Weiss was twenty-two when her mission ended.
Over the last few years, she'd lost count of how many friends and allies died along the way. No matter how many lives they had to part with, it never got easier to say goodbye. But after an eternity of hardship, everyone's effort and sacrifice finally paid off. They'd won.
She called Adam, Whitley, and Winter once it was confirmed they'd be heading back. The ride to Atlas felt like an eternity. Weiss checked her Scroll constantly to see how much longer they had left of the trip. When their ship finally neared Atlas, her restless excitement gave way to a sudden fray of nerves.
Weiss checked her hair in the front camera of her Scroll throughout the day. She redid her ponytail at least three times in the span of a single morning. The wrinkles in her jacket remained no matter how many times her hands smoothed out the fabric.
She should've bought a new jacket before flying out of the city. Weiss was so concerned about getting back to Atlas that she never considered buying any new clothes or makeup.
"You look fine." Blake laughed when she caught her redoing her side ponytail again.
"I don't know. I caught a loose strand of hair the last time," Weiss rambled, inspecting her ponytail for flaws in her Scroll's camera.
Blake confiscated her Scroll before she could mess with her hair again. "He's going to think you look good no matter what."
"I-it's that obvious?"
"It's so obvious what you have in mind," Yang said with a snort. "If he makes fun of you, I'll beat him up."
"Besides, you video chat with him almost every night anyways. It's not like he's oblivious to how you look," Blake reminded her.
"You're right. I'm overthinking this," Weiss agreed. It didn't stop her from running her fingers down her hair.
"What are your plans when you get back?" Blake asked.
"Whitley has a dinner planned for us. He says you're all invited. He's hired some of Atlas' finest chefs for tonight."
"You can count me in! I'm always down for a free meal!" Nora beamed.
"What she's trying to say is that we're grateful for your brother's generous invitation," Ren clarified.
"And we also can't turn down the opportunity to eat like rich people," Oscar added helpfully.
"That too." Yang laughed. "Most definitely that."
"I hope we get time to spar before dinner," Jaune said. "I've been dying to see if Whitley's as strong as he looks now."
Weiss wasn't the only one who kept in regular contact with Adam during their long journey. There were many nights when Jaune called him to catch up or get advice about his swordsmanship. Sometimes he'd call when Adam was in the middle of training Whitley, giving them a chance to see how far Whitley was progressing.
From what Weiss had seen, Whitley was good enough to keep up with Adam's usual fighting pace now. The way he handled his sword was similar to Adam, but Winter's influence shined through in the way he manipulated his Semblance.
"How long are the rest of you staying in Atlas?" Weiss asked.
"I want to leave as soon as we refuel," Ruby replied, fidgeting with her silver heart-shaped urn necklace. She hadn't taken it off since they all surprised her with it after Qrow's passing.
"You should stay for a night at least," Weiss suggested. "You guys still have a long trip ahead."
"She's right. I'm sure Dad doesn't expect us to be back right away." Yang patted Ruby's back. "Uncle Qrow won't mind if we take some time to rest up."
Ruby looked at where his sword leaned beside her scythe. The blacksmith they'd hired to fix his broken sword did a fantastic job of repairing it to its prime. It was impossible to tell it once lay bloody and broken on the battlefield.
"Okay," Ruby finally said. "Let's stay in Atlas for the night."
Weiss' scroll lit up in Blake's hand with a new call.
"It's your brother," Blake said, handing the Scroll back to her.
Weiss thanked her and excused herself to the far corner of the ship to discuss the final details of the surprise they'd been planning. Given the tight proximity of the airship, it was a surprise that no one had discovered their secret project.
Atlas was exactly as Weiss remembered it. Pristine white towers soared into the air as if trying to reach the stars. The streets below were so clean they blended with the freshly fallen snow. But nothing excited her more than seeing the towering form of Atlas Academy in the distance.
Weiss was already at the door when their airship hovered over campus ground, awaiting permission to land. Her family was waiting for her below. Winter stood stoically beside Ironwood while Whitley waved at their ship during its slow descent.
Her eyes zeroed in on him.
