Merry Christmas to all! I hope you all have been enjoying the holiday season regardless of whether there is a day you celebrate or not. I wasn't sure if I was going to get this out on time, and I didn't want to commit to a holiday story every year, but since there's little I can do to give back to the RWBY/Lancaster community, I figured it's the least I can do. Please enjoy this sequel.

GodRealm

Italicized - Inner Thoughts

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A Lancaster Christmas 2023 Special: A Dork's Gift

Jaune Arc gripped the tattered article in his hands as he looked on into the crowd with a skittish look on his face. His digits, clammy and sweaty, rhythmically pounding gently against the wrapping paper as he tried to calm his hitched breathing and composure. He closed his eyes, shaking his head back and forth in an attempt to break the nervous spell he'd put himself under.

Calm down. He chastised himself bluntly. You've spoken to her hundreds of thousands of times. Don't make it weird!

He gawked back into the room filled with people laughing and partying, wishing he'd be able to enjoy the festivities instead of trying to control his uncontrolled tachycardia. It didn't help that she was right in his direct line of vision, leaning against the far side wall of the communal room. He also could have sworn she had noticed him a few times, quickly darting her eyes at him, then back to whoever was speaking to her.

It was probably just his imagination though.

After receiving a hand-knitted scarf with gloves from his long-time friend and fellow team leader, Jaune felt kind of like he had cheated by just ordering a few packs of hot cocoa from his hometown. Perhaps as if it wasn't as sincere as the gift he was given. Even after telling her the gift he had gotten her, he could have sworn he had heard her mumble something on their walk back to the dorms. It was this curse of teenage insecurity that was weighing on his mind now.

He cursed himself again as he looked down at his gift to her. The mess of tape and crinkled wrapping paper now seemingly torn in random places from his repeatedly pummeling it with his fingers. This whole thing was just… a mess. It didn't change the fact that he had to give her something, and this was already wrapped and ready, albeit disorderly. He just needed to find the right opening to–

"Hey, Jaune." A familiar voice called.

The blonde peered to his right to see Pyrrha approaching him with her class, trademark smile. She steadily advanced towards him, carrying what appeared to be two beverages in her hands.

"Oh, hey Pyrrha." He replied as if she had caught him off guard.

"What's going on with you?"

"Oh you know, not much. Just uhh… standing here."

The Argus warrior raised an eyebrow at her leader's remark while offering one of the fizzing drinks she approached him with. "Is that so?"

Jaune stared for a moment at her offering before she nudged it ever closer to him. He smiled back at her, placing the gift on the table side as he accepted the libation. He could feel the coolness rush across his warm, soaked hands as he sipped it. Whatever she'd given him, it was just what he had needed at that moment.

Pyrrha took notice of the frayed object he'd placed on the tabletop near him. It was obvious that it was a present he had intended for someone. A poorly wrapped and mostly disheveled present, but a present nonetheless. The cornered pieces were uneven and she was pretty sure he had used an entire roll of tape just to keep it together. All that being said, he did adorn it with a bright red bow to give it a little more charm.

"Thanks Pyrrha," The blonde finally responded after finishing his drink. "I really needed that right now."

The girl blinked at his response, then looked back at his gift, then back at him. She wasn't always the best at figuring out what was going on with her friend, but this one seemed pretty obvious. She knew Jaune was awkward, but ever since he had come back from meeting up with Ruby earlier in the day at the cafe, he'd been even more–

That's when the lightbulb went on. It made sense now. The sudden calling out to the cafe, the oddly-shaped scarf and gloves he had returned with, his gift-wrapping crisis. This gift was for Ruby Rose. Now the only other question was…

"Are you and Ruby dating?"

"Wh-wh-what?!" Jaune nearly screeched.

"Didn't she give you a gift earlier? I assumed that this is your gift for her, right?" She mentioned, pointing at the object next to Jaune.

Jaune looked over at his craftsmanship for a moment before giving a sigh. He took a few seconds more, collecting himself from his outburst; something he'd hoped no one else had taken notice of. "Well yeah," He started. "I had already planned to give her something before she made me that gift."

"She made it for you?"

"Yeah, why?"

That makes a little more sense with how uneven and slumped over it is on the one side. She pondered. "No reason. I just thought it to be some interesting design." She fibbed with a chuckle. "So, why haven't you given her your gift then?" She added, trying to change the subject.

Jaune sighed again as he tossed away his cup. He once again picked the package up and gazed downward at it, feeling the existential dread once more.

"I just… I can't compete with a handmade gift like what she gave me." He answered honestly.

