A/N: I know I ended on kinda a cliffhanger, and it turns out I hate that just as much as you guys do, so here it is, the next chapter. I split this chapter into three parts, due to some... inappropriate content. The rating will be moving up to M, sorry about that any of my younger readers. However, I made it three chapters, with chapter 8 being the inappropriate one and 7 and 9 still being T rated. So if you don't want anything like that, skip it, you don't miss anything.
READ THE A/N PLEASE! IT'S IMPORTANT!
"Stay here." Weiss hissed to Ruby, then she plastered a big fake smile on her face and went out to meet her makers.
Ruby stood awkwardly in the dining room and listened.
"Mother, father, the person I wanted you to meet is here, and dinner is ready." That was Weiss's voice.
"I'm not sure I quite approve." Came the baritone.
"Oh hush dear." Came a woman's voice, as light and airy as the other's voice was deep and commanding. "I'm sure Weiss wouldn't choose anyone but a perfectly respectable..." The three Schnee's rounded the corner, with Weiss uncomfortably sandwiched between a tall man in a suit with silver hair like hers and an elegant woman with a swanlike neck and dark, curly hair. "...boy." The woman trailed off.
"Who is this!" Her father snapped.
Weiss practically fled to Ruby's side. "This is Ruby. She-" Weiss emphasized that word. "-is the one I wanted you to meet."
Ruby waved meekly. "Hi..."
Her father narrowed his eyes, a decidedly furious cast darkening his aristocratic features. "How wonderful. Weiss, we are going to talk about this. Right now." With a single stride, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her off, heading upstairs. Weiss didn't even try to resist, but she shot a look at Ruby before disappearing, an equal mixture of worry and fury that Ruby knew all too well. It was expression Weiss used when someone was going to pay.
Ruby winced, watching her go. She turned to Mrs. Schnee, who was giving her a hard stare.
"You're dating my daughter." The woman demanded.
Ruby nodded.
The woman's brow furrowed, almost into a glare but just avoiding it. So far. "I see." She seated herself daintily in one of the four chairs. "Let me make something very clear to you, young lady." She said, steepling her fingers. "I am quite confident my daughter and my husband will resolve things on their own." There was a crash from upstairs, like someone had thrown a small piece of furniture, and then a shout from Mr. Schnee. Ruby started for the source of the noise, but a commanding voice stopped her in her tracks. "Sit. Down. Now. We need to talk."
"But-" Ruby protested.
"You will not do anything but get in the way. Those two need to work out their differences on their own, and you being there will only make my husband angrier. I will say this once more. Sit. Down."
"Are you sure?" Ruby asked quietly.
"Believe me, this happens quite often." There was another crash, something glass this time, and an equally furious shout from Weiss.
"You didn't answer my question." Ruby said. She wasn't going to budge on this.
The woman arched an eyebrow. "I am sure that at least half of the broken furniture will be because of my daughter. You know quite well she will not be pushed around, even if he is twice her size."
Ruby couldn't help it, she giggled, just once. "You're right." She sat down across from Mrs. Schnee, trying to ignore the noise from upstairs. Whether Weiss would be okay or not, it was still... not fun to hear. "So, Mrs. Schnee, what did you want to talk to me about?" Ruby said, pretending everything was completely normal.
"As I said, those two will resolve things. However, I would like to make my own judgement of you. Without bias in either direction." She fixed a penetrating stare on Ruby. "You're the gardener we hired."
Ruby nodded. "Yup. Hopefully I'm doing a good enough job. Though Weiss is helping out too."
"My daughter is helping you with yardwork." Mrs. Schnee said, almost disbelieving.
Ruby shrugged. "Ask her. It was when my arm was still healing so I couldn't do a lot of stuff... she offered to help and never really quit, I guess."
"Interesting. When would you say your... relationship started?"
"Uh, I guess a bit less than a month after the whole thing with the assassin?"
"And how are your academics."
"So far, I get straight A's. And I'm working on a degree in Surgery at Signal... though money is kinda tight. My sister is working two jobs right now... I may have to drop out..." Ruby trailed off worriedly.
Mrs. Schnee arched an eyebrow. "And it never occurred to you to ask my daughter for money?"
"What! No!" Ruby exclaimed. "I couldn't do that! I mean, we're just dating! It's my problem if I can't pay for college, not hers!"
Mrs. Schnee sat back. "Well then, Ruby, I believe I might speak to my husband on your behalf. And it so happens the Dean of the Signal Medical School is a close friend. If my daughter agrees to vouch for you, I just might speak to him."
Ruby blushed. "No, really it's-"
"Do you think you could get my daughter to change her mind on something like this? Because if you don't, I assure you, you won't change my mind either." She tapped a finger on her chin. "But so far, you seem perfectly respectable. As long as you don't do anything to jeopardize my opinion of you, I won't do anything to jeopardize your future with my daughter. Are we clear?"
Ruby nodded. "Yup! Crystal!" This was actually going... well? Maybe Mrs. Schnee wasn't so bad, even if her husband seemed like a psycho. As if to punctuate this, there was another crash from upstairs.
"In that case, I believe we only need to wait for the other two to settle their side of things." Mrs. Schnee clapped her hands, and one of the house servants stepped in the room. "Green tea. Ruby, would you like anything?"
"Um, could I have a cup of coffee, Mr. Sully?" Ruby asked.
The man nodded. "Certainly. I will return shortly."
Mrs. Schnee looked at Ruby. "You know, we've employed him for three years and I don't think I ever learned his name." She smiled, very slightly, very briefly. "Yes, I think I understand what she sees in you. I will be interested in future events like this."
