands that and has truly forgiven you."

"I know, I know," Jaune said, "But...but if he doesn't make it in there, then I won't be able to really...well, really tell him I'm really sorry."

He looked over at the glass doors to the building and let out a sigh. His breath came out in a white puff of air that faded away a few seconds after appearing. The group said nothing to this; what was there really to say, anyway?

"Do you guys want to go wait inside?" Weiss suggested, "It's freezing out here."

They collectively agreed and headed inside. Jaune did not, however, and stood on the steps.

"Are you coming, Jaune?" Weiss asked as everyone else entered. Jaune shook his head.

"Not right now," he said quietly, "I kinda want some time alone to think."

Weiss felt the incredible urge to join him, despite the fact that he had literally said alone and not 'alone with someone else'. But he just looked so sad and alone like that, and with her somewhat new feelings for him, it was especially hard for her to bear.

"C-could I join you?" she tentatively asked. Jaune looked surprised.

"Um...sure, I guess," he answered. Weiss smiled and closed the door behind her, calling back to them that she'd join them in a minute. She stood beside him and wrapped her arms around her body to help ward off the cold.

"So...are you going to be okay?" Weiss asked after about a minute of silence between them.

"Yeah," Jaune sighed, "I should be. My reasons for being so down aren't exactly the best, y'know."

Weiss shrugged.

"Yeah, they're pretty petty if you ask me," she said, "But it's still understandable."

"Petty?" Jaune said, almost lightening up a smidge and just barely smirking, "Weiss, you get grumpy if someone stains one of your outfits. You even hold a grudge for days sometimes."

Weiss gave a disdainful sniff and turned her head snootily to the side. Her long white ponytail swished behind her.

"Well, well, well, you were the one falling head over heels for me back at Beacon," she retorted, "You did the dumbest, more embarrassing things."

"Embarrassing for you or embarrassing for me?" he asked. Weiss frowned.

"For you, of course!" she replied sharply, "Romping up to my door while strumming a guitar...ugh, that was the dumbest, most pathetic method of asking someone out for a dance."

"It was still worth a shot," Jaune chuckled, "I mean...it was funny to the rest of your team, right?"

Weiss paused for a moment and thought back.

"No, I don't think so," she said, "I think they were mulling over what you proposed in your, erm...song. They tried to convince me to accept it, but I wouldn't have it, obviously."

"Yeaaahh...I figured as much," he said, "But at least Neptune asked you out. That seemed to go fine, I guess. Well I mean, after he ditched you for a bit, but then he came back."

"I know," Weiss said, turning back to him, "I don't even know how or why he did that. He just...came back a lot more happy and determined. I wonder why."

Jaune fidgeted and also folded his hands behind his back. At this moment, just this one moment, he didn't mind telling her almost anything. Maybe, since they were closer friends now, they could have a good laugh about the past.

"Yeah, about that..," he began. Weiss glanced at him, mentally smiling at his cute expression. The mood right now was suppose to be sober, right? Then why was she so happy?! Probably because he was with her right now.

"What?" she asked, partially afraid and mostly curious.

"I kinda talked to him about that," he said. He nervously scratched his head and chuckled a little.

"I guess I was just really jealous at the time...y'know, with him being able to go out with you and such. I hated to see him do that to you when you were so easily open to him like that. It kinda felt like a waste, you know?"

Weiss felt her cheeks glow a bit and silently willed them to stop. But it was just so nice to blush around him! She held her hands together a little tighter and restrained her urge to step a tiny bit closer to him. He was still sad right now.

I have to remember that...Jaune's still hurting.

"Well thank you," she said softly.

"Wait, you're really thanking me?" Jaune said, a little surprised. Weiss smiled and nodded, feeling a little out of character since she was always so cold and snappy around him.

"Of course I am!" she shot back, trying to sound scold-y, "What else am I doing? Trying to make you feel good about yourself? Never."

Jaune laughed and then shrugged.

"You're welcome, then," he replied. He sounded pretty sincere. However, even though the mood had lightened up quite a bit, his overall spirit still had a shadow over it. It made Weiss feel sad to see him like this.

"I hope you feel better soon," she said. Jaune looked over at her, slightly smirked, and then nodded.

"Thanks, Weiss," he said, "Your kindness right means a lot right now, especially coming from you."

"What's that suppose to mean?!" she snapped. Jaune laughed.

"You know what it means," he said. Weiss rolled her eyes, but smiled. The snow began falling harder, causing an occasional flake to fall onto their eyelashes or even their eyes themselves.