"What do you mean "compete"?" She questioned back.

"Ruby took the time to learn how to make something for me. She stepped out of her comfort zone just to give me something special rather than just buying it from some store." He rattled on. "Meanwhile, I went shopping online and found something and just had it ordered. I don't know, Pyrrha… it just feels wrong. It's almost like I didn't put any thought into it."

The redhead could see the boy becoming more and more somber at his internal conflict. What she thought was just social awkwardness at another party turned out to be a little deeper than she had imagined. Perhaps he needed a friend more now than ever,and with it being Christmas, no one should be feeling that way. Especially when it wasn't true.

"Jaune," She began. "You care more about your friends than anyone I know."

His drooped expression remained plastered to his face. He'd heard her, but that didn't shift this lack of faith he felt in himself currently. The girl pouted at his response, or rather, lack thereof. Perhaps it was the pride of a warrior that was hurt more than anything, but the scattered emotions of her team leader were not going to defeat her. She was Pyrrha Nikos and she would see victory in this fight.

"For you to say you didn't "put any thought into it", is just blatantly untrue, and you know it." She continued, now poking the side of his cheek in a further attempt to prod him in any way possible. "I know you Jaune, and I know that you don't just do things without any thought. You care a lot for those around you."

Possibly even some more than others. She quipped to herself, internally smiling.

Pyrrha started to notice the boy's gaze softening as she continued, his cheeks even flushing slightly at her flattering commentary. Her plan was working. Now it was time for her to deliver the final move. The finisher!

"Just because you didn't make something for her doesn't mean you care any less for her than she does for you." She had him now. "No matter what you got for her, I'm positive Ruby will be happy that it came from you."

The boy snorted a little, a smile slowly creeping onto his face as Pyrrha felt that tinge of satisfaction wash over her. Oh, I'm good. I'm very good.

"You really think so?" He finally replied.

"I know so." She stated matter of factly. "It isn't about what you're giving, Jaune. It's about who is the one giving it to you."

A moment of silence washed over the two, but Pyrrha could see the confidence rising within the blonde teenager. Jaune felt it as well. He felt like a big dumby to not realize what Pyrrha had to outwardly express to him earlier. Ruby wasn't one to judge people, especially her friends. She was a glowing example of what he could ask for in a friend and… maybe even more. She was considerate, fearless, and awkward just like he was at the same time.

"You're right, Pyrrha." He replied, his blue eyes shifting to meet her smiling face. "Thank you."

Pyrrha strolled closer to the boy, confusing him slightly as she closed the gap. "I know I'm right." She responded to his previous comment, meanwhile moving him out from behind the wall. She gripped his shoulder from behind, much to Jaune's continued surprise, before giving him a slight push along with his gift for Ruby away from the snack table and towards the center of the room. "Now go give her the gift, and don't come back unless you do."

Jaune caught his footing after the shove, gripping the gift tightly. He looked back at Pyrrha who was only smirking, waving a hand at him in an attempt to motivate him further. He huffed and smiled back at her before shaking his head dismissively at his friend's attempt. She'd been right so far, so maybe he owed it to her to keep moving.

Without conflict, he looked across the room again to find where Ruby was standing, chatting with her teammates as she had been. It was time.

The boy side-stepped many of the other Beacons students who were conversing and dancing to the Christmas music playing on the radio. Not before long, he approached the entirety of team RWBY, laughing as Yang continued to tell what he could only surmise as a story from their latest mission out together.

RWBY's team leader didn't take long to notice him, in fact, she had been anticipating him since she noticed him on the far side of the room with what she had hoped was a gift especially for her. Jaune had already told her what it was on their way back from the cafe, but that didn't stop her from wanting it safely in her arms. The thought of having a near-unlimited supply of cocoa for these cold weather months before classes filled her with nothing short of drooling anticipation. She'd even unconsciously said something… interesting when he announced what it was.

"So I told them just because she's a Faunus doesn't mean she sheds!" yang roared with a laugh and a slap to her knee.

"It really wasn't that funny." Blake chided, still recalling the incident and how she'd have loved to pummel the guy who said it.

"Oh, come on Blake!" Yang retorted. "It was pretty–"

Her words were met with the stare of two yellow eyes gleaming a hole through her head. If looks could kill, she'd be dead about ten times over already.

"-not funny. No, not funny at all. What an ass. That's what I say. Yep, ass." Yang quickly added, halting the conversation with an awkward cough.

"Oh, hey Jaune." Weiss commented, trying to break the tension between her two teammates.

