Chapter 62: Epilogue Part 2

The cubs were growing more expressive by the day, and in part she was sure that Blake was to blame for their newest vocal ranges. Hissing and growling had been added to the slowly growing list of inhuman sounds they made, and that was a mixed blessing. Although it was undoubtedly a good thing, Weiss wasn't quite sure what to do in the face of a crabby infant that started hissing at her.

"Are you absolutely sure that this is a good idea?"

"Just put them in her ears, Weiss." Blake said, leaning over the bathtub to finish bathing Wycliff. He was always the last to bathe, and took the longest to clean.

Weiss took a breath, but her daughter made the ungodly sound again, causing Weiss to fumble and drop the medicine before backing away. She picked the small container up, but hesitated. "They don't hurt her, do they?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I use the same kind of ear drops every time I take a shower." Blake said. "It's just to help keep the inside of their Faunus ears dry. They don't hurt at all."

"I hope you're right." Weiss said, highly unconvinced. "Just two drops each ear, right?"

"That's right." Blake murmured as she carefully scrubbed her son's tail with anti-bacterial shampoo. Weiss did what she was told in Bianca's right ear, earning a snarl that sounded far cuter than deadly as she tried to squirm away.

Blake turned her head, and snarled back at her daughter in reply. Weiss, still new to these sorts of interactions, bit her lip when she saw the imposing body language. Blake displayed an intimidating picture. Her ears flattened back and eyes formed tiny slits. Her voice rumbled low and wordlessly into the air. The two Faunus held their stares, Bianca wide-eyed and surprised as she hunkered down in the protection Weiss afforded her. After a moment, Blake went back to normal, and Weiss breathed a sigh of relief.

It was as if such a confrontation never even happened.

"What was…" Weiss cut herself off, and finished depositing ear drops into Bianca's ears, it earned her another hiss in protest, though it was meeker than before. Weiss decide there was no better way to ask. "What was that about?"

"Discipline." Blake said after a moment.

"Hmm." After a breath, she nodded, though Blake hadn't looked back to see her do it. "Interesting way of doing it."

For a moment, brief as it was, Blake didn't say anything at all. She didn't feel the need to comment, and hadn't even thought of what Weiss might think under these circumstances. In retrospect, she should have prepared something a little better. The air was slightly tense, a weight lingering there that she wasn't entirely fond of. "Don't think about it too deeply, Weiss." Blake said, her voice gentled by her concern. "Bianca isn't going to."

"Are you sure about that?" Weiss asked, still feeling completely out of her element as she carefully diapered and clothed her little girl.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"It just seems a strange conclusion to draw. She's so small, she might not think much of it now, but later, what's to become of that kind of action?"

"Aggression begets aggression, the powerful correct the young and weak." Fishing her son out of the bathtub and into a dry towel, she pulled the stopper to the drain and turned, picking up Wycliff's labeled bottle of ear drops. She dried the top of his head, and without hesitation, she began putting them in his ears. He wasn't a fan of them either, as his squeaky protests implied. Blake's golden eyes glanced up then, seeing the true and lingering worry that her mate displayed. "She acted out, I corrected. It's not heavy handed in the slightest to a Faunus."

"So long as you're sure…"

"I am, Weiss, I promise." Blake said. "Why don't you get Bianca set up in the blankets with Finley, and I'll follow you out just as soon as I finish drying off Wycliff."

Weiss had more questions, Blake could see them lingering there, perching on that calculating frown that ran in the family. Mercifully, for whatever reason, Weiss chose not to speak them, and instead pushed aside those dark and brooding thoughts as she finished bonding with her daughter. Blake let her gaze linger a moment longer, golden eyes scanning over her daughter's form, taking in her features.

The ever so slight flick of her ears, the borderline squinty stare that among both humans and Faunus alike might be considered rude, and the uneven vibrations of a purr. Those were small learned signs that her cub would come to understand as communication, and as she grew older, she would apply them properly. Until then, she was absorbing everything like a sponge, the Schnee trademark frown included.

When the resident cookie fiend hadn't emptied the jars on the counter on impulse, it was a rare thing indeed. It was true that Ruby had a strict diet to maintain, but Weiss expected at least one of the cookie jars to be completely barren on the inside. When all of them were stocked, it caused a twinge of concern, and Weiss took it upon herself to do something she hadn't found the time for in quite a while.

