I know, I know, another long wait… At least it was only one month this time though, right? Right?

Ahem. Anyway, here you go; another evil cliffhanger done just for you all. But you get some fluff too! ;)

Chapter VIII

Weiss wasn't all that surprised when she woke up in the middle of the night to find Ruby missing from the bed next to her. Before panic could set in, she made sure to remind herself that Ruby was safe wherever she was. There was no one in the house except for them, and while her house may be gigantic in size, Ruby surely wouldn't go wandering off the property on her own.

Still, Weiss knew she wasn't getting back to sleep until she knew where Ruby was, so she willed her body out of bed before stretching. Sparing the clock on her scroll a glance, she saw it was nearly four in the morning. The first place she searched was the balcony off her bedroom, hoping Ruby had just wandered out there, but of course luck wasn't with her and she found the space empty.

She remembered to check the bathroom as well on her way out of her room, yet there was still no sight of her.

"Ruby?" Weiss called as she walked briskly down the hallway to the stairs. "Can you give me a sign to where you are?"

Moments later, a soft music note reached her ears and Weiss couldn't suppress the smile that broke free then.

She should have guessed it.

Once downstairs, Weiss walked through the living room to another large, open room to see the lone occupant situated on the piano bench off in the corner.

"Giving yourself lessons?" she joked as she crossed the room, the vaulted ceiling making her voice echo.

Ruby just blushed from her seat, reverting back to fiddling with the strings of her hoodie. Weiss realized only then that the red material was back, Ruby having discarded the sweatshirt upon turning in hours ago. The article's significance was the next thing Weiss hoped she could learn about the mystery that was Ruby Rose.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Ruby shrugged, looking out the large floor-to-ceiling windows to the endless fields Weiss called her backyard.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

The girl looked back to her before pulling out the notepad and Sharpie from earlier.

I was thinking about my dad.

Weiss swallowed the knot in her throat.

"I'm sorry, Ruby. I really shouldn't have asked all that of you."

It's not your fault, Weiss. I agreed.

Weiss's eyes sparked at the last note. Even though it was strictly written and not said aloud, she realized that was the first time Ruby had ever used her name. For whatever reason, she found it filled her with waves of warmth.

"Still," she managed after clearing her thoughts, "I know it's troubling you now, and I feel bad."

I've been troubled for ten years. What happened tonight isn't anything I'm not used to.

"But you shouldn't have to be used to any of this, Ruby; that's the thing," Weiss told her, her eyes expressing all the emotion she couldn't muster in her voice at this late hour.

Ruby just shrugged again, her adorable smile present once again.

It's okay, really. And if you still have questions for your paper or just in general, I'll answer them.

Weiss really didn't want to ask anymore of Ruby in this moment, but that lingering curiosity couldn't be suppressed. Sighing, Weiss gave in.

"I have just…one more question," she mumbled, ashamed of herself.

Knowing she should have been expecting it, Weiss felt Ruby gently lift her head up by her chin.

It's okay, Ruby mouthed before grasping one of Weiss's hands.

"Your…hoodie," Weiss found her voice. "Why is it so special to you?"

Ruby's smile turned sad for only a second as she glanced down to the offending article before she was gazing back at Weiss yet again, eyes never leaving hers as she wrote her answer.

It was my mom's.

Weiss immediately knew the rest, and her heart broke yet again.

"Is s-she…?"

Gravely, Ruby nodded. Weiss pulled Ruby in for another hug.

"I'm so sorry, Ruby," she whispered brokenly.

She felt Ruby reach for the notepad but stopped her, breaking out of the hug.

"And don't say it's okay, because it's not," she said sternly.

Ruby nodded, but still managed a smile. Weiss flashed one back before acting on impulse and planting a chaste kiss on Ruby's forehead. When she pulled back, both her and Ruby's faces were as red as the girl's namesake. Still, Ruby just beamed before tackling Weiss in another hug, her strength surprising for so early in the morning. Laughter bubbled out of Weiss before Ruby was silently shaking along with her.

And in that moment, everything was perfect.

When the exhilaration of their affection died down momentarily, Weiss took the time to situate herself more properly on the piano bench. Only then did she look back to Ruby, a slightly coy smile making itself known upon pale lips.

"You know," she began lightly, "if I recall correctly, the only time you've heard me play was from a room over…"

Ruby's eyes shimmered as another beaming smile lit up her entire being.

"Would you like your own personal concert right now?"

A frantic nod of her head, and Weiss saw the perked ears and wagging tail return upon her younger friend. The mental picture, as well as Ruby's sheer joy, made Weiss's own smile widen in turn.