Yang's attention shifted abruptly to try and escape the staring onslaught she was experiencing, looking over at the taller blonde. "Jaune!" She exclaimed, moving towards him while Blake's eyes remained stationary.

"Hey guys, I–"

"Whatcha got there?" Yang inquired. "Is it a gift for me? You shouldn't have! The people will talk–"

"Actually…" Jaune interrupted. "It's for your sister."

Yang blinked at him for a moment while Weiss sighed behind her before shifting her gaze to Ruby, who was slightly flushed in the face. Yang couldn't help but grin as she looked back at Jaune who was also awkwardly pink the the face after making the comment.

"Jaune Arc, you sly devil you. What are your intentions with my sister?"

Weiss groaned at the Yang's inquisitive prodding while the two team leaders were quickly becoming uncomfortable. Looks like she needed to intervene already.

"She made me a gift, so I just wanted to give her something back!" He squeaked with a cracking voice.

"My, my. I didn't know–"

"Yeah, yeah." Blake chimed in, shoving her blonde teammate awkwardly. "Come on Yang, I need a drink."

Ruby and Jaune watched as Blake continued to push Yang away in protest towards the snack table where Jaune had previously been standing. Their attention turned back towards Weiss, who was now left with the pair just sipping her drink beside them.

In one foul swoop, she haphazardly dumped the remainder of her drink into the potted plant within reach of her, something the pair questioned internally.

"Wow, looks like my drink is empty too. I better go get another." She spoke with a half-lidded expression. Before Ruby or Jaune could question or protest, she walked off, leaving the two alone to converse.

"So, uhh… hey." Jaune spoke first, capturing the girl's attention.

"Hey, yourself." Ruby replied back with a smile.

Jaune joined her in the smile, losing himself within the girl's twinkling eyes. Maybe it was the lighting of the room. But they seemed to sparkle even more than normal at this moment. Without waiting for a possible interruption, he offered the present in his arms to her.

"Merry Christmas, Ruby."

She took it from him, accidentally grazing her hands against his while he relinquished it to her. Something he perked up at, growing a brighter crimson hue upon his face.

"Thanks Jaune." She remarked with another smile. "Can I open it now?"

"You already know what it is."

"So?! I need to see it!"

The boy shook his head with a chuckle. "Yeah, sure. Go for it."

"Yay!" The redhead giggled with joy.

Before Jaune could blink, his tattered wrap job was torn asunder to the common room floor, something he was about 99% positive Ruby was going to leave there for some other poor soul to clean up. He'd learn how to wrap for next Christmas, that was for sure.

Ruby ogled the basket of goodies before her with a trembling lip. She ran her hands through the packages of different flavored chocolate she had now acquired by the Arc boy. There was peppermint mocha, double chocolate, white chocolate, and the list only went on. She could feel her cheeks burning as she mulled over which flavor would be her first victim.

Where she came from on the island of Patch, there was one shop for chocolate. It had one brand of chocolate, and while it was tasty, they were sorely limited in what they could offer. Coming to Beacon, and by proxy, Vale, she indulged in what she could when she could, but this… this was beautiful.

Jaune could see the childish expression at the gift he had gotten her. Pyrrha was right, of course that it meant a lot coming from him, but he knew by how she was acting, he had definitely made a good choice as well. Maybe he needed more confidence in himself when it came to his team, his friends, and–

"This is the best gift ever!"

Ruby.

"I am going back to my room to make some right now!" The girl exclaimed, humming as she carried her basket of goodies.

"But Ruby, uhhh, the party?"

"Psh." Ruby commented at the boy. "Party, shmarty. We got like 50 flavors of hot chocolate, Jaune! We can have our own party!"

Before he could protest, Ruby snagged the boy's arm, causing him to emit an awkward groan. Before long, he matched his pace with her as she led him back towards the dormitory rooms, something that did not go unnoticed by her teammates, or his own for that matter.

"We can start taste testing each one and then we will figure out which is truly the most superior!" Ruby announced.

"I'm just glad you liked the gift." Jaune commented.

"Of course I do! Maybe next year, I'll make you a new Pumpkin Pete sweater too!"

The words hit the boy like a ton of bricks. The mere thought of Ruby making Jaune her own version of his beloved sweater was too much. Too much so that maybe his own unconscious would spill out similar too–

"I think I might love you."

"What?"

"What?"

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From a Beautiful Smile, to a Dork's gift, I hope you've enjoyed another Christmas installment of Lancaster. Be safe and have a happy new year to come.

January 2024 - Many returns begin…

GodRealm