Weiss stood a little more rigidly, starting to shiver from the slightly lower temperature. Jaune didn't do anything but stare at the falling snow. His face still looked glum, sad, and empty.

"Hey..," Weiss began, but cut short. She wanted to tell him about her feelings for him; she really did. But was now even a good time? Yes. They were alone together, standing in snow, with no one listening. Jaune was sad and they had just shared a small moment together. Of course it was time...right?

"What is it?" he asked. He didn't look away from the snow as he answered her. Weiss inhaled a short breath and let it come out in a puff of white.

"Jaune," she said, "I-"

How is a good way to put this, exactly?

"I have something to tell you."

"Okay, well, I'm listening," Jaune replied. Weiss felt butterflies arousing in her stomach, ticking her with their nervous little wings. She fought the urge to abort her mission and swallowed.

"Jaune, I know this is going to be very, very random..," she said, close to fitfully, "And...uh, perhaps it isn't the best time in your life to tell you, but-"

"You like me," Jaune finished for her. His hands were in his pockets now, and he let out a long, slow breath into the frosty air with his eyes closed.

Weiss froze in shock for a brief moment before composing herself and clearing her throat.

Was it that obvious?! No, it couldn't have been! Ruby would never rat me out!

"Yes, yes I do," she said calmly. She felt her cheeks burning, despite her will against it. It was so embarrassing! How did Jaune know about this?

"Was it that obvious?" she asked. Jaune shrugged.

"Not really," he replied.

"Then how..?"

"I overheard you talking in your sleep."

Weiss' face went full-out tomato and her eyes widened as she was struck down with embarrassment and panic tenfold to what she'd felt a second ago. She talked in her sleep?! What kind of things did she say?! What did she say that informed Jaune of her feelings?!

Though she was inwardly withering and falling to the ground, she outwardly had red cheeks and was standing firmly in place with her eyes closed.

"And what did I say, exactly?" she asked.

"I should keep that part a secret," Jaune admitted, smiling softly at her. Weiss glared at him with her icy cold eyes.

"Jaune Arc, you tell me what I said this instant!" she ordered, keeping herself from actually shouting.

"You said, 'Jaune Acr, tell me what I said thi-" Jaune began jokingly.

"Not like that!" Weiss fumed. She gave up with a long sigh.

"Let's just drop that whole conversation," she said quietly. Jaune complied by saying nothing and continuing to stare into the snow. Weiss glanced at him, then tucked her hands into the corners of her folded elbows to warm them against the cold air.

After they stood there for about 15 minutes, literally just standing there, they both began to feel stiff and numb. The snow melted on their skin forming little wet spots, lower in temperature. Then the occasional breeze blew, it made it far worse.

"So...what do you think about it?" she asked, "About, well, knowing that..?"

Jaune shrugged. "I don't really know."

Weiss wanted to howl and yell at him for that vague, suspending answer. Was he annoyed? Angry? Happy? Hopeful? Well, hopeful probably wasn't in the equation, and happy didn't look like it was true.

"I guess I just stopped thinking about being together with someone," he said after Weiss didn't say anything, "As you're all pretty aware, I liked Ruby, but that's clearly not an option anymore. And after losing Pyrrha...well, yeah."

Weiss could hear the pain in his voice as he mentioned their old friend. It hurt to hear her name, but as the years had passed, it was getting a little easier to discuss it without to many negative emotions, at least for her, anyways.

"It's not like I don't appreciate that you feel that way," he continued, "I just can't return the feelings because, well, I like Ruby of course."

"I know that, dunce," Weiss muttered, "No one actually likes someone an instant after liking someone else." She glanced to the side and mumbled under breath, "Like someone I know..."

"Who, Neptune?" Jaune said. Weiss gave him a cold nod and he let out another small chuckle.

"Well, as I was saying," he resumed, "I'm not telling you I'm annoyed that you feel that way. I'm grateful, actually. I'm just not so sure I'm ready to do anything about that right now. Make sense?"

Weiss blinked.

"Well you've certainly changed since Beacon," she murmured in mock awe, "You would've instantly accepted a confession like this if it had been given to you sincerely two years ago."

Jaune shrugged again in agreement.

"Probably."

"So wait is what you're telling me?" Weiss said, deciding to wrap of this conversation. It was frigid out now and she wanted to go back inside. Jaune nodded.

"I guess so," he said, "Sorry if I sound really annoying by that."

"No, it's fine," Weiss assured him, "I'll be willing to wait. I don't expect anything from you about this, okay?" She held out her hand to him, keeping her other one tucked away for warmth. He smiled and took it, shaking it in agreement.

