Weiss Schnee
It's been about four months since I tested positive. Ruby and I have done a ton of preparing. For one we turned the home office into a nursery with help from our friends. Yang in particular is going hardcore into Aunt mode, buying plenty of baby toys. She is just determined to be the baby's favorite Aunt and according to her that battle has already begun. just decided to move what we could of the office into our bedroom. We didn't use it much anyway to be honest.
We are holding off on clothes until we know if they are going to be a girl or a boy, might end up wasting our money otherwise.
Anyway, we decided to take a plane to visit Ruby's father, he moved away for his work a few years ago. He didn't want to but it was a great opportunity so Yang and Ruby really encouraged him to take it, even if it meant they'd miss their Dad a lot. Apparently the town he moved to was the place their family lived before moving to the town where I met them.
Ruby was very little when they moved…it was shortly after their Mom died, so she doesn't have that many memories of the place.
Everyone wanted to take a trip as a group anyway since we haven't done that for awhile and besides we haven't seen him in awhile and he's been practically begging us to come out and see him especially since he found out about the baby.
Alan and Inu came, despite how far along Inu is. Their Doctor said she should be fine for a short trip so long as they take it easy and make sure they are close enough to a hospital if something happens. Alan objected but Inu really wanted to go and she convinced him.
Yang and Blake both came since Yang obviously really wanted to see her Dad and then there was Qrow and Robyn. Qrow wasn't going to come at first but Tai really insisted that he come because he had some kind of surprise for everyone that Qrow should be there for.
Once our plane lands and we are allowed to un-board we walk into the terminal to see Taiyang waiting for us. Ruby and Yang immediately run up to him and he wraps them both in a big bear hug.
"I missed you so much!" Ruby exclaims, hugging him back really tightly.
"I'm so happy to see you!" Yang yells, hugging him even tighter. So tight that any other man would've suffocated.
"I missed you too girls." He says smiling and laughing a bit. "Hey there Weiss, how have you been?"
"I've been great sir." I say smiling at him. "Thanks in no small part to Ruby."
"Good to hear." he responds, smiling back at me. "So when can I expect to be a Grandpa?"
"It's still at least five months away but definitely by Christmas." I smile and place my hand on my stomach which has gotten a lot bigger.
"I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet them!" Ruby walks over and places her hand on my stomach. She's not kidding either. She is always talking to them and anytime they kick she ecstatically stops what she is doing so she can feel it. It's honestly adorable.
"Well I'll make sure I fly out so I'm there when they're born but if anything comes up you guys have to promise to call me!" Tai smiles and hugs me which I gladly return.
"We promise, you'll be among the first to know."
"Good, now I'm sure you are all tired. I rented a van to drive us all to the house so let's get a move on."
We all follow him out of the airport and to his van in the parking lot. Alan takes any and all bags away from Inu, if it were up to him she would've even be holding her carry on. He's always been somewhat protective of her but ever since they found out they were having a baby he has been really extra with it. It's kind of sweet.
Ruby takes my actual luggage but doesn't even dare try to take my carry on. She knows I want to hold on to as much of my independence as I can, besides I'm perfectly capable of carrying this much. Honestly though if it were up to me I'd be holding my luggage too so it's probably a good thing Ruby is capable of putting her foot down sometimes.
We throw our bags in the back of the van and hop in. Ruby and I sit in the middle with Inu. Qrow sits up front with Tai while everyone else sits in the far back, Inu was going to sit with Alan but he insisted it was too cramped and that she should sit with us.
Finally we reach their fathers home and, while not enormous, it is fairly large. He makes much more money now so he was able to afford to splurge a little on his new home. Honestly it probably could've been bigger but I don't think he'd be comfortable with that.
We all grab our bags or more specifically Ruby, Alan and Qrow grab most of them. Taiyang shows us all to our rooms jokingly noting that there is to be no 'Night time activities'..well half joking at least. Either way I see where Yang gets her sense of humor from.
Ruby and I are putting away what little we brought with us and discussing what we should do while we are here. There are all kinds of fun and interesting places to visit around here after all with Tai living so close to a big city.
"There is one other thing I would like to do while we are out here." Ruby says sitting on the edge of the bed.
"What would that be?" I ask, walking into the bathroom so I can wash up for dinner.
"I want to visit my mom so we can tell her the news." Ruby says freezing me in place. "I'm sure she would really like to know and besides I haven't been able to visit her grave since I was really little, seeing as we moved away and all."
"Of course Ruby, I'm sure she'll be very happy to hear the news."
"Everyone!" We eventually hear Taiyang shout from down stairs. "Dinner is ready!"
We both head downstairs followed by everyone else. When we enter the kitchen and see Taiyang with some black haired woman standing near the table we aren't sure what to think. I have no idea who this is and am wondering if this is the "surprise" he mentioned earlier. I was about to ask who this woman was when Yang spoke up.
"Mom?" Yang asks, looking completely stunned. What does she mean "mom" I thought Summer was their mom...unless.
