Here's chapter 3, everyone.
"Wakey, wakey." Summer said, poking Willow on the forehead, earning a groan from the white haired woman. "Don't get all groany on me, Willow. You said one hour, and this alarm clock doesn't have a snooze button."
"Ugh, you are such a dolt sometimes." Willow rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking over at the window. "Still early enough to get things prepared for her."
Summer chuckled and helped her out of bed. "I can't wait to hear her reaction then." She offered her a cup of coffee. "Want some?"
"I prefer tea… But this will do." Willow smiled and accepted the cup, taking a sip and finding it to be as good as she knew it would be. "A blacksmith and an excellent coffee maker. Tai is a lucky man."
"Praising me won't get you all the points in the world," Summer smirked. "But it will get you enough to make me work on this project that much faster."
Willow was thankful she had Summer as a friend, but not just because she could make a good cup of coffee and amazing weapons. It was the same kind of support Klein showed her. Willow was going to need all the support she could get. "Well I wonder what's the threshold on how many points I can earn with you." Willow chuckled as the two women walked down the stairs.
"Hmm, I'll let you know when you hit it." Summer winked and walked over to the roundtable they had sat at before. "Anyways, what's the plan for today? Besides what I know already of course."
Willow sighed and took a seat at the table, placing her cup of coffee down as she heard Summer pull up a chair of her own to sit down on. "I'd like to bring her out to the garden first. She always loves being outside and the flowers Klein has helped me grow always puts a smile on her face."
Summer couldn't hold back the smile as she thought of Willow bringing her youngest daughter out into the garden. "Fresh air and the scent of flowers. A nice start, no, a great start."
"Thank you." Willow happily took another sip of her coffee. "I know she also enjoys playing knight. I'm sure she's already dragged her sister into playing with her even now."
"Hehe. Trust me. I know what that's like. I was in a video call with Tai the other day and saw Yang playing with Ruby in the background." Summer sighed at the memory.
"Kids will be kids," Willow stated as she closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about what Weiss and Winter would be like when they got older. "I hope they still share that sisterly bond when they're older." Summer could tell she was worried from the tone in her voice and how she looked when she opened her eyes.
"Hey, come on. Don't think they won't." Summer scooted the chair closer to Willow's and threw her arm around the white haired woman. "Nothing can break a bond that's strong. Especially when they have a loving mother to keep them happy."
Willow let out a tiny laugh. "I can't tell if you're trying to earn points with me now."
Summer grinned in response. "Maybe I am, or maybe I'm being honest about how amazing of a mother you are." She said in a softer tone. "Come on. Tell me more about what you wanna do for her birthday."
"I would love to." Willow smiled and continued to tell her friend about her plans.
"Done!" Weiss exclaimed as she and her older sister finished cleaning up their room. "Now you have to buy me that dress!" She cheered happily.
Winter walked over and poked her on the nose, earning a giggle from her little sister. "I did make a promise that I would, and a Schnee never breaks a promise." She smiled and took a breath. "Happy birthday, Weiss. I love you."
Weiss jumped at her sister, Winter quickly catching her and keeping her balance. "I love you too!"
Her sister's happiness was one of the few things that made Winter truly smile. Her father however was one of the biggest reasons why it was hard for her to smile more often. "A little bit excited there, huh, sis?"
"Uh huh!" Weiss looked up at Winter with a bright smile on her face. "Mama said she wants today to be just as special as when you turned eight."
"I do remember that day. You were only one." Winter chuckled and ruffled Weiss' hair, earning another pout. "But honestly, it isn't about turning eight. You know mother always makes sure that our birthdays are special."
Weiss knew she was right, so she snuggled up on Winter. "Do you think daddy will be able to make it this time?"
Winter felt a pang in her heart, knowing that the year before, Weiss was upset about their dad not making it to her birthday because of, as he put it, business reasons. "I-I'm sure he can this time." She didn't know what else to tell her at that point.
"O-Okay." Weiss wasn't convinced, but she didn't want to whine about it, so she pulled away and smiled up at her sister. "Can we have breakfast? I'm hungry."
Winter knew deep down that Weiss was a little sad about their dad being so distant, so instead of pushing her about it, she simply nodded and put on a smile of her own, taking her little sister's hand. "Of course we can. Let's find Klein."
Weiss had a real smile on at that point, since Klein was always good at cheering her up, since he was more like a father to her than Jacques. "I hope we can have blueberry pancakes this time!"
With a chuckle, Winter walked her sister out of their room. "You know you just have to ask. You are the birthday girl after all." She saw Weiss' grin and knew she was going to be okay, even if their father wasn't there at the time.
