A/N: Before we start, I just want to state that this Christmas Spectacular chapter is based on a "Brightest Timeline" where all of our characters experience a happy ending. Now that that's out of the way, as promised, on to the Holiday Special.

[/]

Jaune Arc was happy.

A contented smile was plastered on the blonde's face as he lay on his bed while staring at the sleeping form of his wife beside him. Brushing away a lock of hair from the scarred side of her face, the blonde couldn't help the warm feeling that crept up his chest.

A few seconds of silence passed before the smile on his face morphed into a goofy grin as Cinder slowly stirred to life.

"Good morning, beautiful," Jaune said, moving himself closer to the woman as he wrapped his arms around her, "And Merry Christmas."

Cinder purred as she took in the warmth her husband provided, "A very good morning and a Merry Christmas to you, too, handsome. You were amazing last night."

"Am I ever not?" Jaune replied as the couple shared a chuckle, "You know, it's already half-past seven. We should probably get everything ready."

"But it's so… cold outside." Cinder whined, a teasing pout on her face as she tightened her own grip around Jaune.

"Well, it is the season of winter, my love. Snow and cold usually come hand in hand with the season."

"Well, I consider myself more of an autumn girl."

"Shocker." Jaune said with a roll of his eyes.

"But really, can't we just stay like this for the whole day, under the covers as we ignore the whole world around us?" Cinder suggested, a cold shiver running up her spine as the couple shared another kiss.

"We can certainly try but sooner or later-"

At that very moment, the door to their bedroom was blasted open as a little girl with black hair and blue eyes came barreling through in her pyjamas. Barely a moment later, a child-shaped meteor crashed into Jaune, knocking the wind out of the blonde.

"Mom! Dad! Guess what, guess what, guess what?!" the girl screamed and before either Jaune or Cinder could reply, the girl answered her own question, "Santa came to our house last night!"

"Did he, now?" Jaune asked as he shared an amused look with Cinder, "What makes you so sure, Sapphire?"

"The bottom of the Christmas Tree is filled with presents!" the girl shouted, unable to contain her excitement.

"Are you sure? Because you know what'll happen if you're lying right, young lady?" Cinder asked, teasing the young girl.

"I'm not lying, mom!" the young girl argued before she hopped off the bed . The girl then gripped Jaune by the arm as she attempted to drag the blonde towards the door, "Come on, dad! I'll show you!"

"Alright, alright. I'm going." Jaune said ruffling the girl's hair, laughing as she swatted his hand away.

"I'll be there in a minute." Cinder said before Jaune turned towards her.

"No rush. Take your time, alright? For your sake and," Jaune let his sentence trail off as he placed a kiss on the woman's stomach, "this little bundle of joy."

"Dad, come on!" Sapphire shouted once more.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Jaune said, laughing as the man let himself be dragged down to the living room by his daughter.

[/]

Ruby Rose was excited.

Dressed in a red coat over a green ugly sweat, the woman was humming to herself as she and her sister walked through the streets of Vale. With a sack filled with presents on her back and, if the weather forecast was to be believed, a bright sunny Christmas Day ahead, it felt as if nothing could bring down her mood at that moment.

"Calm down, Rubes. No need to get too excited." Yang said, herself carrying a sack, although hers was considerably smaller than her sister's. The blonde was wearing a brown coat over a plain red shirt and a pair of black pants.

"Yang, how could I not be?! It's been nearly a year since we all last got together! A whole year!" Ruby argued, grunting as she adjusted the sack on her back.

"I get that but… A sack full of presents? Really?" Yang asked, a laugh coming out of her mouth, "All you're missing is a big round belly and a white bushy beard."

"Excuse you, I have my beard right here." Ruby said, pulling a fake white beard from underneath her coat before putting it on her face. Yang stumbled in shock at her sister's dedication to the role, a bead of sweat sliding down her face, "It's all so I can win the title of the best and coolest Aunt this year. What about you? Is that all you're bringing?"

"Well, duh. All you need for a good party are good friends and a few bottles of booze." Yang replied, a gift basket filled with bottles of alcohol, "Also, you do know that it's just between you and Weiss, right?"

"You never know, Yang. The fight for the title of "coolest Aunt" is a constant battle and I can never let my guard down." Ruby countered.

"Sheesh. Like uncle, like niece, I suppose." Yang quipped.

