Weiss lowered herself into the warm water of the spa's hot tub with a sigh; she really needed this right now. Her head was still throbbing from the hangover that she'd woken up with, somewhat undermining the smug satisfaction at the knowledge that she'd managed to out –drink Yang. It was thus that she'd woken up, dressed, and gone to breakfast in a headache induced haze, not really paying attention to any of it, and she'd politely, or at least as politely as she'd been able to manage at the time, excused herself when the rest of them went for the beach as had quickly become the habit. She needed some extra spa time…

"Ah… That feels nice…"

For a while she just sat there in the nice warm water and enjoyed the distraction for what it was. Gradually her headache subsided and she was able to relax, slumping up to her chin in the water and lolling her head back against the rim of the hot tub. Perhaps she'd have a manicure next…

She was slightly startled when she heard someone else lower themselves into the massive hot bath a ways over to her right though, "Pyrrha? Is that-?" when she opened her eyes to look, she instead saw Mina, Come to think of it… "Oh, um… good morning Mina… Did you and Blake… sleep in? You two weren't at breakfast were you?" Weiss hadn't been paying attention at the time, but in retrospect, she didn't remember seeing either of them… A knot formed in the pit of her stomach as she saw a depressive look on Mina's face though, "Are you… alright?"

Mina didn't respond right away, instead curling up on the bench first, only partially submerged as she finally spoke, "No…"

Weiss sat up, "What happened? Did you two have a fight?" she asked perplexed and concerned.

"I… I do not know…" Mina shook her head as she spoke, barely above a whisper, "Though I fear that I may have… overindulged… last night…"

"Do you mean the wine?" Weiss sought clarification, rubbing her temples, "I know I certainly-,"

"No…" Mina cut her off, but she didn't finish.

"Do you… want to talk about it?"

Mina curled herself up more tightly, "…Yes… but…"

Whatever this was, it was obviously big, "Mina?"

Mina looked her way with a sad little smile, "I am afraid that you may think less of me if I do…"

Weiss blinked a few times, leaning forward, "You're afraid I'll think less of you? Since when do you care-?"

"I value your friendship, Miss Schnee…"

Weiss fell silent.

"I… transgressed… against my Dearest and…. I don't know who else to whom I can turn…" Mina admitted choking slightly on the words.

"Mina…" Weiss sat back, not sure what to say, but then she shook her head, deciding what to do, "You once told me that you don't care about what my family does… that you weren't going to judge me for it… The least I can do is hear you out... And frankly…" she wasn't quite sure what to think of this but… "I'm… touched… that you'd come to me… Though I'm not sure I can give you much meaningful advice in-,"

"I did not come for bedroom advice, Miss Schnee…" Mina sighed, loosening up ever so slightly as she couldn't help a wry little smile despite herself, "I am quite certain that I am more experienced in that area in any case… No, I just… need to get a few things off my chest, I suppose…"

"And Blake won't hear you out?" Weiss asked skeptically, though still very much concerned.

Mina shook her head, "It is not that, Miss Schnee; rather…" she sighed, "I think I've done enough to upset her…"

"Mina I… I don't know what to say…"

Mina looked away, "There is nothing else to say, Miss Schnee, save that I made a mistake that I cannot undo…" Mina squeezed her eyes shut, tears welling up, "I love her so much but… she would be well within her right to throw me away after what I've done – no, she could of course do so whenever she pleased but… I… I'm scared that… terrified that she will because I failed to control myself…"

"Do you really not think that she'll forgive you?" Weiss asked, her tone somewhere between sympathy and incredulity, "I mean, you weren't yourself, and you're obviously sorry-,"

"And why should she forgive me?" Mina finally broke down sobbing, curling into herself again all the tighter, "It is inexcusable… I betrayed her and my word… I... I wanted it so much that I…" but she couldn't finish the words.

Weiss chewed her lip, What do I do?

"You… didn't, though, right?"

Mina sniffled, shaking her head, "No… but I am not certain I wouldn't have if she had allowed it…"

"As… lewd as it is to say this…" Weiss spoke tentatively, "Where would have been the harm if she had? As it is… all I'm getting is that she didn't, and you stopped…"

Mina shook her head yet again, "But that's just it, Miss Schnee: I shouldn't have tried in the first place…"

This gave the heiress some pause, but after a few moments' due consideration, she asked, "Mina… you said you didn't want anything from Blake that she didn't want to give you, right?"

Mina nodded, but did not look up.

Weiss swallowed, "Are you… sure that's really the case?"

"Hmm?"

"I mean…" Weiss searched for better words, "Are you sure that you're getting what you really want out of this relationship…?"

