Now that the squabbling is behind them, it's time to address Weiss' condition.
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
Chapter 4. Healing Together
When morning came, last night didn't even feel real for Blake.
There was an uncontrollable feeling of guilt still washing over her for yelling at Weiss, but what soon eclipsed that was the concern for her.
Upon recalling Weiss hadn't been feeling well yesterday, Blake blinked open her eyes in the sunlight in order to discern her position on the bed.
As they'd slept, Weiss had rolled away from her to give Blake her back, and presently the Faunus girl slid closer. Beneath the blankets, she wrapped her arms around Weiss, one hand resting lightly over her forehead and the other draped over her chest.
Blake closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment, but it wasn't hard to figure out there was clearly something wrong with her girlfriend. Weiss' temperature was a bit feverish, and her erratic heartbeat was throbbing hard enough for Blake to feel it through Weiss' back.
All hopes that she'd be better by this morning were ripped away as a new wave of worry heaved in her belly.
Just before she could pull away, Blake heard the smaller girl moan. But it wasn't the tired moan of a person just waking up, rather, it was a moan of pain.
Blake kept a loose grip on Weiss, allowing her to move however was most comfortable for her. The white-haired girl let out a wheezing sigh, her hands shifting to curl over Blake's arm that lay across her chest. When she spoke, her voice was raspy and trembling.
"B-Blake..."
Faunus ears went flat at the sound of her tone, and Blake couldn't help but hug her a little tighter.
"Morning," she said. "How... How are you feeling?"
She felt Weiss shake her head.
"Not well."
"I figured as much. You're warm and your heart's still acting up. Let's have a quick breakfast and then I'll drive you to the doctor."
"Blake, you don't have to-"
"Hush." Blake leaned forward over Weiss' shoulder and kissed her cheek. "This is what we decided on last night, remember? Now, I'm going to pour us a bit of cereal. You just stay here and rest, alright?"
With reluctance, she let go of Weiss and slipped out of bed. Her keen ears didn't miss the ensuing whimper from her girlfriend, and Blake quickly scurried around to the other side of the bed.
"Too hot?" she guessed.
Weiss' eyes were tired and agonized, and she seemed rather breathless, as all she could manage to do by means of a response was nod.
Blake dipped down to kiss her forehead, then pulled the thick covers down and away from Weiss' body, though she left the sheets. She tucked Weiss in and made sure her head was resting comfortably on the pillow before kissing her again.
"Just rest for a few minutes. I know the doctor's is no fun, but we've got to go if you're this sick. I'll be in the kitchen, so if you need me for anything, just call, alright?"
Again, Weiss could only nod, her eyelids closing unwillingly as another clipped breath escaped her lips.
Blake hated to leave her like this, but she'd get help soon enough.
Rushing out of the bedroom, she stopped by the bathroom for a moment before heading to the kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets for a pair of clean bowls. She moved with jittery motions as she grabbed the cereal boxes, making sure to only pour a small portion for Weiss in case she couldn't eat much.
Blake opened the fridge and grabbed the milk, but just before she could open it to start pouring, a soft noise alerted her attention.
Ears flicking, she looked up to find Weiss leaning heavily against the wall, back hunched and her long hair falling out all around her. Blake instantly dropped everything onto the counter and hurried to her girlfriend.
"Weiss!" she cried. "What are you doing?" Blake wrapped her arms gently around Weiss' shoulders and waist, making sure to support her unsteady weight. "I told you to stay in bed. You can't walk like this."
"Blake..." she wheezed. "Listen to me. We don't need to go to the doctor's for this."
"Yes we do. Don't try to-"
"Blake, there's nothing a doctor can do for this that we can't do ourselves."
"What? What do you...?" As her mind registered the words, Blake's ears suddenly perked up, and her eyes sparked with clarity. "Oh... You mean it's just-"
"Not my week, evidently," Weiss said, attempting a dry laugh.
As everything clicked for Blake, the panic that had been flaring in her chest died away almost instantly.
"Are... Are you sure that's all it is?" she checked.
"I'm fairly certain," Weiss rasped. "It's not often, but sometimes the first day or two are particularly bad. I guess this is just one of those times... And the fever probably isn't helping..."
As she spoke, Blake recalled a few memories from high school.
