Weiss had been puzzled at first when Blake had asked her to take care of Mina instead, but only for as long as it had taken her to get angry. Can't trust herself? Weiss had calmed herself when Blake broke down crying. Blake had almost lost her self-control – but she was scared, she missed Mina, and it hurt not to be even recognized – that much, Weiss understood. So, after excusing herself from Goodwitch's office, Weiss had returned to the dorm to find Mina sleeping softly in Blake's bed, and Blake sitting in the desk chair, staring dejectedly at the floor. Weiss knew all she needed to at that point, and with a sigh, had decided to spare whatever degree of Blake's pride that she'd left herself, instead quickly changing and turning in for the night without a word. When she woke up that Sunday morning, Blake was already gone, and Mina was still sound asleep.

"Hey uh… where's Blake?" Ruby asked, perplexed as she fastened her cloak, "Wasn't she supposed to stay with Mina…?"

Weiss shook her head as she put er hair up at the bathroom mirror, "I'll be watching her; if I had to guess, I'd say Blake's probably gone to pick up where I left off with Goodwitch and Ironwood,"

"Uh… why'd you switch? Didn't Blake want to-,"

Ruby fell quiet mid-sentence as Yang put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head, before patting her on the back, "Come on sis… let's just get going… we've got work to do…" Weiss just nodded, "We'll see you later…" And like that, it was just her and Mina – still asleep – apparently she'd always been a heavy sleeper…

That was the routine for the next week. Weiss and Mina had been excused from their classes on account of the circumstances, and after Ruby, Blake, and Yang had finished with theirs, it was back to research, combing the streets for rumors, and however Blake had decided to cope. By the following Saturday, nobody had had any luck, and once again Weiss found herself trying in vain to concentrate on the homework that Ruby had brought her. At first Weiss decided to just let Mina sleep in – maybe the extra rest would do her good, after all – but around 10:30 Weiss decided that she had to wake her at some point, and so closed her binder to approach Mina's bedside.

"Hey Mina…" Weiss began quietly, giving her a slight nudge on the shoulder, "Mina… It's time to get up…"

Mina just grumbled incoherently, wrapping her arms more tightly about Blake's pillow, "Nnnngh…"

Weiss sighed, shaking her head, "Young lady, do I need to get a glass of water?"

It was rather impressive actually, how quickly Mina went from stubbornly clinging to sleep to sitting upright, rubbing sleep from her eyes at that; no, Weiss would not have actually dumped a glass of water on Mina to force her to wake up, but Mina didn't need to know that – in fact, the whole method relied upon Ruby's having accidentally tripped when coming out of the bathroom Tuesday morning and sending her little plastic cup of water flying and inevitably splattering a suddenly very awake Mina. On Wednesday Weiss had jokingly suggested that she'd get a glass of water when Mina refused to get up by eleven, and suppressing a giggle at how well it worked, she'd used it every day since to make sure that Mina didn't sleep her day away. Maybe she felt a little guilty, but Mina was for all intents and purposes a child, more in need of a parent than a friend at present.

Even a week later, it was hard for Weiss to wrap her head around it. Mina still looked eighteen, and occasionally she'd subconsciously use a phrase or mannerism that Weiss thought out of place if she was indeed mentally reduced to seven years old, but for the most part, it was hard to read the situation any other way. Mina would wake up and spend several minutes 'stretching' before finally ambling out of bed with a mousy little yawn, and only bothered getting out of her nightclothes at Weiss's explicit insistence – and would likely otherwise spend her whole day lounging in her pajamas, rather un-childlike though her negligee was. Next came Mina's blood-pack; It had taken some doing that first Sunday morning to convince Mina that Weiss wasn't going to judge her for drinking blood, but eventually she had come around, and it hadn't been an issue again.

"What are we doing today Miss Weiss?" Mina asked as she finished off the pouch and plodded over to the disposal unit by the mini-fridge.

