Her eyes opened slowly, the world coming into focus. Light was streaming through her window, illuminating the blues and whites of her room. Weiss blinked, craning her head. She blinked again, confused. Her mother was slumped on the ground near her, her hair obscuring her face, her form rising and falling gently with each breath.

Weiss sat up, hissing, her hand going to her stomach. She looked down, her cerulean dress was drenched in blood, a hole visible when she raised her hand. Weiss looked at the floor, swallowing as she stared at the blood stains around her, the knife resting several feet away from her.

"Oh thank Dust, you're okay." Weiss looked behind her, Mirror was watching her, smiling, her eyes watering. "Dust damn it, Weiss. Don't scare me like that." She said. Weiss looked over at the knife. "Weiss?" There was a tinge of terror in Mirror's words.

"Why am I alive?" Weiss whispered.

Her mother grunted in her sleep, and Weiss looked back at her. She cocked her head; there were blood stains on her. Weiss staggered to her feet, clutching her stomach, going to her mother's side. She got to her knees, hesitated, and gently shook her mother's shoulder.

Her mother's eyes opened, a mixture of emotions in the icy blue as she looked at Weiss. Weiss gasped in surprise as her mother bolted upright, latching onto her, wrapping her arms around her, nuzzling her face against hers.

"Oh thank Dust, Weiss." She felt her mother tremble, her voice thick with emotion. "Weiss." Her mother's grip tightened. "My little baby girl."

Weiss stared ahead, unable to return the hug.

"Mother? Why…" She felt her mother clutch her tighter. Weiss' vision grew fuzzy.

why didn't you let me die

Willow couldn't breathe, her body feeling numb, her body trembling as she stared at her daughter. Blood stained her dress, a knife lay next to her, blood running from her lips as her empty eyes stared at her, unblinking.

T-this isn't real, this can't be real

m-my Weiss

no, no, no, No, No, NO!

"WEISS!" Willow ran to her, scooping her into her arms, eyes darting around as she frantically looked for the source of the bleeding. Weiss' head rolled limply, her chest raising and falling slightly, her breathing slow and labored. There. Willow put her hand over the stab wound in her abdomen, applying pressure, grimacing as the blood soaked into her hand.

Dust, please.

Willow closed her eyes, straining. She heard the glyph materialize beneath her, and opened her eyes. It glowed a bright green, the caduceus spinning. Willow grit her teeth, the glyph spinning slowly, flickering, a light blue glow beginning to emanate from Weiss. Sweat began to drip down her face, struggling to keep Weiss in her arms, her strength being sapped away. Willow's breath hitched as the glyph started to slow, the blue light around Weiss flickering, fading.

You can't have her

Willow squeezed her eyes shut, forcing every ounce of her strength, every fiber of her soul into the glyph. She gnashed her teeth, the sweat coating her, her body feeling like lead.

I already lost Winter

A green light glowed bright beneath her, harsh even with her eyes squeezed shut.

I can't lose Weiss!

She felt her aura draining, the green glow shining brighter. She opened her eyes, the glyph spinning faster and faster, the blue light around Weiss growing brighter and brighter, nearly blinding her. She felt the blood stop flowing between her fingers, the flesh knitting itself together beneath her fingertips. She couldn't smile, every muscle screaming in pain. She kept the glyph going, her arms shaking as she held Weiss. Color slowly returned to Weiss' face, going from a deathly white to her usual pale cream complexion. Her breathing started to become more even, less labored. Weiss' eyes closed, a murmur coming from her lips.

Willow let out a cry as the glyph shattered, Weiss falling from her arms. Willow slumped to the ground, struggling to breath, unable to move, her vision hazy. She stared at her daughter's peaceful face as her vision darkened.

please… be… enough

Weiss felt the tears slide down her cheeks as her mother hugged her.

"Why?" Willow asked. Weiss couldn't answer, and looked down at the floor. "Why did you…?" Weiss sniffed, her voice shaky.

