Of Life and Love: Part 1

Weiss was in labor, soon to give birth to her second child with Blake. It would be her third total. To Yang it had seemed that all her friends were having children, and her maternal instincts were kicking in hard. The fact that she was effectively Princess Grace's nanny only drove home the point. For a long time she had been begging Weiss and Blake for a child of her own, and finally Weiss relented. With a little help from Ren's magic, she fathered Yang's child. The baby girl - Autumn - had been born healthy and happy with an abnormally full head of bright blonde hair. Yang adored her daughter, still only a few months old, but today she was far away, with nannies in another palace, separated from the chaos.

As she had during Weiss' first pregnancy, Blake had temporarily taken over the government. This time Ruby and Pyrrha did not travel to the capital to help. With a small child of their own, and with Pyrrha pregnant, they had to decline Blake's request for their help. They did send someone in their place. Taiyang acted as Blake's chief advisor during her regency. He had experience running Chon'sin in the royal couple's absence, and his wisdom and experience proved invaluable. The respect he had garnered as a warrior also helped keep the typically oppositional nobles at bay. He remained in the capital, but Blake had departed, determined to be present for the birth of her second child.

Weiss was in bed, made as comfortable as possible, her legs propped up in preparation for the child's arrival. Blake and Yang flanked her, holding her hands. Weiss had gotten pregnant as soon as her body had recovered from the process of producing Yang's child, and perhaps as a result, her labor seemed more intense than had her first. It did not help that Pyrrha was not present to cast her pain reduction spell, heavily pregnant and unwilling to travel as she was. The clerics in attendance, the best the capital had to offer, cast spells to reduce Weiss' suffering, but their efforts were woefully insufficient.

Weiss cried out as the contractions increased in intensity and rapidity. Yang and Blake did their best to comfort her, and she did her best to crush their hands with her vice-like grip. The clerics gathered around. The baby was coming. With a final yell and a mighty push, the baby slipped into the waiting hands of one of the attendants. Weiss relaxed her grip and heaved a heavy sigh. The umbilical cord was clamped and Blake cut it, then the whining baby was taken away to be washed and checked.

"Weiss...she's beautiful." Blake smiled. "Makes it worth the suffering huh?" Weiss said nothing. "Exhausted?" Blake turned around and froze.

"Weiss" Yang gasped. She grabbed Weiss by the shoulders and gently shook her. Her head lolled to the side. Yang pressed her head to Weiss' chest, then moved her ear to Weiss' mouth. "Sh-she's not breathing!"

Blake rushed to Weiss side and cupped the side of her face, lifting her head up straight. "Weiss...no, Weiss stay with me!" Blake cried. "Somebody do something!"

The clerics that had been focused on the child returned, frantically casting their healing spells on Weiss. "Give me a staff!" Yang demanded. Pyrrha had taught her some basic healing spells. It was nothing compared to what the professionals were capable of, but she was desperate to do something.

"She can't die!" Blake exclaimed. She grabbed a cleric. "Take my life force. Transfer it to her." The cleric shook her off. He was not a practitioner of such dark magic. Blake dropped to her knees. "Gods...gods no! You can't take her! Take me instead!"

The clerics had done all they could. Some persisted, but a few backed off, giving up. Yang rushed up to one and punched her, ripping the staff from her hands. "We can't give up!" Yang screamed. She started casting her spell, over and over, with everything she had. The staff burst into flames in her hands. She persisted, only dropping it when the pain became unbearable. "Damnit!"

"No...no, this can't be happening…" Blake wept. "I...I'll do anything...just...just don't die." She embraced the motionless Weiss, squeezing her with all her might. "I can't...I can't…"

With a low groan Weiss stirred. "Weiss?" Yang gasped.

"W-Weiss…" Blake stammered. Weiss breathed, shallow and unsteady. "W-Weiss please...are you...I…"

"Blake…" Weiss groaned.

"Y-yes…" Blake struggled.

"How...how's the baby?" Weiss asked.

Blake looked to a cleric who gave a thumbs up. "The baby's good." Blake replied. "I...are you okay?"

"Y-yeah...it aches…" Weiss answered. "When did you start hugging me?"

"I…I…" Blake started. Once of the clerics approached, carrying the newborn. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, hold your baby."