What indeed? Weiss had tried to keep Mina busy this past week, but there were only so many hours she could spend reading aloud. For the first day or so, Weiss had simply tuned Mina's scroll to play through her collection of Ludwig Sebastian Liszt's repertoire, which worked well enough for Weiss to get some homework done while Mina listened to the music for hours as though for the first time. By mid-week though, Mina had gotten bored of that and wanted to play 'a game.' When pressed for details as to what sort of game that she wanted to play, however, Mina was less than decisive… First it was twenty questions – but then she changed her mind 'because grown-ups are too smart' – and then it was riddles, and still later she wanted to fold paper cranes… The next day, Weiss had just taken her to the gym. Curiously, Mina still knew how to use all the machines once she'd identified them, and she was so proud to show Weiss that she was 'really really strong' by lifting a hundred-twenty pounds and showing Weiss how she could hang upside-down – Weiss herself wasn't prepared to attempt the latter wearing a skirt, and as to the former… She did not spend a great deal of time in the gym… By now though, the gym had lost its luster too, and that left Weiss with a quandary, "Um…"

Mina just looked her way eagerly.

Hard to believe the memory of Blake took so much of the rest of her life with it… Weiss quietly fumed, Was I like this as a kid? She sighed, On the bright side, not everybody gets a practice-run on motherhood… She shook her head exasperatedly, "Did you have something in mind, Mina?"

Mina looked away bashfully, "Well…"

"It's okay, you can tell me," Weiss assured, "I've got nothing else to do," Not strictly true as such – she had a substantial volume of absentee classwork piling up – but nothing more important…

"I overheard Miss Valkyrie in the next room talking about how she goes to see the turtles in a little pond nearby every so often…"

Weiss raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure whether it should surprise her more that Mina had been able to puzzle 'turtles' out of Nora's occasional ramblings about 'water-sloths' or that this was what she wanted to do, "You want to… visit turtles…?"

"Please Miss Weiss?" Mina begged, clasping her hands together for emphasis, "Miss Valkyrie says they don't bite!"

She really is just a little kid… "Okay, fine; do you know where it is?"

"Um…"

Eventually, after receiving a very lengthy and convoluted set of directions from Nora, Weiss and Mina set off from their initial stop at the JNPR dorm for their destination. Unfortunately, just as she had done every other time that they had left the RWBY dorm in the last week, Mina had insisted – however sheepishly – that Weiss hold her hand so she did not get lost. As innocent as the request was, and as positively adorable as it would have been coming from an actual small child, most of Beacon was not in the know about Mina's present circumstances, and however she might behave, Mina did not look like a seven year old girl. The results of these facts were the odd snatches of whispers Weiss would just partially hear as they moved through the campus; things like "Are they-?" and "isn't she-?" irked Weiss to no end as they passed. With her significantly sharper hearing, Mina could probably hear all of it, but in her present state of mind she was by no means fit to understand, so unless someone mentioned her by name Mina ignored the rumors that Weiss was already making a mental note to quash later.

That particular irritant only lasted as long as it took for them to get away from the buildings – and thus most of the people – on campus; after that it was just the pleasantly arranged serenity of decorative trees, shrubs, benches, and lampposts as they moved out towards, and past the training fields. In truth, Weiss had never really thought to come out this far from the campus proper – she personally preferred to train in the arena anyway – but she considered revaluating that preference as they went. In nice weather at least, these seemed like pleasant enough surroundings. She couldn't devote much thought to that though, as every minute or so Mina would tug on her arm.

"Are we there yet?"

It was cute the first time, almost eliciting a mirthful chuckle from the Heiress as she continued to lead Mina in the at best vague direction that Nora had indicated once she had solemnly promised not to steal the turtles, but by the seventh time, Weiss was beginning to suspect that she did not much like children, as it more than once crossed her mind that she was probably only putting up with this one because it was Mina, "Not yet Mina… almost…"

"Oh… okay…"

There was something fundamentally odd about taking care of a child very nearly six inches taller than herself, Weiss reflected; no matter how meekly deferential Mina acted, Weiss was still the one looking up, "She said there were cherry trees all around the place, right?" Weiss squinted, training her eyes on the grove in the distance, "I think that might be it over there…"

"It is?" Mina perked up excitedly, "Where?"

"Straight ahead actually-,"

Weiss hadn't even finished her sentence in the affirmative before Mina abruptly let go of her hand and darted forward in her eagerness to go find a turtle in the pond. The broad, carefree smile on her face as she went was disarming, but it did not take long for the maternal instinct she'd been acquainting herself with over the last six days to reassert itself, and she called out after Mina, "Mina! Be careful or you'll-," Alas, not quite fast enough, as Mina blindly ran face-first into a low-hanging branch and toppled backwards in her surprise, landing in the grass on her backside and starting to cry, "Mina!" Weiss hurried to catch up with her, feeling her heartbeat pick up as she felt the onset of panic, Oh my God, is she okay? Fortunately, when Weiss arrived at her side, Mina didn't have a scratch – running into a branch had just scared her more than anything else – and it only took a handkerchief from Weiss's jacket pocket to dry Mina's tears, "There, there; you're alright…" Weiss dabbed the soft cloth on Mina's cheeks, "All better… you just have to be more careful next time…"

Mina sniffled, "It hurts…"

"The pain will go away in a minute," Weiss assured making to help Mina back to her feet, but Mina didn't budge, "Hmm?'