"Speaking of, have you heard from Uncle Qrow lately? What's he been up to these days?" Ruby asked as the two rounded a corner.

"Last I heard, he, dad, and Raven were travelling to Vacuo for the holidays. Something about keeping an old Team STRQ Christmas tradition alive." Yang replied, "Raven wasn't too thrilled about it at first - shocker, I know - but after a round of drinks, she eventually became the one who was most excited about the trip. Heck, she even paid for the flight tickets."

"Raven did? Really?!" Ruby asked, an expression of disbelief on her face.

"My thoughts exactly." Yang replied with a laugh before the blonde abruptly stopped in her tracks.

"Yang? What's wrong?" Ruby asked, turning around to face her sister.

"Hey, I… kind of forgot something I needed to buy. Could you go on ahead without me? I won't be long, I promise." Yang said.

"Yang, is everything alright?" Ruby asked, a worried frown on her face as Yang waved her off.

"Everything's fine, Rubes. I promise." Yang said, a reassuring smile on her face before she turned around and headed the other direction, "Don't eat all the cookies, alright?"

"Okay. Also, no promises on the cookies thing." Ruby said before she continued her journey to Jaune's home.

[/]

Lie Ren was thrilled.

Of course, unlike his wife, he was much better at hiding it under a calm exterior.

"Dad, come on! Nobody likes a slowpoke!" his eldest, Sylvie, shouted atop her mother's head. Dressed in a Santa costume, her crimson hair was tied in a ponytail and was swaying in the air as Nora merrily hopped through the snow-filled streets of Vale. Ren couldn't help the smile appearing on his face at such a joyful scene.

"Yeah, Ren! Slowpokes are the worst!" his wife added, dressed in a pink winter coat over the red ugly sweater Ren had knitted her for her last year.

"You two can go on ahead. We'll catch up." Ren said, a small laugh escaping his lips before he looked down to his youngest walking hand in hand beside him, "You know, Frigga, I could carry you just like your sister, if you wanted to."

"S'okay, dad. You don't need to." the young girl replied, wiping away some of the snow that was on her own Santa costume.

"Come on, Frig," Sylvie said as she and Nora came to walk beside the father and daughter duo, "It's so fun up here that you can see everything in Vale."

"Don't wanna…" the girl said, shaking her head.

"Boo, you're so lame." the elder twin replied before her father stepped in.

"Now, Sylvie, what did we say about forcing your sister to do things she didn't want to?" Ren asked, giving the girl a knowing look.

"Not to." the girl replied, a small pout on her face.

"Exactly." the man said, pausing for a few moments before continuing, "Now, what do you say?"

"Sorry, Frig." the young girl said, a downcast look on her face before Ren ruffled the girl's hair. The girl's smile then returned slowly.

"Good girl. Remember that feeling next time before you say something like that, okay?" Ren asked, the girl responding with a silent nod as he and Nora shared a fond smile. Before long, the family of four arrived in front of the doors to their former team leader's house.

"I'll get it!" a familiar voice shouted from inside as Ren pressed the doorbell. As the door opened, the four of them were greeted by the sight of a blonde-haired man covered in flour and powdered sugar, "Ren! Nora! You made it!"

"Merry Christmas, Jaune." Ren said as the two old friends shared a hug even as Ren never let go of her daughter's hand.

"Nora's here, too!" the woman shouted as she gripped Jaune in a tight bearhug before her daughter joined in, as well.

"And Sylvie's here, too! Merry Christmas, Uncle Jaune!" the girl shouted, wrapping her own arms around the man's head, as both mother and daughter let out hearty laughs of their own.

"Merry Christmas, Nora. Merry Christmas, Sylvie." Jaune replied, laughing along before he turned his attention to the couple's youngest, "And Merry Christmas to you, too, Frigga."

"M-Merry Christmas, U-Uncle Jaune." the girl managed to squeak out before she hurriedly hid behind her father's legs. Jaune, meanwhile, offered the young girl his warmest smile before inviting all of them in.

"Well, come on in. Ruby's already here and she's helping with the baking." Jaune said. As his newly arrived guests entered his home, the blonde patted himself down before he shouted up the stairs, "Sapphire! Sylvie and Frigga are here!"

"Yay! Sapphire!" Sylvie shouted before jumping off of her mother with a flip and landing gracefully. The girl then grabbed her sister by the hand, "Come on, Frig!"