The cleric placed the child in Weiss' arms, and Blake made sure to help her support the little girl. "Blake...can I...can I name her...Winter?" Weiss requested.

"You can name her whatever you like." Blake nodded. "I...I'm just...I'm glad you're both okay."

"Yang...say hi to Winter." Weiss smiled.

"H-hi W-Winter." Yang stuttered. "I...she's beautiful. And...oh gods Weiss!" Yang bent down to hug Weiss. Blake spirited the baby away to keep it out of the way of what she knew would be a crushing embrace. "I love you so much! Please, for the love of Naga, don't do this again!"

The next few weeks saw Yang mothering Weiss, hovering over her in a way she never had before. It took Weiss longer to recover from Winter's birth than it had from Grace's. She was unable to walk for a full week and left weakened thereafter. Then she fell ill with a fever. It took a month but Weiss was able to recover her full strength and return to her duties. Still Yang refused to let up, following her at all times, attending to her needs with a fanatical obsession. At first Weiss tolerated it. Her close call had scared Yang, and she felt guilty.

The problem was Yang refused to stop. Even when Weiss was in literal fighting shape, Yang shadowed her, freaking out whenever Weiss so much as stumbled or felt tired. Worse, Yang became moody, which made things awkward at court. If someone so much as stepped a toe out of line, Yang gave him a full dressing down. She was increasingly fatigued, dark circles growing below her eyes, and began to scare the court. At one point she even snarled fire, an ability she did not even know she had. Even as Weiss protested, Yang kept clinging to her. Then Yang started snarling fire just because she thought it was cool. It was as if she was losing her grip on sanity.

Then one day Yang was simply absent. At first Weiss was relieved, happy to have a moment to herself for the first time since she had given birth. She suspected Yang had fallen asleep somewhere, taking a proper nap she desperately needed. But the hours slipped by and Yang failed to appear. Weiss grew concerned. Blake had not seen her. The nannies who watched Grace, Winter and Autumn had not seen her. She was not in her palace quarters. Weiss sent a messenger to Yang's inn but she was not there either.

Weiss began to panic, but remembered the last time there had been a serious problem. When Blake had her difficulties with Grace, she had fled to the highest tower, and Yang had found her there. It was worth checking it out. Weiss climbed the narrow, spiral staircase to the top floor, then the ladder to the roof of the tower. There she found Blake holding Yang, the pair curled up on the floor with tear tracks on their faces.

"Wha...Yang, what's wrong?" Weiss asked.

"I...I...can't…" Yang struggled. "I shouldn't…"

"She's been having nightmares." Blake explained.

"Nightmares?" Weiss pressed.

"I...you're lying in bed...you stop breathing...and you just die…" Yang sobbed. "I can't...I...I can't lose you…"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Weiss asked.

"I'm supposed to be the strong one, the invincible one." Yang wept. "They're just stupid dreams. I should be able to deal with them myself. I thought I'd just stay close to you until I got over it...but it just kept getting worse. I couldn't sleep, I was afraid to leave your side for a second, I just...I couldn't take it."

"I found her here sobbing." Blake explained. "That was a few hours ago."

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" Weiss demanded. "You just disappeared!"

"I'm sorry." Yang apologized. "I...I didn't know what to do."

"It's...it's alright." Weiss sighed. "I know I scared you."

"No, this is my fault." Yang shook her head. "Blake got over it. I should have been able to."

"Maybe you just need a break." Blake suggested. "I got to spend some time with the kids, take my mind off things. You've been going non-stop."

"But I can't…" Yang started.

"It's decided then." Weiss declared. "Yang, you're taking a holiday."

"What?" Yang gasped. "No, I'll be fine. I just need to pull myself together. I'll be okay, I promise." She sprung up and forced a smile. "I'll get through this." She walked over to the ladder and slid down out of sight before Blake or Weiss could say anything.

"You're not just going to let this go, are you?" Blake asked.

"Oh no way." Weiss confirmed. "She's going on vacation whether she likes it or not."

Neo and Emerald were summoned to the palace. Led into the dungeons they were confronted with a shocking sight. Yang was chained up, Weiss and Blake flanking her. "We were forced to take drastic measures." Blake preemptively explained.

Neo jumped excitedly. "Oh gods, what is it, Neo's birthday?" Emerald asked.

"Neo doesn't know her birthday." Yang observed.