She herself didn't get terrible cramps, but she knew Weiss was prone to them. As she'd said, it wasn't every time, perhaps just three or four times a year, but when it was bad, it was bad.
While in school, Weiss would often go to the nurse's office to rest and get painkillers, but sometimes she'd stay home altogether.
Blake had offhandedly witnessed the pain Weiss would experience sometimes, but she'd never been in such close contact with her girlfriend when it happened. The days like these numbered fewer than ten per year, and Blake could see how it would've been easier for her to miss them, even in the last eight years.
But now Weiss was all she had, and she was all Weiss had.
Living together as they were, they now each had to take on the hardships like these that only parents and family members had dealt with before.
It wasn't uncommon for some people to have immobilizing cramps, but just the fact that such symptoms were now assaulting Weiss sent Blake into an overprotective, almost maternal mode.
Another little moan of pain alerted her to her girlfriend's shaking legs and heaving shoulders.
"Weiss..." Blake hugged her lightly. "Well, it's a good thing it's the weekend. We're taking it easy today no matter what. Let me help you to the couch."
Slowly, she guided Weiss to the living area, one stiff step at a time, keeping one hand on her back and the other on her stomach.
Weiss kept making little pained sounds as she moved, her breath ragged and clipped, her eyes barely even open. They'd only gone about two feet when Blake felt her sag.
"H-Hey!" Diving forward, she kept her hands in place as Weiss collapsed to her knees in agony, Blake kneeling in a fluster beside her.
"I-I'm sorry-" Weiss gasped. "It hurts, I can't-"
"Shh, it's okay," Blake cradled the girl's head to her chest and let out a soothing purr. "That was stupid of me. I'm sorry for making you walk when you're in so much pain. May I carry you? Or will that hurt too much?"
She gave Weiss a moment to catch her breath, purring continuously until she got a response.
"Th-That... might be best..."
"Okay. Brace yourself."
Blake slipped an arm beneath Weiss' knees and shoulders, pulling the girl close to her chest before standing very slowly.
Weiss' brow was furrowed in pain, and as Blake straightened herself up, the smaller girl gasped again. Blake kissed her forehead in apology and brought her to the couch.
She sat down and leaned back against the cushions, keeping Weiss lying horizontally in her lap as she cradled her. There were little tears clinging to the corners of her eyes, and Blake whimpered as she dipped down and kissed them away.
"No, no, no..." she begged. "Don't cry, Weiss. I'm sorry it hurts so badly. And on top of it you got sick." This would also explain a lot of Weiss' reactions last night. Blake didn't think she normally would've been so emotional. But perhaps this explained a bit of her own explosive behavior as well. "I'm on mine, too. I wish I could take half the pain from you..." She bent down and kissed her temple, letting Weiss rest her head on her thighs.
"No..." she rasped. "I can... h-handle it... I always do."
"Yeah, but now you have me with you," Blake reminded her. "You don't have to deal with it alone in public or during classes anymore or try to explain it to your dad. I'll take care of you now, so just relax."
She started to purr once again, rocking Weiss very lightly in her lap. She rubbed Weiss' shoulders with one hand, and used the other to tuck loose locks of hair behind her ear for her.
Now that she wasn't under the blankets any longer, Weiss' slight fever had ebbed away. But she was still jolting in pain every now and again, curling and straightening her legs repeatedly.
Blake dipped her free hand to the girl's pajama shirt, slipping beneath it to rub her stomach and as far down as her navel. She could even feel Weiss' pulse pounding as low as her belly, and Blake did her best to rub over the smooth skin slowly, making little circles with her palm.
It was probably as close as Weiss would ever get to heaven under these circumstances. Blake's hand was cool against the stifling heat in her stomach, and the occasional kiss to her cheek or forehead helped distract her from the pain.
Before long, there was a relaxing purr beneath her ear, vibrating softly against the left side of her body. Weiss couldn't help but let out a grateful moan.
"Blake... ah... it feels better..."
The sound of her voice less high-strung was reward enough for Blake to continue with what she was doing. She went on rubbing Weiss' stomach as far up as her ribs, until her breathing had slowed a bit. Weiss turned into her more, and Blake realized the calming effect her purr was having on the girl.
