Chapter IX – Team RWBY
Ruby's eyes opened as the alarm chirped for her morning ritual the next day, but as she went to extricate herself from her lover, she noticed that Weiss was no longer with her. I must have been more tired than I originally thought. I don't hurt much though. The last thought completing as she sat up and stretched. Weiss returned from the bathroom by this point and immediately began to fret over Ruby. It took the injured huntress almost a full minute of her Weiss special puppy dog eyes for her to be allowed to even partake. The concession being that as Ruby would open the windows, that Weiss would grab the coffee – that was usually Ruby's job. A few moments later, the two sat hand in hand looking at the sunrise, as they had for many years. Ruby thought back to her fight the previous night. Both the one with the Grimm and later the one for her life.
" You know, the only thing I could think about while I was fighting the Dragon was you and Summer, and when I passed out after Nora put me back together I dreamed of you two as well," Ruby leaned into her partner and gave her a gentle kiss on the shoulder. "By the way, I am holding you to our little promise last night ya know. Soo, whenever you feel like attacking me, feel free." Ruby's head shook as Weiss let out a small giggle, like that of a teenager talking about their crushes, and the injured girl took this as acknowledgment.
The door to the master bedroom lightly rattled in its hinges as someone knocked on it. The parents had a feeling that it would be their young one, checking on them. It wasn't often, but last night was a bit on the wild side.
Instead it was Yang that appeared before them. "You two doing okay? Blake thought it would be nice if we made you breakfast today, seeing as you just got home, and your injured." Ruby had almost forgotten that her sister had elected to stay and help with her injuries, which, now thinking on, she had had worse and Yang knew that. Hehe, she must have just been looking for a reason to stay and visit for a few days. I'm glad they are here. Ruby chuckled aloud as her overbearing sister seemed to reappear as though from a dream almost six years ago.
" That sounds delightful, thank you Yang." Weiss had been the one who responded while Ruby was lost in thought
"Make sure you make enough for six people though. Summer will surprise you," Ruby chimed in, knowing that the little girl could eat her weight in food at one sitting. "Speaking of which we should probably make sure she is getting up soon, and getting ready for the day." Ruby added that last bit as she stood to take care of that when she smelled the kitchen, and the scent of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and all of the things you should find in a hearty country breakfast.
"I've already taken care of that. She really is a big help in the kitchen you know." Blake appeared in the door frame. "She came down a few minutes ago, so I had her get ready and she asked if she could help me." Blake heard the little girl call for " Aunt Blake!" and left the siblings to their own devices, so she could finish breakfast.
A sense of pride overcame the parents at the girls effort to help her parents. "I'm going to call Atlas Academy and let them know that they will need a sub for the day." Weiss picked up her scroll and made her call as she got ready.
"Dad called this morning, I filled him in about last night, and he wants to come over to check on us. I haven't seen him since your wedding." Yang sat on the edge of the bed near where Ruby still sat, soaking in the healing sunrise.
"He sounded calm about it, but you know how he really is. You know what today is, don't you? I'm sure he was scared to death." Ruby almost gasped as, in her morning thoughts it hadn't crossed her mind. This day had as nearly as much importance to her as her own wedding. The day of her mothers death.
It did not hold as much meaning for Yang as her own mother was still living, even if she was a rogue that danced on the edge of society.
"Yea, I need to go see her, maybe my girls will want to come with me and dad." Ruby mused, her thoughts floating to the woman who seemingly lived on in her granddaughter. Ruby stood and made her way to the bathroom just as Weiss hung up the phone. Yang and Weiss chatted for a moment before Yang excused herself to go help Blake and give them some space.
A sultry growl came suddenly behind Ruby and a little nibble, earning Weiss less than she had wanted – a sigh of pleasure and comfort – and nothing more. Ruby had seemed to be ready earlier and had announced that she would be the one to initiate if Weiss hadn't done so by the end of the day. Then it hit her. It was her mother's death anniversary. Not usually a somber day, but one more for reverence and peace, it seemed to hit home a little harder, with Ruby's life on the line within hours of the anniversary. Weiss chose to hold her partner instead of the advance she had planned on entering the bathroom. She dried Ruby's hair for her, now nearly to her buttocks and gently kissed the back of her neck.
