Bumbleby Daycare

Summary: Yang and Ruby's first day at daycare.

Today is the first day of summer time it also happens to be my first day working at Bumbleby Daycare owned by my grandparents. I won't work alone today though I've invited my classmate Weiss to help out. Although she seemed hesitant in accepting the offer at first she couldn't hide the ecstatic expression on her face as she accepted the offer. Originally a long time worker named Glynda was supposed to be here to show me the ropes but something unfortunately came up and she instead sent me a text message full of instructions. This leads to my current situation of trying to calm down a small crying brunette named Velvet while Weiss punishes a group of three boys who picked on the poor girl.

"Please don't cry, it's okay, they won't pick on you anymore." I try to soothe the crying child and gently pat her head.

She sniffles, calms her breathing and smiles at me. "okay." We manage to avoid a crisis but that doesn't last long as I hear the entrance opening and a girl screaming.

"Nooo! Yaaang let go! I don't want to go to daycare why can't I stay with mom?!" oh dear, these two are going to be a huge problem I can already feel it. Weiss who finished scolding the three brats seems to have the same feeling as she sighs exhaustedly.

Dragging the whining girl was a slightly taller girl with beautiful fluttering golden hair and bright lilac eyes. "Ruby, mom has to work so we have to stay here I told you already. Hey! Stop biting my hand that hurts!"

"It's your fault we have to come here! You nearly burned down the house and got me stuck in the washing machine!" the shorter girl responds loudly and continues in a sulky tone, "Now mom won't let us stay at home when she goes to work."

"How many times have I told you it was an accident! It can happen to anyone!" No, most kids with common sense wouldn't be able to accomplish that.

How do I even approach this situation? I turn back to Weiss and gesture my head over to the two fighting girls signaling for her to come assist me. Weiss wants no part of this waving her hands back and forth to deny my plea for help. After sending her an angry glare Weiss finally gives up and stands next to me waiting for my next move.

"Hi, how are you two today?" I happily ask. I'm guessing these are the two siblings who start daycare today.

"Amazing. Are you making fun of me? Hurry up and help me before I lose my hand!" the nerve of this little girl! I should let her lose her hand as punishment. Sadly I'm responsible for taking care of her and her little sister.

"I'll grab little red riding hood" Weiss pointed at the girl in red as she walked over behind her and tried prying her off. "Blake try pulling the feisty flame head" I nod, placing my arms around the blonde's stomach I begin to pull.

Finally separating the two after a few minutes of struggling, I take a seat on the ground leaning my back against the wall next to the entrance, while trying to control my erratic breathing. That was the most work I've done in a while, I really have to get in shape. All of a sudden my view is clouded with golden strands of hair accompanied by a soft warm body snuggling up against me. I identify the one sitting between my legs to be the older of the two siblings. "thanks for saving me, I'm Yang."

"It's not like I helped pull of this little demon or anything no need to thank me" Weiss broke in looking slightly dissatisfied.

"Yeah, yeah, great job ice princess." mumbled Yang. She quickly turned her attention back to me and continued, "you're really pretty, what's your name?"

What a bold girl calling someone she just met pretty. I'm slightly happy at her comment I would be lying if I said I wasn't. "I'm Miss Belladonna" I answered.

"You're first name is Miss? That's a little odd" Yang pointed out.

I'm not really sure if she's teasing me or genuinely confused I think it's the latter since she seems to be pondering. "No, my first name is Blake, but you should refer to me as Miss Belladonna." I chuckled in response.

Yang looked up at me from my lap with a perplexed expression before announcing, "there is no way I am going to call you that. Ah! I know I'll meet you half way and call you Blakey. Sounds like a good deal right?" Yang smiled after her one sided proclamation.

"Yang, how are you meeting me half way on that decision?" I questioned Yang.

"Well that would be the end result if we had the discussion on how I should address you." Yang leans back and rests her head on my chest while replying. I look down to see Yang's face slightly flushed as she looks up and asks in a cute voice, "Is Blakey no good?"