The young girl hesitated as she looked up towards both her parents, a worried look on her face.

"It's okay, Frigga. We'll be down here if you need us." Nora said as she gave her daughter a tight hug. Nodding, the young girl then followed her sister up the stairs towards the second floor of the house.

"Man, if you go back ten years and tell me I'd have a kid of my own with another one on the way, I would have called you insane." Jaune said as he poured drinks for his friends, "Now, though? I can't imagine anything else."

"Heh, you said it, Fearless Leader!" Nora shouted before holding her glass up high, the two men following her lead, "Merry Christmas, you guys!"

[/]

Weiss Schnee was ecstatic.

Of course, being the head of quite possibly the biggest conglomerate on the face of Remnant, she couldn't exactly outright express such emotion, lest it be used against her in a smear campaign. Brother Gods knows it's happened before. She certainly can't afford to do so with her brother in front of her.

"My dear sister, is all this really necessary?" Whitley asked as he sat across from her in the backseat of the limousine they hired for the day.

"Whatever do you mean, dear brother?" Weiss replied as she tapped away on the tablet in her hand.

"I mean did you have to fill up a whole other car with nothing but presents for the children?" the boy asked before taking the tablet away from Weiss's hands, much to the woman's protests, "Also, it's Christmas, Weiss. Even if you are the head of the SDC, you should take a break every once in a while, especially since you're supposed to be on the vacation."

"I don't see the harm in all these gifts." Weiss said, conceding the tablet to her brother with a defeated sigh, "I'm just doing my part in spreading warmth and joy to children during the holidays, that's all."

"Yes but, a whole car's worth of present?"

"I'm spreading a lot of joy." Weiss said with a self-satisfied smile and a nod, "I'm just showing these children the love that we barely received when we were their age."

"Barely received? Try none at all." Whitley replied with a roll of his eyes, "Did you know that when I was ten, father signed me up for cello lessons as a Christmas gift?"

"If you think that's bad, he once dragged me to an investor's meeting when I was eleven. I spent the whole day cooped up in the office listening to old people talk about profits and margins." Weiss added, rubbing her head at the memory, "Nobody even offered me a cup of hot chocolate. Who does that to a child on Christmas of all days?!"

"Winter once told me that when she was fifteen, father had her take his place for one of those meetings. Winter being Winter, she naturally did well in that role, even if it was for a day." Whitley said with a shrug before the two siblings shared a laugh.

"Speaking of, I'm surprised you were willing to come with me today." Weiss said.

"Well, it was either this or spend my day in front of a fireplace, alone and with a glass of brandy in my hand. Hardly a difficult choice."

A few minutes later, the car they were in finally arrived in front of Jaune and Cinder's house.

"Ms Schnee. Mr Schnee. We've arrived at the destination." their driver said, getting out of the rented limousine before opening the door for the two Schnee siblings.

"Thank you, Samuel." Weiss said with a smile as she stepped onto the driveway. The woman then handed the man a few Lien cards, "You can take the rest of the day off now."

"But Ms Schnee, you rented my services for the whole day. I couldn't possibly-"

"It's alright, Samuel." Whitley said, cutting the man off as he patted him on the back, "It's Christmas, after all. You should be spending it with friends and loved ones."

"I-if you're sure about this, Mr Schnee." the man said as he looked between the two of them. Replying with a grateful nod, the man quickly sped off in the limousine before another car took its place. After coming to a stop, two men with clothes bearing the brand of the Schnee Dust Company stepped out as they unloaded the back of the vehicle of its contents.

"For the record, I still think it's ridiculous how competitive you are in trying to win the love of children." Whitley said as the two Schnee siblings stepped up to the door to Jaune's house, "They aren't even your children."

"Your opinion is duly noted and filed in the appropriate folder, dear brother." Weiss replied as she rang the doorbell.

"I'll get it!" a familiar voice shouted from inside before the door opened a few moments later. The two siblings were then greeted by the sight of a woman dressed like Santa with the beard, belly, and all, "Ho, ho, ho! Merry-"

The woman stopped abruptly as she finally realized who it was that was standing in front of her at that moment.

"Weiss." Ruby said, eyes narrowed as she stared down the white-haired woman.

"Ruby." Weiss said in return in an equally "cold" tone. The staredown lasted for but a few moments before Ruby broke into a wide smile as she leapt at her former partner.