Carefully, she helped Weiss sit up a little, though her legs stayed curled up beside the Faunus girl's lap. Blake drew her girlfriend in, looping both arms around her back and coaxing Weiss to rest her chin on her shoulder.
Chest-to-chest now, Blake purred a little harder and a little louder.
Weiss breathed her in as the vibrations spread across her pounding chest and torso. Blake's slow, controlled breathing served to snuff out Weiss' harsher, clipped breaths, transforming them into inhales and exhales akin to Blake's own.
Blake could feel Weiss relaxing more by the minute, feel her heart rate dropping, feel her breathing slowing...
She continued to hold her close like that for nearly ten minutes, until she'd felt that she'd calmed Weiss down a bit and eased the pain. Blake stroked up and down her back and through her hair lovingly.
"How's that feel?" she purred.
Weiss could only sigh in relief.
"Blake..." She couldn't think of words of gratitude right now, so her only response was to kiss the dark-haired girl's cheek.
Satisfied that Weiss wasn't in as much pain anymore, Blake laid her down gently on the couch and slipped out from underneath her. Caressing Weiss' face and bangs, she bent down to kiss her once again.
"I'll go get you some painkillers. Just take it easy now."
"Mm..."
With Weiss' confirmation, Blake went into the bathroom once more and looked to the shelves behind the sliding mirror. She grabbed a bottle of pills and then retreated back to the kitchen to fill a glass with water before she returned to Weiss.
Helping her sit up, she made sure Weiss was awake and well enough to be able to swallow the pills without incident. Weiss reassured her that she could, and swallowed them both dry.
Blake yelped just at the sight of it and begged her to drink some water as well. With a chuckle, Weiss complied.
"What? You can't take your pills dry?" she teased, taking a sip.
"No way. That's impossible. Doesn't it taste awful?"
"Not really," Weiss shrugged.
"Gosh... I have a new level of respect for you."
Weiss chuckled again and handed her the half-finished glass of water.
Blake was relieved to see her girlfriend was feeling better enough to smile now, the threat of tears just a distant memory.
But Weiss voiced her concerns about eating breakfast, so Blake opted to pour her girlfriend's bowl-full of cereal back into the box and save it for another day. She poured the milk into her own bowl and munched on it as she took a slice of bread from the fridge and popped it into the toaster.
A few minutes later, she brought Weiss a piece of toast and some crackers in order to keep things light and easy to digest. Her girlfriend managed to eat the toast and a few of the crackers, but Blake cautioned her not to push herself.
After breakfast, Blake washed out her bowl as Weiss hobbled to the bathroom to shower. Blake was sure to keep an ear turned toward that direction at all times for sounds of distress.
In the meantime, she set her laptop up and hooked it up to the TV for a relaxing day of movie marathons.
Weiss emerged a while later, dressed again in her pajama pants and top with a towel around her shoulders. Blake hurried over to help her walk back to the couch, but again ended up carrying her before long.
She regretted to inform Weiss that they didn't have a heating pad yet, but she was determined to help Weiss feel better at all costs.
Blake sat down and laid Weiss' back over her lap, piling a few pillows on top of one another so the girl could rest her head comfortably.
As the first of many movies began, Blake took the liberty upon herself to rub Weiss' stomach and chest for her, helping to ease whatever pain the pills had failed to eradicate.
Their peaceful day was only interrupted by a few brief bathroom breaks or snack runs on Blake's part. She fed Weiss some crackers and a few grapes, occasionally bending down to cuddle her for no reason other than the fact that she could.
When the afternoon came around, Weiss was feeling immensely better, and informed Blake of this. But the Faunus girl refused to let up on her tummy-rubs.
"Even if you're feeling better, I'm spoiling you today, and you're going to like it."
"Blake, darling-"
"Pet names will do nothing for you. Don't try to stop me. You'll never win."
With a sigh, Weiss was willing to admit defeat just this once.
She enjoyed Blake's treatment of stomach massages and excessive cuddling, something she never really expected to be doing at this age, but something she now knew she'd likely require for the rest of her life.
They ordered dinner to be delivered that night to celebrate Weiss' recovery, and the white-haired girl ended up eating her entire dish and leaving not a crumb of leftovers.
Blake was glad her appetite had returned, and now that she knew Weiss was feeling better, Blake was happier, too.
They cleaned everything up, then retreated back to their movie marathon, now sitting side-by-side.
