Chapter 4: Revelations
AN: Trigger warning: there's a mention of stillbirth, but rest assured it's historical and not the Bumblebaby.
A portal opened before Raven bothered to reply to Yang's message. Yang sighed. Rude, but hardly unheard of. Raven walked through. She paused at the sight of Blake, but didn't beat a retreat. She sighed and closed the portal instead.
"Yang. Blake. You wanted to see me."
"That's an overstatement," Blake muttered, on the edge of Yang's hearing.
"I did," Yang said. "I can't speak for Blake."
Blake abandoned the washing up and dried her hands. She moved to join Yang on the sofa, sitting close enough to put an arm around her shoulders. "I'm here for Yang."
Raven nodded stiffly, her eyes fixed on Blake. "Good. Keep it that way. Don't repeat my mistakes."
Blake stiffened against Yang. "I already made my promises to Yang, and I'm not going to break them."
Raven didn't look away. "I made promises to Tai and Summer. I'm sure you think you're better at keeping your word than I was, but sometimes promises get broken."
"I'm not you. I left Yang once. I'm never doing that again."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "And yet you keep leaving her whenever you go on missions."
Yang put an arm between them when Blake tensed as if to spring at Raven. "Can we not do this? I trust Blake. That should be enough for you, Mom."
Raven turned her gaze on Yang. "Very well. What did you want?"
"It's about what you want: a chance to be a grandma."
Raven's face was hard to read, but Yang thought she could see a wary hope in her eyes.
"You have it," Yang said.
Raven's eyes widened. "Really? Are you sure?"
Yang nodded. She held up a warning finger. "No more chances after this. And you have to swear you'll never let this baby down. No abandoning him or her."
Raven looked a little lost. "What do I swear on?"
"Whatever means most to you. Your life, I guess." Yang tried to sound like she didn't care, but it came out rather wistful. Blake's arm tightened around her.
"No, Yang. I'll swear it on your life." Raven gave her a look mingling tenderness with guilt.
Blake stirred beside Yang, but didn't say anything. She was watching Raven, her face guarded. Yang would have to ask after Raven left if she wanted to find out what her fiancée thought about that.
"Was that all?" Raven asked.
"No—" Yang started. Blake put a finger over her lips.
Blake lifted her chin, narrowed eyes still fixed on Raven. "Before that, swear it. Why wait for our baby to be born? I'd rather there's no risk of forgetting it when we have other things on our minds. It just better not cost Yang her life if you break your word."
"I won't," Raven snapped, glaring back at Blake.
Blake raised her eyebrows. "You won't swear it?"
"Ugh. I won't break my word." Raven looked back at Yang. "And it won't cost your life."
"You still haven't sworn." Blake's lip curled.
Yang nipped at Blake's finger, still over her lips. Blake gave a little yelp and withdrew her hand.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to leave you silenced." Blake kissed her cheek.
"Give Raven a chance to make her oath, and you…" Yang turned to Raven. "Get on with it."
Raven drew her sword and cut herself across her palm, drawing blood. She sheathed her sword. "I swear to be there for my grandchild or grandchildren, as long as I live. I swear it by the life of my surviving child, Yang."
Yang stared at the blood dripping from Raven's hand. The trickle stopped as soon as Raven let her Aura heal herself. Raven wiped away the blood on a red handkerchief she pulled from a pocket.
Yang couldn't find her voice. Surviving child?!
Blake stroked her cheek. "Yang?"
"What's wrong?" Raven asked, her voice drawing Yang's eyes to her face. She looked concerned, still a strange expression to see on Raven.
"Surviving child?" Yang finally managed, her voice almost as high pitched as Ruby's.
"Ah. Tai didn't tell you. Twins run in my family. You had a twin, he was stillborn." Raven sounded unaffected, but Yang caught the pain in her eyes.
Blake's hand found hers and squeezed.
"I'm sorry," Yang choked. Tears burned her eyes. Her free hand rested over her belly. That it was her prosthetic didn't matter, it was still hers, infused with her Aura. She sent a gentle burst of that Aura inside herself, just to feel the reassuring thrum of her baby's heart.
"It was a long time ago," Raven said.
"Does that sort of thing ever truly heal?" Blake asked, her voice softer than it had ever been when directed at Raven.
Raven glanced away. "Not really. But time reduced it to a dull ache, most of the time. Sometimes it feels more raw. Such is the way of grief." She raised an eyebrow. "Surprised that I'm capable of feeling it?"
Blake shook her head. "No. You're human. You feel."
"I never doubted that, even when you tried harder to hide it," Yang said.
"Yes, well. I didn't tell you for sympathy, or worse, pity." Raven's lip curled. "I thought you already knew. Now you do, and you know twins run in our family. So there's a chance you're having more than one child."
"I haven't felt more than one heartbeat," Yang said, mentally screaming at the idea of having twins. One baby was daunting enough.
Raven looked taken aback. "Felt?"
"A gentle burst of my Aura through my own body lets me feel it."
"Then I guess you're having the one." Raven bit her lip. "Could I…"
Yang shook her head. "Sorry, no. It's too intimate, it's overwhelming even when Blake does it. I don't want to feel anyone else in me."
Raven looked away. "Right. Was that all?"
"No. We're eloping soon, to avoid any legal difficulties with Blake counting as the other parent."
Raven shrugged. "I guess that makes sense, if you care about laws."
"It'll just be close family there. Our parents, Qrow, Ruby and Weiss," Yang said.
