Ruby thrashed in the dark water, her eyes wide with fear as she searched desperately for the surface. Water rushed into her mouth as she tried to scream, and it burned down into her lungs.

Ruby jerked awake with a cry, casting her eyes wildly about. Drawing the blankets close around her, Ruby sank back into her pillow as tears welled in her eyes and she choked back a sob. Rolling onto her side, the brunette kicked at the sheets, trying to wrap them around her legs before rolling onto her other side to try and tighten the cocoon, and found herself nose to nose with a pale, sleeping, and most beautiful face.

"WAHHH!"

Ruby jerked backwards, rolling away from Weiss and onto the floor, a tangled mess of blankets and limbs.

"Wha- Ruby?" Weiss's head appeared over the side of the bed, bleary-eyed. "Ruby relax, relax it's just me!" she said quickly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Are you... are you alright?"

"I... I think so." Ruby untangled herself from the blankets as she climbed back onto the bed, rewrapping herself, and giving one to Weiss. "Why..." Ruby's eyes widened and she blushed. "Why are we in the same bed?"

Weiss looked away, trying to hide the spreading redness in her own cheeks. "I didn't want to leave you alone." she said carefully. "You were unconscious and cold and Yang had no idea what to do, so I told her I would watch you as she got some rest."

"But... why are we in the same bed?"

"Did you listen to a word I said? I didn't want to leave you, you dunce!"

"R... right." Ruby wrapped her arms round herself, burying her face in her pillow. "Thanks. For being here."

Weiss stared pointedly at the ceiling, not daring to look at Ruby. "You're... I'm happy to be here." Closing her eyes, Weiss tossed her blanket over the other girl, rolling onto her side. Happy to be there... Weiss didn't want to acknowledge how true those words were.

The last thing Weiss expected when she awoke was a face snuggled into her shoulder, and she could make neither heads nor tails of the tangle of limbs with which Ruby had bound them together. Weiss closed her eyes as she held Ruby, laying back her head and smiling. She could be- Stiffening, it was all Weiss could do not to throw the sleeping girl off her. She had to leave, she had to get out of the town, she was leaving as soon as soon as Myrtenaster was repaired. She refused to acknowledge she had no idea where to go, aside from somewhere people didn't know her, couldn't associate her with her father's company. She didn't want to be driven out of the town. She had no choice. Weiss had to leave before that happened.

Breathing deeply, Weiss forced her body to relax. The last thing she wanted was for Ruby to wake up. Closing her eyes, Weiss wrapped her arms around the brunette, closing her eyes. She could enjoy the moment while it lasted, at the very least.

Ruby woke a few minutes later. "Mmmm..." she snuggled into Weiss, eyes still closed. "Hey."

"Good morning..." Weiss murmured.

"Thanks for staying with me."

"You're..." Weiss pursed her lips. "You're welcome." She muttered. "It was my pleasure." Weiss looked away. She hated being the one to suggest getting up. She hated being the one the break the embrace, pulling away. She hated hurrying from the room, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. Fleeing the house, Weiss hated her father for dying, she hated the company for being her inheritance, and she hated herself for running away.

Weiss was slumped over in Myrtenaster, soaked through, when Yang opened the shed.

"I can't say I'm surprised that this is where you disappeared to. The way you talk about her... you really love her don't you? She's your rock, your unicorn who keeps you safe. We've been careful with her, don't worry. What do you think so far?"

"How... what's the fastest time you can have her ready? Forgetting about the luxuries, or making her look nice, how fast can you make her seaworthy? I'll pay any extra costs."

Yang blinked. "Where's this coming from? I thought you liked it here, and you've really hit it off with Ruby. She'd hate to see you leave."

"Please... just answer the question."

"Probably... about a week? If I can get Sun to help, anyway. Why? What's happening?"

"Nothing I... I just need to leave. You won't tell Ruby, will you?"

"Of course I'm telling Ruby! Aside from Blake and Jaune you're her probably best friend!"

"Jaune's the blond boy, right? Swaps between lacking in confidence and having far too much?"

"That's him. You've met?"

"He came by the shop once while you were out."

"You should meet his girlfriend. That skinny thing's dating the most athletic girl in the town. She could run anyone into the ground. You'd be surprised how suited they are."

"Really? No, please just... make Myrtenaster seaworthy. I'll pay whatever it takes to get Sun to help."

"Alright... but I'm telling Ruby when I get home. She's working on Crescent Rose right now, could you take that wheel to her?" Yang gestured at the wheel she'd fished from the waters the other night.

"Myrtenaster's wheel?"

"We figured you'd want one that isn't broken."

"No, of course, I'll... I'll take it to her."

The first thing Weiss noticed when she stepped into the shed was the scrapheap that dominated the space. Crescent Rose was a beautiful scrapheap though; you just had to view it from the right perspective. A lot of things were very different when viewed through Ruby's eyes. Ruby herself however, was nowhere to be seen. What was visible was a discarded red hoodie alongside crumpled blue jeans.

"Ho.. i! i! oe ea.." Weiss groaned as she realized where the grunts were coming from. That bloody girl... "E- i! ie ooh oh... No!" A loud clatter sounded from inside the ship's hull. "Nooo... Okay! Just gotta..."

"Ruby?"

"Ah!" CLANG "Ow... Weiss? Is that you?"

"Yes it's me!" Weiss groaned, following Ruby's voice to the back of the ship. "What are you doing in there?"

"The lights weren't working and I didn't want to take them out so I decided to try and fix it without removing anything and I think I might be stuck. I dropped my torch."

"I heard that happen. Where are you and how do I get to you?"

"Near the back. There are some panels missing from inside the cabins, so I climbed in through there. I think there's a spare torch somewhere as well?"

"Are you asking me if I've seen it then I haven't." Weiss frowned as she climbed inside the boat and started checking drawers. "Wait, I have it. What do you need me to do?"

"Just... can you climb inside and give me some light? My torch rolled somewhere and I can't see a thing where I am."

"I swear..." Weiss muttered as she cautiously entered the hull. "Ruby Rose you have got to be the biggest dolt I have ever seen!"

It took a little time but after a lot of stretching, pleading from Ruby and "Dolt"s from Weiss, Ruby managed to not only escape the hull, but retrieve her lost torch in the process. And so Weiss was left to gift Myrtenaster's wheel to an oil-stained, bruised Ruby in nothing but a tank top and underwear.

"You mean it?!" Ruby gasped, rushing over to her present. "It can go on Crescent Rose?! This is the best present ever! Thank you!" Ruby dashed into a surprised Weiss, engulfing her in a painful hug.

"Ah! Ruby!"

"OhmygodI'msorry!" Releasing Weiss, Ruby threw her hands up, staring at Weiss's ribs. "I forgot! I'm sorry!"

"It's... fine Ruby," Weiss gasped. "You can hug me, now that you've already destroyed my dress with that first one. Just be gentle, please?"

"Thanks." Ruby returned to Weiss's arms, holding her softly, whispering. "This is the best present ever." Ruby was even redder than her namesake when she pulled away slightly, before darting in to kiss Weiss.

And I AM ALIVE!

Here is your long awaited sixth chapter, and it was most certainly a pleasure to write!
You know what's even more of a pleasure though? Reading your reviews! So please review with everything you've got! Praise me! Love me! Please don't hate me!
But you know that reviews are what I live for.

Until next time!