That evening, they learned how the other reacted to various movie genres.
They'd gone to see many movies in theaters together over the years for dates, but it had usually been action or comedy films.
When a horror movie came on the lineup that night, Blake was ready to hold Weiss close to her and shield her from the gruesome scenes. However, in the end, Weiss was the one scoffing at the film as Blake whimpered and tucked into her side.
Weiss would pet her back for her as she criticized the film with phrases such as "That's not realistic at all. No one has that much blood in their bodies" or "I think it would take a bit more effort than that to snap someone's spine." She watched the most graphic of scenes with an eye for critique while Blake trembled with flattened ears and hummed to herself to drown out the noise.
By the time the film was over, the Faunus girl was laughing at herself for the way things had turned out, though she was still a bit shaken by the movie.
Noticing as much, Weiss made sure a comedy film was next, and she braided and played with Blake's hair for her all the while to help her forget the horror.
They laughed together, though sometimes Weiss failed to understand the irony of some of the jokes, but her cluelessness only caused Blake to laugh even harder.
Somehow, they ended up locked in a vicious tickle-fight.
Blake was simply shocked that Weiss, who'd been so painfully immobilized to the point of tears earlier that morning, was now so vivacious and energized. Despite Blake's advantages in height and weight, she only pinned Weiss once before her girlfriend had managed to turn the tables and get the best of her.
If her tickling skills were any demonstration as to how Weiss was feeling now, Blake was content in knowing her girlfriend was pain-free.
They tussled and flipped over on the couch, repeatedly utilizing sweet spots to take advantage of the other's weakness. Blake went for the nape of Weiss' neck, and Weiss went for the sensitive insides of Blake's Faunus ears.
Shrill squeaks and laughs filled the apartment for nearly half an hour, neither willing to give in.
They only came to a draw when neither could go on, and Weiss collapsed on top of Blake's chest.
"That was... some fight, Belladonna..." she gasped.
"Not bad, Schnee..." Blake purred. "But I'm really glad you're feeling better. I was so worried."
Weiss kissed her nose.
"Thank you for worrying about me."
She rested her head sideways over Blake's collar, closing her eyes on the movie as she listened to her girlfriend's thrumming heart. Weiss had no choice in the matter as she quickly faded off into slumber.
Blake could sense what had happened and kissed the crown of Weiss' head. But she didn't have the heart to wake her – not after the day Weiss had been through.
So Blake strained to reach the remote and turned off the TV, shrouding the room in darkness aside from a sliver of moonlight cast in through the windows.
She shifted to make sure she wasn't near the edge of the couch, then locked her arms securely around Weiss' back to ensure she didn't roll off in the night. Lifting her and bringing her back to bed might risk waking her, so Blake decided to stay put for tonight.
For a while, she simply laid there, feeling Weiss breathe against her, playing with those soft, silken tresses.
To think Blake had ever lashed out at her...
But that fight had been vital; now they both knew how each could be affected by their monthly shift in hormones, and knowing that firsthand would help them deal with future months to come.
Blake vowed to control her temper flares and to think things through before jumping to conclusions, and she'd be sure to be mindful of Weiss' potential pain and tendencies to become more emotional.
Even after just two months, every day had been one that taught Blake something about Weiss, and vice versa. Even their disagreements had ultimately led to understanding of some kind.
Blake really loved this. She loved living like this, loved learning more about her beloved girlfriend, loved the fact that they could overcome anything for one another.
And she loved Weiss – more than anything.
With a purr like a deflating balloon, Blake closed her eyes and let sleep take her.
The next morning, they both slept in, though Weiss was back to her usual self and woke first.
She carefully climbed off her girlfriend and let Blake sleep, while Weiss herself went to prepare breakfast for them both.
Blake woke to a breakfast in bed, though Weiss had to correct herself.
"Er... couch," she mumbled.
Blake chuckled and pulled her into a hug.
Weiss handed Blake her plate of tuna melt as she made her claims.
"Since all you did was spoil me yesterday, now it's your turn to get spoiled," she declared.
She didn't let Blake clean any dishes or do any chores. Instead, Weiss filled a hot bath for her girlfriend and insisted she relax. She put a plum-scented bath bomb into the steamy water, and ensured it was bubbly to Blake's liking.