"This song usually has a guitar as its main instrument, but I love it so much I converted it to piano," Weiss explained as way of introduction. "I think you'll like it."

Letting out a slow breath, Weiss forgot everything around her, as was custom to her when preparing to play, and began to produce a soothing melody.

She could see Ruby go still at the first note, attention trained solely on Weiss's fingers as they danced across the keys. Weiss grinned a bit, feeling more warmth from how enraptured Ruby had immediately become.

"I don't know you

But I want you

All the more for that

Words fall through me

And always fool me

And I can't react"

Weiss fought to control her blush as Ruby scooted as close as she could to her, resting her head upon Weiss's shoulder. The heiress could almost see the peaceful smile on Ruby's face as she continued to play.

"And games that never amount

To more than they're meant

Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat

And point it home

We've still got time

Raise your hopeful voice

You had a choice

You've made it now"

As she finished singing the chorus, Weiss rested her own head on top of Ruby's, the two of them snuggling up to the other in the early hours of the morning, music encompassing them and filling them with hope, wonder, and—unbeknownst to the other—love.

It was perfect, Weiss thought.

All too soon for the both of them however, Weiss was playing the song's final notes. Ruby lifted her head slowly, and Weiss had to keep herself from putting it back where it belonged. Still, as Ruby once again reached for the notepad, Weiss eagerly awaited the most important judgment of her life, forget all the concerts she had played since she could remember.

That was beautiful, Weiss. Thank you.

Blushing madly, Weiss managed to utter, "Thank you, Ruby."

An adorable smile snuck onto the crimsonette's face then as the two girls stared in each other's eyes as if stuck in a daze. Slowly, Weiss watched as Ruby began leaning closer and she automatically began doing the same, as if both of them were pulling the other closer with their own magical force of gravity. Ruby's breath was hot against her lips, and Weiss could almost see the static flaring between them. The heat was tantalizing. Weiss would just have to lick her lips and she would touch Ruby's by sheer accident. Just one more centimeter and…

The large grandfather clock in the living room next door began chiming its tune, immediately sending Weiss flying to the other side of the bench, rigid from a kind of paralysis she couldn't explain. She tried not to see the brief look of hurt flash in Ruby's eyes, but she did, and Weiss knew she would fall asleep hating herself.

Ruby just smiled softly once more, shrugging noncommittally as she stood up.

Weiss took another minute to fully gather all her bearings, and only when Ruby cocked her head at her frozen form did she remember how to move.

"T-Think you can sleep now?" she stuttered in a squeak unbefitting for a Schnee.

Giggling silently, Ruby nodded, taking Weiss's hand and heading out of the room at a leisurely pace. Weiss tried to keep her mind from replaying what had almost happened back in the ballroom, but when she found herself thinking instead of Ruby leading her to her bedroom, she realized she was royally screwed either way.

Weiss would never see the devious smirk Ruby bore as they silently got back in Weiss's bed, nor Ruby's red cheeks as she sidled back up to Weiss, wrapping one of the heiress's arms in hers before shutting her eyes.

And Ruby would never know of the dreadful—yet frustratingly pleasant—dreams that plagued Weiss throughout the rest of the night as sleep did indeed find her again.

Thankfully for Weiss, the rest of the weekend was quite enjoyable. Upon waking up that Saturday morning, it was as if the events of last night never happened. Ruby never brought it back up—though how could she really, easily, Weiss found herself thinking over breakfast—and Weiss sure as hell wasn't ready to do so either. Still, it was relieving to know that nothing had seemed to change with them on the surface.

That was, until Weiss remembered what she had wanted to do with Ruby tonight.

How could you make taking a friend out to dinner casual after an almost-kiss the night before?

So, as with most things that Weiss stressed having to deal with, she postponed any mentioning of it until the last possible second. Instead, she and Ruby spent a quiet day inside, Weiss working on her paper, and Ruby entertaining herself with Weiss's gaming consoles that never saw the light of day from herself.

She had finished a good chunk of her paper by the time dinnertime rolled around, and Weiss found she couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer.

Well, after this last card.

"Ruby?"

Said girl turned her head slightly from the TV in front of her, yet it was clear she was still primarily focused on the game she was caught up in. Weiss grinned as she shook her head good-naturedly.

"I'm over here, you know."

The game was paused, and Ruby spun from her spot on the floor to face Weiss abashedly. Weiss hated the fact that it was getting easier to ask things of Ruby, but also couldn't help count it as an accomplishment of sorts. She tried to get that disconcerting thought from her head as quickly as it entered.