"I guess its fine…"defeated by that adorable face I reply. I'll work on getting her to call me correctly some other time. I look over to Weiss who is having her ear talked off by Yang's younger sister whose name if I recall correctly was Ruby.

"Weiss! Weiss! Look at that cute dog across the street! Weiss! Let's play something together; I know do you like playing house? Weiss! I want to eat cookies!"

"Be strong Weiss." I whisper to Weiss who is responding to Ruby uninterestedly with small answers.

"Ruby why don't you go make friends with the other kids? If you're going to start coming here often I think it's a good idea to build up a strong relationship with others around your age." Weiss suggests to Ruby as she sets her book down.

Ruby fidgets before answering. "I don't need to make friends. I have Yang, not only her I have you and Miss Belladonna!" I look down at Yang who has a concerned expression on her face as she gazes towards Ruby.

"Everyone needs to make friends sometimes Ruby even if it's just one person." Weiss grabs Ruby's hand and walks her over to the other kids. Is it just me or is Ruby looking a bit flushed?

Weiss stands in front of Pyrrah a girl with red hair tied back in a ponytail who is currently engaged in reading a book. Weiss then proceeds to introduce Ruby who is hiding behind her. "Come on Ruby you can do it…" Yang whispers as she watches over her sister from my lap. After a few seconds Ruby moves timidly from behind Weiss and shakes hands with Pyrrah. A few moments pass by before Ruby sits next to Pyrrah and they share a book together. I hear Yang quietly sigh while sending a warm loving smile directed at her sister. Weiss slowly returns back to her seat at a table not to far where I am currently positioned on the floor.

"Nice job Weiss." I complement her honestly with a hint of admiration.

"Thank you Weiss." Yang adds.

"Humph! It's not like I was worried about her or anything. In fact you should praise me more for such a tremendous job." Weiss boasted.

XXX

Now that Ruby has got used to her new environment I should do something about Yang.

"Yang, why don't you go and make some friends too?"

"Sounds like a good idea Blakey, but I'm a little held down." She chuckles as she puts her warm hands over mine. I now realize that my arms at some point had moved and wrapped around Yang. I quickly release Yang from my grasp while telling her to go play.

"Are you okay Blakey? You look a little red." Yang resumed teasing me with a smirk on her face.

"H-hurry up and go play." Gently nudging Yang off my lap she gets up and heads over to her little sister.

Turning back around I'm met with Weiss holding her hands over her mouth trying to prevent herself from bursting out laughing.

"You looked like you were enjoying yourself Blake." Weiss continued to embarrass me with that remark after she composed herself.

I feel embarrassed for letting myself getting carried away. Yang was just so warm and soft so I unconsciously pulled the source of warmth closer to me. That's common right? Everyone likes to get close to comfortable things it's completely natural.

"Blake you're thinking out loud again. Why don't you just admit you're actually quite fond of Yang?" What's with that smirk on her face? I'll definitely wipe it off her face when the all the kids leave. I still can't believe I said my thoughts out aloud I'm such an idiot.

Without warning I hear yelling coming from the opposite side of the room. Oh dear, I can already guess who's involved. Weiss sighs getting up from her seat she walks briskly over to the scene. Getting up I trail behind her with my eyes closed, slowly opening my eyes- and of course Yang is at the center of the problem. Yang is lifting up a spiky haired boy off the ground by his collar. Is this girl really eight years old?

"Yang put him down."

"No, I won't be satisfied until I hurt him." never thought Yang was the violent type, she must have a reason though.

"How about you break his legs?!" exclaims a bubbly eight year old named Nora.

"Nora, don't encourage her."

"Come on Ren, relax a little and enjoy the show!" there is something a little off about this one.

"Yeah get him sis beat the bad guy like in those fairy tales!"