Two glasses of milk in hand, and small saucer of cookies plated delicately on a metal serving tray, Weiss went in search of her good friend.

When she did manage to locate Ruby, it was in one of the less frequented living areas. The small corner room was a hobby area that Weiss recalled her mother spending ample amounts of time in. The woman enjoyed painting, and all of her private works were displayed in this one place. Many of the pieces were abstract, but there were a few portraits of rather poor quality.

It was rumored that her mother partook to drinking like a fish. but it was obvious that an unsteady hand contributed to why they were kept in private rooms for viewing only.

Instead of getting rid of the eyesores, they merely inhabited the space, making the white walls look gaudy. The floors at one time had been speckled with the splatter of creativity, but her father had long ago hired a cleaning service to rid the floor of stains and paint droplets. Weiss had to admit, she partially missed the dotted mess that she used to trace with her fingers, following the shapeless patterns in awe. That fond memory was for another time.

Ruby sat, glaring daggers into the white canvas, the brush in her hand hadn't even touched paint. That wouldn't do. She had to remedy this.

"I'd ask if there was a bug Grimm in the house, but there's not a speck of black in all of the white." Weiss said, pulling Ruby from her thoughts.

Ruby closed her eyes as she set the brush down. "Sun suggested that I try. I can't say that I feel creative though. When I really think about it, the arts never really did interest me."

"An acquired taste." Weiss agreed. "Same as literature. Not to be rude when I say this, but, there is something to be said for those of a cultured upbringing." She set the tray down carefully, moving a few art supplies out of the way. She then grabbed the paintbrush. "May I?"

Ruby nodded, but much to her surprise, Weiss placed it back into Ruby's weak hand, holding it within hers as she guided the brush into the small blotch of wet blue paint. Then, she ever so carefully guided that same brush slowly across the top of the canvas, making small brush strokes back and forth. The crisscross pattern wasn't nearly as precise as Ruby expected it to be, but Weiss didn't seem bothered by the detail. In fact, it seemed as though she wanted it to lack any sort of pattern.

Then she placed the small brush down, and picked up a larger one and blending the paint into something resembling a sky.

"It's funny, I never thought I would uptake the brush either, but here we are." Weiss said softly from her place behind Ruby. "Exposure to such things start early in families like mine. After all, proper suitors should care about more than serviceable genetic material."

"Serviceable genetic..." Ruby cut herself off, her mind finally clicking into place what Weiss meant. Even thinking that way made her heart sink. "I keep having to remind myself that you grew up in a world of jerks."

"Well, that's one way to look at it, I suppose." Weiss said. "In my mother's day, a woman was a masterful hostess. She had to be, there was no other option for a woman of social standing."

"Well, what about the other stuff?"

"Woman of fine breeding don't have to worry about keeping house. There are maids and servants to maintain the household. Children don't need their mother's to raise them either, there are nannies, maids, and governesses for those tasks too. They have only two tasks to perfect. Pleasing their spouse, and pleasing the company that the spouse keeps to the best of her ability. Women are showpieces around here, Ruby...and my mother was, more or less, an exemplary model of perfection."

"Hearing that, kind of makes me hate painting even more." Ruby said.

"Me too." Weiss admitted softly. "Although I was well schooled in many types of entertainment, my voice was my gift, not my hands."

"Could have fooled me." Ruby said, causing Weiss to pause as she looked down at their joined hands.

"The way Atlas elite view entertainment around here is one of the reasons I refuse to sing publicly anymore." Weiss told her as her eyes followed Ruby's path. It was funny how a few negative thoughts made her want to snap that blasted paintbrush in half, even knowing that doing so would solve nothing. It wouldn't even offer a fraction of catharsis. Not to either one of them.

Only one good thing had come from this discussion, and that was this tiny gift of touch. One that came from frustration no one would even begin to comprehend. It was such a simple contact, really. Weiss didn't think anything of it at first, until she allowed herself to truly feel the weakened hand resting in her grip. She gave Ruby a gentle squeeze before pulling away entirely.

"Painting might suit you. It requires discipline, but it also demands getting a little messy, dressing with the intent to dirty oneself. The very nature goes against the natural poise and decorum expected of a proper lady. That's why it's such a coveted pastime. There is no other hobby of the elite that is so gratuitously sloppy by default…at least, not one widely accepted among women."