"When we return to the Home Monday, do you think you'd be able to tell Dr Ozpin everything you've told me? About your past?"

A shadow fell over Ruby's face then, and Weiss detested herself even more. Still, she persisted, feeling deep in her heart she was doing this for Ruby's benefit.

"He's been your doctor for ten years and doesn't even know the first thing about you," Weiss tried explaining. "Then there's me, someone you've known all of a month, and I know of the demons that taunt you? Ruby, he just wants to help you, and he's a lot more abled to do so than I am."

Ruby gave a firm shake of her head then, and it took Weiss a moment to understand what she was refuting.

"He's a certified doctor, Ruby. What qualifies me to know and not him?"

I trust you.

At least that hoodie had finally found another purpose, Weiss thought idly as Ruby whipped out the notepad from its pocket.

"But you can trust him too," Weiss pressed. "I've known this man all my life, Ruby. I know he's difficult to read, but… He's always been there for me before. More so than my own father."

She saw the questioning look Ruby donned then, and Weiss realized a time was fast approaching where she would have to end up confiding in Ruby just as she had her.

"If you fear your father, he needs to know, Ruby," she persisted. "Please. If nothing else, it'll make me feel better about you when I'm not around."

She could tell that struck something in Ruby as the girl flushed slightly, eyes averting to the carpet beneath her. Silence reigned for a moment before Weiss attempted to seal the deal.

"You don't have to do it immediately," she said. "We can wait until Tuesday so I can be there too, if that will help you feel more comfortable."

Ruby nodded in agreement, but Weiss could tell she was still on edge. Getting up from her desk, she got down on her knees before Ruby, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders.

"Look, I'm sorry to ask this of you Ruby, after I've asked so much already, but I'm just trying to help you; to take care of you."

When Ruby made no move to look up, Weiss leaned forward to press their foreheads together, sighing gently.

"At least think about it," she whispered. "I'm not going to force you to do anything you're not comfortable with, okay?"

Ruby nodded again at the promise before Weiss leaned back, making sure she had her best smile present. Seeing it seemed to put Ruby at ease as she returned the sentiment after only a moment's hesitation.

"To make up for my request…" Weiss forced herself to bite the bullet once more, "Can I…take you out to dinner?"

She almost added 'as a friend' to the end, but the braver part of her decided to let Ruby interpret the invite however she would.

So when Ruby grinned and nodded excitedly, Weiss wasn't too surprised at the butterflies that immediately took up residence in her stomach.

"Great," Weiss mumbled, pink dusting her cheeks from the way Ruby still smiled at her. Clearing her throat gently as to kill the awkward silence before it began, she added, "Are you…hungry now?"

Smile still not vanishing, Ruby nodded quite animatedly, and Weiss found herself chuckling quietly as a result.

"Okay then. I know the perfect place. It's casual, so there's no need for us to change."

Simply just nodding a third time, Ruby dashed to Weiss's bedroom door where her shoes lay. Weiss watched the process fondly for a moment before realizing she was staring, blushed, and then walked to her closet to do the same.

The car ride was silent, Weiss too engrossed in her thoughts to speak to her company.

Or is she my date in this case?

The quick thought sent the butterflies in her stomach into a mad swarm, and Weiss gripped the steering wheel harder as a sense of unease and nerves overcame her. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Weiss had never dated. With how few acquaintances she had, and friends even more so, dating had always seemed just so off the radar. Sparing her passenger a quick glance, Weiss felt heat returning to her cheeks.

But Ruby?

Exactly what was she to her? No doubt they were friends; Ruby had made sure Weiss was certain of that, but some would point out how affectionate they were with the other. More so than platonic "friends" usually were. The blushing, stuttering, even hand holding and head nudges in some cases; they all had screamed a bit more than friendly to Weiss on more than one occasion.

Yet before now she had been too thick or scared to pick up on the fact.

She still didn't know if what she was doing now was right.

She wished she could know how Ruby saw their "relationship." What was going through her mind at this moment? Was she wondering if this was a "date" as well?

Of course, Weiss reminded herself with a nervous swallow, to ask such a thing would no doubt send them flying into the deep end of what they really meant to the other, and Weiss was certain she couldn't have that conversation right now.

She wished she could confide in Blake, but even that was a bit of a stretch at this point. As far as she knew, Weiss and Ruby were still getting to know the other. The heiress had remained pretty vague about the goings-on at their Tuesday meetings; hell, Weiss hadn't even told Blake she had brought Ruby home for the weekend.

Did that secrecy mean anything? Did not coming to your best friend with stuff like this mean Weiss felt she had to hide her relationship with Ruby even from Blake?