"Do you want me to go with you today? Do you feel like you can make it out there like this?" Weiss asked of her stunning wife. Injured or not, Ruby still had the same effect on her as she had when they started their journey together.
"I can make the trip, and with dad coming today I was hoping that we might let Summer choose this year, whether she wants to stay and play with the other two, or come with us. What do you think?" Ruby knew that Weiss was going to be fine with it, but chose to make the small talk as they readied themselves.
" Good plan, now get dressed and come with me to breakfast, I may perish away to dust if I don't eat soon." Weiss held out her hand, to help Ruby up, the woman dressed and they made the trip downstairs to find that Yang had taken Blake's place in the kitchen. The yellow haired woman was busy putting the newly finished food when she noticed the two coming down the stairs. Yang had been hoping they would come soon, and pointed to the adorable, yet comical sight in the living room.
Blake was sitting on the couch reading to Summer while the little girl played with the Faunus' cat ears. Something that had only been acceptable for Yang to do since the inception of the relationship.
"Blake are you sure that your okay with her doing that?" Weiss asked of the raven haired woman on her couch, knowing that had anyone done this in the past, they risked being shot by her.
Stifling a purr, Blake nodded, never breaking the line she was reading to the hyperactive Summer. As the parents made it into the living room and were about to get breakfast, when Taiyang opened the door, depositing his own weapon amid the four that were already by the door. Without a word he strode to his youngest daughter, and pulled her into a gentle hug, beckoning for his daughter, daughters in law, and his granddaughter to join them. The others let go fairly quickly, but Weiss and Ruby held to Taiyang. Weiss had fallen in quickly with the man years ago, loving the stories he told of her wife in childhood.
From in between them he whispered " I can't believe I almost lost you both to this horrible day." Taiyang had never been one to talk much about the day his wife passed, choosing to honor her with her favorite flowers every year, white roses.
"Dad, I'm fine really. I've had worse." Ruby said as she pulled away from her father. She felt the icy blue eyes burn a hole in the side of her head as she said it, and now that Weiss was not impressed. "I'm just glad I was able to get home." This served to soften Weiss' gaze, as she could think of nothing that made her happier than to have the mother of her daughter home in her arms.
Breakfast passed quietly, as they were all so hungry that they didn't really stop to make conversation until they had finished. Weiss pulled Yang aside afterwards and asked if she would mind watching Summer, should she choose to stay home with the two, while herself, Ruby and Taiyang would pay homage to the girls namesake. Yang agreed without question, knowing that Blake was quickly becoming infatuated with her niece.
Ruby leaned down to Summer, "Hey cutie, do you want to come with us to see grandma's grave or stay here and play with Aunt Blake and Aunt Yang?" the reply from her daughter came immediately as she jumped on the couched and grabbed hold of Blake by the ears. " I guess we have our answer. We won't be too long, but please make sure she gets lunch while we are gone." the doting Yang and Blake nodded and waved the three out the door.
The trip to the cliff side felt much shorter this year, as Ruby and Weiss filled Taiyang on the details of the mission that Ruby had just returned from. When they reached the cliff, the girls hung back as their father placed the bouquet in front of the tombstone. "Hey honey, our girls are doing really well, and our granddaughter has your eyes, just like Ruby. Please make sure you take extra special care watching them," the man had to stop as his emotion choked off his words. "They seem to love trouble. Just like you and I. I love you, Summer."
As her father returned to them, Ruby passed him on her way to the grave. "Hey mom, don't freak out okay? I know I look bad, but I will be fine. I have good friends to patch me up. Summer is doing well, and she seems to have taken to Blake really well. I miss you every day, so please make sure that your happy where you are, so I don't have to worry about you. I love you mom, see you next time." her short conversation with her mother always seemed to lift Ruby's spirits.