"Ruby, try not to encourage your sister to cause harm on someone" Weiss scolded Ruby lightly.

Looks like I have to do it I can't do anything else. I'm going to have to resort to using "that". Walking behind Yang I put my hands on her sides and begin to tickle her. I came up with this method last night for dire situations I never expected to use this to be quite honest.

"Wahh! Wait! Stop it ahaha! Please stop! Nooo!" immediately Yang lets go of the boy whose name I'm almost sure is Sun. I pick up Yang and distance us from the rest of the kids as Weiss checks on Sun's condition.

"Blake! Why did you do that?! I was just about to break his legs! " Yang yells with her face red like a cherry. Is she really that angry or was it the tickling?

"Yang, that's kind of the problem, you can't just break other people's legs."

"Why not? He started I-"

"Yang, it doesn't matter who started it you can't just hurt people." I cut her off.

Yang's expression turns sour and starts to pout, puffing out her cheeks and crossing her arms with a "humph" noise. "So you're taking his side huh?"

"I'm not taking anyone's side." why is she being such a handful all of a sudden?

"I thought we were friends Blake I can't believe it after all I've done for you!"

"We just met today."

"Ah, right, I forgot about that." That's not something you usually forget especially after our eventful first meeting.

"Anyway just stay here I'm going to help Weiss here read this book and sit here until I come back." I escort Yang to a table next to the entrance sitting her down while placing a book into her hands.

"Wait." Yang grabs onto my hand and looks at me with pleading eyes. "Don't leave me here I'll die of boredom and loneliness!"

"You'll be fine just start reading and you shouldn't be bored." I definitely won't give in this time I have to stand my ground this time. She has to learn that I won't give her everything she wants.

Seeing my resolve Yang reluctantly gives in and begins to read as I walk over towards Weiss.

I'm surprised to see the scene before my eyes as grandmother Weiss is rocking back and forth on a rocking chair reading out loud to the kids. It's like the fight that almost happened a few minutes ago never even happened. Well I guess there's no problem with this outcome I send a smile to Weiss who sticks her tongue out at me in return. When I first invited her she listed of a hundred reasons on why she would never come to the daycare to help me. Typical Weiss to hide her interests with a strong icy front.

"Is this the part where they break his legs?!"

"Is this the part where they eat cookies?!"

"Is this the part where they all share carrots?!"

"Is this the part where they all eat bananas?!"

Weiss rubs her temples in an attempt to soothe her headache and retorts. "No you dolts! Be quiet and listen up."

What an odd bunch of kids.

XXX

I return back to Yang who's laying her head on the table fast asleep with the book being used as a pillow. She's really cute when she's asleep I wonder why she can't be like this all the time. I get closer and reach out to gently move strands of blonde from her face. I was startled when I felt Yang's hand quickly grab mine.

"Oh, it's just you Blakey." Yang blinks a few times then looks at me with her beautiful lilac eyes.

"Ah, sorry did I wake you?"

"It's fine." She sits up and stretches her arms over her head. "Hey Blakey, can you read me a fairy tale?"

"Huh? You want me to read to you? I don't mind but may I ask why?" I'm genuinely curious as to why Yang would request such a thing.

"I always tell bedtime stories to Ruby before we got to sleep. Lately I've been running out of ideas, so I want to hear a new story to give me some." Yang is a really sweet girl behind her crazy behavior, Ruby is lucky to have a sister like her. Something is bothering me though.

"Yang, why did you try to hit Sun? Did he do something to you?"

"Tch, he tripped and pulled off a single strand of hair as he fell."

"That's it?" all that was over one piece of hair?

"My hair is important to me."

"Why?"

"My real mom would always tell me how beautiful my hair was and to always take care of it. Even to this day I take care of my hair to an extreme length, pretty stupid right?" Yang whispered in a dejected manner while playing with the ends of her hair.

Sometimes it's better to not bring up the past. I won't pry her into talking if she doesn't want to. That doesn't mean I shouldn't try to help her as much as I can though.