Ruby didn't want anything to do with any of it. Not the paints, not the canvas, not what it was implied to help her do...most certainly not the time honored history Weiss told her about. "I just can't say I like it." Ruby noted then, setting the brush back down. "In fact, something about that white board just ticks me off. I don't even know why, it just does…" She glared at it once more before turning away from it. "Stupid thing."

It was then, when Ruby was facing her, that Weiss had a perfect view of Ruby's neck. More importantly, she had a clear view of what it lacked. Weiss was almost shocked at first. Ruby removed her neckpiece so quickly, knowing that in doing so, she was making a commitment to Sun in ways that would forever be held as highly respected in Faunus culture.

"Ruby…" Weiss breathed, moving some of the strands of Ruby's hair out of the way, as searched for what obviously wasn't there. "You didn't…"

"Yep." The younger woman said, popping the sound at the end.

"You couldn't have, not so soon…"

"There wasn't any point to wait." Ruby looked away shyly, feeling oddly exposed. "Maybe it was too fast for most people, I know you had yours on for a long time. I just assumed it was because we were young then. Was I wrong? Was there some other reason you waited to expose your neck to Blake and accept her as your mate?"

"If you love him, then that's all that matters." Weiss said, waving away the question. "It was just a surprise to me, that's all."

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked.

Weiss reached over and collected a mug of milk, handing it to Ruby. "The implications for you and Sun are vastly different. Sun is a man, and given what the term 'mate' implies..." Weiss looked away awkwardly then. "Well, I assumed you would have waited a little longer, that's all." The nearest thing to a mate in human terms would be a spouse, or life-partner.

It wasn't a term to be taken lightly.

"There's a lot of things that aren't in my control." Ruby slowly reached for a cookie. Even though it was her favorite kind, she didn't attack it with the same sort of exuberance she had always been known for. "It's a waiting game, and like it or not, I have to play it." She looked down at the cookie and put it back. The milk followed after. "No matter what, I want Sun and Zhu in my life. That's one thing I could do something about, so I did."

"You don't have to defend yourself to me." Weiss said, cursing herself for not keeping better contact with someone she cared so dearly for. Her priorities were in the right places, but it still didn't seem enough. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you have him around."

Ruby looked up from the table. "Really?"

Weiss nodded. "I was worried that you might choose to push yourself away from him…from all of us…" It had been such a great fear, in fact, that Weiss still thought back to those accidental surveillance tapes.

"I almost did." Ruby murmured. "My head was in a bad place for a while, but, Blake kind of got mad at me. She wouldn't leave me alone…talk about a lecture."

"Well, someone had to twist your head back on straight." Weiss replied before her tone softened. "You can talk to me too, you know. I'll do a better job of listening, I swear that on both of our lives. Even if I can't fight Grimm the way I used to, you're my partner. I told you before, I'm the best one you're ever going to get. I really meant that, and I still mean it now."

"A lot of times, I just don't know what to say." Ruby confided. "Actually, there isn't really much to say at all, really."

"Is that so?" Weiss asked with an upraised eyebrow. She picked up the paintbrush and handed it back to Ruby. "Well then, I suppose it's about time you get back to work and paint Sun the picture he asked of you."

"He didn't really ask for one, he just suggested it might be a good idea."

"Faunus like hand-crafted things, dolt. It means something to them." Weiss replied as turned Ruby back towards the canvas. "Besides, from one mated woman to another, that canvas is fabric. I've come to discover that a few dabs of a gentle perfume in unlikely places gets Blake motivated in all the right ways."

"Yeah, but Weiss, I don't wear perfume."

"Ruby, you literally shed rose petals…"

"Oh." Ruby said, her eyes going wide. "Oohhhhh. Do you really think he would like that?"

"There's only one way to find out." Weiss said, shrugging as she plucked a cookie from the plate.

Blake was no stranger to distance when it came to those she cared about. Beacon had trained her with the tools to cope with long stretches of time away from her battle partner, and it served her well now that Yang was living in Vale. Still, she couldn't help but feel some sort of dependency, one that was exclusive to Yang alone. Fighting alongside the Blonde for so long, at such an impressionable age, had likely cemented their bond in a time with Blake couldn't even fathom trusting a single soul.

It was probably why no one else could really fit into the role Yang made for herself. It might not have been the one she wanted, but it was still a tender and fragile thing.

"I'd ask how your day's been, but I think I already know the answer." Blake said dryly when Yang came into view.