Over the years, as Weiss had come with Ruby to this site, she had never wanted to intrude on the reverent, sacred tradition. This year something felt different. As the father and daughter turned to leave, Weiss walked the opposite direction. This stopped the two in their tracks, but they seemed to understand what was happening.
" Hello Summer, I've been coming here for years, with our Ruby, but until now, it never felt like my place to say anything. I want to thank you." Tears streamed down Weiss' face as she stood at the memorial. " Thank you for bringing Ruby into this world and into my life. For bringing her back when I thought I lost her. For watching over her and Summer, and so much more. My own mother was taken from me like you were taken from her. But I feel like your right here beside us. Thank you, Summer Rose, I never got a chance to meet you but I love you all the same for bringing me Ruby."
Before she lost the rest of her composure, the woman turned to Ruby, took her hand, and the three started back to the house. Weiss looked back to the cliff as they entered the woods, and could have sworn she saw a woman with silver eyes and a white cloak waving them goodbye. Weiss smiled and leaned into Ruby.
As Taiyang departed, the red and white members of team RWBY entered their home to find their daughter and the black and yellow members waiting at the dinner table with food. Weiss kissed Ruby gently and led her to the table. Dinner was uneventful, aside from the food fight that Yang started with Summer. That night, as the house finally settled in for the evening, Ruby lay in her bed, waiting for Weiss. When she appeared, though, she wore a robe, and not her usual night gown. Ruby cast a quizzical look to her wife, who responded by dropping the robe to the floor.
"You've been working so hard lately, and now your hurt. So let me take care of you." Words dripping with sensuality, Weiss made a slow sashay to the bed, where she ducked beneath the blanket, and beneath the remainder of Ruby's clothes. The sensation of feeling, but not being able to see what Weiss was doing was completely new to her, as while they had experimented with many different sexual exploits, one thing they both really enjoyed was seeing the looks of pleasure on the face of their partner. That night, Blake and Yang put earmuffs on to avoid the sounds of the couple next door.
The next few days passed peacefully, as the members of team RWBY lounged in the house. Ruby's strength was almost fully back, and she was reading to Summer one evening while Weiss and Yang made dinner. Blake had opted to listen her former leader read, to pass the time.
Summer had just slipped into unconsciousness, followed shortly by Blake, when Qrow walked into the door. "Uncle Qrow! How are you?" Ruby greeted her favorite uncle quickly following up with "What are you doing here?" if one thing hadn't changed, it was the rivalry between the Schnees and Qrow. Weiss was no exception to this rule, but had relaxed her stance with him immensely, at the behest of her wife.
"Ty told me that you had been hurt, and I was concerned. You cant leave Weiss to be a single parent you know." His words struck home with Weiss and Ruby, as they realized the gravity of them. They had both been victims of the same plight through their early years. Qrow did not stay long, as was his custom. He had conveyed his message, gave Summer a kiss on the cheek and left, not bothering to update his nieces on his work protecting the Maidens of the Seasons.
That night after a particularly steamy round, Ruby lay half on top of Weiss. She brushed the white hair away and tucked some away behind her ear. It had been years since Weiss had listened to the message that Ruby had recorded for her. She played it, and reminded Ruby. "Don't forget your promise alright?"
Ruby placed a deeply passionate kiss on her lips, choosing to reply simply. " Never will. I love you, Weiss Schnee-Rose." Even years after the marriage, hearing their last names together sent a shiver of pleasure up Weiss' spine.
"As I love you, Ruby Schnee-Rose" Weiss managed before the folds of sleep enveloped her. Ruby followed shortly afterwards.
At the end of the week, after the daily ritual, the pair made their way downstairs to prepare breakfast for everyone. After they had sated their hunger, Ruby and Summer sneaked away to pilfer cookies from the counter that Yang had made the night before. The two peas in a pod sat happily in the lap of Weiss as she read the local mission boards.
