Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.

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Saturday

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Saturday morning begins with storm clouds in Ruby's mind, if not yet the sky.

After a long night with little sleep and less hope, Jaune wakes Ruby up as sunny and optimistic as his stupidly bright blond hair. Grouchy grogginess aside, Ruby wakes up feeling hopeless, and Jaune is convinced it's not. Jaune is determined to use the last full day of the trip to bring Ruby and Envy together over the course of the festival. Envy is resistant, insisting that Jaune promised to spend time with her at the festival, but Jaune uses Ruby's rescue from yesterday as the justification to bring her along and force them to spend time together.

Ruby's experience is like her mood is like the clouds in the sky- not particularly pleasant. Ruby is exhausted just shy of crabby, Envy is passive-aggressive, and Jaune is hovering like a third wheel trying to make them get along. Every time he steps away in hopes that they'll bond over this attraction or that activity, Envy does something immature. Every time Jaune returns, Envy pulls her two-face nice-girl act as she blatantly and sweetly tries to monopolize Jaune's attention. Ruby and Envy's bonding goes about as well as the fair, where everything is shutting down early in preparation for the incoming storm front.

Ruby's tired of this shit, and against her better judgement starts replying in kind- romantic gestures with Jaune, or equally snippy retorts. It's blatantly petty, Jaune doesn't approve, and Envy's subtle sneer indicates it's a successful provocation as Ruby realizes her efforts are backfiring.

Envy prods one time too many, and Ruby's reaction gets Jaune upset- at her. Taking Ruby outside, Jaune and Ruby have a whispering spat- Jaune is incredulous that Ruby is acting so petty or immature, and Ruby is angry that Jaune is taking the side of a spoiled brat. Calling her that sparks the same sort knee-jerk response as when she said Avarice didn't love her husband. Jaune has a flash of anger directed at her. Even though he's able to admit that Envy has been spoiled rotten, she's still his sister and always will be, while Ruby is-

While Ruby is what? Just his temporary girlfriend?

It's a word too much, a step too far, and they both freeze at Ruby's outburst. For Ruby, it's the culmination of her fears- that her place isn't as secure, isn't as permanent, as his family's. It hurts, and it must show, because Jaune composes himself and apologizes to her on the spot.

He wants them to get along. He wants his family to get along with Ruby, and Ruby to get along with them. Even if Envy is making that difficult. Ruby accepts his apology, claiming they're both tired and worn by this trip, but she doesn't really believe it holds for both of them. Jaune decides to step out and cool off, and asks Ruby to give one more chance to Envy. For him.

Ruby does give it one more try, for Jaune, and it lasts about as long as it takes Envy to sneer and ask about trouble in paradise. Envy couldn't hear, but she saw the exchange, and it doesn't take much to realize that there's been a fight. Envy gloats of the imminent break up of Lancaster, and spitefully brings up the Top Ten. Ruby is just number nine- Ten if you include Dad- while Envy is Jaune's number one. It was inevitable that Ruby would lose.

Ruby says fuck it, if her ship is sinking, it might as well be with guns blazing.

Ruby and Envy have their long-pending fight. Ruby, stressed all week long, finally snaps and calls Envy a selfish brat even as she concedes defeat. Ruby doesn't refute some things- that the Arcs will put family first, that Envy is his favorite sister to indulge- but she shoots back that those things don't mean that she and Jaune didn't have something, have a chance at something, good.

Ruby's made every good-faith effort, and then some, to get to know and be accepted by all of Jaune's family. She did it for him, in the sense of wanting to secure their relationship, and she did it for him, because Jaune so obviously cares about them. And even if this trip doesn't work out, she doesn't regret it. Having gotten to know them, she can see why Jaune cares about his sisters. They care for him. Even the ones who had doubts about him, or Ruby, or both- they cared about what he did or how he was or his future.

But not Envy. Envy's just a stuck up jealous brat who doesn't care about what she's going to do to Jaune, because she can't accept Jaune loves Ruby. Maybe not as much- maybe not the top of the Top Ten- but he cares for her in a way he never can and never will love Envy. Envy and Leandra can disapprove and denounce Ruby- they can shoot down the relationship- but what they're really going to do is break Jaune's heart when they veto his relationship. Or rather, when she ends the relationship. Unlike Envy, she has no intention of making Jaune choose between his family or her, even if it means she'll have to break his heart herself.

WFT? Don't I get a say in that?

That's Jaune, who's returned to find his relationship apparently under threat. Jaune is alarmed and upset. He knew Ruby was working hard to get the support of his family, but this is the first time he's heard of any veto angle. Jaune is angry- and for the first time since the first night, angry in Ruby's favor as he demands answers.

Answers Ruby is too happy to give, and Envy is too wide-eyed and alarmed at her angry brother to spin them off. Ruby explains Leandra and Nicholas's conditions for blessing rather than condemning their relationship depended on all seven sisters approving of both of them- and how Envy is now the sole holdout, intent on sabotaging them much like she and Wrath sabotaged Ruby's bed all week.