"Weiss!" Ruby shouted as she gave the head of the SDC the tightest hug she could manage, "It's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you, too, Ruby!" Weiss said, returning the hug as the two women shared a laugh, "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Ruby said, before turning to Whitlet, "Merry Christmas to you, too, Whitley!"

"Merry Christmas, Ruby." the man said as the two shared a short and polite hug. It was then that Ruby noticed the two giant sacks of presents behind them.

"Oh, Weiss, going with quantity over quality again this year? You know that would never work." Ruby said, a mocking smile on her face as she invited the two of them in.

"That's what you think, Ruby! I'll show you that last year was just a fluke." Weiss countered as the three of them stepped into Jaune's home.

[/]

Emerald Sustrai was furious.

Her eyes blazed in a fury not unlike Cinder's whenever she used her Fall Maiden powers. Anyone who saw her stomping down the path towards Jaune and Cinder's home had the common sense to stay as far away from her as possible.

"Em, could you slow down?" came the irritating voice of one Mercury Black as the man trailed after her, a gift basket in his arms, "If you would just slow down and let me explain myself, this whole misunderstanding would-"

"There's nothing to misunderstand here, you ass!" Emerald shouted, rounding on her boyfriend as the man immediately clamped his mouth shut, "You left me waiting at that stupid restaurant last night for an hour! That was on top of forgetting that it was our two-year anniversary last night!"

"Look, everything would all make sense if you would just-"

"Save it. The only reason I'm not making you experience your worst nightmares right now is because it's Christmas and we're spending the day with friends."

"I'm pretty sure they just see me as an acquantaince more than a friend, to be honest." Mercury quipped before immediately realizing he shouldn't have said anything if Emerald's glare was anything to go by. Before long, the couple eventually made it to their destination as Emerald pressed the doorbell in repressed fury.

"Merry-" Jaune started to say as he opened the door only to abruptly stop as he noticed the deep frown on Emerald's face, "Christmas…? Emerald? Is everything alright?"

"Ask this idiot and you'll understand." the woman said, giving the blonde a quick hug before she stepped into the house.

"Uh, okay. Come in, Cinder's in the kitchen with Ruby." Jaune said, Emerald replying with a nod before making her way to the kitchen. As she opened the kitchen door, the green-haired woman was immediately greeted with a scene of absolute chaos.

Ruby was running around putting out trays of literal fires as Weiss laid down on the floor, covered in flour and powdered sugar from head to toe. Meanwhile, Nora was standing in front of the stove, screaming like a banshee as the ginger-haired woman was trying her best to douse the flames in front of her.

To top it all off, all of this was happening as the lady of the house was simply sitting to one side of the room, a glass of hot chocolate in one hand and a book in another, a look of serenity on her face as if the scene of insanity in front of her was non-existent.

"Um…" Emerald said as she made her way towards Cinder, "Cinder?"

"Emerald, you're here!" the woman said, putting the book and glass of hot chocolate down as she gave the green-haired woman a warm hug which Emerald happily returned, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Cinder." Emerald said before she turned her attention back to the chaos unfolding around them, "Is… everything okay? Your house isn't going to burn down, is it?"

"Oh, it'll be fine. Weiss and Ruby are just helping me make some Christmas cookies, that's all." Cinder said as the two women sat down, "So, how are you? It's been a while since we've seen each other, hasn't it? Are you still with Mercury?"

"Ugh, that jerk…" Emerald muttered as the mention of his name brought out unpleasant memories from the day before.

"That doesn't sound good." Cinder said, a small laugh escaping her lips as she poured a glass of hot chocolate for the woman.

"You don't know the half of it." Emerald said, taking a big gulp of hot chocolate before explaining the reason for her sour mood.

[/]

Pyrrha Nikos was irritated.

More at herself than at anyone in particular. The woman opened the door to her car before closing it. She must have done that dumb routine more than ten times today already. Banging her head on the steering wheel of her car, the woman let out a heavy sigh.

Pyrrha was so distracted that she failed to notice the mane of golden blonde hair approach her car. A few taps on the window beside her made the young woman jump in her seat, eyes wide in surprise as she turned to face whoever it was that decided to intrude on her current session of self-loathing.

"Yang!" Pyrrha exclaimed, surprised by her old friend's seemingly sudden appearance.