"I…I didn't think you would care." Willow started to stroke her hair.

"I meant what I said. You're my daughter, Weiss. I love you, no matter what." Weiss trembled, her mother continuing to hold her and stroke her hair.

"Why?" Weiss hiccupped, closing her eyes as the tears fell. "Why weren't you there for me?" She started to sob, her trembling worsening. "Why didn't you stop Father? Why did you tell him to stay quiet when he, when he-" She wrapped her arms around her mother, sobbing into her shoulder. Her mother stroked her hair as she sobbed.

"I was weak." Willow said. "I wanted to get away. I wanted to escape your father, I wanted to escape knowing what he did to you." Willow sniffed, resting her head on Weiss' shoulder. "I can never forgive myself for the things I did when you and Winter, and Whitey were younger; I wanted him to be quiet when he… when he… I didn't want to hear you in pain, I didn't want to picture it, I just wanted to go somewhere else, I wanted to forget what my life had become." Weiss' shoulder felt wet, her mother beginning to tremble. "I'm the worst mother on Remnant. I-I couldn't see what my children were going through; what type of mother can't see that her daughter is suffering?" Willow's voice broke. "That scar over your eye, that's not the only one, is it?" Weiss shook her head, and Willow hiccupped.

Willow clutched her closer, both of them trembling as they sobbed into each other's shoulders.

"I'm so sorry, Weiss." Willow said. "I don't deserve a daughter like you. You're so kind, and talented; you deserve the world, not all of this." Weiss sniffed, opening her eyes, her vision blurred by tears.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Weiss?"

"You said you love me no matter what, right?" Willow nodded. Weiss took a breath. "When I was at Beacon, I met a girl. We didn't really get along at first but she…" Weiss sniffed. "I love her, mom."

Willow untangled herself from their hug, holding onto Weiss' shoulder's, looking into her eyes. Her mother's eyes were puffed up and red, tears still running down her face. Willow brushed a stray bang off of Weiss' face, and smiled at her.

"And that's okay, Weiss. I don't care. I just want you to be happy."

Weiss felt fresh tears welling, and let out a choked cry as she embraced her mother. They stayed like that for what felt like eternity; cradling each other, crying. Willow was the first to break the embrace. She smiled at Weiss, sniffing.

"You must be starving. Do you want me to go make you something?" Willow asked. Weiss nodded, ravenous hunger hitting her, her throat dry. "Okay. I'm going to be right back, okay?" Weiss nodded.

Willow got to her feet, pausing next to the knife and picking it up. She went to the door, opened it, and looked back at Weiss before leaving.

"I love you, Weiss. Don't forget that," she said. The door clicked shut and Weiss sighed, looking over the blood on the floor. She staggered to her feet, clutching the railing of her bed as dizziness hit her, her head pounding. Mirror smiled at her, narrowing her eyes.

"Well that was sweet, wasn't it? If only mother had been like this-"

"Shut up," Weiss said, snarling. Mirror cocked an eyebrow, shocked. Mirror shrugged, and her reflection returned to normal. Weiss sighed in relief. She looked down at herself, grimacing at the blood staining her body. She looked over at her bedroom door; a shower might not be too bad right about now.

Willow exhaled as she entered the kitchen, glad the maids and butlers weren't around. She tossed the blood stained knife into the nearest trash bin, glad it was out of her sight. She played with her hands as she looked around the kitchen; the refrigerators, cabinet, stoves, and ovens. What did Weiss like to eat? Let's see…uh… Willow grimaced, realizing she had no idea what her children liked to eat.

When Weiss was younger she liked to eat….

Willow groaned, her memories of Weiss' childhood fuzzy. She had lost so much time with them.