"Best not birthday ever!" Neo signed.

"I have been convinced, under great duress, to take a holiday." Yang groaned. "So kids, want to meet your sister?"

"We already met Autumn." Emerald said. "Remember, you were breastfeeding her in the bar, everyone was staring at you chest."

"Can I have a go?" Neo smirked.

"No, no, my sister." Yang explained. "She's basically a daughter to me, so that makes her your sister too!"

"I don't remember you officially adopting us?" Emerald chuckled.

"Also, I'm fairly sure you're not much older than them." Blake noted.

"To be fair, I'm childlike and adorable." Neo silently giggled.

"I'll handle the paperwork if you'll just go on a damn vacation!" Weiss exclaimed.

"You drive a hard bargain." Yang laughed.

"Yang…" Blake sighed.

"Alright, alright." Yang relented. "Just gimmie' a day to organize some things."

"If you're not out of the city by noon tomorrow, I'm exiling you." Weiss threatened.

"Do I get a say in this?" Emerald asked.

"No." Weiss scowled.

"Nope." Blake shrugged.

"Nuh." Yang added.

Neo shook her head.

"You have less than an hour to get out of here." Weiss warned. "I do not make empty threats."

"Yeah, yeah." Yang rolled her eyes. "I just wanted to introduce you to the people who will be watching over you in my stead." Weiss raised an eyebrow. "Come on in guys!" Four people entered, clad in mishmashes of armor. They were obviously not traditional soldiers. "Meet my dear friends, the best mercenaries in all of Valm, Team Coffee."

"Team Coffee?" Weiss asked.

"They run on pure caffeine." Yang chuckled. "The big guy with the big sword is Yatsuhashi, the mage is Velvet, the rogue with the freaky eyes is Fox, and this sexy gal is Coco."

"What is Coco carrying?" Blake asked. Coco had a large, glowing, cylindrical device hanging on her back. It seemed to have some sort of clockwork mechanism to it.

"That's her canon." Velvet replied.

"I've never seen a canon like that before." Weiss noted. "Did you make it?"

"I made Fox's eyes, but I didn't make that weapon." Velvet explained. "We were working a contract, clearing some undead out of a ruin, and we found it."

"How does it work?" Weiss asked.

"I have no idea." Coco admitted. "But I point it at things and they cease to exist."

"I could explain it, but I hope you've got all day." Velvet laughed.

"So, you made Fox's eyes." Blake observed. "Think you could fix this one?" She pointed to her blind eye.

"I could replace it." Velvet replied. "I'd have to remove the old one first."

"They also don't work great." Fox noted. "It's better than being blind, but I'm told they don't match real sight. Motion in particular is problematic."

"Fox is correct." Velvet nodded. "It's hard to explain, but they emit pulses of magical energy, detecting the waves that are reflected back."

"Like echolocation?" Blake suggested.

"Sort of." Velvet shrugged.

"Yang, is all this really necessary?" Weiss asked.

"No matter what, I'm going to be worried about you." Yang replied. "But with these guys watching your back, I'll feel a lot better. They'll always have your back, and not just because I'm paying them."

"We're friends first, mercenaries second." Coco smiled. "Plus Yang pays up front."

"And there's more for you when I get back." Yang added. "Now, I should be on my way. Exile doesn't sound fun. See ya' soon."

"Later." Blake waved.

"Enjoy your trip Yang." Weiss smiled. She stepped up and embraced Yang. "Now go, get some rest, get your head on straight."

"Sure thing Weissy." Yang nodded. "Don't do anything crazy while I'm gone."

"Oh, we won't." Weiss smirked. "Shame you'll miss the orgy though."

"Wha...orgy?" Yang gasped. "What orgy?"

Weiss chuckled. "Bye Yang."

Yang, Emerald and Neo had packed and loaded into a carriage, which now traveled swiftly through the countryside. A fourth passenger, Yang's daughter Autumn, was along for the trip too, happily suckling at Yang's breast. Neo and Emerald sat side-by-side across from them. "Can I be next?" Neo signed excitedly, only to be thwapped by a pillow. Emerald leveled a blank stare at her partner. Neo giggled silently, leaning over to peck her on the cheek before leaning the other way to stick her head out the window, watching the forest speed past.

Yang rolled her eyes and met Emerald's gaze, the latter managing a smile that quickly faded. "Something up Emmy?" Yang asked.