"Yeah, well the bathroom hasn't combusted into flames yet. Count that as a blessing, I guess."

"Trust me, I already have." Blake laughed then, a sort of twisted humor meeting her eyes. "You haven't been arrested for murder either."

"Oh, shut up." Yang had always considered herself good with children, but she was positive she had met her match as she ever so carefully pried the gum from her hair. How it had even got into her long blonde mane to begin with was anyone's guess, but she was sure it would take another hour before it was out of her hair completely. She fumed silently, her semblance casting heat from her body in waves. Every now and then, steam fogged up the mirror, forcing her to clean it off again.

"I haven't had to do this in forever." She muttered to her scroll where it sat open so that Blake could see her entire struggle. "Last time gum got in my hair though, it was my fault…think I was about five or something. I had to get my hair cut, I might have set fire to a few things." Yang said offhandedly as she put the comb down to dunk her hair back into the cup of ice dust, waiting for the gum to freeze solid again. "Swore off gum after that."

"You know, if you'd stop melting it with your semblance, it would probably be easier to remove." Blake said wisely, though she only earned a red eyed glare for her trouble.

"No shit."

That only widened the smirk plastered across Blake's face. "And this is why you need to start keeping your hair in a bun."

"Damn, don't I know it." Yang groused. "Forget about my living nightmare, how are things over there?"

"Same old, same old." Blake said, eyes averting from the screen for a moment before allowing them to return. "We're getting by."

"Sounds like all hell got loose."

Blake had already flattened her ears back in preparation for the inevitable screeching. "Weiss is having some trouble with Finley. My breasts are sore, and we're both concerned that I might not be producing enough milk for all three, so she's trying to get him to take a bottle. It's going about as well as you'd expect."

"Still losing that fight, huh?" Yang asked, her nose crinkling. "I thought he would have taken to it by now."

"Because everyone loves the taste of rubber with their milk." Blake deadpanned. "They might be young, but they aren't stupid."

"Don't babies have a crappy sense of taste anyway?"

Blake narrowed her eyes. "I'm not sure. With the senses we have, I'd assume they're duller by my standard, but heightened by yours…but, that's just a guess."

"Better guess than I've got." Yang shrugged as another comb wilted under the heat of her grip. The dark plastic mangled beyond use.

"Honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't dissolved into screaming yet. I keep telling Weiss that Wycliff might be the most willing to take to it, given his disposition, but we're both on the fence about whether or not to try him on it. Honestly, I think I'd rather keep him on the breast." Her ears flattened back in dismay when a loud yowl tore through the room, causing Blake to direct her attention towards the disturbance. "Weiss, honestly, just bring Finley here…"

Yang could hear Weiss saying something about persistence, but it was drowned out by the argumentative growl rumbling from Blake's throat. Seeing the lover's quarrel from so far away was a tiny comfort as she went back to dealing with her own sticky situation. The closing of the door caused Blake to roll her eyes and curse under her breath. Yang only chuckled at her partner's dismay. "Good to see you guys still get under each other's skin every now and then."

"If it's not one thing, it's another." Blake retorted, sending Yang a dry scowl. "We're both tired, Yang. A few disagreements are bound to happen."

"Yeah, but you're admitting it." Yang shot back.

"I suppose I am." Blake got quiet then. "I think I overestimated her intuition, and thought it would be closer to my own. I knew it would be different for her, but the divide is larger than I thought it would be..."

"She'll get there." Yang said.

"I know she will." Blake replied. "Making matters worse, Weiss is being critical about everything, and it's taking its toll on the both of us."

"Uh, have you met Weiss?" Yang joked, but there wasn't any real humor in her voice. "She's always critical about everything, just like she always has been. She just doesn't aim it directly at you anymore, so you don't see it the way everyone else does."

"I admit that aspect of her personality has always been difficult...but never quite to this degree." Blake rolled her eyes when Yang just glared red through the monitor. "She hasn't Yang, not since our first year of Beacon."

"Okay, so?"

"What do you want me to say, Yang?"

"What does that have to do with Weiss having a stick up her ass?"

"The same reasons that being Faunus puts sticks up mine." Blake said with no hint of humor. "Our upbringings were vastly different. I think that's honestly starting to bother her. There's no reason for her to be so high-strung, she's doing the best she can. We both are, but she notices those little details, and you know how she compares everything. To her, everything she does is a shortcoming."