She went to the fridge, looking over the various ingredients and packaged foods. She grabbed a blueberry yogurt; Weiss wore blue a lot, she must like blueberries, right? She looked at the other foods, her stomach rumbling. She paused as she looked at the meat patties used to make schnitzel, salivating. Atlesean's loved schnitzel, and it had been her favorite food when she had been Weiss' age, so Weiss should like that, right? She scanned the fridge, grabbing the purple jar off to the side; red cabbage was never a bad option.

She set the food on the counter, getting to work on making the schnitzel.

Willow

Willow ignored the voice in the back of her head, coating the meat in flour.

Aren't you thirsty?

She dipped it in eggs, and then in the bread crumbs, ignoring how dry her throat was.

You've gone through a lot, wouldn't you like to forget what you saw?

She set the patties in the oil, hearing them pop and sizzle. She swallowed, looking back at the door on the other side of the kitchen; the way to the wine cellar.

That's right, Willow. One little drink won't hurt you.

She looked back at the schnitzel as it fried; it needed a few minutes to cook anyways. She riffled through the cabinets next to the stove, and pulled out a corkscrew. She turned away from the stove, walking over to the wine cellar door. She took a deep breath, and opened it.

She climbed down the steps, looking at the multitude of wine bottles filling the walls. She grabbed one off the rack, inspecting it; Mistralian Red, thirty five years. Not bad. She pulled the cork out, staring down into the bottle, watching the wine.

Just a sip, one little drop.

She brought the bottle to her lips, hesitating, unable to lift the bottle enough to drink.

The terror in Winter's eyes, the disappointment in Whitley's.

The glazed over stare from Weiss as she lay dying.

Willow brought the bottle down, staring at it, shaking her head.

Willow, you NEED this. It's just one drink, Weiss will understand. They'll all understand. You've gone through so much, it's what makes it easier.

Willow scowled, tightening her grip on the bottle. She threw it onto the ground, the glass shattering, wine spraying onto her skirt.

"It shouldn't be easier," Willow said.

The water was warm as it ran down her body. She sat under the showerhead, her knees pressed against her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs, her chin resting on her knees. The water dripped down her face as she stared at the blue tile of the shower floor. She unwrapped her arms, her hand going to the scar on her stomach, tracing her finger over it, a jolt going up her back.

Weiss sighed, wrapping her arm back around her legs. Her hair clung to her back, and the ends of it danced in the pooled water as the shower continued to beat down on her.

i'm sorry

Willow nudged Weiss' door open, relief washing through her when she saw Weiss sitting in one of her chairs, watching something on her scroll. She was in her pajamas, ear buds on. Her hair was damp.

Willow set the tray of food down on the table, and took the other chair. Weiss pulled her ear buds out, collapsing her scroll, looking at the food. Nerves ate at Willow's stomach as Weiss looked at the food. Weiss turned to her.

"You made all of this?" Weiss asked. Willow nodded. Weiss grabbed the plate with the blueberry yogurt, smiling. "It looks delicious." Willow smiled, her nerves easing. She grabbed her own plate, starting to eat. She stifled a giggle as Weiss tore into the food, swallowing it down ravenously, all attempts at manors foregone.

Weiss finished her meal first, setting the plate back onto the try, daintily wiping at her lips with her napkin. Willow set her unfished plate back onto the tray.

"What were you watching?" Willow asked.

"Hm? Oh. It was just a musical." Weiss said. Willow cocked her head to the side.

"Do you like musicals?" Willow asked. Weiss nodded. "The girl you met, does she like them?" she asked.

"She's more into books."

"I see." Willow played with her hands. "What's her name? Was she a part of your team?" Weiss nodded.

"Her name was Blake. She and I made up Team RWBY, along with Ruby and Yang; they're a pair of sister's I met while over there." Willow nodded. RWBY, huh. A fine team name. Willow gave her daughter a smile.

"I think I would like to hear a bit more about this team you were in. If that's okay?"

Weiss smiled, and nodded.

I cried so many times working on Heavy and this chapter :"D