"Hello Yang...long time no see." the woman says, taking a nervous step forward. She almost seems very defensive. Like she is expecting some kind of backlash.
"Who are you?" Ruby asks, looking almost as confused as me.
"I'm Yang's biological mother and Qrow's sister." the woman says, trying to explain. "My name is Raven."
"Could've fooled me, haven't heard from you in years." Qrow says.
"Brother please."
"Dad, what is she doing here?" Yang asks through gritted teeth. She has that scary look on her face that she has when she is ready to punch a hole in the nearest object.
"Yeah Tai, when were you planning on telling us about this?"
"I-"
"He wanted to but I insisted he didn't…I knew you wouldn't want to come if you knew I was here."
"Yeah and with good damn reason!"
"I KNOW that!" she looks frustrated and a little angry but I feel like that is just her default. Underneath it I see a glimpse of…sadness? "I know what I did..I just wanted a chance to talk to you both, that's all."
"What gives you the right-!?" Qrow starts to yell at her but Yang cuts him off.
"Dad, explain."
"Well..it happened about a year ago. I had been living out here for awhile when one night I ran into her on a shopping run." He sighs and looks at Yang, you can tell he is nervous and trying hard not to net her off. "Of course at first I was furious, I shouted and told her exactly what I thought about what she did. Then when I calmed down we got to talking and I could tell she had changed..mostly. She wasn't the same woman that left all those years ago."
"What is your point Tai?"
"My point..is that chose to let go of the anger and forgive her."
"You forgave her!?" Yang shouts at her father. "After everything she did to us you forgave her!?"
"Yang…"
"Yes Yang I forgave her. I decided I didn't want to be angry for the rest of my life.." he rubs the back of his neck. "Besides…I'll never stop loving Summer but I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life either."
Yang doesn't seem to know what to say to that.
"However, I told Raven that I can't forgive her for what she did to you. That is your choice to make and no one elses and if you decide that you can't we will respect your wishes and call it off."
"Yang..I don't expect you to forgive me." Raven speaks up again. "I left because I told myself you were better off without me but the truth is that I was a coward. I didn't think I could be a good mother, that it just wasn't in my DNA."
The more she speaks the more her facade starts to fall. The almost indignant look slips away more and more and is replaced by a genuinely sad, almost sorrowful look. Tears even start forming in the corners of her eyes. "I know it's no excuse and I know I don't deserve a second chance...but I want to be a part of your life if...if you'll allow me."
Yang just stares at Raven with a myriad of conflicted emotions. I feel so bad for her, this can't be an easy situation for her. Meanwhile Qrow mostly just looks furious and Blake doesn't look much less so, having gone into full on protective fiance mode.
"Sis?" Ruby puts a hand on Yang's shoulder. Honestly I think if anyone else other than her or Blake had done that right now they would've walked away with a broken hand.
Raven just stays totally silent. I guess she feels that she said all she needed to and she is letting Yang process. Finally Yang speaks up.
"You're not my Mom and never will be...Summer was my real Mom!" Yang turns and runs out the front door.
"Yang, wait!" Blake and Ruby both shout running after her. I'd run with them but it's kind of hard in my state. The others almost run after her too but Qrow stops them all.
"I think the only people she might talk to right now are already on the job…she's not in any danger so I think we should all just wait here." he turns to look at Raven. "You and I have more to talk about Sis."
Ruby Rose
Blake and I were both running after Yang for a while before we lost her. I guess I am more out of shape than I thought.
"Where could she have gone?" Blake asks, looking around frantically.
"Let's check that trail, it's the only way she could have lost us." I point to a small train leading into the woods. She nods in confirmation and we bolt down the path.
It was starting to get dark and of course it was starting to rain. Perfect timing mother nature. Suddenly I hear what sounds like a loud thumping and screaming. Blake and I run off toward the source of the sound to find Yang slamming her fist into a tree and sobbing.
"What are you doing Yang?!" Blake runs up to her and I walk up behind them slowly. She doesn't answer, I didn't think she would in the state she's in. Instead she just keeps punching the tree.
Her hand looks like it's starting to bleed. The sight of it makes me want to cry. I have only seen her this upset one other time, after Mom died and back then I didn't even completely understand. Blake grabs onto her and pulls her away from the tree. "Please stop Yang." she says through tears of her own.
That seemed to do the trick because she stopped swinging her fist. She falls to her knees slowly and Blake falls with her. Tears are streaming down her face almost uncontrollably. I just kneel down and hug her other side, crying silently as the rain falls down on all our heads only partially blocked by the branches of the tree.
"Do you think I should?" She asks quietly all of a sudden.
"Do we think you should what?" Blake asks.
"Forgive her?"
"I don't know Yang..maybe you don't have to forgive her but maybe.."
"Maybe give her a chance?...I know she hurt you and dad really badly...but she seems sincere…besides I believe everyone deserves a second chance." I responded honestly.
"Either way, that's something only you can decide." Blake lifts up her hand and kisses the back of it. "But I will support you no matter what."
