RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth, of which I am not a part of.

Note: I originally posted the subject of the next story to TexanRedRose's Tumblr but they finished a little story with it just before I posted this. That was my own fault, I suppose. Was about to delete this but I decided to post it anyway.

Chapter 2: A Word with Many Meanings

Ruby knew these woods well.

She could tell you how old every tree was, which ones she'd practiced her skills with Crescent Rose on and which ones she'd climbed into and sulked in for hours upon hours when she was a kid.

But today, they were nothing but guiding marks on a path to where she wanted to go.

Clutching the bouquet of roses in her hands, she could feel the late spring breeze stirring the trees overhead just as she left the cover of the forest and approached the cliff where her late mother's grave lay. As the sinking sun dyed the sky orange, she noticed a figure standing before the stone, her breath catching in her throat.

Is that…

However, the shine of golden blonde forced out a silent breath. It was just Yang.

Of course! Who did I think it would be?

…wait, what's Yang doing here?

She scuttled forward timidly, trying not to disturb her sister as she saw the blonde girl kneel down before the grave. She could just barely here the whisper, but the pain in her voice tugged at her own heart.

'I just wanted to say, thank you for everything. Thank you for all you did for me when I was a kid. You treated me like I was your own child when I wasn't, when I didn't have my real mother, and for that, I'm so happy that you were a part of my life. Even though you weren't able to spend much time with her, you still brought her to us, and for that I can't tell you how grateful I am. I promised you that I'd keep her safe throughout all these years and I swear to you that I'll keep that promise, no matter what. Thank you, so, so much, Summer.'

As her words came to their end, Ruby could hear her sister's voice crack away into quiet sobs. She waited a few more seconds before speaking up.

"Y-Yang?"

The larger girl nearly jumped out of her skin, turning around quickly at the voice. Her lilac eyes were wide and filled with both emotion and shock which faded as she recognized her sister. "Oh… hey, Rubes. Didn't see you there."

Ruby didn't reply, only kneeling down on her own knees and extending her bouquet out to Yang. The older girl stared, wide-eyed, at the thorny flowers before her eyes jumped up to meet silver.

"I… why are you giving these to me? Weren't you gonna-"

She made to turn back to the stone when arms came around her shoulders, the cloaked girl taking her in a tight embrace. After a second, the blonde's mind recovered and she put her metal hand on the back of the red-tinted hair, pulling her younger sister close to her chest.

When Ruby's voice came out, it was ragged and slow.

"Because of everything you've done. T-thank you, Yang." Tears were falling fast but she still managed to choke the rest out. "For everything you've done for me. For being the best sister ever. Just…"

The wave of emotions quickly overtook the older girl and she tightened her hold and grip, burying her head in her little sister's neck as Ruby did the same. Both stopped holding back their sobs altogether.

The last of the rays of sun set over the horizon, but darkness didn't encroach as the bright glow of Remnant's shattered moon began to wash over the area

Was also listening to 'Gold' a lot over the past few days. Yang's been as great of a parent as she has a sister. Those two warm my heart so much.

Honestly, I'm kinda disappointed that they have shown so little of Winter in the show because I feel like I'd love her and Weiss's bond as much as I love Ruby and Yang's if they actually bothered showing it/her more. Hopefully, that will change come Volume 6 when they go to Atlas.