She didn't know the answers to any of this. All she knew was that if she continued to think this way, it would put a damper on their evening.

And Ruby didn't deserve that.

So, like Weiss had practiced all throughout her life, she let out a big sigh, and pushed any and all consuming thoughts to the back of her mind, putting on a brave face and a smile.

In essence, she was hiding.

But that's what Weiss did best.

"So, since you like pizza, I'm assuming Italian is a safe bet?" she finally spoke, her voice calm and poised, a sharp dissonance from the fretting little girl locked away inside her.

Ruby's eyes lit up as she licked her lips, and Weiss even swore she heard the girl's stomach grumble in agreement. Grinning, Weiss pulled into a familiar lot.

"Great, because we're here."

Immediately Ruby was out of the car, and Weiss found she was bouncing up and down once she had gotten out herself. Shaking her head amicably at Ruby's behavior, she led the girl inside.

The restaurant was quaint, but welcoming. A family-owned business, Weiss had been coming here since she first started high school. Her parents wouldn't be caught dead in a place as casual as this, but Weiss found it relieving. The people here were super friendly, even kinder than waiters in expensive establishments. While those waiters were kind simply because it was expected of them at such a high-end place, the people here truly cared about their patrons from the bottom of their hearts. Weiss saw this place as a sort of haven. These were people she could turn to; a place she could go to escape.

Not to mention they had the best pasta on the planet.

Seated at a quiet table in the corner, Weiss observed Ruby. The girl was looking about in wonder—most likely having rarely, if ever, been outside the Home—yet there was still a simmering of fear Weiss felt only she would be able to pick up on.

"I-If you're nervous," the silverette spoke up gently, "there's no need to be. I frequent here quite often, so I know all the staff real well. They will all welcome you with open arms as well, Ruby."

Weiss saw any fears wrangled under better control then as Ruby flashed her another token smile. Then, she settled more comfortably into their booth before picking up her menu. Knowing the menu was doing her job for her, Weiss didn't hold back a fond smile.

The way those silver eyes danced across the page, sparkling every now and then at an item that caught the brunette's attention…

Weiss's stomach churned as she quickly tried to quash that train of thought.

Luckily for her, a distraction arrived in the form of their waitress, and the owner of the restaurant as well.

"Weiss!" a girl only slightly older than the heiress chirped. She had hair as short as Ruby's, one strand dyed a deep red as it hung to frame her face. "What's up, girly?"

"Hello. Caity," Weiss greeted cordially. "Just grabbing a bite to eat with a friend."

"I can see that," Caity responded with a wink, Weiss instantly flushing as Ruby averted her gaze to her hands in her lap. The waitress just laughed. "You poor things. What can I get ya?"

"Um, I'll just take my usual please, and just water is fine. Ruby? What do you want?"

Ruby roved over the menu for another quick second before pointing to a single item. Caity made no comment about the girl's peculiar method of ordering, instead just smiling kindly as she wrote the order down.

"Two meatballs okay?" she asked.

Ruby nodded ecstatically, causing both Weiss and Caity to chuckle.

"Be right out, girls!" And, with another wink, the two were left alone.

Silence consumed them.

Weiss bit her lip as she fought for what to say. Glancing up briefly, she saw Ruby in a similar predicament as she pulled at the sleeves of her hoodie, her eyes jumping back and forth between the knife and fork set on either side of her place setting.

"I suppose I haven't been very fair to you since we met, huh?" Weiss blurted suddenly.

Ruby looked up at her, head canted adorably once again. A smile flickered upon Weiss's lips.

"I mean, I've asked so much of you, yet I've never really shared anything personal about myself in return. Would you…like to know anything?"

Ruby nodded, but then shrugged. Weiss figured it was most likely an indication that Ruby didn't care what Weiss told her, just that she'd be glad to listen to anything she wanted to share.

As long as it was another distraction from opening that other can of worms labeled "feelings…"

"I've seen you looking at my scar, and I've noticed the few times you've seemed curious when I casually mention my parents—especially my father. I'd like to finally give you some insight, if you're interested."

Again, a single nod was her answer, Ruby seeming just as enraptured as she had last night in the ballroom.

Sighing, Weiss began her tale.

"My parents have always been a bit...distant. Owning the Home as they do, they're working more often than they are not. But, it's not just the Home here; did you know they have smaller facilities spread across the country?" Ruby shook her head, and Weiss smiled at her engagement. "So, needless to say, they also travel a lot. The Home here may be the biggest, but it's not stopping them from wanting to expand.

