Weiss took in a sharp breath, she stood there in front of his room. It was past dinnertime and the awkwardness between them had simply reached a peak. Even Megumi took note of it and he always made a very strong effort to stay out of anyone's business.

And when even Ren pointed out that whatever was going on between them needed to be resolved, that was a clear sign to Weiss that she had let this go on for far too long. She handed Kara over to Ren and Nora, considering the latter was good in entertaining children, being a big child herself.

And so here stood Weiss in front of the door to Jaune's room, her emotions running high but nonetheless she persisted and knocked on his door. After a few seconds Jaune opened it and stood in the doorway.

"Oh…hey…" he said nervously and awkwardly.

Weiss looked at him thoroughly, he certainly had changed a lot since their days at Beacon. Becoming stronger, becoming a better man, more muscled and even now a beard was starting to grow. Fatherhood had also changed him a lot, he become more responsible and less immature.

"Jaune…we need to talk. Like really talk" Weiss pointed out.

Jaune silently nodded, he knew they had to. They had been dancing around the issue for far too long. So reluctant as he was he still led her inside the room. Weiss proceeded to move over to the bed and sit down on it, with Jaune joining shortly after.

"So uhm…I honestly don't know where to start" Jaune admitted. Weiss chuckled "well that's nothing new" she joked, earning a small laugh from them both. But as they settled down Weiss took in another huge breath and began to speak.

"Jaune…what happened when we first got here. I don't know what came over me, everything just happened so fast. And then everything with Kara…don't get me wrong, I adore her and I don't regret taking the role as her mother but it's just…you and me…I don't know what we are. We are putting up a play, a performance for her sake and I don't know what we are to each other."

The confession was a long time coming. Weiss had been struggling with these feelings for so much longer, in particular her encounter with her other self was the reason these feelings where spurning inside her to begin with.

"I understand Weiss. I'm not exactly sure what we are either, but I am so thankful what you are doing for Kara. It truly means the world to me" Jaune replied.

They looked at each other once more, their eyes locking with each other. A brilliant shade of blue was mixing as they leaned in closer. Almost as if an invisible force pushed them together, like the universe made them do it.

And just before their lips reached each other, Weiss backed out and stood up, her face bright red.

"No we can't do this Jaune! How can I know what we feel is even real!"

Jaune looked completely confused "what are you talking about Weiss, of course what we feel is real. It's been real to me for years."

"NO!" Weiss yelled out as she began to weep, wiping away the starting tears with the sleeve of her dress "how can you know that. This thing between us, how can we know it's just not some multiversal mechanism at place!"

"I…I don't understand…" Jaune muttered.

"You don't recall what Thanos said! The reason why the other me is obsessed with you to the point of wanting to kill me! Across the entirety of the multiverse every version of us is meant to be together! It happened to other me and you saw what happened to her when she lost her Jaune. What if that happens here, what if something happens to me! What will happen to you! How can we be sure that these feelings that we know are there are real and not just some cosmic law that's been dictated across all known worlds!"

Weiss was barely holding back the tears, her head in her hands, unwilling to look the man across from her in the eyes. Jaune slowly moved forward and wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her close.

"I don't know either Weiss, but we will figure this out and I won't leave your side. I will always be there. I….I love you.."

Weiss's eyes met his, her eyes red from the tears.

"I don't know whether this is by cosmic design or not and I don't care. Because I know what I feel…I love you Weiss Schnee, I have loved you from the moment I met you…"

The frozen tundra was nothing if not a harsh land to traverse, but luckily for Ruby her beloved Crescent Rose which she had modified to be turned into a snow board was great at traversing the land. Her masked companion was following her with equal speed as they reached the end of the mountain.

Landing on the ground with a thud the pair overlooked the frozen land, in the distance, clear as day seemed like a giant fortress made out of ice.

Grabbing a pair of binoculars from her bag, the girl looked through them before stating "Yeah I think we are close aunt Ruby. Come on let's move."

But Ruby didn't move, instead she stayed there standing in uncertainty. The girl immediately took notice and returned and walked up to her "come on aunt Ruby we don't have all day we have to get a move on."

"What's going on with you? You're bossier than usual" Ruby suddenly asked. The girl was caught off guard and took a step back.

"You call me out of nowhere saying you need my help. That you've had a breakthrough in your mission and you could use someone you could trust. And I'm happy to help you but you need to tell me what's going on. Come on we're family you know you can tell me anything?" Ruby pleaded with her.

The girl sighed as she turned back to overlook the frozen landscape.

"I found her…"

Ruby's silver eyes widened "you mean….is that why….where is she?"

"In Vecna's realm….it's like she's in some form of suspended animation. I can't exactly tell what's going on but…this is the first lead I've had in years."

"That dagger lets you travel everywhere. Why not go in there and get her out?" Ruby asked.

"Look for all I know that place is keeping her alive. Just taking her out would cause unforeseen consequences, plus knowing Vecna and how territorial he is, I have no doubt he has the place observed twenty four seven. The first time I got in undetected I got lucky…I don't know if I will be that again."

Ruby sighed. This girl was determined and defiant to the end, it reminded her of a certain someone.

"Look," Ruby said as she moved forward and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder "we'll rescue her. I failed to do so years ago but together we can make that right. I'm going to help you."

The girl slowly removed the coverings across her face, revealing her bright blue eyes and shining platinum blonde hair still put into a ponytail. The two smiled at each other fully.

"I hope I'm not interrupting" a soothing voice suddenly spoke.

Ruby and the girl suddenly turned and looked at the origin of the sound. A small icy rock formation they where standing in front off and a sinister looking lion with a scar on its face looking down on them with a grin.