"Already a crowd for an elopement." Raven's face was unreadable, closed down. "Aren't they usually done with just two witnesses? That's how I married Tai, for much the same reason." She rolled her eyes. "He needed to abide by his precious laws."
Yang ignored the jab at her dad. It was a pretty minor one, all things considered. The implied jab at Blake, though? "Those laws can be useful. Someone could try to legally take the baby if we're not careful."
"If someone tried, they'd have an unfortunate fatal accident," Raven said, tone menacing, eyes narrowed.
"No one would need to die," Blake said. "Although I'd be tempted to do the same thing."
"We all would be," Yang said, suddenly aware she was curled protectively around her belly. She straightened up.
"Oh, I wouldn't kill them," Raven said. "Gravity would."
"Gravity?" Blake asked.
"Qrow and I have set up traps before. He flies high, I open a portal to him, and…" Raven dropped her hand down onto her other. "A tragic accident. Qrow being involved means he has to be convinced, but I think he'd agree with me."
"Would Qrow really do that?" Yang asked.
Raven nodded. "Your uncle prefers to arrest if he can, like a good little huntsman, but he does see sense sometimes. Qrow knows that sometimes people need to die if his loved ones are going to be safe. He's had blood on his hands since before you were born."
Yang shivered. Not that she could condemn Qrow after what happened with Adam.
Blake's arm tightened around her. "The people who fall into your trap… What about Aura, landing strategies? They might survive."
"Not when they're unconscious." Raven smiled grimly.
Yang exchanged a disturbed glance with Blake. Not that it was really a surprise to hear from the bandit queen still wanted by the Kingdom of Mistral, and proud of herself for it.
"What?" Raven asked. "It's far more merciful than it could be. They feel nothing. It's not like they see their death coming, Aura broken and nothing to save them."
"Remind me not to get on the wrong side of her," Blake muttered to Yang, wary eyes on Raven.
Raven raised an eyebrow. "You're safe so long as Yang loves you."
"Always," Yang said firmly, narrowing her eyes at Raven.
Raven lifted her chin. She stared down at Blake. "I'd say hurt her and you're dead, but Yang has been very clear that she wants you safe, no matter what. So it's about time I offer this: to bond with you. That way if you're ever in danger and there's anything I can do, I'll do it."
Yang blinked. She hadn't been expecting that at all. It was news to her that Raven could make her Semblance bond with those she didn't even like.
"For Yang's peace of mind, I accept," Blake said. "What do I need to do?"
"Take my hand." Raven stepped forward, hand extended.
Blake reached up and took it. "What now?"
Raven gazed at her intently. She released Blake's hand. "It's done."
"Thank you," Blake said, the words coming out like they were hard to say.
"Yeah, thanks," Yang added.
Raven shook her head. "Don't thank me yet, thank me after I save your skin. If I ever need to. You're a survivor, Blake, I'll give you that much."
Blake stiffened against Yang. "Thanks, I think."
Yang squeezed Blake's hand. "Raven. Back to what we were talking about… We don't want anyone to die unless it's absolutely necessary."
"It would be," Raven said.
"I don't think necessary means the same thing to us. Only if it's a matter of life and death, Mom."
Raven sighed. "Fine. Just maiming, then."
Yang pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand. "Mom."
Raven spread her arms, palms upward. "I am what I am, Yang."
"A monster," Blake murmured.
Yang squeezed Blake's hand and gave her a reproachful look.
Blake sighed. "A monster on our side, then."
Raven didn't seem offended. "Sometimes that's what you need, to stay safe from the other monsters out there."
"If you're a monster, there're worse ones out there. Like whoever might steal a child." Yang put a protective hand over her belly again. Blake's joined it.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, Raven," Blake said. "I don't like it when people die, especially if there's any chance they might become better."
Raven shrugged. "It's not the worst thing I've been called. And I think you're a naïve fool if you think the worst people can redeem themselves, so we're probably even."
Yang let her head fall back against the sofa and groaned. Time to change the subject. "Anyway, back to our elopement. It'll be a lot smaller than our wedding reception will be, with all our friends invited to that. Whenever we end up having it after the baby's born."
"Well. I appreciate being kept in the loop, but I don't see why you couldn't have mentioned it in a message." Raven drew her sword, ready to leave.
"Because I want you there," Yang blurted, before Raven could make her exit portal.
Raven shot her a startled glance. "At the reception?"
"That too, but I meant when we elope."
Raven almost dropped her sword. "Me?"
"Did I stutter?" Yang said. "Just… Please be civil to everyone there. And stay away from Dad unless he approaches you."
Raven blinked a few times, maybe gathering her scattered wits. "I'll be there, and on my best behaviour, don't worry. Just let me know when."
"Not where?" Blake asked.
Raven slashed her sword through the air, opening a portal. She gave Blake a rather mocking look. "I think I can manage without a location." She sauntered off through it, letting it close behind her.
Blake groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Of all the stupid things to say… How did I manage to forget about her Semblance? Of course she doesn't need to know where it is!"
Yang kissed her between her cat ears. "It's been a long day,"
"Even more so for you." Blake shifted a little and cupped Yang's cheek. "Are you all right?"
Yang sighed. "It's never easy to see Raven."
Blake touched her forehead to Yang's. "I'm sorry. I made it worse by calling her a monster."
"You did," Yang bit out. Her shoulders slumped. She'd been doing so well holding back her temper. "Sorry."
Blake stroked Yang's cheek. "Don't worry about it. I'm amazed you didn't really lash out while Raven was here."
Yang leaned into Blake's hand. "That doesn't make it right to take it out on you."
"Verbally snapping a little sharply from time to time is nothing. It's fine. You're trying your best."