Mina sniffed again, looking away bashfully, "Kiss it better?"

What? Weiss blinked several times at the request, panicking afresh, "W-what?" calm down Weiss… it doesn't mean anything – her mother probably just used to do it when she hurt herself – yeah… "Mina… I don't think that's appropriate…"

Mina wasn't having it though, instead looking up at her and batting her eyelashes in her best puppy-dog face. She said nothing, but the pout was a force to be reckoned with,

"How about I give you a hug instead…?"

"Okay…" Mina compromised, now allowing Weiss to pull her to her feet, only to abruptly scoop the Heiress up into a tight bear-hug, lifting the shorter girl an inch or so off the ground as she buried her face in the shoulder of Weiss's bolero jacket.

"O-okay! Okay! Do you feel better? Because if you do, I would really appreciate it if you put me down…" Weiss gently protested, with progressively less force as Mina squeezed the air from her lungs, "Didn't you want to go find a turtle…? Or something…?"

Just as abruptly, Mina let her go, allowing Weiss to gulp several deep breaths of air as Mina turned back towards the grove, starting more carefully this time, "Oh yes! Are they this way?"

"Right… right that way…" Weiss nodded between gasps, "Just a little to the left and you won't have to duck…"

As Mina plodded eagerly inside, Weiss took another moment to finish catching her breath before following her past the branches of unseasonable cherry blossoms. Inside really was something picturesque; the pond welled up from a cool spring in the center, the whole area was swathed in cherry blossoms, and just one little bench perfectly situated to appreciate the rest of the scenery. Weiss decided to have a seat on the bench, but Mina had wasted no time in taking off her shoes and wading into the water to start feeling about. Even with all things considered, Weiss could not help a little smile as she watched Mina splash about in the pond looking for small amphibious reptiles. Perhaps hunting for turtles was an odd activity for a little girl, but the carefree way she went about it, splashing and giggling all the way, just felt right somehow.

"This is what childhood should be…" Weiss closed her eyes and tipped her head back, "I wonder what that feels like…"

"Miss Weiss! Miss Weiss!"

Groggily, Weiss let her eyes blink open at the insistent sound of Mina's voice, "Huh…?"

"Miss Weiss, look!"

As her vision came into focus though, her eyes shot wide open and she sat bolt upright, "M-Mina! Get that thing off of your head!" Indeed before her, Mina stood, her clothes soaked, an ear-to-ear grin on her face, with a small turtle balanced on her head like a helmet, "Get that slimy thing off! It's covered in germs and God knows what else!"

"But Miss Valkyrie said-,"

"Nora's insane! Now take that thing off!"

Mina pouted, but obeyed, taking the squirming turtle off of her head, "Is he not cute…?"

Weiss's first impulse was to dismiss the question out of hand, but seeing the disappointment on Mina's face, Weiss let up and gave the squirming little green creature a second look. It was still dripping, from having been pulled from its comfortable spot at the side of the pond, and while Mina held it by the sides of its shell, its legs helplessly worked to find any purchase – unless Mina jerked it too much, in which case it would withdraw into the safety of its shell. Still, on some level, she supposed the whole scene was just a little adorable – if not the small slimy reptile in itself…

"I suppose…"

Mina brightened, "Then may I-,"

"No,"

"But-!"

"No." Weiss flatly asserted, "If you want, we can come back to see him again, but you are not taking that thing back to our dorm,"

"Okay…" Mina's expression sank again as she set the poor creature down and it languidly hobbled away, but as she stood up again, Mina sneezed with a little squeak and shivered, "Excuse me…"

"Oh dear…" Weiss got up and unbuttoned her jacket, slipping it off and draping it over Mina's shoulders – it was several sizes too small for Mina to actually wear it, "Come on; we're going back to the dorm, and you're taking a warm bath before you catch cold,"

"But I want to stay…"

"Nonsense! You're shivering!" Weiss shook her head, "Wouldn't you be more comfortable with a dry set of clothes?"