"Believe me, I get it." Yang grunted, finally prying the final chunk of pink gum from her hair. A few precious blonde strands followed it, and Yang sighed. It really was time for another trim to clean up all of her split ends. Pushing the matter aside, she reached for her scroll and headed out into her bedroom. Yatsuhashi was sitting on the bed, his nose buried in one of his thick tomes. She launched herself onto the bed, her head falling to lay in his lap as she held the scroll above her. "You guys will figure it out, you always do."

"I know we will. I just hate that we have to argue in the first place." Blake murmured softly, ears bending back in a show of concern. "And of course she went storming out of the room with Finley in her arms. She knows how much I hate that."

"Blakey," Yang laughed. "Let it go, he's fine. Like you said, Weiss has him."

"That's not the point Yang."

"Eh, it kind of is." Yang said, twiddling her fingers in some of her hair thoughtfully, as if checking just to be sure once again that all of the gum was out. Then, she flicked her gaze off screen, a soft smile on her face. Blake couldn't see what Yang was looking at, but at that moment she wanted the distraction dearly. Then, Yang's gaze returned. It was different then, not so easy-going.

"What?"

"Look, I know it freaks you out, but carrying that kid around is what human parents do." Yang told her. "We don't lock ourselves up in a room all day. We have shit to do, people to see, life to actually live. How else are we supposed to get anything done? If you want Weiss to stop being so critical, then don't give her a reason to be."

Though Yang didn't want to say it out loud, she felt a little guilty.

She couldn't be happier in Vale, though she missed Atlas too. Her talks with Blake were the only thing solidifying her choice to live with Yatsuhashi. If it hadn't been for their continued close communication, Yang doubted she would have adjusted to the move so well. She was still worried though, and with every stampede of small children running through the halls, her mind drifted back to Ruby and Sun, hoping they were carefully thinking of their own future.

The hardest thing about the distance was missing out on so much.

She was no less busy in Vale of course, and even after spending a good hour talking with Blake before hanging up the call, she could say with utmost honesty that her day had been long, and tomorrow proved longer. Closing the small device she set it off to the side, grumbling through a yawn.

"I cannot imagine sleeping like that would be very comfortable." Yatsuhashi replied, gesturing to Yang's legs, and the fact that they were hanging off the side of the bed.

"It's fine." Yang mumbled while rolling over. She wasted no time burying her face into his shirt. "Can't feel them anyway. Seems like I ran a marathon."

"Mm." He sounded, lacing his fingers through her blonde tresses. "Five hour training sessions aren't viable in this household."

"Next time, I'll take your word for it." Yang said, her arms wrapping around his torso, having no intention of moving any time soon.

He smirked ever so slightly at the display. Then he set his book down and sat up, watching as Yang plunked down onto the mattress face first as a result. She grumbled under her breath before feeling strong arms lifting her up and putting her into bed properly. Yatsuhashi tucked himself against her, and Yang sighed long and low.

The fact that his frame was so much larger in comparison to hers was still a novelty, and as she closed her eyes, she tried to let her thoughts melt away to the best of her abilities.

Weiss felt more than a little guilty after her latest argument with Blake. It wasn't that she was trying to be confrontational. She couldn't even put into words why she was so agitated. Lack of sleep was partially to blame, that was true, but she was just simply agitated as well. She didn't know why. she just was.

Walking through the halls had been her immediate solution. Weiss didn't have a clear destination in mind as she walked the upper floor of her household, but after pacing around she finally found solace in the study. It was dark there, but warm. The fireplace flickered and danced, casting warm shadows around the room, and she settled herself in one of the leather armchairs without a second thought.

She looked down at the little boy in her arms. His tiny claws were shredding into the fabric of her bathrobe easily enough, and for a passing moment she was thankful he didn't have any teeth. An older maid passed by the doorway, peeking in before scurrying off. Weiss fully expected to be bothered by that same maid the next time she heard footfalls enter the room, but a bored, masculine sigh drew her attention to the doorway.

She lifted her gaze to the man, only to look away a moment later. She was too tired to say anything to him and felt silence to be the best policy.

For a long while he was equally as silent, pouring himself something to drink from the glass bottle atop the mantle. He sipped it gingerly, before plucking out a cigar from one of his many boxes. His gaze shifted to Weiss again, before rolling his eyes and setting the offending object back down. "You've been neglecting your duties, Weiss. At first I wondered why, but it soon became clear."