Mina was horrified, "Are you suggesting that I leave-,"

"No no no!" Weiss hastily backpedaled, "But… I think maybe you haven't been entirely honest with yourself…"

"I…"

"What is it that you want Mina?" she clarified, "I think that's the first question to ask…"

"Whatever Blake-,"

"I didn't ask you what you'd settle for or make do with, Mina," Weiss interrupted, though there was an unmistakable patient sympathy in her voice, "I asked what you want,"

"But that would be…" Mina trailed off as she looked away, "…You are… absolutely right, of course…" she shook her head, putting on that sad smile again, "Truth be spoken… I want a great many things…"

Weiss returned the little smile with one of her own, "I know the feeling…"

"I want her to love me…" Mina admitted, "I want her to hold me… touch me… want me… to take me as hers-,"

"Okay I think I've heard enough!" Weiss cut her off, recoiling somewhat from the increasingly indecent nature of Mina's list, "Just as long as you acknowledge all that-,"

"But I want her to choose all that…"

"What?"

"Ten years ago we first met when she was at one of her protests…" Mina seemed to change the subject, "She always was an idealist… I was starving and she rescued me… After I'd lost my mother… she… Blake was the first person to ever show me a kindness, and to not be revolted by my nature…" Mina took a deep breath, "And I loved her for that; make no mistake, I owe her my life, but I love her first… Next, of course, it was through her that I found a purpose; if in some small way I could emulate for her what she had done for me, than fighting for her cause was no price to pay at all…"

Weiss cringed a bit, but said nothing; it was still a sore spot in her memory, but she'd resolved to let that particular wound heal, and so she let Mina continue.

"I cannot justly describe to you how I felt when I finally told her my feelings, Miss Schnee, stained with tears though my words were… just as now… nor my elation when she said that she loved me…" Mina halted, taking a few long, shaky breaths, "Of late though… I wonder more and more if I am not more of a responsibility than anything else; a duty which she would be best rid of…"

"Mina… you shouldn't…"

"She is of course much to kind to ever say as much…" Mina insisted, "It is one of the reasons that I love her so much… but I cannot help but think that she feels obligated to care for what she's rescued…"

"But Mina-,"

"No!" Mina turned away, "I want her to love me… I want all of those other things from her… But if I ask it of her when she has given so much already… why should she? Why should she tolerate one so ungrateful?"

"Maybe because she loves you,"

"What?"

"Let me tell you my own little story," Weiss began to elaborate, leaning forward and reaching to squeeze one of Mina's hands, "You see, when I was a kid, I got everything that I ever wanted; dolls, clothes, shoes, you name it, it was mine, all I had to do was ask for it. For all that though, never once did my Father bring it home from work with him – he'd have had to come home from work for that – no, I got whatever I wanted alright, but it was always from one of the maids or butlers. The few times that he did come home… he was always so damn angry all the time…"

It was Mina's turn to wince.

"…And when he wasn't angry, he was judgmental; 'straighten your posture,' 'speak up or not at all,' 'no daughter of mine is going to associate with…'" Weiss shook her head, "You get the point…"

"I mean no disrespect, Miss Schnee, but I am not certain that I do…"

"Well," Weiss added, "Occasionally he wouldn't be so unpleasant, but that was… was only when I was at my very, very best, and even then, 'well done,' was about it for Fatherly affection I ever got… Honestly I don't think the man ever really loved me… Might've loved you though, if you were human…"

Mina couldn't but look up incredulously, "What… what do you mean?"

"It's simple really," Weiss said offhandedly, "You're too afraid to ask for more than what's offered you… I certainly think my childhood would've been easier if I'd learned that sooner…"

"Do you mean to say that-?"

"I mean to say that Blake isn't your mother, Mina, or my Father, for that matter; she's your girlfriend," Weiss squeezed her hand, "I'm not going to pretend that I'm an expert in relationships… least of all… well, yours, but to my mind that means you two are supposed to be equal partners, right?"

"I…"

"Blake isn't going to 'throw you away' just because you uh… made a mistake… Hell! She puts up with me, doesn't she/" Weiss assured with a broadening smile as she got up and out of the hot tub, "So why don't you just… take a breather, enjoy the spa, and get your thoughts together; I'll go find Blake, okay?"

Mina looked up, more or less at her, blinking a few times as she hesitantly nodded, "V-very well Miss-,"

"Call me Weiss, okay?"

Mina nodded again, with more conviction this time, "Very well Weiss…"

Blake squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her forehead to the door of her room. She just stood there, not knowing what to do; she hadn't slept, and she'd searched everywhere that she could think of, but the resort was huge and Mina was nowhere to be found. Mina, it turned out, was just as good at hiding as Blake herself – they had learned together after all. Her muscles ached in protest and her eyes watered, begging her for rest, or was that just that she wanted to cry? She couldn't tell anymore…

Blake shook her head, No… I can't fall asleep now…

"Blake?"

"Huh?' Groggily she looked over in the direction of the voice which had called her name, "Weiss?"

"We need to have a little chat; open your door," Weiss ordered. She seemed... Was it sad or angry…?

Whatever the case, and despite her confusion, Blake obeyed, though not without argument, "Weiss, I'm kind of going through something right now, can this-?"

Weiss sighed, "I know Blake, and I don't think that this can wait,"

That got Blake's attention, "You found Mina?"

"Do you remember what I said about coming to your teammates Blake?" Weiss reprimanded as she dragged Blake into her room, "Well this should've been one of those times! None of us knew she'd run off Blake! I only found out when she came to me because she was too afraid to come to you!"