"Hey there, P-Money. You planning on coming out anytime soon?" Yang asked, a friendly smile on her face as she took a step back from the car. Although she hesitated for a few short seconds, Pyrrha finally found the resolve within herself to step out of her car and into the cold winter air.

"So… How long have you been watching… all that?" Pyrrha asked, too ashamed to even look Yang in the eye.

"About ten minutes." Yang said, Pyrrha wilting slightly at the blonde's answer, "It was funny for the first five but after that, I just felt bad for you."

"Imagine how I feel…" Pyrrha said, a weak chuckle escaping her lips.

"So, you want to tell me what's going on? It would be a good way to fill the silence while we're walking to Jaune's place." Yang said, gift basket of booze tucked under her arm.

"Yeah, alright." Pyrrha said before the two women started their journey, "Before I start, I need to tell you that it's stupid. So stupid."

"Hey, I'm sure it can't be that bad." Yang said.

"Right. Well, it's just… I don't know why but I still find it hard to accept that Cinder's part of our lives now. As if nothing ever happened, you know?" Pyrrha said.

"Hey, I get it. I mean, she was responsibly for bringing down not just Beacon but also half of Vale. Not exactly something you could forget or forgive." Yang said.

"So you see where I'm coming from, don't you?"

"Yeah but why do I get the feeling that it's more than just that?" Yang asked, looking at Pyrrha with a questioning look. The woman could only look away, unwilling to look the blonde in the eye.

"For the longest time, I hated Cinder. So much." Pyrrha said.

"Yeah, that's pretty much general knowledge at this point." Yang said with a chuckle, "Remember that fight the two of you had a few years back? Thanks to the two of you, I'm pretty sure I can cross 'watching two people beat the absolute shit out of each other' off of my bucket list now."

Pyrrha looked away, embarrassed at the memory, "I'm pretty sure we would have killed each other if it wasn't for Jaune stepping in"

"Yeah, there's not doubt about that." Yang added, "You don't still have any bad blood with her, do you?"

"No. At least, I hope not." Pyrrha said, "I just… feel awkward sometimes when I'm there, you know? It doesn't get better with every visit, either."

"Yeah, especially considering that huge crush you had on Jaune." Yang said as Pyrrha's face turned as red as her hair, "You don't still have a crush on him, do you?"

"No! My feelings for Jaune have been gone for a while now…" Pyrrha said, waving her arms around in denial, "Even if it wasn't, I don't think I could bring myself to do anything."

"Yeah, there's nothing worse than being a homewrecker." Yang said as the two women were approaching their destination, "For what it's worth, at least you'll be spending the day today with friends. Really wouldn't want to see you and Cinder try to kill each other again."

"Thanks, Yang." Pyrrha said, a smile of relief on her face, "But that's enough about me. What about you? Any exciting news to share?"

"Me? Nah. Ol' Yang-Xiao Long is doing great as ever these days. The solo act has never been brighter, either." Yang said, a triumphant smile on her face as she struck a quick pose.

"Solo act?" Pyrrha asked before Yang silently cursed the slip of her tongue, "Speaking of which, where is Blake? I was sure we'd see the two of you arriving together today."

Yang was silent for a few seconds as she contemplated on how to answer her friend's question before finally saying, "We're… taking a break from each other right now."

"What?" Pyrrha asked, stopping in her tracks as she stared at her friend in disbelief.

"It's alright, P-Money. It's no big deal." Yang replied, a small smile on her face, "Besides, it's a mutual break. We both wanted it."

"Is… everything alright between the two of you?" Pyrrha asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine. It's just… She was busy with running Menagerie and I just found it a bit difficult staying in one place for such a long time. Now that her parents are retired, she's become busier than ever." Yang replied, a wistful look on her face as she recalled those past events, "We did try to make the long-distance thing work but I guess we just weren't very good at it. So, after a heated discussion, we decided to take a break from each other and just… go with the flow, I guess is the best way to put it."

"Well, for what it's worth, I hope everything works out for the two of you. You two are great together, after all." Pyrrha said as the two women finally arrived in front of Jaune's house.

"Thanks, P-Money. You're the best." Yang said, patting the girl on the back before she rang the doorbell. Before long, the door opened to reveal a blonde man wearing a fake white beard.

"Pyrrha! Yang! You're finally here!" Jaune said, giving both girls a hug at the same time as the three friends shared a laugh, "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Jaune!" Pyrrha replied.

