Sometimes in our life

We all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's

Always tomorrow

Bill Withers, "Lean on Me"

It was a peaceful night in the wilds of Vale. Insofar as any night in "Grimm country" could ever be considered peaceful, but indeed it was. The sky held not a single cloud as the shattered moon hung overhead. The wind gently traveled to the east, bringing the cool winds of midwinter with it. In the great coniferous forest, not a sound was made, as though nature itself had bedded down for that long winter's nap. In other words, a perfect venue for Lie Ren to practice his evening meditations.

Or at least it would be, were this clearing not already occupied by his crimson-clad friend.

Ruby Rose lay there on the forest floor, her eyes gently scanning the night sky. She seemed to be looking for… something.

"Hello, Ruby," Ren said at last.

Ruby's head turned to find the source of the greeting. "Oh. Hey, Ren."

"What are you doing out here? I thought you'd be over with Jaune and Nora."

"Yeah, well… no offense to them, but I'm not really in the mood for reminiscing by the fireside right now."

"Really? You're usually so-"

"I know, I know. I just feel like I'd bring it all down right now." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Too many dark thoughts."

Ren took a seat next to her. "Still thinking about what happened at Beacon?"

"I try to forget about all that stuff when I can… avoid attracting Grimm, you know…" She laughed, but it was dry. Mirthless. "But times like this… in the dead of night, when it's just me, the moon, and the stars…"

"It all comes flooding back, doesn't it?"

"…I'm almost scared to close my eyes now," Ruby said, as she sat up, arms folded across her knees. "I'm just terrified of what I'll see next. Yang without her arm, that terrifying dragon, Pyrrha dying in front of me because I was too late, Penny…" She squinted her eyes. "Oh, God, Penny…" Her head toppled over into Ren's lap, and she sobbed.

Very unsure of what to do, Ren brought her up to his shoulder, and gently hugged her with one arm.

"And what's worse," she choked out, her cheeks streaming with tears, "is that Cinder is still out there, planning something terrible. I just know it, Ren! We have to stop her!"

"And we will, Ruby," Ren said, as he softly wiped the tears from her face. "But for now, at least, you need to relax."

"Okay… Okay. I'll… I'll try to relax."

"Would you like to meditate with me?"

"Okay… I think that would help."

"Sit up." She did. "Cross your legs." Ruby tucked her legs under her. "Place your hands on your knees." She did.

"Now. Breathe slowly. In…" Both inhaled. "And out." Both exhaled. "In… and out."

With every inhale and exhale, Ruby could feel her body loosen. Muscles that she didn't know were tense relaxed. For a brief moment, she felt completely, irrevocably… peaceful.

"Now, how are you feeling, Ruby?"

"I feel… calm…"

"If you like, Ruby… We could do this again another evening."

"I… I'd like that."

They both stood up, just as it reached midnight.

"I'm very glad I could help you, Ruby."

She took his hand. "Ren… I know it's been hard for all of us. But you've been the strongest of all four of us these past two months. You've been all our rock to clutch in this storm." She leaned onto his chest, her hand still in his. "My rock."

Ren smiled softly, wrapping his arm around Ruby. "It's as my father always said: We all need somebody to lean on."

"Then… Who do you lean on? Who's your rock?"

Ren thought for a moment. "I… I never thought I needed one."

"Well, that's just silly." She pulled back, looking into his magenta eyes. "Tell you what: I'll be your rock. When I'm feeling down, I'll lean on you. And if you ever feel down, you lean on me. And we'll just… lean on each other." Her silver eyes seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. "Okay?"

Ren put a gentle hand to her face, which she leaned into.

"Okay."

And as their lips met, the last of Ruby's fears and demons were swept away. And at that moment… everything was just right.

Author's Note: There. Hopefully, that washed away all the bad feels of the Pyrrha chapter. And if not… Well, Cardin's chapter is coming up next, so expect mirthful hijinx.