Adam stood by Whitley, dressed entirely in black. Even from a distance, she felt his eye locked solely on her.
Weiss was the first one off the ship. Whitley and Winter caught up to her first, crushing her in a group hug. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jaune tackle Adam in a bear hug. The laugh that came from him was music to her ears.
"Are you well? You look like you've lost weight," Winter said once they let her go.
"I'm fine," Weiss assured her. "We've just been surviving off canned food for several weeks. It hasn't helped our appetites much."
"Precisely why I offered you all dinner tonight," Whitley said. "I hope your friends can all stay for it."
"Don't worry, Nora wasn't about to let the others pull her away from a free meal."
It was strange to think of Whitley as her baby brother when he was an entire head taller than Winter now. His new taste in fashion made it feel like she was talking to a completely new person. He long abandoned his blue vest for an unbuttoned black blazer that covered his white dress shirt. The red floral pattern threading over his left shoulder wasn't lost on Weiss when she first saw it on video calls.
He had told her the jacket simply fit his new taste in fashion, and the minimalistic pattern complemented it well. He definitely didn't take any inspiration from someone else.
"Are your friends leaving right after dinner?" Winter asked.
"No. They're planning to stay for the night."
"I can arrange Atlas' best hotel for them," Whitely offered. "Don't like at me like that, Winter, you can't stuff them in a dorm room and expect them to feel rested."
"Sometimes I worry about your spending habits." Winter frowned.
"I only spend big on people I care about. Besides, the business has been doing well this year. We can afford to indulge a bit."
He had updated Weiss about his new business throughout the years. It was amazing to see him turn his newfound passion for blacksmithing into something profitable.
What made her really proud was his reputation for donating his best swords to Faunus communities that didn't have access to high-quality weapons. That was on top of all the donations he's given to charities and the help he provided the Silver Robins.
"Speaking of indulging, do you guys have the surprise ready?" Weiss asked in a whisper.
"The documents were finalised this morning," Winter confirmed. "General Ironwood and Robyn have also agreed to help oversee the project."
"And I have the cheque ready." Whitely beamed. "We can present it tonight."
They didn't get any more time to discuss their surprise when Jaune interjected into their group, noting how tall Whitley had gotten. Weiss excused herself when they delved into plans to spar later that evening.
Adam was discussing something with Blake and Yang when she found him. She stopped herself midstep, allowing herself to completely soak him in.
After three years of only speaking to him through video calls, it was a breath of fresh air to see him in the flesh again. He looked fitter than the last time Weiss saw him, his blazer hugging him more tightly in all the right places. He still wore the coat she'd bought him. Even after years of usage, he's taken good care of it, even finding someone to add a part of his white emblem over his left shoulder.
Her heart fluttered when he caught her staring.
"I think we overstayed our welcome." Blake smirked, darting her eyes between them. "Come on, we can talk after the resident lovebirds catch up."
Blake and Yang left hand in hand, leaving Adam and Weiss alone for the first time in years.
He wasted no time in closing the distance between them, capturing her in a warm embrace before she even had the chance to say hello. He buried his head into the crook of her neck, brushing her skin with his warm breath.
The world stood still as the scent of pine welcomed her back.
"I'm home, Adam," Weiss whispered.
"Welcome home, Weiss." Adam pulled back to rest his head against hers. "You look beautiful today."
"And you're as handsome as ever." Her hands climbed up his chest.
"Do you have any plans after dinner?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead yet." All that consumed her thoughts these past few weeks was reuniting with her loved ones again. Now that she was here, she wasn't sure what to do next.
"Want to stay at my place tonight?" His offer sent butterflies through her stomach. "Mantle's been doing a lot better now. I want to show you what it's like."
"I'd love that."
"It's a date then."
Weiss had a permanent smile stuck to her face. It'd only been a few minutes since arriving in Atlas, and she was falling for him all over again.
"How long have you been planning that?" she teased.
"Too long." He kissed her forehead. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day."
Weiss reached up and ran her hand through his hair, threading her fingers through fiery red locks. It was as soft as she'd remembered it to be.
She got up to her toes, kissing him on the bridge of his nose, his cheekbone, and finally the corner of his lips. She lingered close to his mouth, her lips grazing against his as she spoke.