Jaune's anger turns towards Envy, and Envy struggles to make a defense. A bad one, obviously- and trying to share the blame with Wrath doesn't work well either. Envy's motive centers around that Jaune left for Beacon, but has returned, but that Ruby threatens to take him away again from the family. Envy doesn't want that. Envy wants Jaune to stay home and stay close because she loves and misses him when he's gone. It shouldn't be a big deal. He was always going to side with her, after all. Family first, after all- and hasn't he always said that she's his number one girl?

Jaune erupts, unable to believe Envy would do such a thing, and all the angrier that she has. Angry at what she's done to Ruby, and angry at what she tries to do to him by pitting family against Ruby. If Ruby had tried to do that, she might have lost, but for his own sister…

Jaune harshly breaks down Envy's delusions of an end-game. He was always going to leave again- he has to go back to Beacon to graduate and become a Huntsman he wants to be. But if this how Envy and his parents are going to treat any girl he brings home, Jaune angrily swears he'll never return home again, word and all.

Envy's protestations that he can't do that, of Family First, forget a very important thing: Jaune already ran away from home and his Top Ten once, when he left for Beacon to follow his dream. He can do so again if that's what it takes- to run away with the woman he loves, no matter where she places next to family. Envy ends up fleeing in tears.

Despite the cathartic venting, and the relief from seeing Jaune side with her over family, Ruby feels some pity for Envy. When Jaune apologizes, Ruby agrees he should because it was a bit his fault as well. Ruby finally manages to directly tell Jaune that she doesn't like that Top Ten- and Envy's reaction is why. It gives the wrong sort of feeling, and the wrong sort of impression- to his family, between sisters, but also with her. Envy's not the only one who's hurt by not being put first- Ruby bets his other sisters feel the sting as well, like Wrath, because she's been hurt by it as well. By being number nine, and feeling less important.

Jaune is taken aback, speechless, and quietly apologizes. He hadn't known- didn't realize she took it that way when she hadn't said anything all this time- and he's sorry. Jaune apologizes, not just for the Top Ten, but also for what Ruby's had to put up with this week. If he'd known what his mother had said to her- that Ruby was trying to become close to his family for fear of a veto, rather than being herself- he swears he didn't know.

Ruby believes him, on both counts, because she never told him what bothered her. Ruby forgives Jaune by saying she meant what she said to Envy- she doesn't regret having gotten to know his sisters. She would have tried anyway, and is glad she did, because by doing so she was able to help him with Wrath. She knows that meant a lot to him, just as she knows he doesn't really want to never return home again, because she knows how important his family is to him. Jaune embraces her, saying how much he loves her, and Ruby's fears and insecurities fade away along with the stress. Even if Jaune's mother rejects her, he won't.

Jaune says he'll have to talk with his mother when they return, but that won't be for awhile. Ruby wants to move past that for now, and suggests spending time together at this festival of new beginnings. They try, but it's a subdued affair- Ruby is tired even if she's no longer stressed, Jaune is with her but stewing over his family, and the whole festival is shutting down anyway. Despite siding with her, Ruby can tell he's worried over Envy. The two are together, but not enjoying themselves, no more than the rest of the festival that is being hastily torn down as the storm front approaches. Neither being in the mood for a date they can't enjoy, they ultimately end up helping prepare for the storm to follow- both the literal one, and the figurative one that promises to start once they return to the Arc home.

Jaune and Ruby put off returning until late, right before dinner and right after it starts raining hard. Jaune intends to confront the issue of Envy and Leandra over dinner, along with something else that he won't elaborate to Ruby. Ruby doesn't look forward to a fight, and Ruby wonders how the sisters might react- especially to, say, any suggestion or accusation of an elopement if Envy and Leandra don't back down.

But dinner is deferred as Envy fails to appear. The rest of the family picks up on the uneasy air as the couple waits, but Jaune won't say what he has to say until all the family is there, leading to an uncomfortable silence as everyone waits for Envy to fulfill the family tradition.

As the storm sets in and rain pours, impatience turns to worry as the thought that it's not Envy refusing to return, but unable to, sets in. The rest of the family can't understand why, since she hasn't been seen since she left with Jaune and Ruby, until Jaune reveals that he and Envy had their fight which made her flee. There's concern and fear at first- the idea that Envy is running away like Jaune did is raised- but Ruby realizes that Envy likely went to her secret place. The drainage ditch that is likely acting as a flood channel right now.

Realizing that Envy's life could be in danger if the stream floods, the family scrambles to search for her. Ruby does as well. Fight or no fight, she's the only one who's been to the Secret Place, but it's so dark that she's not sure where exactly. Ruby directs the Arcs to split up and look around the general area. Before she and Jaune part, Jaune pulls her into an embrace and a kiss of thanks- even if he's still angry at his sister, and even if Ruby has every reason to not want to help, Envy is still his precious sister and he still cares about her. Ruby helping despite everything means so much to him. Ruby knows, and kisses him back, and promises to help find her and bring her back safe.