"My best isn't good enough," Yang mumbled.
"Yang," Blake said, a warning note in her voice. "You are good enough, even at your worst. I love you as you are. Right now."
Yang let the subject drop, at least for the time being. "I love you too."
"Anyway, back to my apology…" Blake winced. "I shouldn't have called Raven a monster."
"You're not entirely wrong." Yang kissed Blake's cheek. "She is a killer, and I have my doubts it's like it was with Adam for us. We had no choice. She might."
"When you let Raven back in your life, you told me she'd promised to be better. That she wouldn't harm innocents. She's not as bad as Adam became. Not any more. I'll try to be more civil with her." Blake's cat ears swivelled back. Not pinning to her skull, at least, but definitely not happy cat ears.
"It's all right," Yang said. "She can take it. Just don't go beyond insults, and try to keep them at a minimum. I think it asks too much of you to expect you to be friends. I'm not even friends with her myself."
"I don't think most people are friends with their mothers, no matter how close they are. Your relationship with Raven is complicated. That she's in your life at all… It just goes to show how forgiving you are." Blake kissed her. "Even when it's people who hurt you most." She looked away, her cat ears pinned back. "Like I did, when I left."
"You came back," Yang said softly. "That's all I need. Every time you leave, for a mission or anything, you come back. And you do."
Blake at least met her eyes again, although her cat ears still betrayed her guilt.
"Come on, Blake. That was years ago. You weren't gone nearly as long as Raven, and I'm not the one who had to find you. It's in the past. Your words to Adam when we fought him were all I needed to hear. Let it go, forgive yourself."
"I… You're right. I thought I moved past this long ago, but I guess seeing Raven brought it all back. She abandoned you, and it reminded me that I did too." Blake's cat ears briefly unpinned, but were lying flat again by the time she finished speaking.
"At least your reasons were clear."
One of Blake's cat ears twitched. "I never told you why, though."
"I was too angry to see it for a while," Yang admitted. "But Weiss explained it. She understood. And so did I, after that."
"You deserved to be angry. I hurt you." Blake looked utterly miserable. "I never apologised for it. I—"
Yang laid a finger over Blake's lips. "You did, with your actions. You came back, you made a promise, and you kept it. That means more to me than any verbal apology could."
Blake's eyes searched hers, and her cat ears finally perked up again. "You really mean that." She smiled, resting a hand over Yang's heart. Good. Her telltale heart had confirmed it was the truth.
"Ready to forgive yourself at last?" Yang asked.
Blake's cat ears flicked. "With another promise, yes. I'll never hurt you again, if there's anything I can do to help it."
Yang nuzzled their noses together. "You already do that." She kissed her. "We both do. It's part of protecting each other."
Blake kissed her back, more gently than Yang expected from the fire in Blake's eyes. When Blake drew away, she looked concerned, but at least not guilty.
"Are you really all right? With what you heard from Raven, I mean." Gold eyes flicked down to Yang's belly. "You haven't really stopped cradling where our baby is since hearing about your stillborn sibling."
Yang swallowed hard. She didn't move her arm. "I just don't want to lose our baby."
Blake held her tightly, stroking her hair. She didn't make any promises, didn't tell Yang it wouldn't happen. She couldn't. They both knew there were no guarantees.
The risk of miscarriage had gone down, but it still existed. As did the possibility of stillbirth. And even if the baby was born healthy, he or she might get sick. Or get taken by whoever was responsible for the conception, despite team RWBY's best efforts to stop it. Raven might be able to get the baby back if that happened, provided she'd made a bond for her Semblance to link to in time. Not that Yang liked the idea of relying on Raven. She'd sworn, but could Yang trust Raven's word? Raven had sounded like she meant it. But…
"What did you think of Raven's oath?" Yang asked.
One of Blake's cat ears flicked where it rested against Yang. Blake hummed thoughtfully. "I had to wonder if you really meant more than her own skin to her. But after what we learned? Seeing her grief over your brother? I believe it."
Hearing Blake's certainty when she didn't even like Raven was reassuring. But it was just about Raven's words.
Yang bit her lip. "Do you think we can rely on her?"
Blake hesitated. "I hope so. I guess we'll find out. The real test is whether Raven turns up when we get married. If she keeps her word when she hasn't even made an oath, that's a good sign."
Yang released her lip and soothed it with her tongue. Not that the ridiculously minor bruise needed it, fading in an instant thanks to her Aura. "Speaking of tests… She made a bond with you. I didn't expect that."
"She surprised me," Blake said. "But I hope I never need her to save me. It's not that I'll be ungrateful if it comes to that, I just… I shouldn't need saving. Not by her. It's different when it's you, or Ruby or Weiss. We protect each other."
Yang frowned. "You think she'd look down on you if you needed saving?"
Blake nodded against her. "Raven respects strength. It'd surely make me weak in her eyes."
"We all need saving sometimes. I think Raven understands that. She still seems to respect me."
"She's never needed to save you," Blake said.
"Well, about that…" Yang laughed awkwardly.
Blake pulled away far enough to look at Yang. "Raven saved you? When was this?"
"You remember Torchwick and the White Fang's train full of bombs under Mountain Glenn?"
"How can I forget? I knocked Torchwick out, got him arrested." Blake smirked briefly, but it soon faded. "It didn't go so well for Weiss, she's lucky that White Fang lieutenant didn't kill her."
Yang grimaced. "It didn't go so well for me either. I've never lost a fight as badly as I did against Neo. Not including when I lost my arm, you know Adam took that before we could fight." She looked away. "I didn't want to talk about losing to Neo afterwards."