"Weiss, I-,"

"No!" Weiss lectured, "Maybe I'm not an expert, but something has got to be wrong with a relationship when half of it is afraid the other will leave her if-!"

"Oh my God…" Blake gaped, "She actually said that? Where is she? I have to-!"

Weiss moved to bar her way out the door, "Not yet you don't, "

"Weiss-,"

Weiss took a deep breath, "She's in the spa Blake, taking it easy; I insisted. While she's enjoying that though, I think we're going to have a talk,"

Blake wanted to insist, but the protestation died in her throat, "…So, what did she tell you?"

"Enough for me to know that she screwed up, she knows it, and I don't think she'll ever drink again," Weiss stated, "She probably owes you an apology for what she did, and I'm quite sure that you'll get it the very instant you next see her, but that's not what we need to talk about,"

Blake let herself lean back, supporting herself up against the wall, "I… I know…"

Weiss sighed, "Look, your… bedroom life… that's none of my business, I get that, but I consider Mina a friend now Blake, and as such, her well-being absolutely is. You two are going to have to sort out your… routine… yourselves, but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit by while my friend lives constantly terrified –terrified Blake! Her words – that the person who should love her more than anyone will leave her because she's not perfect!"

"But Weiss, I wouldn't-,"

"I know, Blake!," Weiss gestured angrily, but then her expression softened, "but Mina doesn't, and there is something very wrong with that…"

"You're… you're right…"

Weiss actually smiled, albeit sadly, "Of course I am; relationships may not be my area Blake, but anxiety certainly is," she pointed a finger at Blake almost accusingly, "You are not going to treat her like my father treats me, understand? She deserves better, and I know you are better than that,"

Blake could only nod.

"Good," Weiss nodded in return, the last of the anger fading from her features, leaving only pity, "You know what she told me she's most afraid of though? That she's and obligation for you…" Weiss shook her head, "I'm… I'm going to go bring her here now alright? After that… You need to fix this,"

The door shut quietly behind Mina as she finally returned to the room. She didn't need to use her semblance; she could feel Blake's presence, "Dearest, I am sorry-,"

"Stop,"

"But-,"

"Stop," Blake spoke solemnly, "Mina I…" She heard Blake pat a place on the bed, "Just come sit with me, okay?"

Still clad in the spa robe, Mina paused only to set the bundle of her regular clothes down before she obeyed, and sat on the side of the bed just beside Blake, but she hung her head nonetheless, "I promise never to do it again Dearest; please forgive-,"

Blake cut her off again, this time by abruptly pulling her into a hug, "Mina, of course you're forgiven!"

"Even though I-,"

"I wasn't angry that you wanted to Mina…" Blake held her closer, "It's like I said Mina; I didn't want to take advantage of you…,"

Mina hung her head, "Still… I should not have-,"

"And I don't want to hear any more of this 'obligation' nonsense, okay Mina? I love you, alright? Have a little faith in yourself, or if that's too hard, have some faith in me; I am never going to leave you, got it?"

"Mmhmm…" Mina nodded weakly, tearing up afresh, though it was plain that it wasn't for the first time that day, "So you do choose me then?"

Blake chuckled slightly, "Look at you; if I didn't know better, I might forget that you're the Summer Blossom's most flirtatious waitress; of course Mina,"

Mina sniffled, "Truly?"

"Think of it this way," Blake affirmed, "I left the White Fang, but I came back to you,"

Mina at last returned the embrace as she quietly sobbed into Blake's chest, but couldn't muster words. Blake patted her back with one hand and ran her fingers through Mina's still damp hair with the other as she cooed reassurances and held her tight.

"I love you Mina, I promise, and I will do anything to show it," Blake whispered quietly into Mina's ear, "Just… do me a favor and exercise some judgment about when and where you ask for what, alright?"

Mina nodded, but did not look up or loosen her embrace.

"So you understand why I said 'no' last night, right?"

Mina nodded again.

Blake smiled, "Good; and besides, I like it when you make moves on me, not the booze…"

Mina chuckled, "Never again, I swear it,"

"Goo-," Blake's approval was interrupted with a loud yawn.

Mina's face fell again, "I am sorry to have cost you your sleep…"

Blinking the sleep from her eyes, Blake shook her head, "I'm sorry that I didn't see this and clear it up sooner," She yawned again, and then laid back on the bed, resting her head on one of the pillows, "Come here; I need to get some sleep, and I want you with me, okay?"

Mina nodded, face still dominated by relief more than anything else, as she crawled over and nestled herself into Blake's embrace again, "Thank you…" But Blake had already fallen asleep, finally succumbing to exhaustion, and so with a little smile Mina leaned further in to place a kiss on her cheek, "However I can make it up to you…"

Author's Note: So… I hope you all enjoy feels as much as I do… assuming, that is, that I didn't totally screw this up… In any case, I just felt like a nice cathardic chapter, and so here we are; I hope that you enjoyed it, and as always, feel free to leave your opinion. Thanks for reading.