Ruby ends up finding Envy first. Envy is afraid, but not for her life, and refuses Ruby's entreaties to come to safety. Envy's afraid she's lost Jaune forever, and doesn't care about being saved if he's just going to hate her. She'd rather die than never see him again. Envy is somewhere between sulking and suicidal, too young to have a sense of proportion and too emotional to be reasoned with. It takes Jaune's arrival and jumping into the ditch with her to convince her otherwise. Jaune was upset, but he still loves her and always will because she'll always be his sister. Nothing can change that- not even Ruby. He doesn't want his family and Ruby to be either-or, because he wants to have them all. They're all his Top Ten- they're all his most cherished people in the world- and it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive.

Ruby adds in her support. Jaune may be leaving with Ruby, but if Envy can accept that- accept her- then he'll be sure to return. He only threatened to stay away because of how she treated Ruby- but if she doesn't, he'll have no reason not to return. Ruby can drag him back herself if she has to. Envy is moved, and even dares to be hopeful. Does she mean that? Ruby gives her word, and promises.

It's the touching moment, and the moment Envy stops resisting, but also the point of external disaster. The stream, already dangerous, becomes a deathtrap as an upstream dam bursts. With only a bit of warning from sisters further upstream, and Jaune and Envy scramble towards safety. The muddy bank limits Jaune's ability to get traction to run or jump, and he and Envy keep sliding back even as the wall of water rushes closer.

Ruby, from the upper bank, could reach out to help one of them- but only one of them. Both Jaune and Envy realize it's an either-or decision, and quickly beg Ruby to save the other. Envy knows it's all her fault, and begs Ruby to save her brother. Envy seems to make the better case- that she doesn't want to live without her brother, and that he and Ruby have a future together. Jaune is equally sincere that he doesn't want his family to die for him, and begging Ruby to save his family.

Ruby is torn- but when Jaune begs for her to keep his word and save his sister, she ultimately moves to help Envy. Jaune lifts Envy up and passes her into Ruby's grip mere moments before the flood hits him and throws him downstream.

Envy screams in fear for Jaune as he washes away, and immediately turns to berate and pound tiny fists against Ruby. How could she do that if she loved him? But Ruby has no time for Envy- putting her down and firmly telling her to not get into any more trouble, Ruby tells her that she doesn't believe love and family are either-or choices, and goes racing after Jaune with her semblance.

Ruby races, catching up even as she passes some of the other sisters. Their shouts provide a guidelines in the dark, and their efforts to catch Jaune buy some time. Ruby is able to get ahead, and damages Crescent Rose in the effort of cutting down a tree for Jaune to grab onto. Jaune does, but it's a fading thing as the water rushes and the tree threatens to break. Ruby gets as close as she can to grab Jaune's hand, holding onto him as tightly as her tired body can.

Jaune and Ruby have time for desperate last words- or at least Jaune does, while Ruby doesn't want to hear them and shouts for him to just hold on. Jaune apologizes for Ruby having to win over his family, but thanks her for doing it. Ruby doesn't care- she loved to, because she loves him. And he her- Jaune apologizes for all the missed opportunities, and all the things he wanted to do with her. Ruby doesn't want to accept it now, and turns it into making a promise to never hesitate again even as her grip slowly slips. With shouted affirmation that he loves her most of all, even more than the rest of his Top Ten combined, the tree breaks and Jaune is washed downstream.

Ruby means to follow him- to let the stream carry her as well if she can't get use her own semblance- but can't. Too tired from too many poor nights sleep and all the day's events, Ruby is caught and secured by Pride, who refuses to let her recklessly endanger herself. The search is soon called off because it's too dark and dangerous to keep looking. Ruby is practically carried back, and the Arcs never end up having dinner as they all turn to bed with thoughts of Jaune in their mind. There's no blame, but that doesn't stop Ruby from feeling guilty- or from Envy, and Wrath, and even Sloth and Gluttony from crying in their rooms.

Ruby changes with Jaune's final words in her mind, both his love and his promise, and despite the sounds of sobs in the other rooms she passes out as soon as she climbs under the covers.

It's the only good night's sleep she's had all week.

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Author Notes:

A packed chapter, and one with the most changes rather than just elaborations on the original plot. Full of important plot developments, this serves as the crescendo for Ruby's personal trials, but also the black moment of the story.

Envy (Ruby): A normally sweet girl with precocious crush that can lead her to doing bratty things when her brother is involved. Jaune is to Envy what Summer Rose was to Ruby, and Envy's fear of losing her brother to someone else was based on some musings of how Ruby might respond if Summer Rose turned out to be alive and came back after all this time... with a fiance she was promptly going to leave again for. Take away a few years and a bit less maturity, and Envy is the product of a thought of 'mine' that doesn't want to let go of something tightly held. Envy is the Ruby who was born into the intact family rather than approaching it from the outside, and like Ruby she's secretly insecure of where she stands with Jaune. Envy's greatest fear is losing Jaune, and her motivation for opposing Ruby was fear that Ruby would steal him away.