"I...we haven't really met Ruby...well, not since the end of the war." Emerald replied. "How does she feel about us?"

"I've told her a lot about you two." Yang answered. "And she's not one to hold grudges."

"She never tried to speak with us." Emerald noted.

"She's been busy Emmy, with the duchy and Pyrrha, and Summer most of all." Yang explained. "Even I don't get to see her that often, just when she comes to the palace. Otherwise it's all letters and packages between us."

"Right...distance...sure...okay." Emerald assured herself. "What about Pyrrha? Not everyone can be as forgiving and understanding as your sister." Suddenly Neo kneeled on the seat, leaning further out the window until her whole upper body hung out. Emerald's eyes bulged and she grabbed Neo by her waistline, letting her hang in the wind for a while before yanking her back in. Neo landed in Emerald's lap, her hair frazzled, and pouted. Emerald scowled at her. "Are you gonna' be a pest this entire trip?"

Neo stuck her tongue out at Emerald, then booped her on the nose. "Neo, behave." Yang laughed. "Pyrrha is a kind soul Emerald, trust me. It's Weiss and Blake you have to watch out for, and you two already won them over."

"Cinder killed her parents Yang, and I served under her for half my life." Emerald sighed. "It can't be so simple."

"It doesn't have to be so complicated either." Yang countered.

"But what if she doesn't like us being there?" Emerald pressed.

"She'll have to deal with me." Yang smirked.

"I don't want to be any trouble." Emerald declared.

"Yeah, well she's pregnant." Yang noted. "So she couldn't give us trouble if she tried."

"They're having another child?" Emerald gasped.

"Yep, I didn't tell you?" Yang replied.

"You told me." Neo signed.

"Oh, yeah, well Pyrrha wanted to be a mother too." Yang explained. "Ruby always wanted to have two kids anyway."

"What is it with you people and babies?" Emerald scoffed.

"What's the matter Emmy?" Yang chuckled. "Does this freak you out?" She smirked and jiggled Autumn, who continued sucking blissfully.

Emerald looked uncomfortable. "Yes Yang, babies in general freak me out." She confirmed. "They feed of your body for nine months, your body almost kills itself trying to get it out, then you have to take care of this fragile little gremlin looking thing until it can walk and talk and ugh! I don't know how you do it!"

"It isn't always easy, hell, it'll never be easy, but it's worth it." Yang smiled. "I made a new life with Weiss. Every time I look at her I'm reminded of our love. Every time I sleep I dream of her all grown up, kicking ass like her mammas." Yang's voice wobbled. She gazed lovingly down at Autumn, who had fallen asleep. "You're gonna' make us so proud Autumn. You're gonna' do great things. Even if you are a gremlin."

Emerald chuckled, shaking her head. Yang smirked at her and closed her shirt. Neo unexpectedly cupped Emerald's cheek, drawing her down into a kiss. Emerald flushed and Neo smiled before making herself comfortable, turning to face Yang and Autumn, leaving Emerald to comb the knots in her hair in silence.

As the carriage crossed into Rosanne, on the final stretch to the ducal estate, Yang sent a raven with a message to tell Ruby of their proximity. Not half an hour later, the carriage rolled to a stop, still well short of its destination. The sound of pounding hooves could clearly be heard. Yang placed Autumn in her bassinet, then sprung up and out of the carriage. "Ruby!" She cheered.

"Yang!" Ruby responded. She slid Zwei to a stop beside the carriage and dismounted, pretty much landing in Yang's arm.

Yang lifted Ruby up, swinging her around as they laughed. "Ah, you're getting heavier Rubes!" Yang teased.

"And you're getting stronger!" Ruby giggled.

"That is true, bubble butt." Yang smirked.

"You're one to talk, melons." Ruby retorted, jabbing Yang's nipple.

"I did just have a baby, thank you very much." Yang scowled, smacking her sister's hand away.

"Did you bring her?!" Ruby gasped.

"I brought all my kids." Yang replied. "Go see."

Ruby sprinted to the carriage door, wrenching it open. Inside Emerald and Neo were in the midst of a passionate embrace, though Emerald had frozen to stare fearfully at Ruby. "They're your children alright." Ruby chuckled and smiled warmly. Neo smirked, waving her fingers in a dainty greeting.