"It's not stupid. Your mom was right, hair this pretty should be taken care of." I gently begin to pet her head.

"R-r-really? Ah, if you say so then I guess I have no choice but to take care it." Yang smiles while twirling her hair around her finger. The tips of Yang's ears are tinged with a slight pink color how odd.

"How about I read you a book now?"

"Mmm! Sound good!"

XXX

Time passed by quickly; right now it's a little after one in the afternoon, after reading to Yang I helped Weiss prepare lunch for lunchtime which was uneventful. Weiss has without a doubt taken interest in these kids. Before lunch she was involved in reading out loud and playing group games. She must have gotten comfortable, although it's a bit creepy to see her so happy.

Slowly one by one parents walk through the door only to be met with crushing hugs from their kids. Weiss waved at them while telling each kid who leaves "see you again." I wave a silent goodbye to them as well.

Ruby and Yang occupy themselves with their newly made friends; Pyrrah, Nora, Ren, and the shy Velvet. The newly formed group of six had just recently become friends, only when every other kid went home did the six come together to play with each other. Yang looked like she was enjoying herself but every few minutes she would turn around to look at me. It was almost as if she was making sure that I still existed. Ruby would mimic Yang, except she would look at Weiss and beckon her to play with her with a huge smile on her face.

Before I realized the group of six had dwindled down to two and time had fast forwarded two hours. The four of us now sat at a table in the middle of the room with Ruby fast asleep in Weiss's arms after countless minutes of Ruby convincing Weiss. Weiss also fell asleep, her eyes were shut and her chin rested on top of Ruby's head. Yang on the other hand had been staring at me for the past half hour. I pretend not to notice by burying my face deep in my book.

Finally Yang speaks up "Blake what does being in love feel like?" is Yang at that age? No, no she's eight, what kind of kid is curious about love that early? I guess I can only answer her honestly.

"Sorry, I don't have a clue."

"You don't? Why is that?"

"Well, I've never been in love before, so I can't really tell you." This is partly true, I'm in love with books but I think Yang's referring to love between two people.

"They say it's that warm fuzzy feeling right? I hear the adults on TV talk about it all the time."

"Ah, yeah, that's the most common way people describe it."

"I see." is Yang blushing? She's probably thinking about the boy she likes, how cute. That's weird, why do I feel irritated all of a sudden?

"Yang why are you curious about love? Is there someone you like?"

"Yeah, something like that." there it is again, what's with this odd feeling in my stomach? Did I eat something bad?

"Yang, why don't you tell me who it is?" I tease her, nudging her side with my elbow.

"N-n-no, I would rather not tell you."

"Is it someone you met here? Was it love at first sight? Do I know them?" I urge Yang to speak, finally Yang gave in.

"Yup, I met them here. I'm positive it was love at first sight and I think you know her real well."

"Did you say her?"

"Ah! No, no, no I-I-I meant them! Oh look my mom's here. Wake up Ruby!" Yang stumbled over her words and her feet as she went across the table and shook her sister and Weiss awake.

"Mmm, five more minutes mom…" Ruby said groggily, now on her feet with her hand held in Yang's.

"Bye Weiss." Ruby mumbled.

"See you tomorrow Ruby." Weiss waved her hand bidding Ruby a farewell.

"W-wait! Yang, answer my question!"

"See you tomorrow Blake! I love you~!" I could only stay seated in slight shock at Yang's confession. Why am I getting so flustered! She's just a kid, besides she probably meant it in a friendly way. Yup, there was no deeper meaning of course.

"You two seem to have gotten along real well." Weiss commented with a grin on her face.

"S-shut up, you dolt." I hissed back at Weiss with her own phrase.

Little did I know at that time this was only the first of many times Yang would tell me those three words.

A/N: A prequel to the first chapter which really should have been the second chapter. I might make one more chapter but I'm leaning towards making a new story.