"I'll say this, Weiss is gonna be really happy with how you have this day planned." Summer noted, getting up after hearing Willow's ideas. "So, you wanna do something before heading out?"
Willow shook her head. "I would usually stay a bit longer, but I think that hour of sleep was enough time away from my children. I know how Weiss gets when I'm away from home for long." She got up and took her bag from the table. "So do you think you'll be able to make it later?"
"You know I will." Summer assured, walking over and giving the woman a hug. "And hey, if that ass of a husband of yours causes any trouble, don't be afraid to call me. I'll go over and kick his butt."
The laugh she tried to suppress slipped through and Willow smiled, patting Summer's back a few times. "I'll be sure to, Summer… And thank you." She loved the image of Summer literally kicking Jacques in the butt.
Summer pulled away from the hug, sighing to herself. "Seeing you really does help me feel better too, Willow." She admitted. "You helped me see what I need to do for my own family."
"Stop. You know that I had nothing to do with how you feel about your family. You continue to praise me for being a good mother, but I too will continue to remind you over and over again that you're an amazing mother too." Willow looked at her scroll and noticed the time. "Shoot, I was hoping it was a little bit under thirty passed. I need to get home."
"Go on. I'll catch up with you later, Willow." Summer put her goggles back on and waved her off as the white haired woman quickly left the workshop, waving back to the blacksmith as she left. Said blacksmith smiled and pulled out a picture. "I'll see you all soon. I promise." She put the photo of her, her husband and their two kids they loved very much back in her pocket.
"Klein, I'll be home in about five minutes. How are the kids doing?" Willow asked over the scroll.
The butler looked over and saw the sisters eating their blueberry pancakes, so he chuckled in joy at the sight. "They're just eating breakfast. How was your little trip to Mrs. Rose?"
"Helpful. Very, very helpful." Willow admitted. "I only wish she'd have just let me know the address instead of giving me such odd directions."
"With Mrs. Rose, I can't say I'm that surprised." Klein kept his voice down. "Did she say if she'll be able to make you know what?"
"One week, two at the most, but with her abilities, I know she'll get it done in under a week." Willow answered, but the butler heard her sigh. "Is Jacques home?"
"I… Don't believe so, Ma'am. I'm sorry." Klein knew Willow didn't care too much if Jacques was home for her, but more so for Weiss. "I'm sure he'll return soon however."
Willow was at a stoplight, so she shook her head disappointingly. "Of course he isn't there…" Klein waited on her to continue. "If you can, make sure Weiss doesn't see me until I'm ready. So have her in her room by the time I get there."
"Understood, Ma'am. In fact," He looked over and saw Weiss was finishing off the last piece of her pancake. "She just finished eating. I'll have her and Miss Winter back upstairs in just a moment."
"Thank you, Klein." Willow drove forward, seeing the manor in the distance. "I'm just about here, so go on and get them ready." She ended the call and Klein put his scroll away.
"Yum! Klein they were so delicious!" Weiss praised the butler's pancakes. "Who were you talking to?"
Klein found it funny how nosy the younger sister was, so he chuckled and walked over, moving hers and Winter's plates to the sink. "It's nothing you need to worry about, Miss Weiss. Come now," He looked to Winter, winking at her to show that it was time. Winter nodded back. "You two need to get back to your room."
"Awwww, but why?" Weiss whined and yelped when her sister coughed to remind her of what whining would get her. "Ugh, fine, but can we watch something? Winter won't let me play knight again because we'll make a mess."
Klein chuckled and took Weiss' hand when she got off of her chair. "I don't think you'll need to spend time on cartoons, Miss Weiss. It is your birthday after all, so promise me you'll be patient and wait in your room."
Weiss groaned, but she nodded in response. "Okay, but why can't we watch cartoons?"
Winter spoke up. "Because I have a much more fun idea on what we can do, little sister. You just need to do what Klein said and be a little patient. Trust me."
The younger Schnee sister didn't want to argue anymore and stayed quiet on the way to their room. As they had walked up the stairs, Willow had parked her car, sighing to herself as she stepped out with the bag in hand. She looked around and noticed her husband's car wasn't around.
"Klein was right. His car isn't here…"
Willow clenched her fist in anger, but she calmed herself down since she didn't want to ruin Weiss' day. "I only hope he didn't take Whitley with him."
Their son was only four, but he was still taken on business trips with his father, against his mother's wishes. Jacques however would always counter with bringing up how he allowed her to keep Weiss, so Willow felt powerless in that regard. Even so, she still loved her son and wanted what was best for him in the end.