Blake took her hand and squeezed. "While I wish you'd told me, I can't blame you. I didn't exactly tell you about everything back then either. There's no secrets between us now, but that doesn't mean there aren't still things left to share. When the time feels right."
"Right," Yang said. She met Blake's eyes and smiled, a little sheepishly. "I think I'm ready to tell you about this."
"What I don't understand is that you still had Aura during the Breach in Vale. If Raven had to save you…"
Yang groaned. "It's embarrassing. Neo threw me around and slammed me into the ceiling. I think I must have lost focus projecting my Aura, like a newbie at Signal."
Blake stroked her hand. "Then Raven came?"
Yang nodded. "While I was knocked out. I came around just in time to see her disappearing into her portal, Neo gone. Raven must have scared her off."
Blake frowned. "Raven didn't stop to talk to you?"
"No. She just gave Qrow a message to pass on to me. That I shouldn't expect Raven to save me again. She only comes once, a single save."
Blake's grip tightened, her eyes narrowing. "Remind me why we're inviting Raven to our wedding."
"I think if that happened as things are now, she would have handled things better. She's not the same as she was back then."
"I suppose," Blake muttered. "She has changed. And it did sound like she means to be there for her grandchild, and for more than for a single save."
"I don't know. Maybe? I should ask her," Yang said. Despite her words she didn't get her scroll out. "Just not right now. It can wait."
"It absolutely can," Blake agreed. "I think we should relax for the rest of the day."
Yang stretched and flopped back. "Sounds good to me."
Blake snuggled against her, a mumble of contentment escaping her. "Anything else can wait."
"Didn't you abandon the washing up?" Yang hesitated to remind her. Blake hated to leave it unfinished, and as always, it was nice being together like this.
Blake shifted briefly, before wrapping her arms around Yang. "That can wait too."
The next day Blake checked the mission boards. There was nothing urgent enough that it couldn't wait, so she was pretty sure she'd have the day off. She returned home, where she found Yang working out. Blake admired the view. The slight swell of Yang's lower abdomen didn't detract at all from her beauty, at least in Blake's opinion. Yang was the most beautiful woman in all of Remnant, and Blake would fight anyone who said otherwise.
"So?" Yang grunted, after completing her set.
"Hm? Oh. No missions that can't wait," Blake said. "I should be able to enjoy another day off for once."
Yang put the weights back on the rack and wiped them down. "These are going to be gathering dust all too soon," she grumbled. "Doc's been very clear that I'll reach the point where I have to avoid lifting anything heavy."
"Did they say when?" Blake asked.
Yang drained her water bottle. "Twenty weeks."
Blake took a moment to figure out when that weight restriction would come in. She hit a stumbling block. "Counting from when the doctor estimates you conceived, or from the positive pregnancy test?"
"In theory it'd be from the date my last period started, but you know what my cycle was like." Yang stretched. Blake appreciated that view too.
Yang cleared her throat. "My eyes are up here." She sounded amused.
Blake dragged her gaze up to Yang's face. "So how will you know when you're twenty weeks in?"
"The doctor ended up using scans to estimate how far along I was. They think I'm at the start of my second trimester now. So I should have maybe four weeks left to use these." Yang patted her weights. "Come on, Blake. We told our parents when we did for a reason."
Blake flushed. "I know that, I just wasn't sure exactly how far in you were. I was following your lead, because when to tell people should be your decision."
"It's our baby, it should be joint decisions," Yang reminded her.
"Bearing that in mind, then…" Blake wondered how best to phrase it. She didn't want to imply any doubt in Yang, but it had to be said: "Wouldn't it be best to give up the weight training sooner? Just in case?"
Yang's eyes flashed with her annoyance. She dragged a hand back through her hair, taking out her ponytail in the process. "My Aura should be all the protection the baby needs for the rest of the pregnancy."
"Then why would the doctor say that about weights?" Blake asked.
"Not just weights, the punching bag too. Doc would rather I be cautious. Just like you." Yang sounded resigned rather than resentful. "They suggested I switch to low impact exercise. Like swimming." She mostly stifled a whine. "That's not going to keep me fighting fit."
"I'll help you get back in shape, after the baby's born. Until then, try not to worry about it."
This time the whine that escaped Yang came out loud and clear.
"It's not like you're going to forget how to punch," Blake said. 'Be sympathetic,' she reminded herself. 'Don't roll your eyes. Imagine if you were benched and had to stop even just training. No wonder Yang hates it.'
Yang grumbled under her breath, something even Blake's cat ears couldn't catch. "I know, it's just… I already feel useless. That's going to get worse."
Blake hugged her, ignoring how sweaty Yang was. It'd be a good excuse to shower together. "Your body is growing another life. That's hardly useless."
"I guess." Yang didn't sound terribly convinced.
"You're not useless," Blake insisted. "Please don't call yourself that. I don't think you'd call anyone else useless for being pregnant."
Yang looked down at the floor and blushed. "No."
"You're too hard on yourself." Blake captured Yang's lips, kissing her firmly. "First weak, now useless, what next? You're the same amazing person I fell in love with. And soon there will be someone else for us to love. Someone that's part of you right now."
Yang rubbed the back of her head. She gave a sheepish grin. "All right, not weak or useless, but definitely pretty dumb."
This time Blake couldn't resist rolling her eyes. "No, just too hard on yourself. One of these days I'll get you to see yourself the way I do. It might take fucking some sense back into you."
Yang's grin widened. "Promise?"