"And you have no idea how much I've missed you."
He kissed her as soon as those words left her mouth.
The Schnee Manor was completely reborn. Whitley had torn down the old aesthetics of their childhood home, replacing its cold shell with a warm colour palette that welcomed guests with open arms.
Stale white walls were now washed in a warm tint of yellow from the new chandeliers and lighting fixtures. His beige-coloured floors added further to the warm interior. Crimson carpets laid where blue ones once dominated; gold curtains replaced the blue drapes that hung dead on the windows. Father's office was demolished and replaced by a colossal painting of a world map.
He also took down all their miserable family portraits, replacing them with colourful artwork from all across Remnant.
The only portrait he kept was an old photograph of Weiss, Winter, and himself when he was only an infant. It hung over in the newly renovated Music Room.
Even the servants, who were once instructed to make their presence scarce, now worked and talked openly around the Manor. There was Faunus staff working alongside Human coworkers. They all greeted them casually as they passed. Some even referred to Whitley by his first name.
Weiss was just as awed as the rest of her friends during the grand tour.
"He's put a lot of work into this place," Adam said when he noticed her gawking. "I'll admit, it was tempting to move in when he gave me the offer."
"I can see why Winter is concerned with his spending habits now," Weiss murmured.
Still, she couldn't blame him for wanting to erase all traces of the past. His efforts ultimately paid off. The Manor was alive now.
They dined right after the tour was over. Whitley wasn't kidding about treating them to a feast. Colourful dishes that looked more like delicate sculptures filled the dining table. Their apprehension about digging into the food faded at the first bite. Every mouthful promised a symphony of flavours.
A mix of orange and magenta painted the sky once they'd all eaten enough to last them till next week.
"I'm not sure I can spar after that," Jaune groaned, leaning back on his chair.
"We can reschedule for tomorrow morning," Whitley offered. "I don't mind getting up early."
"We'll have to reschedule for tomorrow. Sparring now would be a horrible idea."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to pass out for the rest of the year." Yang yawned. Ruby was already nodding off beside her.
"I can get my drivers to take you guys to the hotel," Whitley offered. "I'm glad you all enjoyed yourselves tonight."
"I think enjoy is a bit of an understatement," Blake said, leaning sleepily on Yang's shoulder.
"Well, I hope you aren't too tired to receive one last gift, Blake."
Blake perked up when Whitely got up and rounded the table to approach her.
"This is a gift from me and my sisters." He pulled out the white envelope from his jacket's inner pocket. "Please, open it."
Everyone curiously watched Blake as she tore open the envelope. Yang, who was the closest to her, peered over her shoulder as she took out the contents. The cheque must've been the first thing she saw as her eyes widened like balloons. Blake gasped when she caught the number written on there too.
"W-what is this?"
"We talked about starting a support program for White Fang convicts, remember?" Weiss reminded her. "We got Ironwood and Robyn to help with the project."
"I've done some research with the Silver Robins and created a rough draft of what this program can entail," Winter added. "Our recommendations are based on interviews conducted with White Fang inmates and suggestions made by Faunus psychologists. We've already sent our notes to your parents. Ghira will be meeting with Fiona in a few days to discuss the finer detail. Of course, all the final decisions will be up to your parents and whoever they decide to assign to this project."
"As for the funding, all three of us have taken care of that," Whitley finished. "I'm sure we can find more sponsors over time, but this should be enough to start with."
Blake continued to stare at the cheque like it was made of diamond, hands clutching the papers so tightly Yang had to pry them away before they were completely wrinkled. Blake leapt out of her seat to embrace Whitley, Winter, and Weiss, nearly knocking her out of her chair in the process.
"Thank you," Blake whispered.
"Of course." Weiss hugged her back. "If you ever need anything, just ask. We're happy to help."
The Schnee Manor wasn't the only thing that's been reborn from ashes. Mantle was unrecognisable. People crowded the streets, and stores brightened the entirety of the neighbourhood with a wash of warm lights. Restaurants and bars were packed with patrons.