Blake purred at the sight of the bath and hugged Weiss again before the latter left the Faunus girl to remove her clothes and step into the water.
Weiss re-entered a few minutes later and handed her girlfriend a book to hold above-water to enjoy. She sat on the stool behind her, washing Blake's back and hair for her.
Weiss hummed idly as she worked, lathering shampoo and conditioner through those thick, black tresses, and before she knew it, she was singing fully.
Blake's purr provided some background noise whenever Weiss' voice paused, and together they made for a rather pleasant little duet.
"We should start a band," Blake chuckled.
"Yes," Weiss said. "I'll sing, and you purr. It's flawless."
Blake laughed again and returned her eyes to her book.
After a while, Weiss left so Blake could dry herself off and change back into her pajamas.
They played a few games together before retreating to their respective laptops to get a bit of leisure writing and browsing done.
Weiss soon prepared supper, going through the trouble of cooking a bit of the meat they'd bought at the grocery store a few days ago.
Then it was movies, massages, and bedtime once more.
"Did you have a nice day?" Weiss wondered, curling up in bed beside Blake. Her girlfriend's only response was to pull Weiss into a fiercely-appreciative kiss.
Yesterday, the kisses had been soft and tender, but it felt good in knowing they could both go back to these kinds.
Without the pains in her stomach now, Weiss could hold her breath much more comfortably for longer, harder kisses, and Blake wasn't holding back either. She trailed them all the way down Weiss' neck to her chest, purring roughly as Weiss scratched her back for her.
But when Weiss felt Blake's hands straying at her waist, she stopped her girlfriend. Curious, Blake halted what she was doing, instead feeling Weiss reverse their positions and climb on top of her.
Weiss kept her voice low in the darkness as she husked into Blake's ear.
"Now I know we usually do this sort of thing to relieve stress after a long day at work..." she whispered. "But it's my day to spoil you, so please forgive me for doing it now~"
Blake purred louder.
"I wouldn't be opposed."
Weiss kissed her for a long time, lips straying wherever they could reach as her hands roamed Blake's body. Her fingers eventually slipped lower, and Weiss worked until Blake gasped her name around a loud purr.
Weiss kissed her off the high, then squeaked when she was flipped onto her back once again.
"I didn't get to spoil you last night," Blake huffed. "So please accept this delayed treatment."
She did the same for Weiss, purring against her chest and kissing her all over, until her fingers curled just right and Weiss shuddered in relief.
At last, they both collapsed and cuddled close together, murmuring their usual goodnights.
"I love you, Blake."
"I love you, Weiss."
Sleep came quickly and quietly, just as morning would come.
They both woke feeling particularly energized and eager for work, and they knew it had everything to do with the intimate weekend they'd shared.
Weiss was free of pain now, and Blake's moodiness had vanished, and the couple went about their morning routine as they always did – packing lunches, buttoning blazers, and brushing hair.
The drive to work was without traffic, and Weiss was sure to kiss Blake a second longer before she got out of the car.
Both received good news upon getting into their workplaces.
Weiss had half the amount of paperwork to take care of now, and thus half the stress.
And Blake had been promoted to a raise of an additional dollar per hour.
During their lunch breaks, they shared the news with one another, excited and overjoyed about the prospect of Blake's raise. Weiss set the goal for herself to work harder as well and hopefully get a raise before long, too.
The rest of the day went by without incident or hardships, as did the rest of the week.
The couple went for their usual walks again on sunny days, and stayed inside on rainy ones. They switched up the meals with all different kinds of foods, and discovered new shows and movies to enjoy.
But every night was always the same – the kisses, the closeness, and the warmth.
Even when the nights became warmer and they needed to start turning on the air conditioning a bit, they always pressed close to one another. Blake would purr songs, and Weiss would hum them.
They'd both play with hair as always, sharing and stealing kisses, listening to heartbeats, holding and being held.
After eight years of this love, nothing could ever come between them – of this, they were both certain.
This new life together only served to prove that more and more each day.
It would take a bit of time, but something else would soon prove as much as well.
A/N: The final chapter is upon us!
Also, scenes from this chapter were loosely based off a cute piece by Dash I've always loved (and still love so much). It can be found on her blog at dashingicecream,tumblr,com/post/109738639437
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