As she walked to the door, she placed her finger on the scanner, rolling her eyes at how she had to do that each time. "I need to get this stupid thing out of here." As she pushed the door open when the light went green on the scanner, she looked around and saw a few servants stopping to bow, but she held her hand up. "Please, return to work. Jacques isn't here right now."
They knew how Mrs. Schnee felt about them bowing, but they were too afraid of being caught now bowing to her by Jacques. A few of them apologized and went back to working, while Willow walked up the stairs, wanting to go to Weiss first, but her worry kicked in and she made a quick detour to Whitley's room.
"Please be there."
When she got to his room, she gently pushed the door open and sighed in relief when she saw her son sleeping in bed. "Oh thank goodness… You can be here for your sister's birthday." She held her hand to her heart and smiled.
She slowly closed the door, turning back as she made her way to Weiss' room. "Winter! Can we please do something while we wait? Pretty please?" Willow could hear her youngest daughter begging to play, so she chuckled quietly.
Willow then heard Winter speak up. "Nope. Just wait a little bit longer, Weiss."
Before Weiss could respond, Willow felt it was time to walk in, so when she did, Weiss gasped and ran over. "Mama!" She hugged Willow's leg and looked up. "You're home!"
Willow leaned her hand down and rubbed Weiss' head. "Yes I am, sweetie. I heard that you were a little bored."
Weiss pouted a bit, wishing her mom didn't hear her whine. "Only because Winter wouldn't let me play knight."
"Well now you don't have to because today is all about you, snowflake." Willow put the bag down and picked her youngest daughter up, making her giggle in response as Klein walked over and picked up the bag for Willow.
"Hehe! Where did you go to, mama?" Weiss asked, still small enough to be held by her mom.
"How about we go outside so you can see?" Willow suggested and Weiss nodded happily, so the white haired woman walked out of the room, with Klein and Winter following behind them.
Once they got outside, Willow set Weiss down and walked her over to the flowers. "Snowflake, these are the flowers that you helped mommy with a few weeks ago. Remember?"
Weiss gasped and looked down at the blue and white colored flowers. "I didn't know they were fully grown, mama! Oh they're so pretty! Winter come look!" She exclaimed to her older sister.
Willow watched as her eldest child walked over, kneeling next to Weiss. "They really are, and they're so pretty because you helped grow them, little sister." Weiss grinned happily and the two sisters went back and forth about the flowers, while Willow sighed happily.
Klein placed the bag next to her after though, placing his hand on her shoulder as he whispered. "Whatever else you got her, I know she'll love it, Ma'am."
It was all she wanted, for Weiss to be happy, so she hoped that Klein was right. "Thank you, Klein." Her eyes didn't leave the sight of her daughters bonding over the flowers. It brought a tear to her eye though, since she thought about Lazuria.
"I wish you were here for this, but I know why you can't be."
Willow spent the next few hours with her daughters, even asking Klein to make the birthday girl a few cupcakes when they would spend time watching Weiss' favorite cartoons. Winter didn't find them as entertaining, but she would stay and watch since it meant her sister would get to enjoy spending time with her family.
"Hehe!" Weiss' laughter at a scene from the cartoon the three were watching made Willow so happy, pulling her daughter on her lap. "Mama?" She was a little surprised at being seated on her mom's lap.
"Just thought you'd be a bit comfier here, snowflake." Willow smiled and rubbed her head a few times. "Winter, I wanted to ask, how are your studies?" The mother, while doing her best to give Weiss a happy birthday, didn't want to neglect her other daughter.
"Really well. I've looked into more studies on Atlas' history and the military side of things." Winter answered. "It's interesting to hear what goes on there."
Willow was able to understand where she was coming from since James Ironwood, the current General for the Atlas Military would show up from time to time to speak with Jacques. "Is that so? A possible idea for what you'd like to do in the future?"
"Hmm, maybe. I'll see." Winter said, but before she could say something else, Weiss laughed again when she saw another funny scene in the cartoon.
The white haired mother smiled and kissed the top of her daughter's head, happy that she was able to connect with her daughters so well.
Summer is fun to write, since at this point of writing this, we still don't know how she acts in canon, so this is how I feel she would be. Kinda just having a good time, but trust me, she can and will get serious in future chapters.
To JJ- Writing a happy Schnee family is just how I like it, so I'm glad you're enjoying it too. And yeah, I am loving writing Willow and Summer interactions in this story. It's fun.
To the guest on chapter 2- Yeah I have a lot of chapters written out to keep these posted every other day. And it's not that I'm burnt out on Memories. I just needed to write something that got me back in the writing mood. And this story is it.
I hoped you all enjoyed chapter 3. Remember, reviews are welcomed, but not required. See you all in chapter 4.