Weiss expected a fight she just didn't want to have. "I've had other obligations. I'm sure you understand."

Wilson frowned at such a retort, but didn't let it irk to too deeply. Instead, he attempted casual conversation. "I don't suppose you've selected a nanny yet."

"Blake doesn't want a nanny." Weiss said, still refusing to look at the man in front of her. Even though he moved across the room and took the seat across from her, she didn't want to put in the effort to even look at him.

"I see." Wilson replied. "Well, make it clear she has no choice in the matter. You're needed at headquarters."

"You heard me." Weiss said, this time with an edge in her voice. "She said she doesn't want one. I've tried to convince her otherwise, but I can't force her to accept one."

He bristled a bit, before shaking his head. "Then make it clear that she cannot expect such abrupt help from you in the future. Your place is at the company, as you chose it to be."

"Did it ever occur to you that I've stayed home by choice as well?" Weiss shot back.

"No, I thought you'd be more aware of your position than that." Wilson said. "And as for the child's ears, have they been docked?"

This got her attention. "Of course not!" She told him, finally lifting her gaze to meet his, giving the man a disgusted look. "Why ever would you think that?"

"The hat." The man said simply, sipping once more from his glass. "How was I to know?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "Would you prefer if I had?" She asked, even though she had no intention of ever doing such a horrendous thing.

"I would prefer if the baby wasn't Faunus at all." Wilson replied. "However, I've come to find preferences are rare to find in this day and age. I've given up trying to argue with you. The facts remain the same, no matter how I might try to dissuade you."

"See for yourself." Weiss sighed, removing her son's warm hat from his head, putting his dark ears on display. "Does your firstborn grandson repulse you that much?"

"That's incorrect." Wilson said sternly, his voice darkly quiet. "Don't just assume my thoughts, you'll only disappoint yourself."

"Considering you won't even speak to me at any length, what else am I supposed to do?" Weiss asked. "Everyone else I consider to be family has either seen, held, or at the very least inquired about them. They've been nothing but elated, supportive, and even those at a distance have at least put the effort in to call." It hurt, but she hadn't expected anything else from him. "Everyone else worth my time have been happy for me, everyone, except for you."

"It's true. I won't lie to you." He shrugged. "I'm not happy for you. However, that's not to say that I'm unhappy, either."

"Then what are you?" Weiss asked between softly clenched teeth. She held her son closer still, one hand falling to rest gently atop his ears, as if to shield him. From what, she wasn't sure, but the urge struck her regardless.

Wilson decided not to speak about his thought on the child. To be frank, he thought very little in either direction, and wished to remain as neutral as possible. Still, he was not a blind man, and he wasn't a daft man. He could see the fraying emotions clear as day, knowing Weiss found herself at a loss for what to do. "Take of this what you will, although I doubt you will take much at all. You never have listened when spoken to."

"You've never had anything constructive to say." Weiss retorted.

At this, he set his drink down on the end table beside him. "It's been my experience, as a father at least, that you will come to expect failure. Both from yourself, and your offspring." He idly wondered if Weiss would even take him seriously. "From my perspective, a man's primary concern is his family. What he deems correct for his family is his burden. His children are his legacy, and reflect his image. The way he chooses to live will, eventually, influence his children to act. Be it for better or worse."

"Wonderful advice, except for the fact that I'm not a man."

"No, but you are the head of this family." Wilson said, brushing the matter off.

"I often times don't feel like it…"

"I've said this before. It bears repeating. There is no parent, man or woman, on the face of this planet able to endure raising a child unscathed." Wilson said as matter-of-factly as could be. "You sit there, holding your child in your arms. By that alone, you are already doomed to fail him. What you choose to do in the wake of those failures, is what will distinguish you in his eyes."

"As if I didn't already feel enough weight on my shoulders." Weiss sighed. "You feel the need to say that."

"You and your sister are my legacy Weiss, and I have done the best I can. At this point, I have to hope it's enough. So, to answer your question from before, what I think doesn't matter. What I do, does. I hope, if nothing else, this conversation reflects that." He reached for his glass once more. "Your children are your legacy, Weiss. You will inevitably raise them in your image. They will come to reflect you, just as in many ways, you reflect me...although if that happens to be a good thing or not, remains to be seen."