"Wait, future!" Ruby squeaked.
"Of course, child. Unless you think you'll be gone by Christmas, future." Mrs. Schnee said, distinctly amused.
"Well, okay then." Ruby said. "Guess I will!"
They waited in relatively comfortable silence, though Ruby shifted uncomfortably at each noise from upstairs. Eventually, the crashing and yelling died down, and a few minutes after that stomping footsteps approached the dining room.
Mrs. Schnee was right, Weiss really had given as good as she got. Mr. Schnee had a black eye and a cut along his cheek. Weiss had a bruise on her leg, and they were both moving decidedly stiffly. Ruby couldn't tell if it was from injury, anger, or a combination of both. And what were those red stains on Weiss's dress?
"The turkey is cold." Was the only thing said all dinner, by a furious Mr. Schnee. The rest of the meal was spent in silence as Weiss and her father shot bitter looks back and forth and Ruby and Mrs. Schnee pretended not to notice.
About twenty minutes later, the meal was finished, and Mr. Schnee immediately left. Mrs. Schnee got up and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead, whispering in her ear.
"I approve." She murmured, and then she was gone, trailing after her husband. Weiss smiled faintly. Well, at least one of her parents had seen reason.
"That was... interesting." Ruby said.
Weiss seemed to sag in her chair. "Interesting. That's one way to put it." Yes, a screaming, throwing things, violent fight was interesting. Ruby certainly had a way with words.
Ruby looked at her with concern. "I'm looking at that bruise. C'mon." She helped Weiss up and together they headed for her bathroom. Weiss leaned in, enjoying the other girl's warmth. She definitely needed it. Weiss sat down on the sink as Ruby bent down to look.
"There's a lot more than just the one bruise." Weiss murmured, slightly bitterly as Ruby inspected it.
"Do you have any disinfectants? There's a cut here." Ruby said, gesturing to one spot.
"Check the medicine cabinet." Weiss said, pointing.
Ruby found a tube of Neosporin and a bottle of Tylenol. She handed Weiss two Tylenol, which the other girl downed instantly. Then Ruby gently dabbed a bit of the disinfectant cream on Weiss's leg.
"There's a few more." Weiss muttered. "Let me take off the dress?"
Ruby blushed. "O-okay..."
Weiss shrugged out of it, and Ruby gasped. There were several other nasty looking bruises and cuts, and Weiss saw Ruby wince as she inspected each one. But Ruby was nothing if not practical about it, and immediately started dabbing on the cream. The Neosporin was icy cold, like little snowflakes had fallen on her skin. The bathroom wasn't particularly warm either, and Weiss shivered.
Ruby noticed, and a concerned frown passed across her face. "After this you're getting in bed. It's late and you seem..." She looked again at Weiss's injuries. "...out of it." She finished lamely.
Weiss was too worn out, physically and emotionally, to argue. "Fine." She muttered, rising to her feet and heading for the bed. She slumped down and closed her eyes. Today had been awful. She never should have asked Ruby to come. Stupid, careless, weak. Who would want to stick around after having to even listen to something like that? At least Ruby hadn't seen the mess in her father's study, where the argument had happened.
She half expected to never see Ruby again.
So Weiss was understandably surprised when she felt someone slip into bed next to her. "I need covers too you know." Ruby murmured into her ear.
Weiss looked over, something pricking in her eyes. "You're... staying?"
Ruby smiled. "Of course! I'm not just gonna ditch you after that. You really stood up for me, Weiss. Now move over."
Weiss scootched a bit to the side as Ruby snuggled under the covers. The velvet dress was soft and smooth, and Weiss clutched at Ruby, her eyes hot and wet. "Sorry you had to deal with that." She choked. Her voice was going to die any second and she half wished Ruby would leave the room. She hated crying in front of her.
Ruby laughed gently. "From what I heard, you were the one who had a hard time. Your mom was... nice, in a weird kind of way."
Abruptly, Weiss broke. Tears flowed down her face as she kissed Ruby with a desperate intensity. She broke away and nestled her head in the crook of the other girl's neck. "I love you." She murmured. "Love you, I love you so much." Weiss was shaking with sobs as she tried to say the words, again and again, to make up for every time Ruby had told her that very thing and she hadn't said anything.
"Whoa, shh, shh. It's okay." Ruby said gently. "I love you too. Shh. I'm right here."
Weiss bit down on her tears. She refused to cry. She wasn't going to. Stop crying, just stop, settle down, there. There. "I know." Weiss said, her voice considerably calmer. "I'm sorry I never told you that before."
Ruby grinned. "Oh, it's fine. My widdle princess can take as long as she wants." Weiss knew Ruby was trying to get her mad instead of upset, and she loved her for it. Really, who knew her well enough to know that the best cure for her depression was a little fury? She wallowed in the icy cold flash of annoyance, snapping back at Ruby.
"Don't call me that." Weiss told Ruby sharply, aiming a glare.
"I will if I want to!"
Instead of answering, Weiss rolled over on top of her girlfriend, cupping her face in her hands. She couldn't even stay mad, not around Ruby. The anger was gone as quick as it came, the sadness too. She felt... warm. And fuzzy. Almost like some other person, someone who didn't only see their family for a brisk fight before they left. Maybe someone... happy. "No, you won't." Weiss said, very definitely, and kissed her.
Ruby's mouth opened and their tongues danced together, eliciting a soft, sweet sound from them both. Ruby's hands played around across Weiss's skin, and Weiss could swear she felt literal sparks flying. So warm...