"That's why they've been away lately. They went overseas in hopes to open their first facility out of the country, and that's proving a lot harder than they thought. They've been gone a month now, and I still don't know when they'll be back.

"They might even miss my graduation…"

Feeling something brush against her leg, Weiss looked under the table to see Ruby's foot trailing up and down her leg in what the girl most likely hoped to be a comforting action. Weiss smiled a bit.

"Their absence has also meant a bigger workload for me, which is why I come to the Home every Friday and, coincidentally, met you," Weiss continued, heart fluttering as Ruby flushed at the mention of her. "My father wants me to take over the company someday, but I don't want that. Still, it's best for me to just go along with his dream for now. Ideally, once I graduate high school I'll go off to college on my own and forge my own path, but that will most likely mean cutting ties with my parents."

Chuckling somewhat bitterly, Weiss huffed, choosing to look down at her lap.

"I don't even really know what I want to do with my life, I just know I don't want to follow my father's wishes like a sheep in a herd."

Ruby's foot was back against her calf at that, and Weiss suppressed a shiver.

"A-Anyway," she cleared her throat, "I've never had the best relationship with my parents, but that's where music and fencing come in. While it was my father's wishes that got me into music in the first place, it's the only thing he's pushed me into that I've actually come to enjoy. Fencing I did against his desires, both him and my mother adamantly stating it's not the proper sport for a lady. No sport is, really.

"But fencing just makes me feel so free; so powerful." Pausing, she looked at Ruby and smiled. "You'll have to come to the final tournament of the year so you can see what I mean. It'd…mean a lot if you came."

Blushing once more, Ruby nodded, and Weiss knew that nod was a promise.

"However, fencing is how I got this scar." Idly, Weiss trailed the damaged skin across her left eye. "Did you know I have a sister? She's nine years older than me, so she's off doing her own thing now, but she was helping me practice when we were younger—stupidly not using masks—when she accidentally got me in the eye with her rapier. Father was livid, but she took his scolding, having grown up listening to him just like me."

A tantalizing aroma made Weiss look away from Ruby and their table to see Caity approaching with their food.

"Anyway, that's a condensed version of what makes me me. I just felt obligated to open up to you like you've opened up to me."

Another caress of her calf, and Ruby mouthed a grateful thank you across the table. Weiss grinned before both of them were distracted by amazing food and the most relaxing atmosphere.

The atmosphere of complete understanding, unity, and friendship.

Weiss hoped that feeling would never dissipate.

Tuesday morning found Weiss standing outside her father's office at home.

The office she was always too intimidated by to enter.

The office she and Blake often spoke conspiratorially of rifling through to find dirt on her father.

Yet now she really was about to enter in order to search for something.

Search for Ruby.

The lack of any record of the girl at the Home had sent up red flags immediately, yet Weiss was certain her father had some record of the girl tucked away here. Whenever someone tells you to never enter a particular room, even going as far as to mention all cabinets and computers inside said room are locked and password protected, you can't help getting the smallest bit curious.

And in Weiss's case, suspicious.

She had known for years now where her father hid the keys to this room, yet had always remained just scared enough to not breach his privacy. Now, however, she was empowered by her motive, and wouldn't let her father hide anything in the shadows anymore.

Picking a key on the ring she carried at random, it took her three out of four tries to get the door open. Once inside, the dark and lingering shadows eerily crept up on her, as if her father's own means of security to deter any unwelcomed visitors.

Regardless, Weiss powered through, flipping the lights on as she scurried to her father's desk. Tapping a key on the keyboard, the computer flared to life, immediately asking for a password.

Now came the tricky part.

Weiss knew her father wasn't fool enough to leave anything with the password laying around; he simply kept it stored in his mind. Still, she was adamant to try.

Three password attempts later, however, she was locked out, and Weiss cursed her luck. As her eyes traveled to the row of filing cabinets though, she realized all might not be lost.

Only one of those cabinets was locked, and soon enough, Weiss had it open.

Folders with names upon names were what greeted her, and while her stomach lurched uncertainly, her brain still screamed jackpot. She searched through the files until she came upon the one she sought.

Rose, Ruby.

Anticipation mounting, Weiss pulled the file out, relieved to see there was actually paper inside, no matter how thin the folder was. Yet, before she could even open it, something small and square fluttered out of it.

It landed face down and Weiss stooped to pick it up…

And almost immediately dropped it again when she saw what it was.

It was an old Polaroid photograph of Ruby as a child, beaming up at the other person in the photo she had an arm wrapped around.

The long white ponytail next to her gave everything away.

It was a picture of Ruby and Weiss.