"...Okay." was all she said and we both lay there holding her for a while longer. Yang is always there for me, like the great big sister she is, now it's my turn to be there for her.
About an hour later we are finally back at the house. Everyone comes running out to see us. Weiss lightly scolds me for running off like that but I know she was just worried. She looks me over to make sure I'm okay and hugs me. I hug her back and listen to my lecture with a smile. Blake and Dad were trying to make sure Yang was okay when Raven runs forward and hugs Yang, shocking everyone, especially Yang.
"I'm so glad you're okay." she says softly. "If you had run off because of me and something happened…"
"You were worried about me...even after what I said?" Yang asks, starting to tear up again.
"Of course…" she sighs. "Look Yang..I already knew I could never replace Summer..she was always better at this kind of stuff than me and I'm sure she was a better Mom than I ever could be."
Raven looks at Yang with so much guilt in her eyes.
"But even still...I want to be a part of your life Yang...I want to try and be the Mom I failed to be before..." She bows her head. Something that seems to shock both Tai and Qrow so I'm assuming she doesn't do it often. "I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make it up to you, even if it takes the rest of my life."
"Okay…"
"What?.." Raven looks up at Yang both surprised and slightly confused.
"I said okay…I can't forgive you but…I'm willing to try." she says
Raven looks relieved, I don't think she honestly expected she'd ever get that response from Yang. They share a hug that goes on for a while.
"Let's give them some time alone." Weiss says, corralling all of us out of the living room.
(The Next Day)
We decided to just walk up to the grave site. It is only about a half hour walk away from the house on a nearby cliff side, just on the other side of the forest. At first I suggested we drive since I didn't want Weiss to walk that far but she can be stubborn when it comes to these things. Eventually we reach the site and I run up to Mom's tombstone.
"Hey Mom." I kneel down and place some flowers next to a photo of her. I guess Dad left it here because it looks pretty new.
Weiss walks over kneeling with me. "I'd like you to meet my wife Weiss."
"Nice to meet you Ma'am." Weiss says with a soft smile, looking at the photo. "I can see where Ruby get's her good looks from."
I can't help but laugh a little, it's rare that Weiss jokes like that but it's always cute.
"Anyway we got married five years ago, sorry it took so long to visit." I say nervously scratching the back of my head. "Oh and I have another surprise, we are having a baby!" I shout happily.
"I've only been pregnant for four months but I promise once the baby is born we will bring it to visit.." Weiss says, putting her hand on her stomach.
"Totally...and I promise that I will try my best to be even half the mom you were...to make you proud." I lightly graze the photo of her. "I could really use your advice right now Mom."
"You'll do great darling..and I'm sure she is very proud of you." Weiss says, twining our fingers together and smiling at me.
"Thanks Weiss." I say wiping away the tears that started to form in my eyes. We sat there for awhile, regaling her Mom with the story of everything that's happened since the last time she and Ruby spoke. Including our relationship. How we met, how we fell in love, how we decided to get married.
By the time we finished, it was sundown. The first stars were starting to peek through on the horizon.
"Well I guess we better get going or Dad will worry, you know how he is...bye Mom, I miss you." I say standing up and walking away with Weiss following behind. I turn and take one last look back. "It was good to talk."
(A Week later)
We were all waiting for our plane to start boarding. Weiss and I were just discussing baby stuff with Dad, to try and get some pointers. Blake and Yang were talking with her Mom. I know Raven won't say it because she feels it'd be out of line but she seems to approve of Blake. So at least she has good taste.
Then again given that she, Dad and Mom were all in a relationship together at one point, which is something else interesting we learned on this trip, that should be evident. Gotta say I never would've guessed Dad and Mom would be in a poly relationship but I don't judge, it was just a bit of a surprise is all.
"It was great visiting Dad." I say as Yang and I wrap him in a big group hug.
"It's always wonderful to see you girls." he says, hugging us back. He then walks over and hugs Weiss. "I'm also gonna miss my favorite Daughter-In-Law." Weiss hugs him back.
"We'll be sure to visit as much as we can."
Yang walks over and hugs her Mom. Which comes as a bit of a surprise to her but she returns the hug regardless.
"I know our initial meeting didn't...go over so well, but I am happy to have gotten to know you Yang..I'll miss you." Raven says.
"I'll be back to visit as soon as I can, we still have a lot to talk about." Yang says, hugging her tighter before letting go. After we all said our goodbyes we boarded the plane. It really was an amazing visit. I never expected Yang's mom to show up but..I think she needed that, having a relationship with her Mom could really do her some good.
Not too long after taking off I noticed a light weight on my shoulder. I turned to see Weiss asleep against me.
I realized this years ago but she really is adorable when she sleeps, it blows me away every time. I smile and gently lay a kiss on her forehead. Eventually I am going to be a Mom myself. It seems like that revelation sinks in a bit more everyday but I know I'm ready. I had the best Mom in the world to use as an example and the best Wife in the world to support me when I need it.