"Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?"

― Mary Manin Morrissey

Chapter 9-

As Ruby fell down through the ocean she closed her eyes, the wave going over the top of her as she was just out of range of the current underneath.

Ruby felt herself get peace as her mind could only think one thing, I'll see you soon Weiss was all she could think of as she fell down.

That was until another voice in her head spoke.

Neo. Don't get lost in the past. This second voice said to her, telling her to keep going instead of losing herself.

Opening her eyes Ruby found fresh determination. No longer at peace with herself she started to fight against the water, swimming up with only one intention in her mind. Return to Neo. Keep moving forward. She repeated to herself as her head broke the surface and she spotted one of the rescue jet skis.

Swimming over to the ski she was quickly pulled aboard and they cut through the water towards the closest boat, and Neo.

Neo was prepared to dive in after Ruby, even going so far as to start taking off her clothes but was held back by someone on the boat, so instead started to fight with him to get in after Ruby.

"Stop. Look!" Qrow shouted pointing towards where a jet ski was coming over to them, someone laying on the board and another person holding them on.

Neo scrambled along the floor of the boat to the edge where Ruby was pulled aboard, she was alive and breathing heavily, coughing up some water but smiling up towards Neo, pulling her into a kiss as she said, "I love you. I love you so much." Ruby said as she was assaulted by more kisses.

Neo sat right next to Ruby, pulling her into a kiss instantly as she realised she was safe and alright, and if she wasn't stopped by a doctor on board she would have kept kissing Ruby

"I'm alright doc, wasn't under for long but went rather far." Ruby said cheerfully but noticeable out of breath.

"Either way I want to check you over." He said, all the while the commentators were talking about what happened, wondering what was going to happen now although nothing was heard from Ruby about her status and also her decision. If the doctor declared her fit she could still go back out but if the doctor didn't she had no choice.

"So can I head back out?" Ruby asked, clear determination in her voice.

"I can't find anything wrong with you, but I still want to have you checked out at a hospital." He explained.

"But can I go back out?" Ruby asked again.

"I advise heavily against it but…I don't have anything to hold you back. You seem fine." He stated.

Ruby smiled as she started to stand, bringing Neo with her. "This choice is down to you. I would love to go back in and win this, but that's already one close shave today. If you don't want me to go out, I won't." Ruby said to Neo, determined to go back out but also happy at the same time to sit back as she knew her limits.

Neo searched Ruby's eyes, finding nothing but love and trust in them. It was clear that Ruby wanted to go back out, that much in her words and eyes but at the same time she knew Ruby would happily sit back and retire from the event in general.

But Neo felt like she couldn't do that to Ruby, not with how happy she had been the last week here and how determined she was to win. "Go. Before I change my mind and keep you here. But you better come back to me, or I'll kick your ass back from the dead." Neo said firmly and with one last kiss planted on Ruby's lips she handed her board to Ruby who promptly took it and dived back in.

"Go get it kid." Qrow shouted after Ruby, pulling Neo up next to him so they could watch.

It didn't take long, all Ruby needed to do was catch a wave successfully and the one she chose was one of the largest of the day, but she successfully caught the wave, having the ride of her life before she jumped into the sea.

She made her way back to the boat, practically glowing as she rushed up onto the boat, ripping her leash off her leg as she ran up to Neo, blitzing past the camera crew to grab Neo, spinning the shorter girl around in excitement.

Pulling Neo into a deep kiss they both forgot about the camera watching them both and it wasn't until they broke apart they realise there was a camera there and a man waiting to interview Ruby.

The man was smiling at Ruby as the camera kept rolling on the pair and smiling back Ruby kept a hold of Neo as she went over to the man.

"Hello Ruby, it's been a while since we've seen you on the circuit. Are you announcing your comeback with this massive win?" He asked, holding the microphone up to Ruby.

"It has been hasn't it?" Ruby said cheerfully, "And yeah I am, I'm coming back slowly but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, so I had to take it. My amazing girlfriend here was a massive part of the reason I accepted the invite." Ruby answered.

"How so?" The man asked.

"As I'm sure you know, a year and a half ago I lost my than girlfriend in a shark attack. I've been rather reclusive over the last year and well I saw this amazingly cute girl struggling to surf so I went to help out and well one thing led to another and here we are. She sort of convinced me to get back into things and the invite to this event came at the right time." Ruby replied.

"So what's next for you?" He asked finally.

"Great question. I'm not entirely sure, you might see me at a few events but I know what I'm aiming for and it'll be a surprise." Ruby said with a wink, kissing Neo again on camera before they left the reporter.

That night was rather eventful for Ruby, she was given the award and even some encouragement from Tukson and an offer to join him big wave surfing, but Ruby declined with a look at Neo.

He seemed to understand and said that the offer was always there and if she wanted to, and she could always get in contact with him if she chose to.

They had another meal to celebrate Ruby's success but that evening wasn't one for rest for Ruby or Neo. It was their last day together for a little while as Neo had to return home the next day, so they spent the evening making love to each other until finally falling asleep in each other's arms.

A/N

Ignore the shortness, I've got one last chapter left before the end and that'll be released tomorrow as I didn't want to do it as one big chapter.

So what did you think? Good? Bad? See any of the references? Oh and that quote I used, I found it and been waiting to use it for this moment, I don't know why it just spoke to me on a level I can't really understand that I immediately knew when I would use this and have been holding back on it ever since.

Not much more to say other than the fact this will be over tomorrow, I might take a little break because I'm actually going away next week. Ironically I'm going away to Woolacombe, where this story was first thought up and was based in so hopefully I get some surf time in and get some great video of it, but as always thank you so much for reading this, I love how this story had gotten so much interest, even if it's not as much as my other stories.

So until next time. Thank you. ^_^

Also I may have, sort of accidently started another story. (On top of like fifty ideas for other things :P) and weirdly enough has a sort of RubyxNeoxAmber feel to it. Oh and if you know what a Perpetual that gives you some clue ;)