"Go shower first, and we'll see." Blake drew away.
"I got you all sweaty too," Yang observed, looking Blake up and down.
Blake hummed thoughtfully. "I suppose we should save water and shower together."
They didn't save any water. Showering together was far too distracting, being with each other, naked and wet.
Afterwards, Yang towelled herself off, all but grinning from ear to ear. "I think you need to try harder. Still no sense in here." She tapped the side of her head.
Blake smirked. "Maybe you fucked it into me after I gave it to you. Maybe we can't have sense at the same time. Either I have it or you do."
"Guess I'm doomed."
"Either that or we should make sure you fuck me first."
Yang's brows knitted with thought. "What happens if we fuck each other at the same time?"
Blake almost burst out laughing. 'She's not fucking me. I'm not fucking her. We're fucking each other.' Hearing Blake say that might have given Adam a heart attack. Too bad Yang probably wouldn't have been ready to hear it back then.
"Shall we give it a try?" Yang flared her Semblance, drying off her hair. She gave Blake an eager look.
"One of us is still bound to come first," Blake said.
"Maybe we just need to practice." Yang nuzzled at her neck, nipping at a hickey Blake hadn't let her Aura heal yet.
"I still need to finish getting dry." Despite her words, Blake arched against Yang's lips.
"Have you ever tried using your Semblance while wet?" Yang asked.
Blake blinked. "I've used it in the rain before, but…" She hadn't noticed suddenly being dry, but she'd have got wet again too soon to notice if it worked. Worth a try. Blake left a shadow clone behind her, which faded away, a scattering of water droplets falling from where it had been. She found herself completely dry.
Yang cackled. "Weiss is going to be so jealous!"
"I'm sure she could dry herself off with her own Semblance if she tried hard enough."
"If she used a rune to move fast enough, she might lose the water a bit like you did, but…" Yang laughed harder, leaning against the wall.
Blake smiled, enjoying the sight of Yang laughing. There hadn't been enough of that lately, and it also did interesting things to her breasts, especially when she was naked.
"She'd hit a wall or door or end up in a different room, maybe even outside," Yang finally managed to wheeze.
Blake laughed. "Maybe she already tried it and swore Ruby to secrecy."
Yang sniggered. "The drawback of them living together: Ruby knows all sorts of things Weiss probably wishes she didn't."
"It's not really a drawback if Ruby doesn't tell anyone," Blake said.
"Ruby can keep a secret," Yang allowed. "But Weiss is probably always afraid Ruby might let something slip with us."
"It would be safe for Ruby to tell us, we wouldn't tell anyone else," Blake said.
"We wouldn't, but Weiss hates for us to hear about something she finds embarrassing." Yang sobered. "I shouldn't have laughed at the idea of Weiss suffering like that."
Blake spoke up before Yang could verbally beat herself up. "If you'd witnessed it, I don't think you'd have laughed. It's just in the abstract, imagining the look on her face. If Weiss did end up outside like that, I'm sure we'd all try to make sure her modesty was preserved."
"Yeah," Yang said. She nodded firmly. "We would."
They headed back into their bedroom.
Blake eyed the bed. "So, did you want to practice fucking the sense back into each other at the same time?"
"Tempting, but I'm not really in the mood any more." Yang rubbed at the back of her head. "Sorry."
Blake kissed her, lips lingering and gentle. "You're allowed to change your mind. We probably shouldn't spend the entire day in bed anyway."
"I guess you're right. It's probably about time we broke the news to our friends." Yang laid a hand over her lower belly. She walked over to where her clothes were strewn across a chair, and started pulling them on. She grumbled when she struggled to fasten her trousers. "Damn it. Going to need new ones. Again."
Blake wandered over to her own clothes and put them on. "I know they cost more, but why not get the special maternity clothes made to expand with you?"
Yang groaned. "I didn't want to spend that much on something temporary."
"Does it really cost more than getting normal clothes in ever larger sizes?" Blake pulled out her scroll and searched for the specialist tailor. "They do advertise that it isn't really more expensive. I'll pay for it if you don't want to."
"Aren't we getting a joint bank account soon anyway?" Yang asked.
Blake smirked. "I rest my case. We're getting you a couple of those maternity outfits. I'll feel better knowing that it's one less thing to bother you."
Yang threw her arms up. "Spending that much on clothes bothers me!"
Blake shrugged. "One way or another, we will be anyway. It's just one of the extra expenses of pregnancy. You need clothes that fit you, much as I do appreciate the sight of you naked." She looked Yang up and down, mentally undressing her.
Yang blushed. She attempted to look stern, but a smile tugged at her lips. "You're insatiable."
"So are you," Blake said.
"Usually." Yang looked and sounded rather wistful.
Blake changed the subject before Yang could brood about it. "What do we tell our friends about our wedding?"
"I wish we could invite everyone when we elope. But we can't." Yang sighed heavily. "Do you think it'd hurt feelings more if we don't tell them until after the fact?"
"I'd hope they'd understand, but at least some of them might well feel left out. We could soften the blow by combining the news with the invite to our belated wedding reception," Blake suggested.
"When we know when it'll be. By then they should be able to meet our baby."
"A cute little baby Xiao Long should help smooth things over." Blake smiled.
"Baby Belladonna," Yang said. "Even cuter."
Blake frowned. "It's not that I object to giving the baby my name, but it might confuse things for him or her growing up. They won't look like me."
"Confuse things how?" Yang demanded.
"Anyone who meets our kid will expect them to take after the parent with the same surname."
Yang shrugged. "So? Let them be confused."