"Okay," he said, "Thank you for discussing this with me."

Weiss smiled. "You too."

Ruby slowly opened her eyes at the feeling of a large hand on her shoulder. In her partially swimming, bleary vision, she saw a bearded face looming inches from her face. It was a bit startling, and she jumped in her seat with a little "Eek!".

It was General Ironwood. His hand was on her shoulder, while his other remained folded formally behind his back. A gentle look was in his tired blue eyes, but it was also very sober.

"G-General Ironwood," she stuttered, trying to compose herself, "How d-did it g-go?" She felt her whole body shaking as she started remembering what was happening. The whole procedure was over now, probably, and she'd know if she had just lost Oscar forever or was going to be with him.

I shouldn't have agreed! We shouldn't have done it! Oh, why, why, why?!

"I'm afraid we aren't sure yet," he answered, "Both Jay and Oscar's bodies are currently unconscious, so we will have to wait to determine the results of the operation."

Ruby felt a massive ball of nervousness, even larger than the first, smash into her abdomen. She covered her mouth with her hand and tried so hard to suppress her upcoming gags, and somehow managed to somewhat do that. However, it was a very uncomfortable and slightly painful thing.

When she finished, a wave of weakness came over her again, and she thought she might pass out. Fortunately, this did not happen and she remained conscious, staring into Ironwood's concerned face.

"Ms. Rose," he asked, "Are you alright?"

She weakly nodded and felt tears welling up in her eyes. Her mind felt so mixed up at the moment, full of conflict, worry, nervousness, and chiefly fear, that her mood swings began to ride all of those emotions.

"You don't look it," he said. Ruby just shook her head and starting crying into her hands, as quietly as possible. Ironwood sighed and patted her back.

"I apologize for what you're experiencing right now," he said with a bit of sympathy, "I'll give you some time to see him once you're ready."

Ruby stopped crying and wiped her face, sniffing.

"W-where is he?" she choked.

"If you enter into the room where the procedure was performed, there is a door to the left where rehabilitation is held," he answered, "Inside they are resting and will remain there until they are aroused and well. You are welcome to go in whenever you are ready. If any of the wake up, please notify someone immediately."

Ruby nodded, swallowing a large sob of terror that threatened to pop out of her mouth for whatever reason her destroyed mind had come up with. The general gave her a nod of acknowledgment, put his hands fully behind his back, and then left the room.

Ruby slowly stood onto her wobbly legs, almost falling over from the weight of her bump, and half-staggered, half-walked to the door where the other room was. She opened it, relieved to find it unlocked now, and walked into it. It was empty, chilly and dim in there, with a few soft blue lights coming from some of the machinery.

A light could be seen coming out from a door on the left, and she hurried over to it. Carefully, she opened it, and entered into a much warmer carpeted room.

Two beds were there, spaced about four feet apart, with simple white sheets and pillows on them. The first one, closest to her, contained Jay, who's face held a slightly troubled sleeping expression. The sheets were covering his entire body up to his neck. The second bed had Oscar on it, or rather, his body.

The sight of him made more tears come down her cheeks, and she rushed over to him. She sat on the bed and began petting his brown hair, smiling brokenly at his peaceful, handsome face. Presuming him to be gone over and over in her head had made seeing him feel amazing. It was also heartbreaking.

"Oscar..," she sniffed, "Please...please wake up...please be you..!"

She cradled his head in her arms and set it in her lap as she continued stroking his hair and crying over him. She might as well do that while she didn't know if it was Ozpin or whoever in his body. That way, she could pretend it was Oscar, no matter how much doubt she harbored in her mind.

She did this for nearly half an hour until her tears stopped coming and she was basically staring at his face without blinking. Her movements were close to mechanical, and her eyes almost looked dead.

It's not him...it's not him...it's not him...he's gone...he's gone...he's gone...

Those thoughts circulated aimlessly through her brain without ceasing. They had been for nearly the last thirty minutes.

Suddenly, his head stirred in her lap. At first, she didn't notice it, but when a quiet groan came from his lips, she snapped out of her trance. She quickly pulled his head out of her lap and placed it back on the pillow, not wanting anyone else to be there. His eyes were more clamped shut now.

"Wh-who is it?" she asked nervously. Now was the moment she had been dreading. The moment her entire life's outcome would be determined. The moment where she would either feel immense joy or crushing depression and horror.

His eyes very, very slowly began to open.

Ruby's heart began to pound rapidly in her chest and her neck and face began to feel hot and sweaty. Immense amounts of stress began coursing through her, and she found herself breathing much harder.