"Merry Christmas, Vomit Man!" Yang said even as Jaune groaned at the nickname, "Or should I say Vomit Santa?"

"Funny, Yang." the man replied as he ushered the two of them in, "So, what do you two want to drink? We have brandy, scotch, beer, wine, whiskey, and soda."

"Give me some of that top-shelf scotch, J-Money!" Yang said.

"And I'll have-"

"P-Money here will have the scotch, too. Top-shelf, of course." Yang said, cutting the redhead off.

"Yang, I don't-"

"Two top-shelf scotch, coming right up." Jaune said, ignoring Pyrrha's cries of protests.

"...I hate you guys." Pyrrha said, accepting the glass of scotch from Jaune even as the smell of the drink made the woman's nose wrinkle slightly.

[/]

Blake Belladona was anxious.

Not just the fact that she hadn't seen any of her friends for the better part of two years now but she also hadn't been responding to any of their texts or calls for the past few months. The only reason they knew she wasn't dead was because of the blonde monkey Faunus standing next to him right now.

"Ugh, this coat is so itchy." Sun said as he furiously scratched the part of his back he couldn't reach with his tail.

"Sun, could you please stop fidgeting for five minutes? You're making my anxiety worse by the minute." Blake said, glaring at the man even as she tugged on her own winter coat. Deciding to outright ignore the grumblings of the man in beside her, Blake rang the doorbell.

"I'll get it." said the familiar voice of Jaune Arc from inside the house.

"This was a bad idea." Blake said, turning around to run away only for a monkey tail to stop her in her tracks.

"No, it's not. Trust me, you'll feel better once the day is over."

"Oh, what are you? My therapist?" Blake asked and before the two of them could argue any further, the door suddenly burst open as they were greeted by the sight of Jaune in a green ugly sweater that had the picture of a robot riding a dinosaur for some reason.

"Blake! Oh, my Gods! You're here!" Jaune exclaimed as he gave the woman a tight hug, "You're actually here!"

"H-hey, Jaune." Blake said, slowly wrapping her arms around the blonde, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Blake." Jaune said, "I honestly didn't think you were going to make it."

"I almost didn't, actually." Blake said as Jaune released his hold around her, "Sun here actually managed to convince me it was a good idea to come."

"And Sun! Merry Christmas!" Jaune said, the two men sharing a deep hug, "Thanks for changing her mind.

"Merry Christmas, dude!" Sun said, sharing a laugh with his fellow blonde, "And no problem. All in a day's work for the Assistant Chieftain of Menagerie."

"Assistant to the Chieftess, actually." Blake said

"Well, come on in. The gang's actually all here." Jaune said, ushering the two of them in.

[/]

Yang-Xiao Long was tense.

It was so bad that she could practically hear her heart beating inside her chest and all she was doing was going to refill her plate with Christmas food. The fact that Blake was standing nearby the Christmas chicken at the same time was just a coincidence. A huge coincidence.

"Hey there, Kitty Cat." Yang managed to say after mysteriously finding herself standing in front of the Faunus all of a sudden.

"Yang. Hi." Blake said, turning to face the blonde with a look of slight surprise on her face before a warm smile slowly took its place, "Call me crazy but I feel like you've been avoiding me all evening."

"What? Me? Avoid you? That's crazy… Ha ha…" Yang said, scratching the back of her head as she, "I didn't think you were coming, to be honest. I sure am glad you're here now, though."

"Thanks and honestly, I wasn't going to. That idiot," Blake said, pointing towards a monkey Faunus in the middle of a drinking contest with Nora, Ruby, and Emerald, "managed to change my mind."

"So, how've you been? Great?" Yang asked.

"Oh, you know. Running Menagerie. Being the one all of the Faunus look towards for all the answers and solutions. Just everyday stuff." Blake replied.

"Hey, from where I'm standing, they're in good hands. Menagerie couldn't have found itself a better chieftain. Or is it chieftess? Ah, doesn't matter." Yang said, the two women sharing a laugh, "My point is, there's nobody better fit for the job than you."

"Honestly, it doesn't feel that way some days." Blake said, "I'm pretty sure I would have lost my mind with all the insane problems Menagerie always seems to have if it wasn't for Sun and Adam helping me out sometimes."

"Adam Taurus helping to run Menagerie. Never thought I'd see the day." Yang added.