Most of the late-night crowd were Faunus, but there were many Humans part of the group too. Hardly anyone blinked an eye at Weiss and Adam's joined hands. The few who did recognise her simply stared or tried to sneak a photo of her.
It was the complete opposite of the desolate, hostile streets she'd once visited with Jaune and Yang.
Adam took her to see all the popular stores that attracted tourists and niche little treasures tucked in quiet corners.
Weiss couldn't make heads or tails of where they were going, but Adam knew the area like the back of his hand – even down to the shortcuts between buildings. Her fatigue from the long journey paled in comparison to the excitement radiating off him.
"Not every neighbourhood is like this," he explained to her. "But it's getting better. We're getting more and more traffic and support to Faunus neighbourhoods."
"It's amazing how different everything looks," Weiss said, swinging his arm between them. "And you live in this area?"
"Yeah. It can get a bit annoying with so much noise going on, but I don't mind it too much. I like how lively it always is."
"What's your favourite store around here?"
"I'll have to show you, or you won't believe me otherwise."
He tugged her down another street even before she had a chance to say anything. Weiss wasn't sure what she was going to see, but the last place she expected to find herself in front of was a florist shop.
Pots of flowers surrounded the front of Fern's Flower Den. They had everything, from vivid tulips to soft pastel-coloured chrysanthemums. The flowers' combined scent wafted down the street, drawing in customers like honeybees.
"You're right. I never would've believed it if you hadn't shown me." Weiss blinked at the patrons walking out with a pink bouquet of lilies. "Now we have to go in there."
The store was tiny, making it difficult to squeeze past other customers and dozens of flower pots lining the shelves and floor. Of all the flowers surrounding her, Weiss only had eyes for the bouquet of roses in the far corner. Their deep, velvet red stood out from the bright cacophony of colours.
Weiss moved closer to them when she caught the strong aroma of pinewood coming from her left. She followed the scent, eyes travelling up a rack filled to the top with delicious-smelling herbs.
How many times had he come here to buy herbs? The idea of finding his apartment filled with plants growing from cute little pots made her insides feel bubbly.
"Adam, I didn't expect to see you back so soon!"
A short Faunus woman with bear ears poking out of her greying hair greeted him with a smile. Fern waswritten in cursive letters on her apron's name tag.
"Did you want some more rosemary, dear?"
"No, I'm just showing my girlfriend around tonight." He wrapped his arm around Weiss. "Weiss, this is Fern."
"Oh, so you're the one he's been telling me about!" Fern did a quick look over. "No wonder he's always talking about you. You're a lovely young lady."
Adam cleared his throat loudly. "A-anyway, I'll take a bouquet of red roses, Fern."
"Isn't that a bit expensive?" Weiss whispered as Fern left to prepare their flowers. "You don't have to spend that much money on me. I'm happy with simple gifts."
"It's fine. I don't mind spending a bit extra for you." He squeezed her hand. "Besides, you seem to really like them. I bet it's been a long time since someone bought you roses."
His response left a burst of warmth in her chest.
One expensive purchase later, she was walking down the street with a massive bouquet of roses cradled in her free hand. She couldn't keep her eyes off the beautiful red flowers, lost in their sweet scent and swirling patterns. The warmth of his words in the shop still lingered in her heart.
"It's safe to assume you like them?" He laughed when she nearly walked straight into a light pole.
"I do. Thank you so much, Adam." She smiled, hugging the flowers closer to her chest.
"The night would be perfect if we could grab something sweet." He nodded to a bakery on their right. "But I don't think I can eat another bite tonight."
She laughed. Whitley's gift was an unexpected double-edged sword. "It's a shame. I'd love to try some of the food here."
"We can do that tomorrow night. There are some amazing restaurants around here you need to try."
"I like that idea, but there's a tiny problem. You promised you'd treat me to your cooking when I came back."
"Then we'll go the next night, or the next one. Whatever you want, just tell me. We have all the time in the world."
Her heart skipped at his offer. It was a simple promise of more to come in the future, but to her, it meant the entire world.
"Whatever I want?" She quirked her head curiously.
"Within reason. I'm not made of money, unfortunately," he laughed.
