Epilogue

Ten years have passed since Ruby Schnee-Rose and Weiss Schnee-Rose granduated from Beacon Academy. The small home that they shared with their daughter, Summer, was fun that was full of love, laughter, and life. It was not uncommon for the house to smell of sugar cookies, which were the favorite sweet of the young girl – something that she shared with Ruby. This morning, as Weiss interrupted her work to make sure that her eight year old was ready for school, Ruby sat at the workstation that she had set up to maintain her weapon.

Ruby looked at the time. 7:46 pm. Summer will be late if we don't leave soon. Ruby mindlessly reassembled the rifle portion of Crescent Rose and attached it to her back. On her way out of the room, she snagged a bottle of metal oil. She would have to sharpen and oil the blade when she left for her mission that day. She started to curse how late she had begun her preparations this morning when her mind flashed to the exquisite time she had shared with Weiss in the shower. She makes this all worth it. Ruby thought as she entered the living room

Weiss was in her suit, as she had to be when she would start her lesson remotely with the academy. Summer wore a small white cloak and a red and white dress that her parents had received from Weiss' father a few months ago. Yup, they are the reason I do this. Ruby swept her girls into a big hug before giving her wife a quick kiss.

"Have a good day, I'll call you when I drop Summer off, because I will be out of service where I will be setting up camp." the message was laden with disappointment as she wished that she could have taken a mission closer to home.

Weiss lifted the pendant that had hung around Ruby's neck for the last ten years saying " Just remember us while your gone." The last half of her sentence coming out barely above a whisper. Weiss knew that Ruby was a warrior, and there were times that she wished that she could be out there fighting as well, but after the last close call almost 4 years ago, it had become harder for her to watch her scythe wielder go. Summer tugged on Ruby's hood, a silent request that they make their way to the school.

Ruby took her daughter's hand, and with a final kiss to her Weiss, set off to the nearby elementary school. The trip was a short 15 minute walk and the two joked and teased each other the whole time. When they arrived at the school Ruby let her daughter run ahead to meet her friends. She did not enjoy the hushed whispers and awed looks that the teachers gave her whenever they met.

I'm really no different than they are. Just a few extra scars, and a scythe. The thought seemed like a normal rationalization to Ruby. What she didn't realize that it wasn't her appearance that caused the reaction, though the weapon she carried had some to do with it. The reason that wherever she went she was met with looks of something between fear and awe was that she had a success record that so outstripped that of the last legendary fighter. The stories of the Silver Eyed Warriors were no longer stories, and as far as most of the world knew, Ruby was the only one left.

"Hey baby, Summer is at school. Im heading to Vacuo. I love you. I will be home soon." Ruby was disheartened at the message she had to leave, wishing that she could speak to Weiss before she left, but she knew that Weiss would be in the middle of a lecture, cracking down on rowdy kids right about now. With a sigh, Ruby adjusted the pack on her shoulders and made her journey to the desert country.

"..love you. I will be home soon." Weiss finished the message and had to fight the urge to cry. She had just finished the second of three lectures she would give that day, and had listened to her Ruby give her words of encouragement. Make sure you come back in one piece, dolt. Weiss hugged herself as she willed the words in her mind to reach Ruby. Weiss had to be strong for Summer, and though she was not fighting with her sword, she fought with her words, teaching in the classroom, and protecting her little girl on the homefront.

Comforted by the rose pendant that hung from her neck she set her things in order and started her broadcast to Atlas Academy. The next week would feel like a lifetime, and she needed to focus.

Summer returned home shortly after 4:00 pm. She knew that her mother would be working until about six, so she swiped a snack from the kitchen and did her homework. The girl did not mind school, and thoroughly enjoyed the history sections that spoke of warriors, and battles. Sure enough, the line of Silver Eyed Warriors would be carried on through her. Summer did not understand this legend, and when her friends had asked her about Ruby, she could only say that she knew her mother would always come home because she was stronger than anyone in the whole world.

"Boo!" Weiss scooped up Summer as she squealed, "What would my little flower like to do today?"

Summer thought for a moment before responding, in a fashion that could only be that of a child of Ruby Schnee-Rose. "Lets make cookies!" as Weiss laughed and nodded, the little girl became thoughtful and asked her mother a question. "after we make cookies, can we go see grandpa?" Taiyang Xiao Long had always been around for Summer, and he was Weiss' rock when she had to watch Ruby leave.

"Why don't we bring him some cookies this time?" Weiss set Summer down as she cheered at the chance to see Taiyang. That night as Summer napped on her grandfathers lap, Weiss and Taiyang talked while they drank a pot of tea.

"Where is she heading this time?" Tai himself had been a successful huntsman, and was always curious about the missions that his youngest took on.