"Are you sure?" Blake glanced at Yang's belly before meeting her eyes.
Yang gave her a reassuring smile. "Look, I know it's not the same as with Ruby. But she went through childhood without looking like her sole surviving parent, and without sharing his name too. She managed."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "But didn't everyone know that Summer Rose was her mother? And that Tai is her father?"
"Well, yeah, but it's not exactly a secret that we're together." Yang stroked Blake's cheek. "You worry too much. I want our baby to have your name. Either that or Xiao Long-Belladonna, and that's a bit of a mouthful."
"Bumblebaby Belladonna," Blake mused.
"Say that to Ruby and I divorce you." Yang's words were rather at odds with her loving tone.
Blake grinned. "Got to marry me first."
Yang kissed her. "Soon."
Blake's heart leapt. She caught Yang's face between her hands and kissed her back fervently.
They eventually parted to catch their breath.
Yang laughed. "We keep getting distracted. At this rate I'll have given birth before we tell our friends."
Blake winced. "They'd murder us. Okay, no more kissing until we've told our friends. How do we tell them? In person? Scroll calls? Messages?"
"In person might give us some sign we'd otherwise miss. If any of them are involved…" Yang shook her head hard enough for her hair to whip around. "I hate this. Suspecting our friends. Maybe a stranger is behind it? Our team is famous after our role in defeating Salem."
"I'd certainly prefer it to be a stranger than someone we trust," Blake said.
"It's just… If it's someone targeting our team, why me? Why not Ruby, with her famous silver eyes?"
It wasn't a surprise to see Yang's eyes turn red at the thought of her sister in the same situation.
"Maybe they're not after a Silver Eyed Warrior. Maybe it's strength they want, and you're the strongest on our team."
Yang shook her head slowly. "You're biased." She leaned in, lips brushing Blake's.
Blake somehow found the self control to put her fingers between their lips. "No kisses until our friends know."
Yang pouted.
"You're the one who said it was time we broke the news to them," Blake reminded her.
"I want kisses."
Big purple eyes gave Blake a pleading look.
"So do I," Blake admitted. "But I give in and suddenly our friends won't need to be told."
Yang blinked. "That's an option?"
"Only if you want to have an obvious baby bump the next time we see them, and let them find out that way."
Yang tapped her chin. "Tempting, but the most clueless of our friends might just wonder if I'm getting fat."
"I rest my case," Blake said. "Anyone that clueless might also be tactless enough to say it."
"Fine, so we need to tell them." Yang fiddled with her scroll, a growing frown on her face. "I think… I'd rather not give in to paranoia. I want to believe a friend wouldn't do this."
Blake got out her scroll. "Then let's just share the news by message. It'll be quicker, and we can spend more time relaxing."
She gave Yang as reassuring a smile as she could. Blake didn't want to believe it could be a friend either, but was it really paranoia to take every precaution? Still, she'd follow Yang's lead. It didn't feel right to question Yang's decisions. Besides, thanks to Raven they had other options, much as Blake hated the thought of relying on her.
"We can catch the culprit after birth, maybe with Raven's help if necessary," Yang said.
Blake blinked. It surprised her sometimes how much they operated on the same wavelength. "That's what I was just thinking."
Yang winked and made finger guns at her. "Great minds think alike."
"Fools rarely differ," Blake added.
Yang tapped Blake on the tip of her nose. "Hey, you're no fool."
Blake smirked. It felt like the time for some harmless teasing. Yang knew what she really thought. "I'm marrying you, aren't I?"
Yang's mouth opened and closed a few times until she found her voice. She shrugged and grinned. "They do say love makes fools of us all, so I guess we'll just have to live with that."
"Fools united." Blake held up her scroll. "Hopefully between the two of us we can figure out how to share our news. It'll be easier if we send the same message to everyone, and I think it should come from me. That way it'll seem more like a joint decision."
They left the bedroom and sat on the sofa, bent over Blake's scroll together.
"It'd be funny if you started with: 'I knocked Yang up,'" Yang said.
"Yang," Blake groaned. "It's not a good idea to make them expect the baby to have cat faunus traits."
"You're right," Yang admitted. "Keep it simple. Just say I'm pregnant, and that our wedding is postponed."
Blake typed it out, fleshing out the explanation a little, and softening the blow about their wedding being delayed. "How's this?"
Yang gently rested her head against Blake's. "Looks fine to me."
Blake nodded, nuzzling their heads together, and sent the message.
Blake: Yang's pregnant! She's due around the time our wedding was originally supposed to be, so we have to postpone. You're still invited, I'll keep you informed on when it'll be. We haven't decided that yet; it depends how well we manage with a newborn.
Blake's ears flicked back as her scroll almost vibrated out of her grip, the buzzing of the replies unceasing for a couple of minutes. She resisted the urge to throw her scroll away, gritting her teeth and holding on tight.
"Wow," Yang breathed. "So that's why it's called blowing up a scroll. Have you ever had so many messages at once?"
"No," Blake said shortly. "Never again. You can send out the next announcement."
"Yes dear," Yang drawled, dragging out the words. "What're they saying?" She pointed at the notifications taking over Blake's scroll. She wasn't reading over Blake's shoulder, instead sliding away to give Blake privacy she hadn't even asked for.
Blake gradually cleared the screen. "Everyone's sending congratulations. Oh. Almost everyone." She opened up the mixed message from Sun.
Sun: Baby yay! But u didn't ask me to help?
Blake: Help?
Sun: Help u make a baby
Blake gaped for a moment at her scroll.
"What is it?" Yang asked.