His eyes, now completely open, locked with Ruby, and she held her breath.

"R...ub...y..?" his voice asked weakly. Ruby didn't know who was there. That Jay kid didn't know her name, so it certainly wasn't him. Ozpin called her 'Ms. Rose', but he had called her Ruby before. Oscar only called her Ruby, which meant it was either Ozpin or Oscar.

"It's you, isn't it," Ruby said flatly. She had given up her hopes completely now. It was too hard to really believe in what they had done to try helping the situation. She felt all the stress in her melt away to sorrow and gloom, even though she still didn't know for sure.

"Ruby..," he said with a bit more strength, "R-Ruby!"

Ruby looked over at him.

"Ozpin?" she asked, even though she had already decided who it was.

"Ozpin..," he murmured. Suddenly he came to the present and he fully awakened.

"Ozpin!" he exclaimed, "Are you there still?!"

Ruby felt a spike of excitement and surprise pump through her. She gave a short gasp, and her heart began pounding again.

After he sat there listening for a while, his face lit up and he took on a relieved, joyous face. He looked at Ruby with familiar eyes, and they began to glisten with joy-filled tears.

"Ruby..," he choked through overwhelming emotions, "Ruby, it worked. I-I..." His words broke off into a half-sob and he cleared his throat trying to make it go away. "It's me, Ruby. I'm here. I'm back."

The next thing they knew, they were clinging to each other, laughing, sobbing, and crying out in joy. Ruby was blurting out all kinds of sentences that mixed together with others and her crying, making them as indecipherable as possible. Oscar was doing the same, but repeating the same relieved words over and over again.

Then Ruby found herself kissing him, over and over again, and he the same.

Ironwood rushed into the room at the loud noises he could hear from the outside and stopped abruptly when he saw them. His eyes widened slightly and he looked down with the smallest hint of embarrassment, clearing his throat as professionally as possible.

"Ms. Rose," he called, "This implies that the procedure was a success on your end?"

Ruby and Oscar immediately stopped simultaneously when they heard his voice, and they quickly composed themselves. Ruby gave a tearful nod, bursting with happiness, and held herself back from kissing and hugging Oscar even more.

He's here! He's alive! We can get married and live together forever and ever in the future! The near future! Oh, thank goodness! Thank, thank goodness!

She found herself sobbing with joy again, and Oscar hugged her lovingly.

"I'm very glad to hear that," Ironwood said with a smile, "If you'll excuse me, I have some things to note about the outcome of our procedure. Part of this was for a study as well, as I've explained."

"Ruby!" Oscar said eagerly after Ironwood had left the room, "I'm not going to be leaving! I'll be here for, well...forever! Well, until I die, of course, but yeah!"

Ruby laughed loudly. She hadn't heard him say, 'but yeah', since he'd been 14. Now he was older, handsomer, and she didn't feel so awkwardly about the fact that he used to be younger than her. Two years really wasn't a big deal, but a 14 year old? Nah.

After nearly an hour of rejoicing, kissing, hugging, and soaking in the new reality that had been given to them, Oscar was forced to retire back to sleep. The entire operation had been quite a strain on his body, so sleep was demanded by it.

Ruby didn't mind at all. She couldn't wait to dive into her new life with him. Just the very recollection of the fact that such things were coming was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

She did have one worry though. Not everyone in the group had seemed very worried about Oscar's risks of surviving as himself, other than Nora and Qrow. But even Qrow's evident worry didn't seem centralized on Oscar, but more hinted towards Ozpin.

This could result in continued grudges towards Oscar, even if they had forgiven him.

Yang was still showing plenty of signs of anger. Blake had been talking to Ruby less. Weiss and Ren were both doing relatively fine, but still weren't quite the same. Nora seemed perfectly fine about it, which was very comforting, but everyone else's general air wasn't very nice, even if it wasn't blatantly aggressive.

"I should stop worrying," she sighed, leaning back in the chair, "I have Oscar now, and that's all I need to be happy."

She smiled softly at him and closed her eyes once more, drifting off into a state of half-consciousness and bliss.

Yatta! The procedure has been successful and now Oscar is fully himself for all they can see. Ruby can now settled down with him once she becomes a legal adult, and they can live a peaceful life together, so long as the rest of the group can accomplish a peaceful world again.

But perhaps Ruby is right; maybe the group still isn't as forgiving as they have been seeming to act for a while...

A special and massive thanks to ArthurSG for so helpfully beta reading this chapter! He catches things I easily miss hahaha.

Thanks for reading and tune in for more chapters!