"there's a village in Vacuo that needs protection as it gets up on its feet. They will have their own huntsmen returning in two weeks, so she'll be on her way home when they get there." Weiss looked into her tea. She knew the region from her surveying duties, and she knew that Ursa packs roamed the area freely. She felt her heart constrict as she thought of Ruby being the only huntress for miles around. Seemingly reading her thoughts, Tai scratched his head as he replied.

"Ruby never really got along with Ursa, so the Grimm better watch out when she gets there." The man chuckled. Weiss allowed herself to relax – her father in law had a way of calming her down. Probably because he reminded Weiss so much of Ruby. " There's a storm coming, you two should try to get home, before it hits." the gentle man looked out the window has he stroked his granddaughters hair. The dark clouds were approaching quickly, and he didn't want his daughter in law to try to have to navigate the wooded roads in the storm.

Weiss appreciated the concern from her second father, so she stood to pick up Summer, who only stirred as she nuzzled into her mothers warm shoulder. "Thank you for letting me come over to vent all the time, Tai." the white haired woman said her good bye to Taiyang as she made her way to the door. She hoped that Ruby was not caught in the storm, as it came from the direction she would have inevitably have gone.

That night the storm hit, and it hung over Patch for the entire week.

Ruby listened to her favorite song as she huddled by her fire. This storm had made this mission more tiring than dangerous, as the Grimm lessened its activity in the inclement weather. I hope their safe. Ruby had the ironic thought, as she rolled over in her bag to try to catch some sleep. Tomorrow the local huntsman would be returning, and she could go home. Ruby did not dream that night, and when she woke the storm had finally ended.

Ruby had not particularly enjoyed this mission, as she had hoped to end some Ursa yet. For some reason she held a specific dislike for that breed of Grimm her whole life. That would change today, as the telltale roar of an Ursa boomed just behind her ear. Ruby rotated Crescent Rose - which she had religiously been sharpening over the last few days until it held a razor edge – and flipped it upward through the neck of the creature. It fell and began to dissipate as all creatures of Grimm did when dispatched.

Four more of the bear-like creatures came bounding through the brush, surrounding Ruby. For the next 5 minutes, Ruby took an almost child like joy in the fighting, which had relieved her of the boredom she had endured for almost two weeks now. She fired a round through her weapon, nailing one of the last two Ursa in the head. As Ruby turned on her heel to finish off the last of them, she found herself face to face with it. No time. She would have to bring the thin handle side of her weapon up to block the attack. This was not enough to repel the Ursa, and it drug its claws into her right arm.

Shocked that she had let her guard down like that, Ruby ignored the pain and made quick work of the beast.

Damn it! Weiss is going to kill me! Ruby internally chastised herself for her lapse in awareness earlier that morning as she finished bandaging her arm. The wound had not been deep, but it was uncomfortable. When she had returned the first aid supplies to her pack, a huntsman approached her.

"They sent the legendary Ruby Rose to my neck of the woods just to babysit, and look what happened" Sun had heard that they would be sending a particularly famous huntress to his hometown while he was away, but he had not expected to see an old friend.

"Sun, its good to see you, glad to see your back, too." Ruby grunted in pain as she used her bad arm to push off the rock she had been sitting on. She was equally surprised to find the Faunus who had visited her school during the Vytal festival, but her eagerness to get back home overrode the feelings of nostalgia this meeting brought on. "you know, your bad luck sir. The last two weeks were quiet as a mouse, and the day you decide to make an appearance I fight off a pack of Ursa!" Ruby put her hands on her hips as she chided the man.

" Sorry about that. I hear you have family now, is that right? With the ice queen?" Ruby laughed out loud, having not heard the nickname her wife had earned in a long time. "Also, before I forget, how many did you take out this morning. Ursa have been getting more confident lately." Sun pulled a notebook from his pocket to record the attack, and waited for Ruby to fill him in on the details.

"There were five alphas. I just finished them and started patching myself up when you got here." Sun gaped at the woman. As skilled as he was, two alphas would have posed a challenge for him, and here Ruby was, with nothing but a small scratch after killing five. She barely seemed out of breath, let alone tired from battle. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a daughter and wife who are both going to do worse than the Grimm if I don't get my butt home soon. Good to see you Sun"

Sun felt a pat on his shoulder, and saw rose petals float to the ground as the huntress disappeared toward home. There is no way that she is even remotely human. Guess the stories are true. Sun shook his head in disbelief as he finished his report and took over patrol

Weiss had allowed Summer to stay home, in case Ruby returned early today from her mission. The huntress leaned back in her chair to stretch before standing. Summer bounded into the room, asking when her other mother would return, for the one hundredth time that day.