"Yes, but…" Mina seemed for a moment – and it was only a moment – to wax nostalgic despite her state of amnesia, "I like this place…"

Weiss sighed, "We can come back tomorrow, okay? I just don't want you to get sick,"

"Alright…"

It's official… Weiss rolled her eyes as Mina blew a cloud of bubbles from her cupped palms in the bathtub, I am in no hurry to be a mother…

Mina had been rather cooperative coming back to the dorm, when they actually got there though,she had stubbornly refused to actually take a bath. At first Weiss had tried lecturing her about not being so childish, but all that got her was more pouting. Finally, when appealing to Mina that she should be a 'big girl' didn't work, Weiss broke down and resorted to bribery – promising to read her that collection of fairy tales that Blake had pointed out as Mina's favorite – if she took a bath. That was not enough of course, as was made boundlessly obvious the first time that Mina had tried to come out of the bathroom after about two minutes, still dry, without having so much as turned on the water. Eventually, Weiss accepted the fact that she'd have to sit in the bathroom with Mina and make sure she took her bath, and not simply spend an hour playing with the bubbles.

"Come on Mina… we don't have all night…"

Mina just blew more bubbles in her face.

"Very funny…" Weiss's eyebrow twitched as she wiped the soapy bubbles away, "Now wash your hair and face; it's bedtime,"

"I don't want to. The soap stings my eyes,"

"Then close your eyes," Weiss insisted, trying her best to be patient. "It won't take long,"

Mina just slumped into the bathwater, blowing bubbles as her mouth dipped below the water, and shook her head 'no.'

"Wilhelmina Carfax," Weiss was stern now, "Sit up and wash your face and hair,"

Reluctantly, Mina obeyed sitting up again as Weiss passed her a soapy facecloth. Gingerly, Mina took the facecloth, squeezing her eyes shut, and quickly rubbed her face with it before handing it back at arm's length, "Done!"

Weiss shook her head, "Mina…"

Mina puffed out her cheeks and her shoulders slumped, but she nonetheless scrubbed her face again, more thoroughly this time. When she finished to Weiss's satisfaction, the Heiress nodded and pressed, "Now your hair,"

"But I already did!"

Try to focus on the cute Weiss… treat her like an actual little girl… Weiss sighed, her patience sorely tested, "No Mina, you got your hair wet; you need to use shampoo…"

"Where is it?"

"Hmm?"

"The Shampoo?"

Oh… right… Weiss reached over Mina's head to grab her bottle of shampoo from the shower rack, "Oh just hold still; I'll do it,"

Mina squeaked in surprise as Weiss began working the shampoo into her hair, being as gentle as possible to avoid tangles. Mina squirmed uncooperatively all the while, making little grunts and groans of childish protest, but she didn't put up much real resistance – Weiss didn't want to think about how vigorously Mina could have resisted if she really wanted to.

"Stop it…" Mina complained, but her hands stayed under the water and the bubbles, "It's clean!"

"Almost…" Weiss said through clenched teeth as she worked her fingers through the ends of Mina's shoulder-length tresses, "Alright, now dunk,"

Taking an overdramatically deep breath once Weiss pulled her hands away from her hair, Mina bent forward in the tub to submerge her head and rinse off the shampoo, and when she came back up, she let out an equally dramatic breath as the bathwater streamed down her face and shoulders, "Am I done now?"

"Let the water out," Weiss said patiently, holding up a clean towel, "but yes; now get up and dry off, okay? You need to dress,"

Weiss averted her eyes as Mina stood up and accepted the towel, instinctively first drying her hair out. However child-like Mina might behave at present, it was certainly incongruous with her appearance. Weiss had almost tricked herself into believing for a few minutes that Mina was just a little girl sitting in the tub, but the reality of the situation hit her afresh when Mina had stood up, No… she's not seven years old… this is my friend… not just some child… and… Weiss's mouth set in a line, I want her back too…

Author's Note: Well, I did promise fluff before we dove headlong into an angsty chapter did I not? I couldn't come up with much fluffier than the adventures of Moe Mina dragging Mom – or in this case Weiss – about. Hopefully you all thought this was cute, because next chapter's gonna be heavier… Until then though, I hope that you've enjoyed, and do have a good one.