"In that case." Her thumb ran over his knuckle. "There is…something I'd like to do tonight."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Let's go back to your place." She trailed her eyes slowly down his body, her gaze lingering on his dress pants. She looked up to catch the mischievous glint in his eye.
"Are you cold?" he whispered into her ear. She shivered when his lips brushed against her earlobe.
"Yeah, I'm not used to the weather here." She inched closer to his side, pressing her chest against his arm. "Do you mind warming me up?"
The cosy warmth that burned in her chest melted into something more fierce. Flames of passion pooled into her lower belly when a playful smile stretched on Adam's lips.
"Follow me." His hand tightened around hers.
That night, they made love to the smell of fresh blooming roses.
A month after her return to Atlas, they all set out for a trip to Anima. Whitley wanted to travel after hearing about her adventures through Remnant, and Weiss figured that was a good enough excuse to go for a vacation. Winter was also invited to tag along, but she turned down the offer as work demanded her to stay.
That left her, Adam, and Whitley to go on the trip.
Weiss wasn't sure if Whitley would agree to travel by foot to Violet's village. She made sure to emphasise her desire not to scare the villagers with their arrival.
"I suppose it's fine if we get to carry our Scrolls," he said at the end of her explanation. "And you're completely sure this trip is doable by foot?"
"Don't worry, it's not a long walk from our drop-off point."
"Fine, but I'm keeping my pilot on speed dial."
A week later, they found themselves knee-deep in the wilderness of Anima with nothing but the clothes on their backs and bags full of supplies. A rush of nostalgia overwhelmed Weiss on the first few days of their trip, remembering her long journey with Adam like it was all yesterday.
It was during their long journey that she taught Whitley how to build a fire, how to cook, and how to look for safe berries and fruits to eat. Weiss and Adam tried to teach him how to hunt, but he was less eager to learn how to kill for food. At night, they told stories around the campfire, and Adam taught them more about the constellations.
That was their routine for the next couple of days until they reached the forest that changed her life forever. Even after so long, she remembered exactly how to get back to Rumduol.
Rumduol was the same in many ways, with only a few changes made over the years. The forest had receded to make extra room for the growing community. Wooden houses, old and new, huddled around each other like campers around a fire. Villagers she recognised greeted her with curt nods while newer members of their community scowled at her as an unwelcomed trespasser.
"Oh, you're back!" Clay recognised her as they neared his house. He was on the roof of his house, patching up a hole.
"I'm surprised you still recognise me!" They'd only exchanged a few words before she left the first time.
"It's not every day a Schnee saves your life, kid." Clay laughed. "If you're looking for Violet, she should be home right now. They haven't moved since you were last here, but if you get lost, come find me."
After thanking Clay, they made the short walk to Violet's. Their destination was in sight when something sprinted towards her out of the corner of her eye.
Weiss caught the little girl before she could knock her over, laughing as Olive squealed excitedly about her return. Olive was so much taller now, reaching up to Weiss' chest when she set her back down. Her squirrel tail was as fluffy as Weiss remembered it to be.
"You're the scary Grimm guy that helped us!" Olive pointed a finger at Adam. "Why do you look so normal now?"
"Olive!" A familiar dark-haired girl caught up with Olive, her cat ears stood up in shock. "I-I'm so sorry, she usually knows better than to talk like this."
"It's fine," Adam assured her with a light chuckle. "She's got a good memory."
The dark-haired girl was half a head taller than Weiss, with twin swords strapped to her back. The scared little girl Weiss had once stumbled upon in that metal cage was gone. She now held her head up high. Her white tunic dress seemed to glow in the sunlight, and she wore her long hair in a high ponytail.
"You look stronger from the last time I saw you," Weiss said carefully, not sure if the girl still remembered her from that night.
"It's all thanks to everyone in the village and Olive's family." She beamed. "And you two, of course. I don't think we properly met the first time, I'm Lily."
Whitley was unusually shy when they all introduced themselves. He was hesitant to even reach out and offer Lily a handshake. When he finally did, he ducked his head as their hands met. Lily wasn't faring any better. Her confidence vanished in a deep blush that burned her cheeks red.
Weiss exchanged a knowing look with Adam. They were going to stay in Rumduol longer than they'd initially planned.
"Are you staying forever?" Olive asked them, oblivious to Whitley and Lily's interaction.
"We'll be staying for a bit," Weiss said. "I want to spend some time with Violet and Ash again."
"W-we should let you be on your way," Lily stammered, grabbing Olive's hand. "It was nice meeting you all."
Her eyes lingered on Whitley for a moment before dragging Olive away. Weiss pretended not to notice the redness still on Whitley's face or the way he glanced over his shoulder when they headed for Violet's house.
She was going to enjoy grilling him about this later.
Violet's ears stood up straight when she saw Adam at her door. Weiss grabbed his hand and smiled. Whitley awkwardly observed the tension on Weiss' other side.
"Hey, Violet," Weiss greeted calmly. "I wanted to drop by and visit you. I hope you don't mind I brought some extra guests."
Violet looked at Weiss for a second, down to her and Adam's joined hands, and finally back at Adam again. Her expression was blank, and her eyes remained unblinking as she stared at him.
"I'm sorry about last time, Violet." Adam bowed his head. His apology made Violet gasp. "I never should've drawn my sword at you…not after everything you did for me.
"I understand if you want me gone, but please don't be mad at Weiss. You mean a lot to her and–"
Violet embraced him, her shoulders trembling as she cried into his blazer. Adam tensed for a moment before stiffly bringing his arms up to hold her. He looked to Weiss for help, but she was equally as shocked. This was the most intense reaction she'd ever seen from Violet.
Someone tugged at the edge of her coat. A wide-eyed little boy stared up at her with a frown. His fluffy wolf ears pressed down into his short black hair. Weiss had the strongest urge to pinch his chubby cheeks.
"Why did you make Mommy sad?" he asked Weiss bluntly.
"I'm not sad, Jet," Violet managed to answer. She stepped back from Adam, wiping her face dry with her palm.
"But you're crying."
"That's because I'm very happy right now, sweetie." Violet ruffled her son's hair before returning her attention to Adam. "Look how big you've gotten. You barely reached my shoulders the last time you stayed with me."
"That was a long time ago," Adam said to the floor. "A lot has changed since then."
"I can tell." She glanced at Weiss.
"It doesn't excuse how I treated you that time."
"It gives me great joy to hear you say that, dear." She tousled his hair the same way she had with Jet. It prompted a slight quiver in his chin.
"I-I don't know how to make it up to you…"
"I don't need anything from you. But if you insist…there is one thing you could do for me."
"What is it?" He finally lifted his head to look at her.
Violet smiled, taking hold of one of his hands. "I want you to answer a question. And you must be completely honest with me."
His shoulders tensed at her cryptic response but nodded nonetheless.
"Are you happy, dear?"
Adam's eye widened at her simple question. The gentle rustle of leaves filled in the silence between them.
"I am," he replied with fresh tears welling in his eye. "You don't have to worry anymore. I'll be okay."
"Good." Violet hugged him one more time before turning her attention to Weiss.
"Welcome home, Weiss," Violet said in their embrace. "I'm so happy things worked out for you."
Weiss caught the smell of firewood clinging to Violet's hair.
It smelled like home.
After Ash crushed Weiss with a bear hug, he collaborated with Adam in the kitchen. From freshly seared pork chops to homemade desserts, they made enough food to last them all two nights. With so many people squished in front of the hearth at dinner, the heat radiating from it was so much warmer.
Jet was bursting with energy from having so many people over. He couldn't sit still during dinner, eager to show them all his favourite hand-sewn toys and demanded they play with him. Whitley was at a complete loss when Jet decided he was his favourite playmate for the night. Weiss laughed at his awkward attempts to humour the little boy.
Jet only calmed down when Ash told him about his grand adventures of cutting down towering trees and hunting prey in the forest. Both Whitely and Jet soaked the story in like sponges.
His stories didn't capture Jet's attention forever, though. Once he'd finished his slice of pie, he practically bounced off the walls.
Weiss' favourite part of the night was when Jet shoved a fuzzy teddy bear into Adam's hands and demanded he play the role of Evil Teddy Bear King. Adam was more than happy to oblige.
His interactions with Jet mesmerised her. She'd seen him let his guard down before, but he showed a different kind of tenderness to Jet. Even Whitley, who was content watching Jet from a distance, was convinced to play along.
"He's quite good with kids," Ash whispered to Weiss when Jet tackled Adam during their play fight, laying across his chest with a handful of stuffed animals.
"He is," Weiss agreed softly.
"You sure know how to pick a partner, kiddo." Ash playfully ruffled her hair. "So when's the wedding night?"
Weiss faked a cough to hide her startled gasp. Fire burned hot in her cheeks.
"That's enough, dear," Violet chastised gently.
"Aww, c'mon! We're all thinking the same thing, honey!"
Weiss forced herself to ignore Ash's comment and turned her attention back to the guys. She watched the three of them until Jet gave her another one of his stuffed animals and demanded she play with them. They all entertained him for the rest of the evening. By the time Jet needed to head to bed, he wasn't the only one disappointed the night ended so soon. Weiss wouldn't mind if they got to spend more time like this.
It took several bedtime stories to finally lull Jet to sleep. Once the house had finally fallen silent, they discussed their sleeping arrangements. With Jet sleeping in what used to be the abandoned children's room, they only had one guest room available in the house. It was only natural Whitley would take it.
"I don't mind sleeping outside," Weiss said in regards to herself and Adam.
"We are not making you two sleep outside," Violet disagreed. "We can ask Clay to borrow his extra guest room tomorrow. In the meantime, you two can stay on the couch."
"Are you sure his wife will be okay letting me stay over?"
"Don't worry, she's a bit overprotective, but she hasn't forgotten what you've done for him. I'll have a talk with her in the morning."
"We should bring lil' Jet along," Ash suggested. Violet quirked her brow at him. "I'm just saying! She's a lot more agreeable when our little boy pulls off that cute look of his!"
With their sleeping arrangements figured out, they all prepared for bed.
The hearth washed the house in a dim amber light when Weiss finished her shower. Adam sat alone on the couch. A pile of folded sheets and pillows obscured whatever he was looking at in his hands.
Her heart jolted when she got closer. That old journal lay open on his lap. Weiss cleared her throat to announce her presence, keeping her eyes locked on the hearth as she removed the blankets to sit down.
"Violet returned this to me," he said softly. "I forgot half the things I'd written in here."
"What are you going to do with it?"
The fire crackled in response.
"I'll keep it." The journal shut with a dull thud. "It's good to see how different my life is."
"Did she give you that drawing back too?" A short pause followed her question.
"She still has that thing?"
"She's kept everything." Weiss laughed.
"Why do I get the feeling she'll use it to embarrass me one day?"
"I think it's cute. I'm flattered you took the time to draw me."
"Even back then, I couldn't get you out of my head."
He abandoned his journal on the table before laying his head on her lap. Weiss ran her fingers through his hair the way he liked it.
"Are you okay after reading it?" she asked in a more serious tone.
"I am." He took her free hand, pressing it gently against his lips before letting it rest on his chest. "Thanks for asking, though."
The fire cracked and popped as flames danced in the hearth. Tiny sparks drifted out of the fire like fireflies. Though the fire was weak, it still kissed Weiss' cheeks with warmth.
Weiss looked down at her lap. Adam stared up at her with a twinkle in his eye. The soft amber light hugged one side of his face while the rest remained in shadow. She couldn't see him very well in the dark, but his wonderful smile stood out like the fire glowing in front of them.
"Something on your mind?" she asked.
"Yeah." His thumb danced over her knuckle. "I'm thinking about how much I love you."
The warmth of his words was even more comforting than the hearth's embrace. She leaned down and kissed his forehead.
"I love you too, Adam."
End of Act 3
Alternative chapter title: all the fluff I can manage packed into a neat little chapter c:
Special thanks to Iwr1918, BrazeRancor, BL4CK 4NG3L, and everyone else who will leave a review after this is posted! I may not be able to reply to reviews on here, but know I read and save each and every one :)