"Sun. He's always been audacious, but I didn't see this coming. He, uh, wants to know why we didn't ask him to father the baby."
Yang huffed out a laugh, shaking her head. "Why would we? You're the only one I wish was the other biological parent." She closed her eyes and sighed heavily, a hand resting on her belly.
Blake felt a bittersweet pang at that, to know for sure that Yang wanted the same thing as her. And yet they might not get it. She nodded, throat too tight to speak, then berated herself: Yang's eyes were shut, she couldn't see a nod. Blake moved closer to Yang and wrapped a comforting arm around her. Yang leaned into her.
Blake's scroll buzzed again. She scowled down at it, still held in her free hand.
Sun: I'd do anything to help you
She stifled a growl and typed out a response.
Blake: I know, and I appreciate your support. But we didn't need your help.
Sun: Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed, I just thought you'd go with your closest guy friend being donor dad, and that's me!
Blake: Ren and Jaune exist too, and Yang's closer to them. But we didn't go with them either, not that it's any of your business.
Sun: Then who?
Blake growled for real. Sun was a dear friend, but he could be so aggravating.
Blake: Read the end of that last sentence from me again. This baby will have two parents, and I'm the second one. No father needed or wanted. There will be plenty of uncles, and two grandfathers for male role models.
Sun: Sorry my bad pls don't hate me
Blake kissed Yang's cheek. She'd reassure Sun everything was fine between them, but he could wait a minute. He knew better than to think she hated him, he just wanted attention. Then her scroll buzzed. Again and again and again and…
Blake groaned. She checked her scroll and the notifications of messages, all from Sun.
Sun: Neptune slapped the back of my head and reminded me that normal people say congratulations. Congrats!
Sun: Really congrats you'll be a great mom
Sun: Pls pass on congrats to Yang too, she'll be a great mom too
Sun: Blake pls tell me u don't hate me
Blake sighed. She needed to say something to him.
Blake: Please stop blowing up my scroll, I'm busy.
Busy snuggling up to Yang, but he didn't need to know that.
Sun: U hate me :(
Fine, time for some reassurance. Just to shut him up. Sun should know better, after everything they'd been through together.
Blake: Sun. Stop it. I don't hate you, I hate the way you're blasting my scroll with notifications. I'm trying to message our other friends with the news. You'll be an uncle, if you want to be.
A little white lie wouldn't hurt him. He didn't need to know she'd messaged everyone else at the same time with the same announcement.
Sun: YES I'LL BE BEST UNCLE EVER :D
Blake resorted to muting her notifications from Sun for the rest of the day, it was the only way to stop him from bombarding her with messages taking over her scroll's screen.
Her scroll buzzed again. For a moment she thought muting Sun hadn't worked, then saw it was from someone else.
Jaune: Besides congratulating the two of you, is there anything you need? Anything I can help with? Just say the word. Would you like suggestions for names?
"Yang? Do we want suggestions on what to name the baby?"
Yang took a moment to consider it, and shrugged. "Eh, why not? Someone might have a good idea."
Blake: We're open to suggestions, but no offence meant if we go with something else.
Jaune: Of course! If it's a girl, how about Pyrrha? I don't think I could bear to use it for my own daughter if I have one, but it'd be a great way to remember her.
Yang's scroll buzzed. She checked it. "Nora's banned us from using Pyrrha, she's invoked dibs. She must be with Jaune right now."
Blake laughed. "Nora's not pregnant yet, is she? How can she get dibs when our baby will be born first?"
"Nope, she's not as far as I know, but it's not a fight I want to have with her, so…" Yang sent a thumbs up emoji to Nora.
Both of their scrolls vibrated with a message from Ruby in the team RWBY group chat.
Fearless Leader: Nora said you're taking name suggestions. You didn't tell us!
nIce Queen: I'm sure they would have given a moment, their scrolls must be overwhelmed with message notifications. It'll be a wonder if they see these.
Mrs Xiao Long-to-be: Mine is fine after muting Sun.
Mrs Belladonna-to-be: Blake took the brunt of letting our friends know. She loves me that much.
nIce Queen: It's still weird to see you with those names. I get mixed up.
Mrs Belladonna-to-be: Suffer.
Mrs Xiao Long-to-be: It's simple enough? We're swapping surnames.
Fearless Leader: We're getting off topic! I'm the realest aunt this baby will have, and I decree their name remains Bumblebaby.
"Do not mention what you said earlier," Yang said, a warning note in her voice. "'Bumblebaby Belladonna.' Ruby really would be insufferable."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Blake said, trying to sound and look innocent. It had been tempting.
Mrs Belladonna-to-be: We're taking suggestions, brat. Also Weiss would like to know your location.
nIce Queen: I would if we didn't live together. Ruby's right next to me. We're only messaging right now for the benefit of you two. Realest aunt, Ruby? What makes you more real than I'll be?
Brat: Genetics! I'll be the official aunt, everyone else is just honorary, even you, so stop poking me.
Brat: YANG stop messing with my screen name! How'd you steal admin rights in this group anyway?
Yang smiled, rolling up her scroll.
Blake smirked. She knew how: Ruby liked to keep her scroll a little too up to date, with beta patches. She liked to access new features as soon as possible, but the patches sometimes had vulnerabilities Yang exploited mercilessly.
Yang turned her scroll off. "I'm gonna have a nap. Silence your scroll, and come snuggle with me."
Blake chuckled. "Nothing will madden your sister more than ignoring her." She muted the team RWBY group chat.