" Ruby, do you think your father would mind watching Summer for the day?" Weiss had caught sight of a mission that was rated for freshman students at the academy, and wondered how the rest of them felt on going on a mission together, for old times sake.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Why?" Weiss handed her scroll with the mission pulled up to Ruby. The scythe wielder simply nodded. " you two feel up for a milk run?" Ruby directed her next question to the dozing couple across from her.
" so long as we don't have to go far." Blake had been decidedly obsessed with her niece from day two at the house, and wanted to get back to play with her for a while longer before they had to leave tonight. Yang agreed.
Ruby made the call as Weiss accepted the mission for them. As they all readied themselves for the day, a sense of nostalgia came over them all. A few minutes later, Taiyang showed up.
"we should be back in a few hours. Four at the latest." Ruby promised both Summer and her father. The leader of team RWBY handed her wife the sword that had only been used to train for the last six years, and grabbed her own battle worn Crescent Rose. The four departed, and walked the 4 miles to the back of Beowolves that were harassing the nearby town of Patch.
Ruby threw her head back in open laughter at the sight. Four grown women, all battle tested, had arrived to hunt down 5 Beowolves. 2 had toppled the largest terrorist organization ever seen by themselves. Another was once known as the Ice queen of huntresses, for her ability to seemingly shatter the Grimm like ice. Then there was Ruby. The other member's achievement paled in comparison. The list would be as long as the woman was tall if you were to write it down. It seemed she had lived up to the legend of the silver eyed warriors. In a matter of minutes they had dispatched them.
"Here I told them four hours and this took maybe a grand total of 25 minutes!" Ruby laughed as they headed back. It felt good to get into the field again, even if it was for one lousy Beowulf. "Thank you Weiss." Ruby whispered into her ear, knowing that this had been her plan all along. She always knew how to cheer Ruby up. "Thank you guys too! Definitely a blast from the past."
"Aside from the fact that, back then, we would have panicked at the mission we just completed." Blake surmised as they made their way back to the house.
"Agreed. Do you think now is a good time to tell them?" Yang asked of her partner.
" I think so."
" Ruby, Weiss, we are moving HQ to the southern end of Vale, it is only a 15 minute drive to Patch. We also just bought a home near where we just were." Yang paused to allow this information to sink in, and was tackled by Ruby out of her excitement.
" Yay! I'm so happy your coming home, you guys!" Ruby tickled Yang like they were seventeen again.
"You know, I don't know what Summer would do without her new playmates." Weiss teased Blake, who responded with a menacing glare. It was about this time that team RWBY had arrived in front of the Schnee-Rose home. They bid their goodbyes, albeit with less tears than the last time they had done this, because they knew that they would be returning soon.
Ruby and Weiss entered the house where Taiyang and Summer both slept on the couch, with cookie crumbs on their respective shirts.
"You know, she's definitely our child, huh?" Weiss grabbed Ruby from behind and as Ruby pressed the button to play the song written oh so long ago, the two danced. When the song had finished and the lovers returned to earth, they heard clapping from the couch.
"Bravo! You guys certain came home early." Taiyang said as he leaned on his knees on the couch. Summer had taken to imitating her grandpa and was comically perched on the edge of the couch. "The other two head home already?" His expression dropped as he thought of the fact he would not see his daughter and her wife for possibly another few years.
Noticing this, Weiss recounted the tale that had been told to them, just a few minutes prior. Armed with this information he bid a quick goodbye to his girls and left to call Yang to congratulate her. As the house which had been so lively calmed down again, Weiss sat on the couch, tired after a long day of hunting, and pulled a sleeping Summer into her arms and promptly fell asleep. Ruby eased herself behind her family and hummed a lilting tune as her world returned to normal once again. Weiss faded back into consciousness just before Ruby lost hers.
"I love you, Ruby Schnee-Rose" She said, nuzzling into her neck.
"I love you Weiss Schnee-Rose" Ruby gave her reply as the family fell back to sleep. She was happy, her family was happy, and all was right in their little slice of heaven. In the window, a White Rose began to bloom.
/there will be an Epilogue that i will be posting tomorrow night./ \\\\We're not done yet!