"Soon. Lets clean up the living room, and cook her a big feast for her return okay?" Weiss had received a text from Ruby early that morning, which usually meant she was running and the wind would make hearing nigh on impossible."Almost home, can't wait to see you. Xoxo"

Weiss made sure that Summer would take care of the cleaning in the living room before she headed for the kitchen. She would start with her special recipe for cookies, and let them cool as she finished the rest of dinner. When she pulled the cookies out, Summer had appeared in the door.

"One. Then you and mommy can snarf the rest down when she gets home." Weiss held up a finger in warning to her daughter who, if left unchecked, would eat the entire batch. Weiss then started on the rest of dinner. Not long after that she heard the door open and Summer exclaim that Ruby had returned. Weiss let out a sigh of relief at the thought of having her back, but could not leave the stove with the food on like this. Knowing exactly what would entice her wife to come to her without a word, she quickly cracked the door to allow the scent of the cookies float toward Ruby.

Sure enough, two sets of footfalls bounded to the kitchen where Weiss waited for Ruby.

"Ruby! Your home! Thank god. You know you are 2 days late, I was worried sick!" Weiss Schnee-Rose turned to face her lover, noticing a new bandage on her arm. "and what is this? You hurt yourself again?!" Her face softened when she saw the sheepish grin her wife gave her.

"I'm sorry, I should have sent word, but some Ursa kept me busy. As far as this cut goes, don't worry too much. Its shallow," Ruby paused, closing the distance between herself and her wife. "I'm just glad to be home. 2 weeks feels like a life time out there." she absentmindedly thumbed the snowflake around her neck, remembering all the nights she played it to keep her spirits up.

"You dolt." Weiss responded kindly, the insult becoming a term of endearment. " I love you Ruby Schnee-Rose." the white haired maiden pulled her wife in by the collar and kissed her gently. The kind of kiss that could only be shared between two people who had spent years caring for one another.

"EW! That's gross mommy!" The young Summer now squeezing in between her two mothers, so as to separate the gross thing they were doing. Her parents released one another and laughed, as they picked up their daughter.

"I love you too Weiss Schnee." Ruby responded to her wife as she hoisted her daughter onto her shoulders. "and you too, Summer." she added as she tickled the bottoms of her feet. Letting Summer down, Ruby looked directly into the icy blue eyes of Weiss, who had started to tear up.

"I swear, I have the biggest feeling of deja vu right now." Weiss wiped her happy tears away as Ruby pulled her into a tight hug. She smelled like smoke, oil, and grime. "Go get cleaned off and I will have dinner done, when you get back." leaving her daughter and wife in the kitchen, Ruby quickly showered, dressed and returned to a feast on the table. Weiss and Summer waited for her, already seated. This is what I fight for, every time I leave. So I can come home to this. Ruby's tears streamed down her face, and Weiss stood to lead her wife to the table.

Dinner was lively, as Ruby recounted the enthralled Summer of her battle with the Ursa, leaving out the details of her injury, so as not to scare the girl. After the dishes had been completed, and the food put away, Summer wanted to play with Ruby, and play they did. Weiss watched them from the couch in the living room. Who would have thought that it would be moments like this that I would want to strip her and ravage her. Weiss couldn't stop the thought, and blushed slightly into her tea as she planned to attack her wife in bed that night.

A few hours later, the two huntresses lay in the afterglow of their "activities". Weiss' plan went of without a hitch and they had spent the night in ecstasy. Weiss began to trace lazy shapes into Ruby's back while she hummed "White Rose" in her ear.

"I'm so happy to be home. I missed you both so much." Ruby said with a yawn, as she held Weiss just a little tighter.

With a giggle the girl in her arms replied, "I could tell." Weiss pulled back a bit when Ruby did not continue the conversation to find that she had fallen asleep. Weiss tucked a strand behind her ear and laid her head on the pillow and quickly followed suit.

An alarm went off the morning after, followed by Ruby slipping quietly out of bed. A few moments later, she set two cups down, and opened the window. She wanted to let Weiss sleep for just a few more minutes while she got everything ready. Just as planned, Weiss stirred and sat up, looking for Ruby. When her vision cleared she saw the smile of the platinum eyed huntress at the window. Ruby just patted the cushion next to her as the sunrise began. Weiss joined her wife at the window, taking her hand in the process. They spent an infinite time like this, watching the sun rise. In the next room, Summer slept peacefully. Ruby eventually looked over at Weiss, gaining the attention of her wife.

"Looks like we made it huh?"

" Yea..." Weiss slowly responded, and kissed her lover. "I love you, Ruby."

"I love you, Weiss." the sun rose on another day, and everything was all right with this happy family. It would stay this way for many years to come.

There you have it, folks. as i start the next story i will be posting updates with all of the editing and proofreading done on White Rose, so look forward to it. thank you all for sticking with me through this. its definitely been a wild ride.