Yang's smile widened. "Yup. That's why I'm napping." She wrapped her arms around Blake and carried her through to their bed. Blake went willingly, nuzzling closer. They were both dozing by the time Blake's scroll buzzed again.
Yang grumbled incoherently.
"Sorry, I should've done more than mute the team chat," Blake mumbled. She switched her scroll to silent and dozed back off.
Blake checked her scroll an hour or so later, groggy after her nap. She'd expected the message to be Ruby trying to reach Yang through Blake, but no. It was from Ilia, asking if she wanted to meet up. Blake considered it. It'd be good to see Ilia again, but more than that… Ilia knew how to keep a secret, and maybe it'd do Blake some good to talk to someone she could trust to keep their mouth shut.
She nudged Yang.
Bleary lilac eyes opened.
Blake waited until Yang focused on her before speaking. "Do you mind if I tell Ilia the whole story?"
"Mmm? What?" Yang yawned widely.
Blake patiently repeated her request, well aware that she wouldn't normally need to repeat herself with Yang. Yet another symptom of the pregnancy: Yang still found it harder to focus, especially right after waking up.
Yang blinked at her. "Oh. Uh. Sure?"
Blake frowned. "I won't do it if you're not certain."
Yang yawned again, and rubbed at her eyes. She looked a little less groggy. "That's not it, it's just… You don't need my permission. I trust your judgement. If you think Ilia's trustworthy, go ahead. Maybe she can help us catch the culprit."
"I do. Ilia's loyal. It'll be good to be able to tell someone else." Blake frowned. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing, not telling our parents?"
"I haven't changed my mind. It doesn't feel right to make the news anything other than good for the grandparents-to-be."
Blake nodded glumly. "I just don't like keeping things from them. Especially when Raven knows but my parents don't."
"The difference is that I needed to rule Raven out as the one responsible."
"I know," Blake said. "You made the right call. It's not like my parents would do something like that."
"Nor would my dad, and he doesn't know the truth either."
"Do you mind if Ilia knows and he doesn't?" Blake asked.
Yang shook her head. "I'd rather he never knew, honestly."
They shared an unhappy glance.
Blake turned back to her scroll and replied to Ilia, suggesting a time and place. Somewhere private, where she could be sure it was secure enough. Ilia's home was perfect, quiet and secluded. Blake felt a little sheepish inviting herself over, but Ilia had been clear that Blake was welcome any time.
Ilia: Sounds good to me, looking forward to seeing you. Just you?
Blake: Just me, Yang's still having some issues with morning sickness.
Ilia: Poor Yang. It'd be great to see her too, but to be honest I was hoping it'd be just the two of us. Tell Yang I hope she feels better soon.
Blake: See you soon, unless the Grimm ruin our plans.
Blake kissed Yang. "Ilia hopes the morning sickness clears up soon. I'll be meeting up with her tomorrow, provided there's no urgent mission."
"It's not that bad so long as I have a chance to drink Raven's tea," Yang muttered, cheeks burning. "You didn't have to tell her about it."
Blake winced. "I gave it as the reason why it'd be just me."
Yang rolled onto her back. She stared up at the ceiling for a tense few moments, while Blake fretted. Had she'd hurt Yang's feelings, or bruised her pride?
Yang finally turned her head to look at Blake, an unreadable look in her eyes. "You know what? Tell her whatever you want to. I'm not going to restrict what you can talk to your best friend about."
Blake beamed, her heart soaring. "You're my best friend, among other things."
Yang smiled back. "My sentiments exactly, but I think Weiss might have words to say to both of us, that she's our best friend."
"I think we'd better just agree that we have more than one best friend," Blake said.
"True. Anyway, I'm not going to restrict what you talk to anyone about. Even your parents when it comes to the truth about this." Yang touched her belly. "I don't want to control you."
"I agree with you that our parents would be happiest left in blissful ignorance." Blake winced. "I hope that doesn't make me a bad friend, to dump this on Ilia. She's close with my parents, has been ever since leaving Argus with them. Is it fair for me to demand she keep a secret from them?"
Yang ran a hand through her hair. It got caught on some tangles, and she started to gently untangle the golden strands, her eyes thoughtful. "I don't know Ilia nearly as well as you do. She's your oldest friend, you've known each other far longer." She clicked her tongue. "But I get the impression she'd rather you trust her with things than keep them from her."
"I think you're right."
"Of course I am." Yang smirked, before it softened into a smile. She leaned closer and kissed Blake. "Tomorrow, you said… Whatever shall we do to fill the time until you have to leave?"
"I can think of a few things," Blake murmured against Yang's lips. She kissed her thoroughly, stroking her tongue against Yang's, until they had to part to catch their breath. She smirked. "Like reading."
Blake rolled away to retrieve her current book.
Yang spluttered. Her outrage dissolved into laughter. She snuggled against Blake's side. "Read to me?"
"Make it worth my while," Blake said, marking her place with a finger. Yang could be so distracting. Especially with those big pleading purple eyes fixed on her.
"I'll read to you when you get to the next chapter."
"You'll do the voices?" Blake tried to sound unaffected. It wasn't fair. Those gorgeous eyes combined with Yang's voice dropping in pitch.
"Sure." Yang smiled, eyes shining. "Whatever you want. I'm yours. I mean, it's yours. I mean, I'm yours too."
Good to know Blake wasn't the only one under the spell of her soon-to-be wife. She turned back to her book and started to read aloud, the warmth of Yang's body against her.
AN: Blake and Yang didn't want to stop talking, so I didn't cover as much this chapter as I'd planned to.
Comments appreciated. Thanks for nice comments, they really help encourage me to complete this story.