"He can be… extreme at times-"

"Understatement of the year, but go on." Yang added as she brandished her robotic arm.

"But he is pretty helpful with some of the matters at hand. Especially now that Menagerie has officially been recognized as the fifth kingdom of Remnant and that Atlas has agreed to start trade relations with us." Blake said, her expression growing increasingly worried as her thoughts drifted towards the running of Menagerie.

"No. None of that. Shame on you." Yang said, flicking the woman on the forehead, "It's Christmas today. We're meant to enjoy the day, not stress ourselves out."

"You're right… you're right…" Blake said in between deep breaths as a grateful smile on her face appeared on her face, "Thanks, Yang. You always did know how to make me forget my troubles."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for." Yang said as the women clinked their glasses together, "Merry Christmas, Blake."

"Merry Christmas, Yang."

[/]

Cinder Fall was happy.

As the woman sat on her husband's lap, the man resting his head on her shoulder, the woman couldn't help the warm smile on her face as she eyed the scene of joy and happiness in front of her. Go back ten years and tell her that this was the kind of scene she'd be witnessing and she'd have burned them to ashes in an instant.

On one side of the room, Emerald, Nora, Ruby, and Sun were drinking their liquor cabinet away all the while filling their house with laughter while another side of the room had Weiss, Yang, Blake, and Ren playing with the children. Even Neo was here, the woman appearing from out of the blue and was currently having a drink with Mercury and Whitley.

Although Neo's presence was unexpected, that didn't stop Jaune from welcoming the petite woman into their home like any other guest. Not that Cinder had anything against him for doing something like that. That's just the type of person her beloved was.

"What are you thinking about?" Jaune asked, the man rubbing the growing bulge on her stomach.

"Nothing. Just… embracing the moment, that's all." Cinder said as Jaune let out a small laugh.

"So, did you hear about what happened with Merc and Emerald yesterday?" Jaune asked.

"I did. Honestly, it doesn't surprise me. I'd give it two months tops before the two of them break up."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure." Jaune said, a knowing smile on his face.

"Oh? Is there something you're not telling me, my love?" Cinder asked.

"Well, I'll tell you but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone." Jaune said as Cinder nodded in agreement. With an amused smile, the blonde then whispered softly into the woman's ears, "He told me that he's planning to propose to Emerald tomorrow. He's bought the ring and everything."

"What?!" Cinder asked, shock in her face as she rounded on her husband.

"It's true. He was going to do it last night but there was a whole mix up with the ring and everything. That's why he was late." Jaune said.

"Well… This is certainly unexpected." Cinder said before Nora called out to Jaune.

"Jaune, come on! It's just you and me now!" the woman said, a bottle of half-empty booze in her hand, "Cinder, you too!"

"Nora, you know Cinder can't drink. She's pregnant."

"Well, just give her some non-alcoholic booze. That'll work just fine." Nora suggested.

"If you have some of that, you should throw it away." Yang added with a laugh, "Non-alcoholic booze sounds illegal and disgusting. Isn't that right, Sapphire?"

"Yeah! Disgusting!" Saphire shouted as Yang tossed the girl up into the air with a laugh, "Aunty Yang, again!"

"What's the magic word? Come on, like I told you." Yang said.

"Aunty Yang is the coolest and bestest Aunt there is!" the young girl said.

"That's right. Aunty Yang is the coolest, isn't she?" Yang said, sending a triumphant smirk towards Ruby and Weiss before tossing the young girl into the air. If Cinder had superhuman hearing, she would have heard the sound of two hearts shattering at that precise moment as both women cried out in defeat.

Laughing to herself, Cinder sat back in her seat as her husband went to join his friends as she took in the scene with all the happiness and joy she could, a contented smile on her face as she enjoyed the company of friends and family around her.

[Chapter END]

A/N: And with that, the chapter is over! Boy, I had a blast writing every part of this special holiday chapter. It was a very fun writing experience. What did you guys and gals think about it?

To clarify, this is sort of the happy ending "epilogue" to Knightfall where everyone is happy by the end. Whether the above events are canon to my story or not, well, we'll see by the end. Also, yes, I chose to bring back Adam for the fun of it. No points to those who can figure out where I got the name Sylvie and Frigga from.

As always, fave, follows, and reviews are always welcome.

Praise be to Cinder Fall.

And finally:

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR