RWBY Rusted Rose
Bonus chapter 2: The Wedding
It had been weeks since Team Rwby and ORNJ finally defeated Salem and Cinder. Their injuries were healed up, their allies began rebuilding the kingdoms, and best of all Beacon was finally free of the Grimm that plagued it for years since Cinder's attack. Not that the two teams needed to go back and attend since they had their official licenses, but Ruby felt it would be the perfect spot for a certain occasion that meant the world to her and Jaune right now. The thought brought her extreme joy… along with a foreboding sense of dread.
The reason? Despite the peace that had been brought about from the demise of their ancient enemy, a new battle was about to take place at Ruby and Yang's home on Patch island.
Ruby wanted to ask her father for his blessing to marry Jaune at Beacon. Granted they were already married for 20 years in the Ever After before returning, but Ruby and Jaune wanted a formal wedding with all their family and friends in attendance. This was going to be a more nerve wrecking battle than Cinder and Salem's was, she didn't know who was scarier them or her overprotective father.
"Deep breaths baby girl. If you want one with him too your gonna have to face this." Yang said with a stern but supportive tone while caressing Ruby's shoulders. She could tell the red head was nervous, after all this was about to be the biggest battle of her life as they hadn't seen dad for over 3 years or 23 in Ruby's case before she regressed in age, god how was she going to explain that?!
"I know Yang but…. I also know he's angry I left without anything more than a letter. What if he says-" Ruby said, fear infecting her tone as she eyed her sisters lilac eyes, strangely beginning to sob.
"Yang? Why are your crying? This is my battle." Ruby asked confused. Yang wiped her face with her human arm and sniffled.
"Because I'm so damn proud and jealous of my little sis!" Yang cried. Ruby's eyes widened a bit before she formed a sad frown. It had been only a couple weeks since Yang and Blake had broken up. Yang knew it was her fault; she had been overprotective of her cat girlfriend in battle too much just like she had been with Ruby all her life. Ruby could still remember the knot in her stomach as she and Weiss heard their last fight from across their hospital rooms.
"Why the hell are you so reckless Yang!?" Blake had shouted, earning a scoff from the blonde brawler.
"I saved your freakin life and that's the thanks I get?!" Yang yelled feeling indignant. Cinder had almost sliced Blake's ears off with a fireblade and Yang intercepted to save her, at the cost of getting one of her kidney's blown with a knife to the waist. She felt she deserved praise for her sacrifice when she flirted with Blake in the hospital.
But Blake gave a scowl that could kill one with a weak soul in response as she gripped Gambrol Shroud.
"I was luring her into a trap and because you didn't trust me to protect me to handle myself you charged in like an idiot and got yourself hurt AGAIN!" Blake screamed as she pointed to Yang's robot arm. Ruby and Weiss hug tenderly in fear over the yelling while Yang forms a shocked look that quickly descends into a red-eyed scowl.
"How. Dare. You. Bring that up again!" Yang growled slowly and softly with rage, her hair flickering embers before Blake walked up and gripped Yang's waist with one hand, making the latter wince in pain and grab it painfully before kneeling on one knee.
"That's why. You only think about what's in front of you, you never see the bigger picture, think about others feelings like Ruby always does. I almost lost you for good a third time. Beacon, the bridge, and now Cinder….. You love me too much to think about how I feel, how I fear, to even think at all really." Blake coldly said with tears in her eyes as she walked away towards the door.
"Wait… Blake don-" Yang tried to yell and raise a hand towards her but Blake gritted her teeth and silenced her with a sad glare as she barely turned her head around.
"Were done." Blake coldly said as she slammed the door and left.
Yang couldn't help but think Blake was wrong. She had thought about something, the future. Like Ruby she wanted to marry at Beacon, though with Blake in her case. But now thanks to her pig headedness she lost her chance, possibly her friendship too. But right now Yang shook her head and bit her lower lip to steel herself.
"Come on, big sis needs to help Ruby more than she needs to mope!" Yang yelled in her head, but the tears didn't stop until she was shocked by a surprise hug from Ruby.
"It's okay Yang. I had my…. Rough patches with Jaune believe me. It all works out in the end. Blake will still be your friend at least, always." Ruby said kindly with a smile as warm as her hug.
Yang gasped a bit for air as she choked on sobs before wrapping her arms around her sister's body. She chided herself for needing support when it was Ruby's big battle today, but she couldn't help it. She was so damn sweat and almost always knew what to say to cheer her up.
After a few minutes of sobbing and getting it all out of her system, Yang wiped her tears and snot off her face with her vest and eyed the forest behind them.
"Okay Vomit Boy, you can't put it off anymore. Say your peace now or forever hold your nut sack!" Yang yelled teasingly as Jaune trembled and slowly revealed his head behind the tree, shivering with fear at the thought of asking Tai for his daughter's hand. His own hands were covering his crotch as he could already sense a murderous glare coming his way from him.
"Well… guess I'd better use it one last time before their cut off. Ruby come over here, Yang give us 5… no 10 minutes!" Jaune sighed before jokingly waving for Ruby to come over and giving a suave look at Yang before paling to see her angry glare.
"Get. Over. Here. NOW!" she said sternly before roaring as she pointed in front of herself menacingly. Jaune's body jerked upright like a scarecrow and marched forwards instantly to Ruby's humor as she giggled at his fear. Yang grabbed his color and gritted her teeth as she gave him a death glare.
"Listen here! I know your were joking, but I'm already pissed enough as it is you deflowered my little sister 20 years ago. Now your gonna man up and confess that to dad and ask for her hand or I'm gonna be the one who neuters you not him GOT IT!" She growled fiercly, Jaune merely shook his head in compliance, fearful to say anything else.
"Well I lost one kid already, I can live without….." He thought before gasping a bit and eyeing his wife's sweat smile as she rubbed her stomach.
"How could I even joke about that? She lost more than I did, she's wanted a kid more than anything since we lost Guardian. She's wanted to be a mommy for years! She deserves it, she deserves a husband who can give it to her. I'm gonna be that man!" Jaune thought as he formed a serious face and forced Yang to let him go to her surprise. He grasped Ruby's hand and faced the front door of the house before taking a deep breath and Exhale.
"Okay…. Time to do this right." He said firmly, steeling himself.
Ruby eyed her sister, giving her a look to stay back unless she called her in for backup, which she nodded in confirmation. She knew this wasn't her fight. Ruby clenched Jaune's hand and shined a big grin.
"Right! We've battle Grimm and witches, this will be a cake walk." Ruby said, but her nervousness showed in her tone as they slowly opened the door, bracing herself for a lecture or yelling fit she knew was coming.
"Daddy…. I'm home!".
Fight for Blessing
Taiyang dropped something from the kitchen as he heard his daughters voice for the first time in years, something she could tell from the shattering sound resonating in the air. What followed was the sound of loud rapid footsteps towards them, and each step made their hearts pound like drums as they braced themselves, despite having rehearsed how to explain this.
"Ruby my god! Your finally ho-" Tai yelled with glee before pausing as he saw Jaune holding his daughters hand and giving him a nervous grin. Tai's eyes narrowed menacingly at this sight.
"Who is this boy Ruby?" Tai asked his youngest, his tone almost seething with rage as they could both tell, making the couple sweet nervously.
"W-Well da-dad to answer that… ugh… lets sit down first." Ruby stuttered, her face flushed as she motioned them all to do just that and they complied, but Tai never once so much as blinked at Jaune, making the Arc jitter a bit. Ruby could feel her lovers fear and couldn't blame him, she was shaking a bit and screaming on the inside right now as she saw her dads glare, it hurt.
"S-So dad. Here's the thing." She said nervously.
"What Petal?" Tai asked sternly, making Ruby gulp as she heard his tone.
"Jaune is my boyf-HUSBAND! And he took my viriginity- NO! YOU FREAKING IDIOT SAY ANYTHING ELSE! SAY YOU LOVE HIM! *Sharp Exhale* Come on you freaking wimp JUST SAY IT!" she screamed in her head, but her jaw felt tight, unwilling to open to say the words.
Before she could open her mouth, Jaune frantically stood up and bowed to the older blonde to her shock.
"I'M JAUNE ARC, RUBY'S HUSBAND. PLEASE LET US GET MARRIED DAD!" Jaune stammered out a loud declaration making Ruby and Tai's eyes widen in shock. Ruby soon sighed as she smacked her head with her hand.
"Well this is going swimmingly." She whispered sarcastically. She soon felt her skin grow pale from a chilling wind brought by her instincts. Something deadly was staring at her and almost made her reach for Crescent Rose before setting eyes on her father the source.
"Ruby….. EXPLAIN NOW!" He hollered, face flushed red with rage as he struggled to withhold an urge to pummel the boy in front of him before he got an explanation. To him it was the logical course of action.
"This dolt, this…. Heathen wants to lay a hand on my little flower!? HELL NO!" Tai roared in his mind.
Despite panicking a bit from his tone, Ruby fought the urge to call in Yang, she had to be a brave woman and face this challenge alone… no with Jaune by her side as she stood up a bit and forced Jaune to stop bowing and sit beside her for comfort, it just soothed her nerves a bit despite the glare her father was giving them.
"Lets start by what happened in Atlas… How we fell in love dad." She said with a sigh.
Ruby then went on to explain how after Atlas fell she and Jaune ended up in a parallel world with different time spans and laws of nature. How she and Jaune went back in time 20 years and fell in love, reunited with her team and returned to their age from Alyx's magic. Speaking of Alyx, though Ruby and Jaune felt their stomachs burn from the memory; they couldn't lie to Tai if they wanted his blessing, so they told him the truth painfully.
"I'm sorry daddy *sniffle* I lost my your grandbaby. I failed to be a good mommy." Ruby cried as Jaune wrapped his arm around her and let her cry into his shoulder. Tai was too busy crying a bit himself, breathing heavily as he processed all this shocking info.
"My grandbaby…. Dead? That little bitch stabbed my baby girl!?" Tai thought painfully as he held his head with his hands and looked down solemnly. Jaune brought him out of his stupor with a stern declaration.
"Sir, please! Ruby and I were healed, and she isn't barren anymore but we don't want to do things the improper way. We want your blessing to have a nice wedding with you as the father and give her away please! We really want our friends, our family to help us get something back after all we lost back there." Jaune said with sadness and determination in his tone, not yielding his hug on Ruby.
Tai looked solemnly at the couple, he was honestly overwhelmed not with rage now, but by confusion and sadness. He lost a grandchild, and now it felt like he was losing Ruby too. But he saw her grasp Jaune as she cried, she only did that with people she trusted more than anyone like Yang, him, or her Uncle Qrow. A part of him wanted to give them his blessing so they…. Really his daughter could be happy for what sounded like the first time in over 20 years. But that was just it in his mind.
"For 20 years you weren't able to make my little rose happy. What makes you think you can do it now?" He said with venom in his tone. Jaune averted his gaze, not from fear but out of uncertainty.
"Good question, I guess….. I can't give you that answer." Jaune said with shame, it was true he didn't have any success getting Ruby past her trauma in the Ever After all those years. In fact, their only real moments of happiness were faint memories, only the wedding and romantic nights and brief dinners they shared when not saving the paper pleasers seemed so short. The only thing that was easy to remember back then was the agonizing sleepless nights they didn't talk in bed, the pain in their bodies as they struggled to survive without modern clothes and medicine, and the painful loss of their child at Alyx's hands. Jaune especially felt horrified remembering seeing Ruby's suicide that night, and how powerless he was to save her.
"Your silence is very reassuring, but I can't give her to-" He started to say before Ruby cut him off.
"He can't give you that answer but we both can, at the alter!" Ruby yelled confidently, tears flooding her eyes.
"Petal…. How can I know for sure you can be happy when-" Tai asked before Jaune stood up beside her.
"You can't know, only we can and that's only if you let us try. I admit we had our chance back there and we lost. But we WON'T lose again!" He said confidently as Ruby massaged her stomach, indicating she was adamant about having Jaune's child the right way.
"I'm not barren, I am not going to stop trying, and I am never going to give up again because I want to be a mommy, just as much as I want your blessing. Please daddy, let us marry." She begged tearfully with a smile.
Tai sighed; he couldn't help but feel it was so unfair of her to pull that move. Calling him "daddy" and giving him crying puppy dog eyes like she would as a toddler. It was impossible to say no. But he still couldn't shake the danger signals his fatherly instincts stabbed his sides when seeing this boy. He didn't seem strong despite his armor, and the loss of his grandchild and Ruby's near death only furthered his negative impression of the boy. He was weak no doubt about it.
Tai simply stood up after sighing, alerting the two.
"Here's the deal, he wants you he has to kick my ass first." Tai said as he cracked his knuckles and eyed the boy menacingly.
"Well, get your sewing machine Ruby, your gonna have to stich me back together later….. if I freaking live!" Jaune thought nervously as he separated his grasp from his lover.
"Outside now!" Tai ordered as he pointed to the backyard.
"Yes sir!" Jaune complied as he raced out the back door and Tai followed.
Lancaster Wedding
Jaune was in his dressing room at Beacon, which had been emptied of students for a private ceremony today, getting a touch of blush put on by Ren and Sun to cover his many bruises and a black eye on his face.
"Still can't believe you got your ass kicked for 10 hours to win bro!" Sun said enthusiastically.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't call it a win exactly." Jaune groaned and rolled his eyes in annoyance at the painful memory.
3 months ago he faced Ruby's father to get his blessing to marry, but it wasn't much of a fight at all. Tai was a more skilled huntsmen that was for sure. It took only a single sweep of Jaune's legs to pin the arc and begin pummeling his face. Jaune's aura boost semblance powered up his guard but it couldn't block all the pain of those devastating punches. Jaune could still see the murderous glare Tai had, it was like Yang's but in overdrive. It took hours of getting punched and kicked before Tai finally lost his stamina and plopped on his back and conceded, thus allowing todays events to occur.
"Yeah, but winning by exhaustion still counts and now he gets his reward." Ren said with a wince, trying not to wound Jaune's pride further by making him imagine his date with destiny today as his best man pressed tux.
"Yeah… I can only imagine how hot Ruby is going to look in her dress." Jaune sighed, his mouth almost drooling as he imagined unraveling it at the 5 star hotel Weiss booked them as a wedding present. It made him shudder though as he could still feel the murderous gazes of Yang and Tai around him, it was why he wasn't frugal for 3 months, he really didn't want to be hospitalized and ruin the wedding day at Beacon.
"I bet she just wears her old dress and a cape like old times just to kid around." Sun joked, the other boys couldn't help but laugh hard at the likelihood of that hood being there before a door opened showing Oscar/Ozpin limping in with his cane.
"Well mister Arc, you sure got cleaned up nicely, now everyone is ready at the hall for you and Miss Rose. You ready?"
Jaune gulped as he realized the moment was at hand, he was glad to be wearing 2 undershirts as he was already sweating through a layer. He rubbed his hands nervously before his eyes widened in shock as he remembered something.
"No! I still need that Ren!" He yelled as Ren's eyes widen and his jaw descended a bit, before giving a small smile as he opened up a chest with a lock he picked. Out of the small case was Pyrrah's red band or at least half of it.
Ruby and Jaune decided they would honor their lost love and friend at the school she sacrificed her life to protect by each wearing half the band on their arms as they exchanged rings. As he tightened it around his right arm, Jaune exhaled as he stood up and headed for the door with the Groomsmen.
"Okay… time to get married." Jaune said as he walked out the door.
In beacon's newly restored hall stood an altar made on the podium used for plays or announcements. In the audience were not students or their parents attending, but the many people Ruby and Jaune met over the years and bonded with. All made time despite their careers to be their for Ruby and Jaune's big day.
The teachers of Beacon such as Goodwitch, Port and Ooblock, Jaune's sisters and parents, Maria and Pietro, Klein, Winter Schnee, Qrow, Marrow and the other Ace Ops, Neptune, CVYI, and finally small photo's Penny, Pyrrah, and finally one of Summer Rose smiling with memorial roses around the front seat at Ruby's request. She had to let her friends and mother see this day.
Jaune stood in the middle of the altar waiting anxiously for the arrival of his bride. He eyed the bridesmaids Yang and Blake across the room smiling. He was relieved the ex-couple wouldn't fight as they promised. They may have broken up but it was good to see them reconcile to this degree for his and Ruby's sake. Speaking of Ruby, the sound of classic wedding music filled the air, silencing the spectators as the doors to the entrance slowly opened majestically.
Out the doors slowly came Ruby dressed in a red dress with pink flowers around her bosom, her hair folded like her Mistral days with a red tiara Weiss made for her on her head. She was holding a bouquet of roses and cherry blossoms while Weiss and Nora held her dress behind her supportively, despite their tears flooding their faces. Tai was also crying a bit as he held his daughters arm to give her away to Jaune. Really everyone teared up a bit at the sight of the once childish tiny teen who loved blabbering about weapons and eating cookies looked so mature and beautiful with red and pink glitter on her flower covered and mature body.
As she gave her bouquet to Weiss, Ruby's hand was finally given by Tai as he eyed his future son-in law tenderly for the first time.
"Better make her happy or I'll kill you." He chuckled.
"Yeah, get in line behind Yang and Qrow." Jaune joked as he clasped Ruby's soft hand and noticed the red band of Pyrrah's around it.
"I promised." She whispered as he sniffled a bit, blown away by her beauty and smile.
"Yeah, you always keep them babe." He whispered back.
As the two soon exchanged vows again and put the rings they saved up for on their fingers, Ruby and Jaune drowned out the speech Ozpin was giving and didn't bother to say I do's.
They cried as they locked lips, no longer able to contain themselves as they knew who they were in that moment.
"I love you Jaune." Ruby said lovingly as their lips separated.
"I love you too Ruby." Jaune replied softly as they engaged in one more kiss.
"MR. and Mrs. Rose Arc ladies and Gentlemen!" Ozpin announced as the hall erupted in a chorus of roars and cheers while confetti and rice was thrown in the air to celebrate the newlywed couple as they ran down the isle.
Weiss had caught the Bouquet when Ruby threw it before she was tackled into the wall by Nora who snatched it up and hugged an annoyed Ren for obvious reasons.
Tai watched as his daughter and her husband exited the hall, crying as he was smacked in the shoulders by his brother Qrow.
"Our little rose really grew up fast didn't she?" Qrow said softly and Tai nodded.
"Yeah, she sure did." Was all Tai could say, desperately forcing himself not to break down in a sobbing fit around everyone.
"Who knows, hopefully we'll get another little rose petal around here soon too." Qrow teased with a grin, which widened as Tai lost it and bawled his eyes out.
"Not yet, she's still MY baby!" Tai cried into his hands as he knelt to everyone's humor.
Later at the Hotel…
Jaune and Ruby laid in bed, passionately kissing as they had long unfolded their clothes. Ruby's silver eyes met Jaune's as they briefly pulled away to catch their breath. Despite being naked, neither she nor him could look anywhere else. Those eyes locked onto each other as they could stare into each other's souls and knew what the other wanted.
"Please Jaune… give me your child." Ruby whispered while blushing and smiling softly.
"Okay Ruby… Lets be a family again." Jaune said as they locked lips again, before Jaune kissed her neck and elicited moans of pleasure from his wife.
"I-I love you Jaune!" She cried as they embraced, their wedding night being more magical than ever before for her.
1 month later…
Ruby and Jaune had gathered their teams and parents together at their new home in Vale. It was a humble little house, little art and furniture, only a small flat screen tv and game console for entertainment, moderate size kitchen and a couple bedrooms and baths, perfect for a new couple starting out to raise a family…. Exactly why they wanted to tell their loved ones something they could already guess. They just weren't expecting it this soon.
"Everyone, I have something wonderful to tell you all." Ruby softly said as she blushed and smiled at this tenderly. Yang herself grinned madly as she could guess already judging by her sisters eyes, but wanted to hear her say it so kept herself from squealing.
"I'm finally pregnant!" Ruby announced, Yang at last bursting from her chair as she gripped her sister while Blake and Weiss cried and gently massaged her stomach while smiling. Jaune's parents, Ren, Sun, Qrow and Tai were all patting him on the back and congratulating him for his and Ruby's success.
Jaune eyed his wife crying happily with her team and Nora, tears flooding his eyes as he reviled in his dream being realized.
Ruby's eyes met his again as she tilted her head and showed him a big grin that melted his heart.
"This time for sure." She whispered, filled with happiness and determination to have his child this time, to finally be a mother.
FIN
Happy Halloween, though I should say Christmas considering that's not only all I see in stores this time of year, but by this gift I felt inspired to give my devoted fans for their encouragement over this year. Hope you enjoyed this, I know I said it was last CH two chapters ago but hell, you all deserve it. After writing dark series like her being blind or ptsd young mother, Ruby deserves a nice episode once in a while, plus get the canon girl some damn therapy right! Sorry to bumblebee shippers but I hate Yang and feel Blake deserved better so no ending for them except an end. Don't like it that's fine, its my right though to write it off. Anyway, happy holidays and thanks for reading this passion project, goodnight.